Airbus Helicopters press release
NAHEMA acted on behalf of Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy. This programme is part of the NH90 evolution roadmap and constitutes a major upgrade in terms of capabilities for both the TTH and NFH variants of the NH90 combat helicopter.
“The signature of the SWR3 contract, which marks the launch of the NH90 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 NH90 Programme at Airbus Helicopters. “We have a clear plan to extend the life span of the NH90 up to 50 years and we will need to upgrade the aircraft to make sure it stays relevant on the battlefield of tomorrow. The Block 1 programme will cover the next ten to fifteen years. Beyond that horizon, we are also planning the Block 2 upgrade that will define the future evolutions of the platform and ensure that it continues to meet the needs of the battlefield of tomorrow,” he added.
The first phase of this 600 million Euro programme includes an upgrade of the NH90 communication suite and the integration of Data Link 22 allowing beyond line-of-sight interoperability without going through satellite communications. IFF Mod 5 Level 2 (the latest version of the device used to identify and track military aircraft) will also be integrated. Other upgrades will be available to the operators and include the integration of a latest generation electro optical system, a new dipping sonar and the integration of the MK 54 torpedo and the Marte ER anti-ship missile. The NH90 Block 1 will be able to navigate with a civil grade global navigation satellite system (GNSS) and flight management system.
The second phase of the programme, which is currently under finalisation, will consist of the deployment of the Block 1 configuration improvements on approximately 200 NH90s, both NFH and TTH, in total.
NHIndustries is the largest rotorcraft joint venture and it is responsible for the design, manufacturing and support of the NH90 helicopter, one of the leaders in the latest generation of military helicopters. The Company takes the best from the European rotorcraft and defence industry, being owned by Airbus Helicopters (62.5%), Leonardo (32%) and GKN Fokker (5.5%). Each company has a long aerospace pedigree and brings the top of its skills and expertise to the end product.
-End-
NHIndustries press release
The NATO Helicopter Management Agency (NAHEMA) and NHIndustries (NHI) announced today the signing of a major contract for the development and delivery of Software Release 3 (SWR3) for the NH90 helicopter. This milestone agreement, valued in excess of 600M€, underscores a continued commitment to enhancing the operational capabilities and performance,
and extending the in-service life of the NH90 fleet. The signing ceremony took place today at the NAHEMA headquarters in Aix-en-Provence, with the attendance of senior representatives from both organizations and NAHEMA’s countries involved in the initiative: Belgium, Germany, Italy and The Netherlands.
Major program improvement
The SWR3 is an important configuration update for the in-service NH90 helicopters, achieved as a collaboration between the NHI Partner Companies (Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo and Fokker) and major European suppliers. This new enhanced configuration further boosts the outstanding NH90 operational capabilities, featuring equipment such as the first airborne Data Link 22 on a helicopter, next-generation high definition Electro-Optical system (LEOSS-T) and Sonar (OTS-90 Mark II), civil GNSS/FMS and additional weapons integration.
More specifically, focusing on the NH90 naval version (NFH) mission capabilities, Data Link 22 will ensure secure Line-Of-Sight (LOS) and Beyond Line-Of-Sight (BLOS) communications without the use of satellites. As the first and only helicopter featuring the Link 22 standard, the NH90 will deliver unparalleled tactical information/data exchange capabilities compared to any other military rotorcraft platforms, and will be uniquely ready to respond to latest and future multi-domain scenario operations.
In addition, the introduction of the latest high-definition technologies will further enhance the maritime mission capability, particularly for long-range surveillance, target identification, acquisition, tracking and designation. The NH90 delivers a seamless integration of all the tactical information coming from its powerful Naval Mission System, now also featuring the latest generation Electro-Optical system and Sonar, while dramatically reducing the crew workload, thus ensuring the maximum effectiveness during all the most demanding missions, such as day/night MSO (Maritime Security Operations), SAR (Search And Rescue), ASuW (Anti-Surface Warfare) and ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare).
Development and implementation
The contract covers an initial development and qualification phase: this first phase will see an intense flight test activity in Tessera (Italy) on the Italian Navy and Army variants.
A second phase, which is still under finalization, will see the deployment of the SWR3 as a retrofit solution for up to over 200 NH90 helicopters. The upgrade plan will involve both naval (NFH) and terrestrial (TTH) variant of the type for the relevant customers in the four countries: Belgium, Germany, Italy, and The Netherlands.
