Spain tests drone integration with H135 and NH90 helicopters

Spain Tests Drone Integration with Helicopters

The Spanish armed forces have successfully demonstrated integrating small drones with manned helicopters. Trials included the Spanish Navy operating Airbus Helicopters H135s alongside Airbus Flexrotor surveillance drones and the Army testing NH Industries NH90 helicopters equipped with domestically produced Q-SLAM-40 loitering munitions.

Naval Trials with H135 and Flexrotor Drone

On 7 November, Airbus Helicopters announced successful integration of its Flexrotor small unmanned aircraft system with a Spanish Navy H135 helicopter during May trials. The Flexrotor, a vertical take-off and landing drone classified as Group 2, is designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

To facilitate real-time data sharing, Airbus Helicopters fitted the H135 with new antennas and a modem. This upgrade enables the helicopter's crew to receive live information feeds directly from the Flexrotor drone while in flight.

“This capability will extend visual range and mission safety exponentially,” Airbus stated.

Army Experiments with NH90 and Q-SLAM-40 Munitions

In a separate initiative, the Spanish Army tested NH90 helicopters integrated with the Q-SLAM-40, an indigenous loitering munition system designed to enhance combat effectiveness.

These tests mark significant progress in enhancing the synergy between manned and unmanned aerial systems within Spain’s defense forces.

Summary

The Spanish armed forces are pioneering effective drone integration with helicopters, improving ISR capabilities and mission safety through innovative technological upgrades.

Would you like the summary sentence to be more technical or more general?

more

FlightGlobal FlightGlobal — 2025-11-07

More News