Italy receives first of 46 NH90 step B helicopters

The Italian Navy has taken delivery of the first of 46 twin-engine NH90 Step B naval helicopters from NHIndustries. The newest configuration of the NH90 features a composite airframe and a redundant fly-by-wire flight control system, as well as mission systems integration for both air-to-surface missiles and torpedoes and advanced satellite and encrypted communications systems. NHIndustries is owned by Eurocopter of France and Germany, AgustaWestland of Britain and Italy and stork Fokker Aerospace of the Netherlands. The company said that in addition to delivering the new configuration helicopters to Italy, it is also will also upgrading five Step A NH90 helicopters currently operated by Italy. NH90 aircraft, designed to meet NATO requirements, are in operation in a dozen countries: Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Greece, Oman, Australia and New Zealand. The medium-size aircraft has a top speed of 186 miles per hour and a range of 610 miles and is used for a variety of missions, from anti-submarine warfare to search and rescue.