The German Navy will receive the first NH90-variant Sea Lion helicopters towards the end of 2019, Airbus announced on 13 July.
According to the statement, when the qualification phase of the new NH90 Sea Lion helicopter is finished, the German customer will release the military type certificate to allow the first serial delivery, which is scheduled for end of 2019.
Also, the company adding that The second prototype of the NH90 Sea Lion has performed its first flight in serial configuration on July 10. This event marks the beginning of the helicopter’s qualification phase together with the customer’s official authorities.
The NH90 Sea Lion is a naval multi-role helicopter that has an increased number of sensors and improved navigation and communications equipment designed to replace the navy’s existing fleet of Westland Sea King Mk41.
The helicopter shell is manufactured from advanced, high-strength composite materials. This offers optimum protection for the crew thanks to its excellent crash behaviour.
Sea Lion has electronic fly-by-wire flight controls that reduce the crew’s workload. Other benefits of this control system are its high precision and ease of use, which particularly come to the fore in over-water hovering, even in poor weather conditions.
In addition to its land-based use in SAR missions, the NH90 Sea Lion is also intended to operate on Type 702 (Berlin class) combat support ships.
The German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) have ordered 18 of these helicopters altogether, with the last due to go into service in 2022.