Germany Exercises Option for 42 More NH90s
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As part of the initial EUR 6.6 billion, 298 helicopter NH90 production order in 2000 [PDF format], Germany ordered 80 NH90 TTH troop transport versions: 50 for the Heer (Army), and 30 TTH for its Luftwaffe (Air Force) – of which 23 were slated for Combat Search and Rescue missions. Their EUR 488 million public-private training arrangement for the helicopters has also attracted attention, and even foreign interest. Now Germany has ordered an additional 42 NH90 TTH helicopters out of their 54 contracted options – 30 more for the Army air Corps (total 80), and another 12 for the Air Force (total 42). Costs for the contract option were not given, but might be inferred. EADS release | NHI release.
The 30 new TTH for the Army Air Corps will be in the same configuration as those previously ordered. The 12 for the Air Force will feature the NH90’s optional rear ramp, plus provisions for armor protection and a machine gun.
The German Army Air Corps was the first customer to take delivery of its NH90s, with the first 4 arriving in late 2006 and early 2007. Three of them are being used for flight training at the Army Air Corps Flight Training Academy in Buckeburg, the fourth is being used as a maintenance trainer at the Army base in Fassberg. A total of 8 TTH are scheduled to be in service with the German Armed Forces by the end of 2007, as NH Industries struggles to ramp up production.
