FRANCE ORDERS 68 NH90 FOR THE ARMY AVIATION
Aix en Provence, 30 November 2007
French DGA (Délégation Générale pour l’Armement) has ordered today 68 new generation NH90 TTH helicopters for the French Army Aviation (ALAT).
The contract signed between NAHEMA (NATO Helicopter Management Agency), on behalf of French DGA, and NHIndustries mentions a first firm order of 12 NH90 with 56 additional options.
“NHI is very proud that the French DGA reaffirms its confidence towards this new generation helicopter, after the previous contract for 27 NH90 NFH ordered in June 2000 to equip the French Navy » declared Mrs Gala Gonçalves, the NHIndustries General Manager.
The French NH90 TTH (Tactical Transport Helicopter) variant is a helicopter of 10 Ton class primarily configured to perform tactical transport missions in all environments by day and night. The NH90 TTH flexibility allows its users to perform additional missions such as internal/external load transport, Heliborne operations, Search And Rescue, Casualties evacuation and Training missions.
The NH90 TTH is the most modern helicopter of its class available on the market. It features a high level of system integration built around a dual bus Core Avionic System, full glass cockpit with Multifunction Displays, Fly-by-wire controls with 4-axis Automatic Flight Control. The dedicated Mission System includes among others: Piloting Forward Looking Infrared system, Helmet Mounted Sight and Display, Electronic Warfare System, Tactical Control and Tactical Communication System, Weather Radar, Digital Map Generator and an on-board Monitoring and Diagnostic System. It features a fully composite crashworthy fuselage fitted with a rear ramp which allows the transport of a light tactical vehicle. The two Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca RTM322 modern engines provide power reserve in all environment. The NH90 helicopter has provision for a number of role equipment to enable mission flexibility and effectiveness coupled with a high level of safety and survivability.
The twin-engine, medium-size NH90 helicopter program is managed by the consortium NHIndustries, the Company owned by AgustaWestland (32%), Eurocopter (62.5%), and Stork Fokker (5.5%).
The NH90 helicopter programme is the largest ever launched in Europe, with firm orders now reaching 507 units for 19 Armed Forces of 14 Nations: France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Greece, Oman, Australia, New-Zealand, Spain and Belgium.
