The Spanish Navy shows its new H135 P3H Nival helicopters in action

After many years using the Hughes 500 Cayuse, the Spanish Navy is already enjoying the advantages of its replacement.

The H135 P3H Nival helicopters of the Spanish Navy seen very closely
The Spanish Navy announces its 12th Squadron and the goodbye of the AB-212 and the Cayuse

The first Airbus H135 P3H Nival was delivered to the Spanish Navy almost a year ago. There are currently three in operation. They have formed the new 12th Squadron, replacing the 6th Squadron that operated the Cayuse. The Spanish Navy has published a video showing these helicopters in action:

You can see here some screenshots from this video with some details of what you see in them.

A Nival on the platform of the Rota Naval Base. The 12th Squadron is based there, as are the rest of the units of the Spanish Navy's Aircraft Flotilla.

A Nival on an EINSA tractor. These tractors were already used to move the AB-212 helicopters of the 3rd Squadron, which, due to having skids, could not roll along the runways from their hangars to the take-off site.

Two Nivales in the hangar of the 12th Squadron. The new unit occupies the hangar used until now by the 3rd Squadron for its AB-212.

A Nival flying over the Rota Naval Station. In the background on the right we can see the aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos I" L-61, flagship of the Spanish Navy, and one of the amphibious assault ships of the "Galicia" class. The helicopter in the image carries a rescue crane on the starboard side.

The interior of the Nival cockpit. This aircraft has a digitalized cockpit that is a technological leap forward compared to its predecessors, the Hughes 500.

A nice image of a Nival flying alongside the P-41 "Meteoro" maritime action vessel (BAM). These helicopters are ideal for the Spanish Navy's BAMs, which have smaller flight decks than frigates.

A Nival taking off on the flight deck of the P-41 "Meteoro." Like the Cayuse and AB-212, these helicopters are equipped with inflatable floats on their skids, in case they have to land on the water. In the image we can see the rear port float, in white, on the back of the skid.