NHI NH90
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| NHI NH90 | ||
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Missing image NHI_NH90_InFlight.jpg A NHI NH90 in flight. | ||
| Description | ||
| Role: | medium transport/utility helicopter | |
| Crew: | One to two pilots + 20 troops, 12 stretchers or one to two tacco/senso operators | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length: | 19.56 m (rotors turning) | |
| Fuselage length: | 16.13 m | |
| Height: | 5.23 m | |
| Rotor diameter: | 16.30 m | |
| Weights | ||
| Empty: | 5,400 kg | |
| Maximum internal fuel: | 2,036 kg | |
| Maximum take-off: | 10,600 kg | |
| Powerplant | ||
| Engines: | 2 x MTU/Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca MTR322 or General Electric T700-T6E turboshafts | |
| Power: | 2 x 2,230 shp (1,660 kW) | |
| Performance | ||
| Maximum speed: | 300 km/h | |
| Combat range (internal fuel): | ||
| Ferry range (external fuel): | ||
| Service ceiling: | ||
| Maximum rate of climb: | 480 m/min | |
| Armament | ||
| Gun: | none | |
| Missiles: | anti-submarine and/or anti-surface missiles (NFH version) | |
The NHI NH90 is a twin-engine, ten-ton multi-role helicopter manufactured by NHIndustries, a company established by Agusta, Eurocopter and Stork Fokker Aerospace.
The NH90, which can be flown by a single pilot, is designed to operate by night and day and in poor weather.
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History
On 1 September 1992, NH Industries signed a NH90 design-and-development contract with NAHEMA (NATO Helicopter Management Agency). This agency represents the four participating nations: France, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands. Portugal joined the agency on 21 June 2001.
Design started in 1993. The first prototype, the PT1, made its first flight on 18 December 1995.
The second prototype, the PT2, first flew on 19 March 1997 and the third prototype, the PT3, on 27 November 1998.
On 30 June 2000 an industrialisation and first-batch contract for 298 NH90s was signed between NAHEMA and NHI.
In 2001, three additional customers signed purchase orders:
On 29 August 2003, Greece ordered 34 NH90s with another 14 in option.
Deliveries are due to start in 2004 for the first German Army and Italian Army TTH versions and also for the Finnish Defence Forces TTT version.
From 2005, the Italian and French navies will start to receive their NFH versions and the first Swedish and Norwegian NH90s will also be delivered.
Versions
NFH: NATO Frigate Helicopter
The primary role of the NFH version is autonomous anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface unit warfare (ASuW), mainly from naval ships. These aircraft are equipped for day and night, adverse weather and severe ship motion operations.
Additional roles include anti-air warfare support, vertical replenishment (vertrep), search & rescue (SAR) and troop transport.
TTH: Tactical Transport Helicopter
The primary role of the TTH version is the transport of 20 troops or more than 2,500 kg of cargo, heliborne operations and search & rescue.
Additional roles include medical evacuation (12 stretchers), special operations, electronic warfare, airborne command post, parachuting, VIP transport and flight training.
Users
The current NH90 order book is as follows:
- French Navy: 27 NFH
- Italian Army: 60 TTH
- Italian Navy: 46 NFH
- Italian Navy: 10 TTH
- Italian Air Force: 1 TTH/CSAR (in option)
- German Army: 50 TTH + 30 TTH (in option)
- German Air Force: 30 TTH + 24 TTH (in option)
- Dutch Navy: 20 NFH
- Portuguese Army: 10 TTH
- Sweden: 13 TTT (SAR), 5 NFH (ASW) + 7 (in option)
- Finland: 20 TTT (SAR)
- Norway: 6 NFH (ASW), 8 NFH (Coast Guard) + 10 NFH (SAR) (in option)
- Greece: 16 TTH, 4 TTH (Special Operations) + 14 TTH (in option)
- Sultanate of Oman: 20 TTH
- Australian Army: 12 MRH (TTH)Missing image
Aust_MRH-90.jpgAn NHI example MRH-90 at the 2005 Australian Airshow - New Zealand has ordered an as yet unspecified number of NH90s (believed to be around 8), for the Royal New Zealand Air Force
See also
External links
- NH90.net Non-official Website (http://www.nh90.net/)
- NH Industries Official Website (http://www.nhindustries.com/)
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