NHIndustries NH90

Yes. New enlarged windows for self protection guns.

Hard to see however how it will interact with the DAS in combat situations.

resize
 
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I would not be surprised to see the countermeasure buckets moved behind the new windows. Since the platform has just started operational testing there will likely be a number of small changes.
 
RNL has also identified more NH90 naval helicopters with “self-protection” features, an “anti-drone air-defense cannon” and “a high-energy laser system.” The unspecified number of additional maritime NH90s will support “more deployments by ships with an on-board helicopter,” AGN added. Whether the laser DEW (Directed Energy Weapon) is a part of the anti-UAV system or a separate AD (Air Defense) platform, to be produced locally, developed with NATO allies or bought outright, is not yet known.
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https://theaviationist.com/2024/09/08/netherlands-announces-more-f-35-fighters/
 
Kiltonge said:
Or extend the sponsors aft to incorporate the countermeasures, thereby also addressing the factors called 'drag' and 'noise'.
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As long as it doesn't mess with the door guns field of fire.

Most of the ideas I had to stick the countermeasures buckets on the sponsons reduced the door gun field of fire.
 
Well, I am not sure of that. The NH90 is still the only Naval Helicopter best suited exclusively for the Vatican Navy, with last report showing an unspecified (and classified!? But why?) less than 33% availability and recurring concerns with corrosions:

Ayant effectué un contrôle budgétaire sur le MCO des équipements militaires au nom de la commission sénatoriale des Finances, le sénateur Dominique de Legge indique en effet, dans son rapport, que, « à ce jour, moins d’un tiers des hélicoptères de la version navale [du NH-90] est […] disponible, tandis que les durées de visite de maintenance sont deux fois plus longues » qu’initialement prévu. À noter que le chiffre exact de cette disponibilité est « confidentiel ».
----------------------------***//***----------------------------------------------------

Having carried out a budgetary audit on Field Maintenance Availability (MCO) of military equipment on behalf of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Dominique de Legge indicates in his report that, "to date, less than a third of the helicopters of the naval version [of the NH-90] are […] available, while the maintenance visit times are twice as long" as initially planned. It should be noted that the exact figure for this availability is "confidential".
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https://www.opex360.com/2024/10/11/...aiman-est-inferieur-aux-besoins-de-la-marine/
And in the senate report*, that golden nugget (in Capital Bold in the text):
Dans un contexte de hausse des coûts de maintenance, la récente augmentation des crédits de mco ne s'est pas accompagnée d'une amélioration de la disponibilité opérationnelle des matériels.
Les crédits budgétaires dédiés au mco, insuffisamment traçables, ont connu récemment une nette hausse, hors dépenses de personnel
------------//**//--------------------------------------------

In a context of rising maintenance costs, the recent increase in Field Maintenance Availability (MCO) appropriations has not been accompanied by an improvement in the operational availability of equipment.
The budget appropriations dedicated to mco, which are insufficiently traceable, have recently seen a sharp increase, excluding personnel costs
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*available via the link above
 
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With the Papal States still yet to be reconstituted, it will be a fair while yet before the Classis Pontificiae is in a position to start procuring ships, much less helicopters.
 
French NH-90 will introduce a nice stabilized support for precision riffle. Kit guarantees a hit from the side door of an helicopter from 1200m with 80% probability.

Great against Kamikaze drone and other small UAS.

strike-cougar-20250211.jpg


(link in Fr, use an automatic translator) :
https://www.opex360.com/2025/02/11/...-distance-depuis-un-helicoptere-de-manoeuvre/
Let's hope however that somebody think at the comfort for the shooter and refine the ergonomics.
 
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TomcatViP said:
French NH-90 will introduce a nice stabilized support for precision riffle. Kit guarantees a hit from the side door of an helicopter from 1200m with 80% probability.

Great against Kamikaze drone and other small UAS.

(link in Fr, use an automatic translator) :
https://www.opex360.com/2025/02/11/...-distance-depuis-un-helicoptere-de-manoeuvre/
Let's hope however that somebody think at the comfort for the shooter and refine the ergonomics.
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I just tried that position. It's actually not uncomfortable and should be very stable, with the right elbow locked into the right knee. Not great if you had to support all the weight of a big gun like that, but the point of the device is to take most of the weight off the shooter's hands.

Definitely an upgrade over how USCG is doing it with their HITRON precision marksmen (used mainly to shoot out the engines of go-fast boats that won't stop when hailed):

1739455766454.png
1739456015194.png
 
@TomS : great to see comparable hardware (and commitment!). However, try to take this position again on a washing machine at full spin...

I think that a small cushion pad could help separate the hard vibrating floor from the bony section of the knee and leg.

I was not calling for something more complicated ;)
 
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TomcatViP said:
@TomS...
I think that a small cushion pad could help separate the hard vibrating floor from the bony section of the knee and leg.
...
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Various knee pads are pretty standard combat gear. Some go into pockets in the pants/trousers.
 
Australia’s Pentagon Wars Moment

Abstract
An Australian MRH-90 helicopter crash in 2023 killed four crew members during a low-level over-water formation exercise for special forces operations. A formal inquiry by the Inspector General of the Australian Defence Force (IGADF) has heard testimony throughout 2024 of considerable disagreement among the test community about the circumstances for approval of the Helmet-Mounted Display Sight used on the fatal mission. Developmental Test and Evaluation (T&E) staff had vigorously opposed using that sight in these flight conditions due to the risk of disorientation leading to commanded flight into terrain. Witnesses have alluded to pressure to accept the sights because they were being tested after purchase. Starting before the crash, for the previous two years Australia’s Parliament has been considering a bill to create an independent Defence Capability Assurance Agency, in part, to regulate test and evaluation in such decisions. The United States (US) underwent a similar pivotal movement forty years ago known as the ‘Pentagon Wars,’ which was made famous by a book and movie with that name. That movement and the brave and honest testimony of many US test and evaluation staff led to an independent test agency and Title 10 US regulation governing operational and live fire test and evaluation conduct and use in capability decisions. These governance mechanisms are considered the benchmark for credible testing in any allied capability decision. The early evidence from this Australian helicopter crash is diverse and challenging to interpret, however, coupled with the current DCAA Bill, Australia has finally had its inescapable ‘Pentagon Wars’ moment.

https://itea.org/journals/volume-45-4/australias-pentagon-wars-moment/
 
True. And this is not a direct NH90 replacement -the Belgian A109 fleet was also to be replaced. Besides, Belgium already had contracted EC145/H145 trainers in service. And the Belgian H145M purchase will be divided between military and police users.

Obviously, if the BeAF wanted a direct replacements for the NH90 TTH, they would have gone with the AW149, H175, or the like.
 
Belgian transport helicopter procurement plans are two-fold: in the short term, procurement of 15x Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) namely the H145Ms to replace the aging A109BAs and the 4x troublesome NH90 TTH. And in the medium term (2029-2032 timeframe), procurement of 8-10 Heavy Transport Helicopter (HTH) hence Belgium's interest in the Chinook expressed a couple of years ago:

https://aviationweek.com/defense/ai...ielding-ch-47-interest-belgium-czech-republic
This is according to the military programming law that was adopted in 2022. Mind you, an update of the military programming law is due to be unveiled next month or so. We will know more about Belgian rotary plans then but i doubt that the HTH procurement will be cut.
 
Inflation is plaguing everyone it seems. It seems a pragmatic decision to reduce the number of platform types to essential numbers. All of the logistics for several aircraft types and the need for exclusive training for particular equipment can be reduced. So if the Belgian military reduced to two widely used rotorcraft (lots of spare parts) to do most of the same mission sets, it stands to reason that you can reduce cost while increasing agility of both air missions and ground crew alike.
A reverse argument is that one has to be concerned with crew mission proficiency if they are expected to do multiple mission types. Certainly you can designate specific crews to do specific sets as something of a remedy to this challenge.
 
ST21 said:
Belgian transport helicopter procurement plans are two-fold: in the short term, procurement of 15x Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) namely the H145Ms to replace the aging A109BAs and the 4x troublesome NH90 TTH. And in the medium term (2029-2032 timeframe), procurement of 8-10 Heavy Transport Helicopter (HTH) hence Belgium's interest in the Chinook expressed a couple of years ago:

https://aviationweek.com/defense/ai...ielding-ch-47-interest-belgium-czech-republic
This is according to the military programming law that was adopted in 2022. Mind you, an update of the military programming law is due to be unveiled next month or so. We will know more about Belgian rotary plans then but i doubt that the HTH procurement will be cut.
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and they also have interest in the CH-53K so say some of my sources across the pond.

Thing is though with the Benelux region, the Belgian land force component can rely on their neighbours Royal Netherlands Air Force CH-47F to help them out

cheers
 
Apophenia said:
True. And this is not a direct NH90 replacement -the Belgian A109 fleet was also to be replaced. Besides, Belgium already had contracted EC145/H145 trainers in service. And the Belgian H145M purchase will be divided between military and police users.

Obviously, if the BeAF wanted a direct replacements for the NH90 TTH, they would have gone with the AW149, H175, or the like.
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Belgian armed forces pilots destined for helos, go to HeliDax at le luc to train on the H120B Colibri, and guessing they also get multi engine experience with civilian operator NHV with their H145?

cheers
 
TomS said:
Definitely an upgrade over how USCG is doing it with their HITRON precision marksmen (used mainly to shoot out the engines of go-fast boats that won't stop when hailed):


View attachment 759341
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(Bit late) I saw a clip on Youtube earlier this year of a Royal Marines marksman doing the same from a Wildcat, but he did it by lying flat across the floor with the barrel braced across his feet. Interestingly he had the loadmaster working the bolt and reloading for him.
 
TomcatViP said:
If they buy Chinook, there is a chance they will integrate with the Netherlands RNAF and follow the same path.

https://www.defensie.nl/onderwerpen...ok MYII,wapens, proviand en andere voorraden.
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If they can afford it, otherwise just share with their neighbours

Back on NH90 should the Belgians have bought more NH90 TTH and it would work out much more economically (speculate to accumulate as my old man says) say 6 instead of 4 ...and make more tactical sense.

Now extreme if the Belgians go for heavy lfit - H145M one end of the spectrum and CH-47F other end nothing medium lift in between. But the marine component well still air component keeping the 4 x NH90 NFH because there is no maritime helo since the Alouette III been retired.

Their neighbours buying more NH90 NFH for the frigates...is good keeping the NH90 production line open likewise with the new special ops variant for French

Please can anyone on here add anything re the NH90 production line?

cheers
 
Well it depends of the reliability and cpfh. It has been told openly by enraged customers that NH90 is abnormally costly to fly, when it can fly. Countries that have pluriannual defense spending plans would probably see Chinooks as a bargain as well as a military effector, hence becoming obnoxious of small, mid, large airframe category...
At the end, Defense is a very conservative and primal business: more bangs for the buck.
 
TomcatViP said:
Well it depends of the reliability and cpfh. It has been told openly by enraged customers that NH90 is abnormally costly to fly, when it can fly. Countries that have pluriannual defense spending plans would probably see Chinooks as a bargain as well as a military effector, hence becoming obnoxious of small, mid, large airframe category...
At the end, Defense is a very conservative and primal business: more bangs for the buck.
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But the H-47 is also by its definition a heavy lift helicopter and in some tactical cases overkill for small ops, I am in no way saying the Chinook is not versatile or multi role in any form or fashion but you get my drift and costs a wee bit for sustaining it even a small nation.

cheers
 
But if that comes for less than what another platform would cost (let's say an unnamed European built helo), wouldn't we all agree that it could make more sense, where it is able to operate (footprint)?

Think it that way: do you really think that all 18 wheelers are mass maxed out on every trip?
 
RavenOne said:
But the H-47 is also by its definition a heavy lift helicopter and in some tactical cases overkill for small ops, I am in no way saying the Chinook is not versatile or multi role in any form or fashion but you get my drift and costs a wee bit for sustaining it even a small nation.

cheers
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A lightly-loaded H47 is one of the fastest helicopters out there, they've been clocked breaking 200mph.
 

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