Germany orders additional 42 NH90s at Paris Air Show by exercising its Options

On the occasion of the Paris Air Show, Germany signed a contract for 42 additional NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopters (TTH) on June 18 at the Cercle Militaire Saint- Augustin in Paris. Thirty of these helicopters are destined for the Army Air Corps, the other twelve are for the Air Force. Germany has thereby exercised part of its existing options for the NH90 TTH. In June 2000, the German Armed Forces had placed a firm order for 80 TTH – 50 for the Army Air Corps and 30 for the Air Force.

Le Bourget, PARIS AIR SHOW 2007, 19 June 2007

With today’s additional order, the total number of NH90s on order worldwide now stands at 495 units.

The 30 new TTH for the Army Air Corps will be in the same configuration as those previously ordered. The twelve for the Air Force will feature a rear ramp, provisons for armor protection and machine gun, in the frame of the harmonization process for the Air Force variant. The German Army Air Corps is the first customer to have taken delivery of its first four NH90s in late 2006 and early 2007. Three of them are being used for flight training at the Army Air Corps Flight Training Academy in Bückeburg, the fourth is being used as a maintenance trainer at the Army base in Fassberg. A total of eight TTH are scheduled to be in service with the German Armed Forces by the end of 2007.

Lutz Bertling, President and CEO of Eurocopter, stated: “We are extremely proud of the great confidence placed in the NH90 by our launch customer, the German authorities and Armed Forces, proven by this additional order. I know the Army Air Corps and Air Force pilots are waiting for this system impatiently. I would like to thank all our partners within the German Army, the authorities, the Bundeswehr Technical and Airworthiness Centre 61, NAHEMA and NHIndustries for their contribution to achieving this success. With the launch of the NH90 into training services with the German Army Air Corps, we have taken the first step towards military interoperability and the ability to perform integrated missions in the future.”

The German Army Air Corps Training Academy in Bückeburg considers the NH90 as the start of a new era in rotorcraft aviation. This weapons system will offer the crews, and thus every operator, an impressive expansion in capability across the entire tactical operating spectrum, including high intensity conflict situations against sophisticated threats thanks to its use of cutting-edge technology. Training at the German Army Air Corps School using the integrated training facility consisting of computer-aided theoretical training, extensive use of flight simulators and now augmented by practical use of the NH90 as a “paramount training asset“ will take on a completely new quality.

The NH90 has established itself as the NATO standard helicopter of the 21st century. It makes a significant contribution towards interoperability between European armed forces and their overseas allies for NATO and UN missions. In addition, it contributes towards standardization and rationalization in terms of costs, training and logistics.

The NH90 program is managed by NAHEMO (NATO Helicopter Management Organisation) representing France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal and Belgium, and by the NHIndustries industrial consortium consisting of Eurocopter (62.5%), Agusta (32%) and Stork Fokker (5.5%).

About Eurocopter

Established in 1992, the Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter Group is a Division of EADS, a world leader in aerospace, defence and related services. The Eurocopter Group employs approx. 14,000 people. In 2006, Eurocopter confirmed its position as the world’s No. 1 helicopter manufacturer with a turnover of 3.8 billion euros, orders for 615 new helicopters, and a 52% percent market share in the civil and parapublic sectors. Overall, the Group’s products account for 30% percent of the total world helicopter fleet. Its strong worldwide presence is ensured by its 17 subsidiaries on five continents, along with a dense network of distributors, certified agents and maintenance centres. More than 9,800 Eurocopter helicopters are currently in service with over 2,800 customers in 140 countries. Eurocopter offers the largest civil and military helicopter range in the world.

100 years of vertical flight

In 1907, Paul Cornu performed history’s first ever vertical flight. Since then, thanks to pioneering spirits, technological advances and innovative minds, the helicopter has become a key to saving lives, protecting citizens and contributing to economic development the world over. In 2007, Eurocopter is proud to celebrate this anniversary and to share its passion for helicopters.

For more information, please contact:
Jesus RUIZ Eurocopter
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Christina GOTZHEIN
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Cécile VION-LANCTUIT
Eurocopter
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Christopher BACH
Eurocopter
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mailto: christopher.bach@eurocopter.com