RNoAF NH90-NFH restarts acceptance tests
After a break of one year, the Norwegian Acceptance Team returned to the NHIndustries NH90 Tessera facility near Venice (Italy) on 20 April 2021 for the acceptance of NH90-NFH with customer number NNWN002 and serial 027.
According to Scramble Magazine, the Luftforsvaret (RNoAF, Royal Norwegian Air Force) has taken delivery of eleven out of fourteen NH90-NFHs since the first NH90 was delivered in December 2011.
In September 2001, Norway ordered fourteen NH90s in two versions, six NH90-NFH Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and eight NH90-NFH Kystvakt (Coast Guard). Three NH90s, one Coast Guard and two ASWs, are still with Airbus Helicopters pending acceptance tests and delivery. The to be delivered NH90s are: Coast Guard NNWN001 (serial 013) and NNWN002 (serial 027) and NNWN014 (serial ..), both ASW.
The NH90s are operated by 334 skvadron (skv) at Haakonsvern for the ASW version and 337 skvadron (skv) at Bardufoss for the Coast Guard version. The current overview is:
Scramble Magazine reported in February 2018 and April 2021 on the struggle with the NH90s in Norwegian service. In March 2021, the Norwegian Ministry of Defence (MoD) decided that the Coast Guard role will be taken up by leased helicopters. The NH90 will solely be used in the ASW role. The current Coast Guard versions will definitely need an ASW upgrade. It has not been reported where and when this will be done.
Photos by Edwin Daalder and Martin Uleman, both Scramble Archive