The loading of two NH90 military helicopters onto two Spanish A400M Atlas aircraft

The Airbus A400M Atlas transport aircraft continues to achieve new logistical milestones for the Spanish Air Force.

The Spanish Air Force successfully embarks six helicopters on two A400M Atlas airplanes
This is how a Super Puma helicopter is loaded into a Spanish A400M Atlas transport plane

In 2023, the Spanish Air Force successfully loaded an AS-332 Super Puma medium helicopter onto an A400M, a milestone that was later surpassed by the loading of three EC-120 Colibri light helicopters onto an Atlas, a capability that has allowed the Spanish Air Force's Patrulla Aspa aerobatic team to deploy to South America in his recent tour of Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. Today, the Spanish Air Force announced a new milestone: the loading of two NH90 Lobo helicopters onto two A400M aircraft. You can see the complex process in this video:

The NH90 is the largest and heaviest helicopter that the Spanish Air Force has managed to carry on an A400M. Its empty weight is 6,300 kg (compared to the Super Puma's 3,920 kg) and its fuselage measures 16.13 meters long, 3.63 meters wide and 4.1 meters high (without rotors and excluding the stabilizer), compared to the Super Puma's 14.5 meters long, 1.8 meters wide and 4.92 meters high (without rotors).

This loading process was carried out on A400M T.23-10 (31-30) and T.23-13 (31-33), both operated by Wing 31, based in Zaragoza. In the images released by the Spanish Air Force, only one of the embarked NH90 Lobos can be identified, the HD.29-17 (803-17), operated by the 803 Squadron of Wing 48, based at Cuatro Vientos (Madrid). + NOTE: the other helicopter is the HD.29-18 (803-18).

The Spanish Air Force has indicated that the shipment of the two NH90s is intended for deployment to Gulfport, Mississippi, USA, for Exercise Southern Strike 2026, organized by the Mississippi Air National Guard, "an advanced training exercise focused on special air operations and the integration of capabilities in a joint and multinational environment."

In addition to the two NH90s and the two A400Ms, the Spanish Air Force will also deploy the Parachute Sapper Squadron (EZAPAC) for this exercise. This special operations unit will have 12 operators ("2 on staff, 2 in support, and 8 as an operational team with full air power integration capabilities," according to the official statement). A C-295M transport aircraft from Wing 35, based in Getafe (likely from the 353rd Special Operations Squadron), is also participating in the deployment. Wing 48 is contributing 37 military personnel to this exercise, "including pilots, flight mechanics, rescuers/snipers, armorers, and personnel from the Overhaul and Repair Squadron (ERR), responsible for ensuring the full operability and maintenance of the helicopters throughout the exercise."

The Spanish Air Force has highlighted that the loading of these two NH90s onto two A400Ms is "a global milestone that underscores the strategic projection, mobility, and logistical support capabilities of the Air Force and Space." However, it should be noted that this is not the first time an NH90 has been loaded onto an A400M: the German Luftwaffe already did so in June 2012, as can be seen in a video published on Vimeo in May 2013.

To load the NH90s onto the A400Ms, it was necessary to remove the main rotor, two of the four tail rotor blades, and the stabilizer. The Spanish Air Force's NH90 Lobo helicopters have the disadvantage of not having a folding tail, a feature that the Spanish Navy's NH90 Sable helicopters do possess.

Regarding the exercise in the US, the Spanish Air Force stated: "During Southern Strike, complex scenarios typical of special air operations will be developed, including building assaults, parachute jumps, live-fire exercises, and missions involving low-altitude tactical flights, both day and night, using night vision goggles. These activities will allow for the refinement of force insertion and extraction procedures, air-ground coordination, and support for special operations units in demanding environments. Participation in this exercise strengthens interoperability with allied forces, consolidates the integration between Air Force and Space units, and contributes to maintaining a high level of readiness to undertake real missions in the field of special operations."

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Images: Ejército del Aire.