Airbus delivered first Standard 3 configured NH90 to Spain

Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first NH90 of the second batch of 23 helicopters to the Directorate General of Armament and Material at its facility in Albacete, Spain. This is the first NH90 in the Standard 3 configuration for the Spanish Air and Space Force. This second batch, which includes 23 NH90 helicopters, foresees the delivery of a total of 16 Standard 3 helicopters, ten of which will equip the Spanish Army Air Mobile Forces, while six will go to the Air and Space Force. The Spanish Navy will receive seven navalised helicopters. Deliveries will be staggered from December 2024 to 2028.

The first NH90 for the Spanish Navy in tactical transport version (MSPT) is in the process of finalising its Type Certificate from the Spanish Airworthiness Authority and is already in Albacete awaiting its final delivery to the DGAM in the coming weeks. The Spanish Navy personnel, belonging to the 14th Squadron, have already started their training at the Albacete plant to begin operations with their first NH90.

Fernando Lombo, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in Spain commented: "We are proud to be supporting our armed forces with these new state-of-the-art NH90s that will create a standardised modern fleet across all three armed forces. We have contributed to these  benchmark airborne forces with a helicopter that offers a world-class operational capability to the Spanish Armed Forces. The upcoming addition of the NH90 in the Spanish Navy is a definitive step in the modernisation and Airbus Helicopters will be ready to respond to the needs of the Spanish customer." 

The new NH90 for the Spanish Air Force is the first NH90 in the Standard 3 configuration. It offers more advanced communications with enhanced encryption capabilities, greater operational safety features and a number of system optimisations. For its part, the MSPT will significantly increase the Spanish Navy's strategic projection capabilities thanks to new onboard equipment such as a reinforced landing gear, a maximum take-off weight of up to 11 tonnes, and the automatic folding of the main rotor blades and rear fuselage. 

A total of 523 NH90s have already been delivered to 13 different countries and have accumulated nearly 420,000 flight hours. Spain, for its part, has 15 helicopters in  service with the FAMET, known as ‘Sarrios’, while the Spanish Air and Space Force has six NH90 ‘Lobo’ in operation. Both have been involved in the relief efforts following the passage of the Dana in Valencia.

NHIndustries (NHI) is a joint venture formed by Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo Helicopters, and GKN Fokker. NHI is dedicated to the design, manufacturing, and support of the NH90 helicopter, delivering cutting-edge solutions to its global customer base.