Indra breaks into the Government's decision to send Leopard to Ukraine to fight against Russia. The Spanish company is the main favorite to receive the commission to tune up the disused battle tanks and collaborate in the training of the soldiers of Zelenski's army. Negotiations are underway and coincide with an acceleration of contacts with the arms industry with a view to concluding new contracts. 2023 will be the year in which Spain will make the largest defense outlay in history.
The Executive considers that training the pilots is just as important as sending the armored vehicles to the front. Spain is determined to offer that instruction. Defense Minister Margarita Robles pointed out yesterday from Latvia that she had received a letter from her Ukrainian counterpart asking for help for this training and she responded in the affirmative.
Indra is already working on the possibility that Defense ends up turning to the company. Robles herself recognized this, assuring that to send the cars he wants to have "the support of the Spanish military industry."
The company chaired by Marc Murtra, personally involved in dialogue with Defense and senior military officials, offers the Government to fine-tune the Leopards stored in Zaragoza through a complete update of their technology, including the weapon system. Indra could also participate in the training of the Ukrainians through its Leopard simulators, which it developed and maintains.
The Government will carry out the largest military spending in history this year and is negotiating with different arms firms, conversations that are intensifying, to finalize the last contracts of the legislature. Indra, in addition to the Leopard, plans to develop the joint radio (SCRT) or, which is the jewel in the crown, the FCAS or future European combat aircraft, whose first steps will be taken at the firm's facilities in Alcobendas.
The company that will receive the largest volume of investment is, by far, Airbus. The giant aspires to four large contracts, which are being negotiated: the next maritime patrol aircraft, the replacement for the C295, the Sirtap long-range tactical drone and the possibility of manufacturing new Eurofighters to replace the F18 of the Peninsula. The company with a factory in Albacete also expects to receive confirmation of the new anti-submarine version NH90 helicopters in 2023 and to continue advancing in the deliveries of the H135 aircraft.
Airbus expects to receive more than 2,300 million in contracts, according to the commitments reflected in the general budgets. In the case of Indra, the amount would amount to just over 500 million. Navantia, for its part, aspires to just over 800 million. The big doubt in the industry at this moment is the American company Lockheed Martin, a candidate to replace the Harriers of the Navy with their F35 vertical takeoff.
The deputy general director of budgetary programs for the Treasury, Mercedes Reig, stated this week that with the level of military spending committed, just over 14,000 million, Spain would remain "halfway" to reach the commitment with NATO to invest 2% of GDP.
