Spanish Navy Welcomes NH90MSPT Helicopter for Evaluation

The first NH90 helicopter of the tactical transport version for the Navy has arrived in Spain for flight trials. The aircraft has been at the Airbus Helicopters plant in Albacete since last week where it landed from the company's facilities in Germany.

At the Albacete , this first unit of a batch of seven NH90MSPT (Maritime Spanish Tactical Transport Helicopter) helicopters will undergo certification and qualification tests, with the aim of final delivery to the Navy in 2025.

The NH90 MSPT, which will operate from next year at the 14 Escuadrilla , at the Rota Naval base, features a new reinforced landing gear and a maximum takeoff weight of up to 11 tons.

The helicopter, designed for tactical transport missions and amphibious assault, integrates an Automatic Identification System (AIS) for ship/helicopter tracking and an automatic blade and tail folding system to minimize time on deck on ships and enhance onboard technician safety.

It also includes a fifth electro-hydraulic pump and a new Exhaust Gases Device (EGD) deflector and attenuator for the engine exhaust gases, enabling complete automatic blade folding and eliminating mechanical interference. Additionally, the helicopter incorporates a floating impact beacon capable of GPS-emitting the collision point coordinates.

Armada Española (Navy) will receive between 2025 and 2026 seven NH90 MSPT helicopters to replace the retired SH3D Sea Kings and the AB-212, which will reach the end of their operational life in mid-2024. While awaiting the NH90s, the Navy has opted for the SH-60F as an interim solution.

On the other hand, the reliability of NH90 helicopters is being called into question. The naval version of the NH90 is facing strong criticism. Australia has just retired its fleet of 47 units from the Australian Army. Norway, Sweden, and Belgium have also announced the withdrawal of their fleets of this model after making significant investments. The largest users, France and Germany, are also experiencing major issues. Apparently, the manufacturer Airbus is also unable to ensure the supply chain of spare parts. Other users such as New Zealand or Spain have not reported major issues to date. In Spain, it is being used as tactical transport in the Army, and as a SAR helicopter in the Air Force, where it has not yet reached full operational capability.