Spain will spend $55 million to extend the service life of F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets into the middle of the next decade

Spain intends to invest several tens of millions of euros in extending the service life of the fourth-generation F/A-18 Hornet fighters. The country's government has approved the investment.

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Spain will spend approximately €50 million ($55 million) to buy spare parts to consume the service life of the aircraft. This will allow the F/A-18 Hornet fighters, which in Spain are designated EF-18M, to fly until 2035, despite rumours of decommissioning by 2030.

The Iberian government has already begun decommissioning the old F/A-18 Hornet, which is stationed at the Gando airbase on Gran Canaria. They will be replaced by European Eurofighter Typhoon fighters.

Two years ago Spain signed an agreement with Airbus. Madrid ordered 20 fourth-generation aircraft. The deal was worth about €2bn ($2.2bn). Deliveries of the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets will begin in 2026.

Source: Infodefensa