Last week, the BMVg published its 14th armaments report on the status of major military projects in ongoing procurement as of mid-December 2021. We want to take a look at the projects relevant to the German Navy and start this week with the naval helicopters, specifically the two Projects NH90 Naval Transport Helicopter (NTH) SEA LION and NH90 Multi Role Frigate Helicopter (MRFH). We read about this in the current armaments report:
The NH90 is a transport and frigate helicopter developed jointly by France, Italy, the Netherlands and Germany. The cooperation partners procure nationally customised series variants. Germany is procuring 82 NH90 Light Transport Helicopters (LTH) based on the Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) variant for the army as well as 18 NH90 Naval Transport Helicopters (NTH) SEA LION and 31 NH90 Multi Role Frigate Helicopters (MRFH), each based on the Naval Frigate Helicopter (NFH) variant for the navy.
NTH Sea Lion
The NTH SEA LION will replace the SEA KING aircraft type from 2023 and will fully take over its tasks as an on-board helicopter for the navy's task force providers (EGV) as well as search and rescue (SAR) operations for the North Sea and Baltic Sea and maritime surveillance. The helicopter's successful maiden flight took place in December 2016. Delivery of the 18 NTH SEA LION aircraft is scheduled to take place between the end of 2019 and the end of 2022.
So far, eleven of a total of 18 NH90 NTH SEA LION (as at 31 October 2021) have been delivered. Due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the delivery of one aircraft has been postponed from 2021 to 2022, meaning that two more aircraft will be delivered in 2021 and the remaining five in 2022. The focus was and continues to be on stabilising flight operations in order to enable the next steps of operational testing and crew training in time to take over the SAR See task in 2023. The measures taken to improve the spare/replacement parts (ET/AT) situation and to provide technical support to the Navy are having an impact. A large proportion of the ground service equipment required for flight operations has been delivered to the navy.
Status & development of the project
Delivery of the first NH90 NTH SEA LION in the Step 1 configuration took place on 24 October 2019, with the navy commencing flight operations at the beginning of June 2020. The final construction status (Step 2 configuration) is still planned for early 2022 due to delays in qualification and integration in the avionics area. The upgrade from Step 1 to Step 2 is scheduled for the period 2022 to 2024. Delays in development, qualification and delivery must be avoided in order to ensure the uninterrupted fulfilment of tasks after the end of the SEA KING Mk41's service life in 2023. Initial flight operations have not yet been stabilised satisfactorily. The level of training of the aircraft crews is below expectations. The takeover of tasks from the SEA KING is basically guaranteed in 2023. Full operational readiness is unlikely to be achieved in individual task areas. The provision of a sufficient number of aircraft in the final configuration (Step 2) at the time of the takeover of tasks in the full operational spectrum of the SEA KING Mk41 aircraft type in 2023 is currently assessed as risky due to the conversion effort now required from Step 1 to Step 2. The primary goal is to take over the permanent SAR Sea mission in 2023.
Overall planning categorisation
The NH90 NTH SEA LION project replaces the SEA KING Mk41 and ensures the SAR capabilities at sea and use as an on-board helicopter for the EGV. Due to faulty documentation and a lack of tools and ground equipment, the helicopters were only put into flight operations by the Navy six months after the first helicopter was delivered to the BAAINBw. In the meantime, flight and training operations and operational testing are gradually but slowly getting underway. Mitigation measures using the legacy Mk41 system cannot be reliably mapped on a large scale due to declining crew numbers and the expiring technical and logistical basis.
Defence & alliance policy aspects
The unrestricted use of the sea must be ensured jointly by the Alliance and the Bundeswehr. This requires the ability to participate in the entire national and multinational operational spectrum of maritime forces. With the NH90 NTH SEA LION The performance of a wide range of tasks, particularly in the areas of SAR, support for special forces and surface warfare, is ensured both nationally and within the framework of alliance policy.
Defence industry aspects & developments
The NH90 NTH SEA LION programme contributes to the utilisation of national production capacities, while engineering capacities are utilised as part of the development work still required.
Effects on operational readiness
As part of the Navy's initial flight operations, the operational test for the NH90 NTH SEA LION weapon system is currently being carried out as part of integrated verification. The aim here is to master the many challenges of the new introduction in good time in order to ensure the seamless replacement of the SEA KING Mk41 and thus the SAR capability at sea, which requires a ready-to-use weapon system that has the required functional capabilities and sufficient material readiness to cover operational requirements. The NH90 NTH SEA LION will now have to prove this as part of the operational test. The mission-critical functions in the helicopter's specified target utilisation profile will be tested under near-mission conditions. In addition, all facets of the technical and logistical concept will be assessed for its operational suitability under the special conditions of the navy.
NH 90 MRFH
The contribution of the MRFH in the combat ship system network relates in particular to the ability to fight in the areas of underwater and surface warfare. In addition, the MRFH improves the capability for surveillance and reconnaissance of the sea area. The range of tasks also includes tactical air transport, boarding, casualty and patient transport, evacuation operations and logistical services in the context of disaster relief. Delivery is planned for the end of 2025 to the beginning of 2030. The MRFH will replace the SEA LYNX Mk88A aircraft type from 2026 and will be deployed as an on-board helicopter on the F124 and F125 frigates and, in future, also on the F126. To achieve full capability in accordance with the capability gap and functional requirement (FFF), an upgrade from Step 3 to Step 4 (Link 22/GPS M-Code) is planned at a later date. The Navy's initial capability (submarine and surface warfare) is scheduled to be achieved in 2027.
The Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for the NH90 MRFH was completed in September 2021. The immediately following Critical Design Review (CDR) is expected to be completed at the contractually agreed time in January 2022. It may be possible for the first flight of an MRFH to take place before May 2022.
Status & development of the project
The timely realisation of the project serves to ensure that the SEA LYNX Mk88A can take over the tasks of the on-board frigate helicopter as an underwater and surface warfare helicopter without interruption. The first NH90 MRFH is to be delivered at the end of 2025 and the remaining NH90 MRFHs by the beginning of 2030.
Overall planning categorisation
The NH90 MRFH project will replace the SEA LYNX Mk88A and will primarily take over the capabilities of organic anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare from the air in the combat ship system network for the Navy's frigates. The Navy's frigates conceptually envisage multi-role capable on-board helicopters as an integral part of the sensor and weapon chain. Without this so-called organic flying component - organic in the sense of being an integral part of the ship in training and operations - the combat value of a frigate is essentially weakened. It is not capable of asserting itself under submarine threat, as modern submarines have a clear range advantage over surface units, which is only reversed by an on-board helicopter in "remote/upstream deployment from on board with considerable radius extension of the ship". The procurement contract fulfils the navy's requirements as a successor to the SEA LYNX Mk88A, although important functionalities still need to be implemented shortly after delivery.
Defence & alliance policy aspects
The unrestricted use of the sea and its liaison routes must be ensured jointly by the Alliance and the Bundeswehr. This requires the ability to participate in the entire national and multinational operational spectrum of maritime forces. In addition to the capabilities listed in the range of services, the MRFH has a submarine-hunting capability, which is highly prioritised by NATO, and will thus strengthen Germany's position as a cooperation partner in the maritime domain.
Defence industry aspects & developments
The conclusion of contracts for a European model has positive effects on the utilisation of national production capacities and accompanying engineering capacities in the context of development services based on the basic European model of the helicopter.
Effects on operational readiness
Following the conclusion of the contract in November 2020, the NH90 MRFH project has reached important milestones in the realisation phase with the entry into the detailed specifications for technical development. The upcoming planning and preparations must now be consistently geared towards the goal of providing the future user with a ready-to-use product that largely covers the functional requirements and ensures a high level of operational readiness right from the start. The project work is therefore now focussing on the project elements that have a direct impact on the provision and future operation by the Navy as an on-board helicopter on the frigates, in order to ensure the timely replacement of the SEA LYNX Mk88 fleet and the seamless transfer of its tasks.
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German
I ask for a translation of this convoluted information in German or English.
I can't disagree with you there - for the readability of his publications at the end
The BMVg itself is responsible for this.
Addendum The following article online at Die Welt fits in with this:
"I'd like to see more clarity and less verbiage from the generals," said the Chair of the Defence Committee, Strack-Zimmermann (FDP).
https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/plus236275350/Strack-Zimmermann-FDP-will-weniger-Geschwurbel-in-der-Bundeswehr.html
Quite simply, a successful first flight of an NH 90 means that it can take off, fly a circuit and land without crashing - step 1. All aircraft are delivered in this condition. Then most of them have to stand around on the ground because important parts have to be replaced.
etc. are missing. Then it's back to the factory to retrofit the things necessary for full functionality, which means that there are too few units available in the operational unit to ensure normal flight operations and pilot qualification (which is why a new, smaller helicopter type has to be produced so that the pilots have something to fly) - step 2. After a few decades, the NH 90 can finally do at least some of what it needs to do, although it's impossible to say exactly when and what.
The lesson learnt by those responsible for the procurement is now to use this tried-and-tested procedure for the NH 90 frigate as well, in order to ensure that German engineering skills are maintained in perpetuity.
Of course, the whole thing is paid for by the taxpayer in the usual way.