The NH90 program has reached a major milestone with the declaration of compliance for the NH90 TTH (Tactical Transport Helicopter) variant's Final Operational Configuration, This marks the NH-90 TTH's development completion, and enables deliveries to begin before year-end in the helicopter's full operational definition.

"The milestone marks the most important achievement in the life of the NH90 program. NH90, the most modern rotary-wing aircraft in its class and the largest military helicopter program ever undertaken in Europe, offers now its full range of operational capabilities to the military forces" stated Lutz Bertling, the President and CEO of Eurocopter, which is a member of the NH90 industrial team. "Completing the NH90 TTH's compliance process confirms this multi-role helicopter will meet the specifications and operational requirements of the founding customers."

The declaration of compliance was issued by the NATO Helicopter Management Agency (NAHEMA), which is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's function that manages the NH90 acquisition for the participating countries.

With this go-ahead, the initial NH90 TTH variant in the final operational configuration is to be received by the French Army. It will be followed by the startup of deliveries in 2012 to Italy, Belgium and Germany.

The new-generation NH90 TTH is designed for use in a wide range of demanding missions, including logistics and utility transport, combat search and rescue, casualty and medical evacuation, electronic warfare, special operations and counter-terrorism.

In its approved final operational configuration, the helicopter offers a matured avionics system, allowing day and night missions with no major restrictions; full military communications system functionality for interoperability in foreign operations; a complete set of technical publications; and the approval for overseas deployments by ship.