NH-90 problems

[helispotter]

Reuters are reporting Norway and NHIndustries have settled their dispute over the cancelled NH90 program for Norway. This involves a settlement of 305M Euros on top of 70M Euros that had already been paid by the consortium. The helicopters and parts will be taken back. The supply of spare parts for other operators should be easing as a consequence(!):

https://www.reuters.com/business/aer...se-2025-11-03/

[Lost_in_the_regs]

Originally Posted by helispotter

Not sure, but the Australian MRH-90 version had an early engine issue which is reported on Wikipedia as follows: "On 20 April 2010, a MRH-90 suffered a single engine failure near Adelaide, landing safely at RAAF Base Edinburgh, with NHIndustries personnel investigating the cause. On 18 May, the ADF announced that the MRH-90 fleet was grounded due to engine issues since the April incident. The cause of the failure was determined to be the compressor blade contacting the engine casing, leading to new preventative inspections; flights resumed in July 2010."

All the Australian MRH-90s used the (then) Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322-01/9.

The New Zealand Defence Force NH90's are also fitted with RTM322 but those helicopters seem to be achieving satisfactory availability.

On the Wikipedia entry for the NH90, the only operator for which the General Electric (CT7-8F) engines are specifically mentioned is Spain.

The RNZAF models are budget models so have few software development issues, plus I understand that they found escalating up the management chain ensured more rapid resolution of supply problems as they (NHI) apparently had a culture of not wanting to be the barer of bad news so problems weren't feed up the management chain. The Ozzie NH90's also because they had their own production line in Oz, so suffered a complete new learning curve (apparently a common problem with all Oz assembled airframes).

[Thax]

'The RNZAF models are budget models ...' is not accurate. The New Zealand TNZA variant is based closely on the Australian TAUA variant, differing only in some radio options and the decision to fit 'for but with' the HMSD and piloting FLIR.

[chopper2004]

Belgian NH90

It was a decade ago, Yeovilton Air Day I first saw Belgian NH90, albeit their TTH version but operated by Air component crew with naval ranks so my photos below.





Then back in September before DSEI, attended the Battle of Britain Air Show at IWM Duxford, so for the second time in a decade saw the Beligan Nh90 NFH from their Air Component perform. These are the airframes they are keeping I believe. so my photos





It was a first for the IWm air show.

cheers

[chopper2004]

NH90 SOF

Few months earlier in June I attended Paris Air Show and got close and personal to the SOF version so my photos below, Not a mock up but the prototype, think its their first production SOF one (?)





cant recall if the air to air refueling is still an option as proposed and show on their mock up back at ILA Berlin 2022.

cheers

[Less Hair]

Today Germany officially presented the first Sea Tiger, the armed torpedo version of the Sea Lion.

[chopper2004]

Marineflieger Sea Tiger

Also back at Le Bourget in the summer, I did see the German Naval Aviation first Sea Tiger at the NH Industries chalet (my pics below) on pre show stroll on the Monday.




et voila first one delivered / handed over today

https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/p...nh90-sea-tiger

cheers

[helispotter]

Originally Posted by chopper2004

Few months earlier in June I attended Paris Air Show and got close and personal to the SOF version so my photos below, Not a mock up but the prototype, think its their first production SOF one (?)





cant recall if the air to air refueling is still an option as proposed and show on their mock up back at ILA Berlin 2022.

cheers

I see machine gun mounts in sliding openings above the main undercarriage sponsons on both port and starboard sides. That seems new for this version. I wonder whether such an arrangement might have satisfied the Australian Army given machine gun mounting arrangement on MRH90 was considered a shortcoming as it hindered troop egress.
The pylons for missiles / external tanks seem very bulky but I have just realised the cabin doors need to be able to slide past the back of them when opening.
I get the feeling all these accessories have been difficult to integrate into the design as they were probably never factored into the original layout.
Wonder if NHI consortium (how ever it currently exists) will get the opportunity to design a next generation military helicopter based on lessons learned from NH90?

[chopper2004]

And so half a million flight hours

Guess congratulations are in order here...

https://www.nhindustries.com/nh90-ma...ry%20in%202006.

cheers

[chopper2004]

Block 2 Architecture upgrade

block 2 architecture upgrade

https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/p...study-contract

cheers