NAHEMA signs with NHI for ten NH90 to Belgium

Released on Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Following the signature of a MoU between Belgium and the founding nations of the NH90, NAHEMA, on behalf of Belgium, signed a contract with NHI to supply Belgium with a total of ten NH90. These ten NH90 include four aircraft in the TTH (Tactical Transport Helicopter) version, four in the NFH (NATO Frigate Helicopter) version - and two options. The ceremony took place on June 18 at the Cercle Militaire Saint- Augustin in Paris. Belgium is the 14th country ordering the NH90 and the sixth to join NAHEMO (NATO Helicopter Management Organisation), the international program organisation representing France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal and now also Belgium. The Belgian government had officially confirmed its selection of the NH90 in April this year.

Eurocopter and its partner companies in the NHIndustries industrial consortium, AgustaWestland and Stork Fokker, are proud to welcome Belgium to the fast-growing community of NH90 customers around the world. Lutz Bertling, President and CEO of Eurocopter, stated: "NH90 is taking us into the top league of international military suppliers in a market previously dominated by U.S. manufacturers. This is based on the orders and options by the nations participating in the program, as well as on winning numerous export orders, which together make the NH90 the largest military helicopter program ever launched in Europe."

With this new contract, the total number of NH90 on order increases to 453. It further emphasizes the fact that the NH90 has become the standard medium-class multi-role military helicopter of the 21st century. Fourteen different nations have now officially ordered the NH90. They are: France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Greece, Portugal, Sultanate of Oman, Australia, New Zealand, Spain and Belgium.

The NH90 has been designed from the outset as a multi-role weapons system. The tactical transport (TTH) and naval (NFH) variants of the helicopter share a common basic helicopter in a modular design. Dedicated, specialized mission equipment packages allow for maximum flexibility in operations. Special emphasis has been given to features such as safety, reliability, availability, maintainability, testability, and supportability. The diamond shape of the all-composite, corrosion-free airframe combines optimal aerodynamics with low detectability. Optimized man-machine interface significantly reduces pilot and crew workload. The NH90's superior handling qualities are enhanced by a fly-by-wire flight control system, making it the first production helicopter in the world to feature this advanced technology. Due to its inherent multi-mission capability, the NH90 will greatly enhance interoperability of the European armed forces in NATO and United Nations missions, contribute to the standardization of equipment and to the rationalization of costs, training and logistics. The NH90 program is managed by NAHEMO (NATO Helicopter Management Organisation) representing France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal and Belgium, and by the industrial consortium NHIndustries consisting of Eurocopter (62.5%), AgustaWestland (32%) and Stork Fokker (5.5%).