Airbus Helicopters and Leonardo have teamed up to perform an architecture study to lay the groundwork for the NH90’s long-term evolution, termed Block 2, following a request by NAHEMA (NATO Helicopter Management Agency). The Block 2 enhancements will feature critical structural upgrades including modular avionics, improved configuration commonality, enhanced maintenance and performance, as well as new capabilities in collaborative combat, connectivity, and crewed-uncrewed teaming. The study is expected to be finalized with NAHEMA by the end of the year and will help nations make informed decisions on Block 2’s future development in line with ongoing research into advanced capabilities and technologies.
Previously, in May 2024, NAHEMA and NHIndustries (NHI) signed the Block 1 (Software Release 3) programme enhancement plan involving various nations, aimed at improving tactical information, data exchange, sensor performance, navigation, and weapons integration. The Block 2 study will build upon these improvements.
This initiative is also part of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by Airbus and Leonardo in July 2024, which aims to conduct a thorough review of the NH90 programme and explore potential paths for its evolution.
