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A French Navy NH90 during pre-delivery test flying. Eurocopter/Anthony Pecchi
http://www.key.aero/view_news.asp?ID=45 ... n=military
French Navy NH90 Caimen Enters Operational Service
The French Navy held a formal ceremony at Base d’Aéronautique Navale (BAN) Lanvéoc Poulmic, France, on December 8 to mark the entry into operational service of the NH90 Caiman.
A FORMAL ceremony was held at Base d’Aéronautique Navale (BAN) Lanvéoc Poulmic, France, on December 8 to mark the entry into operational service with the French Navy of the NH90 Caiman Naval Frigate Helicopter (NFH).
To date, five of these helicopters have been delivered to the air component of France’s Marine Nationale in Standard 1 configuration.
The French Navy will take delivery of a total of 27 NH90 NFHs by 2020, of which 13 will be configured for troop transport with a rear loading ramp, while the remaining 14 will have a full anti-submarine warfare (ASW) equipment fit for embarked combat operations.
The helicopters will be based at BAN Hyères and BAN Lanvéoc, with a detachment at Cherbourg.
The 14 ASW variants will be permanently embarked on the frégates de défense aérienne (air defence frigates) FDA Chevalier Paul and Forbin, plus the FREMM multi-mission frigates.
They are also likely to occassionally operate from aircraft carriers, BPC projection and command ships and TCD transport landing vessels.