The Spanish Navy faces the challenge of defining sooner rather than later the future of its fixed-wing naval aviation, currently represented by the AV-8B+ Harrier attack aircraft. With the Spanish government’s rejection of acquiring Lockheed Martin’s stealth F-35B, replacement plans remain without a definitive solution, opening the possibility of extending the Harriers’ operational life beyond 2030.
At a breakfast briefing organized by the Forum for New Defense and Space, Admiral General Antonio Piñeiro, Chief of Staff of the Navy (AJEMA), confirmed that various alternatives are under study. “We will maintain the Harriers with a schedule that contemplates reaching 2032,” he stated, emphasizing that one option is to incorporate decommissioned units from the U.S. Marine Corps or Italy—not to reactivate them, but to use them as a source of spare parts.
Plans for a New Aircraft Carrier
The decision not to acquire the F-35B has forced a rethink of future carrier-based capabilities. The AJEMA revealed that the Navy is evaluating the incorporation of a conventional aircraft carrier, for which Navantia is conducting a feasibility study. This ship could host up to 30 aircraft on its flight deck, slightly broadening the range of carrier-based fixed-wing aircraft available on the market.
Admiral Piñeiro stressed that he has no doubts about the possibility of having a domestically built carrier and noted that the project is inspired by the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, though without nuclear propulsion. This option broadens the range of possibilities and aircraft under consideration, which would no longer be limited by the vertical takeoff and landing configuration of the F-35B. Potential candidates include the “C” variant of the F-35, operated from U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, as well as the Rafale M of the French Navy—soon to be adopted by the Indian Navy.
Impact of the F-35B Decision
As reported earlier in August, the rejection of the F-35B purchase, announced in 2023, had a direct impact on the Navy. The U.S. model was considered the only option available on the market to replace the Harrier, thanks to its short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) capability. However, strategic, industrial, and political considerations led the government to prioritize European programs such as the Eurofighter, the Rafale, and the future FCAS (Future Combat Air System)—none of which feature naval vertical takeoff variants.
It is also worth noting that this third option, the FCAS program, is itself on shaky ground. Since France unilaterally declared it would hold an 80% stake in the development, Germany has begun seeking other partners—or even alternatives—for the design and development of its sixth-generation fighter. In other words, there is a possibility that the program could be canceled.
While the Spanish Air and Space Force moves forward with the Halcón I and II programs to incorporate Eurofighter Tranche 4 and participates in the FCAS development, the Navy faces an uncertain situation: once the Harriers are retired, Spain could be left without carrier-based fixed-wing aviation for at least a decade.
Images courtesy of the Spanish Navy.
You may also be interested in: Breaking Point? Germany Weighs Alternatives to Abandon the Sixth-Generation FCAS Fighter Program
