The Italian Navy achieved a major rotorcraft capability enhancement milestone with the completion of deliveries of its NH90 helicopters combined with a dedicated simulation centre for its NH90 crews. The 46th SH-90A ASW/AsuW aircraft, assembled at Leonardo’s facility in Venice Tessera, has been deployed at the Italian Navy’s Maristaeli Luni Base and presented during an official ceremony attended by Italian Navy’s, Leonardo’s and NHIndustries’ dignitaries and representatives. The helicopter also joins a fleet of 10 MH-90As optimized for tactical transport duties and special operations, bringing the total fleet of NH90s to 56 in service with this prime operator.
The completion of deliveries occurs as a Full Crew Simulation Training Centre is established and opened at the base, featuring a dedicated Level D Full Flight Simulator of the type in full MR 1 configuration (therefore, representative of the latest avionics standard), all fully developed by Leonardo and tailored to the Italian Navy’s needs. The new simulation environment allows for the SH-90 and MH-90 crews (including both pilots and specialised personnel) to be trained with high levels of fidelity and accuracy to carry out missions in any kind of operational scenarios to the benefit of effectiveness, safety, efficiency, and sustainability. The system is suitable for further evolution in the future, such as the possibility to be linked to other simulation assets in order to develop joint and multi-domain networked mission training. Additionally, the Full Crew Simulation Training Centre will deliver training services to NH90 crews from other countries.
Leonardo and Aechelon Technology integrated its pC-NOVA Nucleus Image Generators supporting OTW, NVG, and EO/IR. The system also included real-time Aero-turbulence and Brown-Out Server (ATBOS), providing accurate Computer Fluid Dynamics Degraded Visual Environments.
Aechelon Technology also provided its World Wide Commercial Database baseline and a Database Generation System, enabling Leonardo’s own development of high-fidelity multi-spectral visual database enhancements, 3D moving models, low-level routes, and a variety of airfields.
Gian Piero Cutillo, Leonardo Helicopters MD, said: “The completion of the NH90 deliveries and the handover of this one-of-a-kind simulation environment marks a major step forward, which further reinforces our long- established partnership with the Italian Navy. I want to thank all Navy and industry personnel who made these results possible. We now look forward to continuing this collaboration with the Italian Navy towards new important goals and capability enhancement to meet evolving requirements.”
