France takes a leap with government support

摘要

When the French Navy (Marine na-tionale) took delivery of its first NH90 NFH helicopter in May, some five years behind schedule, few commentators complained about the tortuous procurement process. With two more NH90s due to arrive at the naval test centre at Hyeres in southern France by the end of the year, the mood was upbeat as most observers chose to celebrate the start of a new era for the navy's aviation arm.rnHowever, the milestone event did not command quite the attention it deserved because it occurred amid a host of other landmark naval developments.