Nordholz, Germany, December 16, 2025. Airbus Helicopters, through the joint venture NHIndustries, has handed over the first NH90 Sea Tiger to the German Navy during a delivery ceremony at the Navy’s base in Nordholz. A total of 31 helicopters are set to be delivered by 2030. The NH90 Sea Tiger will be used for anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare missions.
“We are extremely proud to deliver the first NH90 Sea Tiger today to the German Navy, on cost, on time and on quality,” said Stefan Thomé, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in Germany. “The Sea Tiger will provide the Navy with a powerful tool to defend Germany’s, Europe’s and NATO’s borders in the Baltic Sea and in the Atlantic – offering outstanding anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.”
The helicopters will gradually replace the German Navy’s ageing Mk88A Sea Lynx fleet, which entered service in 1981. The German Navy already operates 18 NH90 Sea Lion naval transport helicopters, which were delivered on schedule between 2019 and 2023. They are continuously deployed on maritime search and rescue missions and onboard 702-class replenishment ships.
The NH90 Sea Tiger represents the latest evolution of the NH90 NFH, offering world-leading capabilities for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Anti-Surface Warfare (AsuW) missions. It has been specifically designed to match the needs of the German Navy for a state-of-the-art anti-submarine warfare helicopter. Novelties include a new Electro-Optical System and improved Electronic Support Measures (ESM). On top, the Sea Tiger is equipped with a dipping sonar, sonobuoys, and weapons (torpedoes and missiles). The shipborne Sea Tiger missions include, in addition to reconnaissance and transport, engaging targets above and below the surface. Those systems have been tested and qualified during different test campaigns in the Mediterranean Sea and North Sea.
135 naval NH90 helicopters have already been delivered to six nations and have completed over 90,000 flight hours in search and rescue, humanitarian, and military operations. There are more than 530 NH90 helicopters in service worldwide that have accumulated close to 500,000 flight hours.
NHIndustries is the largest rotorcraft joint venture and it is responsible for the design, manufacturing and support of the NH90 helicopter, one of the leaders in the latest generation of military helicopters. The Company takes the best from the European rotorcraft and defence industry, being owned by Airbus Helicopters (62.5%), Leonardo (32%) and GKN Fokker (5.5%). Each company has a long aerospace pedigree and brings the top of its skills and expertise to the end product.
