The Swedish Air Force was yesterday presented with its first NHIndustries NH90 transport helicopter. Sweden is the launch customer for the high cabin version (HCV), which has a greater useable cabin height of 1.82m compatred to 1.58m in the standard NH90.
Sweden has ordered 18 NH90s: 13 tactical troop transport/search and rescue (TTT/SAR) versions and five anti-submarine warfare (ASW) variants, plus seven options. The NH90 order book now stands at 495 from 14 nations.
“We are not just delivering an aircraft, but confirming our support to Sweden for the next 30 years,” says Gala Gonçalvès, general manager of NHIndustries. “Since the HCV order, we’ve seen some real interest from other customers.”
Brigadier General Arne Heden, director of air and space of the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, says: “This truly is a milestone for us because it was thought that it would be a long time before we got our aircraft. We really need this new helicopter as our forces become more and more flexible and interoperable. We are pleased to be the launch customer of the HCV variant; it gives us the chance to demonstrate the added benefit. It almost like taking something from a mother, and I promise not to be a bad boy and do anything to hurt or break them.”
Le Bourget has been a successful show for NHIndustries. Germany has converted 12 NH90 options into firm orders and placed a new order for 30 of the tactical transport helicopter (TTH) version, to be used by the German army air corps. And Belgium has signed an MoU for four TTH and four NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH) versions, plus two options.
Source: Flight Daily News
