https://forsvaretsforum.no/forsvarss...or-nh90/193785
I just did a couple of quick calculations. Roughly $61.5M USD EACH. Original deliveries scheduled for 2005-2008 were years behind schedule, and now the annual fleet operational utilization plan has dropped from 5000 hours to 2100, and they are planning on leasing additional (Non NH-90) assets to make up the shortfall.
Does any other helicopter have such a continued poor performance record, and yet gets bought by the dozen by militaries (Politicians) all over the World? It is an astonishing demonstration of failure, and a major threat to the defence capabilities of any country engaged in their acquisition.
Has halved the level of ambition for NH90
- NH90 not delivered in accordance with the objective neither on flight hours nor accessibility for the coast guard and frigates, says Chief of Defense Eirik Kristoffersen.
[email protected][email protected] PUBLISHED Wednesday 14 April 2021 - 06:55 LAST UPDATED Wednesday 14 April 2021 - 08:48On Tuesday 13 April, General Eirik Kristofferen presented the Armed Forces 'annual report for 2020.
It shows that the Armed Forces' operational capability increased somewhat during last year, including the phasing in of new materiel.
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But the challenges associated with the NH90 helicopters continue, according to the Chief of Defense.
- This is the last annual report in a long-term plan period. If we look over the last four years, NH90 has not delivered in accordance with the objective, neither in flight hours nor availability for coastguards and frigates, Kristoffersen says to the Armed Forces forum.
Still lower goals
The Armed Forces' operational needs were over 5,000 flight hours with NH90.
The ambition level is now at 2100 hours.
- Now we are not even there, says the Chief of Defense and points out that the Armed Forces is not on target with flight time even with an ever lower level of ambition.
- It is serious and a challenge we must continue to work on, says Kristoffersen after the presentation of the annual report.
ANNUAL REPORT: Chief of Defense Eirik Kristoffersen and Minister of Defense Frank Bakke-Jensen during the presentation of the annual report. Photo: Torbjørn Kjosvold / The Armed Forces
Helicopter rental
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NH90 does not fly enough and the factories struggle to deliver both helicopters and spare parts. Kristoffersen points out that NH90 is an important part of the anti-submarine capacity of the frigates.
- It is serious that we do not yet have operational NH90 on board the frigates - it also means that the frigates are not fully operational either. It was due to the anti-submarine capacity that we went to procure such an advanced helicopter as the NH90, says Kristoffersen.
The Chief of Defense will therefore prioritize getting this in place first. With regard to the Coast Guard, the Armed Forces is looking at other solutions, including the use of drones and the hiring of helicopters.
- We will investigate whether there are alternatives. We are a nation with great expertise in, among other things, search and rescue. Then we will see if some of the tasks to be performed by NH90 can be done by other capacities, says Minister of Defense Frank Bakke-Jensen.
Delays
One of the reasons why they are investigating alternatives to NH90 is due to delays and reduced availability of spare parts due to Covid-19.
- We must look at alternative solutions for the Coast Guard, such as hiring civilian helicopters. The Minister of Defense and I completely agree, says Eirik Kristoffersen.
- How fast should it get in place?
- The challenge now is that the Coast Guard spends so much time integrating NH90 that it spends some of the sailing time in open waters. Therefore, this solution should preferably be in place already.
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- Do you have any faith that you will be able to reach an ambition level (with flight time) that is good enough with NH90 or do you have to look for other permanent solutions?
- I still believe that the NH90 can fly. I know NH90 from the Finnish special forces that have used them. It is a very good helicopter when it works. There are complex reasons why we have not reached the number of flight hours with NH90, but that does not mean that I have lost faith in it.
- Must find an answer
Minister of Defense Frank Bakke-Jensen says that the NH90 project is progressing slowly, but that he has not lost faith in the project either.
According to Forsvarsmateriell, the acquisition of 14 NH90s has a cost framework of NOK 7.2 billion.
And the helicopters were scheduled to be delivered between 2005-08.
- The need for more flight time is here now. How and how fast are you going to find solutions to close those gaps in terms of flight time?
- I do not want to speculate on how long it will take. There are questions the report will find answers to, and I think it will be possible to find good answers to such questions, says Bakke-Jensen.