SWR3 enhances NH90 with airborne Data Link 22, high-definition LEOSS-T, Sonar, civil GNSS/FMS, and expanded weapons integration
The NATO Helicopter Management Agency (NAHEMA) and NHIndustries (NHI) officially announced the signing of the major contract for the development and delivery of Software Release 3 (SWR3) for the NH90 helicopter. The pivotal agreement, valued at more than 600M€, aimed to enhance the operational capabilities and performance and extend the in-service life of the NH90 fleet.
The SWR3 is a significant configuration update for the in-service NH90 helicopters, further boosting the outstanding NH90 operational capabilities, featuring equipment such as the first airborne Data Link 22 on a helicopter, next-generation high definition Electro-Optical system (LEOSS-T) and Sonar (OTS-90 Mark II), civil GNSS/FMS and additional weapons integration.
Emphasizing the NH90 naval version (NFH) mission capabilities, Data Link 22 will guarantee secure Line-Of-Sight (LOS) and Beyond Line-Of-Sight (BLOS) communications devoid of satellite reliance. As the pioneering helicopter to incorporate the Link 22 standard, the NH90 will offer unmatched tactical information/data exchange capacities compared to alternative military rotorcraft platforms, positioning it uniquely for contemporary and prospective multi-domain scenario operations.
Michael Kohlhaas, General Manager at NAHEMA expressed, “This contract marks a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to provide our armed forces with the most advanced and reliable equipment. SWR3 will undoubtedly further enhance the operational readiness and versatility of the NH90 helicopter.”
The contract includes initial development and qualification phases, featuring intense flight tests in Tessera, Italy, for NH90 naval and army variants. A subsequent phase will involve SWR3 deployment as a retrofit solution for over 200 NH90 helicopters.
NHI President, Axel Aloccio, and NHI Managing Director, Cristian Naso said, “We are proud to partner with NAHEMA on this truly European cooperation project. Our focus remains on delivering sovereign state-of- the-art solutions that meet and exceed our Customers’ needs. SWR3 is a testament to our commitment to excellence, continuous improvement and strengthening of the European Defence footprint.”
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In addition, the introduction of the latest high-definition technologies in NH90 will further enhance the maritime mission capability, particularly for long-range surveillance, target identification, acquisition, tracking, and designation.
