Qatar’s Ministry of Defence has signed a contract worth more than €3 billion covering the purchase of 28 NHIndustries NH90 helicopters plus support and infrastructure. At the same time Qatar is also to receive 16 Airbus Helicopters H125 single-engine training helicopters to equip the Qatar Armed Forces Air Academy.
Announced on the last day of the Dimdex defense trade show in Doha in the presence of the Italian defense minister, Roberta Pinotti, the NH90 deal covers 16 aircraft in the TTH (tactical transport helicopter) configuration for land operations and 12 NFH (NATO frigate helicopter) aircraft for maritime missions. The deal also includes the option for a further 12 NH90s divided equally between the two versions. Qatar becomes the 15th country to buy the NH90, bringing the total order book to 543.
Qatar first signaled its intention to buy the NH90 as part of the mass spending spree that was announced at the 2014 edition of Dimdex, during which it stated a requirement for 22 NH90s. Under the recently signed contract that number has risen to 28, and they are scheduled for delivery from a date before June 2022 through 2025. Their arrival will mark a major modernization and expansion of Qatar’s transport/naval rotary-wing force, which currently uses the aging Westland Commando in both transport and anti-shipping variants, the latter employing the Exocet missile.
The NH90 is a product of NHIndustries, which is owned by Airbus Helicopters (62.5 percent), Leonardo (32 percent), and Fokker (5.5 percent). Leonardo is the prime contractor for the Qatari deal, supported by the Italian government, and will manage the delivery of an eight-year maintenance, training, and support service package, including the installation of the necessary infrastructure. Leonardo will also be responsible for the final assembly and delivery of the NFH versions for Qatar from its Venice-Tessera facility. A naval NH90 was in attendance at the Dimdex exhibition embarked on a warship of the Italian navy. Meanwhile, Airbus Helicopters will assemble the TTH helicopters at Marignane in southern France.