Unreliability and Late Deliveries Cited
Disappointed by ongoing problems with its fleet of NH90 military helicopters, Norway is about the endeavor of returning the aircraft to their manufacturer, NHIndustries. In addition, Norway is seeking repayment of 5 billion crowns [$523-million] plus interest and other costs from NHIndustries—a consortium comprising Airbus Helicopters, Italy's Leonardo, and Fokker Aerostructures of the Netherlands.
Norway’s Defense Minister alleges the NH90s of which the Northern European nation has taken delivery are either unreliable or were delivered late.
"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 of the Norwegian Armed Forces," Defense Minister Bjoern Arild Gram stated.
In a statement of its own, NHIndustries put forth that it was "extremely disappointed" by the decision, but considers this termination to be legally groundless." The consortium further states that it had not been offered the possibility to discuss the latest proposal made to improve the availability of the NH90 in Norway, or address specific Norwegian requirements.
Norway claims it has thus-far received only eight of the 14 NH90s specified in its 2001 agreement with NHIndustries. The claim is refuted by the consortium, which maintains it has delivered all but one of the helicopters.
"We have a helicopter that doesn't work the way it's supposed to," said General Eirik Kristoffersen, head of Norway's armed forces.
Kristoffersen’s assertion is supported by German Army claims that early NH90s were ill-suited to transport combat troops on account of damage-prone floor-panels, fragile seats, weight-limitations on the rear-ramp, and insufficient weapon stowage.
In November 2011, the Australian Department of Defense placed the MRH90 program on its "Projects of Concern" list. Problems with the aircraft included: compressor blade rubbing caused by the bending of a spool in the Rolls Royce Turbomeca RTM322 engine due to uneven cooling after shutdown, failure of transmission oil cooler fans, windscreen cracking, an inertial navigation system that is slow to align, and the inability of the cabin floor to withstand the impact of soldiers’ boots.
In March 2014, it was announced that a Dutch NH90 had suffered higher than expected fuselage wear and corrosion following an extended deployment at sea. Analysis by the Dutch National Aerospace Laboratory attributed the corrosion to design and assembly flaws. Subsequently, Dutch NH90 deliveries were halted until NHIndustries agreed to bear the cost of developing modifications, repairs, and preventive measures against corrosion.
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