FORCE REPORT Spanish Air Force

Spanish

Struggles
T

HE Ejrcito del Aire (EdA,

literally army of the air)
offers Spains Government the
flexibility to deliver mobility,
high-level firepower and air
defence at short notice. These
capabilities remain important
deterrents to potential enemies,
but the climate of economic
crisis has seen continuous
budget cuts since 2008.
Primary frontline equipment
consists of the F-18M Hornet
upgraded from McDonnell
Douglas F/A-18A and B
standards the Eurofighter
Typhoon and Lockheed P-3
Orion, the latter in its A, B
and updated M versions.
For many years acquisition
has focused on the Typhoon, a
programme progressing slowly
but steadily. Investment in
the multi-role fighter must be
reaffirmed so that the most can
be made of a weapon system
that has already demanded so
much from the Spanish treasury.
Of particular importance is
the purchase of the long-range
Meteor air-to-air missile (AAM),
the latest generation of Litening
targeting pod, integration
of advanced air-to-ground
weapons, the addition of an antiship capability and consideration

of an active electronically-scanned
array (AESA) radar to dramatically
improve target detection and
radar performance. As such,
the EdA is following the Royal
Air Forces Typhoon plans very
closely, since the British jets are
arguably the most advanced of all.
There is also great benefit in
continuing the highly successful
policy of sharing experience and
flying joint manoeuvres with other
Typhoon operators, in particular
the RAF, which used the aircraft in
combat during Operation Unified
Protector over Libya in 2011.
The harsh reality is that the
economic crisis has led to deep
cuts in defence budgets. The EdA
was forced to trim its projected
Typhoon buy from 87 to 73, and
to cease acquisition at Tranche
3A, without being included in
the definitive Tranche 3B buy.

Hornet upgrade

Given the slow pace of Typhoon

development, the F-18 Hornet
remains the backbone of
Spanish air power. The aircraft
flies from three bases, Torrejn,
Zaragoza and Gando.
After 25 years service, the
Hornets recently completed
the final phase of a mid-life
update (MLU) to ensure it could

Above: The upgraded Hornets of Ala 12 now use Taurus cruise missiles for
attacking high-value targets from safe distances. All photos author unless stated

70 JUNE 2015 #327

continue to deliver maximum

benefit as well as providing
additional key features.
Given the excellence of
the basic platform, limited
additional investment was
considered worthwhile to
keep the Hornet viable until its
expected withdrawal between
2025 and 2030. It also brought
the added benefit of generating
work for Spanish industry.
First, the short-range infrared
IRIS-T AAM was selected to
complement
and replace
the AIM-9
Sidewinder. The decision
was made to integrate it along
with the Helmet-Mounted
Symbology System (HMSS)
originally developed by BAE
Systems for the Typhoon.
The helmet, which is entering
service on Typhoons flying
with Ala 11 and Ala 14, enables
targeting independent of
the head-up display (HUD),
exploiting IRIS-Ts greater
engagement envelope
compared to Sidewinder and
increasing the Hornets shortrange air-to-air capability.
It also made sense to replace
the APG-65 radar, the EdA
remaining the only Hornet
operator employing this
older unit rather than the
more modern and capable
APG-73 which is available in
large quantities second-hand
and in good condition, thanks
to the US Navys F/A-18E/F
Super Hornet modernisation
programme replacing it
with the APG-79 AESA.
Compared to APG-65, the
APG-73 affords longer range
and improved identification of
airborne targets along with airto-ground capabilities similar to
those of the Boeing F-15E Strike
Eagle, including digital mapping.

Coming up to its
75th anniversary,
Spains Ejrcito del
Aire continues to
struggle after years of
fierce defence cuts.
Yet upgrades to its
Hornet fleet and slow
development of the
Typhoon force are
maintaining capability,
as Salvador Maf
Huertas explains.

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Organisation

Main image: Ala 12 originally flew

two F-18M Hornet squadrons but, due
to budget cuts, 122 Squadron was
disbanded and its pilots posted to
staff or desk postings. EdA

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The Ejrcito del Aire is organised into flying and ground units,
the latter
including radar stations, special forces, support and logistics organisat
ions.
Several squadrons exist on paper as discrete units, but operate
with no real
division between them in terms of personnel or equipment.
The Fuerza Area (air force) is the EdAs flying component, defi
ned under
Article 2 of Royal Decree 416/2006 as personnel and materiel
grouped
and organised for the primary task of preparing for and conductin
g military
operations. The decree also defines Mando Areo de Combate
(MACOM,
Air Combat Command), Mando Areo General (MAGEN, General
Air Command) and Mando Areo de Canarias (Canary Islands Air Comman
d).

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FORCE REPORT Spanish Air Force

Mando Areo de Combate
Air Combat Commands primary task is to prepare combat units, combat
support, and command and control systems for military operations, fulfilling
assigned permanent and temporary taskings. It also has responsibility for
unit training and maintaining auxiliary combat and combat support capability.

Mando Areo de Combate

Parent
Unit

Base

Squadrons

Aircraft (Spanish designation)

Ala 11

Morn

111, 113 and

221 Esc

EF-2000 (C/CE.16), P-3A/B/M

(P.3)

Ala 12

Torrejn

121 Esc

F-18A+/M (C/CE.15)

Ala 14

Albacete

142 Esc *

EF-2000 (C/CE.16)

Ala 15

Zaragoza

151 & 153

Esc

F-18A+/M (C/CE.15)

Ala 31

Zaragoza

311 Esc

C-130H/KC-130H/C-130H-30
(T/TK/TL.10)

Ala 35

Getafe

351 Esc

C-295 (T.21)

47 Grupo

Torrejn

471 and 472

Esc

Boeing 707/707 tanker/transport

(T/TK/TM.17), Falcon 20 (TM.11)
and C.212 (T.12C/TM.12D)

It reduces the possibility of target

misidentification and the risk of
collateral damage, and cheaper
parts too, given its larger customer
base and manufacturer
Raytheon claims maintenance
costs are lower than the APG-65s.
The dual-mode laser-guided/
GPS GBU-48 Enhanced
Paveway 1,000lb (454kg)
bomb also recently entered
service on the F-18M. The EdA
previously lacked an all weather,
GPS-guided munition, lagging
behind other NATO air forces,
but now boasts an advanced
weapon few others possess.
Meanwhile, buying the Taurus
missile and integrating it onto the
Hornet and Typhoon has also put
Spain among the world leaders
in offensive capability. And more
are likely to be required, since its
initial inventory of 43 weapons
is considered inadequate.
Meanwhile, other missiles,
especially the AIM-120 Advanced
Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile
(AMRAAM), AGM-65 Maverick,
AGM-84 Harpoon and AGM-88
High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile
(HARM) are being replaced in
other countries by newer systems,
and their future in Spanish
service should be reviewed. A
HARM alternative is particularly
important if the latest air defence
radars are to be defeated.
Applying the MLU to the F/A-18A
Hornets purchased second-hand
from the US Navy under the
CX programme from 1996 is
proving problematic. Currently
in service with 462 Escuadrn
at Gando, these aircraft have
been given software updates, but
had already accumulated high

72 JUNE 2015 #327

airframe hours before their arrival

in Spain and so their upgrade
may not be economically viable.
Although the Hornets
replacement is still a long way off,
the EdA is studying options. Next
year it will begin a replacement
programme to consider the
purchase of additional, more
advanced Typhoons, F-35A
Lighting IIs or a mix of either of
the two with unmanned combat
air vehicles (UCAVs). A decision
is unlikely for several years.
In early 2013, budget cuts

A 111 Escuadrn Typhoon loaded with a GBU-16 during an air-to-ground

bombing exercise at Las Bardenas weapons range. EdA

FRANCE
ANDORRA

Villanubla

Atlantic
Sea

Zaragoza

Balearic Sea
Cuatro Vientos
Getafe

PORTUGAL

Menorca

Torrejn
Madrid

Mallorca
Son San Juan

Ibiza

SPAIN

Talavera

Albacete

Alcantarilla
San Javier

Mediterranean Sea
Canary Islands

Morn

Las Palmas

Armilla
Tenerife

Strait of Gibraltar

Gando

Gran Canaria

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Above: The Spanish Air Force currently operates both KC-130H and Boeing 707 tankers as force multipliers. EdA
Left: A Typhoon sits in a QRA shelter at Moron Air Base.
Below right: No 22 Grupo, the second operational unit of Ala 11 at Moron Air Base, has three P-3Ms (modernizad), two
P-3Bs and two P-3As, flying with 221 Escuadrn.
Below: A Boeing 707 transport/tanker from 471 Escuadrn returns to Gando Air Base, Canary Islands, after a sortie. Wim Das

Mando Areo General

General Air Commands primary responsibility is the support of public services
including firefighting. It also oversees Fuerza Area facilities at air bases and
other airfields. Its units include 43 Grupo as part of the Unidad Militar de Emergencias (UME, Military Emergency Unit), the Centro Cartogrfico y Fotogrfico
(CECAF, Cartographic and Photographic Centre) and the Centro Logstico del
Aire (CLAEX, Armament and Experimentation Logistics Centre), which is tasked
through the Mando Apoyo Logstico (MALOG, Logistics Support Command).

Mando Areo General

Parent
Unit

Base

Sqns

Aircraft (Spanish
designation)

Ala 37

Villanubla

371 Esc

C.212 (T.12B)

Ala 48

Cuatro Vientos/
Getafe (depending
on MACOM CSAR
tasking)

402 and
803 Esc

AS332 Super Puma

(HD.21/HT.21/HT.21A),
AS532 (HT.27), CN.235
(D.4)

Ala 49

Son San Juan

801 Esc

CN.235 SIGMA (D.4),

SA330 (HD.19)

43 Grupo

Torrejn

431 and
432 Esc

CL-215T/415 (UD.13T/
UD.14)

45 Grupo

Torrejn

451 Esc

Falcon 900B (T.18), A310

(T.22)

CECAF

Getafe

403 and
409 Esc

CN.235 (TR.19A), Citation

V (TR.20), Beechcraft C90
(E/U.22)

CLAEX

Torrejn

541 Esc

C.101 (E.25), T-35C Tamiz

(E.26), C.212 (T.12D)

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forced the EDAs chief of staff

into a controversial decision. The
second squadrons of Ala 12, 15,
23, 31 and 35 were disbanded
along with the first of Ala 14,
saving on fuel and maintenance
costs. The disbanded squadrons
senior pilots (with ten or more
years service) were posted to nonflying jobs, causing a temporary
reduction in operational
capability, although this had
been restored by late 2014.

Supporting assets

Although the EdA is generally well

balanced, there are deficiencies in
its capabilities. Spain participates
in NATOs E-3A Component
Airborne Warning and Control
System Force, but its input is
insufficient to maintain constant
watch over Spanish airspace.
This, and the desire for command
flexibility, is driving a requirement
for an organic AWACS capability.
Among possibilities for satisfying
the requirement, the Israeli
Gulfstream G550-based airborne
early warning (AEW) system is
perhaps the most interesting.

A modern platform promising

low operational costs, the G550
AEW has a long detection range,
requires a crew of just six and
operates at very high altitudes.
Compared to its rivals it offers
benefits in radar coverage,
reduced fuel consumption
and increased range.

UCAVs

Armed UCAVs have been in

service with the US Air Force for
some years, and also operate
closer to home with the RAF
and Italys Aeronautica Militare
Italiana. They offer commanders
extraordinary flexibility, controlled
by satellite from thousands of
miles away, loitering for hours
collecting intelligence and ready
to strike with precision at fleeting
targets. They are also cheaper to
acquire and operate than crewed
fighters while potentially offering
them an affordable complement.
The EdA is a little behind the
curve in understanding the
possibilities for UCAVs, and
although an unmanned air
vehicle training unit has been

#327 JUNE 2015 73

FORCE REPORT Spanish Air Force

established at Matacn Air
Base (Salamanca), for now
the army has been pioneering
Spanish UAV operations,
with the Heron and Raven.

Upgrades and
acquisitions

Considerably more urgent is the

need to replace the Boeing 707s
used as transports and tankers.
Their legacy engines return poor
fuel efficiency and, having been
in service for many years, the
airframes have accumulated high
flight hours and are becoming
increasingly maintenance-intensive.
Technical issues are also emerging.
The optimal solution would
be to adopt the Airbus A330
Multi-Role Tanker Transport
(MRTT), with its higher fuel
offload and more economical
operations. Britains A330
MRTT (Voyager) programme,
where aircraft are leased from
AirTanker, has enabled the RAF
to operate a fleet of the most
modern and capable tankertransports without the full costs
of acquisition. A similar scheme
could be of interest to the EdA.
Spain has already committed
to buying 27 Airbus A400M
transport aircraft as replacements

An Ala 11 Eurofighter, one of four deployed to mari Air Base, in Estonia taxies to the runway on March 23. The jets
were there as part of a fourth month NATO Baltic Air Policing mission that ended on May 4. Cristian Schrik

Apoyo a la Fuerza
The Apoyo a la Fuerza (Support
Force) manages, administers
and controls air force materiel,
financial and human resources,
including the logistics that
facilitate day-to-day functionality
across units. It includes the
Mando de Personal (MAPER,
Personnel Command - see page
75), MALOG and the Direccin
de Asuntos Econmicos (DAE,
Directorate of Economic Aff airs).

Above: SF-5Bs of Ala 23, based at Talavera, are used for fighter lead-in training
and have undergone an extensive avionics and structural upgrade in recent
years, which included replacing the ejection seats. EdA
Below: The EdA has five Falcon 900s on strength with 451 Escuadrn, 45 Grupo
at Torrejn AB. JM Santaner

Mando Areo de Canarias

Canary Islands Air Command delivers MACOM and MAGEN capabilities in
the islands. It includes Ala 46, which is tasked by MACOM, and 802 Esc
tasked by MAGEN.

Mando Areo de Canarias

Parent Unit

Base

Sqns

Aircraft (Spanish designation)

Ala 46

Gando

462 Esc

F/A-18A (C.15)

802 Esc

Gando

CN.235 SIGMA (D.4), AS332 (HD.21)

Bombardier CL-415s of 43 Grupo are tasked to put out the many wildfires that blaze across Spain in the summer months.

74 JUNE 2015 #327

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Mando de Personal
Personnel Command is responsible for the management of air force personnel,
primarily through pilot and aircrew training. Its units include the Academia
General del Aire (AGA, Air Academy), Grupo de Escuelas de Matacn (GRUEMA)
and Escuela Militar de Paracaidismo (EMP).

Mando de Personal
Parent Unit

Base

Sqns

AGA

San Javier

791, 792
C.101 (E.25), T-35C (E.26),
and 794 Esc CASA C-127 (U.9)

Aircraft (Spanish designation)

Ala 23

Talavera

231 Esc

SF-5B/M (AE.9)

Ala 78

Armilla

781 and
782 Esc

S-76C (HE.24), EC120B

(HE.25)

GRUEMA

Matacn

741 and 744 C.101 (E.25), CN.235 (T.19B)

Esc

42 Grupo

Villanubla

Beech F33C (E.24A)

721 Esc/EMP

Alcantarilla

C.212 (T.12B)

Above right: Gando-based 802 Escuadrn covers SAR taskings on Gran Canaria, operating the AS332 Super Puma. EdA
Below: Of all the helicopters operated by the air force, the smallest, but one of the most modern, is the Eurocopter EC120B Colibri. Fifteen, purchased in late 1999, are operated by Ala 78 at Armilla, Granada, to train Spanish military and
police helicopter pilots the basic rotary course. Instructor pilots from the unit make up the Patrulla ASPA display team.

for its Lockheed C-130 Hercules

fleet. Deliveries are expected
between 2016 and 2021.
Upgrade of the third and
final Lockheed P-3B Orion
maritime patrol aircraft to P-3M
standard has recently been
completed, bringing the strength
of Ala 11s Grupo 22 (221
Escuadrn) up to three P-3Ms,
two P-3Bs and two P-3As.
A programme is also under
way to find a replacement for
the CASA C.101EB Aviojet basic
trainer, and it seems likely the
EdA will buy a turboprop.

Carme Chacn reported in late

2011, the cuts caused problems
meeting payment obligations.
Summing up the situation, a
military source stated: Every litre
of fuel, flight hour, bullet shot and
maintenance cost must be justified.
The defence budget for 2015 is

6.261 billion, of which 4.529

billion (72%) will be spent on
personnel costs. Effectively
returning national defence
spending to the level of ten years
ago, it represents a decrease
of 8.8% compared to
afm
the 2011 budget.

A grim picture

Spains defence spending continues

to be limited, following the trend
of recent years that has brought
austerity to the military. Between
2008 and 2013 the budget fell by
more than 1.9 billion, or 25%.
As the former Defence Minister,

www.airforcesdaily.com

Above: Patrulla guila, the EdAs jet demonstration team, is based at San Javier
Air Base, operating C-101EB Aviojet basic trainers.

Spanish
Eurofighters on
NATO Baltic Air
Policing duty
From January 1 until May 4, the
Spanish Air Force detached four
Eurofighters from Morn-based
Ala 11 to mari Air Base in Estonia. The jets were present as part
of the NATO Baltic Air Policing
mission, which since May 2014
has seen mari used as a second
Baltic base (the other is in Lithuania) to host NATO fighters.
The Spanish deployment was led
by Lt Col Enrique Fernndez Ambel, who told reporters at a press
conference on April 22 that the
alert response time required by
NATO had been reduced from 30
minutes to 15. He also revealed
that the Spanish Eurofighters had
flown 400 hours and carried out
ten interceptions.
The commander headed up
a team of 115 people, which
included pilots, maintenance crew
and support personnel as well as
a doctor and fire rescue team. He
explained there had only been a
few serviceability issues during
the 300 or so start-ups. Their
deployment, which started in dark
winter, saw the Spanish Eurofighters operating in some severe
conditions, including snow and
temperatures of -20C. Unusual
weather for the Spanish Air Force!
To date there have been four
NATO detachments to Estonia,
initially by Royal Danish F-16s,
which were relieved by German
Air Force/TaktLwG 74 Eurofighters from Neuberg. They handed
over to the Spanish Eurofighters
before they were succeeded by
the RAFs 6 Squadron Typhoon
FGR4s out of RAF Lossiemouth,
Scotland. Alan Warnes

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