NH90
ICAO NH90Europe's multinational medium helicopter, built in two very different versions. Live NH90 positions.
Flying right now
Live · 30s
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Airframe
- Manufacturer
- NHIndustries
- Role
- Medium transport and naval helicopter
- Class
- H2T — Helicopter, 2 turboshaft engines
- Crew
- 2 to 4
- First flight
- 18 December 1995
- In service
- 2007
Operators airborne
Nothing of this type is up right now.
About the NH90
The NH90 was a four-nation attempt to build one medium helicopter for all of Europe, and it produced a genuinely advanced aircraft: fly-by-wire controls, a composite airframe and no mechanical linkage between stick and rotor at all. It also produced a procurement saga that several customers have described in unprintable terms.
Two versions share the name. The TTH is the army transport, and the NFH is the naval variant with folding rotors, a radar and anti-submarine equipment, operating from frigates across Europe and beyond.
France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Greece, Qatar, Australia and New Zealand have all bought it. Australia retired its fleet early and Norway cancelled outright, which tells you something about how the programme went.
Callsign prefixes
- CTM
- Cotam — French Army Aviation
- GAF
- German Armed Forces
- NAVY
- Naval NFH operations
How to recognise it
- —A medium twin with a four-blade main rotor and a distinctly boxy, angular fuselage.
- —A rear ramp and a tall fin with the tail rotor mounted high on the left.
- —Naval versions have a folding tail and a radar radome under the nose.
Common questions
+ What is the difference between the NH90 TTH and NFH?
The TTH is the tactical transport for armies; the NFH is the naval frigate helicopter with folding rotors and tail, corrosion protection, search radar and anti-submarine equipment.
+ Why did some countries retire the NH90 early?
Availability and running costs. Australia withdrew its MRH-90 Taipans ahead of schedule in favour of the Black Hawk, and Norway cancelled its order and demanded repayment. Other operators have kept theirs and improved serviceability over time.
+ Who built the NH90?
NHIndustries, a consortium of Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo and Fokker, set up specifically for the programme by France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.