NHIndustries NH90

NH90
An NH90 of the German Army
Role	Medium transport/utility helicopter
Manufacturer	NHIndustries
First flight	18 December 1995
Introduced	2007[1]
Status	In production, being delivered
Primary users	German Armed Forces Spanish Armed Forces Italian Armed Forces French Armed Forces
Unit cost	€16 million

The NHI NH90 is a medium sized, twin-engine, multi-role military helicopter manufactured by NHIndustries. The first prototype has it maiden flight in December 1995. It has been ordered by 16 nations, and deliveries began in 2006.

Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 2.1 Concerns over performance 3 Variants 3.1 NFH: NATO Frigate Helicopter 3.2 TTH: Tactical Transport Helicopter 4 Operators 5 Specifications 6 See also 7 References 8 External links

Design and development

On 1 September 1992, NH Industries signed an NH90 design-and-development contract with NAHEMA (NATO Helicopter Management Agency). This agency represented the four participating nations: France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. Portugal joined the agency on 21 June 2001. The design work started in 1993, with the first prototype, the PT1, making its first flight on 18 December 1995. A second prototype, the PT2, first flew on 19 March 1997 and the third prototype, the PT3, on 27 November 1998.

The NH90 has been developed in two main variants: the Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) and the NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH), however, many of the customer countries have requested special solutions for their NH90s. The program had some technical and funding problems in the beginning of the 1990s, but a large production order for 298 helicopters was launched on 30 June 2000 by the partner countries. This was soon followed by a series of orders from Europe and Asia/Australia.

The NH90 was initially intended to be produced at only three main assembly lines; Cascina Costa in Italy for AgustaWestland, Marignane in France and Donauwörth in Germany for Eurocopter. However, the Nordic and Australian contracts stipulated production locally (the Nordic ones at Patria in Finland and the Australian ones in Brisbane).

Operational history

In 2001, three Nordic countries signed purchase orders, Sweden placed an order for 18 helicopters, Finland for 20 helicopters, and Norway for 24 helicopters. NH-90 is also a candidate for the Norwegian All Weather Search and Rescue Helicopter (NAWSARH) that is planned to replace the Westland Sea King Mk.43B of the Royal Norwegian Air Force in 2015.^[2] The other candidates for the NAWSARH contract of 10–12 helicopters are AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin, Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey, Eurocopter EC225 and Sikorsky S-92.^[3]

On 29 August 2003, Greece ordered 34 NH90s with another 14 in option. In 2005 Australia ordered 12 to replace outgoing UH-1 Iroquois. The number was revised in June 2006 when the Australian Defence Force announced plans to replace its Black Hawk and Sea King fleets.^[4] with an order of at least 34 additional NH90s, taking their total order to 46; four manufactured in Europe, 42 manufactured locally at Australian Aerospace (a Eurocopter subsidiary) in Brisbane.^[5][6] In Australian service, the NH90 will be known as the MRH 90, where 'MRH' stands for Multi Role Helicopter.^[7]

In July 2006, the Saudi Government signed a contract to purchase 64 NH90s.^[8] In July 2006, the New Zealand Government signed a contract to purchase 8 NH90s (plus 1 extra for spares) to replace their Air Force's fleet of Iroquois.

The program ran into a 2 year production delay, and the first NH90s were delivered by late 2006 to the German Army. These were followed by Italian and Finnish helicopters in 2007. Later during 2007, the Italian and French navies started to receive their NFH versions and the first Swedish NH90s were also delivered. On 18 December 2007 the first two MRH 90 aircraft were delivered to the Australian Defence Force.^[9] Norway placed its order in 2001, but due to delays, have not received any date for the delivery of the helicopters.^[10]

On 20 June 2007, during the Paris Air Show 2007, Belgium signed the contract for its 10 NH90 (4 NFH, 4TTH + 2 options) and also became the 6th nation to join NAHEMA. On the same day, the German Army and the Luftwaffe placed an order for 42 additional NH90s.

The type certification for the Finnish helicopters were finally approved by 19 February 2008.^[11]

The Netherlands, one of the original supporters of the program, has 20 units on order. However, to date, due to design changes the helicopter is too heavy to be used in combination with the Dutch frigates for which they were explicitly ordered. It is as of yet unclear what additional changes, at what cost need to be made to make them suitable for the Dutch primary role.^[12]

Concerns over performance

According to a 2010 Bild report, German Army experts deem the helicopter to be utterly unusable for the transportation of combat troops. Among other things they complained that the seats are only suitable to carry 110 kg (240 lb) maximum weight—not enough for a fully equipped soldier. Weapons cannot be sufficiently secured during transport. The floor is too weak and can be damaged by dirty combat boots. The helicopter can only land on firm ground, with obstacles not exceeding 16 cm (6.3 in). Troops carrying full equipment cannot board/leave the helicopter, as the access ramp is too weak. Adding a doorgun is not possible due to the lack of space.^[13] In response to this article, the German Defense Ministry proclaimed that the report in question referred to a prototype version, and not to the production model, the specifications for which were not even finalized at the time of the report. The prototype evaluation and its results were described as a normal procedure in an ongoing design process.^[14]

On 20 April 2010, an Australian Defence Force MRH-90 suffered an engine failure near Adelaide. Only one engine was affected and the helicopter was landed safely at the Edinburgh base. The manufacturer has sent personnel to Australia to investigate the failure.^[15] On 18 May the ADF announced that all of the Australian MRH-90 fleet were grounded due to engine issues since the 20 April incident;^[16] flights resumed in July 2010.^[17]

Variants

NFH: NATO Frigate Helicopter

The primary role of the NFH version is autonomous anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface unit warfare (ASuW), mainly from naval ships. These aircraft are equipped for day and night, adverse weather and severe ship motion operations.

Additional roles include anti-air warfare support, vertical replenishment (VERTREP), search & rescue (SAR) and troop transport.

TTH: Tactical Transport Helicopter

The primary role of the TTH version is the transport of 20 troops or more than 2,500 kg of cargo, heliborne operations and search & rescue. It can quickly be adapted to MEDEVAC/CASEVAC missions by fitting up to 12 stretchers or cargo delivery capability

Additional roles include medical evacuation (12 stretchers), special operations, electronic warfare, airborne command post, parachuting, VIP transport and flight training.

The abbreviation TTT (Tactical Troop Transport) is used for Finnish and Swedish TTHs in some contexts.

Operators

Currently, 766 of all variants have been ordered.

 Australia

• Australian Army: 40 MRH 90 (TTH), 8 delivered in 2009 with the remainder to be delivered by 2014.
• Royal Australian Navy: 6 MRH 90 (TTH).

 Belgium

4 NFH + 6 TTH (2 TTH options firmed on July 3, 2008.^[18]) (delivery expected 2011)^[19]

 Finland

20 TTH (SAR)

 France

The NH90s in service in the French Armed Forces will be named "Caïman". ^[20]

• French Air Force: 34 TTH.^[21] + (34 options)
• French Navy: 27 NFH

 Germany

• German Army: 80 TTH
• Luftwaffe (Air Force): 42 TTH/CSAR + (12 options)
• German Navy (Deutsche Marine) has plans to procure 30 NFH for their new Maritime Helicopter.^[22]

 Greece

• Hellenic Army: 16 TTH, 4 TTH (Special Operations) + 14 TTH (in option)

 Italy

• Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare): 1 TTH/CSAR (in option)
• Italian Army: 60 TTH
• Italian Navy (Marina Militare): 46 NFH, 10 TTH

 Netherlands

• Royal Netherlands Navy: 12 NFH^[23]
• Royal Netherlands Air Force: 8 Marinised TTH

Both types are part of the Defence Helicopter Command (Defense Helicopter Commando)

 New Zealand

• Royal New Zealand Air Force: 8 TTH plus one as a spare.^[24][25]

 Norway

• Royal Norwegian Air Force, 334 Sqn: 6 NFH (ASW) operating from the Fridtjof Nansen class frigates of the Royal Norwegian Navy^[26]
• Royal Norwegian Air Force, 337 Sqn: 8 NFH (Coast Guard) replacing the Westland Lynx Mk. 86^[27]
• NH-90 is also being considered to replace the Westland Sea King Mk.43B (SAR) of the Royal Norwegian Air Force, 330 Sqn in 2015^[2][3]

 Oman

• Royal Air Force of Oman: 20 TTH models with an enhanced power plant ordered for tactical transport operations and search & rescue operations. They are expected to be delivered in 2008.^[28]

 Portugal

• Portuguese Army: 10 TTH

 Spain

Total of 104 on order distributed as follows. The first delivery is planned for 2010 with 45 helicopters. Spain will have a final assembly line operational at Albacete.^[29]

• Spanish Air Force: 28 TTH/CSAR
• Spanish Army: 48 TTH
• Spanish Navy: 28 NFH/TTH/CSAR/AEW

 Saudi Arabia

• 64 (announced July 2006)

 Sweden

• 13 High Cabin Version, 5 High Cabin Version (ASW)

Specifications

Data from International Directory^[30]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2 pilots (and possible sensor operator on NFH)
• Capacity: 20 troops/12 stretchers/2 NATO Pallets
• Length: 16.13 m (52 ft 11 in)
• Rotor diameter: 16.30 m (53 ft 6 in)
• Height: 5.23 m (17 ft 2 in)
• Empty weight: 6,400 kg (14,100 lb)
• Useful load: 4,200 kg (9,260 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 10,600 kg (23,370 lb)
• Powerplant: 2× Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322-01/9 turboshaft, 1,662 kW (2,230 shp) each, or:
• Powerplant: 2× General Electric T700-T6E turboshafts, 1,577 kW (2,115 shp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 300 km/h (162 knots, 186 mph)
• Range: 800 km, 497 mi (TTH); 1,000 km, 621 mi (NFH) ()
• Service ceiling: 6,000 m (20,000 ft)
• Rate of climb: 480 m/min (1,574 ft/m)

Armament

• Missiles: anti-submarine and/or air to surface missiles (NFH version), 2x door gun

See also

• European defence procurement
  

Comparable aircraft

• AgustaWestland AW101
• Mil Mi-17
• Mil Mi-38
• CH-148 Cyclone
• Eurocopter EC 725
• Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma
• Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk
  

References

External links

• NH Industries Official Website
• MH90 vs. CH148: German Navy to decide soon on their new Maritime Helicopter. defpro.com
• Eurocopter rejects criticism of NH90 helicopter by ‘secret report’. defpro.com

Eurocopter Group Civil helicopters BK 117 · EC120 · EC130 · EC135 · EC145 · EC155 · EC175 · EC225 · AS332 · AS350 · AS355 · SA/AS365 Military helicopters AS532 · AS550/AS555 · AS565 · EC635 · EC645 · EC665 · EC725 · NH90 · HH-65 · UH-72 Experimental helicopters X3

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