Portugal has joined the NH Industries NH90 industrial programme and ordered 10 utility helicopters for troop transport.
As a result, Portugese aerospace company OGMA will join the consortium and receive 1.2% of the programme. Its role, however, has not been decided. The deal is worth €200 million ($170 million).
Deliveries are set for 2006/07 and the NH90s will be used by the fledgling Portuguese army air arm which is due to receive its first Eurocopter EC635s this year.
With the four partner nations - France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands - Portugal's order takes the initial NH90 orderbook to 308 machines in utility and naval helicopter versions.
The Portuguese navy is also holding a competition for 12 helicopters for SAR and fisheries protection roles. Selection between the Sikorsky S-92, AgustaWestland EH101 and Eurocopter EC725 is expected by September.
Meanwhile, Sweden also ordered new helicopters at the show. European rival AgustaWestland has won a contract for 20 A109 Power helicopters from Sweden: 12 will be used for training with the remainder used as naval operational trainers. The deal is estimated to be worth in the region of $80 million.
The machines will be delivered between October 2003 and 2007.
Source: Flight International
