Spanish Air Force

[Templario]

Greetings to everybody, I'm a new member of the forum.
First of all I must apologize for my bad English, despite it I think we'll be able to understand each other (that's the important point).

I would like to start a new thread about the Spanish Air Force, with pictures and so.
I hope you enjoy it


PD: Why is not possible to post pictures? It's a pity

 

[Templario]

SPANISH AIR FORCE



91 F-18 Hornet M+ (The "M+" is the new Spanish upgraded standard for the F-18 Hornet, nowadays the Spanish F-18 hornet is the most advanced F-18 among the foreign countries that use this fighter, the Spanish F-18 M+ cockpit is the same of the Superhornet)

103 EF-2000 (At his moment we have about 30 fighters, we're waiting for the rest)

55 Mirages F1M (They're totally upgraded, being one of the best fighters at "ground atack", you can see the cockpit)

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/1894/eukc3ake1.jpg

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/6348/dassaultmiragef1msy6fx1.jpg

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/8/1/4/0598418.jpg

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/8/3/3/0844338.jpg


22 Nortrop F-5 B (Used for trainment, but they can also be used in case of conflict)

http://i25.tinypic.com/33f5bn9.jpg


92 CASA C-101 (Trainment)

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/2138/oiacy8ky2.jpg


12 C-130 Hércules (Transport)

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/5142/245j50ksa4.jpg


103 CASA C-212 (Transport)

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/2223/avc00071395nh5.jpg


20 CASA CN-235 (Transport)

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/3046/pict7852vlk0720casa20cnbn5.jpg


12 CASA C-295 (Transport, sea patrol and ASW war)

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/images/AIR_C-295_lg.jpg


3 Airbus A-310 (Multi-mission)

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/2298/avc00071776cl7.jpg


4 BOEING 707 (Transpor and Intelligence missions)

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/9714/avc00070305co7.jpg


8 P3 ORION (Sea Patrol and ASW war)

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/709/avc00033754dl3.jpg



I'll post another day the helicopters.

The spanish is a small Air Force, but it's well trained and prepared.

Greetings

 

[Alonso Quijano]

Spanish Air Army would have to start doing something with the F-18 and Harriers.
everything points to a future F-35, the bad idea that is not like in Spain.

 

[ROCK45]

Spain

Welcome to the forum Templario
I'm interested in learning about the Spanish Air Force so post away.

Welcome to the forum Alonso Quijano
Do you mean the F-35 isn't liked or do you mean the Harrier and/or F/A-18?

 

[Templario]

Thak you for the Welcome ROCK

I've just posted some information and pictures about the Spanish Air Force, but it must be approved by the Moderation Team or so.
I think we have to wait

Greetings

 

[Alonso Quijano]

Welcome to the forum Templario
I'm interested in learning about the Spanish Air Force so post away.

Welcome to the forum Alonso Quijano
Do you mean the F-35 isn't liked or do you mean the Harrier and/or F/A-18?

rock45 thanks.

Spain was interested in participating in the project F-35 but dropped back when the Americans only took money and no transfer of technology.
Furthermore the F-35B is the substitute for our natural harrier aircraft carrier Principe de Asturias and the new BPE, there is something else ...
Is the F-18?
is said to make a joint purchase between the air force and navy so that it leaves the most economical F-35 and replace the F-18, but the Air Force does not like the F-35.
reasons is not lacking, only to see delays and problems the project, in addition to expensive ...
and all for you that you sell a version of export that has nothing to do with the American version.
I do not know what think of the Spanish government but not yet spoken to regarding the replacement of the F-18 and Harrier.

 

[Ryan UK]

How many eurofighters were ordered for the Spanish airforce? How many have been delivered so far and are there any operational squadrons yet?

Also what sort of Helicopter Fleet do the spanish currently operate?

Cheers

 

[ROCK45]

technology

Hi Alonso Quijano

Alonso Quijano
no transfer of technology

The US spent billions and billions of dollars on the R&D side we can't just give it away in a sense. If Spain bought a 100 F-35s it still wouldn't add up to the money spent designing and making the F-35. Like the AESA radar were not just going to give it away its business customer pay for the right to own it not to know how it was made. I'm saying that in a nice tone not trying to be mean.

I'm not saying you do buy too many people dislike like the F-35 even before it's finished. I don't understand that it's not even out of the testing stages and nor in full production yet?

I'm a Typhoon fan anything you can tell us about Spain's models or it's future?

Does Spain's pilots like their Hornets?

Thanks

 

[Alonso Quijano]

How many eurofighters were ordered for the Spanish airforce? How many have been delivered so far and are there any operational squadrons yet?

Also what sort of Helicopter Fleet do the spanish currently operate?

Cheers

87 Eurofighters was ordered but it is believed that the end will be reached by the 103 Eurofighters low of about 18 F-old is in the Canary Islands.
now I think we have some 36 Eurofighters running.
besides we have about 100 F-18, 20 Harriers, 40 fighters F1M/BM mirages.

Helicopter TIGRE but we have few, just opened a factory to start production albacete TIGRE more.
e have also signed for the purchase of 45 NH 90 helicopters.
Sea King helicopters, cougar, superpuma ...

 

[Alonso Quijano]

Hi Alonso Quijano


The US spent billions and billions of dollars on the R&D side we can't just give it away in a sense. If Spain bought a 100 F-35s it still wouldn't add up to the money spent designing and making the F-35. Like the AESA radar were not just going to give it away its business customer pay for the right to own it not to know how it was made. I'm saying that in a nice tone not trying to be mean.

I'm not saying you do buy too many people dislike like the F-35 even before it's finished. I don't understand that it's not even out of the testing stages and nor in full production yet?

I'm a Typhoon fan anything you can tell us about Spain's models or it's future?

Does Spain's pilots like their Hornets?

Thanks

Spain seems to be waiting to see what happens with this project, I can only say that it does not seem very enthusiastic about the F-35, in fact the F-18 is a modernized avionics and Harriers were in fact the same for them at least 10 years more of life ...

 

[Templario]

Well, I notice moderators haven't approved my post yet.

A Brief Recopilation of Spanish Air Force:

Combat planes

* 91 F-18 M+ (The "M+" is the Spanish upgraded standard for the F-18 hornet, in fact our F-18 M+ are the most advanced among the foreign countries that use this fighter. The cockpit is the same of the Superhornet)
* 103 EF-2000 (At this moment we just have about 30, the rest are coming as soon as they're being built)
* 55 Mirages F1M (They're totally upgraded, and they're considered some of the best fighters at "ground attack").
* 8 P3 Orion (Sea Patrol and ASW fight, totally upgraded with the Spanish FITS system of CASA)


Other Planes

* 22 F-5 B (Trainment, but in case of conflict they can be used in combat missions).
* 92 CASA C-101 (Trainment)
* 12 C-130 HERCULES
* 103 CASA C-212
* 20 CASA CN-235
* 12 CASA C-295 (Some of them have the role of Sea Patrol and ASW fight)
* 3 Airbus A310
* 4 BOEING 707 (Intelligence and Special Missions)



Compared with other Air Forces ours is a small one, despite it I have to say that it's very well trained and prepared.
There are also other minor planes for secondary roles, but they're not "important".

Later I'll post something about the Helicopters


By the way, there are no moderators here? I want my posts with pictures and links to be approved as soon as possible .... please :


Cheers

 

[ASFC]

* 103 EF-2000 (At this moment we just have about 30, the rest are coming as soon as they're being built)

Where did you get 103 from? The Eurofighter website still states that Spain still only plans for 87? Where have the extra 16 aircraft come from? Or when do they plan to order the extra 16?

Even before the reduction in orders in the mid-90s by all partner nations, Spain only planned on buying 100 Typhoons.

 

[Templario]

Where did you get 103 from? The Eurofighter website still states that Spain still only plans for 87? Where have the extra 16 aircraft come from? Or when do they plan to order the extra 16?

Even before the reduction in orders in the mid-90s by all partner nations, Spain only planned on buying 100 Typhoons.

Spain firstly ordered 87 + 16 Optional EF-2000, and everyone here knows that those 16 optional planes are coming, as this is what the "Ejército del Aire" wants, you will see

You can check this information in any site you want, for example, in the oficial site of EADS:

Spanish Eurofighter - Eurofighter of the Spanish Air Force. As one of the four partner nations (Germany, Spain, Great Britain and Italy) in the largest European cooperation programme Spain has ordered 87 Eurofighter, plus options for further 16 aircraft.

http://www.eads.com/1024/en/gallery/ds/mas/eurofighter.html


The only country I know which is planning to reduce the number of EF-2000 is Italy, because of economical problems with the F-35 Program.

cheers

 

[ASFC]

Well, its news to me, as it doesn't *seem* to appear in any of the Typhoon PR before.

Cheers.

 

[swerve]

It was in the PR whenever options were mentioned, which wasn't often. I don't know whether the Spanish options are still extant. IIRC Italy also had some options, but they lapsed. I think there was a deadline by which they had to be renewed, & Italy informed NETMA it did not intend to take them up. I don't know what Spain did.

That EADS link is from a few years ago. It would be nice to see a recent source, clarifying the current status of the options.

 

[Aussie Digger]

Combat planes

* 91 F-18 M+ (The "M+" is the Spanish upgraded standard for the F-18 hornet, in fact our F-18 M+ are the most advanced among the foreign countries that use this fighter. The cockpit is the same of the Superhornet)

What is the basis of this claim?

 

[StevoJH]

What is the basis of this claim?

From a couple of quick internet searches i don't believe the Spanish F/A 18A's to have been upgraded as much those belonging to some of the other users. For example i could not find evidence of them being equiped with APG-73.

For example the Australian F/A-18A's have been upgraded with the avionics of the F/A-18C and have the APG-73, among other upgrades as part of the HUG program.

 

[ROCK45]

F-18m

Hi Templario
Can you provide a link to Spain's F-18M, I did a quick Google search on it and only found this old source:
Hornet for Spain
http://www.airtoaircombat.com/background.asp?bg=87&id=12

I know this source is dated but I did learn a few things about Spain's AF and Spain's Hornets. You perk my interests I never heard of a F/A-18M Hornet before so if you can please provide more information thanks.

 

[Alonso Quijano]

I have found here is a page in Spanish but I translate it:

http://www.saorbats.com.ar/Noticias/NoticiasEspanolas.htm

The first modernized F-18 aircraft took off at Getafe
Delivery of the aircraft to the Air Force confirmed the end of the year. This afternoon, the first modernized F-18 aircraft had taken off from the EADS CASA facilities in Getafe. The flight test was conducted by Commander Gandarillas, pilot testing CLAEX (Logistics Center Armaments and Experimentation), and has proved a success. During the 55 minutes that lasted the flight the pilot has established the perfect operation of the airplane. Following the modernization program, all aircraft now submit the following new features:

A computer with a multiprocessor Tupac tactical high-speed, six buses 1553 to wing tip, four-channel digital graphics and associated software.
Two multifunction color displays
Improved communication systems (new radio Have-Quick II)
An INS / GPS navigation to a precision
Ability to complete identification of targets
External lighting and cockpit compatible with night vision
Camera and recording system for digital mission
Preinstalling MIDS
IDM (Improved Data Modem), the latter being certified.
For the final acceptance of F-18 and 12-62 enrolled before delivery of the airplane at Ala 12, is expected to carry out test flights to check the avionics systems, communication and navigation installed.

Interested in upgrading a total fleet of 67 aircraft (including the retrofit of 2 prototypes used in the process of certification of new systems) operated by the Torrejon, and Ala 12 Ala 15, Zaragoza, and will extend for a period of another three years until the contract ended. This upgrade also means a great effort for the whole team involved in the EADS CASA program, from the production area, shop and flight line to our staff moved in CLAEX, working since last January at full pace, following a timely prescribed timetable and once again showing its preparation and highly skilled. Iran aircraft hangar slowly through the MRO, guaranteeing the operation of the Air Force and security of air defense.
The modernization of the F-18 is now one of the most important programs for the Air Force, which will meet its objectives of increasing the operational capabilities of the plane to Spain and ensure a better interoperability with other allied forces in international missions.
The Software Group's Logistics Center Armaments and Experimentation (CLAEX) Air Force and EADS CASA have actively collaborated in the design and software development and integration and testing of new avionics equipment, as well as the complete development Software integration of the modified system.
The modernization contract was signed on 29 December 2003 at a value of approx. 186 million Euros.

Source: Press Release from EADS Defense and Security Systems from 22 November 2004

 

[ROCK45]

translate

Iran aircraft hangar slowly through the MRO, guaranteeing the operation of the Air Force and security of air defense.

Hi Alonso Quijano and thanks for posting up more information but I'm confused how does "Iran aircraft hanger slowly through etc, fit into talking about Spain's Hornet's being upgraded? Are they talking with these changes Spain's Hornet's could beat Iran's defenses or something?

Thanks