The industrial success of 2020, at a time when subcontractors were under tremendous strain from the impact of COVID-19, went hand in hand with considerable business success. The end of the year was marked by the signing of a contract for 31 additional NH90s for the German Navy, fitted with very high-tech mission equipment.

The second half of 2020 also saw some significant milestones, with the maiden flights of Qatar's over-land and naval NH90 variants, the first delivery to the Spanish Air Force and the signing of the Standard 2 development contract for the French special forces. The contract signed with the French Armament General Directorate (DGA) provides for a first development 'step' by 2024 and the delivery of 10 aircraft of this standard between 2025 and 2026. Although France is currently the only country to have committed to the NH90 'Special Forces' programme, the objective is to ensure that this situation soon changes: 'Other customers could easily join the contract, and sharing will be especially easy with nations that already fly the aircraft,' explained Nathalie Tarnaud-Laude.

Finally, there is the issue of technical support, a focal point for us today: 'Our availability rates do not meet our expectations or those of our customers,' admitted Nathalie Tarnaud-Laude. 'We are taking strong action to tackle this issue, a transformation plan that is both ambitious and practical.'

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Airbus SE published this content on 16 April 2021 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 16 April 2021 13:27:05 UTC.