{"id":63504,"date":"2026-02-17T15:51:36","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T14:51:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/?p=63504"},"modified":"2026-02-27T20:11:25","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T19:11:25","slug":"the-loading-of-two-nh90-military-helicopters-onto-two-spanish-a400m-atlas-aircraft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/2026\/02\/17\/the-loading-of-two-nh90-military-helicopters-onto-two-spanish-a400m-atlas-aircraft\/","title":{"rendered":"The loading of two NH90 military helicopters onto two Spanish A400M Atlas aircraft"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Airbus A400M Atlas transport aircraft continues to achieve new logistical milestones for the Spanish Air Force.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p><rel><a href=\"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/2025\/06\/02\/the-spanish-air-force-successfully-embarks-six-helicopters-on-two-a400m-atlas-airplanes\/\">The Spanish Air Force successfully embarks six helicopters on two A400M Atlas airplanes<\/a><\/rel><br \/>\n<rel><a href=\"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/2023\/07\/04\/this-is-how-a-super-puma-helicopter-is-loaded-into-a-spanish-a400m-atlas-transport-plane\/\">This is how a Super Puma helicopter is loaded into a Spanish A400M Atlas transport plane<\/a><\/rel><\/p>\n<p>In 2023, the Spanish Air Force successfully loaded <a href=\"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/2023\/07\/04\/this-is-how-a-super-puma-helicopter-is-loaded-into-a-spanish-a400m-atlas-transport-plane\/\">an AS-332 Super Puma medium helicopter<\/a> onto an A400M, a milestone that was later surpassed by the loading of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/2025\/06\/02\/the-spanish-air-force-successfully-embarks-six-helicopters-on-two-a400m-atlas-airplanes\/\">three EC-120 Colibri light helicopters<\/a> onto an Atlas, a capability that has allowed the Spanish Air Force's Patrulla Aspa aerobatic team to deploy to South America in <a href=\"https:\/\/ejercitodelaireydelespacio.defensa.gob.es\/EA\/ejercitodelaire\/es\/Actualidad\/Noticias\/Noticia\/f16e20e3-f825-11f0-a301-005056a2cb59\/?resourceId=f16e20e3-f825-11f0-a301-005056a2cb59&path=\/sites\/internet.es\/.content\/noticiaEA\/noticiaEA_01442.xml#gsc.tab=0\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">his recent tour of Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina<\/a>. Today, the Spanish Air Force announced a new milestone: <a href=\"https:\/\/ejercitodelaireydelespacio.defensa.gob.es\/EA\/ejercitodelaire\/es\/Actualidad\/Noticias\/Noticia\/7a4dca4b-0bf4-11f1-83cd-005056a2cb59\/?resourceId=7a4dca4b-0bf4-11f1-83cd-005056a2cb59&path=\/sites\/internet.es\/.content\/noticiaEA\/noticiaEA_01452.xml#gsc.tab=0\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">the loading of two NH90 Lobo helicopters onto two A400M aircraft<\/a>. You can see the complex process in this video:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Primera vez que se carga un NH90 en un A400M \" width=\"665\" height=\"374\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gHRmIssNtQc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>The NH90 is the largest and heaviest helicopter that the Spanish Air Force has managed to carry on an A400M.<\/strong> Its empty weight is 6,300 kg (compared to the Super Puma's 3,920 kg) and <strong>its fuselage measures 16.13 meters long, 3.63 meters wide and 4.1 meters high<\/strong> (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).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55099978367_dc4ca83dc7_o.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55099978367_eb4b98d5ed_z.jpg\" style=\"width:100%; height:auto; border:0px;\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>This loading process was carried out on A400M T.23-10 (31-30) and T.23-13 (31-33)<\/strong>, both operated by Wing 31, based in Zaragoza. In the images released by the Spanish Air Force, <strong>only one of the embarked NH90 Lobos can be identified, the HD.29-17 (803-17)<\/strong>, operated by the 803 Squadron of Wing 48, based at Cuatro Vientos (Madrid). + NOTE: the other helicopter is the HD.29-18 (803-18).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55101049743_a9ebbb0f9b_o.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55101049743_ed83195d0f_z.jpg\" style=\"width:100%; height:auto; border:0px;\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>The Spanish Air Force has indicated that the shipment of the two NH90s is intended for deployment to Gulfport, Mississippi, USA<\/strong>, for Exercise Southern Strike 2026, organized by the Mississippi Air National Guard, <em>\"<strong>an advanced training exercise focused on special air operations<\/strong> and the integration of capabilities in a joint and multinational environment.\"<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55101119744_d547c04082_o.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55101119744_c53b3fddf9_z.jpg\" style=\"width:100%; height:auto; border:0px;\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In addition to the two NH90s and the two A400Ms, <strong>the Spanish Air Force will also deploy the Parachute Sapper Squadron (EZAPAC) for this exercise.<\/strong> This special operations unit will have 12 operators (<em>\"2 on staff, 2 in support, and 8 as an operational team with full air power integration capabilities,\"<\/em> according to the official statement). <strong>A C-295M transport aircraft from Wing 35<\/strong>, based in Getafe (likely from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/2024\/04\/27\/a-spanish-pilot-shows-one-of-the-c-295m-of-the-353-special-operations-squadron\/\">353rd Special Operations Squadron<\/a>), is also participating in the deployment. <strong>Wing 48 is contributing 37 military personnel to this exercise<\/strong>, <em>\"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.\"<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55100859566_330bb21bb9_o.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55100859566_3792461bf5_z.jpg\" style=\"width:100%; height:auto; border:0px;\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>The Spanish Air Force has highlighted that the loading of these two NH90s onto two A400Ms is <em>\"a global milestone<\/strong> that underscores the strategic projection, mobility, and logistical support capabilities of the Air Force and Space.\"<\/em> <strong>However, it should be noted that this is not the first time an NH90 has been loaded onto an A400M:<\/strong> the German Luftwaffe already did so in June 2012, as can be seen in <a href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/67400951\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">a video published on Vimeo<\/a> in May 2013.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55101130704_25be1f026b_o.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55101130704_4cfa4c4ea4_z.jpg\" style=\"width:100%; height:auto; border:0px;\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>To load the NH90s onto the A400Ms, it was necessary to remove the main rotor<\/strong>, two of the four tail rotor blades, and the stabilizer. <strong>The Spanish Air Force's NH90 Lobo helicopters have the disadvantage of not having a folding tail<\/strong>, a feature that the Spanish Navy's NH90 Sable helicopters do possess.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55100859576_1615115d86_o.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55100859576_2a8502685d_z.jpg\" style=\"width:100%; height:auto; border:0px;\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Regarding the exercise in the US, the Spanish Air Force stated: <em>\"<strong>During Southern Strike, complex scenarios typical of special air operations will be developed<\/strong>, including building assaults, parachute jumps, live-fire exercises, and missions involving low-altitude tactical flights, both day and night, using night vision goggles. <strong>These activities will allow for the refinement of force insertion and extraction procedures<\/strong>, air-ground coordination, and support for special operations units in demanding environments. <strong>Participation in this exercise strengthens interoperability with allied forces<\/strong>, 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.\"<\/em><\/p>\n<p>---<\/p>\n<p><small>Images: <a href=\"https:\/\/ejercitodelaireydelespacio.defensa.gob.es\/EA\/ejercitodelaire\/es\/Actualidad\/Noticias\/Noticia\/7a4dca4b-0bf4-11f1-83cd-005056a2cb59\/?resourceId=7a4dca4b-0bf4-11f1-83cd-005056a2cb59&path=\/sites\/internet.es\/.content\/noticiaEA\/noticiaEA_01452.xml#gsc.tab=0\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ej\u00e9rcito del Aire<\/a>.<\/small><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Airbus A400M Atlas transport aircraft continues to achieve new logistical milestones for the Spanish Air Force.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[11546,19534],"tags":[3928,3929,5923,8244,8245,11875,26271],"class_list":["post-63504","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-military-aviation","category-defense-portada-eng","tag-ala-48","tag-803-escuadron-de-fuerzas-aereas","tag-ala-31","tag-airbus-a400m-atlas","tag-nhindustries-nh90","tag-spanish-air-force","tag-southern-strike-2026"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-07-15 00:42:41","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63504","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63504"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63504\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63504"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63504"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63504"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}