Comprehensive NH90 Block 1 upgrade programme launched
NH Industries (NHI) and the NATO Helicopter Management Agency (NAHEMA) are to launch the development and qualification of the NH90 Block 1 upgrade, intended to extend the life…
June 16, 2024
NH Industries (NHI) and the NATO Helicopter Management Agency (NAHEMA) are to launch the development and qualification of the NH90 Block 1 upgrade, intended to extend the life of the NH90 combat helicopter by 50 years.
NAHEMA signed the contract on behalf of Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy, with the major upgrade to improve the capabilities of both the tactical transport (TTH) and NATO frigate (NFH) helicopter variants.
The signature of the Software Release 3 contract preceding the Block 1 upgrade “is an important milestone for the NH90 programme and is a clear sign that our NATO customers trust the NH90 and plan on operating it for many more decades to come,” said Axel Aloccio, president of NHI and head of the NH90 programme at Airbus Helicopters.
The Block 1 programme is intended to cover the next 15 years of the helicopter’s service life, with Block 2 upgrades “to define the future evolutions of the platform” also currently in the planning phase.
Included in the first phase of the €600 million programme is an upgrade of the helicopter’s communication suite, the integration of Data Link 22 and the latest version of military aircraft identification and tracking devices. Additional upgrades will also be available to individual operators. The second phase of the programme will see the Block 1 configuration improvements deployed on around 200 aircraft.
