NH Industries plans 'simplified' NH90 for
future customers
Complexity has been the hallmark of the NH90 helicopter programme
virtually from the outset. Its 13 customers – a total that includes
one nation still working through a contract reduction and another
looking to cancel its order entirely – have so far ordered 26 distinct
variants of the 10.6t rotorcraft.
virtually from the outset. Its 13 customers – a total that includes
one nation still working through a contract reduction and another
looking to cancel its order entirely – have so far ordered 26 distinct
variants of the 10.6t rotorcraft.
The unnecessarily sprawling nature of the programme, coupled
with the three-way NH Industries consortium comprising
Airbus Helicopters, AgustaWestland and Fokker and its six
production sites, have all contributed to a programme that at times
appeared to be lurching from crisis to crisis.
with the three-way NH Industries consortium comprising
Airbus Helicopters, AgustaWestland and Fokker and its six
production sites, have all contributed to a programme that at times
appeared to be lurching from crisis to crisis.
However, as the company marks delivery of the 200th example –
a troop transport TTH model for the Belgian air force – and
successfuldeployments to Afghanistan, it appears to have
turned a corner. Now it is looking to simplify its offering to
potential customers whileadditionally proposing
upgrades and ensuring in-service support.
a troop transport TTH model for the Belgian air force – and
successfuldeployments to Afghanistan, it appears to have
turned a corner. Now it is looking to simplify its offering to
potential customers whileadditionally proposing
upgrades and ensuring in-service support.
Speaking on 23 June at an operators’ conference at Bückeburg
air base near Hanover, Vincent Dubrule, president of NHI, said it i
s now proposing “a unique but flexible configuration of the NH90”.
air base near Hanover, Vincent Dubrule, president of NHI, said it i
s now proposing “a unique but flexible configuration of the NH90”.
Dominic Perry/Flightglobal
The new baseline helicopter would be no less capable than those
already delivered, says Dubrule, but would allow potential
operators to “plug in whatever equipment they want” without
the need to “restart from scratch” on every different model.
already delivered, says Dubrule, but would allow potential
operators to “plug in whatever equipment they want” without
the need to “restart from scratch” on every different model.
It is likely to make its debut with Qatar, which is currently in
negotiations with NHI for an order for up to 22 examples: 12 TTHs
and 10 of the NFH naval variant.
negotiations with NHI for an order for up to 22 examples: 12 TTHs
and 10 of the NFH naval variant.
“The configuration...will start with them. We will base [it] on what
[Qatar] wants but we can descope it or rescope it for other
prospects,” he says.
[Qatar] wants but we can descope it or rescope it for other
prospects,” he says.
Those negotiations are progressing, says Dubrule, with the aim of
finalising the contract by the end of the year. Deliveries would then
start in 2017-2018.
finalising the contract by the end of the year. Deliveries would then
start in 2017-2018.
Dubrule says that with operators having flown around 50,000h
and the programme having reached the 200th delivery milestone,
the NH90 is approaching its mature phase.
and the programme having reached the 200th delivery milestone,
the NH90 is approaching its mature phase.
“It is a step and now we deliver [mainly] final configuration
helicopters – it is not a development or [initial operating capability]
helicopter,” he says.
helicopters – it is not a development or [initial operating capability]
helicopter,” he says.
Last year, NHI delivered 50 aircraft and will maintain a similar level
of production in 2014 as it tackles the over 300 NH90s still in its
backlog. At this rate – and with future customers still to come –
final assembly work stretches to at least 2020, says Dubrule.
of production in 2014 as it tackles the over 300 NH90s still in its
backlog. At this rate – and with future customers still to come –
final assembly work stretches to at least 2020, says Dubrule.
Now, however, it is focused on sustaining those rotorcraft
already delivered and “working with customers” to improve fleet
availability and solve “some teething issues they have”.
already delivered and “working with customers” to improve fleet
availability and solve “some teething issues they have”.
Additionally, NHI is consulting with its operator base over
potential enhancements to the helicopter. Ideally, these would
be requested by multiple nations in order to spread development
costs, he says.
potential enhancements to the helicopter. Ideally, these would
be requested by multiple nations in order to spread development
costs, he says.
Peter Harris, NHI's head of customer satisfaction, says possible
requirements so far have included improvements to the type’s
electro-optical sensors and data links enhanced to the Link 22
standard. Additional battlefield-wide communications systems
to improve interoperability with both special forces and
unmanned air vehicles may also be needed, he adds.
requirements so far have included improvements to the type’s
electro-optical sensors and data links enhanced to the Link 22
standard. Additional battlefield-wide communications systems
to improve interoperability with both special forces and
unmanned air vehicles may also be needed, he adds.
However, he says, the performance of the NH90 and its
engines are seen as a “strong point” by operators,
particularly in the hot and high conditions of Afghanistan.
engines are seen as a “strong point” by operators,
particularly in the hot and high conditions of Afghanistan.
NH Industries
So far, two nations – Italy and Germany – have deployed the type
to Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led mission there.
to Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led mission there.
Lt Col Kai Eggert was a squadron leader when the German army
last year sent four TTHs to Mazar-e-Sharif to operate in a
forward medical evacuation role. The aircraft have logged
900h in theatre, he says, with pilots generally full of praise for the
NH90.
last year sent four TTHs to Mazar-e-Sharif to operate in a
forward medical evacuation role. The aircraft have logged
900h in theatre, he says, with pilots generally full of praise for the
NH90.
“We were pretty convinced and surprised by the amount of
upport the aircraft provides to the pilot,” he says. “The feedback
was all in all very positive but some things needed to be i
mproved, for instance the environmental control system.
upport the aircraft provides to the pilot,” he says. “The feedback
was all in all very positive but some things needed to be i
mproved, for instance the environmental control system.
“Our complaints have been taken into account very seriously and
within less than three months those issues have been
solved and those parts that needed improvement have been
replaced,” he says.
within less than three months those issues have been
solved and those parts that needed improvement have been
replaced,” he says.
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