Sweden’s NH90 Decision: Why the Land-Based TTH Is Leaving While the Maritime NFH Lives On
AeroMorning – John Smith – August 24, 2026
Stockholm, Sweden – 24 August 2026 – Sweden is entering a new phase in its military helicopter fleet renewal, with the first NH90s to be phased out starting in 2027.
The country operates 18 NH90 (Hkp 14) helicopters in a specialised High Cabin Version (HCV), providing increased cabin height for medical evacuation and personnel transport. Both versions share the same basic airframe and propulsion architecture:
- 9 NH90 TTH (Hkp 14E): Land-based Tactical Transport Helicopters for tactical transport, personnel transport, medical evacuation, search and rescue (SAR), equipment and underslung-load transport, and special operations insertion/extraction. Capable of carrying up to 20 personnel, the aircraft features composite construction and fly-by-wire controls, but involves complex maintenance and support requirements.
- 9 NH90 NFH (Hkp 14F): Maritime helicopters equipped with tactical radar, dipping sonar and sonobuoys for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), surface and maritime surveillance, SAR and naval support missions.
Fleet Restructuring and Replacement
Sweden’s 2027 defence plan phases out the Hkp 14E while expanding its Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk (Hkp 16) fleet. In Swedish service since 2012, the mature Hkp 16 provides tactical transport, SAR and utility capabilities, supported by an established international supply and support base, but lacks the specialised ASW capabilities of the NH90 NFH.
The Hkp 14F will remain in service while procurement of a dedicated maritime replacement gets under way. The Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk — a naval combat helicopter equipped with dipping sonar, radar, integrated sensors and lightweight torpedoes — is a potential but unconfirmed candidate.
Fleet Restructuring Overview
- NH90 TTH (Hkp 14E): Land tactical transport — Phasing out
- Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk (Hkp 16): Land tactical transport/utility — Expanding
- NH90 NFH (Hkp 14F): Maritime/ASW — Retained pending replacement
- Future Maritime Helicopter: Planned replacement for the Hkp 14F; Sikorsky MH-60R is a potential candidate
Context and European Trends
The withdrawal follows the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) completing a multi-year retrofit programme in December 2024, bringing all 18 NH90s to their final operational configuration.
Despite the original 2001 order and deliveries beginning only in 2011, the decision appears to reflect fleet economics and the burden of supporting a small, complex sub-fleet rather than a failure of the NH90’s basic capabilities.
The move mirrors broader international trends in separating land and maritime helicopter requirements:
- Australia: Retired its MRH-90 TTH fleet, replacing it with UH-60Ms, while adopting MH-60Rs for naval missions.
- Belgium: Retiring its NH90 TTH fleet amid high maintenance and support costs.
- Norway: Terminated its NH90 programme in 2022 over performance and availability concerns and subsequently ordered MH-60Rs.
- Netherlands & Germany: Continuing to invest in maritime NH90 variants, including the Netherlands’ additional NH90s and Germany’s NH90 Sea Tiger programme.
