The last one is here: Sea Lion for the Bundeswehr

The Bundeswehr has taken delivery of the last of a total of 18 new NH90 NTH (Naval Transport Helicopter) "Sea Lion" multipurpose helicopters. The series delivery to the German Navy commissioned by the Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and Utilization of the German Armed Forces (BAAINBw) in 2015 is now completed on time and within budget.

"I am very pleased that with the delivery of the last Sea Lion, the foundation has now been laid to gradually realize the great potential of this new weapon system," says BAAINBw project manager Axel Hoffmann on the successful completion of the delivery. The Commander of the Naval Aviation Command, Captain at Sea Broder Nielsen, adds: "Today we are completing another major step in the modernization of naval aviation. Now all helicopters are here, and it's time to accelerate training and develop a modern, flexible maintenance concept with the machines delivered to us in order to quickly achieve full operational readiness."

The helicopter is mainly used by the Navy for search and rescue missions (SAR = Search and Rescue) as well as for the transport of personnel and material. Up to 20 people can fit in the "Sea Lion." For SAR flights, it is equipped with a rescue winch and special medical equipment. When the helicopter enters a risk zone, it can be armed with heavy machine guns. With built-in sensors like a 360-degree sea surveillance radar and infrared cameras, the "Sea Lion" has additional capabilities for reconnaissance.

With the handover of the last NH90 NTH and the subsequent assumption of SAR tasks planned for mid-2023, the nearly 50-year-old Mk41 "Sea King" will be gradually retired. This will enable the Navy in the future to fulfill its mission in SAR operations with state-of-the-art "fly-by-wire" helicopters.

The formal handover of the last helicopter to the Bundeswehr was already completed by the BAAINBw on January 26. Due to weather conditions, the transfer flight to the future user, the Naval Aviation Command in Nordholz, was only possible yesterday.

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