The New Zealand Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with NATO Helicopter Industries to provide software and hardware upgrades for its NH90 helicopter fleet. NHI is a partnership between Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo Helicopters and Fokker Aerostructures.
According to the ministry, the project will focus on equipping the helicopters with new navigation systems to meet updated Civil Aviation Authority requirements and enhancing their encrypted radio communication capabilities.
The Royal New Zealand Air Force has eight NH90 helicopters in its fleet. Operated by the No. 3 Squadron, these are deployed for tactical air mobility operations, including casualty evacuation and troop and equipment movement, and other support services such as search and rescue and police operations.
Defence’s two-phased Operational and Regulatory Aviation Compliance Sustainment initiative ensures that the NH90 fleet’s technical capabilities are updated and aligned with global aviation’s latest standards and regulations. The NHI contract, representing ORACS’ second phase, focuses on updates to the aircraft’s performance-based navigation and communication systems.
According to Frank Dyer, integrated project team leader at the ministry, New Zealand is the first NH90 operator to undertake this retrofitting and upgrade project. NHI will partner with Airbus NZ to carry out the hardware modifications while Airbus Australia Pacific will test and qualify the upgrades using its NH90 software test rig in Brisbane.