Sweden’s NH90 helicopter fleet are “not delivering” on a critical mission and an ongoing review will decide whether to dispose of them by November.
Steve Trimble
Credit: U.S. Marine Corps/Cpl. Raul Torres/APFootage/Alamy
Sweden’s NH90 helicopter fleet are “not delivering” on a critical mission and an ongoing review will decide whether to dispose of them by November, the Swedish Air Force chief said in London on July 18.
The main area of concern is the future of the anti-submarine warfare capability, which is currently assigned to the NH90s, said Maj. Gen. Carl John Edstrom, chief of the Swedish Air Force.
“I will say on this the NH90s are not delivering,” Edstrom said.
The armed forces are now reviewing helicopter force structure over the next 10 years, he said. The recommendations will be submitted to the country’s political leadership in November as part of a wider defense strategy update.
“The big decision will be what we will do with the NH90,” Edstrom said. “Will we just continue to operate the NH90, or will we make a decision like Norway to have another system?”
Norway announced in June that it plans to dispose of the NH90 fleet due to a lack of availability.
Edstrom said that Sweden’s recently acquired fleet of Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters are performing well.
