Bell and Leonardo to cooperate on military tiltrotor technology, aiming for NATO’s NGRC program

Bell Textron Inc. and Leonardo S.p.A., signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to evaluate opportunities for cooperation in the field of tiltrotor technology and its military applications.

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As world leaders in the design, manufacture and support of rotorcraft for commercial and military applications, Bell and Leonardo share a decades-long history of industrial cooperation in both traditional helicopters and collaboration in tilt-rotor technology.

The cooperative effort will begin in earnest with the NATO Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) Concept Study #5, where Leonardo will take the lead on a tiltrotor architecture proposal with Bell in support.

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“This cooperative effort between Bell and Leonardo reflects our shared vision that next generation rotorcraft will be influenced by the speed, range and manoeuvrability only tiltrotor technology can deliver,” said Lisa Atherton, president and CEO, Bell. “We are proud to deepen our relationship with Leonardo as we continue to explore emerging vertical lift programs in Europe and the United States.

Gian Piero Cutillo, Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters, said “We’re thrilled to evaluate new joint efforts for the next generation of rotorcraft technologies, based on our solid and shared view of the unique advantages of tiltrotors. Leonardo has always firmly endorsed tiltrotor technologies to meet evolving rotorcraft requirements, even more so as new needs emerge in the market.”

????️Today could mark a historic day for the vertical lift industry as #Leonardo & @BellFlight signed an #MoU to join forces on military tiltrotor technology. Gian Piero Cutillo, Managing Director of #LeonardoHelicopters, underlines the solid and shared view of the unique advantages… pic.twitter.com/c2DC03bhOB

— Leonardo Helicopters (@LDO_Helicopters) February 29, 2024

Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC)

A significant number of the helicopters currently in service with NATO Allies will reach the end of their life cycle in the period 2035-40 and beyond, with a consequent need for replacements. All of these inventories are based on designs from the last century.

The goal of the Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) program is to respond to this upcoming need in a timely and cost-effective manner, while taking advantage of a wide range of recent advances in technology, production methods and operational concepts.

The program is currently in a phase of market research and survey of new technologies, such as digital design or open architecture systems, in order to apply them in future revisions of the conceptual design of integrated platforms. These revisions will be completed during Concept Study #5 in the coming months. It remains to be seen whether the proposal Leonardo and Bell will bring to the table is based on a development of the V-280 Valor or a different design.