Tue, Dec 05, 2023
Multimission Anti-Sub Copter Begins Testing
The first of 31 NH90 Sea Tigers took off on a maiden flight from Airbus' Donauwörth, Germany facility earlier this week.
The helo will be known as the 'Sea Tiger Multi-Role Frigate Helicopter' in Bundeswehr service, replacing their aged Mk88A Sea Lynx aircraft from 1981. German armed forces already operate NH90 platforms thanks to previous orders of the Sea Lion, an aircraft that recently scored its first naval rescue operation in the North Sea. The Sea Tiger, adapted from the NH-90 NFH (a specialized naval version) will find itself well equipped for the anti-sub mission, with a standard dipping sonar, sonobuoy loadout, and electro-optical suite with ESM capabilities. It can dish out some hurt, too, thanks to its torpedo and missile pylons. (of course, there's a chance they'll be used for the occasional shipborne grocery run, too.)
Airbus Helicopters is now beginning its qualification phase, putting the Sea Tiger through its paces and sorting out the array of systems that will come standard on each aircraft. Deliveries are set to begin at the end of 2025.
"We are proud to equip the German Navy with the NH90 Sea Tiger. Operating both the NH90 Sea Lion and the Sea Tiger will allow the Navy to further streamline its operations and maintenance," said Stefan Thomé, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in Germany. "The NH90 Sea Lion, which is already in service with the Navy, has recently proven its capabilities during a first major rescue operation in the North Sea.”
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