24 - 26 February 2026 I Novotel London West, London, United Kingdom
DAY THREE | THURSDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2026
8:00 - 8:50
REGISTRATION AND REFRESHMENTS
INDUSTRY MORNING
8:55 - 9:00 CHAIRMAN’S OPENING REMARKSINDUSTRY MORNING
9:00 - 10:30 INTERACTIVE ROUNDTABLES: JOIN TECHNICAL EXPERTS TO DISCUSS CURRENT AND FUTURE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENTS FOR ADVANCED ROTARY CAPABILITIESTABLE 1: BALANCING LIVE AND SYNTHETIC TRAINING
TABLE 2: INTEGRATION OF ALE AND DRONE MULES
TABLE 3: UTILISING AI AND DIGITAL TOOLS FOR MAINTENANCE
TABLE 4: WEAPON SYSTEMS
TABLE 5: ADVANCED AVIONICS, COMMUNICATIONS & CONNECTIVITY
TABLE 6: INCREASING SURVIVABILITY WITH ARMOUR AND PROTECTION
PRIORITISING FLEET VERSATILITY FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE OPERATIONS
8:55 - 9:00 CHAIRMAN’S OPENING REMARKSPRIORITISING FLEET VERSATILITY FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE OPERATIONS
9:00 - 9:30 STRENGTHENING AUSTRIA’S ROTARY DEFENCE Brigadier General Wolfgang Luttenberger - Commander, Air Support Brigade, Austrian Air Force- Enhanced operational capability with upgraded Black Hawk helicopters delivering improved mobility, survivability, and mission flexibility
- Supporting interoperability with partners and allies
- Aligning future acquisition priorities with long-terms force development goals
PRIORITISING FLEET VERSATILITY FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE OPERATIONS
9:30 - 10:00 VTOL FORCE APPLICATION OPPORTUNITIES Colonel Brent "Sword" Golden - Force Application Division Chief, US Joint Staff, J8Colonel Lawrence Jones - Deputy Division Chief, US Joint Staff, J8
• Anchoring with Allies and Partners to build enduring advantages through force planning and integration
• A holistic look at the capability requirements of the next generation of VTOL aircraft in the future operating environment
• Maximising operational agility to meet contested and dispersed battlefield demands
PRIORITISING FLEET VERSATILITY FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE OPERATIONS
10:00 - 10:30 MODERNISING ROTARY WING CAPABILITIES FOR MULTI-ROLE MISSIONS Colonel Stefan Okos - Commander, 51st Helicopter Wing, Slovak Air Force• Enhancing capacity for defence, SAR, disaster relief, and medevac operations
• Ensuring seamless integration with allied forces through common standards and training exercises
• Future procurement outlook
10:00 - 10:30
MORNING COFFEE AND NETWORKING BREAK
TRACK 1: DEVELOPMENTS IN AVIONICS, CONNECTIVITY & COMMUNICATIONS TO MAXIMISE MISSION EFFECTIVENESS
Chaired By: Major General (Retd) James Illingworth OBE, Former Deputy Commander Joint Helicopter Command
11:00 - 12:00
SME-LED PANEL DISCUSSION: SUPPORTING THE NEXT-GENERATION OF ROTARY OPERATIONS
Hear from a panel of industry innovators, showcasing cutting-edge ideas, technologies and capabilities. The panel is designed to provide fresh perspectives on emerging solutions to support both current and future rotary-wing operations.
• What are the biggest challenges and opportunities for integrating new technologies into existing helicopter fleets?
• How can collaboration between defence primes, SMEs and military stakeholders help accelerate capability delivery?
• How can industry innovators best align their priorities with evolving needs of military forces in the context of high-intensity operations and multi-domain integration?
• What role can SMEs play in creating resilient, responsive supply chains that support sustained helicopter operations in contested environments?
HEAVY LIFT FLEETS AND STRATEGIC AIR MOBILITY
11:00 - 11:30 DELIVERING CH-47F FOR THE GERMAN AIR FORCE Colonel Christian Guntsch - Advisor to the Air Chief for CH-47F, German Air Force• Current priorities and preparations for the arrival of the CH-47F fleet, including progress on training and sustainment planning
• Key features tailored for German Air Force requirements, and the importance of interoperability with NATO partners
• Unique modifications to enhance self-protection and deterrence
HEAVY LIFT FLEETS AND STRATEGIC AIR MOBILITY
11:30 - 12:00 MODERNISING THE SWISS TRANSPORT FLEET Sandro Martino - Program Manager Military Transport Helicopter, Armasuisse• Extending operational life with upgrades and modernisation
• Prioritising improved safety and reliability
• Specific capability requirements to meet current and future demands
ADVANCING INTEROPERABILITY BETWEEN PLATFORMS AND ALLIES
12:00 - 13:00
LUNCH AND NETWORKING BREAK
13:00 - 13:30
USASOAC: DRIVING INTEROPERABILITY AND LETHALITY ACROSS THE JOINT FORCE
Colonel Roger Waleski Jr. -
Commander,
US Army Special Operations Aviation Command
• Advanced technology and tactics to maintain dominance in complex environments
• Enhancing mission success through synchronised planning, training, and execution
• Integrating Special Operations Aviation capabilities seamlessly with joint forces
13:30 - 14:00
RESERVED FOR INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
14:00 - 14:30
SHAPING THE FUTURE FIGHT: PRIORITIES FOR BRITISH ARMY COMBAT AVIATION
Air Commodore Nicholas Knight -
Head Combat Aviation Programmes,
British Army
• Delivering a modernised battlefield aviation fleet that is fully integrated with land forces
• Maximising operational readiness and prioritising allied interoperability
• Reshaping force structure to deliver a more agile aviation force
14:30 - 15:00
AFTERNOON TEA BREAK & VIP EXHIBITION TOURS
SHAPING THE FUTURE OF MULTI-DOMAIN OPERATIONS
15:00 - 15:30
UNIFIED MULTI-DOMAIN CAPABILITIES FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW
Brigadier General Francisco Coll Herrero -
SP Head of Rotary Wing Aerial Systems,
Directorate-General of Arms and Materiel (DGAM)
• Strengthening joint operational effectiveness with the NH90 deliveries across the Air and Space Force, FAMET, and Navy
• Streamlining training, logistics, and maintenance
• Procurement plans for the Spanish Armed Forces rotary-wing fleet
Brigadier General Francisco Coll Herrero
SP Head of Rotary Wing Aerial SystemsDirectorate-General of Arms and Materiel (DGAM)
15:30 - 16:00
PANEL DISCUSSION: MAXIMISING ROTORCRAFT EFFECTIVENESS IN MULTI-DOMAIN OPERATIONS
Captain Broder Nielsen -
Commander,
German Naval Air Command
Nick Childs - Senior Fellow, International Institute for Strategic Studies
• With worldwide interest for multi-use helicopters, what capabilities should Armed Forces prioritise given current security challenges and evolving threats?
• What capabilities are required for enduring fleets to be operationally effective in MDO environments?
• How are nations fostering better coordination and collaboration through multinational helicopter exercises, and how does this aid in preparing for multi-domain operations?
• How are militaries planning to optimise battlespace management when operating in MDO environments?
