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Aviation History
1990
1990 - 0922.PDF
the triple-turbine EH. 101 on the other hand, which Agusta is already committed to de velop through the EH Industries consortium, would have a 6t payload and carry 30 troops. Each helicopter would have a rear ramp and be able to accommodate a Jeep-type vehicle. The Italian Navy being committed to the EH.101, the Army and Air Force will have to decide whether they need both helicopter types, and the Italian Government whether it could afford to finance both programmes. The Italian Ministry of Defence also has to face the costs of being involved with two anti submarine helicopter programmes. The Ital ian Navy already plans to order 42 naval versions of the EH.101, primarily for anti submarine operations from the country's coastline and from the carrier Garibaldi. Unlike the Royal Navy, the Italians do not plan to operate the EH. 101 from frigates. The Italian Navy will eventually need a replace ment for its existing Agusta-Bell AB.212 shipbome helicopters, and however, and the 9t NFH 90 would be a credible candidate given the likely size of future frigate flightdecks. The choice of NFH 90 suits reactive anti submarine tactics within 95km, (50nm) of the ship, with simultaneous anti-surface- The French Army's Helicoptere Anti-Char (HAC) vessel warfare capability. NFH 90 could offer autonomous all-weather anti-submarine capability with a cruise speed of 120kt (220km/h) and a 4h endurance. The heli copter could also perform anti-surface vessel strike and search-and-rescue missions. Al though planned to complement NATO's now defunct NFR 90 frigate, the NFH 90 is by no means tied to that project. While Agusta sees the importance of the NH 90 programme from the viewpoint of intemationalisation of the European heli- Below: (he HAC version of the Tiger will carry either eight Hot2 or Trigat missiles copter industry, Aerospatiale and MBB see it as the cornerstone of their partnership. The companies al ready co-operate on the Tiger attack helicopter pro gramme and fore see a merger of their helicopter interests. In terms of future market share, the NH 90 would certainly fill a profitable niche. If all four partners went ahead with the military versions a require ment for 584 machines has been projected, and this could easily double if export and civil orders are taken into account. The TTH 90 or a civil derivative appears a natural successor to Aerospatiale's Puma, and Agusta is also looking towards the NH 90 as an AB.412 successor. A decision to proceed with NH 90 develop ment now rests with the defence ministries in Bonn and Rome. If agreement can be reached by mid-1990 then a go-ahead could be an nounced at the UK Farnborough Air Show in September. Programme procrastination would, on that scale, schedule the first proto type flight for early 1994 with first deliveries slipping a year to 1998. If the NH 90 goes ahead, a Paris-headquartered joint-venture company would be formed. NH-90 MAIN CHARACTERISTICS All up weights TTH 8.4t (8.27tons) NFH 3 crew (8.7t (8.56tons) 4 crew 8.95t (8.8tons) Performance Max speed TTH >287km/h(155kt) at3280ft(1000m)ISA-(-15 NFH>278km/h(150kt) at sea level, ISA4-10 Range TTH =s900km(486nm) sea level TTH 3=1500km(809nm)with auxiliary tank Endurance NFH 4 hours( +reserve) at sea level, ISA. Hover flight ceiling >8200ft(2500m) (OGETSA4-15 :AUW=8.5t) Vertical rate of climb 26ft/s(8m/s) at TOP at sea level, ISA AUW=8.5t(8.37tons) Main dimensions length 13.14m(43ft) height 4.09m(13.4ft) width 3.84m( 12.6ft) FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 28 March-3 April 1990
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