International Military Helicopters Content

Want to learn more about what happened in 2019? Check out our Post Show Report that highlights: attendee statistics, what to expect in 2020, and more!

Download 7 presentations from the 2019 International Military Helicopter summit!

Guiding FVL Contracting Solutions to Meet Timelines in Support of Army & Unified Land Operations

• Mr. Joseph Giunta, Executive Director, Army Contracting Command - Redstone

Working Collaboratively with the U.S. Government to Develop and Transition Innovative Vertical Lift Technologies

• Dr. Gerry Graves, Managing Director, Vertical Lift Consortium

Key Challenges in Rotary Wing Aircraft Survival to be Met for Increased Performance and Survivability of Army Aviators

• Colonel Mark K. McPherson, Incoming Commander, United States Army Aeromedical Research Lab (USARRL)

Training Combat Quality Rotary Aviation Professionals to Fortify Navy Global Reach

• Captain Scott Starkey, Chief of Staff, Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA)

Enhancing the Rotary Fleet of the CZE AF with Increased Modernization

• Colonel Rudolf STRAKA, 22nd Helicopter Base Commander, CZE Air Force

Designing, Developing, Delivering and Supporting Advanced Aviation Capabilities for Operational Commanders and Allies

• Major General Thomas H. Todd III, Program Executive Office, PEO Aviation

Building the Army and FVL of the Future: Driving Modernization Efforts for Army Acquisition

• Jeffrey S. White, Principal Deputy, Assistant Secretary of the Army, Acquisition Logistics and Technology
  

The Army is dedicating significant resources to helicopter modernization and has increased its budget by 20% over the past year to $1.1 billion for FY21. Future Vertical Lift (FVL) is one of the army’s “big six” modernization programs outlined in October of 2019, and, it’s funding will be pulled from the total $106.6 billion in RDT&E funding requested to support these six initiatives. Furthermore, the DoD plans to invest a total $4.7 billion in vertical lift, including FVL, from FY20-24.

To learn more about where and why this funding will be used to support FVL initiatives, DOWNLOAD our FY21 budget infographic. 

In Part I of this infographic series, we explored the key investments and strategic priorities of the DoD’s helicopter modernization approach, the Future Vertical Lift Program. As exciting as these modernization efforts are, at $1.1 billion total, they represents only a fraction of the $56.9 billion the DoD plans to spend on Aircraft Systems in FY21.

Though the DoD is investing more in RDT&E than ever before, the bulk of this funding will be devoted to modifying and maintaining its existing airborne fleets to ensure air dominance in FY21 and beyond. In FY21, the DoD plans to invest over $7.32 billion in the acquisition of over 50 new military helicopters and related systems. In addition, $1.4 billion of this funding will be devoted to the development of new capabilities and solutions designed to optimize the lethality, sustainability & survivability of existing helicopter fleets. For more on where exactly this funding is going and why, DOWNLOAD this infographic to experience our full FY21 Military Helicopters Budget Breakdown.

Understanding the drivers of vertical lift modernization is key to informed decision making about the trade-offs involved in future investment options. This analysis, by Gabriel Coll and Andrew Hunter of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, looks at how the United States arrived at vertical lift modernization’s current state through past investments.

This expert analysis, by Gabriel Coll and Andrew Hunter of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, explores prospects for vertical lift modernization in the coming decades, the timing and pace of FVL, potential upgrades to the current fleet, and long-term options for FVL.

Check out Defence IQ's annual Global Military Helicopters report that showcases key requirements and programs from around the world.

Top three benefits of downloading this report?

• Access a detailed, country-by-country list of global programs and requirements 
• Read the latest updates on the U.S. Army's Vertical Lift program
• Review a comprehensive inventory of global helicopter holdings
  

A close look at the past, present, and possible future of funding for FVL.

Mike Hirschberg of the American Helicopter Society explains key developments and trends in vertical flight aircraft, including commercial helicopters, Joint Multi-Role (JMR) / Future Vertical Lift (FVL), and electric VTOL (aka Air Taxis).

Ahead of the International Military Helicopter Summit 2019, DefenceIQ  spoke exclusively to Major Dana Howe, AH-1Z Instructor Pilot, Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One to discuss the key challenges likely to affect survivability, the prevalence of manned and unmanned platforms and systems, and the role of helicopters over the next decade.