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2024-04-04

Qatar NH90s Achieve 2,500-Hour Milestone

The Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) marked a significant milestone at DIMDEX 2024, celebrating 2,500 flight hours with the NH90 helicopter fleet. This achievement underscores the success of its strategic cooperation with Leonardo, which played a crucial role in pilot training and maintenance support.

Boasting an impressive average serviceability exceeding 80 per cent, the Qatar Emiri Air Force stands out as a prominent NH90 end user, employing both the TTH (Tactical Troop Transport) and NFH (Naval Frigate Helicopter) variants for diverse land and naval operations.

The helicopter’s primary roles encompass troop transport and utility, search and rescue, as well as surveillance missions.

Since the first delivery in 2018, as of today the QEAF has received 18 helicopters, out of the total of 28 helicopters ordered, nine TTH helicopters built at the assembly line of Marignane (Airbus) and nine NFH helicopters built at the final assembly line of Venice (Leonardo).

Prime Contractor

As the prime contractor for the entire programme, Leonardo oversees the NH90 NFH helicopter initiative, including final assembly and delivery at its production facility in Tessera, Venice.

The company also provides on-site support to the Air Force, including engineers, skilled technicians, logistics specialists, and instructors.

It has also built the Training Centre located at Doha Air Base, which includes two Full Flight Simulators (FFS) in naval and land versions, developed in partnership with CAE, as well a variety of other systems covering the flight and the mission training requirements.

Since entry to service in June 2023 close to 1,700 hours have been flown on the Full Flight Simulators in cooperation with the military instructors of the Italian Armed Forces.

Land-Maritime Asset

The NH90 stands as the cornerstone of Europe’s most extensive helicopter programme, meeting the demand for a flexible military asset.

As a twin-engine, multi-mission aircraft, the NH90 represents the pinnacle of modern versatility within its category. Developed under the NHIndustries joint venture, which includes Leonardo Helicopters, Airbus Helicopters, and Fokker, it embodies cutting-edge innovation and capability.

The NH90 contains a unique, fully integrated mission system for multi-role operations in the most demanding conditions over land and sea, day and night.

Interoperability Advantage

The NH90 features advanced systems for peak performance in military missions, on land or at sea. Tested in challenging conditions like sand, dust, and ice, it offers unmatched reliability. With its multi-role capability, it optimises operational effectiveness across military environments, promoting fleet rationalisation and interoperability.

The core vehicle for the TTH and NFH versions is a twin-engine rotorcraft incorporating innovative features such as advanced mission flight aids and a fly-by-wire control system with a four-axis autopilot, along with a full mission-oriented integrated system.

The aircraft’s composite fuselage has fewer parts and a lower structural weight, resulting in 30 per cent more endurance compared to a metallic fuselage, plus increased resistance to battle damage, among other benefits.

The composite rotor blades have greater fatigue strength, damage tolerance and component lifetimes. It can fit into a NATO frigate hangar, and with a cabin volume large enough to carry 20 fully equipped personnel or a maritime mission system, it provides a real multi-mission capability. Its wide modular cabin, large sliding doors on each side, and rear ramp make it the most accessible military helicopter available.

The NFH version is a highly flexible asset that can adapt to today’s dynamic maritime environment. It excels in roles including Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW). The NH90 performs maritime surveillance, anti-piracy and counterterrorism, intelligence gathering, vertical replenishment, Search and Rescue (SAR), medical evacuation, troop transport, disaster relief and special operations.

The NH90 features a full glass cockpit and advanced fly-by-wire flight controls. The NFH version can carry out missions with a crew of three thanks to the integrated flight control system and mission avionics which reduce crew workload.

Ballistic-Tolerant Design

Its features include a crashworthy fuselage and ballistic-tolerant design, self-sealing tanks and redundancy of main systems, armour protection and advanced self-protection. The combination of harpoon deck-lock, castoring nosewheel, automatic blade/tail folding system and proven deck handling system ensure safe ship operations in demanding conditions, both day and night.

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