Paris, France – Airbus Helicopters and Leonardo are set to collaborate on an architecture study aimed at defining the NH90 long-term evolution, known as Block 2. This initiative responds to a request from NAHEMA (NATO Helicopter Management Agency). The Block 2 upgrade will feature structural improvements such as modular avionics, greater configuration commonality, improved maintenance and performance, and new capabilities in collaborative combat, connectivity, and crewed-uncrewed teaming. The study is anticipated to be contracted with NAHEMA before the end of the year.
“There are several studies running at the moment at NATO, EU, and national levels to assess the future of military helicopters,” stated Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. He further added that Airbus and Leonardo believe the NH90 will play a central role in European defense capabilities. The NH90 Block 2 evolution will incorporate technologies being explored by the European Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies study in collaboration with Leonardo.
Gian Piero Cutillo, Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters remarked that “The NH90 Block 2 study clearly complements on the longer term the evolution roadmap of the NH90 for which a major step based on the Software Release 3 contract (also called Block1) had already been outlined last year.” He emphasized their commitment to delivering a study that meets NAHEMA’s expectations while considering nations’ evolving rotorcraft capability requirements.
In May 2024, NAHEMA and NHIndustries signed a short-to-medium term programme enhancement plan known as Block 1 or Software Release 3. This involved various nations to enhance their in-service fleets’ tactical information, data exchange, sensors, navigation, and weapon integration capabilities. The upcoming Block 2 architecture study aims to build upon these upgrades.
The partnership between Airbus Helicopters and Leonardo is supported by a Memorandum of Understanding signed in July 2024. This agreement focuses on analyzing the current status of the NH90 helicopter program and exploring potential solutions for its future development.
