A NATO-established group of senior industrialists have determined that future aircraft may feature coaxial, pusher props, fans or advanced tilt rotor technologies to support missions, Defense News reported Friday.
An anonymous official from NATO told Defense News that future systems must be interoperable with the legacy fleet as new operational requirements are being introduced.
“The future operating environment requires the development of a new vertical lift platform unencumbered by the restrictions of traditionally designed rotorcraft, meaning the new platforms will need to perform unfettered by the limited physical perspectives of existing designs,” a source told Defense News.
NATO created the Industrial Advisory Group, dubbed as NIAG, to lead a two-year program that will analyze, assess, document and identify advanced rotorcraft technologies as part of efforts to remain at pace with the U.S. and its Future Vertical Lift program.
NIAG will help partner nations determine platform requirements for future missions and foster information sharing efforts.
