Spanish Army receives its first NH90 helicopters

[Zarvan]

Spain received its first two NH90 helicopters on 13 September. Source: Airbus


The Spanish Army's Air Mobile Force (FAMET) took delivery of its first operational HT-29 versions of the NHIndustries NH90 tactical transport helicopters (TTH) on 13 September.

The two HT-29 Caiman, as they are designated by the army, were assembled at the Airbus Helicopters España plant near Albacete in south east Spain and formally handed over at FAMET's headquarters, the Coronel Mate base near Colmenar Viejo, west of Madrid.

They will be joining FAMET's Maniobra (Manouevre) III Battalion based at Agoncillo in the northern region of La Rioja. An Airbus spokesperson said a further two are due to be delivered by the end of the year.

The helicopters were received at the Coronel Mate base at an event coinciding with the 50th anniversary year of the founding of the mobile force by the chief of the Army's Logistical Support Command (MALE), Lieutenant General Juan Bautista Garcia Sanchez.

A previously supplied GSPA version of the NH90 is being used for pilot training at Agoncillo, said Airbus, as the army prepares to start replacing the Super Puma, which began entering service in the 1980s.

Originally the Ministry of Defence ordered 45 of the new aircraft to cover the needs of the three services, but budget cuts forced a reduction to 22 under a revised contract drawn up in 2013.

The latest schedule is for the army to receive 16 and the air force 6 of the helicopters over the next 5 years, with the air force starting to receive its first units from 2019 onwards.

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