There is no standard for anything (or so it seems) on the NH90. They’re not building three different versions, they’re building six dozen different versions.
The Selex FLIR 111 is for the TTHs with weather radar. That small horizontal Coke-bottle. Some seem to use just an Selex NTI. And basically there is no reason why one shouldn’t use a big ball FLIR/EO combo instead. Just money.
The NFHs use the big Selex EOST 23 (?) turret, but what’s actually in the ball is up to the customer (most of the NFHs seem to use it only for a FLIR). The French chose the Sagem IRIS. And some want the big ball, but a weaker FLIR in it (like the Dutch).
Seldom seen such ****ty integration of warfighting systems. That aircraft started with quite sleek looks, “stealthy” and all. But now it has so many bumps and warts, looks like a SOCOM model, even though it’s just standard. Did they first design a helicopter and only then thought about where to put the warfighting stuff? Guess CFRP makes it real hard to place things inside, afterwards?
Very interesting.
So the FLIR III is on all TTH variants that come with a weather radar? Do most folks opt for the weather radar?
NFHs use the big Selex EOST 23 but different countries can, in effect, add different tubes.
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