Nordic Nations Navigate Hurdles to NH90 Purchases

Nordic nations have struggled with their much-delayed Nordic Standard Helicopter Program (NSHP), especially since capability shortages have appeared since 2010 in combat, troop transport and medical evacuation missions.
Under an agreement reached in 2001, NHIndustries was contracted to deliver 52 twin-engine NH90 utility helicopters to Sweden, Finland and Norway starting in 2004 and 2005.
By the end of 2010, just four NH90s had been delivered to Sweden and Norway. Deliveries were further complicated when the three Nordic customers opted not to purchase a common helicopter type, choosing instead to request customized features prior to delivery.
In the case of Sweden, serial postponements provoked a critical shortage of tactical and transport aircraft for operations in Afghanistan after 2008. The crisis forced the government to allocate special funds to purchase 15 Sikorsky Aircraft UH-60M Black.
This was envisioned as a stopgap measure to ensure the armed forces had sufficient aircraft available for both domestic and international operations until the NH90s arrived.
Sweden ordered 18 NH90s with an option for a further seven under the 2001 NSHP agreement. Finland placed orders for 20 NH90s while Norway’s requirement was 14 helicopters with an option to purchase an additional 10.
The Sweden's acquisition of Black Hawks, the first batch of which have supported Swedish troops in Afghanistan since November, has reduced pressure on the Swedish Air Force to meet the need to release combat-ready helicopters for overseas missions.
The Defense Ministry’s decision to buy Black Hawks followed inconclusive talks with NHIndustries, which was unable to confirm fixed NH90 delivery dates.
Six Black Hawks were delivered in 2011 and the remaining nine in 2012. The first two were delivered December 2011. All 15 Black Hawks are expected to be fully operational by 2017.
Sweden became the first European country to acquire the US Army’s UH-60M.
The first two Black Hawks entered service in Afghanistan during the first half of 2013, attached to the Swedish military base at Camp Marmal supporting or replacing Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma.
Despite the protracted delivery schedule, Sweden plans to complete the NH90 acquisition, which comprises 13.
Difficulties in securing delivery of the NH90 also limited the Norwegian Defense Force’s ability to maintain a ready supply of modern helicopters for domestic and international missions in 2010 to 2012.
In June 2012, Norway’s MoD signaled that it might cancel the NH90 order and was reported to have contacted Sikorsky regarding a possible accelerated purchase of the MH-60 Seahawk ASW as an alternative.
But NHIndustries delivered a second NH90 NFH in December 2012, easing the situation. The first was delivered in December 2011.
The NH90 segment of Norway’s helicopter modernization program is based on 14 units bought, and additional 10 options. When fully operational in 2017 to 2018, the NH90 NFHs will replace the currently Royal Norwegian Navy’s multirole Bell, Lynx and Sea King SAR.
Finland, too, has encountered delivery delays in its order of 20 NH90 tactical transport helicopters.
Under revised schedule, initial deliveries will be completed by the end of this year, some six years behind schedule. Completion of the full delivery program has been extended to 2018.
Denmark also has been strengthening its heli-capability through a program, which will see the Royal Danish Air Force acquire nine Sikorsky/Lockheed Martin MH-60R Seahawks. The aircraft, which will replace Lynx 90B helicopters.
Routed through the US Foreign Military Sales program, the MH-60R acquisition is intended to support the Danish plan to deploy more ship-borne helicopters on vessels operating in Denmark’s Arctic territories, covering the Faroe Islands and Greenland.
defensenews

Norway Chooses DSME Korean Shipyard To Build Its Largest Navy Vessel

Norway has picked a South Korean shipyard and a British design to provide its navy with a new logistics and support vessel.
Norweyhas selected Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) to build the 26,000-ton vessel at its yard in South Korea, using BMT Defence Services AEGIR replenishment vessel design.
The Anglo-Korean team last year won a deal to equip the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary with four tankers using another variant of the AEGIR family of support vessels.
Delivery of the vessel, which will be the largest in the Norwegian Navy, is scheduled for October 2016.
The vessel will be able to deliver a range of wet and dry stores and will provide support to a Norwegian task group and other roles.
DMSE was selected as the preferred bidder in April, having beat off competition from several rival yards from Europe and South Korea.
defensenews

Norwegian Navy Test Missile blows up ex-HNoMS Trondheim

The Royal Norwegian Navy fired a Naval Strike Missile armed with a live warhead on Jun. 5 against decommissioned Oslo class frigate HNoMS Trondheim.
This is the dramatic moment a ship is blown up to demonstrate a powerful new missile. The Norwegian armed forces took a decommissioned frigate out into the sea for a game of target 

Russia, Norway to Hold Barents Sea Drills in June

Russian and Norwegian naval forces will conduct a joint exercise in the Barents Sea on June 4-7.
Russia’s Northern Fleet will contribute the tugboat SB-523, an Ilyushin Il-38 maritime patrol aircraft and an Mi-8 Hip helicopter to the Barents-2013 exercise.
The two nations' search and rescue services will test their interoperability in evacuation of crews and aircraft in distress at sea, and cleanup of oil spills.
The Barents exercise is conducted every year in accordance with a 1995 Russian-Norwegian intergovernmental agreement.
This year’s exercise, which has a rotating command system, will be under Russian control.
ria.ru

Navantia Offers Combat Ship and LPD to Phillipines and Norway

Avante 1800 combat ship, length 89,8m and displacement 1.900 ton

Navantia Cantabria offers a low cost to Norway


Navantia needs to increase its business, currently based in the maintenance of Navy ships and the construction of two amphibious ships similar to Juan Carlos I to Australia, the first of which was delivered in October 2012. A low workload for its three shipyards that is taking to strengthen its commercial activities, supported by the Ministry of Defence.

Norway

While waiting for Turkey to make known, expected in January, which company will participate in the construction of their new amphibious ship, for which Navantia is one of the favorites, the shipping company has sent its proposal to the Norwegian Navy for construction of a logistical support vessel, low budget, similar in concept to Spanish Cantabria.

Elaborate a proposal to win this contest has remained unsuccessful in the first round, since none of the 13 yards that presented their projects met the ceiling Norwegian government budget, set at 150 million euros. The reason is that technical requirements are such that their manufacturing cost that was unfeasible.

Athlas 8000, a 8000 tonnes LPD

n the new Specification, Norway has slashed the baseline characteristics of the vessel which has allowed to submit a proposal Navantia very tailored to the needs of their navy, according to Athena explained company sources.

However, competition with shipyards in Germany, France and Italy suggests that it will be difficult to win a contract. Yes, to be with him, is expected to be awarded this year, would be a heavy workload for Ferrol shipyard, as published by La Voz de Galicia.

Qatar

In addition, the shipping company has also stepped up its marketing efforts in countries like Qatar, where it already has a sales office and having submitted a firm proposal to the Ministry of Defence of the country for the construction of four patrol type and six type Avante Avante 1800 300.

Philipppines

Sources Navantia Athena also explained that the company could also sell their ships in the Philippines, as the country has been interested in the patrol and amphibious Avante 1800 Athlas 8000.

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