Leonardo and the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) have marked a first milestone in the use of NH Industries’ (NHI) NH90 helicopter, whose operational use has exceeded 2,500 flight hours.
The QEAF currently has 18 of the 28 NH90s in operational service and deliveries will begin in 2021.
Leonardo – which, in addition to assembling some of Doha’s aircraft, also provides education and maintenance to pilots – cites “more than 80% ease of maintenance” for existing examples in the country.
Cesare Caccia, senior vice president of military sales and foreign campaigns at Leonardo Helicopters, says Qatar has so far won nine aircraft in the NH90 and TTH NFH naval tactical shipping configurations. Its entire fleet will consist of 10 and 18 variants, respectively.
An example of the twin-engine helicopter operated in Qatar, registered QA274, is displayed outdoors on the DIMDEX site. The anti-submarine/anti-surface warfare variant is shown with a EuroTorp MU90 torpedo and an MBDA Marte ER anti-ship torpedo. missile.
Meanwhile, Cristian Naso, NHI’s chief executive, told FlightGlobal that the Gulf country’s 19th aircraft recently accepted. The NFH helicopter will soon be flown from Italy aboard one of the QEAF’s Boeing C-17 strategic transports, he added.
Qatar’s aircraft go through the final meeting through NHI’s partners, Airbus Helicopters and Leonardo Helicopters, for the TTH and NFH models respectively, with Leonardo acting as prime contractor for the country’s procurement.
A committed educational center built at Doha Air Base includes two complete flight simulators, evolved with CAE, as well as other educational equipment for projects.
QEAF’s helicopter fleet also includes 24 Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, as well as Leonardo’s AW109 and AW139 application types.
A trio of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 fighters departed Greenville, South Carolina, for Bahrain.
The Royal Thai Air Force has unveiled its newest aircraft plan in a new white paper that also suggests a lack of progress on key fighter jet acquisitions.
Leonardo seems to be keeping all functions open (adding conceivable divestitures) for some of its old helicopter programs.
The British Ministry of Defence will press ahead with its plan to acquire 14 CH-47 Chinook extended-range transport helicopters from Boeing, after accepting a major price cut from Washington.
Poland has obtained approval from the U. S. State Department for the acquisition of three air-launched weapons with a potential combined price tag of approximately $3. 7 billion.
MBDA won contracts worth 9. 9 billion euros ($10. 8 billion) last year as growing demand for air defense aircraft dominated its business.
FlightGlobal is the leading source of news, data, information, wisdom and expertise for the global aviation network. We provide news, data, analysis and consulting to connect the aviation network around the world and help organizations shape their business strategies and identify new opportunities. and make better decisions faster.