La Marina spagnola nella fase di pianificazione per costruire la sua prima portaerei convenzionale, ispirata a “Charles de Gaulle” della Francia, di avere più alternative al combattente F-35 realizzato negli Stati Uniti
https://www.infobae.com/espana/2025/06/26/espana-apuesta-por-construir-su-primer-portaviones-para-tener-mas-alternativas-al-caza-f-35-de-eeuu-la-armada-se-inspira-en-el-buque-charles-de-gaulle-de-francia/
di RealToiletPaper007
21 commenti
>The Spanish Navy is already working on the development of its first own conventional aircraft carrier with the aim of being able to operate between 25 and 30 combat aircraft from it. According to EFE, the Spanish naval force has detailed that the future vessel would be similar to the Charles de Gaulle, although nuclear propulsion is ruled out, as is the case with the flagship of the French Navy.
>The French vessel, whose replacement is already being worked on by the French military industry, is approximately 261 metres long, has a beam of 64 metres and a height of 75 metres, and can also move more than 42,500 tonnes when fully loaded. In this regard, as published in El País, the Navy has already commissioned the state-owned shipbuilder Navantia to carry out a feasibility study on the construction of what would be the first Spanish-made aircraft carrier in which aircraft can both take off and land conventionally [instead of only vertically].
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>In this way, the force led by Admiral General Antonio Piñeiro Sánchez has modified [its original plan for 2050](https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/1isrbv5/the_spanish_navy_sets_out_plan_for_the/) which, among other modernisations and acquisitions, envisaged building three new aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships in the style of the [LHD Juan Carlos I](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_ship_Juan_Carlos_I), the largest unit that Spain currently has. Now, one of these will be transformed into a conventional aircraft carrier.
>This rethinking responds, among other reasons, to the need for more alternatives with respect to the Navy’s future fighter, the one – or ones – that will replace the current AV-8B Harrier II, short take-off aircraft capable of vertical landing, which are indispensable characteristics for operating from the Juan Carlos I. Currently, the only fighter available on the market with this capability is the F-35B, manufactured by the United States.
>For years, the naval force has pointed to the US fifth-generation fighter as the only option for continuing to have an on-board aircraft, at least aboard the Juan Carlos I. However, the purchase of the F-35, of which the Navy needs at least a dozen aircraft, runs counter to the Ministry of Defence’s policy of acquiring Spanish or European military equipment, in the development of which the national industry is involved.
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>Although expandable to six more aircraft, the reduced number of units required by the naval force makes it unfeasible for Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the F-35, to make a certain industrial return to Spanish territory. In view of this, the possibility has been considered that the US fighter might be the replacement for the Air Force’s F-18s, now at the end of their service life, which would make it possible to increase the volume of a hypothetical purchase and would enable greater participation by Spanish companies. However, the air force does not look favourably on the US aircraft.
Rafales then?
Sounds like they’re on board for a carrier variant FCAS then?
Since the only option available right now other than US jets would be the Rafale, which will be pretty outdated by the time the carrier gets built.
Not only they won’t bow to Trump with their 5% spending but they will spend it elsewhere. オランジェ男の人 will be very upset.
Damn look at us being all traitors to Europe and shit
Not going nuclear is a mistake IMO.
I’m a bit skeptical of this honestly…Carriers are an extremely expensive capability to maintain, Spain has a smaller escort fleet than the UK, France or Italy which suggests they’d need to increase those numbers to guarantee the protection the carrier would need…and really, what’s the mission? Why does Spain need a strike carrier?
This seems like a pie in the sky.
Is this the same Spain that got an exception to the 5% NATO spending agreement??
Let’s hope it floats better than their economy.
Whether we like it or not the F-35 is the only real option for a “light” carrier available at the moment. Europe dropped the ball big time when we failed to get our own 5th Gen VTOL/STOVL projects off the ground and we are left with the F-35. Spain can not afford a STOBAR or CATOBAR system, not with is current defence commitment. It can afford a VTOL based system like it already has, Rafale or FACS is not a solution to Spain’s needs.
The real truth is even harder as well. No one can afford a CATOBAR system in Europe anymore they are the domain of the superpowers alone and that includes the French with PANG. I have spent 20 years in marine defence since I left the navy and I have never seen a project take on as much risk as the French have with PANG.
I love the fact they named it “El Roy De Tapas Con Patatas Bravas”.
The EU’s biggest military cheapskate building the most expensive piece of military hardware known to man is unbelievable…literally unbelievable.
I’m sure this planning phase will last through Trumps term to avoid his ire and would take any bet that this thing never gets built.
Also why not go nuclear? The French have the tech for it. Conventional ones burn a metric shit ton of fuel to operate and nuclear ones can make their own drinking and shower water.
In my fantasized future europe’s defense Spain, Italy and Greece would have the same carrier class for the mediterranean and red sea, Germany, Poland, the Nordics and the Balts will have some for that region, France and UK will do their things but all of those ships will have interoperable planes and crews like you can have a German squadron on the French carrier and so on…
Haters and naysayers be saying “its too late. European countries should have done this years ago”.
Honestly, I think the EU should focus on the future and create a model of “drone carrier” so to speak. Something lighter, faster, and carrying a variety of drones. I’m sure traditional carriers will still be useful, but sooner or later they’ll prove to be too cumbersome and in disadvantage against missiles. Plus, if shit hits the fan, we’ll need a number of escort carriers more than big gas-guzzling dinosaurs.
Nuclear carrier makes sense ; lighter multirole “drone carriers” would make sense ; but this? That’s a white elephant
Will the 1% of Spain’s 1.2% military spending go to this?
Relax, you all. It’s just an idea to work with. It isn’t in the recent “Armada 2050” ship build planning that the MoD made public recently.
The thing is, they want to put two new LHDs in service, which means we need the F-35B in a relatively short time frame, both for the LHD Juan Carlos I in service and the new ones.
But the political situation has made many countries wary of choosing the F-35 as you know. They are only working on different outcomes of this crisis.
The most logical decision is to finally go just for two LHDs with F-35B wings and reinforcing the ground-based air force with whatever EU nextgen fighter comes to exist. But it doesn’t hurt to think of alternatives.
And yes, we know how to build fucking ships; I can’t believe anyone is telling that to Spain.
Edit: OP explained all of this along the comments far better than I did.
Spain, the country that refused to spend more money on defence as part of its NATO obligation, will attempt to build a conventional aircraft carrier? With what money?
And where will Spain get the CATOBAR?
Nobody else should buy it from them until they also up their defence spending to 5%
Given the ever growing plethora of drones and land to sea missiles I wonder if any carrier is worth it?