NHI offers to fix Norway's NH90 issues ‘at no cost'

Despite Norway saying it is axing its NH90 programme in favour of the MH-60R Seahawk, NHI says that it will fix the outstanding problems at no cost to the country. (Royal Norwegian Air Force)

NHIndustries (NHI) has offered to fix for free the issues that have caused Norway to cancel its NH90 helicopter programme, a senior official told Janes and other defence media on 17 March.

Speaking at the handover of the 500th NH90 to the international programme in Marignane, southern France, NHI president Axel Aloccio said the consortium that comprises Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo Helicopters, and Fokker Aerostructures was still trying to address the problems that had caused Norway to cancel the NH90 in favour of the Lockheed Martin MH-60R Seahawk.

“We continue to discuss with Norway. We have offered to fix all of the technical issues at no cost to them, and to increase support with more man-hours,” Aloccio said. “The cost of the recent MH-60R contract [NOK12 billion (USD1.12 billion) for six helicopters] puts the NH90 offer into perspective, I think [Norway paid NOK5 billion for 14 NH90 helicopters]. Also, it would cost EUR3–4 billion (USD3.2–4.2 billion) to change from the NH90 in terms of training, tooling, infrastructure, etc,” he added.

Aloccio's comments came in the same week that the Norwegian Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it had selected the MH-60R to replace the NH90 that was grounded in June 2022.