NH-90

The medium-lift NH-90 Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) and the navalised NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH) is being developed by France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal. The fully
fly-by-wire NH-90 is capable of a wide variety of roles in all weathers, including tactical troop transport, ASW, ASuW, Medical Evacuation (Medevac) and SAR. All variants can carry either up to 20 troops, a light patrol vehicle and seven troops, 12 stretchers or up to 2,500kg of cargo. The TTH is fitted with a rear ramp for easy access. The NH-90 is powered by two 1,662 kW (2,230 shp) RTM322-01/9 turboshaft engines, which have been developed by Rolls-Royce and Turbomeca. The Italian NH-90 will be fitted with two 1,577 kW (2,115 shp) T700-T6E engines instead, produced by Avio and General Electric. Spain's NH-90s will be powered by two 1,864 kW (2,500 shp) General Electric CT7-8F5 turboshafts.

NHIndustries was formed in 1992 to manage the development of the NH-90 helicopter. It is owned by Eurocopter (62.5%), AgustaWestland (32%) and Stork SP Aerospace (5.5%). NH-90 workshare is divided among the NHIndustries partners:

• Eurocopter France, Marignane: powerplant, rotors, electrical systems, flight controls and central avionics.
• Eurocopter Deutschland, Donauwörth: nose and central sections, fuel, communications, avionics control system and the most of the TTH version, particularly the orders for Germany and Portugal.
• AgustaWestland, Vergiate in Italy: tail cone, main gearbox, automatic flight control, hydraulics, rear fuselage, installation monitoring systems, NFH installation and naval mission packages. The plant will assemble Italian, Norwegian and Dutch NH-90s.
• Stork SP Aerospace, Geldrop in the Netherlands: tail boom, doors, flotation boxes, landing gear and intermediate gearbox.

There is currently a confirmed order book for a total of 507 NH-90s from fourteen countries. To date, the project partners have signed contracts for 253 NH-90s: France (27 NFH), Germany (80 TTH), Italy (70 TTH, 46 NFH), the Netherlands (20 NFH) and Portugal (10 TTH). In June 2007, Germany ordered an extra 42 NH-90 TTHs bringing its total to 122 helicopters. The country additionally has a requirement for 38 NH-90 NFH variants. In November 2007, France placed an extra order for 12 NH-90 TTHs for the French Army plus an option for 56 more.

Photo: AgustaWestland

The NH-90 was selected in 2001 as the winner of the Nordic Standard Helicopter Programme (NSHP) resulting in orders from Finland (20 TTH), Norway (14 NFH) and Sweden (13 TTH, five NFH). Finnish and Swedish NH-90s are being assembled by Patria Aviation Oyj at Halli in Finland, which will assemble 50 helicopters in total covering the NSHP and other customers. Other European states to order the
NH-90 are Belgium (four TTH, four NFH), Greece (20 TTH including four configured for special operations) and Spain (45 TTHs). The Spanish NH-90s will be constructed by Eurocopter Spain at Albacete, which will eventually be responsible for building all NH-90 front fuselages. Additional orders come from Australia (46 TTH), New Zealand (9 TTH) and Oman (20 TTH). Australia will operate its own version of the NH-90 TTH, known as the Multi-Role Helicopter 90 (MRH-90), which are being assembled by Eurocopter-owned Australian Aerospace at Brisbane.

The NH-90 is due to be marketed in Poland, which is looking for up to 40 new transport helicopters to replace its ageing fleet of Soviet-era Mi-8 Hips. To strengthen the NH-90 chances in the competition, Finmeccanica (the owner of NHIndustries shareholder AgustaWestland) is offering to invest in the Polish helicopter manufacturer PZL-Swidnik, where assembly could take place if the country selects it.

The first NH-90 prototype (PT1) flew in December 1995. The first production model flew in May 2004 and was due to enter service with the programme partner countries a year later. As a result of delays blamed on technical problems with the helicopter's mission software and avionics, the first four production TTHs for the German Army were delivered in December 2006. In June 2007, Sweden became the launch customer for the High Cabin Version (HCV), which features a taller cabin (1.82 metres high instead of 1.58m). Other deliveries will follow within the next few years. The NATO Helicopter Management Agency (NAHEMA) handles NH-90 orders on behalf of the partner nations and other customers.

There appears to be growing anger over the delays to the NH-90's delivery schedule, which should have begun in 2005. The Dutch government has criticised the delays that have led it to spend extra money to keep the Royal Netherlands Navy's Lynx Mk86 fleet in service until the NH-90 becomes available. In November 2007, the Finnish government announced that it was launching an investigation into the delay of its 20 NH-90 TTHs, which were originally due for delivery in 2005-2008 at a cost of US$814 million (EUR554 million). A report on the delay is due in early 2008. The Finnish government additionally confirmed that it has re-negotiated its contract with NHIndustries to receive its first models in early 2008 with a lower standard of equipment than originally planned to speed-up delivery. Compensation has also been sought for the delay.

Data

Specifications
Length: 16.13 m
Height: 5.23 m
Rotor diameter: 16.30 m
Tail rotor diameter: 3.2m
Max take-off weight: 23,370 lb (10,600 kg)

Performance
Powerplant: 2 x RTM322-01/9 turboshafts each rated at 2,115 shp (1,577 kW) or 2 x 2,269 shp (1692 kW) General Electric T700-T6E1 turboshafts or 2 x 2,500 shp (1,864 kW) General Electric CT7-8F5 turboshafts (Spanish model)
Max speed: 162 knots (300 km/h)
Range: 910 km (NFH)
Max operating altitude: 3,500 m (11,483 ft)

General data
Crew: 4 + 20 troops or 20 stretchers
Radar: The NFH is equipped with a nose-mounted Thales Ocean Master 360° surveillance radar or Telephonics AN/APS-143B(V)3 Ocean Eye multimode surveillance radar (Swedish model only); chin-mounted Honeywell Primus 701A airborne weather radar system
Armament: 2 x GPMG; 2 anti-shipping missiles or torpedoes, depth charges First flight: 1995; entered service in 2007
Status: in production
Operators: now entering service and on order for Australia (46), Belgium (8), Finland (20), France (39), Germany (122), Greece (20), Italy (116), the Netherlands (20), New Zealand (9), Norway (14), Portugal (10), Oman (20), Spain (45), Sweden (18).

NH-90 main workshare