Caiman helicopter undergoes deck landing trials
DCNS has announced that the Caiman Marine (HN90) heavy lift helicopter that recently entered service with the French Navy has undergone a series of deck landing trials onboard FREMM Aquitaine. This follows the first trials undertaken in January to qualify the FREMM Aquitaine flight deck for a Lynx five-tonne class helicopter.
Carried out by DCNS along with the French Navy and the French defence procurement agency (DGA), the latest trials were organised in order to test the landings of a Caiman Marine ten-tonne class helicopter on board the same frigate. As in the previous trials with the Lynx, French Navy pilots appreciated the absence of turbulence above the flight deck in all landing positions.
The deck landing trials, conducted in daylight and at night, are part of the procedures required to qualify the FREMM frigates for deployment of 10-tonne class helicopters. In addition, the campaign was an opportunity to test the onboard maintenance and stowage facilities with a Caiman helicopter.
The Caiman Marine (NH90) is one of the flagships of Europe's helicopter industry. It is designed for all types of naval and maritime missions (anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and anti-terrorism operations at sea) and will be deployed by French Navy vessels.
The FREMM Aquitaine frigate will leave port again in a few days for combat system trials. The vessel is scheduled for delivery to the French Navy in the third quarter of 2012.
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