The four-nation Nordic Standard Helicopter Programme (NSHP) has fallen apart with Denmark ordering 14 EH Industries EH101s while Finland and Norway have selected the NH Industries NH90. Sweden has not selected any machine.
Denmark's order is worth around DKr3 billion ($366 million) and deliveries will run between 2004 and 2006. TheEH101s will be used for search and rescue (SAR) and for tactical troop transport duties, replacing 35 year-old Sikorsky S-61 Sea Kings. Denmark is known to consider the NH90 too small for its needs.
Finland and Norway were both expected to select the NH90, the former because of the purchase by EADS of a stake in local industrial group Patria. EADS owns Eurocopter, a member of the NHI consortium.
As the smallest helicopter in the competition, the NH90 best meets Norway's need for a machine to operate from its warships. Norway did not say how many machines it plans to buy.
Finland's defence minster Jan-Erik Enestam says 20 NH90s will be acquired, but does not give a cost or timescale for deliveries.
Sweden has made no selection, but is considered to favour the Sikorsky S-92, the third type shortlisted by the four NSHP nations.
Source: Flight International
