In a surprising twist of events, Spain has reversed its initial inclination, announced in November 2021, to acquire the F-35 Lightning II. Initially considered as the replacement for some of the existing Boeing EF-18 Hornet and AV-8B Harrier II aircraft, the F-35 is now encountering challenges in the face of Spain's exploration of the upgraded Long Term Evolution [LTE] variant of the Eurofighter.
In November 2021, the Pentagon, conveyed by Vice Admiral Mathias W. “Mat” Winter, the Director of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program at that time, informed lawmakers that among the countries considered as potential Foreign Military Sales customers for the F-35 were Singapore, Greece, Romania, Spain, and Poland. Consequently, the United States had set its sights on securing a contract with Spain, having successfully navigated negotiations with all listed nations except Greece, which is actively contemplating the acquisition.During the IQPC International Fighter Conference [IFC] 2023 held in Madrid from November 6 to 8, the Spanish Defense Ministry communicated to the press that their primary focus remains on procuring the Eurofighter. They explicitly stated that there are no indications of interest in pursuing any other type of weapons system. The Ministry of Defence remarked, "We have no information about Spain’s interest in acquiring another weapons system other than the Eurofighter," as reported by Janes.
This announcement signals that Spain has rejected any potential F-35 purchase, at least for now. Lockheed Martin and the F-35 has won contracts from NATO members, beating contenders as the french Rafale, the swedish JAS-39 Gripen and the partially built in Spain Eurofighter Typhoon, despite pleas from French authorities for its neighbors to “buy European.”
According to Military experts, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter's success can be attributed primarily to its strong interoperability with allies and partners within NATO partners, and the aircraft's well-defined upgrade roadmap.
These factors combined have not worked for Spain, which has shown its preference for the partially homebuilt 4.5th-generation Eurofighter Typhoon and the FCAS (Future Combat Air System, 6th Gen aircraft developed for Germany, France and Spain).
Speculation regarding the preference for the F-35 gained traction in May of this year, following the Spanish government's announcement of a commitment to increase its defense budget to align with NATO's targets by 2029.
At that time, Gen. Javier Salto Martínez-Avial, Chief of the Air & Space Force, outlined a "long-term" objective for the Spanish Ministry of Defense to acquire a fifth-generation fighter, alongside the procurement of additional Eurofighter Typhoons. However, it seems there has been some reevaluation internally, as the government appears less inclined to invest in the costly F-35 fighters from the United States.
The F-35B , the AV-8B+ Harrier and Armada Española (Spanish Navy)
This controversial decision to abandon the acquisition of the F-35 5th Generation fighter to replace the F-18 and AV-8B Harrier becomes even more contentious when considering the prospect that Spain will definitively lose, by the year 2028, the capability to deploy a fixed-wing naval aviation. Currently, the Navy's doctrine is focused on projecting its power through the support of fighter, bomber, and maritime attack aircraft. The absence of fixed-wing naval aircraft would imply that the LHD 'Juan Carlos I' and its battle group would lose their relevance and strategic purpose in a concerning international context.
The Spanish Navy is in a crucial phase of its evolution regarding its carrier-based strike fighters. The Harriers in service with the Navy are nearing the end of their operational life, and the successor and replacement time are yet to be decided. The Italian Navy, the US Marines, and the Royal Navy are transitioning to the F-35B, leaving the Spanish Navy as one of the last and only users of the Harrier.
Replacing the Harriers is a matter that requires careful planning, as the acquisition process takes a long time, depending on demand and production capacity. The Harrier AV-8B arrived in FLOAN in the 1980s in its "Day Attack" version and has undergone continuous improvements over the years, with the B+ version being the most recent. However, these aircraft are approaching the end of their service life, and they are expected to be retired around 2030.
In addition to platform obsolescence, it should be noted that in 2028, the cooperative program that has sustained the sustainability and updates of the Harriers throughout their lifecycle will end. Despite these limitations, work is ongoing on improvements, such as the installation of the Mode 5 IFF across the fleet, and other updates in avionics, systems, and weaponry to extend their relevance until retirement.
The only model that can replace the Harriers is the F-35B, a 5th generation aircraft capable of operating from amphibious ships, adopted by the US Marines, the Italian Navy, the Royal Navy, and more recently for the Japanese Navy. Losing the capability of having carrier-based fixed-wing aircraft would be a setback to the strategic ambition of the Spanish Navy. The flexibility provided by an embarked air wing with fixed-wing jets is evident, from combat air patrols to support in Marine Corps landings, combining firepower with other units for coordinated strikes or even the ability to target inland objectives.
The Spanish Navy recognizes the importance of ensuring its naval aviation capability and is working on acquiring the new F-35B, which is seen as an imminent necessity to maintain operational flexibility in a constantly evolving security environment.
The LTE of Eurofighter
The decision to withdraw from F-35 discussions also coincides with considerations for retrofitting the Long Term Evolution (LTE) upgrades onto the Eurofighter combat aircraft, potentially expanding its fleet.
The Long Term Evolution [LTE] iteration of the Eurofighter represents a modernized rendition of the original Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, integrating cutting-edge technologies and enhancements to elevate its overall capabilities and performance.
Within the LTE variant, notable improvements are discernible across critical domains such as avionics, sensors, and communication systems. These advancements contribute to heightened situational awareness, superior data-sharing capabilities, and increased interoperability with both airborne and ground systems.
A pivotal aspect of the LTE version lies in its state-of-the-art radar system. Equipped with an Active Electronically Scanned Array [AESA] radar, this configuration delivers an expanded detection range, enhanced target tracking precision, and heightened resilience against electronic countermeasures.
Complementing the radar upgrade, the LTE variant also encompasses refinements to its electronic warfare systems. This ensures a bolstered self-protection mechanism and improved countermeasures to effectively mitigate potential threats.
In response to a question posed by Janes at IQPC International Fighter Conference [IFC] 2023, regarding the interest of the Spanish Air and Space Force (Ejército del Aire y del Espacio: EdAE) in the LTE upgrade, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) indicated that this enhancement could be applied across the entire Eurofighter fleet, encompassing aircraft currently under contract or earmarked for future procurement.
The MoD clarified, “Halcon I and Halcon II will not be acquired with the LTE standard, currently under development. However, both Halcon I and Halcon II, along with earlier tranches, may undergo an upgrade to the LTE standard in the future.”
Ejército del Airte is integrating 20 Tranche 4 (contracted under Halcon I) and 25 Tranche 4+ (selected under Halcon II, with a pending contract) aircraft into its existing fleet of 17 Tranche 1, 32 Tranche 2, and 19 Tranche 3 Eurofighters, which serve as a partial replacement for the 91 EF-18A and EF-18B Hornets.
Given that the LTE modifications would not be suitable for the Tranche 1 aircraft, it leaves 96 Tranche 2, 3, 4, and 4+ Eurofighters (along with any potential leftovers from a prospective Halcon III purchase for Tranche 5) eligible for potential LTE enhancements.
Under a €2-billion contract negotiated and signed last year, Spain is slated to receive 20 Typhoons between 2025 and 2030 to replace its aging F-18 aircraft. The decision to opt for Typhoons over the American stealth fighter played a significant role, driven by the political self-interest of European nations involved in Typhoon production. Airbus’s industrial footprint in Spain, sustaining 20,000 direct and indirect jobs, including the assembly and testing of Spain’s newest Typhoons, undoubtedly factored into this decision.
While incorporating upgrades into its extensive fleet won't transform the Eurofighter into a modern stealth jet, it will undoubtedly enhance the capabilities of Spain's Eurofighter operations.
Related:
Spain approves deal for 25 New Eurofighters under 'Halcon II' program
Spain could have finalised deal for 32 F-35s to replace EF-18's and Harriers
France, Germany, Spain agree on moving on with FCAS development
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