Oslo, Norway, to seek a ‘lease arrangement’ for new rotorcraft
These will be used for border protection and other coastguard missions after the destination’s fleet of NH90s failed to meet availability targets
Apparently the ‘phasing in and building the operational capacity of the NH90’ has proceeded ‘more slowly than expected’, according to statement issued by Oslo’s defence ministry on 26 March, and so, the defence ministry now plans to hire additional fleet capacity.
Originally, Oslo planned to utilise eight NH90s for coastguard missions, and a further six would be used for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and naval support missions. However, due to issues with availability requirements for the manufacturer (which Flight Global reports is a three-way venture between Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo Helicopters and Fokker), the fleet has yet to arrive.
Oslo is therefore to seek ‘a lease arrangement’ for additional rotorcraft. “This will be a supplement to the NH90 and deals with a need that does not require an equally specialised and complex platform as the NH90,” the defence ministry said.
In April, the Japanese Coast Guard added Two H225s to its fleet to support territorial coastal activities, security enforcement, as well as disaster relief missions in the country.