Getafe, 30 December, 2025 – The Spanish Ministry of Defence has awarded a significant contract to Airbus Defence and Space to spearhead the development of a new combat Integrated Training System (ITS-C) for the Spanish Air and Space Force.
In a collaborative effort, Airbus will serve as the national coordinator in Spain, working alongside Turkish Aerospace, which will manufacture the HÜRJET Jet Trainer. The primary objective of this initiative is to phase out the outdated F-5 aircraft fleet and effectively cover the entire advanced training process for Spanish combat pilots. The contract entails the procurement of 30 HÜRJET Jet Trainers from Turkish Aerospace, modifications of the fleet with tailored Spanish specifications, the establishment of an Aircraft Conversion Centre within Spain, refurbishment of the Training Centre at the Fighter and Attack School located at Talavera la Real Air Base, Extremadura, and the delivery of an integrated suite of operational and maintenance services at this facility.
The program will unfold in two simultaneous phases. Phase one includes the procurement of 30 HÜRJET Jet Trainers in their initial configuration, with certification in Spain and delivery to the customer set to occur throughout 2028 and 2029.
Phase two will concentrate on the conversion of these 30 aircraft to incorporate national content, with their delivery to the customer planned for the latter half of 2031 through 2035. The initial conversion of two aircraft will take place at Airbus facilities in Getafe, while the remaining 28 will be adapted at the designated Conversion Centre to be established in Spain.
Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space, remarked, “This ambitious programme aims to create a cutting-edge combat training system in Spain that meets the urgent needs of the Air and Space Force. It will also enhance national industry involvement, return on investment, and capability development, while ensuring full Spanish sovereignty throughout the entire process.”
The conversion efforts will rely heavily on the input of various Spanish technology and defense companies, focusing on essential components such as mission and training systems, remote interface units, audio management systems, avionics computers, mission recording systems, and armament simulators.
In addition, Airbus plans to develop a new Ground Based Training System (GBTS) by 2028 at Talavera la Real Air Base, with collaboration from other stakeholders in Spanish industry. This facility will feature multiple levels of simulation capabilities, including two mission simulators, virtual reality tools, computer-based training modules, and multifunctional classrooms, among other technologies.
This comprehensive combat training system will also incorporate a service package designed to maximize the availability of the new fleet and ensure optimal operation of the Training Centre, which will consist of ground instruction and training elements.
@AirbusDefence @EjercitoAire @Defensagob
Source: Airbus Defence and Space (2025-12-29)
