The Netherlands has signed a contract to acquire three additional NH90 maritime helicopters, the Ministry of Defence announced on December 9, 2025.
The agreement was concluded through the NATO Helicopter Management Agency (NAHEMA) and includes an option for two additional aircraft. The new helicopters will be delivered in the NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH) configuration and are expected to enter service around 2030.
The NH90 program is managed by NAHEMA on behalf of participating nations and produced by NHIndustries, a consortium comprising Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo, and Fokker.
With the new order, the Royal Netherlands Navy’s NH90 fleet will increase to 22 aircraft.
Latest configuration aircraft
The Ministry of Defence said the newly ordered helicopters will be produced to the latest NH90 standard. In parallel, the Netherlands plans to upgrade its existing NH90 fleet to the same configuration, creating a common technical baseline across all aircraft.
The fleet-wide modernization is intended to improve availability, simplify maintenance and training, and maintain interoperability with allied navies operating the NH90.
The NH90 NFH is operated by the Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service from frigates and other naval platforms. The helicopter is used for a range of maritime tasks, including anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare support, maritime security, transport, and search and rescue missions.
Dutch NH90s have previously been deployed on NATO task group operations and international maritime missions.
