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AIRCRAFT PROGRAM

NHIndustries NH90

Lift typeRotary wing
Construction typeFactory-built
Control typePiloted
Engine typeTurboshaft
ApplicationMilitary Transport, Search & Rescue, Utility
Final assembly Marseille/Provence
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Multirole medium helicopter manufactured by NHIndustries, a joint venture between Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo Helicopters and Fokker Aerostructures.

The fuselage is manufactured entirely from composites. 4 composite main rotor blades have multibox structure and glass and carbon fibre skin with a titanium hub. The diamond shaped fuselage has sliding doors on either side and ramp at rear. Twin turboshaft engines power the rotorcraft.

Crew of three (one pilot and one tactical coordinator in cockpit and one sensor operator in cabin) face five square flat panel LCDs in glass cockpit and up to three in avionics station in cabin. Each pilot has a helmet mounted sight display and night vision goggles. NH90 is the world’s first helicopter to feature fly-by-wire controls. These advanced quadruplex fly-by-wire controls are integrated with a four-axis autopilot, communication, mission and navigation systems.

Type variants

Variant Launch/First flight Production end  
NHIndustries NH90 NFH 1996 / 1995 Naval variant, NFH: NATO Frigate Helicopter.
NHIndustries NH90 TTH 1996 / 1995 Land-base army/air force variant, TTH: Tactical Transport Helicopter.

Recent news

View full news archive for the NHIndustries NH90.

See recent updates (latest 30/11/2023)

Supply chain

  (76 links)
Design Design Software (1)
Materials Composites (1) Metals (1)
Components Active Electronic Components (1) Actuation (2) Electrical Components (2) Lighting (2) Mechanical Components (5) Sensors, Transducers & Detectors (1) Structural Components (1) Valves (1)
Airframe Systems Airframe Assemblies (7) Cabin Interiors (1) Cargo Systems (1) Crew Seating (1) Environmental Systems (1) Fluid Power (2) Landing Assemblies (2) Weapons Systems (4)
Avionics Avionic Components (1) Communications (Airborne) (2) Flight and Data Management (2) Imaging and Visual Systems (3) Indicators and Instruments (3)
Power Systems Auxiliary Power (2) Batteries & Accessories (1) Electrical Power Systems (3) Engine Components (2) Engines (2) Fuel Systems (2) Power Transmission (3) Rotors & Propellers (1)
Production Manufacturing Services (4) Technical Consultants (1)
Testing Test Equipment (2)
Expand/Collapse All

Design / Design Software

Dassault Systemes Analysis Computer-aided Design: CATIA design software for blades (NH90 NFH)

Materials / Composites

JTT Composite Analysis Composite Manufacturing Services: Air inlet composite parts

Materials / Metals

Patricomp Oy Analysis Metal & Alloy Fabrications: Sponson metal parts

Components / Active Electronic Components

Cablex Pty Ltd Analysis | News Electronic Harnesses:

Components / Actuation

Elektro-Metall Export Analysis Electromechanical Actuators: Cargo ramp & hatch actuators & control unit
Secondo Mona SpA Analysis Electromechanical Actuators: Tail folding & tail locking actuators

Components / Electrical Components

Elimco Aerospace Analysis Wire Harnesses:
OGMA Analysis Wire Harnesses:

Components / Lighting

Diehl Aerospace GmbH Analysis Cabin Lighting: NVIS compatible cabin lighting
ECE Analysis Aircraft Exterior Lighting Systems: External lighting

Components / Mechanical Components

Collins Aerospace, Sensors & Integrated Systems Analysis Windshield Wipers: Windscreen washers/wipers; Windshield Wipers: Rosemount windscreen/wipers (NH90 NFH)
Guardian Electric Manufacturing Analysis Control Grips:
SACS Aerospace GmbH (was SACS Boysen Aerospace Group) Analysis Latches:
Safran Nacelles Le Havre Analysis Exhaust Equipment: Exhaust deflectors
TEMA AVIO Analysis Fans: Cabin avionic fan; mission console fan

Components / Sensors, Transducers & Detectors

Elimco Aerospace Analysis Sensors/Transducers: Position and tension (current) sensors

Components / Structural Components

TITAL GmbH Analysis Metal & Alloy Castings: Aluminium & titanium investment castings

Components / Valves

Lee Products Ltd. Analysis Hydraulic System Valves:

Airframe Systems / Airframe Assemblies

Aernnova Aerospace Analysis | News Fuselage Sections: Rear fuselage
Airbus Helicopters Analysis | News Fly-by-Wire Systems: Quadruplex FBW controls (NH90 NFH); Fairings:
Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Analysis | News Fuselage Sections: Front & centre fuselage (NH90 NFH)
Elimco Aerospace Analysis Airborne Consoles: Consoles (Tier 1)
GKN - Fokker Aerostructures Analysis | News Empennages: Tailboom; Aircraft Doors: Cabin doors
Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH Analysis Fly-by-Wire Systems: Fly-by-wire main and tail rotor servo controls
Saab Aerosystems Analysis Fuselage Sections: Forward fuselage sections (NH90 NFH)

Airframe Systems / Cabin Interiors

Autoflug GmbH & Co. Analysis Passenger Seating: Composite passenger seats (NH90 NFH)

Airframe Systems / Cargo Systems

Onboard Systems International Inc. Analysis Cargo Systems: Fast rope cargo hooks

Airframe Systems / Environmental Systems

Collins Aerospace, Power & Controls Division Analysis Air Conditioning Equipment: Microtecnica air conditioning equipment (NH90 NFH)

Airframe Systems / Fluid Power

Donaldson Filtration Solutions Analysis Hydraulic Filters: Low temp fluid filters
Eaton Aerospace, Fuel & Motion Control Division Analysis Hydraulic Pumps: 2 x Vickers hydraulic system

Airframe Systems / Landing Assemblies

Fokker Landing Gear Analysis Aircraft Landing Gear: Landing gear system
MA Group (Magnaghi Aeronautica) Analysis Brake System Components: 5 ton deck restraint harpoon (NH90 NFH); Helicopter Landing Gear: Automatic main rotor blade and tail folding (NH90 NFH)

Airframe Systems / Weapons Systems

L3Harris Technologies (was Harris Electronic Systems) Analysis Weapons Countermeasures: AN/ALQ-211 suite of integrated RF countermeasures
Saab Electronic Defence Systems Analysis Electronic Warfare Systems: Integrated Defensive Aids Suite
Telephonics Corporation Analysis Surveillance/Air Defense Radar: APS-143B(V)3 Ocean Eye multimode surveillance radar (NH90 NFH)
Thales AVS France Analysis IFF Interrogators: TSC 2000 IFF (NH90 NFH)

Avionics / Avionic Components

ECE Analysis Control Panels: Cockpit components & integrated control panel

Avionics / Communications (Airborne)

Becker Avionics, Inc. Analysis Onboard Intercom Systems: SP-1450 Fibre optical link digital intercommunications system
Rohde & Schwarz Analysis | News Radio Communications Equipment: SOVERON software defined airborne radios (German Navy Multi-Role Frigate Helicopter (MRFH))

Avionics / Flight and Data Management

HENSOLDT Sensors GmbH Analysis | News Onboard Computers: EuroGrid Tactical Mission Computer (ETMC)
Leonardo Aeronautics (Alenia) Analysis Automatic Flight Control Systems: Flight control computer (NH90 NFH)

Avionics / Imaging and Visual Systems

Honeywell Aerospace, Electronic Systems Analysis Weather Mapping Radar: Weather radar (NH90 TTH)
L3Harris Technologies (WESCAM) Analysis Airborne Reconnaissance Infrared: EO/IR sesnor turret (NH90 TTH)
Safran Electronics & Defense (Components) Analysis FLIR Systems: Euroflir 410 sensor turret (NH90 NFH/TTH)

Avionics / Indicators and Instruments

Diehl Aerospace GmbH Analysis Helmet-Mounted Displays (HMD): Graphics & processor board plus corresponding computers for HMSD (with Thales)
Thales Avionics Analysis LCD Displays: Multifunction 8"x8" displays (NH90 TTH)
Thales AVS France Analysis Helmet-Mounted Displays (HMD): TopOwl helmet mounted sight & display (NH90 TTH)

Power Systems / Auxiliary Power

Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH Analysis Auxiliary Power Units: Auxiliary power unit gearbox
Safran Power Units Analysis Auxiliary Power Units: Saphir 100 APU (NH90 NFH)

Power Systems / Batteries & Accessories

Saft Analysis Nickel-Cadmium Batteries: 2 batteries

Power Systems / Electrical Power Systems

ECE Analysis Power Distribution Equipment: Power electrical distribution boxes; power contactors
Parker Meggitt Avrillé (Artus) Analysis Emergency Generators: Emergency DC generator (NH90 NFH)
Safran Electrical & Power (was Thales Avionics Electrical Systems) Analysis Generating Systems: 3 x 40 kVA Auxilec AC generators (NH90 NFH)

Power Systems / Engine Components

SLCA Analysis Engine Housings: Engine cowls
Triumph Integrated Systems - Electronics & Control - West Hartford Analysis Full Authority Digital Controls: FADEC

Power Systems / Fuel Systems

Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Analysis | News Fuel Tanks & Systems: Fuel system (NH90 NFH)
Secondo Mona SpA Analysis Fuel Pumps: Fuel pumps & valves

Power Systems / Power Transmission

Airbus Helicopters Analysis | News Gearboxes: Rear gearbox (NH90 NFH); Gearboxes: Auxiliary gearbox
Collins Aerospace, Power & Controls - Engine Components Analysis Rotor Drives: Drive systems
GKN - Fokker Aerostructures Analysis | News Gearboxes: Intermediate gearbox

Power Systems / Rotors & Propellers

Airbus Helicopters Analysis | News Helicopter Rotors: Spheriflex titanium main rotor hub with four blades (NH90 NHF)

Production / Manufacturing Services

Airbus Group Australia Pacific Analysis | News Final Assembly: Of MRH-90 variant
Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Analysis | News Final Assembly:
Airbus Helicopters Espana Analysis | News Final Assembly:
Patria Aviation Analysis Final Assembly:

Production / Technical Consultants

CT Ingenierie Analysis Engineering Design Services: Generation of 3D and models for metal and composite pieces, in addition to generating the proposed amendments and participating in concurrent engineering committees

Testing / Test Equipment

Elimco Aerospace Analysis Test Benches: FAL Test Means
Test-Fuchs GmbH Analysis Hydraulic Test Equipment: Test equipment for hydraulic components
Information on this page is compiled from a variety of published sources, and links do not necessarily imply recommendation or confirmation by the airframe manufacturer.