German Army Begins Hot and High Training Flights in New Mexico

The German Army has begun field tests of NH90 and Tiger helicopters in New Mexico in readiness for a possible deployment to Afghanistan later this year. As part of Exercise Falcor 2012, two Tiger UHTs and three NH90s have been deployed to Holloman AFB, New Mexico where crews can experience flying in hot and high conditions and carry out dust landings.

The Tigers will remain in the area of Holloman, while the NH90s will range north to the base at Kirtland to carry out their dust landing. The aircraft were deployed using a chartered An-124 cargo aircraft with the majority of the personnel, aircraft and equipment in place by 9 June.


The NH90s began flying within days of arrival giving rear crewman a chance to fire their door guns in day and night conditions. According to details released by the German Army, the first flights showed that the NH90s were performing as expected in the challenging heat and altitude.

Holloman was chosen because there is already a significant German presence at the New Mexico base, which is home to the German Air Force's Tornado training unit.


Germany has been operating a handful of CH-53 heavy-lift helicopters in the north of the country since 2002, flying a range of missions. Germany plans to deploy the NH90 in the medevac role later this year to relieve US Army 'Dustoff' Black Hawks serving in the region.

The German Army hopes to back up the NH90s with a deployment of four Tigers, but the deployment of the Tiger is subject to government approval. Several aircraft are, however, being modified to 'Asgard' standard in preparation for a possible deployment.


More details about the German Army's plans can be found in the next edition of Defence Helicopter.