Spain Rules Out F-35 Purchase, Favors Eurofighter or FCAS

Spain has ruled out purchasing American-made F-35 fighter jets, according to a Defense Ministry spokesperson. The country will choose between the European-made Eurofighter and the Future Combat Air System (FCAS).

El Pais newspaper reported that the government canceled plans to buy the F-35, manufactured by Lockheed Martin. €6.25 billion had been earmarked in the 2023 budget for new fighter aircraft.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had announced an increase in defense spending to meet NATO's target of 2% of GDP. His position had been criticized by then-US President Donald Trump.

The Eurofighter is manufactured by Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo, while the FCAS is being developed by Dassault Aviation, Airbus, and Indra Sistemas.

Source: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ-Reuters