Spain has decided against purchasing the American-made F-35 fighter jet, choosing instead to focus on the Eurofighter Typhoon and the next-generation Future Combat Air System, according to a Wednesday report from Breaking Defense.
“[T]he Spanish option involves the current Eurofighter and the FCAS in the future,” a Spanish Ministry of Defense spokesperson told the publication. Spanish-language daily El País first reported that Madrid postponed F‑35 acquisitions to prioritize investment in the European defense industry. The newspaper noted that the move could also leave the Spanish Navy’s Juan Carlos I without deployed fighters after its Harrier jets retire in 2030.
Spain is expanding its Eurofighter fleet through its Halcon program, having already signed contracts for 45 new aircraft. The latest acquisition, approved in 2023, will increase Spain’s Eurofighter fleet to 115 aircraft, with deliveries starting in 2030. The Eurofighter is produced in Europe by Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo.
Meanwhile, the decision to focus on the European-developed FCAS comes as the program faces its own challenges. Last month, France asked Germany and Spain to reconsider FCAS’ industrial work-sharing arrangements to keep the project on its 2040 schedule. Dassault Aviation CEO Éric Trappier also publicly criticized its collaboration with Airbus, urging government intervention.
While an F-35 partnership is now off the table, Madrid continues to collaborate with Lockheed Martin on other key defense programs. Last May, Lockheed signed an agreement with the Ministry of Defence to expand Spain’s role in producing the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement system. The defense contractor is also advancing SPY-7(V)2 radar production for the Spanish F-110 frigate program.
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