Update: Belgian NH90 order

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18 years 8 months

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its been a year now since the Belgian goverment selected the NH90 as is new multirole support helicopter for the COMOPSAIR, to replace the seaking Mk.48's and SA-316 Allouette III's. since that date there has been little known here about the current status, but there are however a few changes since the original plans.

The number of helicopters to be ordered still remains 10, howerver the deviding of the choppers between the servises have changed. in the begining the deviding was originaly 5 for paracommando ops, 3 for SAR and 2 for naval transport. this now has been altered as folows (note that variants could defer):

Paracommando operations:

the helicopters for paracommando operations has now changed from 5 to 4, possibly the TTH version, these will now also be used for CSAR operations, witch is a new (decent) capability to support the land component troops.

SAR operations:

the 40th squadron SAR will now fly 4 instead of 3 SAR versions (TTH or MTTH) to replace the seaking between 2008 and 2010. there is still no news about the color sheme, but rumors are circulating about a USCG style camo sheme, however some want it to remain in the same sheme as the seaking.

Naval Operations:

the number for the NH90's for operations from the new M-frigates remain at 2, however these will posibly be the NFH version now, as the MoD has noted that it will be fitted with an ASW capability, next to the maratime transport role. both helicopter will be maintained and flown by COMOPSAIR personel.

recently MoD André Flahaut is talking to representatives of the German, French and Dutch defence forces, in an attempt to get a few helicopters from there production lines and orders, in order to get them into service quicker, if these talks will be succesfull, remains a mistery.

so far, no contracts have been signed, but news reports suggest that the purchase contract will be signed within the next few weeks (or months, knowing our own defence minister).
furthermore, it si now cofirmed that all 10 helicopters will be stationed at Koksijde AB, witch they are planning to turn into a sort of Super-helicopter base in the near future.

here's my (quick amaturistic) view of how the helicopter would look like once its bieng delivered.

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17 years 11 months

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A fine helicopter for the Belgian forces, the NH90 is an excellent machine.

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20 years 7 months

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...however some want it to remain in the same sheme as the seaking....
O-ho!!! That would be quite remarkable!

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17 years 5 months

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@ Nils: there is only the intention of the Ministry of Defence to buy new helicopters, no cotract has been signed yet, so it is way to early to speak of of versions, amounts, etc... That is all pure and simple speculation.
If there was an official order, followed by the so mentioned first delivery in 2007, don't you think that it has been 10 before 12 o'clock and the engineers, pilots would have been notified of upcoming courses, etc... ?
Several meetings with the constructor and the Ministry of Defence have been cancelled untill now, any idea why ? (money money money...)

My source: the defence specialist of a political party...

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18 years 8 months

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TOPIC REVIVE: it took a long time but it seems that on friday, during the verry last meeting of the gouverment, the final desision will be made for the purchase of the NH90 helicopters to replace the ageing Seaking Mk.48 and Allouette III's. if the final approval is bieng givven, the contract will be signed within the next week orr month.

this is Belgiums last chance to buy the NH90's as after friday, the gouverment will sieze all its activities till after the elections in june. everyone on Koksijde AFB in waiting cause for some time there has been uncertainties. Minister J. Vandelanotte wanted to disband the military SAR operations and fully privatise the SAR sector, therefor 100's of jobs were at stake on the base as these tasks would be transfered to Noordzee Helikopters (NVH) in Oostende. if the approval for the NH-90is givven, there jobs will be secure.

up to now it looks like:

-4 TTH (for troop transport and CSAR, new unit)
-4 NFH (SAR configured to replace the Seakings of 40th squadron)
-2 NFH (ASW configured to replace the navy All.III of the heliflight)

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18 years 8 months

Posts: 508

UPDATE 25.04.2007: green light for purchase of 8 NH90's.

the Belgian gouverment announced today that the official greenlight was given for the buy of 8 NH90 instead of the original 10 first suggested. the other 2 aircraft will be placed in option. the value of the contract is worth 292,5 million euro's, the reduction was made due to the fact the price of the helicopters went up as they waited to long to order.

funding for the deal will be prepared by friday and the contract is to be signed shortly, maybe even this week. :D

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16 years 11 months

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What took it so long?

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19 years 8 months

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They're junk. Don't buy them....

Ask the Oz Army/Navy...

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14 years 7 months

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A fine helicopter for the Belgian forces, the NH90 is an excellent machine.

Then why are the German armed forces hating it so much?

There is a 100 pge german report listing an impressive amount of shortcomings from insufficient ground clearance to tender floorplates, weak seats, a poor hoisting system....

the report recommends to use another helicopter wherever possible and if I am not mistaken, has led to a large delay of the NH90 programme while re-designing parts of the aircraft.

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14 years 7 months

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Then why are the German armed forces hating it so much?

There is a 100 pge german report listing an impressive amount of shortcomings from insufficient ground clearance to tender floorplates, weak seats, a poor hoisting system....

the report recommends to use another helicopter wherever possible and if I am not mistaken, has led to a large delay of the NH90 programme while re-designing parts of the aircraft.

You are aware that you're reacting to a post from the 10th October 2006? :)

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15 years 1 month

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You are aware that you're reacting to a post from the 10th October 2006? :)

And talking about an evaluation report of prototype birds that have since been adjusted for the serie models.