French NH90s enter service

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The French navy has formally introduced its first four NH90 Caiman shipboard helicopters into operational service. Another 23 will follow by 2020.

The aircraft were inducted into service with Flotille 33F on Thursday by Admiral Bernard Rogel, Chief of Staff of the French Navy, at the Lanvéoc Poulmic naval aviation base.

The French Navy should receive 27 NH90 Caimans by 2020. So far, five helicopters have been delivered in utility configuration. The Marine Nationale’s eventual mix will be 13 utility models with a rear ramp, and 14 full anti-submarine models without the rear ramp. They will be based at BAN (NAS) Hyeres on the French Riviera and BAN Lanveoc in Brittany, plus one detached to Cherbourg in Normandy.

From there, they will deploy aboard France’s high-end frigates: the two Horizon Class air defence ships (“Forbin” and “Chevalier Paul”), and its forthcoming Aquitaine Class FREMM multi-role frigates. They will also occasionally be deployed, as necessary, on the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, the Mistral-class BPC ships, and on transport landing craft (TCD).

Missions conducted by the Caiman can be divided into three broad categories: naval combat (against surface threats, control of underwater operations, anti-submarine warfare); maritime sovereignty (Search And Rescue, medical evacuation, maritime anti-terrorism) and various missions in support of government agencies, such as Search And Rescue at sea, medical evacuation, and naval logistics.

The Caiman is intended to replace the Super Frelon heavy helicopter in the rescue and anti-terrorism role, and the smaller Lynx in the anti-ship and anti-submarine roles. The name “Caiman” was chosen in conjunction with the French Army, who has ordered 34 NH90 TTH helicopters of its own.

Besides a door gunner, the Caiman’s initial armament will be MU90 Eurotorp lightweight torpedoes, with light anti-ship missiles to follow around 2021.

The NH90 comes in two versions: an army version, the NH 90 TTH (Tactical Transport Helicopter), and a naval version, the NH 90 NFH (Naval Frigate Helicopter).

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. Norway and New Zealand recently began accepting their first NH90s.

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%).