Previously announced plans of the Spanish Navy to add three aircraft carriers to its fleet have sparked a discourse about the future of the nation's naval aviation — what will it look like? Strengthening the naval aircraft capability is an urgent matter, especially in light of the expected retirement of the legendary AV-8B Harrier II attack aircraft in 2030.
The Spanish military wants to tighten the loose screw by acquiring fifth-generation aircraft but is faced with the reality that the American F-35 fighter from Lockheed Martin is the only realistic option left. Be that as it may, the Ministry of Defense of Spain has presented no plans or even hints at the possibility of purchasing F-35s, Infodefensa reports.
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The necessity to obtain specifically 5th-generation aircraft was directly stated by Spain's Chief of Defense, Admiral Teodoro López Calderón: he said during a talk with journalists over a breakfast on Sunday, July 13th. The Admiral said there is no alternative to fifth-generation aircraft with their stealth technologies. If Spain doesn't buy the F-35, its military "will have to survive with the existing fourth generation and wait for the FCAS to appear," he noted, adding that it may take many years.
On that note, Defense Express points out the big problem with simply waiting for the FCAS: almost every week, worrisome news appear about this program, indicating that the project is already falling apart at the seams due to infighting between France, Germany, and Spain, and could collapse any moment soon.
Just the other day, the disagreement between the partners have reached the point where it becomes near impossible to reconcile. France keeps insisting on redistributing the share in this project, demanding as much as 80% for its manufacturer Dassault instead of an equal third part, while Airbus responds with threats to find another partner.
The situation pushes Spain towards Lockheed Martin's F-35 as the only viable alternative, though it still hopes to finish the European fifth-gen fighter.
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