In 2001, Norway decided to purchase 14 NH90 helicopters from the NHIndustries consortium for the Coast Guard and anti-submarine warfare. Deliveries were scheduled to be completed by the end of 2008, and the fleet was expected to fly about 3,900 hours per year. However, Norway received only eight fully operational helicopters, while the fleet’s actual annual flight time was about 700 hours.

Problems with the NH90s eventually forced Norway to abandon the helicopters. In June 2022, Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram announced that Norway was terminating its contract with NHIndustries and immediately withdrawing the entire fleet from service.

The helicopters were retired 10 years earlier than planned. Norway also sought about 5 billion Norwegian kroner in compensation from the manufacturer for failing to meet its contractual obligations.