The German Navy has received the first of 31 NH90 Sea Tigers from NHIndustries (NHI), as it seeks a rapid ramp up of testing and training to field the aircraft in their primary antisubmarine warfare (ASW) role by the end of next year.
The Sea Tiger is the latest evolution of the NH90 NFH (the NATO Frigate Helicopter version of the aircraft, optimized for maritime operations), offering cutting-edge capabilities in the realm of ASW and anti-surface warfare (AsuW).
The German Navy already operates 18 NH90s in the Sea Lion configuration as naval transport and search-and-rescue missions. When all the Sea Tigers are delivered — currently scheduled to be complete by 2030 — the Germany Navy will be the largest NH90 operator in the world, with almost 50 aircraft.
“That makes us proud on one hand, but we are all aware what is it for,” said Captain Broder Nielsen, Commander of the German Navy’s Naval Air Force. “We have to be able to fight, and German naval aviation is of strategic relevance for our security in Western Europe and the Western Hemisphere.”
Speaking to media ahead of the aircraft’s delivery at its base in Nordholz, Nielsen said the aircraft’s focus will be ASW. It will join another recent arrival — the Boeing P-8A Poseidon — in performing this role for the Germany Navy.
“We need those aircraft faster and faster, but we are in good communication with NHI, and we achieved already a speed up in the delivery program, so I’m looking forward receiving the aircraft,” said Nielsen.
The Sea Tigers will replace the ageing Mk88A Sea Lynx, which entered service in 1981.
“The lessons learned from the last embarkation of the Sea Lynx show us it is high time to change the systems, because the Sea Lynx cannot compete anymore in the warfare areas,” said Nielsen.
“It will be a change also in the in the operation, since the Sea Tiger has a lot more flexible crew concept, you can consider the Sea Tiger as a small maritime patrol system.”
The Sea Tiger will be operated by a single pilot, a technical coordinator in the cockpit, and two operators in the rear cabin for above and below antisubmarine warfare.
The Navy is beginning operational testing, training and evaluation, and this will be ramped up rapidly next year, with embarkations on frigates needing to start by the end of the year — the Sea Lynx’s scheduled retirement date.
Referencing the expectation of German officials that Russian will be in a position to attack NATO in 2029, Nielsen said the Navy is in a ramp up phase to prepare for that scenario.
“Next year will be a challenging year for us in terms of training the crews,” he said.
The Sea Tiger took its first flight at Airbus Helicopters’ facility in Donauworth, Germany, two years ago.
“It’s really the latest and greatest configuration for the NFH, and in particular, for everything which is related to antisubmarine warfare and anti-surface warfare,” said Axel Aloccio, president of NHI and head of the NH90 program at Airbus Helicopters.
“The German Navy will have the best of what’s available from the NH90, and I would even even the best from what’s available in the entire worldwide market for these type of [ASW] missions.”
In comparing the Sea Tiger to the Sea Lion, which has been working in a search-and-rescue role with the German Navy for the last two years, Thomas Gut, head of NH90 NAHEMO program at Airbus Helicopters, said there were three key differences.
These are its optimized naval mission system — with the latest Thales dipping sonar and sonobouys — and advanced sensor systems, providing enhanced surveillance and targeting capabilities. The most obvious external difference is that it can also carry weapons, with the MH90 torpedo and MARTE-ER anti-ship missile installed and integrated into the aircraft’s missions system.
“No competitor aircraft can compete with the Sea Tiger, neither in endurance or cabin space or, for sure, not with the new technical system assets,” said Gut. “Of course the strength of it is the integration, so that the operators on the consoles have the full awareness of the situation, either above or below the sea level.”
NHI has been working hard in recent months to secure the future of the NH90 program, following setbacks in the ending of programs with Norway and Australia. Recent orders, primarily through its existing customer base, include three NFH aircraft from the Netherlands, with another order expected to be announced soon.
NHI is expecting to sign the architecture study for a Block II upgrade by early next year.
