The Air Force plans to acquire another fifth generation fighter in addition to the Eurofighter
09 Sep 2020 InfoDefensa
"The Spanish Air Force is studying the possibility of replacing its current fleet of F-18 fighter jets, in service at the Zaragoza and Torrejón de Ardoz air bases (Madrid), with a new batch of combat aircraft made up of Eurofighter LTE (Long Term Evolution) and another fifth-generation fighter model.
The Chief of the Air Staff (JEMA), Air General Javier Salto, explains in a recent interview in RED magazine that "the Air Force considers that the best solution to date would be to replace part of the F-18s with Eurofighter's acquisition of the most advanced version (LTE), while for the rest we do not rule out the option of acquiring either more Eurofighter or another 5th generation fighter model".
The EF-18M fleet - Spanish version of the F-18 - is currently composed of 52 fighters. The Ala 12 Torrejón operates about 36 aircraft and the remaining other 16 are in the wing 15 of Zaragoza. These aircraft will be decommissioned around 2030, however, the general emphasizes that the final decision "should not take more than two years."
As published by Infodefensa.com, Airbus has already offered a batch of between 20 and 30 Eurofighter LTEs to replace this entire fleet. If Spain finally committed two models in the race is expected to enter the F-18 Super Hornet from Boeing or the F-35 of Lockheed Martin. The choice of this last model would also open the door to the acquisition of the naval version, the F-35B, the only possible option to replace the Navy Harriers.
Falcon Program
What is clear is the replacement of the F-18s from the Gando air base (Gran Canaria), with more flight hours, acquired second-hand from the US Navy. JEMA points out that "at this time our priority is to guarantee the replacement of the oldest F-18s that we currently have deployed in the Canary Islands. The solution we are considering is the acquisition of new Eurofighters".
And specifically: "With this, we would give continuity to the knowledge acquired with this system and we could take advantage of synergies in the logistics and sustainability fields. All of this, providing support to the national aerospace industry, which we must not forget is a driving force behind the activity. economic in Spain and which represents 80 percent of the defense industry". The program, dubbed the Falcon, involves the purchase of some 20 new Eurofighters for around 2 billion euros. The contract could be signed next year, with the aim that the first planes will be in service from 2025....