Germany’s Navy has taken delivery of its first NH90 Sea Tiger helicopter, marking the start of its transition to a modernized maritime aviation force. The event, confirmed by manufacturer NHIndustries, initiates the fulfillment of a contract for 31 aircraft, with the entire fleet scheduled for operational service by 2030.
This specialized naval helicopter is a significant evolution of the NH90 platform, engineered explicitly for the German Navy’s demanding anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare missions in environments like the Baltic Sea and the Atlantic. It replaces the venerable Mk88A Sea Lynx helicopters, which have served since 1981, with a quantum leap in capability.
The Sea Tiger’s advanced mission suite is central to its role. It integrates a state-of-the-art electro-optical sensor system, a dipping sonar, sonobuoy processing capabilities, and a comprehensive weapons package, enabling it to detect and engage subsurface and surface threats effectively. Beyond combat, the versatile aircraft is fully capable of performing reconnaissance, transport, and search-and-rescue duties from naval vessels.
“We are extremely proud to deliver the first NH90 Sea Tiger today to the German Navy—on cost, on time, and on quality,” stated Stefan Thomé, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in Germany. He emphasized that the helicopter provides “a powerful tool to protect Germany’s, Europe’s, and NATO’s borders.”
The delivery also strengthens the existing partnership with the German armed forces, which already operates 18 NH90 Sea Lion helicopters for tactical transport. Technologically, the Sea Tiger benefits from the NH90 programme’s core strengths, including a rugged, corrosion-resistant composite airframe, a spacious cabin, and a quadruplex fly-by-wire flight control system that enhances safety and reduces pilot workload.
As part of Europe’s largest military helicopter program, the NH90 has a proven global footprint. The naval variant, known as the NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH), has now been delivered to seven nations, with over 135 units collectively logging more than 90,000 flight hours. Worldwide, the entire NH90 family, including the Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH), exceeds 530 delivered helicopters and a milestone of 500,000 total flight hours, demonstrating its reliability across diverse climates and missions.
This first Sea Tiger handover is a pivotal step in modernizing Germany’s naval aviation, providing a new generation of interoperable, multi-role capability for national and allied defense.
