Norway Considers Lynx Life Extension as NH90 Woes Continue

The Norwegian government is considering extending the life of several of its Lynx helicopters to ensure the country's coast guard continues to have a shipborne helicopter capability.

The Lynx is currently the primary helicopter for the Norwegian Coast Guard (Kystvakt), but the organisation's last few operational aircraft have used up much of their remaining airframe life, require many hours of maintenance, and are urgently awaiting replacement by the NH90, which had been due to arrive between 2005 and 2008.

The NH90's delayed arrival, with only one delivered so far, means the Norwegian government is now being forced to explore alternatives.

Defence minister Espen Barth Eide told the country's parliament: 'The remaining flight time on our Lynx helicopters must be used with caution until we know with certainty when a sufficient number of new helicopters are in place.

'It means that one is reluctant to use helicopters in situations where it would be advantageous, but not essential, in order to have capacity available in more critical situations,' he added.

Norway still wants the NH90, and the defence ministry has reportedly been told by NHIndustries, the joint AgustaWestland and Eurocopter consortium building the aircraft, that it is doing what it can to increase delivery speed.

'We will decide within the next six months if they have succeeded,' said Eide.

As well as extending the life of two or four Lynx, the government has also been in discussions with Sikorsky for the possible delivery of the Seahawk.

Such aircraft are likely to be the less complex S-70B version of the aircraft, rather than the MH-60R which has a backlog of orders for the navies of the US and Australia and is unlikely to be in service in time to meet Norway's needs.