Spain Eurofighter deterrence message Morocco defense

The incorporation of these combat aircraft constitutes a direct message sent to Morocco and to any actor contesting Spanish sovereignty. Positioned at the Gando base in Gran Canaria, this fleet locks down a crucial geostrategic zone located in the northwest of Africa. These aircraft ensure air superiority for the Air Force through their maneuverability, supercruise capability and long-range armament. They thus consolidate NATO’s southern flank defense capacity.

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The decisive advantage of this model rests on its E-Scan electronic scanning radar. This system allows simultaneous tracking of multiple targets at very long range within electronic warfare environments, reports media outlet El Debate. The very first example has just left the Airbus assembly line in Getafe and is currently undergoing ground verification, particularly on its engines, before conducting its maiden flight.

Named Halcón, this program valued at over two billion euros replaces aging F-18s, in service for twenty-five years. The order validated in late 2021 provides for the delivery of twenty units, including sixteen single-seaters and four two-seaters, accompanied by simulators. This acquisition will bring the Spanish inventory to ninety combat aircraft, distributed between the archipelago and military facilities in Albacete and Morón de la Frontera.

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This matter also carries strong economic and political dimensions. In late May 2026, State Secretary for Defense Amparo Valcarce firmly reminded industrialists of the obligation to meet delivery schedules and ensure flawless logistics. The assembly of these machines guarantees massive workload for the coming decade, preserving over 20,000 national jobs within this European project shared with Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.