Angelo Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic
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#SMiHeli2019
Europe’s Leading Regional Conference Focused on Helicopter Technology
22nd-23rd
MAY
2019
CONFERENCE CHAIRMAN:
Major General (Ret’d) Bohuslav Dvorak, Former Deputy Chief of the
General Staff, Czech Armed Forces
KEYNOTE REGIONAL SPEAKERS:
Air Fleet General Valerica Vrajescu, Deputy Chief of Joint Forces
Command, Romanian Ministry of National Defence
Colonel Rudolf Straka, Chief of Combat Training Department, Czech
Air Force
Colonel Karel Valvoda, Director of the Multinational Aviation Training
Centre, Czech Air Force
Colonel Miloslav Bauer, Liaison Officer, University of Defence Brno
Colonel Robert Klestinec, Deputy Chief of Staff, Air Force of the
Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic
Lieutenant Colonel Simon Zsolt, HDF 86th Szolnok Helicopter Base,
Chief of Flight Training Department, Hungarian Defence Forces
EXPERT SPEAKER PANEL:
Colonel Jason Gingrich, Senior Military Advisor to the US Delegation
to NATO, US Air Force
Colonel Francesco Pascali, Division Leader Logistics, NATO (NAHEMA)
Colonel Jonas Nellsjo, Commander Helicopter Wing, Swedish Armed
Forces
Lieutenant Colonel Stein, SO1 FD Strat Plans, Cap AM, Capability
Directorate, Army Headquarters, British Army
Lieutenant Colonel Mitchell, Air Manoeuvre Capability Development,
SO1 Programmes Army Headquarters, British Army
Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Kelly, 110th Army Aviation Brigade
Operations Officer, U S Army Aviation Center
Lieutenant Colonel Mikael Wikh, Swedish Helicopter Wing, Swedish
Armed Forces
Lieutenant Colonel Niklas Blomberg, Swedish Helicopter Wing,
Swedish Armed Forces
Lieutenant Colonel Carsten Luerken, Department Head SOF, PR and
STH, Air Force Forces Command, German Air Forces
Lieutenant Colonel Joefrey Petit, SME Support RW, JPR, Littoral
Special Air Ops, Air Operations Support Branch, Joint Air Power
Competence Centre
Mr Jose Pablo Romera Martin, EDA Project Officer Rotary Wing,
European Defence Agency
Mr Joel Best, US Army (Ret’d), European Director for Global Military
Business Development, Bell Helicopters
Helicopter
Technology
Central and Eastern Europe
Helicopter
Technology
Central and Eastern Europe
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:
1. Keynote briefing from Colonel Straka, Chief of
the Combat Training Department of the Czech
Air Force
2. Hear from representatives from the regional
nations: Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia,
Slovenia and Romania
3. Listen to detailed updates on helicopter
programmes and procurement goals of the
US Army Aviation Centre, Spanish Air Force, Joint
Helicopter Command, German Air Force and NATO
4. A unique opportunity to explore new
technologies and programmes from industry
and exhibitors
5. The only Helicopter Conference with a regional
focus on Central and Eastern Europe
Gold Sponsors:

Register online at www.futurehelicopter.co.uk
SPONSORSHIP AND EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES
SMi offer sponsorship, exhibition, advertising and branding packages, uniquely tailored to complement your company’s marketing strategy. Prime networking
opportunities exist to entertain, enhance and expand your client base within the context of an independent discussion specific to your industry. Should you
wish to join the increasing number of companies benefiting from sponsoring our conferences please call:
Justin Predescu, Sponsorship Manager, on +44 (0) 207 827 6130 or email jpredescu@smi-online.co.uk
HELICOPTER TECHNOLOGY CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE 2019
Day One | Wednesday 22nd May 2019 www.futurehelicopter.co.uk
8.30 Registration Coffee
9.00 Chairman’s Opening Remarks
Major General (Ret’d) Bohuslav Dvorak, Former Deputy Chief of
General Staff, Czech Armed Forces
KEYNOTES
9.10 Enhancing the rotary fleet of the Czech Armed Forces with increased
modernisation
• Current matters surrounding rotary acquisition in the Czech Armed
Forces
• Training and regional cooperation through joint exercises such as
Ample Strike 2018 and Mountain Flight 2018
• Evaluating modernisation policies, keeping in mind helicopter
MRO and the increased rate of technological change in
helicopter design
Colonel Rudolf Straka, Chief of Combat Training Department, Czech
Air Force
9.50 Implementing technological advancements to ensure rotary
readiness
• German Air Force Helicopters’ contribution to NATO’s Very High
Readiness Joint Task Force for increased regional support for
Eastern European allies
• Current acquisition timeline for updated rotary systems in the
German Air Force
• German Air Force’s Rotary Wing Future Capabilities for the NATO DPP
Lieutenant Colonel Carsten Luerken, Department Head SOF, PR and
STH, Air Force Command
10.30 Gold Sponsor Session Reserved for Leonardo
11.10 Morning Coffee
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME UPDATES
11.40 Increasing the combat capabilities of the Romanian Air Force for
increased regional security
• Increasing the combat capabilities of the Romanian Armed forces
• Collaboration with industry to enhance the operational capabilities
of the IAR 330
• Maximising anti-tank and support capabilities through quality of life
improvements
Air Fleet General Valerica Vrajescu, Deputy Chief of Joint Forces
Command, Romanian Ministry of National Defence
12.20 Bell H-1 and Advanced Tiltrotor Technologies: Optimizing
Operational Capability for the Modern Battlefield
• Bell AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom – Unmatched teaming
capability between a combat multi-role helicopter and dedicated
attack helicopter
• Bell V-280 Valor – Next Generation Tiltrotor Technology for the US
Army’s Future Vertical Lift Program
• Bell V-247 Vigilant – Persistent, expeditionary capability, providing
lethal reach with runway independence
Mr Joel Best, US Army (Ret’d), European Director for Global Military
Business Development, Bell Helicopters
1.00 Networking Lunch
TRAINING
2.00 The mobilisation, modernisation and development of UK air
manoeuvre capabilities
• Setting the context: Air Manoeuvre within Defence’s Transformation
• Evaluating combat readiness, collective training and operational
commitments
• Evolving Air Manoeuvre: Meeting the UK’s Future Force Concepts
• Air Manoeuvre Modernisation: Key Themes
Lieutenant Colonel Stein, SO1 FD Strat Plans, Cap AM, Capability
Directorate, Army Headquarters, British Army
Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Mitchell, Air Manoeuvre Capability
Development, SO1 Programmes Army Headquarters, British Army
2.40 Introduction to the Multinational Aviation Training Centre
• Updating legacy rotary systems for cost-effective solutions
• Ongoing helicopter cooperation and training with V-4 nations
• Flight safety and enhancing interoperability capabilities
Colonel Karel Valvoda, Director of the Multinational Aviation Training
Centre, Czech Armed Forces
3.20 Session reserved for sponsor
4.00 Afternoon Tea
4.30 Maximising US regional support for increased interoperability and
training
• AH-64, CH-47 and UH-60G Pave Hawk usage against mounted and
unmounted air systems
• Enhanced collaboration and interoperability with regional allies:
working in conjunction with NATO allies during Aurora 17 and similar
exercises
• Importance of international cooperation between rotary leaders in
Central and Eastern Europe
Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Kelly, 110th Army Aviation Brigade
Operations Officer, U.S. Army Aviation Center
PANEL DISCUSSION
5.10 Enhancing regional security through closer
cooperation with regional and international partners
• Current national programme acquisition updates
and timelines
• The need to support V-4 member states and other regional allies
for effective security in CEE
• Usage of multi-purpose rotary systems and legacy equipment for
increased savings and efficiency
Major General (Ret’d) Bohuslav Dvorak, Former Deputy Chief of
General Staff, Czech Armed Forces
Colonel Jonas Nellsjo, Chief of the Swedish Helicopter Wing,
Swedish Air Force
Colonel Robert Klestinec, Deputy Commander, Slovakian Air Force
Colonel Miloslav Bauer, Liaison Officer, University of Defence Brno
5.50 Chairman’s Closing Remarks and Close of Day One
Major General (Ret’d) Bohuslav Dvorak, Former Deputy Chief of
General Staff, Czech Armed Forces

Alternatively fax your registration to +44 (0) 870 9090 712 or call +44 (0) 870 9090 711
MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES
Are you interested in promoting your defence services to a targeted industry sector? SMi offers tailored marketing packages
so that your association publication can gain access to a global market and key decision makers in the defence market.
Contact Maria Mandic on +44 (0) 20 7827 6124 or mmandic@smi-online.co.uk
HELICOPTER TECHNOLOGY CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE 2019
www.futurehelicopter.co.uk Day Two | Thursday 23rd May 2019
8.30 Registration Coffee
9.00 Chairman’s Opening Remarks
Major General (Ret’d) Bohuslav Dvorak, Former Deputy Chief of
General Staff, Czech Armed Forces
KEYNOTES
9.10 Maximising US support in regional operations for increased
interoperability
• AH-64, CH-47 and UH-60G Pave Hawk usage against mounted and
unmounted air systems
• Enhancing collaborating and interoperability with regional allies:
working in conjunction with NATO allies during Aurora 17 and similar
exercises
• Important of international cooperation between rotary leaders in
Central and Eastern Europe
Colonel Jason Gingrich, Senior Military Advisor to SECDEFREPEUR
and USNATO DEFAD, U.S. Air Force
9.50 NATO NAHEMA’s responsibilities for enhancing interoperability of
NH-90 systems
• Signature of the NH90 Through Life Support contract between
NATO member states
• Increasing engineering services including airworthiness,
configuration management, remote technical assistance and
integrated logistics support in the NH-90
• Providing assistance to V-4 member states through NAHEMA
Colonel Francesco Pascali, Division Leader Logistics, NATO
(NAHEMA)
10.30 Morning Coffee
11.00 Future rotary procurement in the Czech Armed Forces for increased
regional capabilities
• Enhancing national capabilities in order to deter regional threats
• Use of multi-purpose rotary systems for Medevac and SAR missions
• OEM support for enhanced life support
• Managing cost-effective decisions for national security: long and
short-term goals
Major General (Ret’d) Bohuslav Dvorak, Former Deputy Chief of
General Staff, Czech Armed Forces
11.40 Session reserved for Sponsor
12.20 Swedish Helicopter Units transformation from international to a
national focus
• Current rotary priorities for the Swedish Armed Forces
• Challenges to moving from an international to national focus
• Present status and future objectives
Lieutenant Colonel Mikael Wikh, Swedish Helicopter Wing, Swedish
Armed Forces
Lieutenant Colonel Niklas Blomberg, Swedish Helicopter Wing,
Swedish Armed Forces
1.00 Networking Lunch
INTERNATIONAL ROTARY COLLABORATION
2.00 Enhancing future capabilities for the next 35 to 50 years: developing
future rotocraft technologies
• Future Rotocraft technologies
• NATO working group advances for future technologies
• Active developments in rotocraft technologies within the JAPCC
Lieutenant Colonel Joefrey Petit, SME Support RW, JPR, Littoral
Special Air Ops, Air Operations Support Branch, Joint Air Power
Competence Centre
2.40 UH-60 Black Hawk rotary advancements and procurement in the
Hungarian Air Force
• Continued modernisation of the Hungarian helicopter fleet
• UH-60 ground support and special operations
• Enhanced cooperation and interoperability with NATO allies
Lieutenant Colonel Simon Zsolt, HDF 86th Szolnok Helicopter Base,
Chief of Flight Training Department, Hungarian Air Force
3.20 Dark Blade 2019 - Fostering international cooperation and
interopeability
• Delivering enhanced cooperation and interoperability for V4
member states
• Enhancing training for night missions and NVG flying
• Role of exercises like Dark Blade 2019 and Hot Blade 2018
Mr Jose Pablo Romera Martin, EDA Project Officer Rotary Wing,
European Defence Agency
4.00 Afternoon Tea
PANEL DISCUSSION
4.30 The role of international organisations in ensuring
regional security in Central and Eastern Europe
• Current role of training exercises such as Dark Blade
in ensuring rotary interoperability
• Enhancing the role of multi-purpose rotary systems
for increased regional security
• Analysis of the strategies of leading defence forces to ensure rotary
survivability
Major General (Ret’d) Bohuslav Dvorak, Former Deputy Chief of
General Staff, Czech Armed Forces
Colonel Jason Gingrich, Senior Military Advisor to SECDEFREPEUR
and USNATO DEFAD, U.S. Air Force
Mr Jose Pablo Romera Martin, EDA Project Officer Rotary Wing,
European Defence Agency
Colonel Francesco Pascali, Division Leader Logistics, NATO
(NAHEMA)
5.10 Chairman’s Closing Remarks and Close of Day Two
Major General (Ret’d) Bohuslav Dvorak, Former Deputy Chief of
General Staff, Czech Armed Forces

Audience Profile
The participants of Helicopter Technology
Central and Eastern Europe will cover
all aspects of the rotary procurement,
operation and maintenance. The speakers
and invited participants have been
carefully selected to bring together military
helicopter leaders with active priorities for
particular rotary capabilities. It will ensure
that, as well as military leaders, the OEMs
and prime contractors participate. We
will also make sure that the very latest
innovation solution providers will be present
to share their service with a captive
audience all looking to advance their
sustainment programmes.
The audience will include, but not be
limited to:
• Commanders of Air Force
• Deputy Commanders Air Force
• Commanders of National Helicopter
Forces
• Directors of Capability Planning
• National Armaments Directors
• Helicopter Programme Managers
• Heads of Army Aviation

Leonardo is a leading manufacturer of
multipurpose helicopters ranging from the 1.8
ton single-engine to the 16 ton three-engine.
Outstanding mission flexibility to conduct
Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance
(ISR), Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO),
Search and Rescue (SAR), Anti Submarine
warfare (ASW) and Anti Surface Warfare (ASuW),
and the best available mission training and
support facilities, sets the Leonardo helicopters
a step ahead.
Leonardo is a world player in Aerospace,
Defence, Security and Space, developing
advanced components to fully integrated
systems and platforms.
www.leonardocompany.com
Gold Sponsors:
Thinking above and beyond is what we do. For
more than 80 years, we’ve been reimagining
the experience of flight – and where it can take
us. We are pioneers. We were the first to break
the sound barrier and to certify a commercial
helicopter. We were aboard NASA’s first lunar
mission and brought advanced tiltrotor systems
to market. Today, we’re defining the future of
on-demand mobility. Headquartered in Fort
Worth, Texas – as a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Textron Inc., – we have strategic locations
around the globe. And with nearly one quarter
of our workforce having served, helping our
military achieve their missions is a passion of ours.
www.bellflight.com
Benefits of Sponsoring
Helicopter Technology Central
and Eastern Europe 2019
1. Launch new products or services at
Helicopter Technology Central and
Eastern Europe and give your company
the opportunity to showcase your unique
solutions to the nations who need it most
2. Educate the market on your company’s
capabilities and make the business case for
how you can solve your potential customers
challenges and requirements
3. Build your brand so your solutions are front
of mind when your prospects are putting
potential solution providers on their short list
4. Generate new leads and gain connections
by meeting new prospects from a variety of
new countries and programmes
5. Learn how to do business in Central and
Eastern Europe from procurement and high-
level military decision makers

HELICOPTER TECHNOLOGY CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE 2019
22nd and 23rd May 2019, Prague, Czech Republic
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