In a two-day workshop, jointly facilitated by the European Defence Agency and the United States Special Operations Command Europe, 27 experts from 15 nations gathered to analyse the issues surrounding the shortfall of helicopter capability in Europe.
Using current and past initiatives as a start point, the workshop was asked to deliver a consensus on the best way forward.
The panel of non-institutionally aligned experts was divided into 2 separate working groups, which independently reached the same conclusion - that there is a requirement for an overarching, multilateral body focused on rotary wing aviation to address the shortfall of mission capable, deployable helicopters in Europe.
An After Action Report, with the detailed recommendations of the way forward, is being prepared and will be distributed to all participants and to other nations and institutions through the EDA in due course.