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Strategic Integration of Spanish Advanced Combat Training Systems and Avionics
Airbus leads national industrial consortium to replace Spanish Air and Space Force F-5 fleet.
www.airbus.com
An Airbus-led consortium of Spanish companies presented the industrial program for the Spanish Air and Space Force’s Integrated Combat Training System (ITS-C). The program, awarded in December 2025, replaces the aging F-5 fleet through a 60% national industrial participation model.
Co-Development and Fleet Specifications
The ITS-C program utilizes a co-development agreement between Airbus, acting as the prime contractor, and Turkish Aerospace (TA) as the manufacturer of the HÜRJET airframe.
- Fleet Designation: The 30-aircraft fleet is designated nationally as the SAETA II.
- Customization: Airbus oversees Spanish-specific customization, including the integration of new equipment and advanced avionics.
- Infrastructure: The program includes a redesign of the Fighter and Strike school Training Centre at Talavera la Real Air Base in Extremadura, Spain.
Technical Implementation Phases
The transition to the SAETA II platform is structured into two distinct developmental stages:
The transition to the SAETA II platform is structured into two distinct developmental stages:
- Initial Phase (2028): Delivery begins for an initial batch of 21 aircraft. One unit will serve as a prototype for next-generation mission equipment integration.
- Ground-Based Training: Synthetic training systems and simulators, developed with Indra, are scheduled to enter operation during the 2029-2030 academic year.
- Second Phase (2031-2035): All 30 aircraft will undergo full conversion to Spanish standards, with simultaneous updates to the simulator suites.
National Avionics and Technology Integration
The program emphasizes technological sovereignty by integrating specialized components from the Spanish defense supply chain:
The program emphasizes technological sovereignty by integrating specialized components from the Spanish defense supply chain:
- Mission Computing: Inertial/GPS and mission computers provided by GMV.
- Communications and Identification: Sener provides DataLink systems, while Indra integrates Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems.
- Subsystems: Aertec (remote interface units), Grupo Oesía (audio management), and Orbital (VMDR mission recorders) are responsible for critical avionics hardware.
- Sustainment: Spanish industry will independently manage the maintenance, currency, and future evolution of the fleet.
Edited by Romila DSilva, Induportals Editor, with AI assistance.
