Armed Forces “scandal helicopters” don’t fly enough – government will rent helicopters

The reason is that relatively new NH90 helicopters are often not in the air enough, and factories are scrambling to deliver helicopters and spare parts, writes the Armed Forces forum.

– NH90 is a disaster project. We’ve had trouble getting the hours we need, and costs have skyrocketed. The situation has not been deceived by the covid-19, so now we are looking for an alternative to cover part of the need with another capacity, says Defense Minister Frank Bakke-Jensen (H).

The acquisition of the NH90 helicopters has been plagued with scandals for a long time. In 2018, the Office of the Auditor General concluded that the Armed Forces and taxpayers have spent NOK 8 billion on something that has not been delivered.

A total of 14 NH90 helicopters would be installed in 2008, but only eight have been delivered. Six of them can only be used for training. Helicopters will also be much more expensive to operate and maintain than previously thought.

I’ve only used the “scandal helicopters” seven times this year.

What’s more

A recommendation from the Ministry of Defense, which was approved by the Minister before the weekend, establishes that “the Armed Forces have less available flight time than planned and, therefore, a lower rate of incorporation of operational capacity” .

The rented helicopters are intended as a complement to the NH90 and should be used where a “specialized and high-tech platform like the NH90” is not needed.

One of the challenges is that you do not have spare parts in stock. If there is a part that needs to be replaced in a helicopter, it may take five months before it reaches Norway. Now the pandemic has also slowed production at the Italy factory and it is unknown when the other helicopters will be delivered.

– We have to make the most of the helicopter’s capacity, which is very poor, then we will study other alternatives, says Bakke-Jensen.

The government preposition must be considered in the Storting before any investigation begins.

Coast guard positive

The head of the Coast Guard, Oliver Berdal, is sure that the government will investigate the possibility of renting a helicopter that can cover part of their needs.

– Preferably we should have had eight NH90s that we could fly with enough, but we need to relate to the situation as it is, he tells NRK.

The Coast Guard has four vessels with helicopter decks and hangars, and it is intended that they have a helicopter on board at all times. Therefore, they have received eight NH90s. That way, they won’t be navigating without a helicopter while you’re in a maintenance shop.

– With NH90, we do not have the accessibility we expected. That is why it is important to look for alternatives, says Berdal.

He emphasizes that the Coast Guard will do its best to use NH90 at every opportunity.

– In the Coast Guard, we have a very good collaboration with Maritime Helicopter Wing. They are doing incredibly well, and in March we had a lot of NH90 activity on several of our ships, and we had good training, says the NRK Coast Guard chief.

If there is the political will to rent civilian helicopters, it will provide better coverage for the Coast Guard. Berdal emphasizes that this will be a temporary supplemental solution and not a perfect replacement for NH90.

– But temporarily it probably will be for a good number of years. In the long term, it is important to find a good, permanent helicopter solution for the Coast Guard, and therefore the large maritime areas in the north, for the future, Berdal says.

– It was time

The leader of the Norwegian Officers and Specialists Association, Torbjørn Bongo, is not surprised by the government’s proposal.

– We have fought for the NH90 to work well for many years. It is high time that we do something with the preparation we have at sea. Both in relation to search and rescue, but also in relation to surveillance and control, he tells NRK.

He emphasizes that renting a helicopter from the Armed Forces is not a “quick fix”. This will involve work in relation to both training and specialization.

The union leader believes that it is important that the Ministry of Defense also think about what the next step should be.

– What helicopters will the Army get and will the NH90 perform as expected? Or should we now say that the $ 1 billion investment was a bargain? Bongo asks.

He notes that for a few years Sweden was directed towards the rapid acquisition of a Black Hawk helicopter. This has also been an issue in Norway.

Bongo admits that he had previously been skeptical about scrapping the NH90 and opting for American helicopters. But 16 years after the NH90 should have been in operation, he thinks it’s time for an assessment.

– Ideally, you would like us to get the NH90 to work. But we are approaching a point where we must begin to ask ourselves the question; “Do we really threaten that?” That decision will be highly implausible, but we are getting closer, Bongo believes.

Read also:

Towards a solution for NH90 “scandal helicopters” – after 19 years

– Deluxe traps

– This may be reminiscent of the luxury trap. You just spend even more money, so you actually get less in return, says Liv Signe Navarsete (Sp).

He is a member of the Storting’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and says they will ask a lot of questions when considering the preposition.

– We have to ask questions if we have enough people, do we have the skills we need and how much will it cost to get the NH90 closer to the flying hours we should have? I am skeptical of the solution that the government has chosen, it will be even more expensive, believes Navarsete.

She points out that the ministry in the same preposition receives criticism from NATO about the preparation in Norway, also at sea. However, they have only mentioned alternatives to complement the NH90. Navarsete believes that it can be difficult to find civil helicopters that can operate in difficult conditions in the Barents Sea.

– How long will we continue with this, we have to bring it up for discussion several times. I have serious doubts and I don’t think that’s the solution, he says.

– I would like to remind Navarsete that he was in government when it was still possible to put an end to this project, responds Defense Minister Frank Bakke-Jensen.