Spain launches Halcon II follow-on buy of Eurofighter combat aircraft

A mock-up of the Eurofighter Typhoon featuring Halcon II livery was displayed at the Paris Air Show 2023. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)

Spain has officially launched its anticipated Halcon II follow-on buy of Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft, budgetary documents released by the government show.

Published by the Council of Ministers on 12 September, the documents say that 25 additional Eurofighters (designated C.16 in national service) will be acquired to replace the Boeing EF-18 Hornet (C.15M) aircraft that the Spanish Air Force (Ejército del Aire Español: EdAE) is decommissioning from 2030.

“The C.15M aircraft fleet is currently about to begin the process of decommissioning, scheduled for around 2030, so it is necessary to replace it. This requires the acquisition of 25 new EF2000 [Eurofighter] aircraft, engines, and associated mission support systems,” the council said. A Eurofighter spokesperson confirmed to Janes that this represents the launch of the Halcon II procurement rather than an expansion of the previous Halcon I buy of 20 aircraft.

The cost of this acquisition, coupled with an increase to the budget for Halcon I and other investments in Spain's Eurofighter capability, is given as EUR1.4 billion (USD1.5 billion) from 2023 to 2027.

News of the budgetary approval came weeks after Airbus, as the chief contractor for the Eurofighter programme in Spain, told Janes and other defence media at the Paris Air Show in June that it was “confident” the country would order further Halcon II Tranche 4 or Tranche 5 Typhoons.