NH Industries consortium members and the four customer nations for the NH90 helicopter have agreed a 12.9% cost reduction of July 1998 prices on condition that the contract is signed this year.
The signing of a memorandum of understanding covering the pre-production and production phases of the project has been held up awaiting a cost reduction programme. The first production batch includes 151 helicopters . The Netherlands, Germany, Italy and France are all involved in the programme.
Included in the contract are the NATO Helicopter Production Specification and the Guaranteed Values List. Dutch defence minister Henk van Hoof told the nation's parliament that the latter specifies acceptable limits for remaining risks such as weight growth and system performance. "[We have] agreed that the risks have to be covered maximally before the contract for the pre-production phase and the production phase of the NH90 are signed."
The Dutch navy requires 20 NH90s to replace 22 Westland Lynx helicopters.
Dutch NH90s will operate in the anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface vessel warfare roles from 14 frigates and an amphibious transport ship.
Last year, the Dutch Ministry of Defence postponed the first NH90 deliveries to 2007.
Source: Flight International
