New submarine-hunting helicopter delivered to German Navy

The German Navy has received its first new ship-based helicopter, which is primarily intended to assist in anti-submarine warfare.

The NH-90 MRFH Sea Tiger naval aircraft will offer new possibilities for state and federal defence, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said after the aircraft landed on Defence Ministry grounds in Berlin.

The helicopter can defend against underwater and surface threats from the air and hunt submarines, the minister said.

"Putin is continuing to massively upgrade his navy. He has little or no need for it in Ukraine. The Black Sea Fleet is one thing, but the North Atlantic Fleet is something else," Pistorius said.

"This means that we, as NATO and as the Federal Republic of Germany, need to equip our naval forces quickly and better."

The Sea Tiger is equipped with a diving sonar and a sonar buoy system to be able to scan under the surface and locate submarines. Torpedoes and anti-ship missiles can be deployed from the helicopter.

A total of 30 Sea Tigers are to be stationed at Naval Air Wing 5 in Nordholz, Lower Saxony. The model is intended to replace the Sea Lynx, which has been in service with the German Navy since 1981.

The Multi Role Frigate Helicopter variant is specially designed for use on frigates.