Two NH90s to delivered France's DGA armament procurement agency

Eurocopter has announced that it has delivered the second NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) and seventh NH90 NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH) to the French DGA armament procurement agency. The company made the announcement 27 July 2012.

The NH90 TTH delivered to the DGA will be handed over to the French Army Air Corps for use in training the first aircrews at the French Armed Forces Training Centre (CFIA), located at Le Cannet des Maures.

The company said that the French Navy NH90 NFH helicopters, designated the Caïman, represent an important element in the combat system for the service’s anti-aircraft defence frigates and multi-mission frigates. This seventh-delivered NH90 NFH will become part of the initial ship-based group based on the Aquitaine multi-mission frigate by 2013.

According to Eurocopter, the NH90 TTH helicopters will progressively replace the Pumas in service with the French Army Air Corps. The next-generation NH90 TTH has been designed to perform a wide range of missions, including utility transport and logistics, combat search & rescue, medical evacuations, special forces operations and anti-terrorism.

In its final operational configuration, the NH90 is equipped with field-tested avionics that enable the helicopter to carry out missions both day and night in all weather conditions. It also has self-protection equipment, a military communication system that is interoperable for international operations, and equipment for ship-based deployment.

The NH90 NFH helicopters are ship-based combat rotorcraft, and will be assigned anti-ship and anti-submarine missions in their operation from French Navy frigates, as well as search & rescue and anti-terrorism duties at sea. The aircraft feature an advanced weapons system that combines , a package of modern electronic, acoustic and optronic sensors as well as weapons loads adapted to anti-ship and anti-submarine missions. The NH90 NFH also performs amphibious, maritime surveillance and anti-piracy missions.