The NHIndustries NH90 is a medium-sized, twin-engine, multi-role military helicopter. It was developed in response to NATO requirements for a battlefield helicopter which would also be capable of being operated in naval environments. The NH90 was developed and is manufactured by NHIndustries, a collaborative company, which is owned by Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo (formerly AgustaWestland) and Fokker Aerostructures.

NHIndustries (NHI) is a helicopter manufacturing company specifically established to be NATO Helicopter Management Agency’s prime contractor for the design and development, industrialisation, production and logistic support of the NHIndustries NH90 series of helicopters.

Established in 1992, NHIndustries was formed as a partnership between Eurocopter of France, Germany and Spain (now Airbus Helicopters), Agusta of Italy (now Leonardo) and Stork Fokker Aerospace of the Netherlands (now Fokker Aerostructures).

Air museum in Saint-Victoret.

General characteristics

Crew: 2 flight crew + loadmaster / sensor operator
Capacity: 20 seated troops; or 12 medevac stretchers; or 2 NATO pallets; or 4,200 kg (9,259 lb) external slung load
Length: 16.13 m (52 ft 11 in)
Empty weight: 6,400 kg (14,110 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 10,600 kg (23,369 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × General Electric T700-T6E turboshaft engines, 1,662 kW (2,229 hp) each (option)
Powerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322-1/9 turboshaft engines, 1,802 kW (2,417 hp) each (option)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 300 km/h (190 mph, 160 kn)
  • Range: 800 km (500 mi, 430 nmi) TTH
  • Endurance: 5 hours
  • Service ceiling: 6,000 m (20,000 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 8 m/s (1,600 ft/min)

Armament

  • Guns: 2x door gun
  • Missiles: anti-submarine and/or air to surface missiles (NFH version)

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