Another NH90 for France

The Eurocopter plant in Marignane ceremony of transfer of the French armed forces two NH90 helicopters (in the configuration for the ground troops - TTH and for the Navy - NFH).

NH90 is produced by a consortium formed in 1992 NHIndustries (NHI), which includes the Italian-British AgustaWestland (32%), French Eurocopter (31.25%), German Eurocopter Deutschland (31.25%) and Stork Fokker Aerospace (5 , 5%). His prototype flew in December 1995. Entered into service in 2006. The first copies handed Bundeswehr / Photo: Eurocopter
Helicopters received the French military procurement agency (DGA). The ceremony took place on 27 July in the presence of General Oliver de la Motte, commander of the army aviation school, and representatives of the Ministry of Defence. Helicopters were, respectively, the second (TTH - Tactical Transport Helicopter) and seventh (NFH - NATO Frigate Helicopter), the machine passed two kinds of French armed forces.


The army has so far made ​​an order for 34 TTH with an option for an additional 34 in the future. Answering the first machine took place at the end of January. Ultimately they have to replace the currently used Puma helicopters.


The first NH90 NFH entered naval aviation equipment in mid-2010. MW has so far ordered 27 such helicopters, (13 versions and 14 in support of combat version). NFH are ultimately FREMM frigates stationed. Several months ago, has been tested to operate a helicopter in the deck of the first planned to take ships ( NH90 for FREMM). NFH to replace the Westland Lynx helicopters and SA 321 Super Frelon stationed at bases in Hyeres MW aviation and Lanveoc-Poulmic.

NH90 is a modern constructions. This includes the hull, made ​​largely of carbon fiber, to provided 20% less weight, compared to conventional solutions. At the beginning of the main recipients of NH90 helicopters were France, Germany and Italy in 2001, joined by Portugal and the Netherlands. Later, a supply agreement entered into Australia, Belgium, Finland, Greece, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Spain and Sweden. A few Portuguese MO week announced the suspension of participation in the development of the NH90, and also given up the original plans to purchase 10 machines of this type. The reason was the financial crisis, whose effects were suffered in the budget of the armed forces of Portugal ( Portugal abandoned the NH90.


NH90 order backlog now stands at 529 copies in 14 countries. The assembly lines were located in six of them: France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Finland and Australia. To date, the producer gave recipients 118 helicopters.