Italian Army takes delivery of first NH90 TTH helicopter in FOC configuration

AgustaWestland is pleased to announce that the first NH90 TTH in FOC (Final Operational Capability) configuration for the Italian Army has been delivered during an official ceremony held at AgustaWestland’s Venice Tessera plant in the presence of Gen. Giangiacomo Calligaris, Commander of Italian Army Aviation, and Gen. Francesco Langella, ARMAEREO. This delivery brings to 21 the number of NH90 TTHs delivered to the Italian Army from an order for 60.

This latest delivery marks another major milestone for the Italian Army NH90 program. Five aircraft currently deployed in Afghanistan have now flown 470 flight hours with outstanding performance, reliability and mission effectiveness in the extreme and demanding environmental, weather and operational conditions there. The Italian Army also operates the NH90 program fleet leader which has now flown approximately 900 flight hours.

AgustaWestland is also supplying integrated operational support through the PLS (Phased Logistic Support) program scheme to ensure the Italian Army can maximize the operational effectiveness of its NH90 fleet.

AgustaWestland's Venice Tessera plant, covering 24,000 square meters, is the new Italian final assembly line for the 160 NH90s ordered so far by Italy (Army and Navy, 60 and 56 helicopters respectively), the Netherlands (20), Norway (14) and Portugal (10). The Venice Tessera plant has expanded becoming the NH90 program hub for all AgustaWestland customers, including the provision of maintenance, spare parts, engineering services, upgrades and modifications as well as future developments of new product configurations.

The NH90 TTH (Tactical Transport Helicopter) variant is a 11-tonne class helicopter configured to perform tactical transport missions in all environments by day and night. The NH90 TTH helicopters’s mission flexibility allows its users to perform additional roles such as internal/external load transport, heliborne operations, special operations, search and rescue, casualties evacuation and training missions. More than 140 NH90s have been delivered to 13 countries logging almost 40,000 flight hours to date.

The twin-engine, medium-size NH90 helicopter program is managed by the consortium NHIndustries, the Company owned by AgustaWestland (32 percent), Eurocopter (62.5 percent), and Stork Fokker (5.5 percent). The NH90 helicopter program is the largest ever launched in Europe, with firm orders now reaching 529 units for 19 armed forces of 14 nations: France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Greece, Oman, Australia, New-Zealand, Spain and Belgium.


Source: AgustaWestland Press Release News – 3 May 2013

Photo: The Italian Army Aviation NH90 TTH Helicopter (Photo by AgustaWestland)


(3.05.2013)