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The Block 2 upgrade will include key structural improvements to the aircraft such as modular avionics, greater configuration commonality, improved maintenance and performance, as well as new capabilities in the field of collaborative combat, connectivity and crewed-uncrewed teaming. The study, which is expected to be contracted with NAHEMA before the end of the year, should allow Nations to decide the next steps for the Block 2 evolution in a timeframe coherent with other ongoing studies on next-generation capabilities and technologies.
“There are several studies running at the moment at NATO, EU, and national levels to assess the future of military helicopters,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “Together with Leonardo we believe that the NH90 will have a central role to play in the future of European defence capabilities. The NH90 Block 2 evolution will benefit from some of the technologies being investigated by the European Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies study that we are collaborating on in partnership with Leonardo,” he added.
“The NH90 Block 2 study clearly complements on the longer term the evolution roadmap of the NH90 for which a major step based on the Software Release 3 contract (also called Block1) had already been outlined last year” said Gian Piero Cutillo, Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters. “We’re committed to delivering a study able to meet NAHEMA’s expectations as well as bearing in mind Nations’ needs and their evolving rotorcraft capability requirements”, he concludes.
In May 2024 NAHEMA and NHIndustries (NHI) signed a short-to-medium term programme enhancement plan known as Block 1 (also called Software Release 3), involving various nations, to boost their in-service fleets’ capabilities in terms of tactical information, data exchange, sensors, navigation and weapon integration. The Block 2 architecture study will of course capitalise on the Block 1 upgrade.
The teaming between the two manufacturers stems also from the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two partners in July 2024, with the ultimate goal to perform an extensive analysis of the NH90 helicopter programme status and explore future potential solutions for its evolution.
About Leonardo
Leonardo (leonardo.com) is an international industrial group, among the main global companies in Aerospace, Defence, and Security (AD&S). With 53,000 employees worldwide, the company approaches global security through the Helicopters, Electronics, Aircraft, Cyber & Security and Space sectors, and is a partner on the most important international programmes, within these sectors, such as Eurofighter, NH-90, FREMM, GCAP, and Eurodrone. Leonardo has significant production capabilities in Italy, the UK, Poland, and the USA. Leonardo utilises its subsidiaries, joint ventures, and shareholdings, which include Leonardo DRS (72.3%), MBDA (25%), ATR (50%), Hensoldt (22.8%), Telespazio (67%), Thales Alenia Space (33%), and Avio (29.6%). Listed on the Milan Stock Exchange (LDO), in 2023 Leonardo recorded new orders for €17.9 billion, with an order book of €39.5 billion and consolidated revenues of €15.3 billion. Included in the MIB ESG index, the company has also been part of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) since 2010.
Investor Relations: P: +39 0632473512 - E: ir[.]leonardo.com.
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