Very slim, very fast and with propeller - Airbus Reveals Hybrid Helicopter to Revolutionize Military Flight by 2040
Airbus has unveiled plans for a next-generation hybrid helicopter that blends traditional rotorcraft capabilities with fixed-wing aircraft speed. The proposal comes as NATO seeks replacements for ageing models like the NH90 and AgustaWestland AW101 under its Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) program. The new design aims to address long-standing issues with cost, complexity, and reliability in military helicopters.
The company's latest prototype, the Airbus RACER, recently hit 407 km/h in cruise flight, building on the success of its predecessor, the Eurocopter X3, which reached 472 km/h in 2013.
NATO's NGRC program, set to roll out from 2040, demands a helicopter capable of carrying a four-ton payload over 1,650 kilometres at speeds exceeding 407 km/h. Airbus has responded with two concepts: a traditional helicopter and a high-speed compound rotorcraft. The hybrid version promises vertical takeoff and landing while achieving aircraft-like speeds.
Previous NATO helicopters, such as the Eurocopter Tiger and NH90, have faced criticism for high maintenance costs, excessive complexity, and poor operational readiness. Airbus now emphasises simplicity, open-system architectures, and long-term cost efficiency in its new designs. The goal is to create platforms that are easier to manufacture, upgrade, and sustain over decades.
Across the Atlantic, the U.S. is developing its own Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program with similar requirements. Both initiatives reflect a push for faster, more versatile rotorcraft that can reduce logistical burdens while improving performance in modern military operations.
The NGRC program will shape Europe's military rotorcraft fleet for decades. Airbus's hybrid helicopter, if selected, could offer a balance of speed, payload capacity, and operational flexibility. The company's focus on affordability and maintainability aims to avoid the pitfalls that have troubled earlier models like the NH90 and Eurocopter Tiger.
