After more than two decades of delays and technical problems, Norway has decided to sue the producer NHIndustries (NHI) and requires a replacement that is six times greater than the original contract value for Nh90-Helicopters.
According to the Norwegian media Technical weekly magazine Seeking the government in Oslo a compensation on 33 billion Norwegian kroner (€ 2.8 billion) After failed mediation negotiations. The trial will be processed by Oslo District Court from 10. november 2025.
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A problematic program from the start
In 2001, Norway ordered 14 NH90 helicopters through NATO Helicopter Management Agency (Nahema) at a price of about 5 billion kroner (about € 500 million at the time). The helicopters were built by NHINDUSTRES – a consortium consisting of Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo and Fokker – and was intended to Anti-submarine operations, Rescue missions and coastal service.
But the program quickly became one of the most problematic in recent European defense history.
A report from 2018 from the head of the Norwegian armed forces Already warned at the time that the NH90 fleet would only be able to meet the goals of the contract if there was “good accessibility of spare parts, appropriate maintenance structures and a sufficiently wide support organization.”
“Over 20 years – and still no operational helicopters”
“We have made several attempts to solve the problems with the NH90 in collaboration with NHI, but more than 20 years after the contract signing we still do not have helicopters who can perform the missions they were purchased for,” said Gro Jæredirector of Defense material (FMA), Norwegian Defense Maternity Board, in June 2022.
Withdrawal and replacement
That same year The Norwegian Defense Material Agency A historical decision: to take the entire NH90 fleet out of operation and return itas well as demand full refund.
“No matter how many hours our technicians work or how many spare parts we order – it will never be possible to get the NH90 to meet the requirements of our defense forces,” the then Defense Minister stated Bjørn Arild Gram.
NHIndustries responded with “extreme disappointment” and claimed that they were not given the opportunity to present their final proposals to improve the accessibility of the helicopters in the country.
Shortly after the termination of the contract, Oslo signed a new agreement with the US producer Sikorsky – a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin – about the delivery of HH-60W-Helicopters, who will replace the NH90.
From refund to billion -dollar requirements
Originally, Norway only demanded a refund of € 500 million for the original purchase. Now the claim has risen to € 2.8 billion and includes: – Repayment of all amounts paid to NHI; -The cost of the new ordering of HH-60W helicopters (€ 1.09 billion); – Expenses for the maintenance and operation of 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 his 41 NH90 Mr. Taipan with 40 UH-60M Black Hawks due to high maintenance costs and low accessibility. The Australian naval defense also announced that six maritime MRH90s would be replaced by 12 MH-60R Seahawks.
Sweden followed and confirmed in 2022 that the country will phase out its HKP-14-Slings of NH90 by 2035, and instead acquire new UH-60 Black Hawks for transport as well as a future replacement for maritime missions.
Sources and Pictures: Technical Weekly Leaf | Norwegian Armed Forces | Defense | Aerotime. This content is created with the help of AI and edited by the editorial team.
