NATO puts pen to paper on German naval helicopter order
The first of 31 NH90 Multi Role Frigate Helicopters will enter service in 2025 with the German Navy
The NATO Helicopter Management Agency, acting on behalf of German defence procurement agency BAAINBw, on 26 November formally ordered 31 NH90 Multi Role Frigate Helicopters (MRFHs) for shipborne ASuW and ASW operations.
No financial details were disclosed about the deal, although Shephard Defence Insight estimates a unit cost of $63 million, giving an overall cost of about $2 billion.
The MRFHs, to be known as Sea Tigers in German Navy service once they enter service from 2025, are a version of the NH90 NFH.
They will replace the elderly fleet of 21 shipborne Sea Lynx Mk88A helicopters, the first of which entered service in the 1980s.
Equipment to be installed on the Sea Tigers include an active dipping sonar, passive sonar buoys and the Leonardo LEOSS-T EO system with laser target designator.
The German Army has already ordered NH90 TTH tactical troop transport helicopters and the German Navy has received seven out of 18 NH90 Sea Lion transport helicopters on order.
In this context, procurement of the MRFH provides ‘extensive synergies in terms of support, logistics and training’ for the German armed forces, according to manufacturer NHIndustries.
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