A DEDICATED SPECIAL FORCES CONFIGURATION ENTERS SERVICE

Airbus Helicopters has officially delivered the first NH90 Standard 2 to the French Armament General Directorate, the DGA. The variant was designed specifically for special operations, building on the NH90 TTH tactical transport helicopter. France has ordered a total of 18 NH90 Standard 2 helicopters, all to be delivered by mid-2029, which will be operated by the French Army Aviation’s special forces squadron based at Pau. In December 2025 Spain joined the programme with an order for 31 NH90s in a similar standard.

Matthieu Louvot, Chief Executive of Airbus Helicopters, said the company was honoured to deliver the aircraft to the French armed forces, and that the new standard built upon the proven capabilities of the NH90 TTH with features designed specifically for special forces, enabling operators to execute difficult missions in the toughest environments. He said Spain’s participation in developing the features enhancing crew situational awareness indicated that the new standard was on its way to becoming a benchmark for special forces internationally.

WHAT STANDARD 2 ADDS

The Standard 2 configuration integrates the Safran Euroflir 410 D electro-optical system, a new digital map generator, installation provision for a third crew member, and enlarged rear sliding windows able to accommodate self-protection guns. It also includes provisions for the swift integration of the Direct Aperture System, currently under development, which is intended to provide improved visibility in degraded flight conditions including snow, dust and fog, by day and night. Further upgrades will include a fully digital Thales TopOwl helmet capable of simultaneously displaying Direct Aperture System and electro-optical system imagery on the visor.

The combination addresses the conditions under which special forces rotary-wing operations are most constrained. Degraded visual environments — brownout on dust landings, whiteout in snow — are among the most persistent causes of helicopter accidents in special operations, and a system presenting synthetic external imagery on the pilot’s visor addresses that directly. The provision for a third crew member and the enlarged windows for self-protection weapons reflect the tactical profile of the mission set, where crew-served defensive fire and additional onboard specialists are routine requirements rather than exceptions.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

The NH90 Standard 2 programme was ordered in 2020 by the NATO Helicopter Management Agency, NAHEMA, to NHIndustries and its partner companies Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo and Fokker. NHIndustries is the largest rotorcraft joint venture and is responsible for the design, manufacture and support of the NH90, with ownership divided between Airbus Helicopters at 62.5%, Leonardo at 32% and GKN Fokker at 5.5%.