In conjunction with NH Industries, Eurocopter is displaying the NH90, the world’s most advanced tactical transport and naval helicopter in its class, at this year’s ILA. Launch customer is the German Bundeswehr for the tactical transport version (TTH), for which qualification was granted by NAHEMA (NATO Helicopter Management Agency) on March 31st, 2006. One of the NH90 TTHs destined for the German Army, TGEA02, will be displayed daily in flight and flown by Eurocopter test pilot Herbert Graser; a second aircraft is shown in the Static Display.
NH90 is the biggest helicopter programme ever launched in Europe, with firm orders for 357 units and options for a further 187. Customer countries which have placed firm orders are France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Greece, Oman and Australia. The latest countries to have officially selected the NH90 are New Zealand, Spain and Belgium. Due to its inherent multi-role capability, the NH90 is able to fulfil a large variety of missions and has been selected for Army, Air Force, Navy and SAR services by the respective customer nations.
The NH90 is a latest-technology, twin-engined helicopter in the medium-size class. It has been designed from the outset as a multi-role weapons system. The tactical transport (TTH) and naval (NFH) variants of the helicopter share a common basic helicopter in a modular design. Dedicated, specialized mission equipment packages allow for maximum flexibility in operations. Special emphasis has been placed on features such as safety, reliability, availability, maintainability, testability and supportability. The diamond shape of the all-composite, corrosion-free airframe combines optimal aerodynamics with low detectability. Optimized man-machine interface significantly reduces pilot and crew workload. The NH90’s superior handling qualities are enhanced by a fly-by-wire flight control system, making it the first production helicopter in the world to feature this advanced technology. The NH90 is qualified for day-and-night, all-weather operations.
Despite compact external dimensions designed to cope with shipdeck operations and the limitations of the hangars on frigates – the naval version also features foldable main and tail rotors – the NH90 offers a uniquely spacious cabin. Two large sliding doors allow easy loading and unloading operations, complemented by an optional rear ramp.
A high-cabin version of the NH90 is also available, increasing the usable height of the cabin by 24 centimetres, from 1.58 metres in the standard version to 1.82 metres. This variant is particularly suitable for SAR missions, allowing the operators to stand up in the cabin. Launch customer for the high-cabin version is the Swedish armed forces.
Due to its unique design and system flexibility, the NH90 covers a broad spectrum of stringent mission requirements. The TTH will operate as a combat support and tactical transport helicopter for personnel and materials (internal and external), for SAR and Combat SAR, heliborne operations, medevac, special operations, electronic warfare, airborne command post, parachuting, flight training, and VIP transport. NFH missions include anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, vertical replenishment, SAR, troop transport and mine laying.
NH90 has become the NATO standard helicopter of the 21st century and will greatly enhance interoperability of the European and friendly overseas nations’ armed forces in NATO and United Nations missions, contribute to the standardization of equipment and to the rationalization of costs, training and logistics.
The NH90 programme is managed by NAHEMA (NATO Helicopter Management Agency) representing France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands and Portugal, and the industrial consortium NHIndustries consisting of Eurocopter (62.5%), AgustaWestland (32%) and Stork Fokker (5.5%).
Eurocopter is a wholly-owned subsidiary of EADS. EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2005, EADS generated revenues of 34.2 billion and employed a workforce of about 113,000. The EADS Group includes the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the world’s largest helicopter supplier Eurocopter and the joint venture MBDA, the international leader in missile systems. EADS is the major partner in the Eurofighter consortium, is the prime contractor for the Ariane launcher, develops the A400M military transport aircraft and is the largest industrial partner for the European satellite navigation system Galileo.
