France Ministry of Defence, July 09, 2021 - Between May 18 to 20, 2021, the General Directorate of Armaments (DGA) and the French Navy carried out a test campaign of automatic opening parachute jump trials from the NFH (NATO Frigate Helicopter) marine version of the NH90 Caïman.
This was the fourth and final test campaign and was completed at the practical experimentation center of the Navy (CEPA / 10S) in the Fonsorbes area, Haute-Garonne.
This new capability, on benefit of special forces, makes it possible to drop up to eleven fully-equipped commandos during day or night from the helicopter normally based on escort ships such as frigates and destroyers.
The NH90 helicopter in its marine version has now been identified by FORFUSCO (maritime force for marines and commandos) as an air medium that can be used to drop its paratroopers or put its combat swimming commandos into the sea.
To meet this demand, experts from the DGA and CEPA / 10S worked together to allow the qualification of the parachute jump area with automatic opening through the right side door of the helicopter and with different types of existing parachutes.
In total, seven test flights (five day and two night) were completed with mixed DGA / 33F / CEPA / FORFUSCO teams.
The tests made it possible to:
- create and validate an interface for attaching the automatic opening straps (SOA) to the floor of the NH90;
- validate a motor drain protection created by the CEPA / 10S, and the use of a parachutist release aid light system;
- check the drag behavior of the SOA with canopy bag once the parachutists have been released;
- evaluate the normal release procedure and the emergency procedure in case of parachutist remaining attached to the SOA;
- verify the kinematics of parachute opening and the extension of the field of use of the parachutes used;
This was the fourth and final test campaign and was completed at the practical experimentation center of the Navy (CEPA / 10S) in the Fonsorbes area, Haute-Garonne.
This new capability, on benefit of special forces, makes it possible to drop up to eleven fully-equipped commandos during day or night from the helicopter normally based on escort ships such as frigates and destroyers.
The NH90 helicopter in its marine version has now been identified by FORFUSCO (maritime force for marines and commandos) as an air medium that can be used to drop its paratroopers or put its combat swimming commandos into the sea.
To meet this demand, experts from the DGA and CEPA / 10S worked together to allow the qualification of the parachute jump area with automatic opening through the right side door of the helicopter and with different types of existing parachutes.
In total, seven test flights (five day and two night) were completed with mixed DGA / 33F / CEPA / FORFUSCO teams.
The tests made it possible to:
- create and validate an interface for attaching the automatic opening straps (SOA) to the floor of the NH90;
- validate a motor drain protection created by the CEPA / 10S, and the use of a parachutist release aid light system;
- check the drag behavior of the SOA with canopy bag once the parachutists have been released;
- evaluate the normal release procedure and the emergency procedure in case of parachutist remaining attached to the SOA;
- verify the kinematics of parachute opening and the extension of the field of use of the parachutes used;
See also |
NH90 NFH in
Aéronautique Navale 10S
Escadrille 10S Aéronautique Navale French Navy 33F
Flottille 33F Aéronautique Navale French Navy Frigate
Aquitaine class 
