HMS Astute
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Sources inside Spain's military have reportedly told a Spanish newspaper that only a handful of the country's Eurofighter Typhoon jets are fully operational and that semi-retired F-18 aircraft are being called back into full service to meet NATO commitments.
With a fleet of 30 aircraft needed to maintain ten combat ready aircraft, the cuts in the Spanish Defence budget has hit the maintenance of the fleet. Experts report that the government has had a real reluctance to stump up cash for anything other than the basic essentials.
The claims come just a day after Spain announced plans to pump €10 billion ($12.7 billion) into new defence programs after six years of cutbacks as a result of the economic crisis.Eurofighters were not, however, named in the list of projects due to receive a funding boost.Only six Eurofighters in Spain's Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) service in bases at Morón de la Frontera and Albacete are currently capable of taking off, according to military insiders. These jets are kept ready to scramble 24 hours a day, year-round, to intercept suspicious aircraft in Spanish airspace.Spain only ordered a total of 73 Eurofighters: 19 of the original Tranche 1, 34 of tranche 2 and 20 of Tranche 3A.
The UK has been competent at funding spare parts for its fleet but the same cannot be said of Spain. Insiders say it may be that the Spanish will want financial support from the other partner nations. But given that the UK will be giving up using those type of aircraft in four years time, there is little chance of that happening.
http://www.elconfidencialdigital.com/defensa/Espana-solo-operativos-Eurofighter_0_2369163065.html
With a fleet of 30 aircraft needed to maintain ten combat ready aircraft, the cuts in the Spanish Defence budget has hit the maintenance of the fleet. Experts report that the government has had a real reluctance to stump up cash for anything other than the basic essentials.
The claims come just a day after Spain announced plans to pump €10 billion ($12.7 billion) into new defence programs after six years of cutbacks as a result of the economic crisis.Eurofighters were not, however, named in the list of projects due to receive a funding boost.Only six Eurofighters in Spain's Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) service in bases at Morón de la Frontera and Albacete are currently capable of taking off, according to military insiders. These jets are kept ready to scramble 24 hours a day, year-round, to intercept suspicious aircraft in Spanish airspace.Spain only ordered a total of 73 Eurofighters: 19 of the original Tranche 1, 34 of tranche 2 and 20 of Tranche 3A.
The UK has been competent at funding spare parts for its fleet but the same cannot be said of Spain. Insiders say it may be that the Spanish will want financial support from the other partner nations. But given that the UK will be giving up using those type of aircraft in four years time, there is little chance of that happening.
http://www.elconfidencialdigital.com/defensa/Espana-solo-operativos-Eurofighter_0_2369163065.html
