14 December 2022

Spain to equip Eurofighters with Brimstone missile

by Gareth Jennings

The Spanish Air Force is to add the Brimstone air-to-surface missile to the existing weapons fit of its Eurofighter aircraft, seen here during a media event at Ala 14 Los Llanos-Albacete. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)

The Spanish Air Force (Ejército del Aire Español: EdAE) is to equip its Eurofighter Typhoon (C.16 in national service) combat aircraft with the MBDA Brimstone air-to-surface missile, a senior officer told Janes and other defence media on 13 December.

Speaking at Los Llanos-Albacete in central Spain, the Air Group Chief of Ala 14 (Wing 14), Lieutenant Colonel Jesús M Salazar Ortiz de Landázuri, said that the decision to equip the Eurofighter with the low-yield missile had been made in recent days, with the first deliveries to take place by the end of 2023.

“We [at Ala 14] were told less than a month ago, and so we don't even know ourselves yet which version of the Brimstone we are to get,” the commander said, adding that the UK Royal Air Force (RAF), which already equips its Eurofighter Typhoons with the Brimstone, will assist the EdAE with its integration work.

The EdAE fields 70 Eurofighters, of which 31 Tranche 2 and Tranche 3 aircraft are with Ala 14 at Los Llanos-Albacete, with the remainder Tranche 1, Tranche 2, and Tranche 3 aircraft with Ala 11 at Morón de la Frontera in southern Spain. Given that the EdAE aircraft are currently at the P2Eb performance enhancement package standard, they will likely require a further upgrade to the P3E standard before they can carry the Brimstone.

The Spanish Air Force (Ejército del Aire Español: EdAE) is to equip its Eurofighter Typhoon (C.16 in...

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