24 - 26 February 2026 I Novotel London West, London, United Kingdom

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Delivering Integrated Rotary and Uncrewed Aviation Capabilities to 2040 and Beyond

Name: International Military Helicopter
Start: 2026-02-24
End: 2026-02-26

Bringing together the most influential stakeholders from across the global rotary wing community, the 25th annual International Military Helicopter (IMH) conference is coming to the Novotel London West, London, UK. With over 500 leaders and discussion makers from the military, industry, R&D, and academia, IMH 2026 will delve into future procurement activities and investments that are delivering next-generation capabilities to support tomorrow’s mission.

With the threat of peer-on-peer competition escalating, NATO and partner nations need to consider how to operate rotary aviation in highly contested and congested airspace. The need to develop advanced rotorcraft to carry out the specific mission sets required in a modern multi-domain battlespace, while retaining survivability and effectiveness, has become more important than ever before. As seen in the early days of the UKR/RUS conflict, traditional doctrine and tactics are being challenged, and new rotorcraft vulnerabilities are being exposed, requiring commanders to find new ways to operate when air superiority has not been achieved. Subsequently, Armed Forces around the world are looking to expand the capability of their current and future rotorcraft, seeking greater speed, endurance, agility and survivability to meet today’s and tomorrow’s threats.

As nations invest in the renewal of legacy fleets, and look to procure next-generation platforms, IMH provides the most valuable annual forum to address the current challenges and priorities for rotary aviation. With the global military helicopter market expected to grow to $72.81 billion by 2027, IMH will provide the most valuable forum to address these issues. Covering a range of critical topics, International Military Helicopter 2026 will examine those which are relevant to the modern battlefield and the role of rotary aviation across the domains, including:

Observations and Lessons Identified from Current Conflicts

Updates on Current Rotary Wing Programmes, including FLRAA, NMH & NGRC

Modernisation of Existing Platforms to Enhance Performance and Survivability

Current Training Capabilities to Maximise Operational Readiness

Upgrading Rotorcraft with Advanced Avionics, Connectivity, and Communication Systems

Tactical & Strategic Integration of Uncrewed Systems into the Force

Optimising Sustainment and MRO for Current and Future Fleets

Future of Rotary Aviation in the Multi-Domain Battlespace

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What to Expect in 2026

500+

ATTENDEES

40+

PRESENTATIONS

50+

NATIONS

80+

ORGANISATIONS

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2026 Early Confirmed Speakers

Major General David Hafner AM CSC

Commander, Aviation Command

Australian Army

Helen Wheatley

DE&S Hels OC - Future RW Strategy Lead

DE&S - UK MoD

Brigadier General Cain Baker

Director, Future Vertical Lift Cross Functional Team

US Army

Cyril Heckel

Program and Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability Manager

NATO Support & Procurement Agency

Colonel Jeffrey Poquette

Program Manager, Future Long Range Assault Aircraft

US Army

Commodore Steve Bolton

Deputy Director Aviation Programmes and Futures

Royal Navy

Colonel Krešimir Ražov

93rd Wing Commander of the Croatian Air Force

Croatian Air Force

Mark Langrill

Director Rotary Wing and Uncrewed Aerial Systems

DE&S - UK MoD

Brigadier General David Cruzille

Commanding General

French Army Aviation

Brigadier General Cain Baker

Director, Future of Vertical Lift Cross Functional Team

US Army

Brigadier General David Phillips

Program Executive Officer

PEO Aviation

Commodore Steve Bolton

Deputy Director Aviation Programmes and Futures

Royal Navy

Brigadier General David Walsh

Program Executive Officer, Air Anti-Submarine Warfare, Assault and Special Miss

Department of the Navy

Commodore Matt Royals

Commander Fleet Air Arm

Royal Australian Navy

Cyril Heckel

NGRC Programme Manager

NATO Support and Procurement Agency

Brigadier Nick English MBE PhD

Commander

1st Aviation Brigade Combat Team

US Army Special Operations Aviation Command

Colonel Roger Waleski Jr.

Commander

US Army Special Operations Aviation Command

Colonel Krešimir Ražov

Commander, 93rd Wing

Croatian Air Force

Colonel Guido Krahl

Branch Chief Army Aviation

Bundeswehr

Colonel Kate Fleeger

Program Manager, PMA-261 H53 Heavy Lift Helicopters

Naval Air Systems Command

Colonel Daniele Mantoani

Commander, 5th Army Aviation Regiment

Italian Army

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Borowski

Head of Army Aviation Concepts & Deputy Branch Chief Army Aviation

ACCDC - Bundeswehr

Commander Sebastian Schimera

Deputy Head of Planning Department, DEU Naval Air Command

German Navy

Commander Alex Haupt

Incoming Commanding Officer, Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron

US Navy

Captain Joe Dransfield

Deputy Head Operations, Operating Assurance Group

Military Aviation Authority

Major Bart Prins

Staff Officer Attack Helicopter Aviation

Royal Netherlands Air Force

Major Hristo Valev

Squadron Commander, 24th Helicopter Airbase

Bulgarian Air Force

Nick Childs

Senior Fellow for Naval Forces and Maritime Security

The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS)

Air Vice Marshal (ret.) Nigel Colman CB OBE

Vice President Market Development

Leonardo

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International Military Helicopter 2025 Highlights Reel

We are excited to present to you the highlights from the 24th International Military Helicopter which took place in London in February 2025. From panel discussions to networking drinks receptions, here is your 2024 roundup!

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2025 Post Show Report

Catch up on the key insights and highlights from IMH 2025 in our official post-show report—your snapshot of the global military helicopter community in action.

Download The Post Show Report

See what our past attendees thought!

It was a great forum for the international military helicopter community to come together and share and discuss current experiences, ways of working and associated challenges.

Excellent engagement with Industry and National partners. Relevant and timely topics. Excellent facilitation

Highly relevant in this rapidly changing military world, particularly for helicopter OEMs such as Leonardo.

Great to be amongst "our tribe" with the key players

We’re very privileged at IMH to have a wealth of knowledge and experience in the presentations in the forums that take place here, but also crucially, it’s in the networking that takes place—you know, if you’re not part of that team, you won’t get that situational awareness, you won’t get that intelligence. So come and join us.

You’ve got the very best of the primes, you’ve got subject matter experts across industry, and then of course, you’ve got militaries from around the world. It’s a really unique event in terms of its size and shape as a Rotary wing event, and it’s really, really impressive.

Free Content

2025 Attendee Snapshot

Here is the attendee snapshot for International Military Helicopter 2025. Download your copy today to find out which companies and job titles will be attending in January 2025

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Military Defence Acquisition Report

In preparation for IMH 2025, we are releasing the 2025-2029 Acquisition Report focussing on:

The latest and most significant military helicopter projects
Current and future spending on rotorcraft programmes
Regional Analysis and Trends and their impact on the market

DOWNLOAD HERE

Military Helicopter Interactive Market Report (2025-2029)

In the lead-up to IMH 2025, Defence iQ has created a brand-new interactive report that provides global market intelligence for the international military helicopter market.

DOWNLOAD HERE