NATO and NHIndustries invest 600 million euros in NH90 helicopter software upgrade

The NATO Helicopter Management Agency (NAHEMA) and NHIndustries (NHI) today announced the signing of a major contract, valued at more than €600 million, for the development and delivery of the software upgrade version 3 (SWR3) for the NH90 helicopter.

Highlights:

• The upgrade will be implemented on the naval (NFH) and land (TTH) variants of the NH90.
• The upgrade will be implemented on helicopters in Belgium, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
• Link 22 data link for secure beyond line-of-sight communications.
• Integration of new sensors and additional armament.

The new SWR3 configuration will boost the capabilities and increase the operational life of the NH90 helicopter fleet, incorporating equipment such as the first airborne Link 22 tactical data link on a helicopter, a next-generation high-definition electro-optical system (LEOSS-T) and sonar (OTS-90 Mark II), civil GNSS/FMS and additional weapons integration.

According to NH Industries, focusing specifically on the mission capabilities of the naval version of the NH90 (NFH), the Link 22 data link will ensure secure line-of-sight (LOS) and beyond line-of-sight (BLOS) communications without the need for satellites. As the first and only helicopter with the Link 22 standard, the NH90 will offer tactical data/information exchange capabilities unmatched by any other military rotary-wing platform.

Great news for the #NH90 with the launch of the comprehensive upgrade programme “Block 1”!
The NH90’s capabilities will be expanded with key technologies like the tactical data link 22.
The 1st step of a plan to ensure that the NH90 stays relevant on the battlefield of tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/G6U3G57kkS

— Bruno Even (@BrunoEven) June 13, 2024

The new state-of-the-art sensors will be integrated into the powerful Naval Mission System, providing the NH90 crew with enhanced long-range surveillance, acquisition, tracking, target identification and designation capabilities, while reducing their workload. The enhancements seek to increase the helicopter’s safety, effectiveness and lethality in its typical range of missions, such as day/night maritime security operations (MSO), search and rescue (SAR), anti-surface warfare (ASuW) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW).

See also: Airbus launches study to develop new ASW version of NH90 for Spanish Navy

Development and implementation

The contract covers an initial development and qualification phase: this first phase will see intense flight test activity at Tessera (Italy) with the Italian Navy and Army variants.

A second phase, still being finalized, will see the deployment of SWR3 as a retrofit solution for more than 200 NH90 helicopters. The upgrade plan will cover both the naval (NFH) and land (TTH) variants of the model for the corresponding customers in the four countries: Belgium, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.