The French Navy has deployed its new NH90 Caiman helicopters to Lanvéoc-Poulmic airfield in Brittany, France, for two weeks to test its search and rescue capabilities.

The NH90 Caiman helicopters will be tested in a series of missions that include hoisting, transporting equipment and medical personnel along with crews.

Caiman will also be put through its paces in the environmental conditions that it will face when operating over the Atlantic on real rescues in the future.

The aircraft is a replacement for the Lynx and will operate from French Navy frigates. It will also operate in SECMAR maritime rescue missions.

The NH90 is due to enter operational service at Lanvéoc with 33 Flotille later this year, according to Shephard.