Spanish Navy Received First H135P3H Helicopter

Helis, October 28, 2023 - On October 26, 2023, the Spanish Navy (Armada) announced the delivery of the first H135/EC135P3H "Nival" by Airbus Helicopters.

The helicopter will be part of the 12th Squadron (12ª Escuadrilla) of the Naval Aviation and was completed at the Airbus Albacete factory.

The P3H variant is powered by the Whitney Canada PW206B3 engine and is equipped with the Helionix avionics suite.

This helicopter is part of a 36-unit order made by the Spanish Ministries of Defense and the Interior to replace their aging fleets with two batches of 18 units each. Of the first batch, 11 H135s were assigned to the Spanish Air Force as replacements for the S-76, and the remainder were assigned to the Spanish Navy to replace the Hughes H-500.

The Navy helicopters have undergone a series of customizations to meet the requirements of the force, mainly features that allow the helicopter to operate from ships, such as pressurized fuel refueling, manual folding of the main rotor, reinforced anti-corrosion treatment, and a flotation system. They also have a night vision goggles (NVG)-compatible cockpit, a weather and surface radar, an electro-optical system, a winch crane, a central hook, auxiliary fuel tanks, a fast rope system, and a medical evacuation kit (MEDEVAC).

The second H135 is expected to be transferred to the Navy in late November 2023, when both aircraft will fly to their home base, Rota Naval Base, on December 11. "During the six weeks that the first 'Nival' will remain in Albacete, the helicopter will conduct training flights with pilots from the 12th Squadron," the Navy said.

The activity of the H135s planned for 2024 includes conducting and completing the Initial Qualification Campaign on board a Maritime Action Ship during the first half of the year, reaching Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in the second half of the year.

Spanish Navy H135

Spanish Navy - On Thursday, October 26, the Navy received the first AIRBUS H135 P3H helicopter of the total of seven that, in the next two years, will join the Twelfth Squadron of the Aircraft Flotilla (FLOAN).

The H135 Joint Program Office of the General Directorate of Armaments and Materials (DGAM), which manages the acquisition file, transferred the helicopter to the Navy at the Airbus Helicopters Spain facilities in Albacete. The transfer of the second H135 is expected on the 30th. November also in Albacete, and the flight of both aircraft to the Rota Naval Base on December 11. During the six weeks that the first “Nival” will remain in Albacete, this helicopter will carry out training flights with the pilots of the Twelfth Squadron.

The Navy's H135 P3H incorporate exclusive modifications that enable them to operate on ships, such as pressurized fuel refilling, manual folding of the main rotor, reinforced anti-corrosion treatment and a float system. In addition, they have a cabin compatible with Night Vision Goggles, weather and surface radar, electro-optical system (FLIR), side crane, barycentric hook, auxiliary fuel tanks, fast rope system and aeroevacuation kit (MEDEVAC).

The H135 P3H is the first AIRBUS product to enter service in the Navy, standing out for its advanced avionics and simple maintenance. Once the Initial Qualification Campaign aboard a Maritime Action Vessel completes during the first half of 2024, and achieves its IOC (Initial Operational Capability) scheduled for the end of the second half of the same year, the Twelfth Squadron will provide a training capacity cutting-edge aeronautics to the “CN Cardona” School of Aeronaval Equipment (EDAN) and it is expected that it will soon be capable of generating versatile Embarkable Air Units (UNAEMB) and Detached Air Units (UNADEST) with high availability."