Global Defence Aviation: The New Face of Global Defence Helicopter

Times change, and Global Defence Helicopter (GDH) is changing with the times.

The industry’s premier annual event focusing on rotary wing aircraft will be back bigger and better than ever in 2025 — and with a new name to boot.

On the first day of this year’s GDH summit in Warsaw, Poland, organiser Defence Leaders announced that from next year, the annual three-day event will be known as Global Defence Aviation (GDA).

And along with the rebrand comes an increased focus on Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) between crewed platforms and autonomous systems to reflect the industry’s direction of travel in a rapidly evolving sector.

There’ll also be discussion of how forces can seek to utilise holistic, multi-domain operations to exploit the synergies between rotary-wing craft and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in delivering required operational effect.

Why the change? Well, in essence, it’s because you asked, and we listened! We know that our industry-leading event, now in its 11th year, remains popular precisely because of its laser focus on rotary solutions.

What won’t change is the unmatched blend of expert speakers engaging with serving military officers, procurement agencies and defence industry representatives from multinational players and innovative new SMEs and start-ups alike.

But while we have been undeniably excited to welcome 800-plus attendees from over 50 NATO and friendly nations to Warsaw this year, we’re not content to rest on our laurels: we’re still dedicated to making sure that year on year we’re staging a cutting-edge event that’s hyper-relevant to all who make the trip.

Some of the issues at the heart of this year’s event aren’t likely to change any time soon, of course. The Russian invasion of Ukraine, terrorism, migration and human trafficking, China’s international stance, cyber and other asymmetric threats, advances in space technology, and even climate change will very much remain on the radar, for NATO countries and for those in the Middle East, the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

And of course attention will still be focused on what’s round the corner for rotary-wing aircraft as set to be delivered by both the United States’ Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) and NATO’s Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability programmes.

But from 2025 you’ll also see a revised agenda broadened in scope to include a wider range of aviation assets. While maintaining a strong focus on helicopters, GDA 2025 will also highlight the increased importance of advances in UAS.

Specifically, GDA 2025 will examine how platforms are integrated. The challenges around interoperability and incorporating MUM-T systems will be very much to the fore. And there will continue to be a clear focus on programmes and feedback from exercises.

Discussions will encompass the ways UAS can complement and upgrade helicopter capabilities, extending operational reach, providing real-time surveillance and reducing the risk to manned aircraft.

Other topics for GDA 2025 will include the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve data analysis and decision-making, machine learning for predictive maintenance, and advanced sensor systems for improved situational awareness. And the need for improved airspace management, cast-iron data security and unbroken lines of communication will also be addressed.

Colonel Krzysztof Kwiatkowski, Chief of Combat Aviation Helicopter Branch, Polish Air Force: “Global Defence Helicopter has always been a cornerstone event for our community, providing critical insights and fostering collaboration.

“The transition to Global Defence Aviation ensures that we remain relevant in a rapidly changing environment. By broadening our focus to include uncrewed systems and Manned-Unmanned Teaming, we’re adapting to the evolving needs of modern warfare and maintaining our position at the forefront of defence innovation.”

Brigadier Dr. Nick English, Head of British Army Aviation: “The rebranding to Global Defence Aviation is not just a name change; it’s a reflection of the shift in military aviation strategy.

“As we integrate more uncrewed systems and advanced technologies into our operations, this event will continue to be an essential platform for discussing these developments and ensuring that we are prepared for the challenges ahead.”

Nathan Martin, CEO of Defence Leaders: “Our evolution from Global Defence Helicopter to Global Defence Aviation reflects our commitment to staying ahead of the curve in a rapidly advancing sector.

“While we continue to honour our roots in rotary-wing aviation, this expanded focus will allow us to explore new frontiers in defence technology, ensuring that our event remains indispensable to the global defence community.”

• If you are interested in either speaking at or attending GDA 2025 on October 21-23, 2025 at Hilton Warsaw City, then please call Defence Director Harry Macleod on +44 1245 407 931 or email harry@defenceleaders.com

• For press enquiries about GDA 2025 contact press@defenceleaders.com