France Orders NH90 Helicopters For Special Forces

The final ten NH90 TTHs helicopters on order for the French army will be delivered to a new standard optimized for special forces support.

An impression shows an NH90 FS operating in a typical desert environment, where dust and sand can cause serious “brown-out” conditions. The helicopter is depicted with long-range tanks fitted. (Photo: NH Industries)

By David Donald • Contributor - UK

October 13, 2020

NH Industries has received a development and production order from the NATO Helicopter Mangement Agency (NAHEMA) for the conversion of NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopters (TTHs) into the NH90 FS (Forces Spéciales) version for the French army. The contract, signed on September 29, is an amendment to an existing production contract and covers the conversion of the final 10 aircraft of France’s 74 TTH order to the new variant, which is also known as the TFRA Standard 2.

France’s Aviation Légère de l’Armée de Terre (ALAT, light army aviation) first revealed plans for a special forces NH90 in 2015, and over the past 18 months the country’s Direction Générale de l‘Armements (DGA) procurement agency has been working closely with NAHEMA, as well as involvement with Australia and Belgium, to finalize the requirement. Under France’s 2019-2025 military programs budget legislation the first five NH90 FSs are scheduled for delivery in 2025, with the remainder following in 2026. They are to serve with the 4^e Régiment d’Hélicoptères des Forces Spéciales based at Pau in the Pyrenees region of southern France. The 4^e RHFS was involved in defining the NH90 FS specification.

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