NHIndustries (NHI) has secured a €15 million ($17.64 million) contract from the NATO Helicopter Management Agency to undertake a detailed study of the NH90 Block 2 architecture. Scheduled over two years, the study will establish the technical baseline and overall roadmap for the helicopter’s next-generation configuration, ensuring its operational relevance well into the 2040s.
The initiative will prioritize the design of a modular, scalable avionics framework capable of rapidly integrating emerging technologies. It will also define a maintenance and support concept aimed at improving fleet readiness, reducing lifecycle costs, and enhancing mission effectiveness through advanced connectivity, collaborative combat capabilities, and crewed–uncrewed teaming. By the end of the program, operators are expected to receive multiple upgrade pathways tailored to diverse mission needs.
In parallel, ongoing Block 1 upgrades—referred to as Software Release 3—are introducing significant enhancements. These include improvements to communications systems, integration of Data Link 22 for beyond-line-of-sight connectivity without satellite dependence, and the latest Identification Friend or Foe Mode 5 Level 2 standard. Additional upgrades feature a next-generation electro-optical system, an advanced dipping sonar, and compatibility with the Mk 54 torpedo and Marte ER anti-ship missile, collectively extending the platform’s service life by up to 15 years.
The twin-engine NH90, offered in naval (NFH) and tactical transport (TTH) variants, is produced by NHIndustries—a consortium comprising Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo Helicopters, and GKN Fokker Aerostructures. Since its induction in 2007, over 600 helicopters have been delivered to NATO and partner nations, supporting missions ranging from troop transport and maritime patrol to anti-submarine warfare, special operations, and search and rescue.
