The farewell of the 5th Squadron of the Spanish Navy, equipped with SH-60F Seahawk

This Friday, January 30, the Spanish Navy said goodbye to another of the historic units of its Air Fleet (FLOAN).

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The Spanish Navy announced yesterday the disbandment of the 5th Squadron, in a ceremony held at its hangar at the Rota Naval Base in Cádiz. The unit was about to celebrate its 60th anniversary, having been created in February 1966 with an initial complement of 94 men. Between 1966 and 1981, the 5th Squadron received 18 SH-3D Sea King helicopters, popularly known in the Spanish Navy as "Morsa" (Walrus) after the unit's radio call sign.

Initially, the 5th Squadron was dedicated to anti-submarine warfare (ASW). In 2001, it began converting its helicopters to acquire a new tactical transport mission, transferring the anti-submarine warfare responsibility to the 10th Squadron, created on December 22, 1988, and equipped with SH-60B Seahawk helicopters.

In 2017, the 5th Squadron began receiving second-hand SH-60F Seahawk helicopters purchased from the United States, bringing its total to eight. In June 2022, the unit retired its last SH-3Ds, closing a long chapter in its history. The unit has been using its SH-60Fs for tactical transport and special operations infiltration, alongside operators from the Special Naval Warfare Force (FGNE).

In July 2024, Defensa.com reported the disbandment of the 5th Squadronits eight SH-60F helicopters would be transferred to the 10th Squadron, which currently operates eight of the twelve SH-60B helicopters purchased by Spain in the 1980s. This unit expects to replace its SH-60Bs with eight modern helicopters MH-60R, whose purchase was announced in April 2023 and whose deliveries will begin in October 2026, as announced last month by Infodefensa. You can see here the photos of the farewell ceremony published yesterday by the Spanish Navy.

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Main photo: U.S. Marine Corps. An SH-60F of the 5th Squadron during an exercise at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, on September 22, 2025.