Halcon II Program to Replace Part of Spain’s Current F-18 Fleet

The Spanish government recently signed a contract with the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA) to purchase 25 new Eurofighter aircraft under the Halcon II program. The 21 single-seat and 4 tandem-seat jets will replace part of the Spanish Air and Space Force’s F-18 fleet.

Spain previously placed an order for 20 fighter jets in 2022. The latest agreement, approved by Spain’s Council of Ministers in September 2023, will bring the nation’s Eurofighter fleet to 115 aircraft. Deliveries are slated to begin in 2030.

“The Eurofighter is the most advanced and the most successful fighter jet from European production and is the backbone of European air superiority,” stated Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space. “It is also a symbol of industrial cooperation between nations and companies - an example of how Europe can work in our current defense context.”

The order is mutually beneficial, with all Spanish Eurofighters being produced at the Airbus Getafe site in Madrid, Spain. This directly and indirectly feeds 16,000 jobs in Spain as well as over 100,000 across Europe.

The Halcon program aims to give the Spanish Air and Space Force fleet a complete update, with a total of 45 Eurofighters being purchased since 2022. Each contains modern avionics, an electronically-scanning radar, Brimstone II and Full Meteor weapons systems, and brand-new sensors. Spain has operated the Eurofighter since 2003 at its Morón (11th Wing), near Seville, and Los Llanos (14th Wing), Albacete air force bases. The next order will be based at the 46th Wing on the Canary Islands.

“We are grateful for the trust of the Spanish government in our Eurofighter and in Airbus Defence and Space,” continued Schoellhorn. “Not only is this order an important demand and defense signal, it secures the supply chain in Spain and across Europe.”

FMI: www.airbus.com