Airbus to Lead Spain's New Combat Training System

Why It Matters

The contract modernises Spain’s combat pilot pipeline while anchoring critical aerospace work within the domestic industrial base, strengthening national defence sovereignty and creating long‑term economic benefits.

Key Takeaways

• Airbus heads Spain's Integrated Training System (ITS‑C) programme
• 30 HÜRJET trainers to replace aging F‑5 fleet
• Conversion centre to add Spanish industry content by 2035
• New Ground‑Based Training System launching 2028 at Talavera base
• Service package ensures high fleet availability and operational support

Pulse Analysis

Spain’s defence modernization agenda has reached a pivotal milestone with Airbus Defence and Space taking the helm of the Integrated Training System‑Combat (ITS‑C). By selecting the Turkish‑built HÜRJET as the successor to the legacy F‑5, the Spanish Air and Space Force gains a modern, twin‑engine jet capable of both basic and advanced combat training. The partnership leverages Airbus’s systems integration expertise and Turkish Aerospace’s manufacturing capacity, creating a cross‑border supply chain that aligns with NATO interoperability standards while addressing Spain’s specific operational requirements.

The programme’s two‑track structure accelerates capability delivery. Phase one sees 30 HÜRJET trainers delivered and certified in Spain by 2029, providing an immediate boost to pilot training throughput. Phase two focuses on a national conversion effort, embedding Spanish‑developed avionics, mission‑recording suites, and simulation interfaces into the fleet between 2031 and 2035. A dedicated Conversion Centre, complemented by an Aircraft Conversion Facility in Getafe, will involve multiple Spanish defence firms, fostering technology transfer and expanding the domestic supply base. Simultaneously, Airbus will refurbish the Fighter and Attack School at Talavera la Real and install a Ground‑Based Training System featuring VR simulators and mission rehearsal tools, creating a holistic training ecosystem.

Beyond the immediate operational gains, the ITS‑C contract signals a strategic shift toward greater defence sovereignty for Spain. By anchoring a substantial portion of the programme’s value chain within Spanish industry, the deal promises job creation, skill development, and a stronger export‑ready aerospace sector. The integrated services package, covering maintenance and high‑availability support, ensures the new fleet remains mission‑ready, reducing lifecycle costs. For the broader European market, the collaboration showcases a viable model for joint development and localized conversion, potentially influencing future multinational trainer projects and reinforcing Europe’s competitive edge in defence training solutions.

Airbus to lead Spain's new combat training system

Getafe, 30 December 2025

The Spanish Ministry of Defence has selected Airbus Defence and Space to lead the development and implementation of the Spanish Air and Space Force’s new combat Integrated Training System (ITS‑C).

The contract, led jointly by Airbus, as national coordinator for Spain, and Turkish Aerospace as the manufacturer of the HÜRJET Jet Trainer, has as its primary objective the replacement of the current F‑5 aircraft fleet and the coverage of the entire advanced training process for Spanish combat pilots. This encompasses the acquisition of 30 HÜRJET Jet Trainer from Turkish Aerospace, the conversion of the fleet with Spanish content according to the customer’s requirements, the creation of an Aircraft Conversion Centre in Spain, the refurbishment of the Training Centre at the Fighter and Attack School at Talavera la Real Air Base, Extremadura, and the provision of an integrated set of operation and maintenance services at this base.

The programme is divided into two stages that will take place simultaneously. The first phase involves the delivery of 30 HÜRJET Jet Trainer in their initial configuration, certification in Spain and delivery to the customer throughout 2028 and 2029.

The second phase will focus on the conversion work of the 30 aircraft with national content and their subsequent delivery to the customer, scheduled for the second half of 2031 through 2035.

The conversion of the first two aircraft will be carried out at the Airbus facilities in Getafe, while the other 28 aircraft will be converted at the programme’s Conversion Centre to be established in Spain.

“This ambitious programme seeks to create a state‑of‑the‑art combat training system in Spain that addresses the immediate needs of the Air and Space Force. It will also boost national industry participation, return on investment and capability development, ensuring Spanish sovereignty throughout the entire process,”

— Jean‑Brice Dumont, Head of Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space.

The national conversion work, which will involve the participation and development of several Spanish technology and defence companies, will focus on: mission and training systems, remote interface units, audio management systems, avionics computers, mission recording or armament simulators.

Furthermore, the creation of a new Ground‑Based Training System (GBTS) by Airbus, with the participation of other representatives of the Spanish industry, is planned for 2028 at Talavera la Real Air Base. This centre will feature different levels of simulation, including two mission simulators, virtual‑reality simulators, computer‑based training and multi‑purpose rooms, among other systems.

This new integral combat training system also includes a services package to ensure the highest availability of the new fleet, as well as the correct operation of the Training Centre, including ground instruction.