en.Wedoany.com Reported - Sikorsky has stated that if its proposal for NATO's Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) is selected by partner nations, the company will commit to establishing a helicopter production facility in Europe.
On the eve of the Farnborough Airshow on July 16, and as the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) prepares to launch the NGRC concept design phase, Sikorsky announced it would conduct development, production, and component manufacturing in Europe, without disclosing specific locations for these facilities. The company also stated it would "collaborate with leading European aerospace companies, industry, and suppliers as part of a robust, locally sourced NGRC production line."
The NGRC program aims to replace approximately 1,000 medium-lift helicopters of various types currently in service with NATO nations from the late 2030s to the 2040s. A similar collaboration in the late 1980s led to the "NATO Helicopter for the 1990s"—the NHIndustries NH90, developed by Airbus, Leonardo, and Fokker.
Sikorsky is one of four aircraft manufacturers cleared to enter the concept design phase after passing a pre-qualification assessment at the end of 2025. Other successful bidders include Airbus, Boeing, and Leonardo. This phase is about to begin, involving the development of a range of new concept designs for the future rotorcraft based on a refined and harmonized set of requirements currently being drafted. Bidders are expected to submit their proposals to NSPA by mid-2027, where they will be evaluated and scored according to predetermined criteria. NSPA, as the contract management authority, will assess the proposals and provide feedback to the nations for their decision-making. NGRC partner nations include France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Canada, with the United States and Spain currently serving as observer nations.
In the early concept phase, Sikorsky proposed two rotorcraft configurations: one with a conventional single main rotor, and another based on the company's X2 compound technology, which features coaxial main rotors and a pusher propeller for high-speed flight. The X2 technology was previously used in the U.S. Army's Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft program but was rejected in favor of Bell's tiltrotor design.
"We are committed to strengthening strategic partnerships, expanding industrial capabilities, and deepening our long-term presence in Europe," said Dennis Goege, CEO of Lockheed Martin Europe. "Local production supports a highly skilled regional workforce, bolsters Europe's defense industrial base, and enhances NATO's readiness." Sikorsky already has production capabilities in Europe through its PZL-Mielec facility in Poland, which manufactures the S-70 Black Hawk helicopter.
Sikorsky stated that, in addition to Europe, it is also promoting a global variant of the NGRC X2 proposal in Asia.
