The German Navy has just taken delivery of the first of 31 NH90 Sea Tiger helicopters to enhance its anti-submarine warfare and reconnaissance capabilities.
All the new platforms are scheduled to be delivered by 2030 and will operate out of Naval Air Wing 5 in Nordholz, Lower Saxony. The first helicopter was handed over in a special ceremony in Berlin on Tuesday, attended by Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and Vice Admiral Axel Deertz, Deputy Inspector of the Navy and Commander of the Fleet and Support Forces.
Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in Germany Stefan Thomé commented: “We are extremely proud to deliver the first NH90 Sea Tiger today to the German Navy, on cost, on time and on quality.”
He added: “The Sea Tiger will provide the Navy with a powerful tool to defend Germany’s, Europe’s and NATO’s borders in the Baltic Sea and in the Atlantic — offering outstanding anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.”
The German Navy already operates 18 NH90 Sea Lion naval transport helicopters; the Sea Tigers will gradually take the place of its Mk88A Sea Lynx fleet, and some will deploy with the German fleet’s frigates.
Upgrades to the Sea Tiger include a diving sonar and sonarbuoy system to provide underwater situational awareness and submarine detection, and electro-optical sensors and cameras for surveillance and target reconnaissance.
They will be used in conjunction with the force’s new fleet of P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to provide enhanced maritime situational awareness to the Bundeswehr and NATO.
V.Adm. Deertz said the new helicopters would enhance the effectiveness of its frigates and “…will be able to make a lasting contribution to the fleet’s dynamic surface and underwater imaging capabilities. This will allow it to demonstrate its full potential both nationally and within the alliance.”
The new aircraft’s supplier, NHIndustries, is a joint venture led by Airbus Helicopters and also including Leonardo (32%) and GKN Fokker (5.5%). So far, some 135 naval NH90 helicopters have been delivered to six other nations: Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Qatar.
- You can read more details on the Airbus website, the NHIndustries website and the German Navy website