NHIndustries NH90

NH90
A NH90 of the German Army
Role	Medium transport/utility helicopter
Manufacturer	NHIndustries
First flight	18 December 1995
Introduction	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 NHIndustries NH90 is a medium sized, twin-engine, multi-role military helicopter manufactured by NHIndustries. The first prototype had its maiden flight in December 1995. To date fourteen nations collectively ordered over 573 helicopters with deliveries starting in 2006.

Design and development

In 1985 France, West Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom teamed to develop a NATO battlefield transport and anti-ship/anti-submarine helicopter for the 1990s. The United Kingdom left the team in 1987.^[2] On 1 September 1992, NH Industries signed an NH90 design-and-development contract with NAHEMA (NATO Helicopter Management Agency).^{[citation needed]} This agency represented the four participating nations: France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. Portugal later joined the agency in June 2001. Design work on the helicopter started in 1993.^{[citation needed]} The first prototype, PT1, made the type's first flight on 18 December 1995.^[2] The second prototype, PT2, first flew on 19 March 1997 and the third prototype, PT3, on 27 November 1998.^{[citation needed]}

NH90 cockpit

The NH90 has been developed in two main variants: the Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) and the NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH).^[2] However, many of the customer countries have requested specific changes for their NH90s. The programme had some technical and funding problems in the 1990s.^{[citation needed]} Then the partner nations placed a large production order for 366 helicopters in June 2000.^[2] This was soon followed by a series of orders from Europe, Asia, and Australia.

The NH90 was initially intended to be produced at three exporting assembly lines; Cascina Costa in Italy for AgustaWestland, Marignane in France and Donauwörth in Germany for Eurocopter. The Nordic and Australian contracts stipulated production locally (the Nordic ones at Patria in Finland and the Australian ones in Brisbane). Spain has a final assembly line at Albacete.^[3][4]

The programme ran into a 2 year production delay, and the first NH90s were delivered by late 2006. The type certification for the Finnish helicopters was finally approved on 19 February 2008.^[5]

Operational history

Orders

The Nordic countries

In 2001, three Nordic countries signed purchase orders, Sweden placed an order for 18 helicopters (with option to buy additional seven), Finland for 20 helicopters, and Norway for 14 helicopters (with option to buy additional ten).

In December 2011, the first Norwegian NH90 helicopter was delivered.^[6] NH90 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.^[7] The other candidates for the NAWSARH contract of 10–12 helicopters were AgustaWestland AW101, Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey, Eurocopter EC225, and Sikorsky S-92.^[8] However, the V-22 was eliminated from the competition in 2012.^[9]

Greece

In August 2003, Greece ordered 20 NH90s with an option for 14 more.^[10] Four aircraft have been delivered to the Greek armed forces by March 2012. These are being used for flight and maintenance training for the Greek Armed Forces.^{[citation needed]}

Australia

In 2005, Australia ordered 12 to replace outgoing Army UH-1 Iroquois. The number was revised in June 2006 when the Australian Defence Force announced plans to replace its UH-60 Black Hawk and SH-3 Sea King fleets.^[11] 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.^[12][13] In Australian service, the NH90 will be known as the MRH 90, where 'MRH' stands for Multi Role Helicopter.^[14]

The NFH variant competed with the Sikorsky MH-60R for the Royal Australian Navy S-70B Sea Hawks replacement program, before selecting the latter in June 2011 with an order of 24.^[15]

Netherlands

The Netherlands, one of the original supporters of the programme, has 20 units on order. However, due to design changes, the helicopter is too heavy as of 2009 to be used in combination with the Dutch frigates for which they were explicitly ordered. It is unclear what additional changes need to be made to make them suitable for the Dutch primary role.^[16]

Saudi Arabia

In July 2006, the Saudi Government signed a contract to purchase 64 NH90s.^[17]

Germany

The German Navy (Deutsche Marine) was considering procuring 30 NFH for their new Maritime Helicopter in 2009.^[18]

Other nations

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 UH-1 Iroquois. On 20 June 2007, during the Paris Air Show 2007, Belgium signed the contract for 10 NH90s (4 NFH, 4 TTH + 2 options) and also became the sixth nation to join NAHEMA.^[19]

First deliveries

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.^[20] The Royal Netherlands Navy got its first NH90 NFH in April 2010.^[21] Norway started to receive their NH90s in November 2011.^[22] New Zealand received their first two NH90s in December 2011. ^[23]

Concerns over performance

Rear cargo ramp, Luftwaffe NH90

According to a 2010 Bild report, German Army experts deemed the helicopter to be utterly unusable for the transportation of combat troops. Among other things, they complained that the seats were only suitable to carry 110 kg (240 lb) maximum weight—not enough for a fully equipped soldier. Weapons could not be sufficiently secured during transport. The floor was too weak and could be damaged by dirty combat boots. The helicopter could only land on firm ground, with obstacles not exceeding 16 cm (6.3 in). Troops carrying full equipment could not board/leave the helicopter, as the access ramp was too weak. Adding a door gun was not possible due to the lack of space.^[24] 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 finalised at the time of the report. The prototype evaluation and its results were described as a normal procedure in an ongoing design process.^[25]

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 RAAF Base Edinburgh. The manufacturer has sent personnel to Australia to investigate the failure.^[26] 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.^[27] Flights resumed in July 2010.^[28]

In November 2011, the MRH-90 program was placed on the Australian Department of Defence's list of 'Projects of Concern'.^[29] As of January 2012, it remains on the list with the 15 MRH-90s that have been delivered, cleared only for testing and initial training. The most serious problem identified by a diagnostic review and also the cause of the mid-2010 groundings,^[30] is compressor blade rubbing caused by the bending of a spool in the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322 engine due to uneven cooling after shutdown. Other problems identified include:^[31] failure of transmission oil cooler fans; windscreen cracking; an inertial navigation system that takes too long to align; and the weakness of the cabin floor to withstand the impacts of soldiers’ boots - a problem also encountered by the German military.

Variants

Dutch NFH

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 and 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.

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

Operators

A German Army NH90 flight demonstration

Finnish NH90

Australian MRH90

Australian MRH90 on deck of HMAS Manoora

 Australia

• Australian Army: 40 MRH-90 (TTH) "Cobra".
• Royal Australian Navy: 6 MRH-90 "Cobra" to be operated by 808 Squadron RAN.

15 delivered as of the end of 2011 with the remainder to be delivered until 2015

 Belgium

• 4 NFH + 4 TTH (2 TTH options)^[32][33] (delivery delayed to 2012)

 Finland

• Finnish Army: 20 TTH (SAR)

 France

Final Assembly by Eurocopter France The NH90s in service in the French Armed Forces (both NFH and TTH versions) will be named "Caïman".^[34]

• French Army: 34 TTH (+34 planned to be signed in 2012; up to 133 to be ordered^[35])
• French Navy: 27 NFH

 Germany

Final Assembly by Eurocopter Germany

• German Army: 80 TTH
• Luftwaffe (Air Force): 42 TTH/CSAR + (12 options)

 Greece

Final Assembly by Eurocopter France

• Hellenic Army: (Total 20 ordered) 16 TTH, 4 TTH (Special Operations) + 14 TTH (in option)

 Italy

Final Assembly by AgustaWestland ^[36]

• Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare): 1 TTH/CSAR (in option)
• Italian Army: 60 TTH
• Italian Navy (Marina Militare): 46 NFH, 10 TTH (with some NFH features such as Automatic Folding Blades)

 Netherlands

Final Assembly by AgustaWestland ^[36]

• Royal Netherlands Navy: 12 NFH^[37]
• Royal Netherlands Air Force: 8 T-NFH (NFH adapted for transport tasks)

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

 New Zealand

Final Assembly by Eurocopter France

• Royal New Zealand Air Force: 8 TTH plus one as a spare.^[38][39]

 Norway

Final Assembly by AgustaWestland ^[36]

• Royal Norwegian Air Force, 334 Sqn: 6 NFH (ASW) operating from the Fridtjof Nansen class frigates of the Royal Norwegian Navy^[40]
• Royal Norwegian Air Force, 337 Sqn: 8 NFH (Coast Guard) replacing the Westland Lynx Mk. 86^[41]

 Oman

Final Assembly by Eurocopter France

• 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.^[42]

 Portugal

Final Assembly by AgustaWestland ^[36]

• Portuguese Army: 10 TTH

 Spain

• 45 TTH on order^[4]

 Sweden

• Swedish Air Force: 13 High Cabin Version, 5 High Cabin Version (ASW)

Specifications

NH90 performing an external lift of a German Army Wolf vehicle

Data from International Directory^[43]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2 pilots (and possible sensor operator on NFH)
• Capacity: 20 seated troops or; 12 medevac stretchers or; 2 NATO pallets or; 4,000 kg (8,818 lb) external slung load
• 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 turboshaft, 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: 8 m/s (1,574 ft/m)

Armament

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

See also

• European defence procurement
  

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• AgustaWestland AW101
• AgustaWestland AW159
• Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey
• Mil Mi-17
• Mil Mi-38
• Eurocopter EC 725
• Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma
• Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk
• Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone
  

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: NHIndustries NH-90

• NH90 page on NH Industries' site
• NH90 page on Royal New Zealand Air Force site
• NH90 page on airforce-technology.com
• "NH90: Europe’s Medium Helicopter Contender". defenseindustrydaily.com
• "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
• www.marinehubschrauber.de. Homepage for the MH90-NG (German NH90 NFH Variant)