Finnish Helicopter Battalion Moves Towards International Operation Readiness

The Finnish Army's helicopter battalion is preparing for the delivery of its first NH90 in the fully operational configuration (FOC).


The unit - based at Utti - will take delivery of the first FOC aircraft during the autumn. Work will then begin on converting the other NH90s in the fleet, which are currently in the interim and interim-plus (IOC and IOC+) configuration into the FOC version.

Finland is one of the leading operators of the NH90. Having taken delivery of its first aircraft in March 2008, the aircrews at the battalion have now amassed more than 3,500 flying hours with the most experienced pilot having flown around 700 hours.


The 14th aircraft for the regiment arrived at the end of May and the 15th is due to follow shortly. The 16th aircraft will be in the FOC configuration featuring the fully-matured mission system, a full suite of tactical radios and an obstacle warning system.


Speaking to Shephard at the Aerospace Forum Sweden at Malmen AB, near Linkoping, Anssi Vuolle, chief of army aviation and the commander of the helicopter battalion, said the unit was well on course in its plans to be ready for potential international operations with the helicopter by the beginning of 2014.

'We are looking at the PR [personnel recovery] mission in particular,' said Vuolle. 'That means we will be taking on CSAR, SAR and also medevac missions.'


Finnish firm Patria has developed a modular ballistic protection system for the Finnish NH90s which will protect key parts of the aircraft including the cabin and the cockpit. The complete system has a weight penalty of around 400 kg. The regiment has also chosen the M134 20mm gun as its door-gun system for international operations.


In July, the battalion is sending three of the NH90s to Portugal to take part in the European Defence Agency's (EDA) Hot Blade exercise which will give the crews experience in flying in hot and high and in particular carrying out landings in dust conditions.

The crews regularly experience white-out landings in the Finnish winter, but Vuolle is keen for his crews to experience both types of landing.


Unusually, the helicopters are being deployed by sea rather than by air. In recent years, the NH90s have completed deployments over distances of 2,200 km but the unit wants to find out if deployment by sea is a cost-effective alternative.


Vuolle revealed that the Finnish Army was studying options for crew training including the possible provision of a flight training device installed in Finland.

Currently the Finnish crews train in NH90 simulators located at Buckeburg, Germany or at a location in France. Since the type's introduction, the battalion has completed 45 missions on behalf of the Finnish civil authorities including the border guard and the police.


Finland has 20 NH90s on order. The country's first aircraft which has been used for development flying by Eurocopter in France had been due to be refurbished and delivered as the last Finnish aircraft, but Vuolle says this will no longer happen and another new-build aircraft has been ordered to take its place.