The first flight of the Belgian armed forces  NH90 NFH Nato Frigate Helicopter on april 5th. For this first 45 minutes flight performed at Eurocopter facility Donauwörth in Germany, the crew successfully tested the basic systems of this new generation aircraft. After landing, the pilot expressed its satisfaction with the flight qualities of this helicopter. During the next weeks, this first Belgian NH90 NFH will perform several other test flights in order to check the aircraft behaviour and its mission system with Industry and Customer crews. The Belgian armed forces ordered eight NH90s, four TTHs for tactical transport operations and four NFHs for naval operations.

The Belgian NH90 NFH is delivered in its full operational capability standard, already known as the “Step B”. This aircraft is very close to the Dutch NH90 NFH Step B currently operationally deployed with the Royal Netherland’s Navy. This commonality brings to the Belgian customer all the return of experience collected during the development of the Dutch NH90 NFH.

“This first flight is an important milestone for NHI because we know that the Belgian Air Component has an urgent need to replace its ageing “Sea King Helicopters” declared Xavier Poupardin delegated managing director of NHI.

The NH90 NFH is a helicopter of 11 ton class primarily configured to perform naval operations such as Search and Rescue at sea, anti -piracy missions and transport missions in all environments by day and night.