AIX-EN-PROVENCE, France — April 20, 2026 : NHIndustries (NHI) has signed a €15 million ($17.6 million) contract with the NATO Helicopter Management Agency (NAHEMA) to conduct a two-year architecture study for the NH90 Block 2 upgrade, marking a key step in the long-term evolution of the NH90 military helicopter program.
The agreement initiates work on defining the technical foundations and structural scope of the next-generation NH90 configuration, aimed at meeting the operational requirements of the 2040s battlespace and beyond. The study will run for two years and is aligned with broader European defense research timelines to ensure coherence with future rotorcraft development efforts.
Program Background and Industrial Structure
NHIndustries is a European consortium formed by Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo, and GKN Aerospace, responsible for managing the NH90 program. The Block 2 architecture study has been developed based on high-level operational requirements defined by NAHEMA in coordination with participating NATO nations.
The study will be conducted in parallel with other ongoing European initiatives, including the European Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies (ENGRT) program, which focuses on assessing future vertical lift capabilities and advanced aviation technologies.
Scope of the Block 2 Architecture Study
The Block 2 study is designed to establish a modular and scalable avionics framework that enables rapid and seamless integration of future technologies. A key objective is to ensure the platform remains adaptable to evolving mission requirements over the coming decades.
The architecture work will focus on improving configuration commonality across NH90 variants, including both the Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) and NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH) versions. It will also define structural and systems enhancements to support long-term platform evolution.
In addition, the study will outline a simplified maintenance concept aimed at increasing fleet availability while reducing overall life cycle costs. This includes improving maintainability and streamlining support requirements across operator fleets.
Advanced mission capabilities form a central component of the study. These include the integration of enhanced connectivity systems, support for collaborative combat operations, and the development of crewed–uncrewed teaming capabilities, enabling coordination with autonomous and remotely operated systems.
Link to Ongoing Block 1 Upgrade
The Block 2 architecture study builds upon the ongoing Block 1 upgrade program, also known as Software Release 3, which was launched under a separate contract in 2024. That program covers approximately 200 NH90 helicopters operated by Belgium, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands.
The Block 1 upgrade introduces a range of interim capability enhancements, including the integration of Link 22 datalink systems, Leonardo’s LEOSS-T electro-optical gimbal, upgraded sonar systems, and expanded weapons integration. The Block 2 study will capitalize on these advancements while defining a longer-term development pathway.
Operational Milestone and Strategic Alignment
The contract announcement comes as the global NH90 fleet surpasses 500,000 flight hours, reflecting sustained operational use across multiple NATO and partner nations.
The Block 2 study is structured to ensure industrial continuity while supporting long-term capability planning. Its outputs will provide NAHEMA and participating countries with multiple technical evolution options tailored to their operational and sovereign requirements.
Official Statements
Axel Aloccio, President of NHIndustries, stated that the agreement marks the start of the next phase in the platform’s development and reflects continued cooperation between industry partners and customer nations on the future of the NH90.
Michael Kohlhaas, General Manager of NAHEMA, said the study will serve as a framework for evaluating future capability pathways, enabling participating nations to make informed decisions on how to evolve the platform in response to long-term operational challenges.
Next Steps
Upon completion of the two-year study, NHIndustries will deliver a set of architecture options outlining potential upgrade paths for the NH90 fleet. These will support decision-making by NAHEMA and partner nations regarding future development, configuration choices, and potential procurement strategies for the next-generation NH90 platform.
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