Ian Harding visited Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose to speak with his chums from the Royal Netherlands Navy about its latest NH90 deployment to the UK
SEVENTEEN YEARS after the Netherlands Ministry of Defence ordered 20 NH90 NFHs (NATO Frigate Helicopters) from NHIndustries, this major Dutch Helicopter Command (DHC) programme is finally delivering results. The sense of optimism was tangible when AIR International met with senior personnel from 7 Squadron (Operational Test and Evaluation) and 860 Squadron during the latest three-week training deployment to Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, Cornwall, in November.
Tempo shift
Head of operations for 860 Squadron, Lieutenant Eric, a senior tactical coordinator (TACCO) said: “There has been a real shift in programme tempo after completing all eight programme stages during 2016, including our final anti-submarine warfare [ASW] tests using the HELRAS system. A test crew successfully launched the first torpedo [a Mk46] against a submarine during our 2016 Culdrose deployment, followed by the first successful launch by an 860 Squadron crew during summer 2017. Our training manuals and SOPs [standard operating procedures) are also complete.” HELRAS refers to the Helicopter Long-Range Active Sonar manufactured by US company L3 Ocean Systems.
There have been many operational programme successes for DHC to reflect upon recently. Most notable was the humanitarian support provided in the Caribbean following Hurricane Irma.
Lt Eric said: “We were the first country in position with a helicopter to provide damage assessment. Aircraft role changes were quickly made enabling us to undertake personnel rescue, perform underslung load lifts, winching, confined area landings; we really made a difference. We have also achieved major success in our counterdrugs role in the region. Importantly, we are the first country in the world to receive certification from the United States Coast Guard to perform night-time counterdrugs operations on its behalf. We fly with Coast Guard observers in the back plus a Marine sniper and an M3M machine gun. During one operation with the Coast Guard following the hurricane, we picked up 600kg [1,322lb] of cocaine. In terms of ASW, our work has also been recognised by HELRAS manufacturer L3, which confirmed at a recent convention in the United States attended by all operators that we are tier one regarding HELRAS ASW operations. We have now completed brown water ASW [shallow water], deep water ASW and worked with live submarines. I am very happy with the progression made.”
Training
Aircraft and personnel from Maritime Air Station De Kooy have deployed to Culdrose for many years undertaking operational training and evaluation during Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) exercises.
This year’s deployment focused on operational aircrew training, development of ASW and antisurface warfare (ASuW) skills and participation in dedicated combined anti-submarine exercises (CASEX) including the Thursday war. They also participated in Exercise Kernow Flag serials (see Carrier air wing work-up p74-77).
Detachment commander and head of tactical training operations for 7 Squadron Lieutenant Johan, a senior TACCO, said the original plan was to train with the Dutch joint support ship Karel Doorman (A833), but plans changed when the ship was required to provide support in the Caribbean. He said: “We need to complete our ASW training here in deep water, which is not available in the Netherlands. We also had the opportunity to train with one of our Netherland Navy Walrus-class submarines during CASEX working alongside Merlin crews from 820 Squadron.”
A key element of the aircraft’s operational development concerned the size of the crew complement which has now been resolved.
Lt Johan said: “We are here to train two full crews to meet their future operational requirements, which includes supporting the NATO Rapid Response Force 2018 programme, which has a large ASW component. The Netherlands Navy now deploys with a STANEVAL [standards and evaluation], maritime crew complement, which comprises one pilot, one observer or TACCO and two SENSOs [sensor operators]. Our crew complement for higher-level warfare missions has therefore increased from three to four persons, with an extra SENSO in the back. Considering the in-flight workload and the information produced by the mission system, we need this crew to achieve our objectives. The workload will increase further next year when we receive the ESM [electronic support measures] upgrade. We completed some ESM testing during our third week at Culdrose with specialists from our Maritime Warfare Centre.” Training will be further enhanced in 2018 when the DHC NH90 simulator moves from Italy to the Netherlands.
ASW training is simulator heavy and 860 Squadron currently lose people for one week to carry out this work in Italy. The move will save time and money in the long run following a brief training gap. Normally, two pilots, two TACCOs and three SENSOs are trained each year, but the intention is to increase these numbers and designated training hours at De Kooy.
Lt Johan confirmed: “We will continue to come to Culdrose, because we cannot complete ASW training just on a simulator. FOST training boosts this, so our philosophy is our instructors train in ASW in the spring, and the students train in ASuW, SAR and navigation at Culdrose during the spring time and then ASW during the autumn/winter. We plan two visits to Culdrose each year.”
Upgrade configuration
DHC has received all 20 aircraft, but some are awaiting upgrade at NHIndustries factory in Tessera, Italy. In terms of final NH90 NFH configuration, one outstanding avionics mission system upgrade will address the specific issues identified, as Lt Eric explained: “We are currently working with three different configurations, which is not ideal. This will be resolved following the latest upgrade that will be flown with one final standard, which is Maintenance Release 1 (MR1). The upgrade takes approximately one year to complete, and the first aircraft should arrive at De Kooy in January 2018. We currently have two variants, which are FOC [Fully Operational Capable] and FRC [Final Radar Configuration]. Our final MOC [Mission Operational Capable] aircraft have been upgraded. Most of our aircraft are now FRC, which is fully operational. We brought three FRC and one FOC aircraft to Culdrose. We fly with two SENSOs operating at two mission system consoles, a fully operational sonics suite and active sonar buoys, which is a gamechanger. Our operational position is improving significantly, as we have four aircraft here, one in the Caribbean and two specifically for training at De Kooy. Serviceability is improving, too.”
End game
FOC aircraft are only considered MOC with HELRAS aboard, but they have received the latest radar upgrades, additional flight modes, a digital map linked to its mission planning automated system and an aircraft data recorder that automatically records all mission details for four hours. A forwardlooking infrared system, voice communication and tactical data link can all be replayed on mission screens second by second during flight if required and during the debrief process. This is necessary to review operator actions, radar, sonar picture and communications.
Many specialists within 7 and 860 Squadrons have worked hard to make the NH90 NFH a success, despite some outstanding issues that are being addressed, especially the shortage of aircrew. The NH90 fleet is scheduled to complete 1,250 operational hours in 2018 (up from 900 in 2017) with 1,250 hours set aside for crew training, which represents marked increases.
