Spanish Air and Space Force acquires its initial H135 helicopter, courtesy of Airbus Helicopters.
The Spanish Air and Space Force, along with other security forces, have welcomed the delivery of the Airbus H135 helicopter in Albacete. This delivery marks an important milestone, as the H135 brings advanced capabilities such as reliability, agility, and low noise, making it suitable for demanding operational contexts.
The H135 is set to play a significant role in the Spanish Air and Space Force, complementing their rotary-wing fleet. Its maneuverability and IFR (instrument flight rules) capability are expected to enhance their ability to conduct humanitarian aid, search and rescue, training, and light transport operations. The Spanish Air and Space Force, structured in wings and groups focusing on different mission areas, benefits from such flexible platforms that can operate in diverse environments.
Beyond the Air and Space Force, the H135 has also been introduced to support other Spanish security forces, such as the National Police Air Service (NPAS). The helicopter's agility and low noise contribute to roles in law enforcement, border security, and emergency responses, enhancing operational effectiveness for police and other government agencies.
Albacete serves as a key installation for integrating this asset into the security infrastructure. The local base operations for maintenance, training, and deployment reinforce Spain's strategic air mobility, enabling rapid response across multiple security and defense domains.
The H135 has already proven its worth, with over 1,400 units operated by more than 300 operators in 65 countries. In Europe, it is the benchmark for diverse missions, flying missions as diverse as military training, police surveillance, mountain rescue, and emergency medical transport. The H135 has more than 400,000 flight hours of military training for 12 military customers.
In Spain, the Spanish Army's training unit (ACAVIET) and the Emergency Battalion (BHELEME II) are currently using the H135. The helicopter is equipped with Airbus Helicopters' Helionix avionics suite, featuring advanced technologies.
This integration of the H135 bolsters Spain’s capabilities in both military and civilian security roles, reflecting the helicopter’s global reputation as a capable light utility platform used widely in law enforcement, medevac, and military training. The H135 fleet has accumulated over 6.5 million flight hours, proving its versatility, reliability, and efficiency, making it ideal for the transition to more complex aircraft.
The delivery in Albacete marks the eighth helicopter delivered under a 36-unit contract signed at the end of 2021. Once the planned fleet of 11 helicopters are delivered to the Air Force, the H135 is expected to become the helicopter of reference for pilot training for the Spanish Air Force, Army, Navy, Guardia Civil, and other countries. The H135 will be used for advanced training tasks for military pilots at the Military School of Helicopters in Armilla (Granada).
Fernando Lombo, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters Spain, expressed pride in the H135 being used for training all young pilots from the Ministry of Defence corps. He believes that the H135's delivery to Albacete represents a leap in the quality of teaching and reinforces the Military Helicopter School as a benchmark worldwide.
Sources: 1. Airbus Helicopters 2. Spanish Ministry of Defence 3. Spanish Air and Space Force 4. NPAS
- The H135, with its advanced technologies and agility, will extend its reach beyond the Spanish Air and Space Force, also benefiting other Spanish security forces such as the National Police Air Service (NPAS) in roles like law enforcement, border security, and emergency responses.
- The H135, equipped with Airbus Helicopters' Helionix avionics suite featuring cutting-edge technologies, is expected to become the helicopter of reference for pilot training for not only the Spanish Air Force but also the Army, Navy, Guardia Civil, and other countries, strengthening the Military Helicopter School in Armilla as a global benchmark.
