02:37 pm - Friday
Italian Navy to gradually receive NH-90 helicopters
La Spezia, Italy - First deliveries scheduled for next Autumn
(WAPA) - The Italian Navy (MMI) has accepted to gradually receive NH-90 helicopters, in the naval NFH version, built by NH Industries (NHI), as stated by rear admiral Paolo Treu, chief of the Navy's air force, reported by "Flight International". The 5th helicopters group of Luni (La Spezia) will be the first to take delivery of this model, that will replace the Agusta-Bell AB-212.
"We have recently approved the plan to accept a small batch of NFHs -said rear admiral Treu- in the Meaningful Operational Capability (MOC) configuration, to speed introduction to service. The navy is planning to receive the first of four NFHs in the MOC configuration by next autumn, with the remaining deliveries to be completed by 2011".
Under the contract the MMI will receiv 46 NH-90 NFHs, plus 10 navalised tactical transports. The General Electric/Avio T700/T61E1 should be certificated in 2010. Already this month a first group of pilots and maintenance operators will be trained thanks to the cooperation with the Italian-English partner company of NHI, AgustaWestland.
The Italian Navy's air force currently deploys Agusta-Bell AB-212, Ehi EH-101 and Agusta-Sikorsky SH-3D Sea King helicopters, and BR-1150 Atlantic, AV-8B Plus Harrier II and Piaggio P-180 Maritime airplanes.
The NH-90 is 19.6 meters long with a rotor diameter of 16.3 meters. With a maximum take off weight of 9,600 kg it can reach a top speed of 259 km/h. The NFH will be equipped for night&day missions, in bad weather conditions and for severe ship motion operations. (Avionews)
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Direttore Clara Moschini