NHI is proud to announce the first flight of the first NH90 NFH Nato Frigate Helicopter ordered by
the Belgian armed forces.
For this first 45 minutes flight performed on April 5th at Eurocopter facility Donauwörth in Germany,
the crew successfully tested the basic systems of this new generation aircraft.
After landing, the pilot expressed its satisfaction with the flight qualities of this helicopter. During
the next weeks, this first Belgian NH90 NFH will perform several other test flights in order to check
the aircraft behaviour and its mission system with Industry and Customer crews.
The Belgian armed forces ordered eight NH90s, four TTHs for tactical transport operations and
four NFHs for naval operations.
The Belgian NH90 NFH is delivered in its full operational capability standard, already known as the
“Step B”. This aircraft is very close to the Dutch NH90 NFH Step B currently operationally
deployed with the Royal Netherland’s Navy.
This commonality brings to the Belgian customer all the return of experience collected during the
development of the Dutch NH90 NFH.
“This first flight is an important milestone for NHI because we know that the Belgian Air Component
has an urgent need to replace its ageing “Sea King Helicopters” declared Xavier Poupardin
delegated managing director of NHI. Source
EADS
