German Navy takes delivery of first NH90 Sea Lion naval helicopter.

On June 4, 2020, the German Navy has officially announced the hand over of the first NH90 Sea Lion naval helicopter that will replace the Sea King Mk 41. An official ceremony for the commissioning of the first Sea Lion helicopter will take place on June 25, 2020.
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NH90 Sea Lion Naval helicopter for the German Navy. (Picture source SeaWaves magazine Twitter account)

Currently, the German Navy Aviation Squadron 5 operates three Sea Lion naval helicopters. German Navy plans to procure 18 NH90 NFH (NATO) frigate helicopters. The NH90 NHD is the naval version of the NH90 military transport helicopter, while NH90 TTH tactical transport helicopter is used by land forces.

The NH90’s NFH version is a ship-based compact maritime helicopter, one of the primary maritime weapon systems for any surface fleet.

Operating from shore or warships in all flyable conditions, the NH90 NFH has been designed to conduct anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface ship warfare missions. It has a crew of three including a pilot, a tactical operator, and a sensor system operator.

The cabin of the NH90 NFH is equipped with an avionics bay with a sensor operator station and a tactical coordinator station, a dipping sonar, and a sonobuoy launcher. Advanced navigation and ship landing aids enable the helicopter to perform safe landings in day/night and adverse weather conditions, supplemented by a deck lock device for securing the touchdown in high sea states

The NH90 Sea Lion is a development of the NH90 NFH for the Germany Navy. The Sea Lion features a reduced set of sensors as the main task is SAR (Search And Rescue) and ship-based Transport (VERTREP and Special Forces) and is unarmed.