Spain Reinforces Harrier Extension Plan with First A330 MRTT Refuelling

 

Spain has taken a concrete step to sustain its carrier-based aviation capability, as a McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II from the Spanish Navy has successfully conducted its first air-to-air refuelling with an Airbus A330 MRTT operated by the Spanish Air and Space Force.

The milestone is more than a technical achievement. It directly supports Spain’s broader plan to extend the operational life of its Harrier fleet into the next decade, currently projected to reach around 2032. With no immediate replacement available, Madrid has opted to sustain and adapt its existing platform rather than pursue a near-term acquisition of a next-generation STOVL aircraft.

Integrating the Harrier with the A330 MRTT enhances operational flexibility in a way that was previously limited. Air-to-air refuelling significantly increases the aircraft’s range and endurance, allowing for longer missions, extended patrol times, and improved deployment options from sea-based platforms. In practical terms, it helps offset some of the inherent limitations of an aging fleet.

This development also reflects a growing level of joint integration between Spain’s naval and air forces. The A330 MRTT is becoming a central asset within Spain’s aerial refuelling capability, and its compatibility with multiple platforms—including legacy aircraft like the Harrier—broadens its operational value. It also aligns Spain more closely with NATO partners that rely on similar tanker platforms and procedures.

The timing is significant. Spain is already pursuing a sustainment strategy for the Harrier that includes cooperation with Airbus and the acquisition of spare parts from retiring fleets operated by allies such as the United States Marine Corps and the Italian Navy. Ensuring that the aircraft can operate effectively within a modern support ecosystem is essential if that plan is to succeed.

While the Harrier remains a unique asset due to its vertical/short takeoff and landing capabilities, keeping it operational into the 2030s will require continuous adaptation. The successful refuelling test with the A330 MRTT signals that Spain is not merely maintaining the aircraft, but actively integrating it into a more capable and flexible operational framework.

In that sense, this first refuelling is not just a milestone—it is a clear indication that Spain is doubling down on its decision to keep the Harrier flying.

What Is the Current State of Spain’s S-80 Submarine Program? Delays, technical issues and industrial shifts raise questions about Spain’s flagship submarine

Spain’s S-80 Plus was conceived as a bold step toward full naval autonomy: a domestically designed and built submarine capable of placing the country among the world’s most advanced naval powers. Years later, the program is no longer defined by ambition alone, but by a more complex reality shaped by delays, technical challenges, and growing industrial questions.

The lead boat, Isaac Peral, entered service in 2023 after a development process marked by significant setbacks. Schedule slippages and cost overruns pushed the program well beyond its original timeline, turning what was meant to be a symbol of technological independence into a test of Spain’s ability to manage highly complex defense projects. Even so, delivering a fully indigenous submarine remains a major industrial milestone.

Recent reporting in Spanish media has brought renewed attention to the program’s technical performance. Issues cited include components linked to emergency ballast systems, valve reliability, and various onboard subsystems. While such reports have fueled criticism, it is important to place them in context. Submarine development is among the most demanding engineering efforts in the defense sector, and early operational issues are not uncommon. Comparable programs such as the Astute-class submarine and the Virginia-class submarine experienced similar phases of refinement before reaching full maturity.

Spain’s Ministry of Defence has maintained that the S-80 is fully operational within established safety parameters, describing the reported issues as part of the normal process of system optimization. This position reflects a broader reality: modern submarines evolve significantly after delivery, with incremental improvements shaping their final operational standard.

However, not all technical concerns carry equal weight. In submarine warfare, acoustic performance is critical. Reports pointing to vibration and noise levels—if sustained—would have direct implications for stealth, the defining characteristic of any underwater platform. Whether these are transitional issues or indicators of deeper design challenges remains a central question as the program progresses.

Beyond technical factors, the S-80 also faces challenges in the international arena. Despite its advanced design, the program has yet to secure export orders. Competing against established suppliers with decades of experience, strong political backing, and proven platforms has proven difficult. In today’s defense market, success depends not only on capability, but also on industrial scale, reliability, and long-term support credibility.

This context helps explain a significant recent development: Navantia has signed a memorandum of understanding with ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems to explore cooperation in submarine construction. While officially focused on future projects, the agreement highlights a shifting industrial landscape in which collaboration may become essential to remain competitive, particularly in export markets.

The S-80 program therefore sits at a crossroads. Technologically, it represents a substantial achievement for Spain, demonstrating the ability to design and build a modern submarine independently. Operationally, it is still maturing, with key performance areas under close observation. Industrially, it faces the challenge of translating capability into market success.

Rather than a clear-cut success or failure, the S-80 is better understood as a program in transition—one that reflects both the risks and rewards of pursuing strategic autonomy in defense. Its ultimate legacy will depend not on early criticism or initial difficulties, but on whether Spain can consolidate its capabilities, resolve outstanding issues, and position the platform effectively in an increasingly competitive global market.

🇪🇸 Spain Plans Its First Conventional Aircraft Carrier in Historic Naval Leap

Spain commissions a feasibility study for its first conventional aircraft carrier, shifting from STOVL-only platforms and signaling a major evolution in naval air power.

Spain Prepares for Its First Conventional Aircraft Carrier.

In a historic shift for its naval strategy, Spain is preparing to build its first conventional aircraft carrier, a development that would significantly upgrade its maritime airpower capabilities. The Spanish Navy (Armada Española) has formally commissioned state-owned shipbuilder Navantia to conduct a feasibility study for what could become the largest warship in Spain’s history—surpassing the current LHD Juan Carlos I.

This initiative marks a clear evolution from the Navy’s original plan to operate up to three STOVL-capable amphibious assault ships to now embracing a mixed fleet that includes one conventional fixed-wing aircraft carrier. The envisioned carrier could resemble the French Charles de Gaulle, weighing around 40,000 tons and measuring over 260 meters in length.

Currently, the Juan Carlos I supports STOVL (Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing) aircraft such as the AV-8B Harrier II, now reaching the end of their service life. The only modern replacement available for such aircraft is the F-35B by Lockheed Martin, which limits operational flexibility and market competition.

A conventional aircraft carrier, using catapults and arrestor wires, would expand Spain’s fighter options to include the F-35C, F/A-18F Super Hornet, and Rafale M, among others. These aircraft offer longer range, heavier payloads, and more advanced sensors compared to STOVL types.

The move also aligns Spain with NATO partners like France and the U.S., both operating advanced carrier-borne aircraft. Furthermore, it opens the door to future integration of sixth-generation jets from the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project, being jointly developed by France, Germany, and Spain.

Navantia's study will explore key systems including:

- Catapult-assisted take-off and arrested recovery (CATOBAR) systems

- Aircraft support for 25–30 fixed-wing manned fighter jets

- Integration of Class 3 UAVs with capabilities for early warning

Pending government approval, the first steel cut could take place by 2035, with the ship entering service around 2040. When complete, the new carrier will be larger and more capable than the Juan Carlos I (26,000 tons, 231 meters), marking a leap forward in Spanish naval aviation.

Spain’s future carrier air wing may include a mix of:

- Carrier-capable fighter jets (F-35C, Rafale M, or F/A-18F)

- Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for surveillance and ASW

- Future FCAS naval variants (anticipated post-2040)

This development ensures that Spain will always have two naval aviation platforms operational, even when one is undergoing extended maintenance addressing a crucial limitation faced by navies operating a single carrier-type vessel.

It also reflects a broader trend across Europe: modernization of naval forces and an increased focus on blue-water capabilities. With rising geopolitical tensions and renewed interest in power projection, Spain is positioning itself as a stronger and more autonomous player within both NATO and the EU.

The construction of a conventional aircraft carrier not only reflects Spain’s technological ambition and industrial capacity, but it also enhances the country's strategic relevance in the Atlantic and Mediterranean theaters. This evolution is emblematic of a new chapter for the Spanish Navy and for European naval power as a whole.

Armada Española (Spanish Navy) Welcomes First H135 Helicopter from Airbus Helicopters

The Spanish Navy has received the first H135 P3H helicopter out of a total of seven that will become part of the 12th Squadron of the Aircraft Flotilla (Floan) over the next two years. The Directorate General of Armament and Material (DGAM), which oversees the acquisition process, handed over the helicopter to the Navy at the Airbus Helicopters Spain facilities in Albacete.

Over a period of six weeks, this helicopter will conduct training flights with pilots from the 12th Squadron in Albacete. The H135 P3H helicopters of the Spanish Navy have undergone modifications to enable operations on ships. These modifications include pressurized fueling, manual folding of the main rotor, enhanced anti-corrosion treatment, float system, a night vision goggle-compatible cabin, weather and surface radar, electro-optical system (FLIR), side crane, baricentric hook, auxiliary fuel tanks, fast rope, and a MEDEVAC evacuation kit.

The Initial Qualification Campaign will take place on board a Maritime Action Ship in the first half of 2024. It is expected to achieve its Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in the second half of the same year, allowing it to be integrated into Deployable Air Units (Unaemb) and detachments (Unadest).

The H135 P3H is the first Airbus product to enter service with the Spanish Navy. It will replace the Hughes 500 helicopters of the 6th Squadron, which were acquired in 1972 and were used for anti-submarine warfare, liaison, transport, observation, among other tasks, and began to be phased out in June 2022.

Related:

Spain confirms order for 8 MH-60R for Armada Española

Spain could build 3 AWD destroyers and 6 corvettes for Australia due to cost overruns in its current frigate manufacturing program

Spain receives first H135s from 36-helicopter order

Spain confirms order for 8 MH-60R for Armada Española

Armada Española (Spanish Navy) has officially ordered the eight MH-60R Seahawk helicopters it requested from the US government last year.

According to Lockheed Martin, the ordered helicopters will have advanced mission systems and sensors for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare.

The Seahawks will reportedly significantly upgrade Spain’s maritime patrol capabilities.

Armada Española has been employing SH-60 helicopters  has been withdrawn in 2022, and sold to Perú.

Currently Armada Española (Spanish Navy) operates eighteen Sikorsky SH-60B and SH-60F Seahawks with Escuadrilla 10 (Eslla 010) at Rota. They are embarqued on its F-80 and F-110 frigates, and 'Juan Carlos I' aircraft carrier. The new MH-60Rs new helicopters will replace the SH-60B.

(Armada Española/Spanish Navy SH-60B)

In 2022 Armada Española withdrawn its SH-3 Sea King helicopters from service. The remaining 6 units on service were transferred to Perú.

In March 2022, the US government announed that Spain had requested 20 T-700-GE-401C engines, 32 AGM-114R Hellfire missiles, and 100 WGU-59/B Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems in addition to the eight MH-60R.

Airborne low-frequency sonars, missile warning systems, embedded global positioning systems, and identification friend-or-foe transponders were also requested .

It's also expected that MH-60Rs to performe also vertical replenishment, search and rescue, and communications relay missions.

Related:

Spanish Navy Acquires 8 MH-60R, 32 Hellfire Missiles

Russian Su-24 buzzing Spanish carrier Juan Carlos I as it was about to launch AV-8Bs during NATO BALTOPS 2019

Spanish Navy receives SH-60FsSpanish Navy receives SH-60Fs

Spain could have finalised deal for 32 F-35s to replace EF-18's and Harriers

A small cell of the highest confidence of the Spanish's Minister of Defence, Margarita Robles, has already finalised negotiations with the US Department of Defence and the Lockheed Martin industrial corporation for the purchase of the F-35.

With the express prior authorisation of the Prime Minister, the small Spanish team has sought counterparts with the US military-technical delegation and "have already agreed on the general outlines of the transaction," say sources familiar with the details. The Spanish Air Force needs to replace its more than 50 modernised F-18 fighters from the 12th Wing (Torrejón) and 15th Wing (Zaragoza) over the next decade. And the Navy needs to start replacing by 2029 its dozen veteran AV-8B Harrier II Plus that make up the 9th Squadron of its Aircraft Flotilla.
The start of the formal F-35 procurement process will be formalised in the coming months. A government-to-government agreement through the FMS (Foreign Military Sales) system is the mechanism by which Washington's defence department facilitates the sale of weapons systems, equipment, services and training to allied or friendly powers.
The total number of aircraft in Spanish demand is kept under lock and key. The aim is to obtain an initial batch of at least twenty F-35A aircraft for the Air Force and another dozen in F-35B vertical take-off configuration to renew the L-61 Juan Carlos I aircraft carrier's air projection potential. Once the contract is signed, the Spanish requests will enter the production line of the F-35 factory that Lockheed Martin has in Fort Worth, Texas, where thousands of orders are accumulating, making it practically impossible for the first units to arrive in Spain before 2030.
atalayar 

Spain Awards Lockheed Martin $519m For F-110 5 Aegis & SPY-7 Radar Systems

The U.S. Navy, on behalf of Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customer Spain, has awarded Lockheed Martin a $519.1 million contract to support AEGIS and SPY-7 systems for the future F-110 frigates of the Spanish Navy.
The contract covers the procurement of AEGIS fire control loop development, Solid State S-Band Radar Processing Group, tools and test equipment, and spares for five new multi-mission frigates operating the AEGIS combat system.This FMS contract will support the in-development Bonifaz-class (F-110) Frigates of the Spanish Navy and their SPY-7 radar.
The contracted work will be performed mostly in the US and is expected to be completed by April 2030.
Spain is obligating $90.7 million in FMS funding at the time of the award.
Navantia and the Spanish Ministry of Defense have signed the contract for the construction of five F-110 frigates for the Spanish Navy in April 2019.
F-110 frigates are set to replace the Spanish Navy’s Santa Maria-class frigates which have been in service for over 30 years. F-110 frigates will be fitted with the Aegis combat system integrating a new solid-state S-band radar by Indra. Lockheed Martin and Indra have been collaborating since 2009 to develop a state-of-the-art S-band solid state radar for Spain’s F-110 Frigate Program.
navalnews

Russian Su-24 buzzing Spanish carrier Juan Carlos I as it was about to launch AV-8Bs during NATO BALTOPS 2019

Flagship of the Spanish Navy Juan Carlos I was buzzed by a Russian Su-24 this week while the amphibious assault ship was preparing to launch its AV-8B fighters during Exercise Baltops.
okdiario

Spain recalls 'Mendez Nuñez' frigate from US Navy strike group over Gulf tensions

Spain has recalled a frigate accompanying a U.S. aircraft carrier to the Middle East because of rising tensions between Washington and Tehran, the defense ministry said Tuesday, May 14.
“For the moment the frigate Mendez Nuñez has left the combat group of the USS Abraham Lincoln,” a ministry spokesperson told AFP, confirming a report in the Spanish daily El Pais.
“It’s a temporary withdrawal, decided by Defense Minister Margarita Robles, as long as the American aircraft carrier is in this zone,” the spokesman added.
He said the Spanish frigate had joined the aircraft carrier’s strike group for a military exercise.
“No possible confrontation or warlike action is envisaged [by Spain] and it is for this reason that the participation is suspended for the moment,” he added.
thedefensepost

Spain cleared to buy Aegis systems for new F-110 frigates

The US State Department has approved a potential sale of five Aegis shipsets for the Spanish Navy’s new F-110 frigates.
A contract for the construction of five frigates is expected to be awarded this year and Navantia is already working on some elements of the ships’ systems and design.
The potential sale of US military equipment to Spain is worth an estimated $860.4 million and includes five MK7 Aegis weapon systems with computing infrastructure, fire control systems, baseline VII MK 41 vertical launching systems.
navaltoday

After Brexit, Spain’s Rota base will be new strategic HQ for the EU

The southern Spanish town of Rota, in Cádiz province, is already home to the Spanish Navy’s biggest military base, and also to what is probably the largest US naval base in all of southern Europe. But after Brexit, in March of next year, Rota will also house one of the European Union’s five operational headquarters (OHQ), replacing the current one at Northwood, in Eastbury, Hertfordshire.
Rota also hopes to replace Northwood as headquarters of Operation Atalanta, the EU naval mission that fights piracy off the coast of Somalia.
elpais

Spanish Navy Receives Fifth Upgraded AB-212 Helicopter

On Tuesday 5 December, SENER and Babcock España, joint venture partners, presented the fifth upgraded Agusta Bell 212 (AB-212) to the Directorate General of Armament and Material (Dirección General de Armamento y Material, DGAM) of the Spanish Ministry of Defence as part of a total of seven units that came into service in 1974. The two last units will be delivered in 2018.
The presentation ceremony took place at Babcock's Aeronautical Maintenance Centre in Albacete.
SENER and Babcock España have entered a joint venture with the purpose of completing the life extension program of these seven AB-212 helicopters belonging to the Spanish Navy. This will extend their operational life in at least 15 years, by incorporating advances in equipment and avionics.
Thanks to this program, the helicopters will be able to operate without restriction in controlled military and civilian airspaces, in compliance with the requirement of new regulations, as well as giving them self-protection and defence systems that will allow them to be deployed in multinational missions with a low-medium threat level. aviationpros

Spanish frigate 'Cristobal Colón' deploys to Australia for AWD support

Spanish Navy’s Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate Cristóbal Colón is scheduled to embark on a long-term deployment to Australia on January 9.
Under an agreement between the two navies, the Aegis-equipped frigate will spend 120 days in Australia where it will help train future Australian Hobart-class destroyer sailors of the Australian Navy.
By integrating into the Australian Navy fleet, Cristóbal Colón will provide dedicated training and familiarisation opportunities for the crews of Australian destroyers Hobart, Brisbane and Sydney.
NUSHIP Hobart, the first of three destroyers, will start category 5 sea trials in mid-January 2017 and will be assisted in the process by ESPS Cristóbal Colón.
If everything goes according to plan, the Spanish frigate is expected to return to Ferrol, Spain in early August 2017.
This is not the first time a Spanish Navy ship is integrating into the Royal Australian Navy. Back in 2013, Spain sent its replenishment ships ESPS Cantabria to Australia where it remained for eight months.
navaltoday

Canada's Navy In Talks To Rent Spanish Replenishment Ship 'Cantabria'

Spain and Canada are negotiating a mutual logistic arrangement (MLSA) to deploy a Spanish replenishment ship with the Canadian fleet in the North Atlantic.
The ship deployed "during some periods of 2016" could be the auxiliary oiler and replenishment ship (AOR) Cantabria or Patiño. The logistic arrangement is "to cover the Canadian navy's temporary need of logistic support vessels."
The Cantabria or Patiño would support training for the Royal Canadian Navy’s Atlantic fleet starting in January. "No end date for the use of that support ship has been established," said Royal Canadian Navy spokeswoman. Negotiations are still ongoing and the MLSA is not yet finalized.
But starting on Oct. 18, Royal Canadian Navy sailors will be serving on the Spanish Navy supply ship Cantabria. Twenty Eight canadian sailors will be on the ship to conduct training during NATO's Trident Juncture 15 exercise.
The Spanish AOR Cantabria deployed with the Royal Australian Navy in 2013. The government of Australia paid the expenses of that deployment during the year.
defensenews

Spain To Decrease Military Helicopter Types from 14 to 4

A new helicopter master plan drawn up by the Spanish Ministry of Defence (MdD) envisages the number of different models used by the services being reduced from the current 14 to four by 2040.
Three will be from Airbus Helicopters - the NH90, the H135 (formerly EC135), and the Tiger - while the fourth will be the Boeing Chinook, which will need to be upgraded.
One of the key elements will be the navy version of the NH90, for which the Armada is seeking two variants - one a maritime transport which is not yet available, plus another for anti-submarine operations.
The Hughes 500 is due to be stood down by the Armada from 2018, to be replaced by the H135, while the Sikorsky SH-3 Sea Kings will be modernised to keep them active until the arrival of the hoped-for transport replacement.
The current modernisation programme for the Agusta-Bell AB212 will enable these to keep flying until at least 2030 from the corvette-style Buque de Acción Marítima (BAMs), while the army version of the aircraft is due to be retired by 2017.
As for the army's attack helicopters, the plan says the programme to begin phasing out the MBB Bo-105 will start soon. Now the decision has been taken that the six HAP versions of its replacement, the Tiger, will not be upgraded to the HAD-E Spanish version, from around 2027 onwards the army's airmobile forces (FAMET) will operate just 18 of the latter.
In the case of the Chinook, the MdD's aim is to upgrade from the CH-47D to CH-47F versions, with a programme office being set up to handle the proposed purchase from the United States.
The training helicopters, the Airbus H120 and the Sikorsky S-76C, are due to be taken out of service from around 2027, with the replacement almost certain to be the H135. The recent reductions in the NH90 programme will also mean modernisation programmes will be needed for the army's Airbus Super Puma and Cougar.
janes

RAN commissions first-of-class Canberra

The sealift capability of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has been dramatically increased by the commissioning of the 27,800-tonne landing helicopter dock (LHD) HMAS Canberra in Sydney on 28 November.
Based on the design of the Spanish Navy's aircraft carrier Juan Carlos , the 231 m Canberra can embark, transport, and deploy more than 1,000 troops and their equipment from alongside or by helicopter and landing craft.
Canberra , the RAN's largest-ever ship, will be joined in 2016 by sister ship Adelaide . The hulls of both ships were constructed by Navantia at its Ferrol facility in northwest Spain and subsequently transported by heavy-lift ship to BAE Systems in Melbourne for addition of the superstructure, fitting out, and systems integration.
Design changes for the RAN included upgrades to air conditioning, Australian explosives standards in the magazines, enhanced firefighting and medical facilities, and four Typhoon remote-controlled 25 mm weapons systems at each corner of the hull for close-in defence. The Australian-developed Nulka hovering anti-missile decoy will be fitted at a later date.
The flight deck is configured for simultaneous operation of four medium-sized helicopters, such as the NHIndustries NH90 (MRH90 in Australian service) or the Sikorsky S70A-9 Black Hawk, or four Boeing CH-47D/F Chinooks. Up to eight medium helicopters can be accommodated in the hangar, and up to 18 can be carried if the light vehicle deck is also utilised.
The four Navantia-built LCM-1E watercraft carried by each LHD can transport a maximum load of 54 tonnes via the ship's well deck.
The ship will then spend four weeks in the Coral Sea on hot weather trials, followed by four weeks off Tasmania for the cold weather equivalent. Amphibious development trials will subsequently take place off Townsville, Queensland.
These are expected to involve the so-called Amphibious Ready Element, a 350-strong infantry company with supporting elements and enablers that will be on 48 hours' notice to deploy.
An Amphibious Ready Group - a battalion-based combat team with enablers that will involve about 2,000 troops and require both LHDs to transport - is scheduled to be operational by 2017.
Initial operational capability (IOC) for Canberra is expected to be reached in 2016, enabling the ship to participate in that year's Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise.
RAN Canberra retain the ski-jump ramp of the Juan Carlos design, and earlier this year Prime Minister ordered an assessment of the benefits of the F-35B short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter and modifying the LHDs to operate them.
Although the assessment is intended to help inform the Defence White Paper and Force Structure Review expected in mid-2015, the general reaction from senior defence sources has been that additional capability would not be justified by the time, cost, and risk involved.
janes

Spanish Navy blocks Greenpeace activists to prevent an act of Piracy

Two Greenpeace activists were injured when the Spanish navy stopped them from protesting against oil prospecting off the coast of the Canary Islands over the weekend.
The environmental group has criticized the military’s excessive use of force in the operation, which resulted in one of their members suffering a broken leg. An Ejército del Aire helicopter transported the injured activist to a hospital. However, Greenpeace activists endangered Survey oil vessel.
elpais.com

US Marines MV-22 Osprey first take over on Spanish Navy 'Juan Carlos I' Carrier /Primera toma de un MV-22 Osprey a bordo del buque ‘Juan Carlos I’

On 18 June, in the Gulf of Cadiz, took place on historic milestone for the "Juan Carlos I" for the first take over of an MV-22 Osprey aircraft of the US Marines deployed in Air Base Morón de la Frontera.
During operations on board ,Osprey, lashing, stop, fold up trailer and a lift were performed.
After completion of the tests, rise of the aircraft by elevator and a filling was performed in hot, after which the aircraft takeoff made ​​for a total of take overs and take offs.
During operations interoperability ship was found with this type of aircraft

El pasado 18 de junio, en aguas del golfo de Cádiz, tuvo lugar el hito histórico para el “Juan Carlos I” de la primera toma de un avión Osprey de los Marines de los Estados Unidos de América desplegados en la Base Aérea de Morón de la Frontera.
Durante las operaciones a bordo con el Osprey, se realizaron el trincado, parada, pliegue y remolque hasta un ascensor.
Tras la finalización de las pruebas, se procedió a la subida de la aeronave por el mismo ascensor y se realizó un relleno en caliente, tras lo cual la aeronave efectuó el despegue completando un total de tres tomas con sus despegues correspondientes.
Durante las operaciones se comprobó la interoperabilidad del buque con este tipo de aeronaves
armada

Spain to extend AV-8B Harrier service life

The Spanish Navy has been promised EUR70.3 million for extending the lifespan of its Harrier EAV-8B carrier-borne strike aircraft beyond 2025.
The allocation was announced by the cabinet on 23 May, five months after the Chief of Navy Staff, warned that the Armada's fixed-wing capability could be coming to an end.
A government statement said the investment was necessary because funds were not available to buy replacement aircraft to operate from the service's sole flat top, the Juan Carlos I .
The opportunity to extend the programme of our EAV-8B Plus Harrier has opened up because the United States is also going to extend the useful life of its Harrier aircraft, in the face of development delays with the new vertical take-off F-35 JSF.
Spain has a joint programme with the United States for the Harrier, which was set up in 1990 with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for development and support that also included Italy.
A 10-year agreement covering post-production and life-cycle support, in which those three countries were joined by the United Kingdom, was signed in 2004 and is due to run out on 9 December.
Speaking at a press briefing in January, spanish chief of Navy Staff said the only possible replacement for the Harrier was the F-35.
But as Spain had not been involved in the project from the start, trying to join at a late stage would make the aircraft "very expensive".
He warned then that the navy's Harriers would need to be retired between 2020 and 2025 and that "we have to start thinking, to see if we can come up with a replacement".
The AV-8B was acquired originally for the Armada's first modern aircraft carrier, Principe de Asturias , which was decommissioned in December 2013, following the commissioning of the much larger Juan Carlos I .
janes

Spain orders two more BAM patrol vessels

Spain has awarded Navantia a contract to build two more Buque de Acción Marítima (BAM) patrol vessels for the Spanish Navy.
The contract is in line with a government plan outlined in February to maintain activity at the state-owned firm's shipyards. The order will be split between Navantia's two surface ship yards at Ferrol and Cadiz.
This second series of the Buque de Acción Marítima not only means a contract for the Spanish Navy but also ensures the continuity of the programme begun in July 2006.
Despite the drastic cutbacks in Spain's defence budgets in recent years, economic conditions have improved to the point that Spain can go ahead with the Ministry of Industry-financed order.
The Spanish Navy has long been calling for more BAM vessels, multi-mission ships which have already been deployed as part of the Somalia international counter-piracy flotilla.
Although the Spanish Navy was to receive 14 BAM vessels, so far the Armada has received four of the 2,490 ton, 93.9 m long vessels.
BAM is a design which Navantia has been offering to several other countries as it has looked to counterbalance the lack of domestic orders. Industry sources suggest that BAM vessels would be the easiest of the company's ships to sell on to a foreign buyer should a contract materialise during the build period.
janes