Spain Abandons F-35 Plans, Eyes European Jets

Spain has officially abandoned its plans to buy U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin, shifting focus to European alternatives such as the Eurofighter and the Future Combat Air System (FCAS). The Spanish government had previously earmarked €6.25 billion in its 2023 budget for new fighter aircraft, but a subsequent decision to invest an additional €10.5 billion in European defense projects made the F-35 acquisition unfeasible. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is aiming to meet NATO's 2% of GDP defense spending target but has refused to increase it further, prompting criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump. Both Spain's Defense Ministry and Lockheed Martin have declined to comment on the matter. Preliminary discussions for the F-35 order have been suspended indefinitely. The decision reflects Spain's shift toward European defense industry priorities.