PARIS/OSLO, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Norway and leading

European aerospace groups are close to a legal settlement over

Oslo's $3.3 billion claim for damages from NHIndustries over

the cancellation of delayed NH90 sub-hunting helicopters, people

familiar with the matter said.

The settlement will avoid a rare public trial over the

defence procurement as well as a countersuit by NHIndustries and

owners Airbus, Leonardo and GKN Fokker for

hundreds of millions of dollars, ahead of a November 10 hearing.