Norwegian NH90 self-protection suite testing completed

Norwegian NH90 self-protection suite testing completed 9 Mar, 16, Source: NH Industries

NHI successfully completed the test campaign of the self-protection suite of the Norwegian NH90. 

The aircraft NH90 NNWN01 prototype was manned by Finmeccanica Helicopter Division flight test team (Test Pilot Roger Mowbray and Flight Test Engineer Fabrizio Santarossa) and supported by a multi-national, multi-disciplined team from several organisations.

This comprehensive suite encompasses a Radar Warner Receiver (AN/ALQ-211(v)5 from HARRIS) able to detect, locate and identify any radar guided threats at long distance around the NH90, a Laser Warning System (AN/AVR-2A(v)1 from Goodrich), a Missile Warning System (AN/AAR-54) from Northrop Grumman) and also a Counter Measures Dispensing System (AN/ALE 47 (H) from BAE).

This test campaign was conducted between September 2015 and February 2016, and it has been supported by the French DGA (Direction Generale de l’Armement) in three different test sites Cazaux, Bruz and Ile du Levant.

In Cazaux DGA “Essais en vol” all threats coming from below the helicopter (“negative elevation”) have been tested, followed by “positive elevation” tests carried out in Bruz DGA “Maitrise de l’information”.

The qualification test campaign has been completed in DGA Essais de Missiles against a wide variety of representative simulated threats in realistic complex scenarios. 

“The team for this test campaign has included representatives from NHIndustries, Finmeccanica Helicopter Division, Airbus Helicopters , Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency, and HARRIS, together with German WTD61. In total seven nationalities working together, bringing the best of their expertise in Electronic Warfare and system integration, in order to turn an impressive challenge into a bright success” declared Vittorio Della Bella Managing Director of NHIndustries.

The Norwegian NH90 NFH are built in Tessera (Italy) by Finmeccanica Helicopters Division; they are equipped with a sonic suite built around a Flash dipping Sonar, a multimode ENR radar, an Electro Optic suite with laser rangefinder and an ALQ 211 ESM suite. 

Norway so far took delivery of 6 NH90s out of 14 ordered. The next phase of the programme includes the delivery of six helicopters configured for Anti-Submarine Warfare and two further helicopters configured for Coast Guard operations.

The Norwegian NH90NFH is a maritime helicopter, able to operate in the most demanding conditions by day and night thanks to its state of the art mission system, its De- icing system and its various sensors such as its Electronic Warfare suite, its multimode Radar and its sonic suite.

The NH90 is the optimal choice for modern operations thanks to its large full composite airframe, its excellent power to weight ratio; and its wide range of rôle equipment. It features a redundant Fly-by-Wire flight control system for reduced Pilot’s workload and enhanced flight characteristics.

The NH90 is proposed in two main variants, one dedicated to naval operations, the NH90NFH (Nato Frigate Helicopter) and a Tactical Transport Variant for land based operations. As of today, 270 helicopters have been delivered in Naval and Tactical transport variants. They are in service in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, The Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Greece, Oman, Belgium, Australia and New Zealand. 

The twin-engine, medium-size NH90 helicopter program is managed by the consortium NHIndustries, the Company owned by Finmeccanica Helicopter Division (32%), Airbus Helicopters (62.5%), and Fokker Aerostructures (5.5%).

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