The German Navy has received its first Sea Tiger onboard helicopter. Defense Minister Pistorius pointed to the increasing threats from the Russian fleet and the need to strengthen NATO's defense.
The German Navy has received its first new onboard helicopter, primarily intended for anti-submarine warfare. The NH-90 MRFH Sea Tiger maritime helicopter opens new opportunities for the defense of the country and its allies, stated German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius on Tuesday, December 16, after the new helicopter landed at the Ministry of Defense in Berlin.
According to the minister, this primarily concerns countering threats underwater and on the sea surface from the air, as well as hunting submarines. "Putin continues to significantly expand his fleet. He hardly needs it for the war in Ukraine. The Black Sea fleet is one thing, but the North Atlantic fleet is quite another," noted Pistorius.
"This means that we, as a NATO member and as the Federal Republic of Germany, must equip our naval forces more quickly and effectively," he added.
Replacing the Sea Lynx
In total, 30 Sea Tiger helicopters are planned to be purchased for naval aviation, which will be stationed at Naval Aviation Wing Five in Nordholz in the federal state of Lower Saxony. The new model is set to replace the Sea Lynx helicopter, which has been in service with the German Navy since 1981.
The Sea Tiger is equipped with a dipping sonar and a system of sonar buoys, allowing it to form an underwater situational picture and detect submarines. It can deploy torpedoes and anti-ship missiles. In the MRFH version, meaning "multi-role helicopter for frigates," the new helicopter is specifically adapted for operation on ships of this class.
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