Defence Ministry reaches agreement with manufacturer on helicopter deliveries

Three-year delay in supply of transport helicopters

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The Ministry of Defence has concluded its lengthy and apparently quite difficult negotiations on the acquisition of new NH90 transport helicopters for the Finnish Defence Forces.
     Delivery of 20 transport helicopters has been delayed by more than three years, and a few key decision-makers have hinted at the cancellation of the whole project.
     Now it appears that the two sides have come to an understanding.
     
The original contract, worth about EUR 350 million, was signed in 2001. Details of the changes are to be made public at a press conference scheduled for Friday.
     Attending the press conference will be Minister of Defence Jyri Häkämies (Nat. Coalition Party), as well as the Chief of Defence, Admiral Juhani Kaskeala. Representing the supplier will be Lutz Bertling, CEO of Eurocopter, a subsidiary of the Franco-German aerospace and defence firm EADS.
     
According to a report in the Tampere-based newspaper Aamulehti, agreement has been reached in the negotiations on the start of delivery of the helicopters.
     Early next year two helicopters are to be delivered, and six in the following year. The remaining 12 would be in use in 2010.
     Finland's first NH90 helicopter was built in France. The rest of the aircraft will be assembled in Finland by the defence materiel producer Patria, where two helicopters, which have undergone test flights, are ready for delivery.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finland looking into alternatives for delayed transport helicopters (9.11.2007)
  COMMENTARY: No end in sight for Defence Forces´ helicopter fiasco (4.9.2007)
  Finland to get EUR 16 million for delay in production of helicopters (14.12.2006)
  Delay of more than two years in delivery of transport helicopters (27.10.2006)
  One-year delay expected in delivery of NH-90 transport helicopters (2.2.2005)
  Finland and Norway choose NH-90 helicopter (14.9.2001)

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