EU nation shelves purchase of US F-35 fighter jets
Preliminary talks had already begun over the fifth-generation fighter – built by aerospace giant Lockheed Martin – and Spain's 2023 defense budget earmarked over €6 billion ($7 billion) to replace its aging Harrier and F-18 jets.
Although Madrid has committed to raising military spending to 2% of GDP, a new €10.5 billion defense plan allocates 85% of the funds to EU industry. The condition effectively blocked a US deal, according to the report on Wednesday. The move aligns with the EU's growing militarization push and aims to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers.
An order of around 50 jets had reportedly been under discussion but is now on hold. The decision leaves the Spanish Navy without a fixed-wing successor for its AV-8B fleet, which is due to retire by 2030.
Spain's Air Force had also reportedly considered the F-35A as a stopgap until the EU's sixth-generation FCAS fighter becomes operational – not expected before 2040. While Madrid has acquired Eurofighters to replace older F-18s, military leaders warn against relying on a single aircraft type.
Despite the high cost, the F-35 was viewed as the most advanced option. 'We'll have to survive with fourth-generation fighters and hope FCAS arrives,' Spain's Admiral Teodoro Lopez Calderon said in July.
The shift comes amid friction with Washington over defense spending. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez clashed with US President Donald Trump at June's NATO summit after rejecting a 5% military spending target. Trump responded with tariff threats.
Washington has also urged allies to buy American weapons. While Lockheed Martin said Spain's F-35s would be built in Italy and qualify as 'European', concerns remain over US control of the aircraft's systems and rising maintenance costs. Critics argue that the deal could deepen dependence on Washington.
Spain's decision follows similar doubts in Germany and a review in Canada, as several NATO members reassess orders over cost, control, and political pressure.
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