Spain invests in urgent requirements

Spain is preparing to commit more than EUR10.8 billion (EUR13.3 billion) to cover a new cycle of investment programmes to meet the armed forces’ most urgent needs.

Sources told Jane’s on 19 March that the figures were presented to a meeting of politicians addressed earlier this month by Defence Minister María Dolores de Cospedal.

The money is earmarked to cover seven major investment programmes, said the sources, for which the Ministry of Defence (MoD) still needs to obtain parliamentary approval.

The funding is for the Vehículo de Combate sobre Ruedas (VCR) 8x8 infantry fighting vehicle, F-110 frigate, a new command-and-control system, a new trainer aircraft and Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) for the air force, a second order of NH-90 helicopters, and an upgrade of the CH-47 helicopter.

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