Update: Belgian NH90 order

its been a year now since the Belgian goverment selected the NH90 as is new multirole support helicopter for the COMOPSAIR, to replace the seaking Mk.48’s and SA-316 Allouette III’s. since that date there has been little known here about the current status, but there are however a few changes since the original plans.

The number of helicopters to be ordered still remains 10, howerver the deviding of the choppers between the servises have changed. in the begining the deviding was originaly 5 for paracommando ops, 3 for SAR and 2 for naval transport. this now has been altered as folows (note that variants could defer):

Paracommando operations:

the helicopters for paracommando operations has now changed from 5 to 4, possibly the TTH version, these will now also be used for CSAR operations, witch is a new (decent) capability to support the land component troops.

SAR operations:

the 40th squadron SAR will now fly 4 instead of 3 SAR versions (TTH or MTTH) to replace the seaking between 2008 and 2010. there is still no news about the color sheme, but rumors are circulating about a USCG style camo sheme, however some want it to remain in the same sheme as the seaking.

Naval Operations:

the number for the NH90’s for operations from the new M-frigates remain at 2, however these will posibly be the NFH version now, as the MoD has noted that it will be fitted with an ASW capability, next to the maratime transport role. both helicopter will be maintained and flown by COMOPSAIR personel.

recently MoD André Flahaut is talking to representatives of the German, French and Dutch defence forces, in an attempt to get a few helicopters from there production lines and orders, in order to get them into service quicker, if these talks will be succesfull, remains a mistery.

so far, no contracts have been signed, but news reports suggest that the purchase contract will be signed within the next few weeks (or months, knowing our own defence minister).
furthermore, it si now cofirmed that all 10 helicopters will be stationed at Koksijde AB, witch they are planning to turn into a sort of Super-helicopter base in the near future.

here’s my (quick amaturistic) view of how the helicopter would look like once its bieng delivered.