NH90 passes 500,000 hour milestone

The fleets of the 14 members of the international NH90 programme have collectively surpassed 500,000 flight hours. (NHIndustries)

The international NH90 helicopter programme has surpassed the 500,000 flight hour milestone, NHIndustries (NHI) announced on 25 March.

The programme has seen more than 500 Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) and NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH) rotorcraft delivered to five partner and nine export customers since 2010.

While launched as a European requirement, the NH90 has seen global sales to partners Belgium (8), France (101), Germany (131), Italy (116), and the Netherlands (23), as well as export countries Australia (47), Finland (20), Greece (20), New Zealand (9), Norway (14), Oman (20), Qatar (28), Spain (76), and Sweden (18). It should be noted that of these, Australia and Norway have since cancelled their purchases, while Belgium has retired half of its helicopters.

Final assembly lines have been implemented in six different countries, of which the three in France, Germany, and Italy still remain. With more than 500 handed over, deliveries of the remaining helicopters currently under contract are to run through to the early 2030s.

In terms of future sales potential the president of NHI, Axel Aloccio, said on 16 December 2025, “We have plenty of opportunities on which we are working.” Since his comments, the Netherlands has signed for a further three NH90 NFH helicopters: to replace one lost in a 2020 accident, and to add two to its frigates. Spain has signed for 31 additional helicopters under Phase 3 of its NH90 procurement plan and is considering another 32 under its pending anti-submarine warfare requirement.

For more, please see:Special Report: NHI prepares for ‘exciting time' for NH90, despite negative reports