Norway picks BAE torpedoes for NH90
By Craig Hoyle
Norway has ordered BAE Systems' Sting Ray Mod 1 lightweight torpedo to arm its NH Industries NH90 maritime helicopters and Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft.
Placed by Oslo's Defence Logistics Organisation and worth £99 million ($143 million), the contract will also deliver anti-submarine weapons for the Royal Norwegian Navy's new Fridtjof Nansen-class frigates.
Representing BAE's first export success for the weapon, the deal will also extend production of the weapon until late 2012, says Bob Moran, the company's campaign manager for the Sting Ray Mod 1. The torpedo is already carried by the UK Royal Navy's AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin HM1 and Lynx helicopters (artist's impression with Lynx below).
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"Our UK customer/industry partnership approach was responsible for establishing a logistic support and maintenance commitment to Norway, which was a key factor in our success," says Moran.
Oslo has also awarded AgustaWestland/CAE joint venture Rotorsim a contract to provide simulation-based training for its NH90 crews for three years from 2011. Instruction will be provided using a full-mission simulator and rear crew trainer at AgustaWestland's Sesto Calende Training Academy in Italy.
