The second batch of 23 NH90 helicopters will include 16 in the Standard 3 configuration, with ten assigned to the Spanish Army Air Mobile Forces (FAMET) and six to the Air and Space Force. Seven navalised versions will also be delivered to the Spanish Navy, with staggered deliveries planned between December 2024 and 2028.
The first NH90 in the tactical transport (MSPT) version for the Spanish Navy is nearing final approval from the Spanish Airworthiness Authority. The helicopter is currently in Albacete, where Spanish Navy personnel from the 14th Squadron have begun training for its operational deployment.
“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,” said Fernando Lombo, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in Spain. He added, “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 NH90 Standard 3 configuration offers advanced communication systems with enhanced encryption, improved safety features, and optimised systems. For the Spanish Navy, the MSPT variant enhances strategic capabilities with features such as reinforced landing gear, a maximum take-off weight of 11 tonnes, and automatic folding of the main rotor blades and rear fuselage.
Globally, 523 NH90 helicopters have been delivered to 13 countries, accumulating nearly 420,000 flight hours. In Spain, the FAMET operates 15 NH90 helicopters, known as ‘Sarrios,’ while the Spanish Air and Space Force operates six ‘Lobo’ units, both of which have been actively involved in disaster relief efforts such as responding to the Dana storm in Valencia.
