France has ordered a total of 34 NH90 TTH helicopters, with an additional 34 on option, to progressively replace the Pumas currently in service for the ALAT. First aircraft in Final Operational Configuration (FOC) delivered on January 2012.
On February 14, 2013 the NH90TTH Caïman (Cayman) was officially accepted for ALAT service with 1 RHC at Phalsbourg.
As of 2016, 18 NH90 TTH were in service in the ALAT with 50 more already ordered.
On October 2020 was announced the last 10 TTH will be in the TFRA Standard 2 configuration for French Army special forces.
News
Airbus Helicopters for Special Forces, 01-Jul-21 : #SpecialForces Airbus has a complete helicopter portfolio, including the H145M, H225M and NH90 models, to respond to the needs of special forces
NH90 Special Forces Pilot Helmet, 30-Apr-21 : #Topowl French Special Forces NH90 pilots will use the Thales’s Topowl Helmet System which has also been selected for the Standard 3 upgrade of the Tiger being developed jointly by France, Germany and Spain
Six Years for French NH90 in the Sahel, 23-Apr-21 : #NH90 Since November 2014 the NH90 TTH Caïman (Cayman) of the French Army Aviation (ALAT) 1st Combat Helicopter Regiment (RHC) are deployed in the African Sahel region
Euroflir 410 for French Special Forces NH90, 20-Oct-20 : #Euroflir410 Safran’s new Euroflir 410 optronic system will equip the 10 NH90 TTH Standard 2 (TFRA2) to be delivered to the French Army 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment (RHFS) from 2025
Upgraded NH90 for French Special Forces, 12-Oct-20 : #SpecialForces NATO Helicopter Management Agency (NAHEMA) signed development of NH90 variant TFRA Standard 2 for French special forces. Under new contract the last 10 helicopters of the 74 ordered will be delivered in 2025 in this new configuration
Barkhane: Force’ 3D Capabilities in Action, 28-Jun-19 : #Force3D French forces deployed in Mali for operation Barkhane, took part of operation ACONIT at the Malian-Nigerian border against armed terrorist groups (GAT)
RAF Chinooks Reinforce French Mission in Mali, 27-Dec-18 : For the first time since arrival in July 2018 to Mali to support the French-led Operation Barkhane, a RAF Chinook trained the “kangaroo” refueling procedure with French helicopters Tiger and NH90