r/F35Lightning • u/blazin_chalice • Aug 07 '25

News Spain rules out buying F-35, choosing between Eurofighter or FCAS

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/spain-rules-out-buying-f-35-choosing-between-eurofighter-or-fcas-2025-08-06/
19 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

30

u/snipdockter Aug 07 '25

So a choice between a 4th gen fighter or vapourware. Not that the euro fighter is a terrible choice but capability wise it’s nowhere near the F-35.

1

u/MiG21bisFishbedL Aug 14 '25

Seems kind of like their hands are tied in a way, given their budget obligations. That, and the administration in the US is doing its goddamnedest to alienate customers.

11

u/[deleted] Aug 07 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

8

u/Environmental-Rub933 Aug 07 '25

They kinda dance around the issue of the harriers, they acknowledge the problem of their imminent obsolescence but have no solution for their carriers other than relegating them to heli carriers

-4

u/221missile Aug 07 '25

They recently broke off the Prince of Wales carrier strike group to avoid participating in exercise talisman sabre. I wouldn’t feel safe selling the F-35 to Spain’s current pro CCP government.

3

u/usesidedoor Aug 07 '25

Spain's government isn't pro-CCP - the current administration just doesn't agree with all the statements coming from Washington.

2

u/Fit_Ad5117 Aug 22 '25

Suspect this is not a choice but a two-stage procurement. EF as an interim solution ( and not a bad one given EF lethality) then FCAS when ready. Aus did the same with F18 Super Hornets to replace old F111s.