After Australia and Norway, Sweden will also do without its NH90 helicopters

In the mid-80s, France, Federal Germany, the Netherlands and Italy undertook to jointly co-develop, within the framework of a NATO project, a new medium helicopter intended both to replace the helicopters troop transport maneuvers, and specialized anti-submarine warfare devices on board frigates. Britain joined the program in 1987, but, as usual, quickly withdrew to develop its own aircraft, the Merlin. In 1992, the NHI (Nato Helcoptere Industry) consortium was created, bringing together AgustaWestland (Future Leonardo) for Italy, Fokker for the Netherlands and Airbus Helicopters for France and Germany. In 2001, Portugal joined the consortium, followed a few months later by Finland, Sweden and Norway which chose the European aircraft for the NSHP program (Nordic Standard Helicopter Project). Equipped with advanced performance, particularly in terms of autonomy, electric neck controls and very modern avionics, the helicopter subsequently won several successes on the international scene, chosen in particular by Australia and New Zealand, Greece, Spain, Oman and Qatar. A total of 566 aircraft have been ordered by 14 countries, including 418 in land transport version and 148 in naval version.

Despite these commercial successes, the European program encountered numerous difficulties, in particular with significant delays and additional costs. Above all, several users have regularly complained about the low availability of their devices, as well as the excessive costs of implementation and ownership, exceeding €10.000 per flight hour according to several independent studies, i.e. the maintenance costs of a combat aircraft like the F-16. In addition, it seems that several armed forces have encountered significant difficulties in maintaining their aircraft, such as in the management of their stocks of spare parts, as well as in the modernization of helicopters. These difficulties have led in 2020 Belgium and Australia has announced the retirement of some of their devices, while in June 2022, Oslo announced its decision to simply return all 14 NH90s to the NHI consortium while they would only manage, according to the Norwegian Ministry of Defence, to provide 40% of the planned operational contract.

The black series for NHI seems to have no end. In effect, on the occasion of the presentation of the new Defense investment and equipment plan, the Chief of Staff of the Swedish Armed Forces announced, on 1 November, Stockholm's decision to follow in Oslo's footsteps, and to part with the 13 NH90 HKP14E deployed by the Army, as well than 5 HKP14F specialized in anti-submarine warfare and implemented by the Swedish Navy. The former will soon be replaced by the American UH-60 Blackhawks, while the model that will replace the anti-submarine warfare helicopters has not yet been announced, even if the MH-60R Romeo is a big favorite. The Swedish decision is motivated, according to General Micael Byden, Chief of Staff of the Swedish Armed Forces, by the modernization costs requested by NHI in particular for the ASM combat version, as well as by major problems of availability and maintenance, and very high cost of ownership. As such, in 2018, a report by the Swedish audit court estimated the price per flight hour of the ASM version of the aircraft at 242,000 crowns, or more than €25.000, while the Swedish armed forces had already had to order 15 UH-60s to meet the delivery times for the European aircraft.

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