Spain buys almost €3.7B worth of Hürjet trainers, C295 transports, helicopters 

The Spanish government announced on September 24, 2025, that it is allocating €3.68 billion to purchase new fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters for its armed forces. 

The procurement package includes the already anticipated acquisition of Hürjet advanced jet trainers, C295 transport aircraft and NH-90, H135 and H175 helicopters to fulfill a range of different roles. 

The financial appropriations to fund these programs will cover a period of five years and have already been published in the Spanish government’s official gazette (Boletín Oficial del Estado – BOE). 

The largest component of this massive order, €1.04 billion, is the so-called “Integrated Training System Program”, covering the acquisition of up to 45 Hürjet trainers from Turkish Aerospace Industries. These aircraft will be locally modified by Airbus Defense and Space Spain to meet the requirements of the Spanish Air Force.  

Spain’s Hürjet purchase will be based at the Talavera La Real air base in western Spain, where they will replace the Spanish Air Force’s ageing Northrop F-5 Tiger II fleet. 

The first Hürjet deliveries are expected in 2028, although they will not become fully operational until 2031, after having undergone the modifications and after the completion of a familiarization process by air force personnel. 

Spain is also ordering 18 C295 tactical transport aircraft for €520 million. These aircraft will replace both the C235 and C212 Aviocar fleets. 12 of these aircraft will be allocated to training units and the remaining six are to be used by the airborne troops.  

The C295 is fully assembled at Airbus’ facility in Sevilla in southern Spain. The Spanish government has highlighted the positive impact this order will have on the local aerospace industry ecosystem since several Spanish firms, such as INDRA, CESA, Aciturri, Aernnova, Alestis, Airgroup, SOFITEC and AES, will take part in the program. 

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A large helicopter order 

The second-largest financial allotment, €1 billion, will go to the acquisition of 32 NHI NH-90 helicopters. These helicopters will be additional to the 45 units of this type that Spain had already purchased in previous years for the three branches of the Spanish Armed Forces (24 of which are already in service). 

In addition to its roles as tactical transport, search and rescue (SAR), special operations and anti-submarine (for the Navy), Spain is also looking at options to equip its NH-90s with rockets and missiles, in what would be the first instance of a helicopter of this type being fitted with heavy weaponry. These helicopters would be built and maintained in Albacete, Spain, where one Airbus Helicopters’ manufacturing and service centers is based. 

As is the case with all the programs included in this mega-order, a number of Spanish firms are expected to play a prominent role in the project. This includes Indra, which will supply the Electronic Warfare Systems suite, Aernnova which is making the aerostructures, and ITP Aerospace which is supplying the engines. 

The European helicopter manufacturer has also been selected to supply up to 13 H135 helicopters to cover the needs of the Spanish Navy and Air Force and another 54 units of a “light, twin-engine multi-purpose helicopter” for the airborne units of the Army. Although the specific type has not been named, it is assumed in industry circles to refer to the Airbus Helicopters H145M (AeroTime has reached out to Airbus Helicopters for comment). 

These two programs, which amount to €1.02 billion combined, aim to replace older EC135 helicopters already in service with Spain’s armed forces, which use them for a broad variety of missions, from tactical transport and reconnaissance to search and rescue.  

Much like the NH90s, the other helicopters included in this order will be built and customized in Albacete. Deliveries are targeted for between 2028 and 2034. 

Spain is also ordering six H175 for its Air Force from the Airbus Helicopters for €100 million. These will replace the AS332 Super Puma and AS 532 Cougar, which are currently used mostly as VIP transport, although they can also be deployed in search and rescue missions. 

Also included in these acquisitions is a package of related systems and services, such as flight simulators for the training of crews. 

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