Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first NH90 helicopter from the second batch of 23 to the Directorate General of Armament and Material (DGAM) at its facility in Albacete, Spain. This marks the debut of the NH90 in the advanced Standard 3 configuration for the Spanish Air and Space Force.
The second batch includes 23 NH90 helicopters, with 16 in Standard 3 configuration. Of these, ten will be allocated to the Spanish Army Air Mobile Forces (FAMET), six to the Air and Space Force and seven navalised versions to the Spanish Navy. Deliveries will take place between December 2024 and 2028.
The first NH90 for the Spanish Navy, a tactical transport version (MSPT), is completing its type certification from the Spanish Airworthiness Authority. Already stationed in Albacete, it is expected to be delivered to DGAM in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, personnel from the Navy's 14th Squadron have begun training at the Albacete facility to prepare for operational deployment of their new aircraft.
The Standard 3 NH90 boasts enhanced communications with improved encryption capabilities, greater operational safety features, and numerous system upgrades. For the Navy, the MSPT variant enhances strategic projection capabilities with advanced onboard equipment, including reinforced landing gear, an increased maximum take-off weight of 11 tonnes, and automatic folding mechanisms for the main rotor blades and rear fuselage.
These deliveries highlight Spain's ongoing investment in modernising its defence forces and Airbus Helicopters' pivotal role in providing cutting-edge aviation technology.
