Spain’s Ministry of Defense has ordered 100 Airbus helicopters under the National Helicopter Plan, the largest rotorcraft purchase in DGAM history, enhancing fleet modernization, operational readiness, and domestic defense industry capabilities.
Spain’s Ministry of Defense has finalized orders for 100 helicopters under the National Helicopter Plan announced in May, marking the largest helicopter acquisition in the country’s history. Airbus Helicopters confirmed on December 18, 2025, that the Directorate General for Armament and Material (DGAM) signed four contracts to modernize the air fleets of Spain’s Army, Air and Space Force, and Navy, enhancing operational readiness across land, sea, and air domains.
The contracts cover four helicopter types. In the light segment, Spain is acquiring 13 H135 helicopters—12 for the Air and Space Force and one for the Navy—to support pilot training, light utility missions, and observation tasks. The H135 fleet will help standardize training and provide flexible operational assets.
For the Army’s Airmobile Forces (FAMET), 50 H145M helicopters will be delivered. These multi-role helicopters support training, light attack, utility transport, and disaster relief. Equipped with the HForce weapon system, they can carry cannon pods, guided and unguided rockets, and potentially anti-tank munitions. The H145M complements, rather than replaces, the Tiger attack helicopter by taking on light attack and escort duties.
In the super-medium category, six H175M helicopters are being procured for the Air and Space Force, primarily for governmental and VIP transport. These aircraft replace aging platforms in Wing 48 and offer improved range, payload, and comfort, contributing to the modernization of the Air and Space Force’s fleet.
The fourth component is 31 NH90 multi-role helicopters distributed among all three services—13 for the Army, 12 for the Air and Space Force, and 6 for the Navy. These helicopters will support tactical transport, special operations, and amphibious missions, moving Spain toward a standardized, modern fleet suitable for land, air, and naval operations.
Spain’s Ministry of Defense frames the contracts as a strategic investment to enhance national defense capabilities and reinforce strategic autonomy in the European defense industrial sector. Secretary of State for Defense María Amparo Valcarce García emphasized that the plan aims to replace heterogeneous, aging fleets with a modern, coherent set of platforms.
Airbus Helicopters describes the contracts as the practical implementation of the National Helicopter Plan. CEO Bruno Even highlighted that the acquisition strengthens Spain’s defense and security, while expanding Airbus’ industrial footprint in the country, positioning Spain as a European hub for production and technology.
In operational terms, the H135 and H145M fleets structure pilot training and provide versatile platforms for utility, support, and light attack missions. The H175M offers modern governmental and VIP transport, while the NH90 underpins tactical mobility, special operations, and amphibious capabilities, all with the benefits of a common platform deployable domestically and internationally.
Overall, these 100 helicopters represent a major step in Spain’s National Helicopter Plan. The armed forces will progressively transition to a modern, homogeneous, and easier-to-support rotorcraft fleet over the coming decade, while Spain’s industry benefits from production, customization, training, and digital activities centered in Albacete. The contracts reflect Spain’s strategy to combine defense modernization with long-term industrial and technological development.
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