The Norwegian Armed Forces have taken delivery of their first NH90 NFH helicopter. The delivery ceremony took place on November 30 at AgustaWestland’s Vergiate facility in the presence of Brigadier General Frode R Flolo, commander of the Norwegian Defence Logistics Organisation (NDLO) Air Systems Division.

The NH90 delivered is the first of 14 NH90s intended to replace the Lynx helicopters for the Coast Guard in addition to providing helicopter anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability to the new Nansen class frigates. The Norwegian NH90s will be based at Bardufoss Air Station where they will start their operational career after initial training. Norway is one of the nations selecting the NFH variant together with the Netherlands, France, Italy and Belgium. A total of 111 NH90 NFH naval helicopters have been ordered by these nations.

The NH90 NFH variant is primarily designed for autonomous and joint ASW and Anti Surface Warfare (ASuW) missions. The mission equipment packages allow a wide range of additional missions to be performed, including Search and Rescue (SAR), maritime patrol, vertical replenishment, troop transport, medical evacuation and amphibious support. The helicopter is designed for day and night operations in adverse weather conditions from the decks of ships. Because of its deck-lock system, deck traversing system and automatic blade and tail folding systems, it can operate from small frigates even in high sea states.

Firm orders for the NH90 have been placed by 14 countries including France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Greece, Spain and Belgium in Europe, as well as Australia, New Zealand and Oman. The NH90 has been developed in the TTH utility transport and NFH naval versions.

The NH90 programme is managed by NAHEMA (NATO Helicopter Management Agency) representing France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands and Portugal, and by the NHIndustries industrial consortium comprising AgustaWestland (32%), Eurocopter (62.5%) and Fokker (5.5%).