Six companies are vying for the creation of the new generation military helicopter which could be adopted as the standard aircraft for the member fleets of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Contenders include traditional builders, start-ups, even a financial consultancy firm. There are three contracts up for grabs for the construction of innovative rotary wing aircraft projects.

These are the candidates who have already confirmed their participation: the European Airbus Helicopters (with over ten subcontracted companies) with the "Racer" aircraft; the Italian Leonardo Helicopters (with the American Bell and 14 other partners) which offers a tiltrotor (airplane-helicopter); the American Lockheed Martin with a design derived from the Sikorsky X2; the Lithuanian Jetcopter, the Canadian Bornea Dynamics, the multinational consultancy Deloitte.

The six companies responded to the tender published by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (Nspa) which, as part of the Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) programme, will in this first phase entrust the study of the concept of the new helicopter. At the end of the selection, contracts for a total value of 17.1 million euros will be awarded to a maximum of three companies, each of which will be able to propose up to two concepts.