BRUSSELS - The Belgian Army's four NH90 tactical transport helicopters (TTHs) were granted Initial Operational Capability (IOC) clearance on May 20. These four helicopters are operated by 18th Squadron based at Beauvechain. The TTHs are part of a larger Belgian order for eight NH90s (four in the naval frigate helicopter - NFH - variant, which are designed multirole helicopters, or MRH, in Belgian service) reached in June 2007.
Initially Belgium sought to purchase 10 new NH90s after the Belgian Council of Ministers approved a plan to acquire them in December 2005. However, it was not until April 2007 that a final order for eight new NH90s was agreed upon, and not until June 2007 at the Paris Air Show that an actual contract for the helicopters was signed. That agreement did, however, include an option for two additional units.
The four Belgian Army NH90 TTHs were delivered between October 2013 and November 2014. Training for Belgian Army NH90 pilots began in February 2013. The Belgian Navy's MRHs (three of the four of which have been delivered to date) are operated by the No 40 Squadron in Koksijde.