Airbus H135s for Eslla 012
The first Airbus H135M twin-engine light utility helicopters for the Flotilla de Aeronaves de la Armada (FLOAN, Spanish Naval Air Arm) will arrive this year at Rota Naval Station.
In total, the Armada will receive seven H135s with deliveries planned between October 2023 and October 2025. They will replace the Hughes H369M Cayuse currently operated by Essla 006.This unit will be deactivated at a later date, most probably in 2025.
On 14 February 2023, the Official Gazette of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) published Resolution 600/02549/23 of the Admiral Chief of Staff of the Navy, on the creation of a new unit, 12 escuadrilla (Eslla 012).
In July 2021, the Spanish Council of Ministers approved a significant purchase with Airbus, including 40 helicopters and three A330 tanker aircraft. The helicopters consist of eighteen H135s for each of the Spanish Interior and Defence Ministries, and four H160s for the Interior Ministry.
On 23 December 2021, Airbus Helicopters officially reported on the signing of an order with the Spanish government for 36 H135s. From this order, eleven H135s will go to the Ejército del Aire (EdA, Spanish Air Force) as replacement for the eight Sikorsky S-76Cs used by 781 Escuadrón at Granada/Armilla and seven will go to the Armada as replacement for the Hughes H369M. The other eighteen H135s will go to Guardia Civil and the National Police.
According to the published resolution, Eslla 012 will occupy the hangar that currently houses Eslla 003 operating the AB212+. This unit will be deactivated on 31 July 2024. The H135s will be painted in the all over grey colourscheme currently worn on the Armada aircraft and helicopters with toned-down markings.
The Airbus light twin-engine H135 is equipped with the most advanced technologies available, including Airbus Helicopters' Helionix avionics suite. More than 1,350 H135 helicopters are operated by 300 operators in 64 countries. The fleet has accumulated more than 6 million flight hours. The H135 is the fleet leader in the twin-engine market segment with more than 200 helicopters flying all over the world for law enforcement missions.
Photo (just illustrative) by Jc la Palma (via AirHistory.net)