The French Direction générale de l'armement has completed its first operational evaluation campaign on the prototype of the NH90 Standard 2.

The Standard 2 is being developed specifically for the French Army Aviation, to support Special Forces operations and the French Ministry for Armed Forces has ordered a total of 18 NH90s in the Standard 2 configuration.

Key enhancements include the Safran Euroflir 410 electro-optical system, a 3D digital map, a third crew member station and improved armed rear-sliding windows.

The teams from the DGA Flight Test and Tests Centre and the Air Mobility Group of the Army Technical Section (GAMSTAT) of the French Army, carried out a series of tests that confirmed the added value of the NH90 upgrades for Special Forces missions.

This first test program included: evaluation of the use and range of the MAG58 machine gun mounted in the port to improve the crew's ability to return fire and self-defend, evaluation of the operable use of the rear opening windows and also validated mission systems such as lasers and advanced functions of the electro-optical systems.

A second test campaign is planned following delivery of the first production aircraft, tests focusing on the evaluation of the improved load hook and the laser designator.

The NH90 in its new Special Forces standard 2 marks a new capability milestone, combining enhanced stealth, upgraded mission systems and reinforced interoperability to meet the demands of the most complex day and night Special Operations.