Airbus Helicopters, through the NHIndustries joint venture, has delivered the first NH90 Sea Tiger helicopter to the German Navy. A total of 31 aircraft are scheduled for delivery by 2030.
The NH90 Sea Tiger will be deployed for anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare missions, forming a core element of the German Navy’s future maritime combat capability.
The new helicopters will progressively replace the Navy’s ageing Mk88A Sea Lynx fleet, which entered service in 1981. The German Navy already operates 18 NH90 Sea Lion naval transport helicopters, delivered on schedule between 2019 and 2023. These aircraft are routinely deployed on maritime search and rescue missions and operate from 702-class replenishment ships.
Representing the latest evolution of the NH90 NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH), the Sea Tiger offers advanced capabilities for both anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare (ASuW). It has been tailored specifically to meet German Navy requirements for a modern ASW platform, incorporating a new electro-optical system and enhanced electronic support measures.
The Sea Tiger is equipped with a dipping sonar, sonobuoys and a range of weapons, including torpedoes and missiles. In addition to reconnaissance and transport tasks, shipborne missions include engaging targets both above and below the surface. These systems have been tested and qualified during extensive trial campaigns in the Mediterranean and North Seas.
