Airbus Helicopters and Leonardo have joined forces to work on behalf of the NAHEMA (NATO Helicopter Management Agency) an architectural study to define the long-term development of the NH90military helicopter. This planned upgrade, known as Block 2, is intended to adapt the helicopter to future military requirements and significantly increase its operational capability. The contract for this study is expected to be signed before the end of the year.
The Block 2The improvement includes significant structural changes to the aircraft, as well as the introduction of modular avionics and greater configuration consistency. It also aims to optimize maintenance and performance and integrate new capabilities in cooperative combat, connectivity, and collaboration between manned and unmanned systems. Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, emphasized that the NH90 will play a central role in future European defense capabilities and that Block 2 development will benefit from technologies explored in the "European Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies" study.
Gian Piero Cutillo, Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters, added that the Block 2 study complements the long-term development strategy of the NH90. In May 2024, NAHEMA and NHIndustries (NHI) a short- to medium-term program improvement plan, known as Block 1 (or Software Release 3). This includes strengthening tactical information, data exchange, sensors, navigation, and weapons integration for the fleets already in service. The Block 2 architecture study now initiated will naturally build on these earlier improvements.
The collaboration between the two major European manufacturers also results from a Memorandum of Understanding signed in July 2024. This agreement aims to comprehensively analyze the status of the NH90 helicopter program and explore future solutions for its development. The study is intended to enable the participating nations to decide on the next steps for the Block 2 evolution within a timeframe that is coordinated with other ongoing studies on next-generation capabilities and technologies. This underscores the importance of the NH90 as a key component in European defense.
and 