// NH90 Helicopter
The NH90 is an advanced medium utility helicopter, capable of undertaking a wide variety of roles in New Zealand and overseas.
The RNZAF will introduce eight NH90 helicopters to replace our Iroquois fleet.
The NH90 is a product of more than 10 years of development and testing to meet stringent capability and low maintenance requirements.
Background
The Iroquois has been in RNZAF service since 1966. As early as the 1980’s the RNZAF considered upgrade options for the Iroquois, but these were not pursued. During the late 1990’s the Air Force again considered options to improve the NZDF’s utility helicopter capability, either through upgrade or replacement. The key issues driving this consideration were:
- Airframe fatigue problems (including fin spars and rotor blades)
- Equipment obsolescence.
- Limited performance in tropical conditions.
The Iroquois’ performance limitations during operations in East Timor between 1999 and 2002 reinforced the need for urgent action. The Defence Statement of May 2001 noted that the "Iroquois helicopter fleet will be upgraded or replaced". Extensive consultation led to the development of Force Development Proposal (FDP) that identified the requirement for a new capability to meet both military and whole of government needs. That FDP was accepted by Government, and the Iroquois replacement project was incorporated into the NZDF Long Term Development Plan (LTDP).
When the Sioux replacement project began work in parallel, it became clear that there were synergies between the two projects and the two were combined into an NZDF Helicopter Capability project. The Helicopter Capability project consulted widely to develop a ‘whole of government’ functional specification for the capability. From this capability specification, separate specifications for a Medium Utility helicopter (MUH) and a Training/Light Utility Helicopter (T/LUH) were identified.
Medium Utility Helicopter
An initial approach to industry was made in early 2004 which resulted in a number of aircraft being considered. Following a period of evaluation and due diligence, the Government announced on 31 March 2005 that the NH90 helicopter provided by NATO Helicopter Industries (NHI) was the preferred solution for the Medium Utility Helicopter requirement. A contract for the acquisition of eight operational NH90 helicopters, spares, logistics support and training was signed on 31 July 2006.
Currently
The Ministry of Defence acquisition division has a Resident Project Team based at Marignane, the Eurocopter (France) manufacturing plant for the NZ NH90s. This team is responsible for managing the ongoing acquisition project and maintaining oversight of the development and production.
In parallel with the Ministry of Defence acquisition project, the RNZAF has formed two teams to manage the Introduction Into Service (IIS) of the MUH. The Directorate of Logistic Capability includes a team of technical staff managing the through life support and logistics aspects of the MUH introduction into service (IIS), while a parallel Capability Directorate IIS team manages the operational aspects.
The first flight of a NZ NH90 took place at Marignane on 4 May 2009, witnessed by members of the project team, Ministry of Defence and RNZAF. The aircraft is undergoing continuing test and development.
Following the Crown acceptance of the first NH90, Eurocopter will conduct conversion-to-type training for a small team of aircrew and technicians in France. This will enable the trained personnel to return to NZ with the first aircraft, ready to conduct Operational Test and Evaluation and to prepare for training and operational duties.