Airbus Helicopters delivered the first NH90 Standard 2 helicopter to the French Armament General Directorate (DGA) on July 30, 2026, introducing a specialized tactical transport variant designed specifically for special operations forces.

In a press release issued Thursday, the manufacturer confirmed the handover took place at its facility in Marignane, France. The aircraft will be operationally based in Pau, France, with the French Army Aviation. The delivery marks the first of 18 Standard 2 airframes ordered by France, with the remaining fleet scheduled for completion by mid-2029.

Technical upgrades for special operations

The NH90 Standard 2 builds upon the existing NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) platform by integrating equipment tailored for degraded visual environments and complex mission profiles. The modifications are designed to support operations in hostile or low-visibility conditions.

Key technical upgrades include the integration of the Safran Euroflir 410 D electro-optical system (EOS) and a new digital map generator. The cabin configuration has been altered to include a station for a third crew member and enlarged rear sliding windows to accommodate self-protection guns.

The variant also includes provisions for the Direct Aperture System (DAS), a technology currently under development to improve flight visibility in challenging conditions such as snow, dust, and fog. These sensor systems integrate directly with the Thales TopOwl helmet to enhance crew situational awareness during low-level and night operations.

Program expansion and international orders

The NATO Helicopter Management Agency (NAHEMA) initially ordered the NH90 Standard 2 program from the NHIndustries consortium in 2020. The customer base expanded in December 2025 when Spain placed an order for 31 helicopters in a similar configuration.

“We are honoured to deliver this NH90 Standard 2 to the French armed forces. This new standard builds upon the proven capabilities of the NH90 TTH with new breakthrough features designed specifically for special forces,” said Matthieu Louvot, CEO of Airbus Helicopters.

Louvot noted that Spain’s participation in developing the situational awareness features indicates the new standard is positioned to become a benchmark for special forces aviation units globally.

AirPro News analysis

The delivery of the NH90 Standard 2 represents a critical milestone for the NHIndustries consortium, which has faced scrutiny in recent years over NH90 availability rates, supply chain bottlenecks, and maintenance costs among various European operators. By successfully fielding a highly specialized variant tailored for the demanding requirements of French special forces, we view this as a stabilizing achievement for the broader NH90 program. The addition of Spain’s 31-aircraft order in late 2025 further solidifies the production backlog and spreads the development costs of the advanced sensor integration across multiple NATO partners, potentially making the Standard 2 upgrade path more attractive to other current NH90 operators.

Sources: Airbus

A multinational consortium of defense contractors signed a collaboration agreement on July 23, 2026, to integrate sovereign weapon systems into the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) sixth-generation fighter.

Announced at the Farnborough International Airshow in a press release from Manufacturers Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), the agreement establishes the Sovereign Effects Partners (SEPs). The group includes MHI, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, MBDA UK, and MBDA Italia. The partnership will provide engineering services and expert advice to Edgewing, the GCAP prime contractor, ensuring that the distinct weapon systems of Japan, the UK, and Italy can be digitally integrated into the core aircraft platform.

Digital Integration Over Joint Development

The SEPs agreement transitions the four defense companies from national contracting models to a sustained international framework. The consortium will focus on effects optimization and the digital integration of effector systems for the future combat aircraft.

The collaboration does not encompass the joint development of new weapons. Instead, it aligns the sovereign approaches of the partner nations. This strategy ensures that the respective national weapons inventories can interface seamlessly with the GCAP platform, which is slated to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Mitsubishi F-2.

Funding and Infrastructure Milestones

The effector integration agreement follows a major funding breakthrough for the broader GCAP initiative. On July 3, 2026, the tri-nation GCAP International Government Organisation awarded a £4.6 billion ($6.1 billion) Contracts to Edgewing. According to reporting by Defense News, this 18-month contract covers the advanced concept and assessment phase alongside joint detailed design and development.

The contract award was enabled by the release of the UK’s Defence Investment Plan, which committed £8.6 billion over four years to the program. Defense News noted that delays in UK funding had previously caused friction with Japan, which remains focused on meeting the aircraft’s 2035 target in-service date.

To support this accelerated development timeline, Edgewing is expanding its physical footprint. Aviation Week reported that the joint venture, comprising BAE Systems, Leonardo, and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co. Ltd., is preparing to build new facilities in Warton, England; Turin, Italy; and Nagoya, Japan.

AirPro News analysis

The formation of the Sovereign Effects Partners highlights a pragmatic approach to multinational defense procurement. By focusing on digital integration rather than forcing the joint development of new munitions, the GCAP partners are avoiding a common pitfall of international fighter programs: protracted negotiations over weapon requirements. We view this decoupled strategy as essential for meeting the aggressive 2035 Delivery target. It allows Japan, the UK, and Italy to maintain their sovereign supply chains and strategic autonomy while still fielding a unified, interoperable sixth-generation platform.

Sources: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

Leonardo DRS, the US-listed subsidiary of Italian aerospace and defense group Leonardo S.p.A., has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Virginia-based defense software firm Raft LLC in an all-cash transaction valued at $450 million.

Announced on July 28, 2026, the acquisition targets the growing defense sector demand for AI and multi-domain data fusion. The integration is designed to improve real-time situational awareness and operational decision-making for national security customers by combining disparate data streams into a common operating picture.

Strategic expansion in defense software

Raft, headquartered in McLean, Virginia, specializes in open-architecture mission software. The company was founded in 2018 by Shubhi Mishra and has built a portfolio focused on data integration and AI-enabled solutions for military applications.

Lorenzo Mariani, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of Leonardo S.p.A., stated in a press release that the acquisition aligns with the broader corporate strategy of expanding technological capabilities in the United States.

The acquisition is aligned with Leonardo and Leonardo DRS’s strategy and enhances Leonardo DRS’s ability to deliver integrated, mission-focused technologies that help customers operate with greater speed, clarity and confidence in complex operational environments. Raft’s open-architecture software, AI and data integration capabilities are highly complementary and additive to Leonardo DRS’s existing technology portfolio.

John Baylouny, President and Chief Executive Officer of Leonardo DRS, noted that defense customers increasingly require integrated hardware, software, data, and autonomy to support mission outcomes. He added that Raft brings proven software talent that complements the company’s existing sensing and computing capabilities.

Financial terms and transaction details

The $450 million all-cash transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, pending regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Leonardo DRS anticipates the deal will generate a tax benefit with an estimated present value of $50 million over the next 15 years.

Leonardo S.p.A. currently holds a 71.38% stake in Leonardo DRS. The parent company views the acquisition as a key step in expanding its footprint in the US defense market. Raft has previously received financial backing from investment firm Washington Harbour Partners.

Mishra described the acquisition as a natural progression for the software firm and its development teams.

Joining DRS is a natural next step for our team and our mission. Our open-architecture platform was built to integrate across systems, not lock customers in, and pairing it with DRS’s sensing and computing franchises will accelerate our ability to deliver mission capability at a global scale.

Leonardo DRS is scheduled to discuss the acquisition further during its second-quarter 2026 earnings conference call on July 30, 2026.

AirPro News analysis

We view the acquisition of Raft as a direct execution of the strategic priorities outlined by John Baylouny when he assumed the role of CEO at Leonardo DRS on January 1, 2026. Baylouny succeeded Bill Lynn with a stated mandate to expand the company’s capabilities in advanced sensing, network computing, and AI-enabled mission solutions.

By acquiring a specialized software firm rather than attempting to build these capabilities entirely in-house, Leonardo DRS accelerates its ability to compete for complex, multi-domain defense contracts. The emphasis on open-architecture systems is particularly notable. Defense departments globally are actively moving away from proprietary, vendor-locked platforms in favor of interoperable data environments, making firms like Raft highly attractive acquisition targets for traditional hardware primes.

Sources: Leonardo S.p.A.