Military Helicopter Resources | Updates, Interviews, Reports and Analysis

Now in its 26th year, the International Military Helicopter Conference (IMH) will return to Novotel London West in February 2027.

As the premier global forum for rotary wing capability development and collaboration, IMH continues to bring together senior military decision-makers, procurement authorities, and technical experts shaping the future of vertical lift.

Building on a legacy of convening the most influential voices in the rotary wing community, IMH provides a high-impact platform to showcase your solutions, align with strategic priorities, and build lasting relationships across defence and industry. The 2027 agenda is currently in development and will be released soon.

In the meantime, explore the 2026 programme to get a sense of the calibre of speakers, key themes, and opportunities for visibility across keynote sessions, national briefings, panel discussions, and networking events.

The International Military Helicopter Interactive Market Report provides an in-depth, accessible overview of global military helicopter programmes, priorities, and emerging technologies. Designed for defence professionals, industry experts, and procurement leaders, this interactive resource helps users navigate the complex and rapidly evolving rotary-wing landscape. With country-specific insights, upcoming programme details, and expert analysis, the report highlights key trends shaping the future of military aviation. Its interactive format allows users to explore data intuitively, compare regional capabilities, and identify opportunities for collaboration and innovation across the global helicopter market.

Our Military Helicopter Global Market Report provides an in-depth analysis of the current rotorcraft landscape, offering defence professionals critical insight into global procurement priorities, technological advancements, and regional market dynamics shaping the sector’s future.

The report draws upon exclusive data, expert commentary, and forecasts to explore key trends in modernisation programmes, fleet sustainment strategies, platform innovation, and industry partnerships driving capability development. It also examines the influence of next-generation technologies on future operational effectiveness.

Discover the latest regional breakdowns and forward-looking assessments by downloading this essential report today. It’s an invaluable resource for military planners, OEMs, and industry stakeholders looking to understand where investment, innovation, and opportunity will converge in the years ahead. Access the full report to explore comprehensive market analysis, data insights, and forecasts through 2030.

In this insightful session, Brigadier General David Cruzille examines the evolving challenges of aero combat and rotorcraft within today’s operational landscape. Drawing on lessons identified from recent conflicts, he explores how armed forces must adapt to meet emerging threats and opportunities.

Key themes include:

• Preparing for the future of aero combat and rotary operations
• Categories of aero combat manoeuvre in modern theatres
• The growing dronisation of air mobile operations
• What the future battlespace might look like for rotorcraft

This presentation offers both strategic reflections and forward-looking perspectives, equipping defence professionals with the understanding needed to anticipate and adapt to the next era of military aviation.

For a long time now, helicopters have been indispensable to military operations - providing lift, attack, reconnaissance, and medical evacuation in every major conflict. That being said, modern battlefields have exposed the limits of relying on rotary assets alone. Peer and near-peer adversaries, contested airspaces, and advancement in technology demands a new approach: one in which crewed helicopters and uncrewed systems operate as a single, integrated force. In our latest article, we explore how manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) is reshaping the next generation of aviation forces – touching on the opportunities it offers, the challenges it poses, and how programmes are adapting.

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.

It is the most up-to-date and comprehensive data tool for learning where over US$121 billion is being spent across over 40 countries and 130+ rotary programmes.

Hosted on the IMH website, this interactive report is fully customisable. Whether you view spending by country or region or delve deeper into individual programmes, this interactive report empowers you to extract the ultimate value from the global data set.

Download the report now to:

• Discover specific programme forecasts on different helicopter types, including attack, heavy lift, training & utility
• View detailed breakdowns of spending trends across regions and globally. • Access country-specific project spending.
• Gain insights on expenditures by helicopter type and supplier.

Stay ahead on your market intelligence with Defence iQs International Military Helicopter Interactive Report.

As NATO finalises requirements for its Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC), collaboration, innovation, and interoperability remain central. With concept studies complete, the programme enters a pivotal phase that will define NATO’s rotary-wing future. Ahead of his briefing at International Military Helicopter 2026, Cyril Heckel, NGRC Programme Manager at the NSPA, discusses recent developments, procurement milestones, and how advanced technologies will drive a sustainable, modular, and mission-ready next-generation platform.

The Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) is one of NATO’s high-visibility initiatives. It aims to provide a timely and cost-effective solution to the large number of multi-role rotorcraft that will reach the end of their lifecycle by 2035/2040. Defence iQ’s Divisional Director, Anisa Cousin, had the pleasure of being joined by Cyril Heckel, NGRC Programme Manager at NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA).

Cyril spoke to us at length about NGRC, including: insights into the industry collaboration on future concept studies; what's expected in the post-concept phase of the programme, plans to shape NGRC specifications and requirements, which include running a competitive process to identify the NGRC design solution; and the awareness and integration of technology such as AI, and Additive Manufacturing, and Open System Architecture for a positive impact on through-life. Cyril provided a brief at the 24th annual International Military Helicopter conference, where we will broght together 500+ of the most influential stakeholders from across the global rotary wing community.

The International Military Helicopter Conference (IMH) 2026 returned to the Novotel London West, London, United Kingdom, from 24–26 February 2026, marking its 25th anniversary as the longest-standing and most respected global forum dedicated to rotary-wing capability development. Bringing together Army and Naval Aviation Commanders, as well as Air Force leaders, Programme Heads, and Capability Developers, the conference once again served as a critical platform for shaping the future of vertical lift in an increasingly complex and contested operating environment. At its core, IMH 2026 was designed to address the evolving role of rotary aviation against the backdrop of modern conflict and rapid technological advancement.

IMH 2026 welcomed over 600 attendees from across 50 nations, with 45 military and government speakers contributing to the agenda. The event achieved an overall satisfaction rating of 96% reflecting its continued relevance and value to the global rotary-wing community. This post-show report provides a comprehensive overview of the key insights shared throughout the conference. It captures the most significant themes from each day, offering a clear and accessible summary for those who attended, as well as those seeking to understand the direction of travel for military helicopter capability development.

The International Military Helicopter Conference 2026 was the place to be; where global rotary-wing leaders meet to shape the future of military aviation. From cutting-edge technology discussions to strategic capability development, IMH continues to be the premier platform for collaboration across armed forces and industry innovators.

As preparations for 2027 are in full swing, download the IMH 2026 Attendee List now and discover what the conference is all about.

In an era increasingly defined by contested airspaces, peer competition, and integrated multi-domain operations, the technological evolution of rotary aviation is far from incremental. Instead, the next two decades will see rotary aviation transform via human–machine teaming, advanced networking, survivability upgrades, immersive training, and more central roles in joint operations. 

In this report, these trends are explored in depth, with illustrative examples and forward projections.