Norway completes first phase of NH90 programme

[Zarvan]

Norway is to field 14 NH NFH helicopters, of which eight will be used for coast guard, and six for anti-submarine and other maritime duties. Source: NHIndustries

Norway has completed the first phase of its NH90 helicopter procurement programme with the delivery of the first platform to be equipped with a dipping sonar, the NHIndustries consortium announced on 4 February.

The handover of the sixth of 14 NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH)-variant NH90s for the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RoNAF) took place at Finmeccanica's Tessera facility near Venice on the same day as the announcement.

The delivery of this sonar-equipped NH90 marks the end of the first phase of the Norwegian production programme. The second and final phase will cover the delivery of six helicopters configured for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and two further helicopters configured for coast guard search and rescue

That one of the RoNAF's eight coast guard-configured helicopters is fitted with a dipping sonor suggests that it will also be used for training crews ahead of the arrival of the first of the six dedicated ASW platforms under phase two.

With deliveries of the RoNAF's 14 NH90s due to be complete by the end of 2017, the type is expected to reach full operating capability before 2020. The NH90 has already replaced the service's Westland Lynx maritime helicopter, and will also do the same for the Westland Sea King and Bell 412.

In the coast guard role eight of Norway's NH90s will be operated by 337 Squadron from Bardufoss Air Station near Tromsø, while ASW, anti-surface vessel warfare (ASuW), and other maritime tasks are to be flown by 334 Squadron either from Bardufoss or embarked on the Royal Norwegian Navy's Fridtjof Nansen-class frigates.

Once full-operating capability has been declared, the frigate-embarked NH90s will be armed with Naval Strike Missiles and Stingray Mod 1 torpedoes. Non-standard equipment selected for Norway's NH90s include a more capable digital map system for littoral operations in fjord environments, externally fitted life rafts, a dual rescue winch, and the possibility to install extra fuel tanks at short notice.

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Norway completes first phase of NH90 programme | IHS Jane's 360