Spanish Air Force
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Spain stayed neutral during World War 2. During the Cold War Spain was drawn to the West. In 1953 an agreement was made with the United States. Spain receives military aid in exchange for American military facilities in the country (i.e. Torrejón, Rota). Spanish naval aviation comes to life in November 1954 when the Arma Aerea de la Armada Espanola (Spanish Fleet Air Arm) is established. The Spanish Army aviation is established on 10 July 1965 as Aviacion Ligera del Ejercito de Tierra. It was renamed Fuerza Aeromóviles del Ejército de Tierra (FAMET) in March 1973. When Franco died in 1975 the democracy was restored. This made it possible for Spain to join NATO in 1982. Nowadays the Spanish armed forces are in a continuous modernization programme. Further (secondhand) F/A-18s have been delivered, they will serve as a stopgap until the 87 ordered Eurofighter Typhoons have been delivered. Other new aircraft are Eurocopter EC120B helicopters to replace the H269s of Ala 78. Also, nine Casa C295s are on order, to supplement Ala 35's fleet of CN235s. There are also plans to replace the fleet of C101 jettrainers.

AIRCRAFT OF THE SPANISH AIR FORCE :

- FIGHTERS :

- EF-2000 Eurofighter

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The four-nation Eurofighter Typhoon is a foreplane delta-wing, beyond-visual-range, close air fighter aircraft with surface attack capability. Eurofighter has 'supercruise' capability: it can fly at sustained speeds of over Mach 1 without the use of afterburner.An overall production contract for 620 aircraft was signed in January 1998, with 232 for the UK, 180 for Germany, 121 for Italy and 87 for Spain.As well as an internally mounted 27mm Mauser gun, the EurofighterTyphoon has 13 hard points for weapon carriage: four under each wing and five under the fuselage.

- Mc Donnell Douglas EF-18 Hornet

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Nowadays the Spanish armed forces are in a continuous modernization programme. Further (secondhand) F/A-18s have been delivered, they will serve as a stopgap until the 87 ordered Eurofighter Typhoons have been delivered.109 EF-18s are in service in the Spanish Airforce. 
EADS Military Aircraft carries out depot inspections on the EF-18 Hornets flown by the Spanish Air Force.
The comprehensive maintenance program covers the engines, fuel systems, installation of a new VOR/ILS and repair work. EADS Military Aircraft is also implementing an update program for EF-18 Hornet. This program includes COMMS/NAV/INDENT and EW systems, cockpit upgrades, MIDS LVT, improvements to the aircraft structure and modern mission computers. The first prototype equipped with the new systems was completed in mid 2000.

- Mirage F-1CE/EE/EDA

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A total of fifty Mirage F-1 aircraft are in service with the Spanish Air Force as fighter aircraft and fighter bombers.

The modernisation programme for these aircraft covers 46 single-seater and four twin-seater aircraft. The focus of this programme is primarily on optimisations in the communications systems and the weapon, self-defence and navigation systems in line with the current NATO standards. A further objective was the standardisation of the aircraft cockpits.

- RF-4C PHANTOM II

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The Spanish Airforce uses the F-4 Phantom in the reconnaissance role.

11 RF-4C are in service in the Spanish Airforce, soon to be replaced by the EF-18.

- TRAINING :

- Freedom Fighter/ Northrop F-5B

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From 1970 onwards, a total of 70 F-5 aircraft were manufactured for the Spanish Air Force by CASA under licence from Northrop. Over the course of the years, various modernisation programmes have been carried out on these aircraft.

These include newly certified and structurally re-developed wings and the conversion of single-seater F-5A aircraft into twin-seater F-5B aircraft. The aim of this programme was to be able to use the largest possible number of twin-seaters as trainer aircraft.

- CASA C-101 Mirlo

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At the end of the sixties, it emerged that the Spanish Air Force required a new, up-to-date jet trainer to replace its fleet of T-6, HA 200 and T-33 aircraft. The requirement was for an aircraft with excellent manoeuvrability, easy handling and low operating costs.

The prototype had its first flight on 27.6.1977 in Getafe. The first production aircraft entered service for the Spanish Air Force from 1980 onwards under the name "Mirlo".The C-101 has an integrated navigation and weapon system with a head-up display, air data and mission computer and an inertial navigation platform. In addition, the modular design allows the aircraft to be used for armed patrol, reconnaissance and ECM missions.

-TRANSPORT :

- CN-235

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The CN-235 is a high-wing, pressurised, twin turboprop tactical transport aircraft capable of operating from short, unpaved runways. The CN-235 is in military service in more than 20 countries worldwide, and it enjoys an excellent reputation for mission versatility, minimal support requirements, safe and reliable operation in all kinds of environments and low operating costs. It can carry a maximum payload of 6,000 kg and its maximum cruising speed is 245 kt (455 km/h).

- C-295

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The Spanish Air Force announced in April 1999 a launch order for nine C-295s. The contract was signed in January 2000, and deliveries will start in mid 2001. In Spanish Air Force service the C-295 will take over some of the missions currently assigned to the C-130 Hercules, at a fraction of the cost.The C-295 can carry up to 73 troops, five 88´´x108´´ standard pallets or up to 27 stretchers for medical evacuation. The C-295 has excellent low level flying characteristics for tactical penetration. Maximum payload in excess of 9 Tons and maximum cruise speed is 260 kt (480 km/h).

- Falcon 900

95.gif (2709 bytes) FS5/FS98 Falcon 900 Ejercito del Aire Espanol (Spanish Air Force). These Dassault aircraft fly VIP transoceanic transport for the Spanish Royal Family and government by the 45 Squadron at Torrejon.

- C-130H Hercules

0.jpg (79533 bytes) Spain's C-130 fleet are flown by two squadrons both located at Zaragoza, the 311th Transport Squadron operates six C-130Hs and one C-130H-30 while the 312th Refueling Squadron flies five KC-130Hs.

- Boeing 707

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The Spanish Airforce has 4 Boeing-707 Transport/Tanker Aircraft.

- MARITIME SURVEILLANCE :

- P-3A/B Orion

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The P-3 Orion land-based maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft is operational in the airforces of ten countries. Spain has 7 P-3 Orions in its inventory, these Orions came from Norway.

- HELICOPTERS :

- SA-330/AS-332B Puma/Superpuma

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The Puma medium lift helicopter was in production until 1987 featuring many roles including military and civilian. Used in the army as a troop carrier it could seat twelve occupants. As a civilian based helicopter the Puma could seat twenty passengers. A total of 696 Puma's had been sold by the end of manufacture although they are still produced in Romania.
AS 332 Super Puma: Differs from the SA 330 Puma through an improved rotor system, upgraded engines, stretched fuselage, and a modified nose shape.

- Eurocopter EC-120B

3.gif (65083 bytes) Following an invitation for bids open to all competitors, and a comparative assessment of five competing helicopters, the Spanish Defense Minister and Eurocopter signed by end 1999 a contract worth 100 million francs (15 million Euros), which set the terms for the supplying of 15 light single-engine EC 120B Colibri helicopters. The deliveries will begin in July 2000 and be completed by June 2001.With the acquisition of the EC 120B Colibri, the Spanish Air Force will now have at its disposal a lightweight aircraft that is easy to operate, and which also has demonstrative piloting capabilities and an important new technological advancement.