Military Announces Termination Of NH90 Helicopter Deal

The Swedish armed forces has decided to cancel a contract for the procurement of multirole helicopters, reports Breaking Defense.

On Tuesday, Gen. Micael Byden, the Swedish armed forces chief, announced that the fleet of NH90 helicopters would be cut under new modernization and procurement guidelines.

Swedish air force officials have been considering axing the fleet for several months, citing poor availability rates.

Byden’s plan is still subject to government approval but would be in line with Norway’s decision earlier this year to terminate its NH90 contract and return those aircraft already delivered.

NHIndustries, which builds the helicopters, acknowledged the Swedish position, but argued that the availability rate for its NH90s were “above the average for similar helicopter types,” although the size of the fleet had been reduced because of retrofit and upgrade work that began in 2017 and was scheduled conclude in late 2023, reported Flight Global.

Byden’s plan calls for retiring 18 NH90s -- nine in the troop transport and nine in the maritime configuration -- from 2024 to 2030.

During this period, Sweden would hold a new maritime helicopter procurement program while buying additional UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters for battlefield support roles.