France proceeds alone with enhanced NH90
Full-scale mock-up of the NH90 TFRA Standard 2 helicopter at SOFINS 2021. (Photo: Jean-Marc Tanguy)
SOF variant of NH90 offers a number of improvements but France must still convince other operators to adopt it.
Only the French Army has decided to acquire a highly capable version of the NH90 helicopter for its special forces, as decided by defence minister Florence Parly in November 2020 during a meeting devoted to the programme.
French SOF will operate 10 NH90 TTH troop transport helicopters from 2025 with new digital technologies, under a production contract from the NATO Helicopter Management Agency.
The deal with NHIndustries and its partner companies (Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo and Fokker) is worth an undisclosed sum.
The 10 NH90 TTHs had previously been ordered by French procurement agency DGA but they will now be produced
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
Read this Article
Get access to this article with a Free Basic Account
- Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
- 1 free story per week
- Personalised news alerts
- Daily and weekly newsletters
- Free magazine subscription to all our titles
- Downloadable equipment data handbooks
- Distribution rights (Corporate only)
Unlimited Access
Access to all our premium news as a Premium News 365 Member. Corporate subscriptions available.
- Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
- 14-day free trial (cancel at any time)
- Unlimited access to all published premium news
- 10-year news archive access
- Downloadable equipment data handbooks
- Distribution rights (Corporate only)
More from Air Warfare
-
![Australia’s first MC-55A Peregrine is spotted]()
Australia’s first MC-55A Peregrine is spotted
The first known MC-55A for Australia has been seen flying in the US since March as part of a test programme.
-
![Raytheon gains StormBreaker lifecycle support contract modification]()
Raytheon gains StormBreaker lifecycle support contract modification
StormBreaker already equips F-15E fighter aircraft and the glide bomb is also undergoing developmental and operational testing with the F-35B.
-
![Persistence pays off with ARRW hypersonic test]()
Persistence pays off with ARRW hypersonic test
The ARRW air-launched hypersonic missile test programme has had its share of delays and mishaps, but Lockheed Martin and the USAF have finally conducted a successful boosted flight test.
-
![Canberra promises to multiply MQ-28A Ghost Bats]()
Canberra promises to multiply MQ-28A Ghost Bats
The current Australian government is promising to accelerate development of the Loyal Wingman project for the RAAF.
-
![US awards initial spares contract for F-35 Lot 16 aircraft]()
US awards initial spares contract for F-35 Lot 16 aircraft
The latest F-35 contract modification for Lockheed Martin follows a deal covering ‘ancillary mission equipment requirements’ for Lot 15 and Lot 16 aircraft.
