WS Investor
20 Apr 2026, 15:51
Airbus and Partners Launch NH90 Block 2 Upgrade Study
NATO helicopter agency NAHEMA has signed a contract with NHIndustries — the consortium of Airbus, Leonardo, and GKN Aerospace — to begin a two-year architecture study for the NH90 Block 2 upgrade programme. The study aims to define the next major evolution of the widely deployed military helicopter for the 2040+ operational environment.
The Block 2 upgrade is set to introduce modular avionics, greater configuration commonality across variants, improved maintenance and performance, and new capabilities in collaborative combat, connectivity, and crewed-uncrewed teaming. The study will run in parallel with European Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies (ENGRT) initiatives and build on the ongoing Block 1 programme.
The NH90, which recently surpassed 500,000 flight hours across its operational life, is currently in service with numerous NATO nations in both naval and tactical roles. Airbus said the Block 2 contract marks a decisive step in keeping the platform at the forefront of European defence capability for decades ahead.
NATO helicopter agency NAHEMA has signed a contract with NHIndustries — the consortium of Airbus, Leonardo, and GKN Aerospace — to begin a two-year architecture study for the NH90 Block 2 upgrade programme. The study aims to define the next major evolution of the widely deployed military helicopter for the 2040+ operational environment.
The Block 2 upgrade is set to introduce modular avionics, greater configuration commonality across variants, improved maintenance and performance, and new capabilities in collaborative combat, connectivity, and crewed-uncrewed teaming. The study will run in parallel with European Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies (ENGRT) initiatives and build on the ongoing Block 1 programme.
The NH90, which recently surpassed 500,000 flight hours across its operational life, is currently in service with numerous NATO nations in both naval and tactical roles. Airbus said the Block 2 contract marks a decisive step in keeping the platform at the forefront of European defence capability for decades ahead.