NH90 delivered to Norway

The Norwegian Armed Forces has taken delivery of its first NH90 NFH helicopter on 30th November 2011. AgustaWestland delivered the aircraft at its Vergiate facility in the presence of Brigadier General/Commander Frode R Flǿlo, NDLO Air Systems Division.

The Norwegian Armed Forces ordered 14 NH90s to replace the Lynx helicopters for the Coast Guard in addition to providing helicopter ASW capability to the new Nansen class frigates. The Norwegian NH90s will be based at Bardufoss Air Station where they will start their operational career after initial training.

According to AgustaWestland, the NFH variant, also ordered by The Netherlands, France, Italy and Belgium, is primarily designed for autonomous and joint Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Anti Surface Warfare (ASuW) missions. The comprehensive mission equipment packages allow a wide range of additional missions to be performed including Search and Rescue (SAR), maritime patrol, vertical replenishment, troop transport, medical evacuation and amphibious support roles. The helicopter is designed for day and night operations in adverse weather conditions from the decks of ships. Because of its optimal weight and dimensions, the deck-lock system, the deck traversing system and the automatic blade and tail folding system, it can operate from small frigates even in high sea states.

Firm NH90 orders have been placed by 14 countries including France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Greece, Spain and Belgium in Europe, as well as Australia, New Zealand and Oman overseas. The NH90, developed in the TTH utility transport and NFH naval versions, proves the ideal solution to meet requirements of customers worldwide for a wide range of military roles. The NH90 programme is managed by NAHEMA (NATO Helicopter Management Agency) representing France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands and Portugal, and by the NHIndustries industrial consortium comprising AgustaWestland (32%), Eurocopter (62.5%), Fokker (5.5%).