Spain buys 100 military helicopters from Airbus, including 50 H145Ms for the FAMET

Amid the rearmament process of European countries, Spain has formalized the largest purchase of military helicopters in its history.

The Spanish Air Force will replace its Cougars and Super Pumas VIPs with H175s
Spain's purchase of 13 new Airbus H135 military helicopters and its shocking announcement

This afternoon, Airbus confirmed this acquisition, stating the following: "Spain is placing orders for 100 Airbus helicopters through the Directorate General for Armament and Material (DGAM) of the Ministry of Defence. These four contracts, framed within the National Helicopter Plan announced in May, aim to boost the modernisation of Spain’s defence and security assets." The value of these contracts is 4 billion euros. and, according to Infodefensa, deliveries will take place between 2027 and 2031.

These contracts are part of the Spanish Armed Forces' National Helicopter Plan. This Thursday, Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, stated that this represents "a qualitative shift in the capabilities of the Armed Forces" and that these contracts also "consolidate and advance Airbus Helicopters' industrial footprint in Spain, projecting the country as a reference hub in the European aeronautical industry."

Airbus has indicated that "this plan is expected to have a direct impact on the creation of highly-qualified jobs, estimated at more than 300 direct positions over the next three years. The industrial footprint in Albacete will continue to grow with a new military helicopter customisation centre and an international training centre for H145M pilots and technicians", one of the models that is generating the most interest in some countries at the moment.

Airbus notes that these contracts "represent the largest helicopter purchase by the DGAM", and specifies the models and quantities included in these acquisitions as we will see below.

50 H145M helicopters

Half of the new fleet consists of 50 H145M helicopters for the Spanish Army's Airmobile Forces (FAMET). Airbus notes that their missions include military pilot training, light attack, light public service operations, and disaster relief operations. Germany also operates these helicopters for special operations. The H145M is a larger light helicopter than the H135. It is Airbus's second best-selling helicopter, with more than 1,800 units operational or on order.

Airbus highlights that the H145M can be equipped with the HForce system for light attack missions, complementing the EC-665 Tiger attack helicopters already operational with the 1st Attack Helicopter Battalion (BHELA I) of the Spanish Army Airmobile Forces (FAMET). This system allows the H145 to be armed with a wide arsenal for air-to-surface and air-to-air combat missions, including a 20mm cannon, 12.7mm machine guns, 68mm and 70mm rockets, air-to-surface guided missiles, and air-to-air missiles. Spain had not used a light helicopter for this type of mission since the retirement of the MBB Bö-105s from BHELA I.

31 NH90 helicopters

Of these, 13 units will go to the Army, 12 to the Air Force, and 6 to the Navy. Airbus indicates that they will be used for tactical transport missions, maneuvers, and special operations, as well as to complete the Navy's amphibious warfare fleet. Until now, Spain had acquired 45 NH90s, in two batches of 22 (including one unit used by Airbus as a test aircraft) and 23 helicopters. Deliveries of the second batch began a year ago.

These aircraft serve in all three branches of the Armed Forces in tactical transport and search and rescue (SAR) roles, with a planned fleet of 25 units for the Army, 12 for the Air Force, and 7 for the Navy (plus the Airbus test helicopter). The new acquisitions will expand the fleets to 38 NH90s for the Army, 24 for the Air Force, and 13 for the Navy.

13 H135 helicopters

There will be 12 units for the Air Force and 1 for the Navy. Airbus has indicated that these aircraft will be used for advanced pilot training, light service missions, and observation. We recently discussed this acquisition here. To date, the Spanish Armed Forces have acquired 16 EC-135s assigned to the Army (2 EC-135 T2 and 10 EC-135 T2+ operated by the ACAVIET and 4 EC-135 T2+ operated by BHELEME II, operating with the Military Emergency Unit) and 18 H135 P3H (11 of them assigned to the 78th Wing of the Air Force and 7 to the 12th Aircraft Squadron of the Navy).

The H135 is a light and very versatile helicopter. In the Spanish Armed Forces, they have replaced different types of helicopters, such as the OH-58A and UH-1H of ACAVIET in training duties, the S-76 Spirit of the 78th Wing of the Air Force in training and search and rescue (SAR) duties, and the Hughes 500 Cayuse of the defunct 6th Squadron in training, transport and surveillance duties.

6 H175M helicopters

The contracts announced today include 6 H175M helicopters for the Spanish Air Force. We already discussed this acquisition in September. In its statement today, Airbus notes: "These super-medium utility helicopters will be used for governmental missions, including the transport of authorities, replacing obsolete fleets from Wing 48."

These helicopters will replace the four AS-332 Super Pumas (purchased in 1982) and the two AS-532 Cougars (purchased in 2004) of Wing 48. The H175 has a crew of two (pilot and co-pilot) and capacity for between 8 and 10 passengers in its VIP configuration. The Spanish Air Force could be its first military operator, as currently the H175 only has civilian operators.

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Main photo: Airbus Helicopters. An H145M with the HForce system.