NAHEMA SIGNS CONTRACT FOR 10 NH90 HELICOPTERS FOR BELGIUM

19 June 2007

NAHEMA SIGNS CONTRACT FOR 10 NH90 HELICOPTERS FOR BELGIUM

NHIndustries is very pleased to announce that following a formal decision by Belgium to acquire NH90 helicopters taken on 27 April 2007, NAHEMA signed yesterday afternoon the purchase contract for 10 NH90 helicopters for Belgium at the Cercle Militaire Saint-Augustin in Paris, during the Paris Air Show 2007.

The order for 10 NH90 consists of 4 TTH and 4 NFH plus 2 optional TTH aircraft.

With both TTH and NFH versions, the NH90 helicopters will provide the Belgian Armed Forces with maritime and tactical transport capabilities. One of the primary missions of these aircraft will be to provide Belgium with an advanced Search and Rescue (SAR) capability. These aircraft will be operated by the “Air component” of Belgian Armed Forces, regrouping under a unique command all military flying equipment of Belgium.

Belgium represents the 14th customer ordering the NH90 and the 6th country to join NAHEMO, the international NH90 Programme organisation gathering France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands and then Portugal.

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 453 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 Defence Forces to secure contracts concerning additional NH90, both in the Tactical Transport and Naval versions. To date, four NH90 are delivered to the German customer.