Airbus Helicopters has officially delivered the first two NH-90 tactical transport helicopters (MSPT, Multi-Role Support Transport) to the Spanish Navy, coming from its facility in Albacete, Spain. These two units are the first of seven navalized NH-90s acquired as part of the second batch of the Spanish NH-90 program, which totals 23 aircraft.

The MSPT variant of the NH-90 is specifically designed to meet the stringent operational requirements of the Spanish Navy for amphibious tactical transport. Key enhancements include reinforced landing gear, specialized naval communication and navigation equipment, as well as automatic folding systems for the main and tail rotor blades, optimizing the helicopter for shipborne operations. These features will enable the aircraft to carry up to 20 fully equipped troops or a light vehicle, and to conduct IFR operations with a single pilot, even under challenging night and adverse weather conditions.

Fernando Lombo, CEO of Airbus Helicopters in Spain, stated: "Thanks to the excellent collaboration between the Directorate General of Armaments and Materials (DGAM), the Spanish Navy and Airbus Helicopters, we have been able to conduct crew training at our Albacete base, ensuring that the helicopters can enter service at the Naval Base of Rota this Summer, as planned, for the operational readiness of the Navy. All our teams remain fully mobilized to guarantee a smooth entry into service".

With this delivery, all three Spanish armed forces –Army, Air Force, and Navy– now operate NH-90s in their fleets. On May 13, the Spanish Ministry of Defense and Airbus Helicopters also signed a framework agreement for the implementation of the Spanish National Helicopter Plan, which foresees a further expansion of the NH-90 fleet for the armed forces.