Eurocopter, MARIGNANE, France: The French Defence Procurement Agency DGA has ordered via NAHEMA 68 NH90 helicopters in the terrestrial version i.e TTH (Tactical Transport Helicopter) from the NHIndustries consortium (Eurocopter 62.5%, AgustaWestland 32% and Stork Fokker 5.5%). 12 of these are firm orders. This raises the total value of the deal to EUR 1.8 billion all taxes including. France will order a further 22 helicopters in 2008, and another 34 in 2010.
For Lutz Bertling, CEO of Eurocopter, “this order proves that the NH90 is perfectly adapted to the requirements of helicopter transport operations in the years to come. It also underscores the French army’s repeated confidence in the products and support provided by the Eurocopter group.”
The NH90 is a helicopter in the 9-10 metric ton class destined to “rejuvenate” the tactical transport and anti-submarine combat fleets. The programme was jointly launched by four countries, Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands, which were subsequently joined by Portugal and Belgium. The NH90 has been purchased by Sweden, Finland, Norway, Greece, the Sultanate of Oman, Australia, New Zealand and Spain. This new contract raises the number of firm orders for the NH90 to 507 helicopters.
The aircraft destined for the French army will be manufactured at Eurocopter’s Marignane site.
Established in 1992, the Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter Group is a Division of EADS, a world leader in aerospace, defence and related services. The Eurocopter Group employs approx. 14,000 people. In 2006, Eurocopter confirmed its position as the world’s No. 1 helicopter manufacturer with a turnover of 3.8 billion euros, orders for 615 new helicopters, and a 52% percent market share in the civil and parapublic sectors.
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