21 June 2001
Portugal has signed up to the NH90 programme by ordering 10 NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) versions today at the Paris Air Show. The Armament Directors of France, Germany, Italy, and The Netherlands and the State Secretary of Portugal signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to include Portugal as the fifth European Nation in the programme, at the same level as the founding nations.
Portugal will become a member of NAHEMO (NATO Helicopter Management Organisation, comprising the Steering Committee and NAHEMA, the NATO Helicopter Management Agency), the government authority which controls the programme.
This was followed by a contract between NAHEMA and NH Industries for the production of the 10 NH90s required by Portugal, subject to ratification once the Portuguese Parliament has approved the purchase.
So far the cost of the programme agreed before the Design & Development phase has been achieved thanks to the close collaboration between NH Industries, its industrial partners, NAHEMA, and the End Users.
The 10 TTH on order for Portugal will increase the first NH90 production batch to 308 units. Italy has ordered 60 TTH for the Army, 46 NFH (NATO Frigate Helicopter) plus 10 TTH for the Navy; France will receive 27 NFH for their naval forces; Germany will receive 50 TTH for the Army and 30 TTH for the Air Force, of which 23 are for Combat Search and Rescue missions and The Netherlands will receive 20 NFH.
The first batch of both the TTH and the NFH versions includes 54 TTH as option for Germany - 30 for their Army and 24 for their Air Force - and 1 TTH as option for Italian Air Force. Deliveries will start in 2003 for the Tactical Transport version.
Production shares of the five countries will be 30.85% for France (Eurocopter), 31.6% for Italy (Agusta), 30.85% for Germany (Eurocopter Deutschland), 5.5% for The Netherlands (Stork Fokker), and 1.2% for Portugal.
NH Industries is responsible for the programme management, marketing, sales, and after sales support.
The TTH is the transport version, primarily for tactical transport of personnel (14-20 troops) and material (more than 2500 kg of cargo), heliborne operations and SAR/CSAR; additional applications include medevac, special operations, electronic warfare, airborne command post, parachuting, VIP transport and flight training.
This version is optimised for low acoustic, radar, infrared signatures and it will be equipped with a night vision system (Forward Looking Infra-Red, Helmet Mounted Sight & Display), weather radar, digital map and obstacle warning system. It also has a defensive weapons suite, with passive and active counter measures and, as an option, a rear ramp to accommodate a light transport vehicle.
The TTH is designed for high manoeuvrability and survivability in Nap Of the Earth operations near the Forward Line of Own Troops (FLOT).
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