Helicopter Technology Central and Eastern Europe Conference 2026

Facilitating the Maintenance and Modernisation of Military Helicopter Technology to Meet European Security Challenges

May 20-21, 2026 - Prague, Czech Republic

We are proud to present our 11th annual Helicopter Technology Central and Eastern Europe conference, on the 20-21 of May 2026, in Prague, Czechia

The Helicopter Technology Central and Eastern Europe conference will provide you with the perfect platform to discover vital knowledge from the helicopter program managers and practitioners, as well as technical experts and system integrators.

Rotary platforms remain a key asset for supporting operations on land, sea, and air. But due to the increasing distinct pressures faced by legacy rotary platforms of the Central and Eastern Europe states, NATO's Eastern Flank faces a critical juncture for maintaining effectiveness across all operational capabilities supported by their fleets.

Therefore, our focused regional conference provides a unique forum to ensure the continued sustainment, cost-effective modernisation, and interoperability of helicopter technology in the region.

Who should attend:

National militaries:

Air Force Officers
Army and Naval Aviation Officers
Air Base Officers
Rotary Platform Engineers
Procurement Officers
Air Force Commanders, Deputy Air Force Commanders and operational level Commanders of key helicopter programmes and air wings will be discussing high-level topics such as platform modernisation and upgrades, regional cooperation and interoperability, national security priorities, the challenges of integrating new platforms, and much more

Industry:

Aerospace Business seeking direct contact with regional decision-makers
Aerospace developers and innovators seeking to understand the requirements and anticipate future developments in the markets

Reasons why you can't afford to miss this:

Unmatched direct access to Air Force and Army Rotary Platform Officers
A unique focus on multipurpose helicopter technology and joint force interoperability
Regional Perspectives regarding procurement, upgrades, maintenance, and training
High level discussions featuring technical managers and project engineers from military as well as industry tackling the key challenges which face helicopter technology production, procurement, utilisation, and maintenance
Informal networking time so you can gather insight from peers and colleagues also shaping and influencing regional helicopter programmes today

Confirmed Speakers Include:

Major General Adrian Ciolponea – Supreme Allied Commander Transformation Representative in Europe, NATO
Group Captain Mike Jordan – Commandant No. 1 Flying Training School and Defence College of Air and Space Operations, RAF
Colonel Adam R. Bock – Brigade Commander, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, U.S. Army
Colonel David Fitzsimmons – Assault Support Branch Head, U.S. Marine Corps
Colonel (Ret.) Petr Schwarz – Pilot HEMS / University of Defence Academic Staff, University of Defence & Czech Air Force
Colonel (Ret’d) Vadym Slyusar – Principal Research Fellow, Central Research Institute of Armaments and Military Equipment, Armed Forces of Ukraine
Colonel Jorge Inacio – Commander, Multinational Helicopter Training Centre (MHTC)
Colonel Stefan Okos – 51st Wing Commander, Slovak Air Force
Jas Hawker – NFTE Principal Officer, NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA)
Lieutenant Colonel Andrius Stuknys – Chief of Engineering Service, Lithuanian Air Force
Lieutenant Colonel Joshua Banks – CH-53K Military Class Desk, U.S. Navy – Naval Air Systems Command (PMA-261 Heavy Lift Helicopter)
Lieutenant Colonel Kai Christoph Meier – Deputy Branch Head Army Aviation, DEU Army Concepts and Capabilities Development Center, Bundeswehr
Lieutenant Colonel Laurent Gestone – Referent for Helicopters, Strategy Division of Capacity Development Office, French Air and Space Force
Lieutenant Colonel William France – CapDev Future Combat Aviation, Army Futures, British Army HQ
Major Ernest Kaniosz – Air Force Inspectorate, Rotary Wing Aviation Directorate, Polish Air Force
Major General (Ret’d) Bohuslav Dvorak – Defence & Security Consultant, AERO Vodochody AEROSPACE a.s.
Major Mariusz Strzyzewski – Squadron Commander, Polish Air Force
Major Olah Gabor – Deputy Battalion Commander, 86 Helicopter Wing – Transport Helicopter Battalion, Hungarian Defence Forces