The Dutch air force is finally getting its long-awaited new helicopter today. Acting commander of the air force Hans Wehren is due to receive the first new NH90 helicopter at De Kooy marine airbase, near Den Helder in the north of the Netherlands.
Deputy defence minister Jack de Vries was to have officially handed over the helicopter but he resigned on Friday. The director of the Defence Materiel Organisation, Lex Hendrichs, will now perform the honours.
The NH90 is a NATO design and development project for a medium-sized, twin-engine, military helicopter initially involving France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands which began in 1991. Portugal joined in 2001 and Belgium in 2007.
The project has repeatedly been delayed by technical problems, particularly regarding the helicopter’s weight.
Originally intended to replace the Lynx helicopter in 2007, the Netherlands has ordered 20 of the new machines. The NH90 comes in two variants: the NFH (NATO Frigate Helicopter) for anti-submarine and anti-surface unit warfare and the TTH (Tactical Transport Helicopter) for troop transport and search and rescue missions.
