France completed a first operational test campaign of the NH90’s Special Forces variant, also called Standard 2, ahead of the first deliveries this year.
France’s Directorate General of Armaments (Direction Générale de l’Armement – DGA) released on its Instagram account on Mar. 5, 2026, new images of the prototype of the NH90’s special forces variant, also called the NH90 Standard 2, undergoing a series of trials. Airbus first announced in June 2024 the launch of a flight test campaign of this new NH90 version, developed specifically for the Aviation Légère de l’Armée de Terre (French Army Aviation).
Two days earlier, on Mar. 3, French defense media Opex360 had reported that the helicopter “successfully completed its first operational evaluation campaign,” ahead of deliveries that are expected to begin by the summer of this year. The testing campaign however is going to continue with wider and comprehensive testing of the helicopter’s payload capacity, electronics and avionics. France already operates the standard Navy and Army variants of the NH90.
In its post with various shots of the NH90 Standard 2, showing a door-mounted MAG58 machine gun and troops waiting to embark the aircraft, the DGA said: “The NH90 Special Forces […] validated its performance [and] enhanced capabilities. A New Operational Era Begins for French Special Forces.” This comes as the NH90 has witnessed a mixed experience with some of its international users, with the negative ones reporting poor maintenance records, and low mission readiness and spare parts availability.
The NH90 Standard 2 for France
The French Ministry of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs says the new NH90 FS (Forces Spéciales – Special Forces) will feature a host of new systems, including a Safran Euroflir 410 electro-optical system that offers infrared modes and a laser tracker, designator and laser-range finder; a Eurofl’eye wide-field Distributed Aperture System (DAS); a TopOwl digital helmet mounted display; fully digital fly-by-wire controls; single-pilot capability; and an automated fault and maintenance diagnostic system. Other structural modifications include a cabin access ramp for personnel and equipment, and enlarged rear sliding windows to accommodate door-mounted machine guns.
The DGA publicly unveiled the NH90 Standard 2 for the first time at the Special Operations Forces Innovation Network Seminar (SOFINS) held in early April 2025 in France. Meant to replace the Airbus Helicopters H225M Caracal and the H215M Cougar, 18 NH90 FS have been ordered from NHIndustries to equip the 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment in Pau, said the DGA. The helicopter’s assembly then had just begun at Airbus Helicopters’ Marignane facility, with deliveries expected to begin the summer of 2026 and conclude by 2029.
The NH90 is the largest military helicopter program in Europe, with two main variants – the NH90 NFH (NATO Frigate Helicopter) for naval operations and the TTH (Tactical Transport Helicopter) for land-based operations. It is manufactured by NHIndustries, a Joint Venture between Airbus Helicopters (62.5%), Leonardo (32%) and GKN Fokker (5.5%). France’s DGA says it had ordered and delivered 64 NH90 TTH Standard 1s for the Armée de terre (French Army), and 27 NH90 NFHs for the Marine Nationale (French Navy).
Operational test and evaluation
According to Opex360, the operational test campaign was led by the DGA’s flight test division, the DGA EV, and the Army Technical Section (GAMSTAT). The trials confirmed logistical parameters like the employment envelope of the side door-mounted MAG58 machine gun for the crew’s self-defense and the impact of the opening windows at the rear.
As can be seen in the images, the gun is right beside the mounts for the two countermeasure dispensers and Missile Warning System (MWS), and its swiveling and use should ideally not interfere with their operation, or other wiring, cabling and mission systems. The trials also validated the “mission systems, the lasers and the advanced functions of the optronic ball and, finally, to define the operational use procedures,” Opex360 added.
The report added that DGA EV and GAMSTAT experts still “have a lot of work ahead of them” with a second round of testing planned for July, after the delivery of the first production representative airframe. The new tests will focus in particular on “the evaluation of the improved payload hook and the laser designator,” the report said, quoting the DGA.
Other users’ experience with the NH90
Besides France, the NH90 is used by Australia, Belgium, Sweden, the Netherlands, Greece, Italy, Germany, Spain, Oman, Qatar and New Zealand, with nearly each one having reported issues with the aircraft. In July 2025, Belgium’s Minister of Defense Theo Francken announced the retirement of the country’s four NH90 TTHs, but the four NH90 NFHs will continue to be used.
Un NH90 tout noir ça ne laisse jamais indifférent pic.twitter.com/qVG0Msb3aC
— Valentin (@ValentinDayon) March 4, 2026
The most bitter experience was that of Norway, with the Norwegian government and NHIndustries amicably settling on Nov. 3, 2025, their court dispute over the NH90, three years after the country canceled the contract with the firm. The troubled helicopter faced acute servicing and downtime issues in its 20 year tenure with the Norwegian Armed Forces.
Australia’s case with its NH90s is particularly famous, operating 46 airframes, locally designated MRH-90 Taipan (Multi-Role Helicopter). They had been in service since 2008, and the fleet of 46 Taipans was retired a decade ahead of schedule. The helicopters suffered a series of engine failures and maintenance issues. In August 2022, Canberra approved the purchase of 40 UH-60M Black Hawks to replace the Taipan.
Finland too had reported low availability rates, between 19% to 40%, of its 20 NH90 TTHs for the Army, meant to replace the Russian Mil Mi-8s. On the other hand, as mentioned earlier, France’s, Germany’s, Spain’s, the Netherlands’ and Italy’s experience has been largely satisfactory.
🚁🇫🇷 #NH90 #FS standard 2, je dis un grand OUI pour une livrée noire. pic.twitter.com/xIQqJlnWzk
— Philippe Top-Action (@top_force) November 7, 2025
In December 2025, NHIndustries also announced a contract with the NATO Helicopter Management Agency (NAHEMA) for the acquisition of three additional NH90 NFHs for the Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force.
