German NH90 NFH 'SeaTiger' Set to Enter the Naval Arena

摘要

Demand for a successor of Germany's 38-year old inventory of 22 AgustaWestland (now Leonardo) Sea Lynx Mk88A helicopters was growing in recent years. With the selection of a successor, Airbus Helicopters' NH90 NFH (NATO Frigate Helicopter), the German Navy will be able to better cope with future roles at sea. The Navy announced on 31 July that it selected the platform, which is already in service with the five NATO partners Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Norway. Each of the nations opted for a capable platform that allows for integration of varying mission equipment, including sensors and weapons. Vice Admiral Joachim Riihle, Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, approved the procurement programme on July 29. The selection of the new naval helicopter, which was outlined in a special document (called Fähigkeitslücke Funktionale Forderung) of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the BAAINBw procurement authority since the end of 2018, according to the Navy's announcement, takes advantage of the experiences gathered by the five NATO partners that received their NFHs since about mid-2010. With the selection of the NFH, it will be possible to easily shift from the legacy Mk88A to a modern successor, sources at BAAINBw noted. According to the MoD, the German NFH will be called "Sea Tiger" and projected as MRFH (Mehrrollen-fähiger Fregattenhubschrauber; multirole frigate helicopter). It will be similar to the 27 Caiman Marine helicopters in service with the Marine Nationale since about December 2011. The service declared IOC (Initial Operational Capability) in March 2012. The procurement programme will include 30 helicopters for the German naval air arm (Marine-flieger) plus one airframe for a Bundeswehr Technical Centre (WTD) for test and evaluation. Parliamentary approval is expected in 2020.