NHIndustries

NHIndustries, commonly abbreviated NHI, is a multinational helicopter manufacturing partnership created in 1992 to serve as the prime contractor for the design, development, industrialisation, production and logistic support of the NH90 family. The company was formed by Eurocopter, now Airbus Helicopters; Agusta, now part of Leonardo; and Stork Fokker Aerospace, now represented by Fokker Aerostructures. Its corporate purpose has been closely tied to the NH90 rather than to a broad commercial helicopter catalogue. The NH90 programme originated in a NATO effort to develop a new medium-sized, twin-engine military helicopter for the 1990s. The intended aircraft had to perform battlefield transport missions while also being suitable for naval operations, including frigate-based anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare. The United Kingdom participated in the initial multinational discussions but withdrew in 1987. France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands subsequently became the principal programme nations represented by the NATO Helicopter Management Agency, or NAHEMA. Portugal joined NAHEMA in 2001. On 1 September 1992, NHIndustries signed the design-and-development contract with NAHEMA. Engineering work began in 1993, followed by the first prototype flight in December 1995. Three prototypes supported the flight-test programme, and the third prototype became notable in 2002 as the first helicopter to fly exclusively using fly-by-wire controls after its mechanical backup controls had been removed. The NH90 developed into two principal variants. The Tactical Transport Helicopter, or TTH, is intended primarily for land-force transport and battlefield support. The NATO Frigate Helicopter, or NFH, is a naval version equipped for shipboard operation and maritime missions. The variants share a substantial common airframe, although customers have often requested national equipment, communications, sensors, mission systems and other configuration changes. As a result, individual national fleets have not always been identical. Industrial work is divided among the shareholder companies. Airbus Helicopters contributes major portions of the engines, rotor system, electrical equipment, flight controls, avionics, fuselage and fuel systems. Leonardo contributes the rear fuselage, main gearbox, hydraulic and automatic flight-control systems and the NFH mission system. Fokker has responsibility for structures and components including the tail structure, doors, sponsons, landing gear and intermediate gearbox. Final assembly has been conducted through facilities in France, Italy, Germany, Finland, Australia and Spain, depending on the customer and production arrangement. The programme experienced technical, funding and manufacturing difficulties during development and production, but it proceeded to a large multinational customer base. A major 2000 production order covered 366 helicopters and was reported at approximately US$8.6 billion. By April 2013, reported orders had reached 529 aircraft. Production peaked at 53 helicopters in 2014, while reported production lead time declined from 18 months in 2004 to 7.5 months in 2016. By January 2017, NH90 fleets operated by 13 nations had accumulated 127,000 flight hours. The NH90 entered operational service with the German Army in 2007. The Royal Netherlands Navy became the first customer to receive the naval NFH variant in April 2010. NHIndustries therefore functions chiefly as the programme-level industrial and support organization behind a multinational military helicopter rather than as a consumer-facing standalone aircraft brand.

NHIndustries was established in 1992 by Eurocopter, Agusta and Stork Fokker Aerospace as a dedicated multinational industrial company for the NATO NH90 helicopter programme. The partnership was created after a longer effort by European NATO members to define a common battlefield transport and naval helicopter. France, West Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom had participated in the initial 1985 effort; the United Kingdom withdrew in 1987, leaving the other countries to advance the programme. The NH90 was conceived as a medium-sized, twin-engine military helicopter with enough commonality to support both land and maritime roles. Its two principal forms became the Tactical Transport Helicopter and the NATO Frigate Helicopter. The TTH was intended for battlefield transport and support, while the NFH was adapted for shipboard operation and maritime warfare missions. Although the variants share much of their structure, national requirements led customers to order different avionics, sensors, communications systems and mission equipment. On 1 September 1992, NHIndustries signed the design-and-development agreement with NAHEMA, the NATO agency representing the participating governments. Design work started in 1993. The first prototype flew on 18 December 1995, followed by two additional prototypes in 1997 and 1998. On 12 December 2002, the third prototype demonstrated an important flight-control milestone by operating exclusively through fly-by-wire controls after the removal of mechanical backup controls. The partnership divided engineering and manufacturing responsibilities among its shareholders. Airbus Helicopters took responsibility for substantial forward and centre-fuselage work, engines, rotors, electrical and flight-control equipment and core avionics. Leonardo, formerly AgustaWestland, handled the rear fuselage, main gearbox, hydraulic and automatic flight-control systems, powerplant-related equipment and the NFH mission system. Fokker contributed the tail structure, doors, sponsons, landing gear and intermediate gearbox. Components were transported to final-assembly sites serving different national and export contracts. The original industrial plan used final assembly in France, Italy and Germany, with additional local assembly arrangements later established for Finland, Australia and Spain. This structure allowed participating and export customers to obtain national industrial workshare, but it also made the programme operationally complex. Development involved technical and funding problems, and the aircraft was produced in numerous customer-specific configurations. NHIndustries later advocated a simplified baseline airframe to reduce manufacturing complexity and accelerate deliveries. A large production commitment in June 2000 covered 366 helicopters and was reported at US$8.6 billion. Further European, Asian and Australian orders expanded the programme. By April 2013, reported orders for all NH90 variants had reached 529 aircraft. Production lead time reportedly fell from 18 months in 2004 to 7.5 months in 2016, and annual output reached 53 helicopters in 2014. The German Army became the first operator to enter service with the NH90 in 2007. In April 2010, the Royal Netherlands Navy became the first customer to receive the naval NFH version. By January 2017, NH90 aircraft operated by the armed forces of 13 nations had accumulated 127,000 flight hours. NHIndustries remains principally associated with the NH90 family and its industrial, production and logistics-support responsibilities.

• 2017

  NH90 fleet passes 127,000 flight hours

  [1]NHIndustriesen.wikipedia.org

  By January, NH90s operated by 13 nations had accumulated 127,000 flight hours.

• 2014

  Annual production peaks

  [1]NHIndustriesen.wikipedia.org

  Worldwide NH90 production reached a reported peak of 53 helicopters.

• 2010

  First naval NFH delivery

  [1]NHIndustriesen.wikipedia.org

  The Royal Netherlands Navy became the first customer to receive the naval NH90 NFH variant.

• 2007

  First operational service

  [1]NHIndustriesen.wikipedia.org

  The NH90 entered operational service with the German Army.

• 2002

  Fly-by-wire-only prototype flight

  [1]NHIndustriesen.wikipedia.org

  Prototype PT3 became the first helicopter to fly exclusively through fly-by-wire controls after mechanical backup controls were removed.

• 2000

  Participating nations place a major production order

  [1]NHIndustriesen.wikipedia.org

  A production order for 366 helicopters was reported in June, with a stated value of approximately US$8.6 billion.

• 1995

  First NH90 prototype flies

  [1]NHIndustriesen.wikipedia.org

  Prototype PT1 made the NH90's first flight on 18 December.

• 1993

  NH90 design work begins

  [1]NHIndustriesen.wikipedia.org

  Engineering and design work on the NH90 started under the new multinational industrial arrangement.

• 1992

  NHIndustries is established

  [1]NHIndustriesen.wikipedia.org

  Eurocopter, Agusta and Stork Fokker Aerospace formed NHIndustries as the industrial prime contractor for the NH90 programme.

• 1992

  NH90 development contract is signed

  [1]NHIndustriesen.wikipedia.org

  NHIndustries signed the design-and-development contract with NAHEMA on 1 September.

• 1987

  United Kingdom leaves the development effort

  [1]NHIndustriesen.wikipedia.org

  The United Kingdom withdrew from the multinational helicopter project before the NH90 partnership was formally created.

• 1985

  European NATO members begin a common helicopter effort

  [1]NHIndustriesen.wikipedia.org

  France, West Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom collaborated on requirements for a battlefield transport and naval helicopter intended for the 1990s.

A multinational defence-aerospace programme company focused on delivering and supporting a common, configurable medium-lift military helicopter for land and naval forces.

• Military tactical transport helicopter

  NH90 TTH

  The Tactical Transport Helicopter is the land-oriented NH90 variant. It is designed for military transport and battlefield support, including the movement of personnel and equipment. The TTH shares the common NH90 platform with the naval NFH but can be configured with national avionics, communications, defensive equipment and mission systems. Customer-specific requirements mean that aircraft delivered to different armed forces may differ materially in equipment and internal configuration.

• Naval multi-role helicopter

  NH90 NFH

  The NATO Frigate Helicopter is the naval NH90 variant, designed for operation from warships and for maritime missions. It incorporates equipment and systems intended for shipboard handling and naval surveillance and warfare tasks, including anti-submarine and anti-surface roles. The Royal Netherlands Navy received the first customer aircraft in 2010. As with the TTH, individual operators have ordered national adaptations and mission-specific configurations.

• 2004

  Move toward a simplified baseline airframeStrategy

  Background

  Nationally customized aircraft increased manufacturing complexity and contributed to lengthy production lead times.

  Action taken

  NHIndustries proposed using a simplified baseline airframe that could then be configured for individual customer requirements.

  Aftermath

  Reported production lead time declined from 18 months in 2004 to 7.5 months in 2016.

  Source

• 2000

  Proceed with large-scale NH90 productionProduct launch

  Background

  After the development phase, the participating nations committed to a major production programme for the common military helicopter.

  Action taken

  A reported order for 366 helicopters was placed in June 2000.

  Aftermath

  The order established the NH90 as a large multinational production programme and was followed by additional European, Asian and Australian customer orders.

  Reported order value. US$8.6 billion (June 2000)

  Source

1. 1NHIndustriesen.wikipedia.org