24 - 26 February 2026 I Novotel London West, London, United Kingdom
DAY TWO | WEDNESDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2025
7:00 - 7:55
REGISTRATION AND REFRESHMENTS
7:55 - 8:00
CHAIRMAN’S OPENING REMARKS
Major General (Retd) James Illingworth OBE -
Former Director Land Warfare & Former Deputy Commander Joint Helicopter Command,
IMH 2025 Conference Chairman
Major General (Retd) James Illingworth OBE
Former Director Land Warfare & Former Deputy Commander Joint Helicopter CommandIMH 2025 Conference Chairman
CURRENT & FUTURE ROTORCRAFT CAPABILITIES
8:00 - 8:30
NEXT GENERATION ROTORCRAFT CAPABILITY (NGRC): A TECHNICAL & OPERATIONAL OVERVIEW
Kevin Luxford -
NGRC Technical Section Leader - Principal Technical Officer,
NSPA
- Identifying and quantifying the NGRC capability need
- Developing the NGRC Technical Baseline for Concept Stage and beyond (CONOPS, Attributes and Capability Requirements)
- Technical approach & activities to prepare for development
8:30 - 9:00
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS – WEAPON SYSTEM CAPABILITIES
9:00 - 9:30
PANEL DISCUSSION: MAXIMISING ROTORCRAFT EFFECTIVENESS IN FUTURE OPERATING ENVIRONMENTS
Major General (Retd) James Illingworth OBE -
Former Director Land Warfare & Former Deputy Commander Joint Helicopter Command,
IMH 2025 Conference Chairman
Brigadier General Matthew Braman - Director, Army Aviation, US Army
Colonel Mats-Uno Runeson - Deputy Wing Commander, Helicopter Wing, Swedish Armed Forces
Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy Fountain - Director Air Requirements 9 (Tactical Aviation), Royal Canadian Air Force
Jay Macklin - Director, Army, and Air Force (AAFS) Strategy and Business Development, Sikorsky, A Lockheed Martin Company
Major General (Retd) James Illingworth OBE
Former Director Land Warfare & Former Deputy Commander Joint Helicopter CommandIMH 2025 Conference Chairman
Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy Fountain
Director Air Requirements 9 (Tactical Aviation)Royal Canadian Air Force
Jay Macklin
Director, Army, and Air Force (AAFS) Strategy and Business DevelopmentSikorsky, A Lockheed Martin Company
9:40 - 10:10
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS FROM AIRBUS
William Sampson -
VP, Head of Market Operations,
Airbus Helicopters
10:00 - 10:30
MORNING NETWORKING BREAK, VIP EXHIBITION TOURS & EXHIBITOR TECH DEMOS
10:30 - 11:10
UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF ATTACK HELICOPTERS IN CURRENT CONFLICT: OBSERVATIONS FROM UKRAINE
Lieutenant Colonel Emiliano Pellegrini -
Subject Matter Expert Attack Helicopters,
JAPCC
· Rotorcraft vulnerabilities identified from the Russia Ukraine conflict
· Changes in the role of attack helicopters between 2023 and 2024
· Analysis of the future developments in attack helicopter operations as the conflict continues
11:10 - 11:40
RESERVED FOR INDUSTRY INSIGHTS FROM BOEING
11:40 - 11:45
COMFORT BREAK & TRACK MOVEMENT TIME
TRACK 1: OPERATIONAL READINESS WITH EFFECTIVE TRAINING
Chaired By: Major General (Retd) James Illingworth OBE, Former Deputy Commander Joint Helicopter Command
11:45 - 12:25
MULTINATIONAL SUPPORT TO NATO HELICOPTER READINESS AND TRAINING
Jason Hawker -
Principal Officer, NATO Flight Training Europe,
NSPA
Daniele Cucchi - Aviation Support Programme Manager, NSPA
Daniele Cucchi - Aviation Support Programme Manager, NSPA
12:25 - 12:55
AUSTRALIA’S ARMY AVIATION COMMAND – PAST, PRESET AND FUTURE
Major General David Hafner AM CSC -
Commander, Aviation Command,
Australian Army
12:55 - 13:25
PANEL DISCUSSION: MAXIMISING VALUE OF MULTINATIONAL TRAINING
Major General (Retd) James Illingworth OBE -
Former Director Land Warfare & Former Deputy Commander Joint Helicopter Command,
IMH 2025 Conference Chairman
Major General David Hafner AM CSC - Commander, Aviation Command, Australian Army
Jason Hawker - Principal Officer, NATO Flight Training Europe, NSPA
Major General David Hafner AM CSC - Commander, Aviation Command, Australian Army
Jason Hawker - Principal Officer, NATO Flight Training Europe, NSPA
Major General (Retd) James Illingworth OBE
Former Director Land Warfare & Former Deputy Commander Joint Helicopter CommandIMH 2025 Conference Chairman
TRACK 2: UPGRADING PLATFORM CAPABILITIES WITH ADVANCED SENSORS & WEAPONS
Chaired By: Rear Admiral (Ret.) Matt Briers CBE, Former Director Carrier Strike, UK Ministry of Defence
11:45 - 12:15
HENSOLDT SOFTWARE DEFINED DEFENSE (SDD)
12:15 - 12:55
ENHANCING THE FLEET AIR ARM’S CAPABILITIES TO FIGHT AND WIN FROM AIR AND SEA
Commodore Matt Royals -
Commander Fleet Air Arm,
Royal Australian Navy
· Strategies to prepare for and respond to conduct warfare in all domains
· Requirements to upgrade lethality and stealth for anti-submarine missions with the MH-60R Seahawk
· Gaining a tactical edge over adversaries operating in the Indo Pacific
12:55 - 13:25
MOOG SPECIALIZED WEAPON SOLUTIONS
13:25 - 14:30
LUNCH AND NETWORKING BREAK
TRACK 1: TACTICAL INTEGRATION OF UNCREWED SYSTEMS FOR LIFT, FIND & ATTACK MISSION SETS
Chaired By: Major General (Retd) James Illingworth OBE, Former Deputy Commander Joint Helicopter Command
14:30 - 15:00
MANNED-UNMANNED TEAMING FOR ROTARY AVIATION: NEW SYSTEM OF SYSTEMS, OR JUST A BETTER WAY FOR HELICOPTERS TO WORK WITH UAS?
Colonel Guido Krahl -
Branch Chief Army Aviation,
Bundeswehr
Lieutenant Colonel Robert Borowski - Head of Army Aviation Concepts & Deputy Branch Chief Army Aviation, ACCDC - Bundeswehr
Lieutenant Colonel Robert Borowski - Head of Army Aviation Concepts & Deputy Branch Chief Army Aviation, ACCDC - Bundeswehr
· Capability improvements of MUM-T for German Army Aviation, and modifications needed for successful operations
· Finding the right balance between autonomy and manned-unmanned teaming to maximise performance
· Potential challenges of utilizing manned-unmanned teaming in conjunction with UAS, and steps to mitigate these challenges
Lieutenant Colonel Robert Borowski
Head of Army Aviation Concepts & Deputy Branch Chief Army AviationACCDC - Bundeswehr
15:00 - 15:30
ENHANCING LETHALITY AND SURVIVABILITY: LEVERAGING LAUNCHED EFFECTS IN CONTESTED ENVIRONMENTS
Liam Ball -
Senior Principal Rotorcraft Systems Engineer,
DSTL - UK MoD
• A strategic overview of pairing Launched Effects with Attack and Reconnaissance Helicopters for mission success
• Initial findings, key assumptions, and critical considerations for effective implementation
• Current initiatives and future developments shaping the operational landscape
• Join us to uncover innovative approaches driving mission impact in challenging and degraded operational settings
15:30 - 16:00
SPEED, RANGE AND LETHALITY OF THE BCT FLEET TO GAIN AN ADVANTAGE OVER ADVERSARIES
Brigadier Nick English MBE PhD -
Commander,
1st Aviation Brigade Combat Team
· Tactical integration of current platforms for lift, find and attack mission sets
· Lessons identified from current operations, and future requirements to enhance combat capabilities
· Strategic view on the future of uncrewed systems for combat aviation
· Future design and operational challenges to ensure seamless multi-domain interoperability
TRACK 2: OPTIMISING SUSTAINMENT TO MAXIMISE THE OPERATIONAL LIFE OF CURRENT AND FUTURE FLEETS
Chaired By: Rear Admiral (Ret.) Matt Briers CBE, Former Director Carrier Strike, UK Ministry of Defence
14:30 - 15:00
MAXIMISING ROTORCRAFT AVAILABILITY FOR THE UK ARMED FORCES: MANAGING THE NEXT 5-10 YEARS OF FLYING
Mark Langrill -
Director Rotary Wing & Uncrewed Air Systems,
DE&S - UK MoD
· Current strategies for increasing availability of the UK’s Merlin fleet
· Providing maximum availability for live operators of Apache and Chinook fleets
· Update on the Rotary Wing Enterprise initiative
15:00 - 15:30
RESERVED FOR INDUSTRY INSIGHTS FROM NHINDUSTRIES
Axel Aloccio -
NHI President and Head of NH90 Program, Airbus Helicopters,
NHIndustries
15:30 - 16:00
FUTURE HEAVY LIFT CAPABILITIES: INCREASING SURVIVABILITY OF THE CH-53K
Colonel Kate Fleeger -
Program Manager, PMA-261 H53 Heavy Lift Helicopters,
Naval Air Systems Command
· Strategies to ensure sufficient spare components and repair capabilities to prepare for first CH-53K deployment in 2026
· Providing logistics support to Marines spread out on and near shore in the Indo-Pacific, and increasing capabilities in high, hot environments
· Operational innovations to drive the use of the CH-53K forwards, and new strategies to work with the remaining legacy heavy lift aircraft
Colonel Kate Fleeger
Program Manager, PMA-261 H53 Heavy Lift HelicoptersNaval Air Systems Command
16:00 - 16:30
AFTERNOON COFFEE AND NETWORKING
TRACK 1: FUTURE ROLE OF UNCREWED CAPABILITIES & UNMANNED PLATFORMS FOR ROTARY AVIATION
Chaired By: Major General (Retd) James Illingworth OBE, Former Deputy Commander Joint Helicopter Command
16:30 - 17:30
PANEL DISCUSSION: THE POTENTIAL & CHALLENGES OF UNCREWED AVIATION
Major General (Retd) James Illingworth OBE -
Former Director Land Warfare & Former Deputy Commander Joint Helicopter Command,
IMH 2025 Conference Chairman
Colonel Guido Krahl - Branch Chief Army Aviation, Bundeswehr
Major General (Retd) James Illingworth OBE - Former Director Land Warfare & Former Deputy Commander Joint Helicopter Command, IMH 2025 Conference Chairman
Brigadier Nick English MBE PhD - Commander, 1st Aviation Brigade Combat Team
Captain Joe Dransfield - Deputy Head Operations, Operating Assurance Group, Military Aviation Authority
Colonel Guido Krahl - Branch Chief Army Aviation, Bundeswehr
Major General (Retd) James Illingworth OBE - Former Director Land Warfare & Former Deputy Commander Joint Helicopter Command, IMH 2025 Conference Chairman
Brigadier Nick English MBE PhD - Commander, 1st Aviation Brigade Combat Team
Captain Joe Dransfield - Deputy Head Operations, Operating Assurance Group, Military Aviation Authority
· What are the near-term priorities of incorporating more uncrewed capabilities and manned-unmanned teaming into current mission sets?
· How do militaries see the future balance between crewed and uncrewed capabilities in rotary aviation?
· How much can uncrewed systems do for rotary fleets now, and what should remain crewed in the future to maximise mission effectiveness?
· Challenges of implementing uncrewed capabilities into attack mission sets with more GPS jamming, and increasingly electromagnetically contested environments where a human decider needs to be on the platform
· How can militaries strike the right balance between cost and capability, focusing on near-term requirements of the next 5-10 years?
Major General (Retd) James Illingworth OBE
Former Director Land Warfare & Former Deputy Commander Joint Helicopter CommandIMH 2025 Conference Chairman
Major General (Retd) James Illingworth OBE
Former Director Land Warfare & Former Deputy Commander Joint Helicopter CommandIMH 2025 Conference Chairman
Captain Joe Dransfield
Deputy Head Operations, Operating Assurance GroupMilitary Aviation Authority
TRACK 2: MAXIMISING HELICOPTER AVAILABILITY FOR EVOLVING OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Chaired By: Rear Admiral (Ret.) Matt Briers CBE, Former Director Carrier Strike, UK Ministry of Defence
16:30 - 17:00
SUSTAINING LITHUANIA’S UPGRADED ROTARY FLEET TO STRENGTHEN BALTIC SECURITY
Lieutenant Colonel Andrius Stuknys -
Chief of HQ Engineering Service,
Lithuanian Air Force
· Gain insights into the repair and logistical requirements to maximise availability of the Black Hawk fleet
· Benefits of improved interoperability with Poland and Latvia to strengthen Lithuanian long-term security
· Enhancing maintenance capabilities with improved infrastructure for MRO activities
17:00 - 17:30
CURRENT CHALLENGES, CAPABILITIES AND PRIORITIES OF THE BULGARIAN AIR FORCE HELICOPTER BASE
Major Hristo Valev -
Squadron Commander, 24th Helicopter Airbase,
Bulgarian Air Force
17:30 - 18:00
EXPLOITING DIGITAL & AI TOOLS TO IMPROVE ROTORCRAFT AVAILABILITY AND READINESS
Commander Brett Gillies -
Commanding Officer - 1710 Naval Air Squadron,
Royal Navy
Stephanie Griffiths - Head of Data Exploitation - 1710 Naval Air Squadron, Royal Navy
· Royal Navy strategies to change the game in aircraft availability, and support the readiness of all MOD rotary platforms
· Opportunities for data exploitation to drive more time and cost efficient maintenance
· Collaboration with industry partners to position the Royal Navy at the forefront of innovation in the defence industry
18:00 - 18:30
MAA PERSPECTIVE ON UNCREWED CAPABILITIES
Captain Joe Dransfield -
Deputy Head Operations, Operating Assurance Group,
Military Aviation Authority
· Strategies to counter EW and cybersecurity threats posed by increased use of UAS in the battlespace
· Certification challenges of uncrewed systems, and current regularly status
· Innovations needed to effectively integrate UAS into rotary platforms
Captain Joe Dransfield
Deputy Head Operations, Operating Assurance GroupMilitary Aviation Authority
18:30 - 18:40
CHAIRMAN’S SUMMARY REMARKS
Major General (Retd) James Illingworth OBE -
Former Director Land Warfare & Former Deputy Commander Joint Helicopter Command,
IMH 2025 Conference Chairman
Major General (Retd) James Illingworth OBE
Former Director Land Warfare & Former Deputy Commander Joint Helicopter CommandIMH 2025 Conference Chairman
