The NH90 Caiman helicopter standard 2 will expand the NH90’s current missions by enabling commando insertion and extraction as well as providing fire support and tactical communications capabilities.
Compared to the standard 1, currently in service with conventional forces, it will be equipped with an infrared camera with laser pointer and designator (EOS410 from Safran), new weapons and a radio communications kit for conducting joint and coalition operations.
The DGA has ordered 18 copies of the NH90 standard 2 from the NHIndustries consortium to equip the 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment in Pau to replace the Caracal and Cougar helicopters.
Assembly of the helicopter has just started at the Marignane site. Delivery will take place from summer 2026 to spring 2029.
The NH90 is an 11-ton twin-engine helicopter developed in European cooperation between France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium by the NHIndustries consortium composed of Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo and Fokker.
The NH90 program is managed for France by the DGA, which relies on the executive agency, the NATO Helicopter Management Agency, for the overall management of the program.
The DGA has already ordered and delivered 64 NH90 standard 1 for the conventional forces of the Army as well as 27 NH90 in naval combat version for the French Navy.
