Hurel-Dubois gets major production contract on NH90

Hurel-Dubois will produce the upper structure for NH9O helicopters in a contract covering the NH9O's full production run.

Elements to be manufactured by Hurel-Dubois include the upper cabin structure, engine firewall, exhaust jet deflector and forward, rear, bridge and rotor panels.

The contract was awarded to Hurel-Dubois by Eurocopter, a 100-percent owned EADS subsidiary and member of the NH Industries company grouping responsible for NH9O development and production.

Hurel-Dubois already has designed and manufactured the upper structure for five NH90 prototype helicopters, and the new contract brings the company into the NH9O's series production phase, which was formally launched in June.

This order expands Hurel-Dubois aerostructures business for helicopters, which also includes exhaust jet deflectors used as infrared signature suppressors on the Eurocopter 5A341 Gazelle and SA332/532 Super Puma/Cougar helicopters.

The NH9O is Europe's largest helicopter program ever, with a total requirement for 595 units to satisfy the tactical transport and naval airlift/deployment requirements of the four participating NATO countries (France, Germany, Italy and The Netherlands).

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