Safran to perform NATO NH90 helicopter engine support

PARIS, Dec. 13 (UPI) -- Safran Helicopter Engines has received a 10-year, $190 million contract from the NATO Helicopter Management Agency to support NH90 engine development.

Under the contract, the company will provide RTM322 engine support services for the NH90 helicopter operated by a variety of NATO-aligned armed forces, French Army Light Aviation, the French navy, Belgian army and navy, and the Royal Netherlands Armed Forces.

The agreement covers 130 rotorcraft, marking Safran's first Global Support Package for an NH90 fleet.

"This GSP will allow the French, the Belgian and the Dutch NH90 operators to benefit from a very effective engine-support for their RTM322 engines, especially during their operational tasks," general manager Fortunato di Marzio said in a press release. "The contract is the result of a very good and fruitful partnership between NAHEMA and Safran Helicopter Engines."

The NH90 helicopter is a medium-sized, multirole military helicopter used by a variety of European armed forces. Safran says their new contract will boost engine availability for the aircraft's operators.

"We will deliver world-class services to guarantee their engine availability; thus demonstrating that the GSP model is particularly well-suited to supporting the engine fleets of modern air forces," Safran Helicopter Engines support and services executive vice president Franck Saudo added.