News: Belgische NH90

[nils]

de levering van de eerste belgische NH90 (de NFH versie) heeft een vertraging van 5 maanden opgelopen.
levering nu voorzien voor november 2011.

Nieuwe legerhelikopters met vijf maanden vertraging geleverd

De levering van de transporthelikopters NH90 aan het Belgische leger loopt vijf maanden vertraging op. Dat antwoordde minister van Defensie Pieter De Crem op een schriftelijke vraag van Kamerlid Bruno Stevenheydens (Vlaams Belang). De eerste toestellen werden in juni van volgend jaar verwacht, maar dat wordt nu november 2011.
De levering van de toestellen voor de zeemacht, primair bedoeld voor onderzeebootbestrijding vanaf moederschepen (NFH), is met vijf maanden uitgesteld zodat de leveringsdata nu lopen van november 2011 tot juni 2012, terwijl de laatste levering oorspronkelijk begin 2012 gepland was.
Voor de TTH-modellen, bedoeld voor onder meer het transport van manschappen en goederen, reddingsoperaties of medische evacuaties, blijven de leveringsdata vooralsnog behouden tussen april 2012 en februari 2013.

bron: http://www.nieuwsblad.be/article/detail ... 100213_022" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[nils]

UPDATE:

de eerste NH90 (vermoedelijk NFH varriant) is in de eindassemblage, er zijn foto's verschenen op mil.be

http://www.mil.be/aircomp/gall/index.as ... 0395&IDS=2

[aviodromefriend]

Thought Belgium had ordered 10 machines, how are these divided in NFH and TTH?

[nils]

Thought Belgium had ordered 10 machines, how are these divided in NFH and TTH?

Belgium has a total of 8 on order + 2 TTH options to be firmed at a later date
the order consists of 4 NFH (based at Koksijde to replace the Seaking Mk.48 and Alouette III) and 4 TTH (to be based at Beauvechain)
althought it would be better and cheaper to base all 8 helicopters at 1 base, common sense isnt the MoD's strongest point

[nils]

although it hasnt been noted here, the delivery of the NH90 has been delayed again, delivery of the first NFH is now moved to April 2012, witch totals the delay to 9 to 10 months.
so my guess is the deliveries of the NFH and TTH models will now run more or less equal.

[nils]

UPDATE:

color scheme for the NH90's are known to be light grey for the NFH (same as the Dutch NH90's) end olive for the TTH (as the greek and Italians).
according to helis.com, the serials for the first 2 helicopters (NFH's) are RN-01 and RN-02.
all 4 NFH's are under construction at Donauworth, Germany, and should be finished soon.

source: http://www.helis.com/database/model/77/

meanwhile, at the end of december 2011, it was noted that the delivery has ben slipped again, the first NFH's (to replace the Sea king and Alouette III) are expected to be handed over in the second half (around october) 2012, while the first TTH is expected in the final quarter of 2012.

furthermore, as part of a limited investment plan on January 11 2011, defence minister , Pieter De Crem, has also announced the investment for a steady supply of spares for the new helicopters and to participate in an international spare parts pooling circuit with other european NH90 operators to ensure a steady supply of spares to increase the operational availability of the helicopters.

(article in french)
http://www.dhnet.be/infos/belgique/arti ... deste.html

[nils]

UPDATE:

i found a picture what i can confirm, is Belgiums first NH90 NFH, in final assembly and painted at Donauwörth.
but i was very surprised to see a new type of Low Visibility type markings, something i never before seen in a Belgian Air Force aircraft.

http://www.air-defense.net/forum/index. ... ic=18053.0

[nils]

update:

on June 1, 2 pilots from Koksijde AB's 40ste smaldeel flew they're last flight on the Sea King and are now at Marignane for conversion to NH90
pilots have the callsigns "Fozzy" & "Chappy".

furthermore, the serials and color schemes for the Belgian aircraft have been revealed:

the NFH's will be painted in a Gull Grey scheme (FS26440) and will have the serials RN01, RN02, RN03 and RN04
the TTH's will be painted in an all dark green scheme (FS24079) and will carry the serials RN05, RN06, RN07 and RN08

source: http://www.belgianaviationnews.be/2012/ ... lgian.html

[nils]

Update:

i have a further update regarding Belgiums NH90 order. already confirmed earlier were the color schemes and serials, now i have a small update to ad to that.
on June 1, it was 4 pilots from Koksijde AB who were sent to Marignane (Marseille) for NH90 conversion, not 2 as noted earlier.
furthermore, it has been confirmed that the contruction of the helicopters has been devided under 2 assembly lines:

-NH90-NFH (RN01 to RN04) are being assembled in Donauwörth, Germany.
-NH90-TTH (RN05 to RN08) are being assebled in Marseille-Marignane, France.

the first of the latter should also be in final assembly at said facility and Belgium's pilots should undergo conversion on those same helicopters.

[nils]

update.

op het TV nieuws heeft Minister De Crem gezegd dat de eerste 2 NH90 toestellen (TTH versies, RN05 en RN06) zullen worden overgedragen worden aan de ComOpsAir op 21 December 2012, op Marseille-Marignane.