A company based in Ireland has been enlisted to contribute to a conceptual study towards the creation of a new helicopter for the Nato military alliance. The helicopter division of Airbus, the European aircraft producer, has been granted a contract by the Nato Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) to spearhead the study of a new medium-duty helicopter.
Airbus confirmed in its announcement that several countries including France, Germany, the UK, the US, Ireland, and Italy are participating in this project through various partnering firms. Every collaborator will offer their unique expertise in fields such as helicopter design, systems integration, connectivity, weaponry and effectors, avionics and sensors, to the study. The focus will be high-performing rotorcraft, with an inclination towards modular, multi-mission concepts fully compliant with Nato standards and featuring robust communicative systems.
A spokesperson for Airbus indicated that Ireland’s participation in the project will be through work conducted by Rockwell Collins Ireland. In 2018, United Technologies acquired Rockwell Collins, which now functions under the name Collins Aerospace.
Collins Aerospace operates two Irish branches, located in Cork and Shannon. According to their site, Collins Aerospace has been operational in Ireland since 1988. The firm’s Shannon facility is globally recognised for their commercial aircraft electrical generator component repairs. The Cork branch is noted for its capacity in applied research and technology, forming part of a worldwide technology and open innovation resource team across Europe, the US, and Asia.
There have been no further details released about the project. In 2022 financial reports, it was revealed that Collins Aerospace Ireland Limited was established in 2010 as the European research hub for the United Technologies Research Centre (UTRC). Approximately 64 researchers and scientists currently work at the facility, focusing on progressing the capabilities of Raytheon Technologies Corporation (formerly United Technologies Corporation).
The primary operations are centred around aeronautical systems and involve exploration and advancement in fundamental technical areas. The establishment accrues income from within the company by adding a charge to its expenses through an internal operation agreement with its parent firm. Funding is also acquired from the Irish Development Authority [IDA Ireland] and the European Union.
Bruno Even, the head of Airbus Helicopters, stated that participating in the Nato examination for the upcoming generation of military helicopters offers “a remarkable chance to capitalise on our experience working with various European military forces”.
He further added, “In collaboration with our highly adept partners, we aim to cultivate a European solution – an idea that would cater to the requirements of the Nato military forces and assure industrial independence for our European nations whilst preserving key engineering capabilities.”
The Defence Department in Dublin expressed it has no involvement in the initiative concerning the projected new helicopter system.