YLE: Finland's new troop transport helicopters have serious defects

According to a German internal military report, leaked to the German mass daily Bild and cited on the Finnish Broadcasting Company's (YLE) current affairs programme A-Studio on Wednesday evening, there are serious technical shortcomings in the new NH90 tactical transport helicopters that have also been ordered by the Finnish Defence Forces.
      A-Studio had got hold of the report, which has caused quite a stir in Germany, where the army and air force have ordered 122 of the helicopters.
      The authors believe the aircraft are not well-suited to carrying infantry troops.
     
Finland has thus far taken delivery of seven transport helicopters that are almost identical to those tested in Germany.
      Back in the autumn of 2001, Finland ordered a total of 20 NH90 tactical transport helicopters from NH Industries, but deliveries have been plagued with problems, including getting the aircraft type-certified by the Finnish military aviation authorities.
     
Now the German report declares that the helicopter's floor is so sensitive that it can be cracked by boots, and the seats and the rear ramp are unable to accommodate soldiers carrying a full pack of infantry equipment.
      Given that that an infantryman's pack can weigh at least 20 kilos, the maximum weight of 110 kilos will rule out the burliest of soldiers, the report charges.
      There are also questions raised over the small ground clearance of the helicopter, making it imperative that the landing zone be flat and even, and the limited interior space allegedly means that there is no room for a defensive machine-gunner on board.
      German Defence Ministry authorities have countered that the rather negative evaluation referred to NH90 prototypes, and not to the production models of the helicopter.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finnish military finally receives its first NH90 helicopters (24.4.2008)
  Defence Ministry reaches agreement with manufacturer on helicopter deliveries (13.12.2007)
  Delay of more than two years in delivery of transport helicopters (27.10.2006)

See also:
  COMMENTARY: No end in sight for Defence Forces´ helicopter fiasco (4.9.2007)

Links:
  NH90 (Wikipedia)
  NH Industries