Once Germany has lifted the ban on exporting Leopard tanks to Ukraine, the Spanish Government has made public the decission of sending some surplus units stored at a base near the city of Zaragoza. The Spanish Army is equipped with one of the largest numbers of Leopard tanks: 347 in total, of which 239 correspond to the Leopard 2E model, produced in Spain, and 108 are Leopard 2 A4, purchased second-hand by Germany in 1995. More than half of the vehicles in this last lot were stored than ten years ago in the Army logistics base in Zaragoza and subjected to a dehumidification process to prevent deterioration. The tanks were thoroughly inspected over the summer and about 20 of them were in good condition, while a similar number needed rebuilding.
By sending this long-requested material, Ukraine wants that the Western countries to get more involved, and has revived one of its main requests for military aid, made especially at the start of the invasion: Sending fighter jets
What miltary planes could Spain send? In this brief analysis, the possible options are shown. Many can be described as unreal and not very useful for this conflict, but the war seems to be far from an end and a de-escalation is not expected in the short term.
Airbus Tiger EC-665
Spain acquired 24 units of this attack helicopter from 2005 (6 HAP + 18 HAD more advanced) The HAD version arrived at the Almagro Base to replace the BO-105. They were deployed to Afghanistan in 2013.
Deliveries of the 18 HAD (Attack and Destruction Helicopter), started in 2014. The six HAP were intended to be refurbished to the HAD version, but with growing economic crisis they were retired and stored for spares. In 2021 France and Spain agreed to develop the 'Tigre Mk III', an improved version of HAD with deliveries from 2030. At least one HAD airframe was scheduled to build one of the MK III prototypes. However, Airbus has a plant in Albacete, were the different helicopters that equip the branches of the Spanish Armed Forces are built (NH90 AS 532 H135 EC120), so could be easy to put some of them back into service.
- Airframes to deliver: 1-5
- Weapons: GIAT 30 mm Cannon, 4 Mistral AA Missiles, Up to 50 x Thales 70 mm High Explosive Rockets
Spain initially placed an order for 27 A400Ms to replace the C-130 Hercules of Ala 31 (Zaragoza AB). In 2013 the Ministry of Defense announced that only 14 units of the order would operate. With the last delivery scheduled for May 2023, a decision has yet to be made on the remaining 13 aircraft. The most logical measure would be to allocate them for sale, but the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine could mean that some surplus A400Ms were intended to rebuild the transport capacity of its air force
- Airframes to deliver: 1-13
- Weapons: (Transport)
F-18A Hornet
In June 2022, Spain signed contract to buy 20 Eurofighter Typhoons 'Halcon' to replace the F-18s that equip 46th Wing based in Gando, Canary Islands. These F-18s were surplus from US Navy in the mid-90s. The air frames are near the end of their operational life, although they continue to carrying out defense missions. The 'Halcons' are scheduled to be delivered from 2026 on, but some rumours have merged about sending Typhoon detachments from mainland, so the F-18s could be released from their mission and transferred.
- Airframes to deliver: 1-15
- Air to Air Weapons: Vulcan 20 mm cannon, AIM-120, AIM-7, AIM-9L/I/J,
- Air to Ground Missiles: AGM-65, AGM-88
- Anti ship Missiles: AGM-84
- Bombs: GBU-10,16 y 24, BPG-2000, BR-250/500, MK-82
C-101 Aviojet
Ejército del Aire said goodbye to the nationally designed and manufactured C-101 trainer jet after several accidents in 2019 and 2020 in wich pilots were killed.
The C-101 (E.25 'Mirlo) has flown since 1980 in Academia General del Aire in basic and advanced training role. It has been replaced with 24 Pilatus PC-21. Another 24 PC-21 are on order to replace the T-35 Pillan in the basic training role. From 1985 equips 'Patrulla Águila' Ejército del Aire aerobatic team and is expected to keep some flying to fulfill this role. C-101 has also served in the Matacán Group of Schools and in the Armament and Experimentation Logistics Center (CLAEX).
In the 80-90's CLAEX developed an experimental armed version of this aircraft, capable of carrying a cannon for anti helicopter missions, rocket pods, and bombs in 4 mounted pylons. Finally, Ejército del Aire only operated them for training pursposes. The C-101 also served in Honduras, Jordan and Chile. Chile developed an armed version capable of carry AA missiles and MM-39 Exocet anti ship missile.
With the retirement, around 65 C-101 aircraft have still some reasonable remaining flight hours. Some rumours suggest that some will be transferrred to the Uruguayan Air Force. The C-101 could be transferred to Ukraine for basic training flight and anti light and anti helicopter missions.
- Airframes to deliver: Up to 65
- Weapons: Can be fiited with DEFA 30 mm cannon and 4 pylons for rocket pods, bombs and missiles
SF-5M
The F-5 entered in service with Ejército del Aire in 1970. 70 units were built under license by CASA for aerial reconnaisance, fighter bomber missions and advanced reactor flight training.
At the end of 1964, the Spanish government made public the decision to provide the Air Force with a series of 70 F-5s in versions A and B, manufactured under license in Spain by CASA.
At the beginning of January 1970, the first F-5Bs moved to the 202 Squadron at the Morón base and soon the SF-5B started to replace the veterans T-33 in the Reactor School, Talavera AB.
In recent years, the SF-5 has undergone strong modernization in avionics and airframe. This modernization will extend its operational life beyond the next decade. This new version of the aircraft is called SF-5M.
It's clear that Ejércto del Aire is thinking about a replacement. Some suggests that have been contacts with South Korea for the FA-50, and Italy for the Leonardo M-346.
In 2020, Airbus announced the AJFT - Airbus Future Jet Trainer, intended to develop a trainer jet according to Ejercito del Aire specifications. Until 2023, no major updates about this has been made.
- Airframes to deliver: Up to 15
- Weapons: 2 AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. 7 hard points (3 for fuel tanks) to carry Mk 81, Mk 82, Mk 83, CBU-24/49/52/58 bombs.
C-212 Aviocar
Spain currently operates 11 locally designed and manufactured C-212 'Aviocar', equiping 721 Escuadron, for 'Para' training. Ejercito del Aire has been operating the Aviocar for more than 40 years in transport, training, sea patrolling, customs and SAR duties. It has been widely operated worlwide and still is even employed by US Army.
The fleet has been downsizing in the last years, but there are plans to upgrade 5 C-212 with new avionics, to keep them in service until 2034. It's well known the excellent maintenance that is carried out on C-212 in Alcantarilla AB, where the Aviocar are located, so the remaining not upgraded airframes coud have an amount of remaining flying hours.- Airframes to deliver: Up to 6
- Weapons: Transport, but it's fitted with 2 hard points for inert weapons (until 500 kg), or 2 rocket pods, or 2 machine gun pods.
CN-235
The CN-235 is another succesful aircraft developed by spanish aeronautical extinct CASA (currently merged with Airbus). Eight CN-235 are located in Matacan AB where they are used for transport and transport pilot training. Another eight CN-235 'VIGMA' perform SAR and ASW missions from bases in Madrid, Palma de Mallorca and Canary Islands. Sometimes are deployed to Sigonella (Italy) in the frame of EUNAVFOR.
There are plans to replace the CN-235 VIGMA, with around 30 years of life, with 10 'C-295 MPA' developed specially for Ejercito de Aire, with deliveries from 2026, lefting some CN-235 airframes available.
- Airframes to deliver: 8-16
- Weapons: (Transport)
AGM-84 Harpoon Missile
Not an Air Fighter, but Spain has underclosed the delivery to Ukraine of this advanced weapon, not just a portable RPG System.
Clashes between Spanish Government and his far left partners, made Spain rejected first the shipment of "offensive material" and focus on 'defensive weapons' and 'humanitarian aid'. However, pressure from NATO and US have made changed Spanish Goverment mind, and is gradually supplying Ukraine with more increasingly powerful and heavy weapons.
Last Wednesday Defense Minister, detailed in Congress that five 'AGM-84 Harpoon' anti-ship missiles had been sent. The Harpoon is currently in service with Armada Española (Navy) and Ejército del Aire' (Air Force), and is about to reach the end of operational life.
Spain, is replacing AGM-84 Harpoons with the more advance NSM missile built by Norwegian 'Könsberg', under an € 125 million agreement.
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