The Ministry of Defense and Airbus have signed this Thursday a contract that exceeds 2,000 million euros for the acquisition of 20 Eurofighter combat aircraft that will replace the current F-18 that operate in the Canary Islands.
The so-called 'Hawk program' was authorized by the Council of Ministers last December and will provide the Air Force with combat aircraft equipped with electronic scanning radar (E-Scan), 16 single-seaters and 4 two-seaters.
Under the contract, with which the Spanish Eurofighter fleet will increase to a total of 90 aircraft, the first delivery is scheduled for 2026. The operation includes, in addition to the combat aircraft, engines, a simulator and the necessary support.
"This additional order reinforces Spain's commitment not only to Eurofighter, but also to its development and industrial environment. We would like to thank the customer for its strong position regarding European defense at a time when it is most needed," he said. said after the signing the CEO of Airbus Defense and Space, Mike Schoellhorn.
Currently, the Air Force operates the Eurofighter from the air bases of Morón (Wing 11) and Albacete (Wing 14). With the arrival of the new aircraft, Spain could equip a third base with Eurofighter aircraft, specifically in Gando (Gran Canaria) which houses Wing 46.
The Spanish Eurofighter is assembled, tested and delivered at the Airbus facilities in Getafe (Spain) and its industrial footprint translates into more than 20,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs in Spain, according to the company.
