Thales advances NH90 helmet technology to boost pilot safety and mission performance

Thales has been awarded a contract by the NATO Helicopter Management Agency (NAHEMA) to develop advanced functions and capabilities for its TopOwl Digital Display (DD) helmet, enhancing safety and operational efficiency for NH90 helicopter pilots. The contract follows an order by the Spanish Ministry of Defense for 31 NH90 helicopters.

Secured in collaboration with NHIndustries (NHI) and Safran, the program highlights continued cooperation between European defense partners in support of the French Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA) and Spain’s Dirección General de Armamento y Material (DGAM). The work focuses on further improving the TopOwl DD helmet’s ability to support pilots operating in complex and degraded visual environments.

The helmet uses augmented reality to combine synthetic terrain vision with data from mission and flight sensors, onboard cameras, and light intensifier tubes, which will also be enhanced under the new contract. This enables safe day and night operations in challenging conditions such as dust clouds, fog, snow, or extremely dark nights. Improved situational awareness and visibility are particularly critical during low-level flight or operations in reduced visibility.

Developed and manufactured at the Thales Campus in Bordeaux, France, the TopOwl DD helmet is produced in cooperation with Defense Industrial and Technological Base (BITD) stakeholders and refined in close partnership with operational forces. Each helmet is individually tailored to the pilot’s physiology, ensuring optimal fit, reduced fatigue, and sustained performance during long or demanding missions.

The contract further strengthens long-standing collaboration between Thales, NAHEMA and European defense authorities, reflecting a shared focus on delivering advanced technologies to meet the evolving demands of modern rotary-wing operations.

“By choosing the TopOwl DD, NAHEMA confirms the leading role of this helmet, recognized by helicopter crews for enhancing operational performance and safety,” said Florent Chauvancy, Vice President of Flight Avionics at Thales. “This contract further strengthens the strategic partnership between Thales, DGA, NAHEMA, and NHI, all committed to equipping the armed forces with cutting-edge technologies designed for the most challenging operational environments.”