Following the news that Lockheed Martin is actively considering developing a third rotary-wing aircraft based on its proprietary X2^TM Technology to complement the Defiant X and Raider X variants currently in development;

Tristan Sauer, Land Domain Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view:

“Lockheed’s plans to further diversify its rotary-wing aircraft portfolio to appeal to the European market illustrates its confidence in the transformative potential of Sikorsky’s X2^TM Technology flight control solution. The creation of a new platform could also be tailored to meet the shared needs of various European clients currently in need of a next-generation multi-role helicopter.

“The company’s decision to focus production in Europe is an interesting and forward-thinking choice. According to GlobalData forecasts, Europe is expected to be the second-largest regional market for rotary-wing aircraft over the next decade, with an estimated value of *$53.1 billion and Lockheed would be very well positioned to benefit from the growth of European defense budgets in the coming years.

“The Next-Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) program launched by NATO allies, France, Germany, Greece, Italy and the UK, in 2020 is only expected to deliver its first airframes between 2035-2040, providing Lockheed Martin with an opportunity to corner the European market before its likely competitor can launch an alternative aircraft.”

*Data taken from GlobalData’s report: Military Rotorcraft Market Size and Trend Analysis, Competitive Landscape and Forecast, 2021-2031