Rearming Without Stealth: Why Spain Rejected the F-35B and What Comes Next for Its Carrier Fleet
Spain’s naval aviation stands at a crossroads as the country navigates ambitious rearmament goals amid tight budgets, European strategic priorities, and the aging of its iconic AV-8B… 
Spain’s naval aviation stands at a crossroads as the country navigates ambitious rearmament goals amid tight budgets, European strategic priorities, and the aging of its iconic AV-8B Harrier II fleet. The Spanish Navy, long one of the few European forces capable of operating fixed-wing combat aircraft from a ship, faces uncertainty about the future of its carrier-based air power. The decision to forgo the Lockheed Martin F-35B has thrust the rearmament of the naval air arm into the spotlight, raising questions about capability gaps, industrial sovereignty, and Spain’s place in NATO’s evolving maritime posture.
The centerpiece of Spain’s current naval aviation is the…
