The war between Russia and Ukraine that has been going on since February has prompted a series of negotiations for military equipment in NATO member countries, which fears an escalation of the conflict beyond Ukrainian territory. This is what the Spanish Air Force did, which announced this Thursday an order for 20 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets.
The agreement was made through the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency and includes 16 single-seat and four two-seat Typhoon fighter jets, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2026.
“This additional order reinforces Spain’s commitment not only towards the Eurofighter but also to its development and industrial environment. I would like to thank the customer for its firm position with respect to European defense at a time when it is needed most,” said Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defense and Space.
With the acquisition of the new fighter jets, the Spanish Air Force plans to replace the fleet of F/A-18A fighter jets based in the Canary Islands. The contract also includes the supply of engines for the Eurofighters, flight simulators and support services for the aircraft.
The new batch will see the Spanish fleet of Eurofighters grow to 90 active aircraft. The additional aircraft will be produced and tested at the Airbus plant in Getafe, Spain.
Partnership between UK, Germany, Spain and Italy
In service with European air forces since 2004, the Eurofighter Typhoon is the largest defense program on the continent, involving the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany and Italy.
The aircraft was developed by the consortium formed between Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo, and was later exported to other nations. In addition to the countries that financed the project, Typhoon was also acquired by Austria, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar.
With the new order from Spain, the Eurofighter program now reaches 681 aircraft orders, of which around 570 have already been delivered.
