A Flying Start To Global Defence Helicopter 2024

All in all it’s been an outstanding first day at Global Defence Helicopter 2024 in Warsaw.

Our ever-growing event continues to provide a combination of industry, procurement and end-user insights, coupled with the opportunity for our 950-plus attendees from 50-plus nations to network, discuss shared experiences and exchange ideas about solutions to challenges common to users across the rotary-wing sector and beyond.

Our day began with an illuminating and frank welcome address from Major General Ireneusz Nowak, Inspector, Polish Air Force.

Topics covered included everything from a deteriorating geopolitical safety environment and public support for increased national military expenditure, to the ways in which Poland was reacting to counter anticipated threats.

He talked about his nation’s evolution of its helicopter fleet from East to West, moving from Soviet-era platforms to the present day, and its integration of aircraft such as its acquisition of 96 AH-64E Apaches, a situation that has required changes in “tactics, techniques, procedures and attitudes.” 

There was also discussion of their vision of a future “net-centric” approach to warfare; as was noted: “air power is not going to be alone on the battlefield.” 

It’s safe to say that the prevailing view common to many of the day’s speakers was the central role that helicopters will continue to play—  both on the battlefields of the future and in providing critical support during peacetime as nations scramble to react to civilian crises.

Maj. Gen. Nowak was not the only speaker to hail the vital role helicopters have played saving lives when natural disasters strike: for example, the Hungarian Air Force’s Lieutenant Colonel Sandor Makai highlighted missions performed by the H225, including firefighting in North Macedonia and flood relief in Hungary.

And climate change popped up in other more unexpected ways, too. Croatian Air Force commander Major General Michael Krizanec revealed record numbers of rodents had been chewing at the cables of his country’s Black Hawk fleet!

Oddly, though, they had been leaving the Soviet-era legacy helicopters alone, he said, joking that either American helicopter cables were hamburger-flavoured, or the mice were Russian…

In a separate presentation Commander Antonio Strina of the Italian Armaments Directorate spoke knowledgeably and at length on his country’s approach to national and international rotary wing procurement programmes, focusing on legacy, endurance and next-generation elements.

There was detail on how new platforms such as the AW249 would improve lethality, precision, and the ability to strike at distance; it was also interesting to hear stressed the continued importance of keeping humans in the loop as improvements are sought to the “performance triangle” of speed, payload, and range in next-generation rotorcraft.

Many speakers noted how current conflicts, such as the ongoing fighting in Ukraine, were asking nations to rethink their approaches to rotary wing aviation, both in terms of capability and procurement timelines.

Some, such as Brigadier General Hubert Doutaud, Deputy Commander of French Army Aviation, provided wider insights into how his country regarded the role of helicopters in aerocombat.

Others, such as Lt. Col. Makai, drilled down into the detail of operational experience: in his case, giving details of how the H225M had performed in its first year of service with the Hungarian Air Force.

And Colonel Christian Guntsch of the German Air Force, advisor to the Air Chief for CH-47F described the steps his country was taking to be ready to take delivery of its Block II Chinooks.

The first of its 60 aircraft being acquired in the €7 billion programme are due to be delivered in autumn 2027, and the programme requires a further €1 billion in infrastructure upgrades, including as an example a 16-fold increase in fuel capacity alone at its Schonewald air base!

As well as end-users, there was much to be learned from experts in procurement, too: Anna Kviblad gave an overview of how FMV, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, was adapting to life as a NATO member and planning for the future.

Meanwhile Mark Langrill, the U.K.’s Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) Director of Helicopters , gave valuable insights into how adopting an enterprise culture approach had improved aircraft availability for Merlin Mk2s in just 18 months.

The organisation is aiming to replicate this model across the rotary and uncrewed sector generally as it seeks to enhance capabilities without increasing overall budgets via a spiral development approach with a focus on mission success, not contract delivery, and sustained availability over platform acquisition.

Interspersed throughout the day were contributions from a series of industry partners, too. Leonardo talked about its full-spectrum capability offerings, including the part it was playing in the revamp of the host nation’s helicopter fleet.

It also spoke about the criteria driving the move to greater autonomy: reducing cognitive workload and danger levels for crew, and increasing efficiency.

Representatives from Airbus, too, gave a comprehensive account of how the firm is seeking to anticipate and answer next-generation military requirements towards 2040. And they also talked about its range of UAS solutions for work defined by the “three Ds”: dirty, dull and dangerous. They described taking a step-by-step approach with teaming helicopters and uncrewed systems, starting with a 1:1 ratio, and moving towards potentially having several drones controlled by a single rotary-wing asset.

It would be impossible to provide a comprehensive account here of the wealth of information available to attendees, but suffice to say that our event has had a fantastic first day, and we’re sure that tomorrow and Thursday will prove at least equally rewarding to its guests.

If you’re not here, you're missing out! Watch out for another update tomorrow.