After more than two decades of delays and technical problems, Norway has decided to take the manufacturer NHIndustries (NHI) to court, and requires a replacement six times greater than the original contract value for the helicopter Nh90.
According to the Norwegian magazine Technical weekly magazine seeks the Norwegian government a compensation on 33 billion Norwegian kroner (€ 2.8 billion) After the mediation failed. The trial should be treated by Oslo District Court As of 10. november 2025.
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A problematic program from the start of
In 2001, Norway ordered 14 NH90 helicopters through NATO’s helicopter administration agency (Nahema) at a cost of approximately 5 billion kroner (equivalent to about € 500 million at that time). The helicopters were produced by the Nhindustries – a consortium consisting of Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo and Fokker – and was meant for anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue and coast guard.
But the program quickly became one of the most problematic in recent European defense history.
A report from 2018 from The Chief of Defense Already warned that the NH90 fleet could only reach the contract goals if there was “good access to spare parts, suitable maintenance structures and a sufficiently broad support organization.”
“Over 20 years and still no operational helicopters”
“We have made several attempts to solve the problems associated with the NH90 in collaboration with the NHI, but more than 20 years after the contract was signed, we still do not have helicopters that are able to perform the assignments for which they were acquired,” said “said” Gro Jæredirector of Defense material (FMA), Norwegian Defense Material Agency, in June 2022.
Return and replacement
The same year took Defense material A historical decision: to put the entire NH90 fleet on the ground and return itwith a requirement for full reimbursement.
“No matter how many hours our technicians work, or how many parts we order – it will never be possible to get the NH90 to meet the requirements of our armed forces,” said the then Minister of Defense Bjørn Arild Gram.
NHIndustries reacted with “great disappointment” and claimed that they had not been given the opportunity to present their last proposal to improve the availability of the helicopters in the country.
Shortly after the breach of contract, Oslo signed a new agreement with the US company Sikorsky – a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin – for the delivery of HH-60W-Helicopters, which will replace the NH90.
From reimbursement to billion requirements
Originally, Norway only applied for a refund of € 500 million for the original purchase. Now the claim has increased to € 2.8 billionwhich includes: – Refund of all amounts paid to NHI; -The cost of the new order of HH-60W helicopters (€ 1.09 billion); – Maintenance and operating costs for the NH90 during the service period.
A global NH90 problem
Norway is not alone. Other countries have also expressed frustration over the NH90’s performance. Australia decided to replace their 41 NH90 Mr. Taipan with 40 UH-60M Black Hawk due to high maintenance costs and low availability. The Australian Navy also announced that the six maritime MRH90 helicopters were to be replaced by 12 MH-60R Seahawk.
Sweden followed the same way and confirmed in 2022 that the country will retire their HKP-14-Dersions of the NH90 by 2035, and instead acquire new UH-60 Black Hawk for transport assignments, as well as a future successor for maritime operations.
Sources and pictures: Technical weekly magazine | Norwegian Armed Forces | Defense | Aerotime. This content is made with the help of artificial intelligence and editorial reviewed.
