Qatar Enhances Military Capabilities with NH90 Helicopter Acquisition
Qatar has officially secured a deal for the procurement of 28 NH90 military helicopters during DIMDEX, the nation’s biennial defense exhibition. This agreement encompasses 16 NH90s designed for tactical transport (TTH) and 12 NH90s optimized for naval operations (NFH). These additions are pivotal for modernizing Qatar’s military helicopter fleet.
Alessandro Profumo, the CEO of Leonardo, expressed pride in solidifying this partnership: “This contract not only expands Leonardo’s long-term relationship with Qatar but also highlights our commitment to providing cutting-edge technology and tailored solutions across military and security sectors. This award reinforces Leonardo’s reputation as a trusted partner and marks a significant achievement in our strategic goals as outlined in our 2018-2022 Industrial Plan.”
Leonardo will lead the program management as the prime contractor. Meanwhile, Airbus will handle the final assembly and delivery of 16 NH90 TTH helicopters from its Marignane facility in France, while Leonardo will oversee the 12 NH90 NFH helicopters’ final assembly and delivery from its Venice – Tessera site in Northern Italy.
“We are privileged to support the Qatar Armed Forces through this strategic collaboration,” remarked Ben Bridge, Executive Vice President of Global Business at Airbus Helicopters. “The NH90 is a modern, combat-proven platform that is tailored to meet Qatar’s rigorous operational demands for years to come, be it in troop transport or naval missions. Additionally, our partnership to establish a new training academy will foster enduring connections and facilitate the sharing of helicopter operational expertise between our countries.”
As part of this initiative, Qatar will also receive 16 H125 light single-engine helicopters in a training configuration for the Qatar Armed Forces Air Academy.
The NH90’s adaptability to operate in challenging environments and its proven combat performance worldwide underline the significance of this contract, which brings the total NH90 order to 543 aircraft. To date, 350 NH90 helicopters have been delivered to 20 clients across 13 nations, achieving approximately 170,000 flight hours.
Managed by the NHIndustries consortium, the NH90 program combines expertise from Airbus Helicopters (62.5%), Leonardo (32%), and Fokker (5.5%).
