Germany receives first Sea Tiger ASW/ASuW helicopter

The first of 31 NHI NH90 Sea Tiger ASW/ASuW helicopters for the Germany Navy was handed over on 16 December. (Airbus)

Germany has received into service the first of 31 NHIndustries (NHI) NH90 Sea Tiger multi-role frigate helicopter (MRFH) anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare (ASuW) helicopters.

The German Navy (Deutsche Marine) formally inducted the enhanced version of the NH90 NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH) during a ceremony at the home of the German Naval Aviation (Marineflieger) at Nordholz in northern Germany on 16 December. A further two helicopters are scheduled to follow in the coming days, with deliveries to follow through to about 2030.

“With the Sea Tiger, the German Navy will have the best of what is available with the NH90”, president of NHI and head of the NH90 programme at Airbus Helicopters Axel Aloccio told Janes and other defence media ahead of the handover. “No comparative helicopter can compete with the Sea Tiger in terms of endurance or cabin space, and neither with its technical systems,” head of the NH90 NATO Helicopter Management Organization (NAHEMO) programme at Airbus Helicopters Thomas Gut added.

Sea Tiger specs

Modifications included in the Sea Tiger fit comprise electronic support measures, a dipping sonar, sonobuoys, a 360º surface search radar, an electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR) sensor turret, heavy-stores carriage, AS2u Marte Mk 2 (Marte Extended-Range [ER]) anti-ship missile, MU90 torpedo, M3M 12.7 mm machine guns, additional internal and external fuel tanks, a stores management system, as well as a second mission console. It also features folding main rotors and a folding tailboom for shipborne stowage.