42 ADDITIONAL NH90 CONFIRMED BY GERMANY
Germany has signed a formal order for 42 additional NH90 helicopters. 30 of these helicopters will be operated by the German Army Aviation and 12 by the German Air Force. These aircraft are in addition to the initial batch of 80 NH90 ordered in June 2000.
The ceremony took place yesterday afternoon at the Cercle Militaire Saint-Augustin in Paris, during Paris Air Show 2007.
The German Army is the first customer to have taken delivery of NH90 in December 2006 and further deliveries in May 2007. The aircraft identified under the Industry designation TGEA02, TGEA03 and TGEA04 are used for flight training at the German Army Air Corps Weapons School in Bückeburg, while serial number TGEA05 is dedicated as a ground trainer at the Army base in Fassberg.
The additional 30 NH90 for the Army Aviation will keep the variant features and characteristics of the 50 TTH previously ordered. The 12 for the Air Force will feature the Rear Ramp, provisions for armor protection and machine gun, in the frame of the harmonization process among the Air Force variant; following this additional order, the total NH90 for German Air Force will amount to 42.
The NHIndustries General Manager, Gala Gonçalves, underlined that she is particularly honored to have the opportunity to sign this important NH90 contract as it demonstrates the confidence from one of the founding Nations in the NH90 Programme. Furthermore some additional orders are expected in the short term from other NAHEMO Countries.
The twin-engine, medium-size NH90 helicopter is provided by the consortium NHIndustries, the Company owned by AgustaWestland (32%), Eurocopter (62.5%), and Stork Fokker (5.5%).
The NH90 helicopter programme is the largest ever launched in Europe, with firm orders now reaching 495 units plus 60 options to equip and modernize the Armed Forces of France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Greece, Oman, Australia, New-Zealand, Spain and Belgium. Final negotiation steps are yet under process with several other Defense Forces to secure contract concerning additional NH90, both in the Tactical Transport and Naval versions.
