An aircraft carrier that won’t have fighters.
Spain is facing a major challenge as the country’s flagship aircraft carrier, the Juan Carlos I, could be left without any fixed-wing fighters as its AV-8B Harriers retire in the early 2030s. This is particularly unusual given that the ship will remain operational but will only be able to operate helicopters, not modern fighters.
The National Interest explains: The Spanish government announced this summer that it would not pursue the purchase of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter jet. The decision came after years of deliberation. Madrid had expressed interest in purchasing the fifth-generation fighter jet since 2017 and even planned to have both the conventional F-35A and the short-takeoff and vertical landing F-35B in service by mid-2025. But the project was ultimately shelved for financial and political reasons.
Instead, Spain has opted to either buy more Eurofighter Typhoons or wait until the joint European project for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a sixth-generation fighter, becomes operational by the mid-2030s. Spain has been in service with Eurofighters since 2003 and currently operates them at two bases in Morón and Los Llanos. Last December, a contract was signed for 25 upgraded Tranche 4 Typhoons to be delivered between 2030 and 2035.
The Eurofighters could replace the aging F/A-18 Hornet, but they have one major problem: they cannot operate from the aforementioned aircraft carrier. The carrier is equipped with a special STOVL launch pad that is only suitable for the Harrier and the F-35B. Therefore, if the Harriers are retired and the F-35 is not purchased, the Spanish Navy will be practically left without a fixed-wing fighter.
According to the analysis, to avoid this situation, the Spanish Navy has several options on the table. One option is to extend the operational life of the Harriers until 2032. Admiral Antonio Pinheiro, Chief of Staff of the Navy, has announced that the possibility of purchasing retired Harriers from the United States or Italy is even being considered. These fighters are not intended to be put back into service, but will only be used as a source of spare parts to keep the current fleet in service for a few more years.
Another option is to build a new aircraft carrier. The Spanish Navy is considering a design similar to the French Charles de Gaulle but with conventional engines. Such a ship could host the French F-35C or Rafale-M fighters. However, given that Spain has even canceled the purchase of the F-35B due to a lack of funds, it is unlikely that it will have the financial means to build a new carrier and buy a new fleet of fighter jets at the same time.
The National Interest report concludes: Spain has one of the lowest defense budgets in Europe due to its geographical distance from Eastern Europe (the front line of the Cold War and likely the focus of future NATO conflicts). At the 2025 NATO summit in The Hague, Spain was the only member of the alliance to refuse to commit to spending 5% of its GDP on military spending, and, having obtained an exemption, pledged only 2% of its GDP to defense.
In such circumstances, the only realistic option is for the Juan Carlos I to continue operating with the Harrier II as long as possible, and then move towards the use of helicopters and drones from the early 2030s. This scenario is not the worst option for a country willing to have a limited defense budget.