Spanish Navy Air Arm

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Armada Española Arma Aérea Spanish Navy Air Arm


caption= Logo of the Air Arm of the Spanish Armada
start_date= 1954
country= Spain
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size= 60 aircraft
command_structure= Spanish Navy
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identification_symbol_label= Roundel
identification_symbol_2=
identification_symbol_2_label= Fin & Fus.
Flash

aircraft_attack= Harrier, Agusta-Bell AB 212ASW, Seahawk
aircraft_bomber=
aircraft_electronic= Sea King, Seahawk
aircraft_fighter=
aircraft_interceptor=
aircraft_recon=
aircraft_patrol= Sea King, Seahawk, Cessna Citation III
aircraft_trainer= Hughes 500M
aircraft_transport= Sea King, Cessna Citation

Aircraft carriers

The Spanish Navy Air Arm acquired its first aircraft carrier in 1967 and named her the SNS "Dédalo" (R01). This light aircraft carrier saw combat action as the USS|Cabot|CVL-28 in the Pacific during the Second World War, while in service with the US Navy. In 1972 the loan was converted to a sale and the Dédalo became property of Spain.

In May 1988, the SPS "Principe de Asturias" (R11) entered service with the Spanish Navy. This new-build V/STOL aircraft carrier was entirely constructed in Spain and features a distinctive 12 degrees "ski-jump" ramp for launching the AV-8 Harrier fighters. The "Principe de Asturias" replaced the "Dédalo" as the main aircraft carrier and flagship of the Spanish Navy. The Spanish Navy retired the obsolete "Dédalo" in 1989 and the all Harrier and helicopter operations were transferred to the "Principe de Asturias".

Naval Aircraft

Harriers (Matadors)

The Spanish Navy has operated Harriers for over thirty years.

The first batch of six Hawker Siddeley AV-8S single seat and two TAV-8S two seat aircraft were delivered to the Spanish Navy throughout 1976. A second batch of four AV-8S aircraft was delivered in 1980. The aircraft's official name is Matador, although the distinctive large air intakes led to the nickname "Cobra".Fact|date=June 2008 All of the AV-8Ss were operated by 8 Escuadrilla (8 Squadron), based at Naval Air Station Rota, as were all other Spanish Naval Aviation Squadrons. [http://www.armada.mde.es/esp/BuquesUnidades/Aeronaves/AV8B/Historia.asp?SecAct=040306]

The early model AV-8S received company when the Spanish Navy took delivery of the EAV-8B Matador II in 1987. Between 1987 and autumn 1988, 12 EAV-8Bs were delivered to the newly formed 9 Escuadrilla at NAS Rota.

The new EAV-8B offered better performance and handling. It had a newly designed wing, which offered better performance at high speeds, better fuel consumption and increased fuel capacity. The Rolls Royce F402-RR-406 engine offered better trust and reliability than the engine of the old AV-8S. The EA-8B also has smaller air intakes and a higher placed canopy, offering better pilot visibility. [http://www.armada.mde.es/esp/BuquesUnidades/Aeronaves/AV8B/Caracteristicas.asp?SecAct=040307]

The remaining seven AV-8Ss and two TAV-8Ss were sold to Thailand in 1996, where they entered service with the Royal Thai Navy. After phasing out the AV-8S and TAV-8S Matadors, 8 Escuadrilla was disbanded.

During that same year, the Spanish Navy took delivery of its first EAV-8B+ aircraft. The Harrier II Plus program was a joint effort by the United States Marine Corps, the Spanish Navy, and Italian Navy to increase the effectiveness of the AV-8B while sharing the costs of the program.

The largest and most noticeable improvement of the Harrier II Plus program was the installation of the Hughes AN/APG-65 multimode radar, the original radar system of the F/A-18A/C Hornet. Although fitted with a slightly smaller antenna than on the Hornet, the AN/APG-65 gives the EAV-8B+ a true Beyond Visual Range (BVR) capability. Armed with the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile, the EAV-8B+ can detect and destroy enemy aircraft well before they enter visual range. The radarless EAV-8B can only rely on short-range heat seeking AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles for self-defence. EAV-8B+ Harriers can easily be identified by their larger noses, which house the AN/APG-65 radar.

But the strike capabilities of the EAV-8B+ were also improved. The Litening II Targeting Pod enables the EAV-8B+ to undertake strike missions at night or in adverse weather. New avionics and weapon systems allow the EAV-8B+ to use precision-guided munitions including JDAM and laser guided weapon systems. The EAV-8B+ also received a new Rolls Royce engine, the F402-RR-408, delivering 10% more thrust than the older -406 engines. The Spanish Navy received eight "factory fresh" EAV-8B+ aircraft in 1996, which also entered service with 9 Escuadrilla. Of the remaining nine EAV-8B Harriers, three aircraft were lost in accidents, five were upgraded to Harrier II Plus standard by CASA in Spain.

Four EAV-8B “Day Attack” Harriers continue to operate next to the EAV-8B+ variants with 9 Escuadrilla, although the Spanish Navy is looking into a small upgrade of these aircraft. This upgrade would not give them the AN/APG-65 radar of the EAV-8B+, but would include the F402-RR-408 engine and some of the targeting systems.

Besides the EAV-8B and EAV-8B+ Harriers, 9 Escuadrilla also operates a single two seat TAV-8B. After the sale of the two TAV-8S aircraft in 1996, US Marine Corps instructors at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, trained the Spanish Harrier pilots. After delivery of the sole TAV-8B of the Spanish Navy in June 2001, Spanish Harrier pilots can receive their training at NAS Rota. But Spanish Harrier pilots in the making still have to travel to the United States as all initial flight training is conducted with the T-34 Mentor and T-45 Goshawk training squadrons of the US Navy.

Helicopters

Although the Spanish Navy operates four helicopter types, only two of these operate from the "Principe de Asturias": the SH-3H Sea King and the Agusta-Bell AB 212ASW. The SH-60B Seahawk helicopters operate from the F-80 Santa Maria class frigate and the Hughes 500M helicopters are used for basic training at NAS Rota. [http://www.armada.mde.es/esp/BuquesUnidades/BuquesSuperficie/02Fragatas/41Escuadrilla/organizacion_escoltas.asp?SecAct=04102023]

5 Escuadrilla, nicknamed "The Flying Cows", flies two versions of the SH-3H Sea King. Initially all Sea Kings were delivered as Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) helicopters but three of these were converted to Airborne Early Warning (AEW) helicopters by CASA in Spain. The AEW Sea Kkings use the Searchwater radar system and can easily be identified by the large radar bulge attached to the helicopter. Operated by two radar officers, the AEW SH-3H Sea Kings patrol ahead of the naval task force, providing early warning alert for incoming missiles or aircraft [http://www.armada.mde.es/esp/BuquesUnidades/Aeronaves/SH3D/Caracteristicas.asp?SecAct=040319] .

The rest of the SH-3Hs were converted to troop carriers and received a transport role. Usually, two AEW Sea Kings deploy aboard the "Principe de Asturias", with the third example remaining at NAS Rota. The SH-3H troop carriers not only deploy aboard the carrier but also to Spanish Navy amphibious ships such as the SPS Galicia (L51) and SPS Castilla (L52).

The sole Agusta-Bell AB 212ASW aboard the "Principe de Asturias" belongs to 3 Escuadrilla, nicknamed "The Cat Squadron". Although the AB 212ASW is an Anti Submarine Warfare helicopter, it operates in the SAR role while deployed with the carrier. During daylight operations, the SAR aircrews stand by to launch within minutes if rescue is required. During night operations, the AB 212 remains airborne, hovering close the aircraft carrier to provide immediate assistance in case of emergency. When not assigned to SAR duty at the aircraft carrier, 3 Escuadrilla provides close air support for the Spanish Marines, armed with machineguns and rocket pods. [http://www.armada.mde.es/esp/BuquesUnidades/Aeronaves/AB212/Historia.asp?SecAct=040310]

Order Of Battle

- ! style= "background:#cccccc;" colspan=4; | Naval Station Rota, Spain (LERT)
Rwy 10/28
36º 38' 42.940 N 6º 20' 58.499 W
Elev: 86 ft.
-----! style="text-align: center; background: #ccccaa;"|Escuadrilla
(Squad)! style="text-align: center; background: #ccccaa;"|Aircraft Type! style="text-align: center; background: #ccccaa;"|Number of
units! style="text-align: center; background: #ccccaa;"|Badge
-----! style="text-align: center;| 3ª Esc. || Agusta-Bell 212ASW || 10 ||
-----! style="text-align: center;| 4ª Esc. || Cessna 650 Citation VII || 4 ||
-----! style="text-align: center;| 5ª Esc. || Sikorsky SH-3H/AEW || 11 ||
-----! style="text-align: center;| 6ª Esc. || Hughes 500M || 10 ||
-----! style="text-align: center;| 9ª Esc. || MD EAV-8B/EAV-8B+ /TAV-8B Matador
Harrier II || 17 ||
-----! style="text-align: center;| 10ª Esc. || Sikorsky SH-60B Seahawk || 12 ||

- ! style= "background:#cccccc;" colspan=4; |
Principe de Asturias (R11)
Aircraft Carrier
-----! style="text-align: center; background: #ccccaa;"|Patrulla
(Squad)! style="text-align: center; background: #ccccaa;"|Aircraft Type! style="text-align: center; background: #ccccaa;"|Number of
units! style="text-align: center; background: #ccccaa;"|Badge
-----! style="text-align: center;|
Patrulla Principe
de Asturias || AV-8B Harrier II
Sikorsky SH-3H
Agusta-Bell 212ASW
Sikorsky SH-3 AEW || 12
6
4
2 ||

Aircraft on order

* 28 helicopters NHI NH90

ee also

* Spanish Navy
* Spanish Navy Marines
* Spanish Air Force

References

External links

* [http://www.armada.mde.es/esp/BuquesUnidades/Aeronaves/default.asp Spanish Navy Air Arm (Spanish Only)]
* [http://pobladores.lycos.es/channels/aficiones/Marina_de_Guerra/area/5 Pictures of the Escuadrillas (Spanish)]