The Spanish Navy has just received the first two of seven NH90 helicopters it is due to welcome into its fleet.
The first two aircraft arrived at the Rota Naval Base in Cadiz at the end of last month from the Airbus hub in Albacete; the helicopter is manufactured by NH Industries, a partnership between Airbus, Leonardo, and Fokker.
The new helicopters were welcomed in a special delivery ceremony staged at the airbase attended by its Commander-in-Chief Admiral Rubén Rodríguez Peña.
The Spanish Armed Forces are jointly acquiring 45 NH90s across their three branches; in total, seven of them will be navalised platforms, with a third expected to be delivered before the end of the year, and the remaining four naval versions due to arrive in 2026.
The medium-sized twin-engined helicopter was the first production helicopter to feature flight controls that were 100% fly by wire. They have been in use since 2007 and more than 500 aircraft have so far been produced.
They are used by a number of other armed forces including Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Qatar, and Sweden.
Adaptations to the base NH90 platform for naval use include equipment designed to support tactical transport for special operations, medical evacuation, amphibious operations, and advanced logistics support.
As per a recent Spanish Navy press statement, the first two helicopters will be incorporated into its 14th Aircraft Squadron; for the past 11 months its pilots and mechanics have been undergoing training and instruction to ensure a safe and efficient transition to the new platform.
- You can read more details on the Spanish Navy website