DAY THREE | THURSDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2026

8:00 - 8:50 REGISTRATION AND REFRESHMENTS

INDUSTRY MORNING

8:55 - 9:00 CHAIRMAN’S OPENING REMARKS

INDUSTRY MORNING

9:00 - 10:30 INTERACTIVE ROUNDTABLES: JOIN TECHNICAL EXPERTS TO DISCUSS CURRENT AND FUTURE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENTS FOR ADVANCED ROTARY CAPABILITIES

TABLE 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 REMARKS

PRIORITISING 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
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Brigadier General Wolfgang Luttenberger

Commander, Air Support Brigade
Austrian Air Force

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, J8
Colonel 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

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Colonel Brent "Sword" Golden

Force Application Division Chief
US Joint Staff, J8

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Colonel Lawrence Jones

Deputy Division Chief
US Joint Staff, J8

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

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Colonel Stefan Okos

Commander, 51st Helicopter Wing
Slovak Air Force

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

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Colonel Christian Guntsch

Advisor to the Air Chief for CH-47F
German Air Force

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

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Sandro Martino

Program Manager Military Transport Helicopter
Armasuisse

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

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Colonel Roger Waleski Jr.

Commander
US Army Special Operations Aviation Command

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

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Air Commodore Nicholas Knight

Head Combat Aviation Programmes
British Army

14:30 - 15:00 AFTERNOON TEA BREAK & VIP EXHIBITION TOURS

SHAPING THE FUTURE OF MULTI-DOMAIN OPERATIONS

• 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

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Brigadier General Francisco Coll Herrero

SP Head of Rotary Wing Aerial Systems
Directorate-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?

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Captain Broder Nielsen

Commander
German Naval Air Command

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Nick Childs

Senior Fellow
International Institute for Strategic Studies

16:00 - 16:10 CHAIRMAN’S CLOSING REMARKS & CONFERENCE SUMMARY