헬리콥터 2026년 취역할 NH-90 Sea Tiger 대잠헬기

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독일이 Mk.88 시 링스 헬기를 대체하기 위해 NH-90 Sea Tiger 대잠헬기 31기를 주문했었네요. 2023년 11월 첫 비행을 실시했고 2026년 취역할 예정이며, 2023년까지 18기를 인도받은 NFH Sea Lion 다목적 해상헬기보다 대잠전 및 대수상전 임무에 더 중점을 두어 새로운 전자광학 시스템, ESM 장비와 소나, 소노부이 및 어뢰 등 무장능력을 갖췄다고 합니다. 

독일 해군항공대의 Mk.88A 시 링스는 1981년부터 운용됐으며 26기 주문돼 24기가 현재 운용중이네요. 예전에 Kormoran 대함미사일 쏘던 토네이도 대함공격기같은 고정익기는 죄다 없애버렸군요. Fairey Gannet 대잠초계기도 운용했다는 사실은 처음 알았습니다.  

NH90 Sea Tiger of Course for Service in 2026 - Armada International

NH90 Sea Tiger of Course for Service in 2026

By

 Andrew Drwiega

 -

March 7, 2025

The maiden flight of the NH90 Sea Tiger on 30 November 2023 at Airbus Donauwörth in southern Germany.

The head of the German Navy Aviation Command witnessed the maiden flight of the NH-90 Sea Tiger in November, a modern anti-submarine capability thet he says they urgently require.

The maiden flight of the NH Industries NH90 Sea Tiger took place at Airbus Donauwörth in southern Germany on Thursday 30 November 2023

The first customer for this new NH90 version is the German Bundeswehr who have ordered 31 NH90 Sea Tigers to operate from the German Navy’s multi-role frigates. This order was contracted in November of 2020 based on technical requirements specified by the German Navy.

The Sea Lion will be used by the Navy as a front-line asset primarily in the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) role, replacing the Mark 88 Sea Lynx. To prosecute this mission the helicopter will be able to utilise a new electro-optical (E/O) system and improved Electronic Support Measures (ESM), together with  a dipping sonar, sonobuoys, and a range of weapons (torpedoes, missiles and door guns).

Germany has been the biggest supporter of the NH90 programme with 82 NH90 TTH helicopters having been delivered to the German Army and the German Navy has received 18 NH90 NFH Sea Lions, the last of which was delivered at the beginning of 2023.

“The Sea Tiger is also an NFH but its role will focus more on anti-submarine warfare (ASW) as well as anti-surface warfare (ASuW) missions. This makes a total of 131 NH90s delivered to German forces making them the largest NH90 operators in the world,” stated Axel Aloccio, president of NH Industries on the day.

NH90 Sea Tiger planned for multi-mission tasking but particularly ASW and ASuW.

Captain Broder Nielson, the Head of the German Navy’s Aviation Command described the Sea Tiger’s maiden flight as ‘a huge milestone’ as the Navy is operating with ageing aircraft. “Over the last 40 years we haven’t received any brand new weapons system into service but in this decade we will refurbish everything.” The Sea Lion began search & rescue tasking in the middle of the year taking over from the legacy Sea Kings. It is also expected that as Sea Tigers are delivered in 2026 they will begin to replace the Lynx onboard the Navy’s frigates.

Captain Broder Nielson, the Head of the German Navy’s Aviation Command.

Conversion to type training was now one of Captain Nielson’s concerns, initially over generating enough to operate the fleet of Sea Lions, but that will carry to the Sea Tiger although by then there should be enough who have experience of the Sea Lion to move over to the Sea Tiger. However, mission systems training and conversion to role for the latter might pose a further challenge depending on the number of crews available at the time.

“There is a huge need for ASW capability,” said Captain Nielsen, adding that this was also the reason behind the acquisition of another three Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime multi-mission aircraft (MMA), adding to the five that were ordered in June 2022.

The Sea Tiger and Sea Lion have extensive commonalities which will make the maintenance onboard deployed German warships that much easier, with the main difference being the new mission systems on the Sea Tiger. “The basic Sea Tiger airframe and parts are identical to the NFH. Only mission systems have been added to the NH90 Sea Tiger to meet the requirements of the German Navy. In fact, it was a requirement of the German Navy not to change the basic airframe and parts compared to the NFH and the in-service Sea Lion in order to realise in-service synergies with the Sea Lion and the NFH fleet of other nations,” stated an NH Industries spokesperson.

The maiden flight was scheduled for 2023 and NH Industries delivered this on time at the end of November. This will now be followed by a qualification and certification campaign with the aim of attaining the first delivery to the German Navy in two years at the end of 2025. “The sea lines of communication are in danger by opposing submarines and we need to be able to find and track them. We need the NH90s and P-8s as early as possible.”

NH90 hover during maiden flight.

In answer to a question about delays to NH90 production that had particularly affected TTL customers in the past, the NH Industries spokesperson stated: “We’ve learnt from the past. The 18 NH90 Sea Lions have all been delivered on-time, on-cost and on-quality so we are confident that we will do the same for the NH90 Sea Tiger.”

NH Industries is owned by Airbus Helicopters (62.5 percent), Leonardo (32 percent) and GKN Fokker (5.5 percent).

Marineflieger - Wikipedia

Marineflieger - Wikipedia

UA+106 German Navy Fairey Gannet AS4 Photo by Russ K | ID 401629 | Planespotters.net

베를린 Gatow 공항(폐쇄)에 전시된 독일해군 운용 Fairey Gannet ( UA+106 German Navy Fairey Gannet AS4 Photo by Russ K | ID 401629 | Planespotters.net )

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NH-90의 90은 90년대의 90인데 그 때는 최신으로 느껴졌지만 지금은... ㅎㅎ

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47대 대통령 재임했을 때 선정돼서 F-47로 명명지은 NGAD가 60대 대통령이 재임했을 때도 현역이라던가 하는 일이 생긴다거나.. ㅎㅎㅎ

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독일이 Gannet와 함께 Sea Hawk도 같이 썼었죠.

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http://www.wings-aviation.ch/38-Marineflieger/2-Aircraft/Aircraft-Basis-en.htm

F-104에 푸가 마지스텔도 운용했었네요. 토네이도 IDS도 100대 넘게 굴렸다고 하고... 냉전 시기 독일해군 타격력은 Marineflieger가 거의 전적으로 담당한 것 같습니다.