After more than twenty years of delay and technical problem, Norway decided to bring the manufacturer to justice, NHIndustries-t (NHI)and the Nh90 It requires a six -time compensation for the original contract of helicopters at an EUR 2.8 billion.
The Norwegian Technical weekly magazine Portal says the Oslo government 33 billion Norwegian crowns (EUR 2.8 billion) He calls for compensation after failed mediation negotiations. The case with the District Court of Oslo will negotiate November 10, 2025.
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Problematic program from the beginning
2001 Norway 14 pieces of NH90 helicopter ordered through the NATO Helicopter Management Agency (NAHEMA), about 5 billion Norwegian crowns (about EUR 500 million at that time). The helicopters in the Nhindustries – one Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo and Fokker created consortium – manufactured and those antisubmarine, research and rescueas well as coastal It was intended for tasks.
However, the program quickly became one of the most problematic projects in the modern European defense industry.
In a 2018 report a Commander of Norwegian Armed Forces He has already warned that the NH90 fleet will only be able to meet contract goals if “the proper component supply, maintenance structure and support organization are available.”
“More than 20 years and still no deployable helicopter”
“We have made a number of attempts to solve the NH90-related problems in cooperation with the NHI, but more than 20 years after the contract has been signed, we have no helicopters that would be able to perform designated tasks,” he said Gro Jærethe Norwegian Defense Purchasing Agency, Defense material (FMA) director in June 2022.
Withdraw and exchange
In the same year a Norwegian defense material agency made a historic decision: putting and returning the whole NH90 fleet to the groundas well as claiming a full purchase price refund.
“No matter how many hours our technicians work or how many parts we order-it will never be possible to make the NH90 fit to meet the requirements of our armed forces,” said the former Defense Minister, Bjørn Arild Gram.
The NHIndustries He responded with “extreme disappointment”, stating that he had not received a chance to present his last proposal, which could have improved the availability of helicopters in the country.
Shortly after the contract has been terminated Oslo signed a new agreement to the US Sikorsky with a company – a Lockheed Martin with his subsidiary – a HH-60W About the transport of helicopters that will change the NH90s.
From a refund to the billions of compensation claims
Initially, Norway only requested a refund of the original purchase of EUR 500 million. Now, however, the claim To EUR 2.8 billion elevated, which includes:-the refund of the total amounts paid to the NHI; -the cost of ordering new HH-60W helicopters (EUR 1.09 billion); – Maintenance and operating costs of the NH90 during the time spent on duty.
Global problem with NH90
Norway is not alone. Other countries also expressed their dissatisfaction with the performance of the NH90. Australia decided to replace it 41 NH90 Mr. Taipan helicopter 40 UH-60M Black Hawkra due to high maintenance costs and low availability. The Australian Royal Navy also announced that six marine MRH90 helicopters 12 MH-60R Seahawk to change.
Sweden followed a similar way and confirmed in 2022 to extract until 2035 HKP-14 version of the NH90 helicopters, instead of new UH-60 Black Hawk Get machines for shipping purposes and a future offspring for sea missions.
Sources and pictures: Teknisk ukeblad | Norwegian Armed Forces | Forsvaret | Aerotime. The content was made with artificial intelligence and underwent editorial review.
