Delivering Integrated Rotary and Uncrewed Aviation Capabilities to 2040 and Beyond
Now in its 25th year, the International Military Helicopter Conference (IMH) is returning to the Novotel London West from 24 - 26 February 2026. As the longest-standing and most respected forum dedicated to rotary wing capability development and cooperation, IMH 2026 will bring together the most influential stakeholders from across the global rotary wing community, including military leaders, operators, procurement heads and industry experts, to shape the future of vertical lift.
As nations continue to modernise legacy fleets and invest in next-generation platforms, the shifting international environment presents complex challenges when operating against peer and near-peer adversaries. In this context, the growing sophistication and capability of uncrewed systems is prompting military leaders to reassess how rotary platforms can deliver critical effects across in the modern operating environment.
The 25th annual IMH will focus on the evolution of rotorcraft capabilities, with particular emphasis on the tactical integration of uncrewed and autonomous systems for lift, find, and attack missions, as well as the continued development of next-generation rotorcraft platforms that meet the demands of future operations. Alongside these forward-thinking discussions, the conference will examine strategies for sustaining, upgrading, and optimising current fleets to maintain readiness and availability in increasingly contested environments.
Covering a range of critical topics, International Military Helicopter 2026 will examine those which are relevant to the modern battlefield and the role of rotary aviation across the domains, including:
Observations and Lessons Identified from Current Conflicts
Updates on Current Rotary Wing Programmes, including FLRAA, NMH & NGRC
Modernisation of Existing Platforms to Enhance Performance and Survivability
Current Training Capabilities to Maximise Operational Readiness
Upgrading Rotorcraft with Advanced Avionics, Connectivity, and Communication Systems
Tactical & Strategic Integration of Uncrewed Systems into the Force
Optimising Sustainment and MRO for Current and Future Fleets
Future of Rotary Aviation in the Multi-Domain Battlespace
What to Expect in 2026
500+ Attendees
40+ Presentations
50+ Nations
80+ Organisations
It was a great forum for the international military helicopter community to come together and share and discuss current experiences, ways of working and associated challenges.
Highly relevant in this rapidly changing military world, particularly for helicopter OEMs such as Leonardo.
IMH 2026 Conference Chair & Co-Chair
Major General (Rtd) James Illingworth OBE, Former Director Land Warfare & Former Deputy Commander Joint Helicopter Command, IMH Conference Chairman
Rear Admiral (Rtd) Michael Steffen, Former Commander, Navy Reserve Fores Command & HSL-60, US Navy
2026 Early Confirmed Speakers
Admiral Sir Keith Blount KCB OBE, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander (DSACEUR) Europe, NATO-ACO-SHAPE
Major General David Hafner AM CSC, Commander, Aviation Command, Australian Army
Rear Admiral Cho Young-sang, Commander, ROKN Naval Air Command, Republic of Korea Navy
Major General Matthew Cansdale, Director Futures, British Army
Major General Bogdan Rycerski, Commander, Joint Force Training Centre
Major General Zeynel Abidin Erginbas, Commander, Turkish Army Aviation, Turkish Armed Forces Army Aviation
Brigadier General David Walsh, Program Executive Officer, Air Anti-Submarine Warfare, Assault and Special Miss, Department of the Navy
Commodore Steve Bolton, Deputy Director Aviation Programmes and Futures, Royal Navy
Brigadier General Cain Baker, Director, Future Vertical Lift Cross Functional Team, US Army
Brigadier General Wolfgang Luttenberger, Commander, Air Support Brigade, Austrian Air Force
Brigadier General Francisco Coll Herrero, SP Head of Rotary Wing Aerial Systems, Directorate-General of Arms and Materiel (DGAM)
Brigadier Ed Cartwright, Commander, 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team
Rodney Davis, Deputy Program Executive Officier - Aviation, US Army
Brigadier Hubert Doutaud, Deputy Commander, French Army Aviation
Commodore Steve Jose, Head of UKMFTS Portfolio, UK Ministry of Defence
Colonel Jeffrey Poquette, Program Manager, Future Long Range Assault Aircraft, US Army
Colonel Krzysztof Kwiatkowski, Chief of Combat Aviation Helicopter Branch, General Command of the Polish Armed Forces
Colonel Robert Tyler, Director Air Requirements, Royal Canadian Air Force
Colonel Brent "Sword" Golden, Force Application Division Chief, US Joint Staff, J8
Captain Will Hargreaves, Program Manager, H-60 Multi-Mission Helicopter Program, US Navy
Colonel Lawrence Jones, Deputy Division Chief, US Joint Staff, J8
Colonel Christian Guntsch, Advisor to the Air Chief for CH-47F, German Air Force
Captain James Hall, Commanding Officer, RNAS Culdrose, Royal Navy
Captain Broder Nielsen, Commander, German Naval Air Command
Colonel Timothy Jaeger, Director, Army Aviation, US Army
Colonel Kresimir Razov, Commander, 93rd Wing, Croatian Air Force
Mark Langrill, Director Rotary Wing & Uncrewed Air Systems, DE&S - UK MoD
Colonel Guido Krahl, Branch Chief, Army Aviation, Bundeswehr
Colonel Stefan Okos, Commander, 51st Helicopter Wing, Slovak Air Force
Colonel Roger Waleski Jr., Commander, US Army Special Operations Aviation Command
Colonel Guillaume Briançon-Rouge, Head of HR, Studies, and Doctrinal Foresight, French Army Aviation
Commander Brett Gillies, Commanding Officer, 1710 Naval Air Squadron, Royal Navy
Lieutenant Colonel Luca Giordano, Chief of the SAOS/PR Training Section, Special Operations Air Brigade - Italian Air Force
Lieutenant Commander Samuel Budd, Aircraft Integrity & Technology Officer, 1710 Naval Air Squadron, Royal Navy
Lieutenant Colonel Rickard Rörberg, Chief Instructor, Multinational Helicopter Training Centre
Cyril Heckel, Program and Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability Manager, NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA)
Lieutenant Colonel David Beatrix, Rotary Wing Experimental Test Pilot, French Air and Space Force
Arbo Probal, UxS and C-UxS Program Manager, Force Transformation Command, Estonian Defence Forces
Sandro Martino, Program Manager Military Transport Helicopter, Armasuisse
Neil Mathieson, Head of Regulation and Certification, Military Aviation Authority - UK MoD
Helen Wheatley, Air Futures, DE&S - UK MoD
James Gavin, Deputy Director UKDI, MOD NAD UK Defence Innovation
Dr. Jack Watling *subject to final confirmation, Senior Research Fellow, Land Warfare, RUSI
Nick Childs, Senior Fellow, International Institute for Strategic Studies
2026 Industry Speakers
Ryan Scoble, Director, Business Development, Army Rotary Wing Programs and MOSA Modernization, Collins Aerospace
Scott Ariotti, Director of Programs, The DiSTI Corporation
Please fill in your name and email to receive the Concept Agenda of this event.
Venue
Novotel London West 1 Shortlands, W6 8DR Hammersmith, London, United Kingdom
Reservation Method Reserve your room by clicking on the reservation link below. We have reserved a selection of rooms at a discounted group rate, subject to availability; https://book.passkey.com/go/MILIHELI
Group Rate: We have partnered with HotelMap to offer discounted rates at nearby hotels, please reserve your room by clicking on this reservation link.
