FIRST FLIGHT OF A SPANISH BUILT NH90

23 January 2013

FIRST FLIGHT OF A SPANISH BUILT NH90

NHI is proud to announce that the first NH90 completely assembled in Spain performed its maiden flight. This event took place in Albacete (Eurocopter España’s site). This will be the first NH90 provided to the Spanish armed forces, with its delivery scheduled in 2013.

The maiden flight ceremony occurred in the presence of María Dolores de Cospedal, President of the Regional Government of Castile-La Mancha; Eurocopter President and CEO Lutz Bertling; Francisco Vergé, CEO of the Eurocopter España affiliate; along with political and military officials.

The no. 1 Spanish-assembled NH90, designated GSPA03, will be delivered to the Spanish Army Airmobile Force (FAMET) in 2013, based on an acquisition contract signed in 2006. Two prototype NH90 TTH GSPA helicopters that were manufactured at Eurocopter’s Marignane, France facility currently are in Spain for the Spanish version’s flight testing and certification campaign.

The NH90’s Spanish variant is equipped with next-generation General Electric CT7 8F5 engines that are assembled at the Albacete plant of ITP, as well as with a tailored communications system and a sophisticated electronic warfare system developed in-country by Indra. The Spanish NH90 also incorporates avionics software from Eurocopter España’s design office.