The deal follows Norway’s cancellation of its NH90 procurement in 2022, more than two decades after placing an order for 14 helicopters in 2001. NHIndustries, a joint venture owned by Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo, and GKN Fokker Aerospace, had only delivered eight fully operational aircraft, well behind the original delivery target of 2008.
The helicopters were intended for Coast Guard operations and anti-submarine warfare missions, with a target of 3,900 flight hours annually. However, the fleet had only averaged around 700 hours per year, prompting Norway’s Ministry of Defence to conclude in 2022 that “no matter how many hours our technicians work, and how many parts we order, it will never make the NH90 capable of meeting the requirements.”
As part of the settlement, NHIndustries will reclaim all helicopters, along with associated spare parts, tools and mission-specific equipment. “The parties have engaged in constructive cooperation and demonstrated a willingness to resolve the matter,” stated the company. “This has occurred through dialogue with mediators at the Oslo District Court, who have conducted the process in a professional and trustworthy manner.”
In addition to the €305 million now agreed, NHIndustries had already paid around €70 million under previous bank guarantees, bringing the total compensation to €375 million. This amount is slightly below the NOK 5 billion (€428.4 million) originally paid by the Norwegian Defence Material Agency for the programme.
The recovered helicopters and equipment will now be reintegrated into the broader NH90 programme, making high-demand parts available to other operators in the 14-nation user community, which includes France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Qatar. NHIndustries said it will assume full control over the assets to support ongoing requirements across the fleet.
In March 2023, Norway announced plans to replace the NH90 with six U.S.-made MH-60R Seahawks in a deal worth $1.18 billion. Denmark has operated the NH90 since 2016, while NHIndustries continues to manage design, development and service for the helicopter since its founding in 1992.
