Italian Army Receives First NH90 TTH Helicopter In FOC Configuration

The Italian Army has taken delivery of its first NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) in Final Operational Capability (FOC) Configuration from NHIndustries.

The NH90 TTH is a twin-engined, medium-sized helicopter configured to perform tactical transport missions in all environments by day and night. Possible missions include:

• internal/external load transport
• heliborne operations
• special operations
• search and rescue (SAR)
• medical evacuation (MEDEVAC)
• training missions
• electronic warfare
• airborne command post
• parachuting
• VIP transport

A second variant of the NH90 is the NH90 Nato Frigate Helicopter (NFH). Possible missions with this variant include:

• anti submarine warfare (ASW)
• anti surface unit warfare (ASuW)
• vertical replenishment (VERTREP)
• SAR
• troop transport
• mine laying

NHindustries is a consortium owned by Eurocopter with 62.5%, AgustaWestland with 32% and Stork Fokker with 5.5%. To date it has received orders for 529 NH90 units.

Besides Italy, the NH90 is in service with 13 other countries, including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Greece, Oman, Australia, New-Zealand, Spain and Belgium.

Italy has now received 21 NH90 TTH helicopters with orders of 60 for the army and 10 for the navy. The Italian Navy has also ordered 46 NH90 NFH helicopters.

According to French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, France is now expected to place the second order for 34 NH90 TTH helicopters to bring the total number of French units to 68 as originally planned.

There were some doubts that the second order could be cut or postponed, but it now looks that the contract will be signed later this month. The contract is estimated to be worth over $900 million.


http://www.agustawestland.com/news/italian-army-takes-delivery-its-first-nh90-tth-helicopter-foc-configuration

www.esercito.difesa.it [CC-BY-2.5], via Wikimedia Commons