Second NH90 Sea Lion prototype completes maiden flight

Donauwörth, The second prototype of the NH90 Sea Lion commissioned by the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr) lifted off from the Donauwörth site for its maiden flight on 24 November 2017. Airbus Helicopters is now entering a development testing phase of several months that will focus on avionics and software. Activities for the qualification of the delivery configuration will start over the course of 2018 once additional modifications have been made to the prototype. Despite the very demanding timetable, the company is convinced that deliveries to the German Navy will start at the end of 2019. Final assembly of the first Sea Lion seriesproduction aircraft also started recently; this will run in parallel to the qualification.

Grand opening of NH90 hangar H93 in Kallinge , Ronneby Air Force Base South of Sweden

On the 31st of January 2018, Frank Rizzotto NH90 Product Support Manager / T-SPOC On-Site, handed over the Swedish NH90 model to Commandant Knut Persson, Deputy of Helicopter Squadron Commander, in order to celebrate the opening of the new NH90 hangar H93 in Kallinge , Ronneby Air Force Base South of Sweden.

The main building is 6300m² with three floors, including offices, corridors, meeting-rooms, dressing-rooms, gym, sauna, etc ...
The hangar area is 12000m² including shops for engines, wheels, avionics, etc. There are room for 9 NH90 and 9 Agusta 109 LUHS.

The apron and FATO (final approach and take off area) are 60000m² together.

Safran to power Qatar’s new NH90 fleet

Qatar has selected Safran Helicopter Engines as engine supplier of its new NH90 fleet. The 28 NH90 military helicopters, whose acquisition was announced on 14 March, will all feature RTM322 engines.

Anthony Pecchi - Safran

They will be assembled in Bordes (France) and delivered to Airbus Helicopters' facility in Marignane, where the NH90 tactical transport version (TTH) is assembled, and to the Leonardo Venice-Tessera facility in Northern Italy for integration with the naval (NFH) configuration. Safran Helicopter Engines now powers 80 % of the worldwide NH90 fleet.

RTM322 is a 2,100 to 2,600 shaft horsepower engine (shp) designed for ten-to-fifteen ton military helicopters. It features state-of-the art technologies that enable it to perform in extremely demanding environments.

Commented Florent Chauvancy, Safran Helicopter Engines VP Heavy Helicopter Engine Programs, "the RTM322 has once again demonstrated that it is the best engine for the NH90. Since our acquisition of the program in 2013, we have generated a high level of operator satisfaction through increasing engine robustness and operability, and by implementing simpler and more efficient maintenance practices".

Cyril Abad - Safran

The Qatar Armed Forces NH90 will feature the RTM322-01/9A version. It features a 7% power increase over the baseline RTM322-01/9 variant. This additional power increases mission capabilities in "hot and high" conditions.

Today, 1,100 RTM322 have been delivered worldwide, accumulating over 1.3 million flight-hours.

As part of this agreement, Qatar has also ordered 16 H125 light single-engine helicopters for operation by the its Armed Forces Air Academy. These rotorcraft will also be Safran-powered, by the Arriel 2D .