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The NHIndustries NH90 is a medium-sized, twin-engine, multi-role military helicopter developed in response to NATO requirements for a battlefield helicopter capable of operating in all weather conditions. It is manufactured by NHIndustries, a consortium owned by Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo, and Fokker Aerostructures. The NH90 first flew in December 1995 and entered service in 2007.
The helicopter is produced in two main variants: the Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) and the NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH). The TTH variant is designed for troop transport, cargo lift, search and rescue, special operations, and medical evacuation. It features a large cabin accessible through ramps and side doors. The NFH variant is primarily intended for naval operations, including anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare (ASuW), maritime surveillance, and search and rescue at sea.
The NH90 incorporates a fly-by-wire flight control system, which reduces pilot workload and enhances maneuverability. Its all-composite airframe contributes to reduced weight and increased damage tolerance. Power is provided by two Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322-01/9 or two General Electric CT7-8F5 turboshaft engines. The NH90 has been ordered by numerous countries worldwide, with over 500 units delivered, and has seen operational deployment in various international missions. Its design emphasizes modularity, allowing for various mission systems and armaments to be integrated based on specific user requirements.
In 2004, Australia announced it would order 12 NH90s to supplement its Army's aging S-70A Black Hawk helicopters. In June 2006, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) announced plans to replace its UH-60 Black Hawk and Westland Sea King helicopters; a further 34 NH90s were ordered for a total of 46; four were manufactured in Europe while 42 being manufactured locally by Australian Aerospace (an Airbus Helicopters subsidiary) in Brisbane. Its ADF designation and name "MRH-90 Taipan" refers to its use as a multi-role helicopter and refers to a native species of snake. The first MRH-90 entered service in December 2007 with the Army. Six MRH-90s would be operated by 808 Squadron of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), which was reformed in 2011 and recommissioned in 2013. Overall, there were 46 airframes in service, with a 47th kept as a spare.
On 20 April 2010, a MRH-90 suffered a single engine failure near Adelaide, landing safely at RAAF Base Edinburgh. NHIndustries personnel investigated the cause. On 18 May, the ADF announced that the MRH-90 fleet was grounded due to engine issues since the April incident. All MRH-90s used the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322. The cause of the failure was determined as the compressor blade contacting the engine casing, leading to new preventative inspections; flights resumed in July 2010.
In July 2014, the Australian National Audit Office released a report on the MRH-90, citing procurement errors and development deficiencies delaying final operational capability, originally set for that month, until April 2019, nearly five years later than planned. NH90s first delivered in 2007 had not yet validated any of the 11 set operational capability milestones, and forced redesigns included bolstered cabin floors and windscreens, rappelling hooks, and door gunner positions; obtaining spare parts and fleet sustainment had also been more costly. The Australian Army was forced to operate its aging S-70A Black Hawks beyond its planned retirement date. Due to the delays, Australia received an additional helicopter for a total of 47. By September 2015, most flaws had reportedly been addressed.
In 2015, the Australian Army decided to delay retiring 20 Black Hawks by four years until the end of 2021 in order to develop a special operations capable MRH-90. This required developing a fast roping and rappelling extraction system (FRRES) and a gun mount for the cabin door. The Taipan Gun Mount can fit either a M134D minigun or MAG 58 machine gun and when not in use, can be moved into an outward stowed position to provide clearance to enable fast roping and rappelling. In February 2019, the first two of 12 MRH-90s were delivered to the 6th Aviation Regiment. In June 2021, all MRH-90s were temporarily grounded due to lack of maintenance and spare parts which had to be shipped from Europe.
In December 2021, on the same day the older generation of Black Hawks was retired, the Australian Government announced plans to replace the Army's MRH-90 fleet with new UH-60M Black Hawks; their retirement date was moved to 2024. In April 2022, the RAN ceased flying their MRH-90s and stored them. In May 2022, the government announced that the RAN's six MRH-90s would be replaced with more MH-60R Seahawks; it already operated 24 Seahawks, delivered between 2013 and 2016, alongside the MRH-90.
In March 2023, an Army MRH-90 carrying 10 personnel suffered an engine failure while hovering over Jervis Bay at night during a training exercise, leading to a controlled ditch into the water. All ten personnel survived and the helicopter was towed onto a nearby beach. Following the incident, all MRH-90s were grounded pending an investigation. The MRH-90 returned to service on 6 April 2023. In July 2023, another MRH-90 crashed at night during Exercise Talisman Sabre off the coast of Hamilton Island, Queensland, resulting in four missing crew members. By early August, the cockpit and human remains were found in a debris field in 40 meters of water, consistent with a catastrophic impact. On 8 August 2023, divers recovered the flight data recorder. The accident investigation, partially released in May 2025, attributed the crash to crew spatial disorientation in challenging weather conditions.
On 29 September 2023, the Australian Government announced that the MRH-90 will not return to ADF service, bringing forward the previously planned retirement date of December 2024. Officials stated the early retirement was not meant to preempt the outcome of the crash investigation, which was still ongoing; the fleet has been grounded since the July 2023 crash.[5] At the time of its grounding, there were 38 MRH-90s in service. Australia filled service gaps created by the grounding, operational pauses, and early retirement by extending the older S-70A's service life, by buying additional Chinook helicopters as a stop gap, leasing six AW139, as well as the urgent procurement of a replacement helicopter. The ADF invested about $3.5 billion over two decades in the program. In August 2022, Australia approved the purchase of 40 UH-60M Blackhawks to replace the MRH-90
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- The monumental stupidly of the Australian government scrapped $2 billion worth of these helicopters …for VERY dodgy reasons. Never mind plenty more taxpayers $ to waste.!- Looks and flies beautifully. Unfortunately, terrible in actual service. Australia and Norway ditched theirs completely and other countries are probably only staying with it out of misguided loyalty to a European project.
- I can't say i am impressed by it's mediocre flying Perhaps it's Weaponry Ammunitions along with internal systems for enhancements to Pilot and whoever may be updated If so nothing was said during the Demonstration
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