NHIndustries NH90

Yes. New enlarged windows for self protection guns.

Hard to see however how it will interact with the DAS in combat situations.

resize
 
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I would not be surprised to see the countermeasure buckets moved behind the new windows. Since the platform has just started operational testing there will likely be a number of small changes.
 
RNL has also identified more NH90 naval helicopters with “self-protection” features, an “anti-drone air-defense cannon” and “a high-energy laser system.” The unspecified number of additional maritime NH90s will support “more deployments by ships with an on-board helicopter,” AGN added. Whether the laser DEW (Directed Energy Weapon) is a part of the anti-UAV system or a separate AD (Air Defense) platform, to be produced locally, developed with NATO allies or bought outright, is not yet known.
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theaviationist.com

Netherlands Announces More F-35 Fighters, NH90 Helicopters in New $2.7B Defense Plan

The size of each of the three F-35 squadrons will swell and enhance readiness and ‘airstrike power.’ The Netherlands has announced plans to acquire
theaviationist.com theaviationist.com
 
Kiltonge said:
Or extend the sponsors aft to incorporate the countermeasures, thereby also addressing the factors called 'drag' and 'noise'.
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As long as it doesn't mess with the door guns field of fire.

Most of the ideas I had to stick the countermeasures buckets on the sponsons reduced the door gun field of fire.
 
Well, I am not sure of that. The NH90 is still the only Naval Helicopter best suited exclusively for the Vatican Navy, with last report showing an unspecified (and classified!? But why?) less than 33% availability and recurring concerns with corrosions:

Ayant effectué un contrôle budgétaire sur le MCO des équipements militaires au nom de la commission sénatoriale des Finances, le sénateur Dominique de Legge indique en effet, dans son rapport, que, « à ce jour, moins d’un tiers des hélicoptères de la version navale [du NH-90] est […] disponible, tandis que les durées de visite de maintenance sont deux fois plus longues » qu’initialement prévu. À noter que le chiffre exact de cette disponibilité est « confidentiel ».
----------------------------***//***----------------------------------------------------

Having carried out a budgetary audit on Field Maintenance Availability (MCO) of military equipment on behalf of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Dominique de Legge indicates in his report that, "to date, less than a third of the helicopters of the naval version [of the NH-90] are […] available, while the maintenance visit times are twice as long" as initially planned. It should be noted that the exact figure for this availability is "confidential".
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www.opex360.com

Selon le Sénat, le taux de disponibilité des hélicoptères NH-90 Caïman est inférieur aux besoins de la Marine - Zone Militaire

Depuis qu'il est entré en service au sein de l'Aéronautique navale, en 2011, l'hélicoptère NH-90 Caïman NFH donne du fil à retordre à la Marine nationale.
www.opex360.com www.opex360.com

And in the senate report*, that golden nugget (in Capital Bold in the text):
Dans un contexte de hausse des coûts de maintenance, la récente augmentation des crédits de mco ne s'est pas accompagnée d'une amélioration de la disponibilité opérationnelle des matériels.
Les crédits budgétaires dédiés au mco, insuffisamment traçables, ont connu récemment une nette hausse, hors dépenses de personnel
------------//**//--------------------------------------------

In a context of rising maintenance costs, the recent increase in Field Maintenance Availability (MCO) appropriations has not been accompanied by an improvement in the operational availability of equipment.
The budget appropriations dedicated to mco, which are insufficiently traceable, have recently seen a sharp increase, excluding personnel costs
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*available via the link above
 
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With the Papal States still yet to be reconstituted, it will be a fair while yet before the Classis Pontificiae is in a position to start procuring ships, much less helicopters.
 
French NH-90 will introduce a nice stabilized support for precision riffle. Kit guarantees a hit from the side door of an helicopter from 1200m with 80% probability.

Great against Kamikaze drone and other small UAS.

strike-cougar-20250211.jpg


(link in Fr, use an automatic translator) :
www.opex360.com

L'armée de Terre a testé une solution pour le tir à longue distance depuis un hélicoptère de manœuvre - Zone Militaire

Actuellement, les hélicoptères de manœuvre de l'aviation légère de l'armée de Terre , et plus précisément ceux du 4e Régiment d'hélicoptères de forces
www.opex360.com www.opex360.com

Let's hope however that somebody think at the comfort for the shooter and refine the ergonomics.
 
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TomcatViP said:
French NH-90 will introduce a nice stabilized support for precision riffle. Kit guarantees a hit from the side door of an helicopter from 1200m with 80% probability.

Great against Kamikaze drone and other small UAS.

(link in Fr, use an automatic translator) :
www.opex360.com

L'armée de Terre a testé une solution pour le tir à longue distance depuis un hélicoptère de manœuvre - Zone Militaire

Actuellement, les hélicoptères de manœuvre de l'aviation légère de l'armée de Terre , et plus précisément ceux du 4e Régiment d'hélicoptères de forces
www.opex360.com www.opex360.com

Let's hope however that somebody think at the comfort for the shooter and refine the ergonomics.
Click to expand...

I just tried that position. It's actually not uncomfortable and should be very stable, with the right elbow locked into the right knee. Not great if you had to support all the weight of a big gun like that, but the point of the device is to take most of the weight off the shooter's hands.

Definitely an upgrade over how USCG is doing it with their HITRON precision marksmen (used mainly to shoot out the engines of go-fast boats that won't stop when hailed):

1739455766454.png
1739456015194.png
 
@TomS : great to see comparable hardware (and commitment!). However, try to take this position again on a washing machine at full spin...

I think that a small cushion pad could help separate the hard vibrating floor from the bony section of the knee and leg.

I was not calling for something more complicated ;)
 
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TomcatViP said:
@TomS...
I think that a small cushion pad could help separate the hard vibrating floor from the bony section of the knee and leg.
...
Click to expand...
Various knee pads are pretty standard combat gear. Some go into pockets in the pants/trousers.
 
Australia’s Pentagon Wars Moment

Abstract
An Australian MRH-90 helicopter crash in 2023 killed four crew members during a low-level over-water formation exercise for special forces operations. A formal inquiry by the Inspector General of the Australian Defence Force (IGADF) has heard testimony throughout 2024 of considerable disagreement among the test community about the circumstances for approval of the Helmet-Mounted Display Sight used on the fatal mission. Developmental Test and Evaluation (T&E) staff had vigorously opposed using that sight in these flight conditions due to the risk of disorientation leading to commanded flight into terrain. Witnesses have alluded to pressure to accept the sights because they were being tested after purchase. Starting before the crash, for the previous two years Australia’s Parliament has been considering a bill to create an independent Defence Capability Assurance Agency, in part, to regulate test and evaluation in such decisions. The United States (US) underwent a similar pivotal movement forty years ago known as the ‘Pentagon Wars,’ which was made famous by a book and movie with that name. That movement and the brave and honest testimony of many US test and evaluation staff led to an independent test agency and Title 10 US regulation governing operational and live fire test and evaluation conduct and use in capability decisions. These governance mechanisms are considered the benchmark for credible testing in any allied capability decision. The early evidence from this Australian helicopter crash is diverse and challenging to interpret, however, coupled with the current DCAA Bill, Australia has finally had its inescapable ‘Pentagon Wars’ moment.

itea.org

Australia’s Pentagon Wars Moment

An analysis of Australia's defense procurement and testing reforms in light of recent legislative changes.
itea.org itea.org
 

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