The Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) law of 2005 directed the establishment of a Joint Rotorcraft RDAT&E Center at the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Patuxent River, MD.  The purpose was to both consolidate resources and provide enhanced focus on rotorcraft research, development, acquisition, test and evaluation.  The establishment of this Center provides a unique opportunity for the Navy to shape its R&D infrastructure (people, labs, processes, and external interactions) to better support the war fighter with more capable, durable, and lower cost rotorcraft. 

This paper describes the 2013 vision state for the Rotorcraft Center of Excellence (RCOE) and the steps being taken to fully implement the Center.   Importantly, the unique operational requirements of the Navy’s rotorcraft which dictate the design, materials, and technologies used are expounded upon.  Critical technology needs are described and examples of salient rotorcraft technology solutions that are being developed and transitioned are provided.