Spanish DGAM orders 100 helicopters from Airbus and NHIndustries

The Spanish Ministry of Defence’s Directorate General for Armament and Material (DGAM) has placed orders for a total of 100 helicopters from both Airbus Helicopters and NHIndustries: the joint venture in which Airbus combines with Leonardo and GKN Fokker to produce the NH90 helicopter.

The contracts, announced by Airbus on 18 December 2025, represent the largest helicopter purchase by the DGAM and cover four different types for the three branches of the Spanish armed forces:

• 13 H135s: 12 helicopters for the Spanish Air and Space Force and one for the Spanish Navy. These will be used for advanced pilot training, light utility and observation missions;
• 50 H145Ms: all of these are for the Spanish Army, with their missions covering military pilot training, light attack (equipped with Airbus’s HForce weapon systems fit), light utility and disaster relief;
• six H175Ms: these super-medium utility helicopters will be for the Spanish Air and Space Force and will be used for governmental missions, including the transport of authorities, replacing obsolete fleets from Wing 48;
• 31 NH90s in the Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) configuration: 13 for the Spanish Army, 12 for the Spanish Air and Space Force, and six for the Spanish Navy. These will conduct tactical transport, manoeuvre and special operations missions, as well as completing the navy’s amphibious warfare fleet.

“By formalising these contracts, the Ministry of Defence fulfils its commitment to provide our armed forces with the latest generation of helicopters that are essential for their operations,” Spanish Secretary of State for Defence María Amparo Valcarce García was quoted as saying in an Airbus press release. “This investment is strategic and is focused on significantly increasing Spain’s security and defence capabilities, ensuring national strategic autonomy in a key sector of European defence.”

“This award is the tangible realisation of the National Helicopter Plan and the programmes included represent a qualitative shift in the capabilities of the Armed Forces,” added Airbus Helicopters CEO Bruno Even. “We are proud to be strengthening Spain’s national defence and security resilience. Furthermore, they consolidate and advance Airbus Helicopters’ industrial footprint in Spain, projecting the country as a reference hub in the European aeronautical industry.”

In addition to strengthening the current industrial capabilities of Airbus Helicopters in Spain, the major helicopter procurement is expected to have a direct impact on the creation of highly qualified jobs, estimated at more than 300 direct positions over the next three years. The industrial footprint in Albacete will continue to grow with a new military helicopter customisation centre and an international training centre for H145M pilots and technicians, Airbus stated, adding that the developments will further supplement the ongoing construction of facilities dedicated to the mid-life upgrade of the Airbus Tiger attack helicopter.

In parallel, Airbus Helicopters says it aims to develop its Albacete site into a centre of expertise for digital capabilities. Within this framework, a Digital Campus is being developed in collaboration with the University of Albacete and the Science and Technology Park of Castilla Mancha, specialising in the creation of digital tools and cyber security for all of Airbus Helicopters. Additionally, the areas of support engineering, software development, connectivity and maintenance for the Spanish armed forces’ military helicopters will be strengthened.

As well as representing a bonanza order for Airbus Helicopters, the order for 31 NH90s continues a run of positive recent news for NHIndustries and cements its position as the largest rotorcraft joint venture in the world. On 12 December NHIndustries announced that the Greek Ministry of Defence had signed up for a follow-on support contract for the Hellenic Army’s fleet of NH90s, while on 16 December the first of 31 NH90 Sea Tigers was handed over to the German Navy.

As Spain has previously ordered 45 NH90s, the latest order will make Spain one of the largest NH90 operators. Spain is also the only NH90 operator to have introduced the NH90 to all three service arms. Deliveries under Spain’s latest NH90 orer are due to start in 2031, according to NHIndustries.

Previously, the NH90 programme had not fared so well; citing a combination of delivery delays, technical issues, high operational costs and low availability rates, Australia and Norway have both axed their NH90 fleets, Sweden has indicated it will do the same, Portugal cancelled an NH90 order before receiving any helicopters and the Belgian MoD confirmed in July 2025 that it would deactivate its NH90 fleet this year.

Over the last few weeks, however, the programme appears to have regained significant momentum.