Almost 3,000 km non-stop for two NH90s of the New Zealand Air Force, European helicopters of the NHI consortium of which Leonardo is also part
New aeronautical record also established by the Italian helicopter industry. Two Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) NH90 helicopters flew from Australia to New Zealand on a two-day journey.
Each carried two external fuel tanks of 500 kilograms (about 650 litres), necessary to cover the very long route while also ensuring the necessary reserve.
The route and distance travelled
The two helicopters, belonging to the 3rd Squadron, landed in Ohakea on 30 September coming from the Royal Australian Air Force base in Amberley, near Brisbane, passing through Norfolk Island, up to the RnZaf base in Auckland, covering a distance of 2,877 km completely over water.
The longest leg of the journey (1,077 km) took around four and a half hours.
Previous record broken
Their flight beat the previous record set by the NH90s of the same Armed Forces achieved at the end of last month (834 km), crossed the Coral Sea basin between Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Commanders’ statements
New Zealand Air Component commander Commodore Andy Scott said the long-range flight was important because it demonstrated the utility of the European aircraft and its ability to self-deploy over a large area.
“These types of flights give our crews confidence in the system.”
Squadron Commander Chris Ross said the flight offered crews the opportunity to gain valuable skills on long-haul flights which require endurance and great concentration for long periods.
“This marathon flight has been long overdue, with the potential to be rated in 2023, but the opportunity hadn’t arisen until this year,” said Squadron Leader Lachie Johnston, flight commander of the NH90, explaining: “We knew the aircraft could do it and we knew the crews were adequately trained. It’s not unusual for helicopters to fly long distances, but this is a unique ability in the context of such long routes on large bodies of water”.
The introduction of NH90 in New Zealand
In 2005, New Zealand defense leaders chose the NH90 to replace the US UH-1 Iroquois, and eight units have entered service since 2015, with a ninth added later.
The technical characteristics of the project
The NH90 (an acronym for Nato Helicopter in the 1990s) is a medium-sized twin-engine multi-role vehicle developed by the NH-Industries consortium, now made up of Airbus Helicopters (62.5%), Leonardo (32%) and GKN Fokker (5.5%).
From a technological point of view, the project was the first designed with completely Fly-by-Wire controls and with extensive use of composite, therefore non-metallic, materials.
International diffusion
It entered service in 2007 in Germany, the following year in Italy and was then quickly acquired by Australia, Belgium, Finland, France, Greece, Norway, New Zealand, Holland, Oman, Qatar, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.
The Nahema updater
The helicopter upgrade has been underway since 2024 through the Nahema program (Nato Helicopter Management Agency), acting on behalf of Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy.
The idea is to extend its operational life for another 15 years by upgrading the communications suite (Data Link 22), which allows interoperability beyond line of sight without having to resort to satellite communications; and also the IFF 5 apparatus used to identify and track military aircraft.
New systems coming soon
Other updates concern the integration of a latest generation electro-optical system, a new immersion sonar and the integration of the MK 54 torpedo and the Marte-Er anti-ship missile.
