Spain Opts for European Fighter Jets, Snubs US-Made F-35.
Spain has decided to pursue European alternatives over the US-made F-35 fighter jet for modernizing its air force, signaling a shift toward greater defense autonomy within the European Union.
According to officials familiar with the decision, Madrid has reaffirmed its commitment to two key European programs: the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a next-generation stealth fighter project led by France, Germany, and Spain; and the Eurofighter Typhoon consortium, which already supplies a significant portion of Spain’s current fleet.
The move comes despite repeated lobbying by US defense giant Lockheed Martin, which has pitched the F-35 as a proven, combat-ready platform with strong NATO interoperability. However, Spain has made it clear that investing in homegrown European projects is a strategic priority — both for bolstering domestic industry and reducing reliance on non-EU suppliers.
“Our focus is on European solutions — projects we are actively developing and co-owning,” a senior Spanish defense official said, underlining the government’s long-term vision for defense independence.
Strategic Autonomy in Focus
The decision is also aligned with growing calls across Europe for “strategic autonomy” in defense and technology — especially in the wake of shifting US foreign policy under successive administrations, and increasing geopolitical volatility.
The FCAS program, projected to be operational by the 2040s, aims to deliver a cutting-edge sixth-generation fighter jet supported by drones and AI-enabled systems. While still in development, the project represents Europe’s most ambitious military aviation initiative to date.
In the interim, Spain is expected to continue upgrading its Eurofighter Typhoon fleet, extending the aircraft’s service life and maintaining NATO commitments without adopting the F-35 platform.
While other NATO members like the UK, Italy, Poland, and Germany have chosen the F-35 to bolster their fleets, Spain’s decision underscores a divergent approach: one that prioritizes regional industrial cooperation over American hardware.
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