Safran Helicopter Engines has signed a 10-year contract with NAHEMA (NATO Helicopter Management Agency), to support RTM322-powered NH90 helicopters operated by the French Army Light Aviation (ALAT) and French Navy.

This contract also covers the NH90 operated by Belgian Army and Navy and the Royal Netherlands Armed Forces. This contract will cover 130 rotorcraft in the coming years for a turnover of €180m. This is Safran’s first signed Global Support Package (GSP) contract to support the NH90 fleet.

This agreement satisfies the NAHEMA and Nations requirement for optimum availability of engines during their search and rescue and military operations, both at home or while on deployment.

The GSP guarantees turboshaft availability at a fixed price per engine flying hour, and enables military operators to focus on their core activities. This close technical partnership with the OEM provides the customer with full budget control during the contract period.

Fortunato di Marzio, NAHEMA General Manager, said: “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. The contract is the result of a very good and fruitful partnership between NAHEMA and Safran Helicopter Engines”.

Franck Saudo, Safran Helicopter Engines Executive Vice President Support & Services, said: “This contract marks a major new milestone in our partnership with NAHEMA and French, Belgium and Dutch armed forces. 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”.