The Spanish Air Force will replace its Cougars and Super Pumas VIPs with H175s

The Air Force's high-profile transport helicopters are to be replaced by new Airbus Helicopters aircraft.

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This Tuesday, the Official State Gazette (BOE) published Royal Decree 848/2025, prepared by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, which establishes the "regulatory rules for the direct granting of loans to the companies Airbus Defence and Space, SAU, and Airbus Helicopters España, SAU, for the industrial development of special modernization programs in the air sector." One of them is the Multipurpose Helicopter Program (HACES), intended to replace the current VIP transport helicopters of the Air Force.

These helicopters are of two types: the Aerospatiale AS-332 Super Puma (HT.21A) and the Eurocopter AS-532 Cougar (HT.27). Both models are operated by the 402nd Air Force Squadron, a unit created on June 28, 1975, initially operating with French-made Aerospatiale AS-330 Puma helicopters and US-made Bell 205s. Their helicopters are recognizable as they are the only ones in the Air Force to wear a white livery, with a large blue stripe and two small red stripes from the cockpit to the tail.

The 48th Wing currently has four Super Pumas (purchased in 1982) and two Cougars (purchased in 2004) for VIP transport. Its mission is to provide air transport to high-ranking State figures, specifically members of the Royal Household, the Presidency of the Government, and the various Ministries. Its helicopters are well-known in Madrid because the Prime Minister always uses them to travel from La Moncloa Palace to Torrejón Air Base, where he can board the Airbus A-310 and Falcon 900 VIP transport aircraft of the 45th Wing.

The model chosen to replace these aging aircraft is the Airbus Helicopters H175, a medium-sized helicopter that made its first flight on December 4, 2009, and entered service in 2014.

The HACES program contemplates the purchase of six H175s for Wing 48, "as well as their operational qualification for operation in real missions in a short period of time, including integration into the responsible logistics structure. It also provides for the installation of secure communication and navigation systems for use in a military environment", according to the aforementioned Royal Decree, which points out that "the world production of rear structures of the H175 platform and its complete equipment, regardless of the destination of the aircraft" is located in Spain.

Currently, the H175 only has civilian operators, so the Air Force would be its first military operator. The helicopters of this type currently in service are used for passenger transport, high-profile transport, police missions, support for the oil and gas industry, and search and rescue missions.

The H175 has a crew of two (pilot and co-pilot) and seats 8 to 10 passengers in its VIP configuration (a version first delivered by Airbus in July 2016). It can reach a top speed of 315 km/h (190 mph) and has a range of 1,259 km (800 mi), with a service ceiling of 6,000 meters (20,000 ft). Its powerplant consists of two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-67E turboshaft engines, each producing 1,776 hp, and a five-blade rotor.

The H175 is equipped with the same Helionix avionics suite as the Spanish Navy's new H135 P3H Nival helicopters, which is reflected in a digitalized cockpit that allows for greater operational efficiency. It also has a 4-axis autopilot, a health and usage monitoring system (HUMS, which provides information on the aircraft's status at all times), the HTAWS system that alerts pilots to the proximity of terrain or obstacles, and the TCAS II air traffic collision avoidance system.

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Photos: Ala 48 / Airbus Helicopters.