Aix-En-Provence, France 20th April 2026 – NHIndustries (NHI) has signed a 15 Million EURO contract with NAHEMA (NATO Helicopter Management Agency) for the NH90 Block 2 architecture study, marking a major step in the long-term evolution of the NH90 program.
While the Block 1 / Software Release 3 upgrade is currently underway and will bring further capability enhancements to the existing NH90 fleet, the Block 2 architecture study will define the technical foundations and perimeter of the next-generation NH90 configuration, with the target to meet the future operational needs of the battlefield of the 2040s and beyond.
Developed on the basis of high-level requirements defined by NAHEMA and the participating Nations, the study will run for two years and will be conducted in a timeframe coherent with other ongoing studies on next-generation capabilities and technologies. This alignment ensures coherence with broader European efforts to assess future rotorcraft capabilities and technologies.
The study will focus essentially on defining a modular and scalable avionics architecture that will ensure the platform can integrate future technologies rapidly and seamlessly. It will also design a simplified maintenance-plan to provide increased fleet availability and an improved life cycle cost, as well as advanced mission capabilities through connectivity, collaborative combat, and crewed–uncrewed teaming.
The study’s deliverables will provide NAHEMA and the participating Nations with multiple evolution options, based on their respective operational requirements, and will support informed decisions on the future development path of the NH90 fleet.
“The signature of this architecture study marks the beginning of the Block 2 journey. It confirms the willingness of NHI, of our partner companies and of our customers to work together on the long-term evolution of the NH90 and it reinforces the platform’s central role to deliver future military helicopter capabilities to the participating Nations,” said Axel Aloccio president of NHIndustries.
“This architecture study is a key enabler for Nations to assess future capability pathways for the NH90,” said Michael Kohlhaas, General Manager of NAHEMA. “By defining a robust and future-proof framework, the study will support informed decisions on how to evolve the platform in line with the operational challenges of the long-term future.”
