First EdA NH90 delivered

NHIndustries with partners Airbus Helicopters, Fokker and Leonardo) have delivered the first of twelve ordered NH90 (Combat) Search And Rescue (SAR) to the  Ejército del Aire (EdA, Spanish Air Force) on 14 October 2020. The EdA NH90 is serialled HD.29-16/803-16 (construction number 1425) and will be assigned to Ala 48/803 Esc.

The dozen NH90s will be based at Madrid/Cuatro Vientos air base (Spain) and are purchased to replace the aging fleet of AS332B/B1 Super Pumas. The twelve helicopters, possibly designated as MH-90, are part of the total Spanish order of 45 NH90-Tactical Transport Helicopters (TTH) versions. Those will be operated by all three Spanish Armed Forces. Currently, thirteen NH90s have been delivered, all found their way to the Fuerza Aeromóviles del Ejército de Tierra (FAMET, Spanish Army Aviation) and are assigned to the BHELMA III battalion at Logroño air base (Spain).

The EdA NH90s are capable of performing a wide range of missions, including tactical transport of troops and logistics support in peacekeeping or reconstruction missions and, of course, the main CSAR missions in hostile conditions which is one of the most demanding and complex missions for helicopter units.

The Spanish variant of the NH90 features next-generation General Electric CT7 8F5 engines, a personalized communications system and a sophisticated electronic warfare system developed by Indra and will be supported by training devices (including full flight simulators), automatic maintenance equipment (SAMe), and automatic mission planning system (AMPS) developed as well by Indra. Airbus Helicopters in Spain is involved in the manufacturing of the fuselage and the avionics software development and integration.

Photo: Airbus/Anthony Pecchi and EdA