Spain is ready to allocate more than €10 billion for the purchase of fifth generation fighters F-35 Lightning II to replace the EF-18 Hornet and AV-8B Harrier II
Spain may soon join the list of operators of the U.S. F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation fighters.
Here's What We Know
Madrid plans to replace its fourth-generation EF-18 Hornet fighters and AV-8B Harrier II attack aircraft in two phases. First, Spain will invest €6.25 million to acquire the F-35 Lightning II. Allocation of funds is scheduled for 2023-2028. At the second stage Madrid will spend another €4.5 million to purchase American fifth generation fighters.
The only alternatives to the AV-8B Harrier attack aircraft are F-35B Lightning II, which are in service with the Royal Fleet of Great Britain and the U.S. Marine Corps. Spain could buy about 10 aircraft.
To replace the EF-18 Hornet will come the basic version of the F-35, the F-35A Lightning II. It is the basis of export of the fifth generation fighters. But the Lightning II has a competitor in the face of the French Dassault Rafale.
In conclusion, we should add that the list of countries that have already received fifth-generation fighters or are planning to buy them is constantly growing. It already includes Switzerland, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Poland, UK, Netherlands, Italy, Finland and Greece. The Czech Republic and Austria have recently joined the list.
Source: InfoDefensa