Airbus has delivered the first of 23 NH90 helicopters to Spain, the French aircraft manufacturer announced Dec. 19.
The initial delivery forms part of Madrid’s second batch of NH90 orders. Sixteen choppers will go to the Spanish Army Air Mobile Forces and the remaining seven to the Spanish Navy. The European nation will receive its aircraft order staggered until 2028.
Airbus Helicopters will deliver a unique aircraft to every branch of the Spanish armed forces. The FAMET version comes with the Standard 3 configuration, which has improved encryption capabilities, a higher level of operational safety and several other upgrades. The Spanish Navy’s NH90 will offer enhanced strategic projection capabilities powered by several new onboard equipment, including reinforced landing gear and automatic folding of the main rotor blades and rear fuselage.
Fernando Lombo, managing director of Airbus Helicopters in Spain, said the order ushers in a new era of standardized fleet across the armed forces. “The upcoming addition of the NH90 in the Spanish Navy is a definitive step in the modernization and Airbus Helicopters will be ready to respond to the needs of the Spanish customer,” he said.
NHIndustries, a joint venture between Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo Helicopters and GKN Fokker, will oversee the design, manufacturing and support services for Spain’s NH90 fleet.
The Airbus NH90 is used by military forces worldwide, including New Zealand and Germany. In December 2023, the French company started a qualification phase after delivering the last NH90 multirole frigate helicopter to German forces, ensuring its technologies meet the nation’s needs.