Norway, NHIndustries reach €305M settlement over scrapped NH90 helicopter deal

November 5, 2025, by Fatima Bahtić

The Norwegian government and NHIndustries have reached a settlement resolving all disputes related to Norway’s cancelled NH90 helicopter program.

As disclosed, under the agreement, NHIndustries, a consortium owned by Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo, and Fokker, will take back all NH90 helicopters previously delivered to Norway, along with spare parts, tools, and mission equipment. The company will assume full control of the assets and reintegrate them into the broader NH90 fleet, making parts and systems available to other operators.

As part of the settlement, NHIndustries will pay Norway €305 million, in addition to around €70 million already paid under bank guarantees. All ongoing court proceedings between the parties have now been concluded.

The deal marks the end of a long-running dispute that began after Norway cancelled its NH90 contract in 2022, citing performance shortfalls and maintenance challenges.

Both parties said the settlement was reached through constructive dialogue facilitated by mediators at the Oslo District Court.

“This agreement reflects a mutual commitment to bring all related disputes to a definitive close,” the statement said.

The Norwegian contract originated in 2001, when Norway ordered 14 NH90 helicopters, intended for both the Navy’s ship-borne and the Coast Guard’s maritime roles. Over the year, the program faced repeated delays and technical/maintenance issues. For instance, only eight aircraft were delivered in a fully operational configuration by the time the decision to terminate was taken.

For NHI, regaining the helicopters and associated equipment provides an opportunity to recycle those resources into the wider NH90 user community.