Madrid: In a striking policy reversal, Spain has officially abandoned its previously earmarked plans to procure U.S.-built F 35 stealth fighter jets, according to a report by El País citing government insiders. Although €6.25 billion had been allocated in the 2023 budget for acquisition, the government has determined that future defense spending especially within its newly enlarged €10.5 billion fund will be directed almost exclusively toward European projects, making a U.S. purchase untenable.
This decision means Spain will no longer pursue either the conventional-takeoff F 35A variant for the Air and Space Force nor the Short Take Off/Vertical Landing (STOVL) F 35B intended to replace its aging AV 8B Harrier fleet aboard the Juan Carlos amphibious ship. As a result, the navy is poised to lose its fixed-wing carrier capability by 2030 unless alternative platforms like a future aircraft carrier capable of operating conventional jets are developed.
Politically and strategically, the government’s move reaffirms its commitment to European industrial autonomy. Spain aims to invest at least 85% of its defense resources in European-built systems such as the Eurofighter and the multi-national Future Combat Air System (FCAS) both to reinforce regional technology and reduce reliance on U.S. equipment. The broader coalition includes France and Germany, but internal friction has threatened the viable progression of FCAS.
Meanwhile, Madrid continues advancing its Halcon procurement strategy. Under the Halcon I and II initiatives, Spain has ordered a total of 45 Eurofighter Typhoones 20 aircraft previously secured and another 25 approved in December 2024 to partially replace the F 18 Hornet fleet. Deliveries are expected to begin by 2026, expanding the national Eurofighter force to approximately 115 jets.
Critics of the F 35 decision warn that without a short-term fifth-generation platform, Spain may remain reliant on legacy fourth-generation jets until FCAS materializes possibly not until the early 2040s. This risk is heightened by reports of growing tensions between European partners over project leadership, technological sharing, and industrial distribution.
Amid these challenges, Airbus has floated proposals like the Advanced Fighter Jet Trainer (AFJT) and unmanned systems including the Airbus Wingman and SIRTAP drones signaling Madrid’s intent to modernize through homegrown and European technologies rather than U.S. imports.
Despite earlier speculation that Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez might raise defense spending to 5% of GDP as demanded by some NATO allies Madrid reaffirmed that budgets will remain at around 2%, prioritizing strategic sovereignty over fiscal expansion. This stance has at times led to diplomatic friction with the United States.
In summary, Spain has officially halted its pursuit of the F 35 and realigned its air power strategy toward reinforcing European defence collaboration. While ambitious Eurofighter upgrades and FCAS remain central, uncertainty lingers over Spain’s short-term readiness without a fifth-generation fighter in the interim.