NH90

The NH90 is a twin-engine, multi-mission military helicopter developed by NHIndustries, a multinational joint venture established in 1992. The consortium comprises Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo, and GKN Fokker (Stork Fokker Aerospace). The helicopter’s development was initiated in response to a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) requirement for a battlefield transport and anti-ship/anti-submarine helicopter for the 1990s. Its first flight took place in December 1995, and it entered service in 2007.

The NH90 is highly versatile and comes in two main versions: the Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH), optimized for land-based roles such as tactical transport (up to 20 troops), special operations, SAR, and medical evacuation; and the NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH), focused on naval use for roles like Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW), and maritime SAR. The helicopter is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including a full glass cockpit and advanced fly-by-wire flight controls.

As of March 2024, over 500 NH90 airframes have been delivered, serving 14 countries. Common operators include the Italian Armed Forces, the German Bundeswehr, the French Armed Forces, and the Spanish Armed Forces. Other operators include Australia, Belgium, and Finland, indicating its wide adoption across Europe and internationally for various military and parapublic applications.