View source for Spanish Air and Space Force

{{Short description|Air and Space warfare branch of Spain's armed forces}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = Spanish Air and Space Force
| native_name                   = {{lang|es|Ejército del Aire y del Espacio}}
| image                         = Emblem of the Spanish Air Force.svg
| image_size                    = 200px
| caption                       = [[Armorial of the Spanish Armed Forces#Air and Space Force|Emblem of the Air and Space Force]]
| start_date                    = {{start date and age|1913|02|28|df=yes}}
| country                       = {{flag|Spain}}
| allegiance                    = 
| branch                        = 
| type                          = [[Air force|Air]] and [[space force]]
| role                          = [[Aerial warfare|Aerial]] and [[space warfare]]
| size                          = {{ubl|23,000 personnel (2018)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gaceta.es/espana/alerta-falta-personal-ejercito-aire-se-necesitan-5000-militares-20180321-0650/|title=Alerta por falta de personal en el Ejército del Aire: se necesitan 5.000 militares|date=2018-03-21|website=La Gaceta|language=es-ES|access-date=2019-03-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006035020/https://gaceta.es/espana/alerta-falta-personal-ejercito-aire-se-necesitan-5000-militares-20180321-0650/|archive-date=2018-10-06|url-status=live}}</ref>|414 aircraft<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ejercitodelaire.mde.es/ea/pag?idDoc=homeARN |title=Ejército del aire. Aeronaves |access-date=2008-08-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080806233316/http://www.ejercitodelaire.mde.es/ea/pag?idDoc=homeARN |archive-date=2008-08-06 }}</ref>}}
| command_structure             = [[File:Emblem of the Spanish Armed Forces.svg|25px]] [[Spanish Armed Forces]]
| garrison                      = [[General Headquarters of the Air and Space Force]], [[Madrid]]
| garrison_label                = Headquarters
| nickname                      = 
| patron                        = [[Our Lady of Loreto]]
| motto                         = {{ubl|{{langx|la|[[Per aspera ad astra]]}}|"Through hardships to the stars"}}
| colours                       = 
| colours_label                 = 
| march                         = [[Spanish Air and Space Force Anthem]]
| mascot                        = 
| anniversaries                 = 10 December
| equipment                     = 
| equipment_label               = 
| battles                       = * [[Rif War (1920)|Rif War]]
* [[Spanish Civil War]]
* [[World War II]]
* [[Ifni War]]
* [[Yugoslav wars]]
* [[Kosovo War]]
* [[2011 Libyan Civil War|Libyan Civil War]]
| decorations                   = 
| battle_honours                = 
| battle_honours_label          = 
| flying_hours                  = 
| website                       = {{URL|https://ejercitodelaire.defensa.gob.es/}}
<!-- Commanders -->
| commander1                    = {{flagicon image|Estandarte Real de España.svg}} [[Monarchy of Spain|King]] [[Felipe VI]]
| commander1_label              = [[Commander-in-chief#Spain|Commander-in-Chief]] <br/> <small>([[Captain general of the Air Force|Captain General]])</small>
| commander2                    = {{flagicon image|Spanish Chief of Staff of the Air Force flag.png}} [[General of the Air (Spain)|Air General]] [[Francisco Braco Carbó]]
| commander2_label              = [[Chief of Staff of the Air and Space Force (Spain)|Chief of Staff]]
| commander3                    = 
| commander3_label              = 
| commander4                    = 
| commander4_label              = 
| commander5                    = 
| commander5_label              = 
| notable_commanders            = 
<!-- Insignia -->
| identification_symbol         = [[File:Roundel of Spain.svg|80px]]
| identification_symbol_label   = [[Military aircraft insignia|Roundel]]
| identification_symbol_2       = [[File:Fin Flash of Spain.svg|80px]]
| identification_symbol_2_label = [[Fin flash]]
<!-- Aircraft -->
| aircraft_attack               = [[MQ-9 Reaper]]
| aircraft_bomber               = 
| aircraft_electronic           = [[Dassault Falcon 20|Falcon 20]]
| aircraft_fighter              = [[F/A-18 Hornet]], [[Eurofighter Typhoon]]
| aircraft_helicopter           = [[AS532 Cougar]], [[H215|AS332 Super Puma]], [[NH90]]
| aircraft_helicopter_attack    = 
| aircraft_helicopter_cargo     = 
| aircraft_helicopter_multirole = 
| aircraft_helicopter_observation = 
| aircraft_helicopter_trainer   = [[Eurocopter EC135]], [[Eurocopter Colibri|Colibrí]], [[Sikorsky S-76]]
| aircraft_helicopter_utility   = 
| aircraft_interceptor          = 
| aircraft_patrol               = [[CASA CN-235]]
| aircraft_recon                = [[Cessna Citation V]], [[MQ-9 Reaper]]
| aircraft_trainer              = [[F/A-18 Hornet]], [[Northrop F-5|F-5]],[[Pilatus PC-21]],  [[CASA C-101]]
| aircraft_transport            = [[CASA C-295]], [[CASA CN-235]], [[CASA C-212]], [[Beechcraft King Air|King Air]], [[A400M]], [[Airbus A310]], [[A330]], [[Falcon 900]]
| aircraft_tanker               = [[A400M]], [[A330 MRTT]]
| aircraft_general              = 
}}

The '''Spanish Air and Space Force''' ({{langx|es|Ejército del Aire y del Espacio||Army of the Air and Space}}) is the [[Aerial warfare|aerial]] and [[space warfare]] branch of the [[Spanish Armed Forces]].

==History==

===Early stages===
[[File:PlusUtraPalos.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Plus Ultra (aircraft)|''Plus Ultra'']] at [[Palos de la Frontera]] ]]

[[Hot air balloon]]s have been used with military purposes in Spain as far back as 1896. In 1905, with the help of [[Alfredo Kindelán]], [[Leonardo Torres Quevedo]] directed the construction of the first Spanish [[dirigible]] in the Army Military Aerostatics Service, created in 1896 and located in [[Guadalajara, Spain|Guadalajara]]. The new airship was completed successfully in 1908 and, named 'Torres Quevedo', made numerous test and exhibition flights.<ref name="Redondo-2008">Francisco A. González Redondo. [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348018483_Leonardo_Torres_Quevedo_1902-1908_The_Foundations_for_100_years_of_Airship_designs ''Leonardo Torres Quevedo, 1902–1908. The Foundations for 100 years of Airship designs''] In book: Proceedings of the 7th International Airship Convention, pp.1–12, Publisher: German Society for Aeronautics and Astronautics (DGLR), October 2008.</ref>

The [[Spanish Army]]'s air arm, however, took off formally in 1909 when Colonel [[Pedro Vives Vich]] and Captain Alfredo Kindelán made an official trip to different European cities to check the potential of introducing airships and [[airplane]]s in the Spanish Armed Forces. One year later a Royal decree established the National Aviation School ({{lang|es|Escuela Nacional de Aviación (civil)}}) in [[Getafe]], near [[Madrid]], under the [[Ministry of Public Works and Transport (Spain)|Ministry of Public Works and Transport]] ({{lang|es|Ministerio de Fomento}}).

The established institution became militarized under the name {{lang|es|Aeronáutica Española}} when Colonel Pedro Vives was chosen to lead it as director of the {{lang|es|Aeronáutica Militar}}, Military Aeronautics, the name of the air arm of the [[Spanish Army]]. Captain Alfredo Kindelán was named Chief of Aviation, {{lang|es|Jefe de Aviación}}.<ref name="trece">[http://www.ejercitodelaire.mde.es/ea/pag?idDoc=A963122D791E3CCFC125744800472D23 Ejército del Aire – 1913] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100925132208/http://www.ejercitodelaire.mde.es/ea/pag?idDoc=A963122D791E3CCFC125744800472D23 |date=2010-09-25 }} {{in lang|es}}</ref>

On 17 December 1913, during the war with [[Morocco]], a Spanish expeditionary squadron of the {{lang|es|Aeronáutica Española}} became the first organized military air unit to see combat during the first systematic bombing in history by dropping [[aerial bomb]]s from a [[Lohner B.I|Lohner ''Flecha'']] (Arrow) airplane on the plain of Ben Karrix in Morocco.<ref name="trece" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ejercitodelaire.mde.es/stweb/ea/ficheros/pdf/ECFB9F6AFA11EA1CC125770C002CA966.pdf |title=Aeroplano, n. 23, 2005 |access-date=2010-11-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100821215602/http://www.ejercitodelaire.mde.es/stweb/ea/ficheros/pdf/ECFB9F6AFA11EA1CC125770C002CA966.pdf |archive-date=2010-08-21 |url-status=live }}</ref> During the years that followed, most of the military activity of the Spanish Air Force would take place in Northern Morocco.

In 1915 Spain's first seaplane base was opened at [[Los Alcázares]] on the Mar Menor in the Murcia region and Alfredo Kindelán was named Military Aeronautics Director, displacing Pedro Vives. The Catalan Flying School was established in [[Can Tunis]], [[Barcelona]] the following year and Getafe Aerodrome became a full-fledged military air base. In 1919 General [[Francisco Echagüe]] replaced Kindelán as leader of the {{lang|es|Aeronáutica Española}}.

In 1920 two [[Nieuport 80]] and one [[Caudron G.3]] were first painted with squadron identification numbers and the Spanish Air Force [[roundel]]. Shortly thereafter the {{lang|es|Aeronáutica Naval}}, the air branch of the [[Spanish Navy]], already established through a Royal decree four years earlier, became functional in [[El Prat de Llobregat|El Prat]], in the same location as present-day [[Barcelona Airport]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ejercitodelaire.mde.es/ea/pag?idDoc=84CAEDC87CA0F520C1257448004736C2|title=Ejército del aire. 1920|author=Ejército del Aire|access-date=25 December 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215153220/http://www.ejercitodelaire.mde.es/ea/pag?idDoc=84CAEDC87CA0F520C1257448004736C2|archive-date=15 December 2014}}</ref>
[[File:Ministerio del Aire (Madrid) 02.jpg|thumb|Frontal façade of the Spanish Air and Space Force headquarters in Madrid]]
In 1921, following the [[Spanish defeat at Annual]], known as {{lang|es|Desastre de Annual}} in Spain, the Zeluán Aerodrome was taken over by the [[Rif]] army and another aerodrome was built at [[Nador]]. Lieutenant Colonel Kindelán was named {{lang|es|Jefe Superior de Aeronáutica}}, becoming chief-commander of the air force in 1926, at the time when [[Spanish Morocco]] was retaken and the [[Rif War]] ended.

In 1926 a crew of Spanish aviators, that included [[Ramón Franco]], [[Julio Ruiz de Alda]], [[Juan Manuel Duran (aviator)|Juan Manuel Duran]] and [[Pablo Rada]], completed the first Trans-Atlantic flight between Spain and South America in January 1926 on the [[Plus Ultra (aircraft)|''Plus Ultra'']]. That same year, pilots González Gallarza, Joaquín Loriga Taboada and Rafael Martínez Esteve completed the first flight between Spain and the Philippines, in just one month. The expedition was flown with two [[Breguet 19]] and known as the {{lang|es|Escuadrilla Elcano}} or "Elcano Squadron".

In 1930 the Aeronaval Base in [[Murcia–San Javier Airport|San Javier]] was established and in the same year a pro-Republican revolt in the [[Cuatro Vientos]] military aerodrome near Madrid was quashed. After the proclamation of the [[Second Spanish Republic]] in 1931, General [[Luis Lombarte Serrano]] replaced Kindelán as chief-commander of the air force, but he would be quickly succeeded by Commander [[Ramón Franco]], younger brother of later dictator [[Francisco Franco]]. Captain [[Cipriano Rodríguez Díaz]] and Lieutenant [[Carlos de Haya González]] flew non-stop to [[Equatorial Guinea]], then a Spanish colonial outpost. Under Capitan Warlela [[cadastral]] surveys of Spain were carried out using modern methods of [[aerial photography]] in 1933. The following year Spanish engineer [[Juan de la Cierva]] took off and landed on [[Spanish seaplane carrier Dédalo|seaplane carrier Dédalo]] with his [[autogyro]] C-30P. In 1934 Commander [[Eduardo Sáenz de Buruaga]] became new chief-commander of the air force.

Following a Government decree dated 2d October 1935, the Dirección General de Aeronáutica was placed under the authority of the War Ministry, {{lang|es|Ministerio de la Guerra}}, instead of under the {{lang|es|[[Prime Minister of Spain|Presidencia del Gobierno]]}}, following which in 1936 the Air Force regional units became restructured. Accordingly, the [[Spanish Navy]]-based {{lang|es|Escuadra}} model was replaced by {{lang|es|Región Militar}}divisions which are still operative today.<ref name="Ejército del Aire">{{cite web|url=http://www.ejercitodelaire.mde.es/ea/pag?idDoc=EE5C6C5E496A45E8C125744800476806|title=Ejército del aire. 1936|author=Ejército del Aire|access-date=25 December 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220082750/http://www.ejercitodelaire.mde.es/ea/pag?idDoc=EE5C6C5E496A45E8C125744800476806|archive-date=20 December 2014}}</ref>

===Air warfare in the Spanish Civil War===
{{See also|Spanish Republican Air Force|es:Anexo:Aviones de la Guerra Civil Española}}After the military rebellion that triggered the [[Spanish Civil War]], Spanish military aviation was divided into the Air Force of the [[Second Spanish Republic|Spanish republican government]] and the '''National Aviation''' ({{lang|es|[[Aviación Nacional]]}}), established by the rebel army.
[[File:Cierva C.30 (5381508461).jpg|left|thumb|Spanish [[Cierva C.30]] autogyro]]
In July 1936, right after the coup, the first German [[Junkers Ju 52]] and Italian [[Savoia-Marchetti SM.81]] arrived to help the rebels and the [[Fiat CR.32]] fighters began operating in the [[Córdoba, Spain|Córdoba]] front. In August [[Heinkel He 51]] fighters were also deployed. These planes helped the rebel army to gain full control of the air, as did the German and Italian expeditionary forces, the [[Condor Legion]] and the [[Aviazione Legionaria]]. At first, the Spanish Republican Air Force had the control of great swathes of Spanish territory using a motley selection of planes, but the unwavering help received by [[Francisco Franco]] from [[Nazi Germany]] and [[Fascist Italy]] reversed the situation. In September 1936 the Navy and Air Ministry, {{lang|es|Ministerio de Marina y Aire}}, and the Air Undersecretariat, {{lang|es|Subsecretaria del Aire}} were established under the command of [[Indalecio Prieto]] as minister. The first serious air combat took place over Madrid when Italian bombers attacked the city in a massive bombing operation.<ref name="Ejército del Aire" /> In the reorganization of the military in the areas of Spain that had remained loyal to the government, the new military structure of the republic merged the {{lang|es|Aeronáutica Militar}} and the {{lang|es|Aeronáutica Naval}}, the former being the air arm of the [[Spanish Republican Army]] and the latter the [[naval aviation]] of the [[Spanish Republican Navy]], and formed the [[Spanish Republican Air Force]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://aviarmor.net/aww2/aircraft/spain/hs_e30.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524210819/http://aviarmor.net/aww2/aircraft/spain/hs_e30.htm|url-status=usurped|title=Hispano Suiza E-30|archive-date=May 24, 2011}}</ref> The Republican tricolor roundel was replaced by red bands for identification purposes, an insignia that had previously been used on ''Aeronáutica Naval'' aircraft during the monarchy in the 1920s, before the time of the Republic.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://img.wp.scn.ru/camms/ar/2355/pics/173_1.jpg |title=Blackburn T.1/T.2 Swift/Dart with 1927 ''Aeronáutica Naval'' markings |access-date=2012-07-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020153948/http://img.wp.scn.ru/camms/ar/2355/pics/173_1.jpg |archive-date=2012-10-20 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://img.wp.scn.ru/camms/ar/1831/pics/173_1.jpg |title=Blackburn T.3 Velos with 1927 ''Aeronáutica Naval'' markings |access-date=2012-07-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020154026/http://img.wp.scn.ru/camms/ar/1831/pics/173_1.jpg |archive-date=2012-10-20 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Many innovative, and often lethal, aeronautical bombing techniques were tested by Germany's Condor Legion forces on Spanish soil against the areas that remained loyal to the Republican Government with the permission of Generalísimo Franco. Nazi help to the Nationalist Air Force was part of Hitler's [[German rearmament]] strategy and the techniques that German Nazi pilots learned in Spain would later be used in [[World War II]]. Despite the devastation and the human casualties caused by the [[Bombing of Guernica|bombing]] of the [[Basque Country (greater region)|Basque]] city of [[Guernica]] in 1937, known by the [[Luftwaffe]] as [[Bombing of Guernica|Operation Rügen]], Hitler insisted that his longterm designs in Spain were peaceful. He called his strategy "Blumenkrieg" (Flower War), as evidenced in a January 1937 speech.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/hitler1.htm|title=Hitler Speech on Foreign Policy (1937)|access-date=25 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810174947/http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/hitler1.htm|archive-date=10 August 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The international outcry over Guernica, however, would not bring about any increase in the military help provided to the beleaguered Spanish Republic.The pilots of the Spanish Republican Air Force, often young and poorly trained were unable to check the Nazi German and Fascist Italian modern-warfare attacks. Despite Franco's claim that both air forces were equal, and despite the help of foreign pilots, Spanish Republican planes were mostly obsolete and often in a bad state of disrepair. Even after acquiring more planes from the Soviet Union in the mid-stages of the war, the Spanish Republican Air Force was no longer able to control the Spanish skies nor match the power of the German and Italian expeditionary forces in specific combat situations.<ref>[[Antony Beevor]], ''The Battle for Spain: the Spanish Civil War 1936–1939'', Weidenfeld & Nicolson {{ISBN|978-0-7538-2165-7}}</ref>

The Spanish Republican Air Force became practically irrelevant after the [[Battle of the Ebro]] in 1938 when the root of the Spanish Republican Armed Forces was broken.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mequinensa.com/docs/cultura/LaBatalladelEbro1contraofensivanacional1.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714074439/http://www.mequinensa.com/docs/cultura/LaBatalladelEbro1contraofensivanacional1.pdf|url-status=dead|title=La Batalla del Ebro – Mequinensa.com|archive-date=July 14, 2011}}</ref> Finally it was completely disbanded after the victory on April 1, 1939.

===Post-Civil War era===
[[File:HA-200 Saeta (recortada).jpg|thumb|A Spanish [[Hispano HA-200]] ''"Saeta"'' (Bolt)]]
The present Spanish Air Force ({{lang|es|Ejército del Aire}}, or EdA) was officially established on 7 October 1939, after the end of the [[Spanish Civil War]]. The EdA was a successor to the Nationalist and Republican Air Forces. [[Flag of the Second Spanish Republic|Spanish Republican colors]] disappeared and the black roundel of the planes was replaced by a yellow and red roundel. However, the black and white [[Cross of Burgundy flag|Saint Andrew's Cross]] ({{langx|es|Aspa de San Andrés}}) [[fin flash]], the tail insignia of Franco's air force, as well as of the [[Aviazione Legionaria]] of [[Italian Social Republic|Fascist Italy]] and the [[Condor Legion]] of [[Nazi Germany]], is still in use in the present-day Spanish Air Force.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ejercitodelaire.mde.es/ea/pag?idDoc=homeARN|title=Ejército del aire. Aeronaves|author=Ejército del Aire|access-date=25 December 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141122043837/http://www.ejercitodelaire.mde.es/ea/pag?idDoc=homeARN|archive-date=22 November 2014}}</ref>

After the changes introduced at the beginning of Franco's regime the Air Regions and their Command centres were the following:
* 1st Air Region. Central.
*2nd Air Region. Straits.
* 3rd Air Region. East.
* 4th Air Region. Pyrenees.
*5th Air Region. Atlantic.
* Balearic Islands Air Zone
* Morocco Air Zone
* Canary Islands and West Africa Air Zone

[[File:F-104G Starfighter (Museo del Aire de Madrid) (6).jpg|thumb|left|Former [[Lockheed F-104 Starfighter|F-104 Starfighter]] of the Spanish Air Force]]

The [[Blue Squadron]] ({{lang|es|Escuadrillas Azules}}) was an air unit that fought alongside the [[Axis Powers]] at the time of the Blue Division, ''[[Division Azul]]'' Spanish volunteer [[formation (military)|formation]] in [[World War II]]. The {{lang|es|Escuadrilla azul}} operated with the Luftwaffe on the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]] and took part in the [[battle of Kursk]]. This squadron was the "{{lang|de|15 Spanische Staffel}}"/[[JG 27]] ''Afrika'' of the [[8th Air Corps (Germany)|VIII Fliegerkorps]], [[Luftflotte 2]].<ref>Jorge Fernández-Coppel, ''La Escuadrilla Azul'', Verdoy, Madrid 2006, {{ISBN|978-84-9734-514-9}}</ref>

During the first years after World War II the Spanish Francoist Air Force consisted largely of German and Italian planes and copies of them. An interesting example was the [[Hispano Aviación HA-1112|HA-1112-M1L ''Buchón'']] ([[Pouter]]), this was essentially a licensed production of the [[Messerschmitt Bf 109]] re-engined with a [[Rolls-Royce Merlin]] 500-45 for use in Spain.<ref>Fitzsimons, Bernard, ed. ''Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare'' (London: Phoebus, 1978), Volume 11, p.1193, "HA-1109/1112".</ref>

In March 1946 the first Spanish military paratroop unit, the {{lang|es|Primera Bandera de la Primera Legión de Tropas de Aviación}}, was established in [[Alcalá de Henares]]. It first saw action in the [[Ifni War]] during 1957 and 1958.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ejercitodelaire.mde.es/ea/pag?idDoc=4DBD1982423D3864C1257448004773B8|title=Ejército del aire. 1946|author=Ejército del Aire|access-date=25 December 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225140218/http://www.ejercitodelaire.mde.es/ea/pag?idDoc=4DBD1982423D3864C1257448004773B8|archive-date=25 December 2014}}</ref> Because of US Government objection to use airplanes manufactured in the US in her colonial struggles after World War II, Spain used at first old German aircraft, such as the T-2 (Junkers 52, nicknamed "Pava"), the B-2I (Heinkel 111, nicknamed "Pedro"), the [[C-4K]] (Spanish version of the Bf 109, nicknamed "Buchón"), and some others. Still, [[Grumman Albatross]] seaplanes and [[Sikorsky H-19B]] helicopters were used in rescue operations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ahistcon.org/docs/murcia/contenido/pdf/02/marcelino_sempere_domenech_taller02.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724230032/http://www.ahistcon.org/docs/murcia/contenido/pdf/02/marcelino_sempere_domenech_taller02.pdf|url-status=dead|title=Marcelino Sempere Doménech, ''El Ejército del Aire en la Guerra de Sidi Ifni'', Universidad de Murcia|archive-date=July 24, 2011}}</ref> This is why still now in present times, EdA maintains a policy of having jet fighters from two different origins, one first line fighter of North American origin, and one from French-European origin ([[F-4C Phantom]] / [[Mirage F1]], [[Mirage III]]; [[EF-18A]] / [[Eurofighter Typhoon]]).{{Citation needed|date=June 2010}}

Although in sheer numbers the EdA was impressive, at the end of World War II technically it had become more or less obsolete due to the progress in aviation technology during the war. For budget reasons Spain actually kept many of the old German aircraft operative well into the 1950s and 1960s. As an example the last [[Junkers Ju 52]] used to operate in Escuadrón 721 training [[parachutist]]s from [[Alcantarilla Air Base]] near [[Murcia]], until well into the 1970s. The CASA 352 and the CASA 352L were developments built by [[EADS CASA|CASA]] in the 1950s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ejercitodelaire.mde.es/ea/pag?idDoc=787F200CFD53F6E1C12575240048576E|title=Ejército del aire. Escuela Militar de Paracaidismo|author=Ejército del Aire|access-date=25 December 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225140223/http://www.ejercitodelaire.mde.es/ea/pag?idDoc=787F200CFD53F6E1C12575240048576E|archive-date=25 December 2014}}</ref>

Links were established in the 1950s with the United States. Spain received its first jets, like the [[F-86 Sabre]] and [[Lockheed T-33]] together with training and transport planes like the [[T-6 Texan]], [[C-47]] and [[C-54]],<ref>Gonzalez Serrano, Jose Luis ''Fifty Years of DC service: Douglas Transports used by the Spanish Air Force'' [[Air Enthusiast]] No. 80 March/April 1999 pp61-71</ref> and the [[Beechcraft T-34 Mentor]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Beechcraft T-34 A. Mentor |url=https://publicaciones.defensa.gob.es/beechcraft-t-34-a-mentor.html |website=publicaciones.defensa.gob.es |access-date=6 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221026085026/https://publicaciones.defensa.gob.es/beechcraft-t-34-a-mentor.html |archive-date=Oct 26, 2022 |language=es |url-status=live}}</ref> The first series of American jets was replaced in the 1960s by newer fighters like the [[F-104 Starfighter]], [[F-4C Phantom]] and [[F-5 Freedom Fighter]]

=== Present times ===
[[File:Ejercito del Aire Mirage F.1M.jpg|thumb|left|Spanish [[Dassault Mirage F1]]]]

After the death of dictator Franco in 1975 and the ensuing [[Spanish transition to democracy]] years, the organization and equipment of the Spanish Air Force was again modernised to prepare for [[Spain]]'s membership of [[NATO]] in 1982. Planes like the [[Mirage III]] and [[Mirage F1]] were bought from [[France]] and became the backbone of the Air Force during the 1970s and part of the 1980s. French fighters formed the air force's mainstay until the arrival of the American [[F/A-18]]. Spanish F/A-18s participated in the [[Bosnian War]] and the [[Kosovo War]] under [[NATO]] command, based in [[Aviano]], [[Italy]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ejercitodelaire.mde.es/ea/pag?idDoc=2273E6349C429C85C12575E400382BEF&idRef=ACEF1BFFF9DE1599C12575E400386986 |title=Ejército del aire. Balcanes |trans-title=Air Force. Balkans |author=Ejército del Aire |language=es |access-date=25 December 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106174121/http://www.ejercitodelaire.mde.es/ea/pag?idDoc=2273E6349C429C85C12575E400382BEF&idRef=ACEF1BFFF9DE1599C12575E400386986 |archive-date=6 January 2010}}</ref> Assisted by [[United States Air Force|USAF]] [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16s]], Spanish Air Force [[EF-18A]]s dropped [[laser-guided bomb]]s on [[Serbs of Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnian Serb]] ammunition depots at [[Pale, Bosnia and Herzegovina|Pale]], on [[1995 Pale air strikes|25 and 26 May 1994]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ripley |first=Tim |title=Conflict in the Balkans, 1991-2000 |publisher=Pen and Sword |year=2001 |pages=23}}</ref>

[[File:EF-18A Spain (16527586494).jpg|thumb|[[McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet#Spain|EF-18A]] taking off and banking to the left in 2015]]

The Spanish Air and Space Force is replacing older aircraft in the inventory with newer ones including [[Eurofighter Typhoon]] and the recently introduced [[Airbus A400M Atlas]] airlifter. Both are manufactured with Spanish participation; [[EADS CASA]] makes the Eurofighter's right wing and leading edge slats,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.targetlock.org.uk/typhoon/production.html |title=Target Lock: Eurofighter Typhoon : Production |access-date=25 December 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924113258/http://www.targetlock.org.uk/typhoon/production.html |archive-date=24 September 2015}}</ref> and participates in the testing and assembly of the airlifter.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pressreleases/press-release/detail/first-a400m-wings-delivered-to-final-assembly-line/news-browse/1/news-period/1175378400/2591999/archived/news-category/press_release/?tx_felogin_pi1%5Bforgot%5D=1 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717025147/http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pressreleases/press-release/detail/first-a400m-wings-delivered-to-final-assembly-line/news-browse/1/news-period/1175378400/2591999/archived/news-category/press_release/?tx_felogin_pi1%5Bforgot%5D=1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 July 2012 |title=Airbus, a leading aircraft manufacturer |access-date=25 December 2014}}</ref>

Unlike the air forces of most major [[NATO]] member states, the Spanish Air and Space Force currently [[List of AEW&C aircraft operators|do not operate]] any [[AEW&C]] aircraft.

Its aerobatic display team is the [[Patrulla Aguila]], which flies the [[CASA C-101 Aviojet]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ejercitodelaire.mde.es/ea/pag?idDoc=homeAGUILA |title=Ejército del aire. Patrullas |trans-title=Air Force. Patrols |author=Ejército del Aire |language=es |access-date=25 December 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222040728/http://www.ejercitodelaire.mde.es/ea/pag?idDoc=homeAGUILA |archive-date=22 December 2014}}</ref> Its helicopter display team, [[Patrulla Aspa]], flies the [[Eurocopter Colibri|Eurocopter EC-120 Colibrí]].

In July 2014 the Spanish Air Force joined the [[European Air Transport Command]], headquartered at [[Eindhoven Airport|Eindhoven Airbase]] in the [[Netherlands]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://eatc-mil.com/45/Articles/News%20&%20Press%20updates/265/Spain+is+now+member+of+the+EATC |title=Spain is now member of the EATC - Articles - EATC - European Air Transport Command |access-date=25 December 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707095201/http://eatc-mil.com/45/Articles/News%20%26%20Press%20updates/265/Spain+is+now+member+of+the+EATC |archive-date=7 July 2014}}</ref>

The [[Government of Spain|Spanish Government]] announced in June 2022 that the Spanish Air Force would be renamed as the Spanish Air and Space Force.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-27 |title=El Ejército del Aire cambia de nombre tras 83 años y pasa a llamarse Ejército del Aire y del Espacio |trans-title=The Air Force changes its name after 83 years and is renamed the Air and Space Force |url=https://www.elespanol.com/espana/20220627/ejercito-aire-cambia-nombre-anos-llamarse-espacio/683431859_0.html |access-date=2022-06-27 |first=Brais |last=Cedeira |website=El Español |language=es}}</ref>

On January 9, 2024, the Space Command was formally established.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/defence/latest/spain-stands-up-new-space-command | title=Spain stands up new Space Command | date=10 January 2024 }}</ref>

== Organization ==
{{Main|Structure of the Spanish Air and Space Force}}
The basic organization of the Air and Space Force is the following:
* '''[[Chief of Staff of the Air Force (Spain)|Chief of Staff of the Air and Space Force]]''' (JEMAE)
** Air and Space Force Headquarters (CGEAE) in Madrid
** Combat Air Command (MACOM) at [[Torrejón Air Base]]
** General Air Command (MAGEN) in Madrid
** Canary Islands Air Command (MACAN) in [[Las Palmas]]
** Logistic Support command (MALOG) in Madrid
** Personnel Command (MAPER) in Madrid
** Economic Affairs Directorate (DAE) in Madrid

===Force structure===
The main operational formation of the SAF is the {{lang|es|ala}} ([[Wing (military unit)|wing]]), roughly equivalent to an army brigade. An {{lang|es|ala}} is normally composed of three {{lang|es|grupos}} (groups, army regiment equivalents) - an operations group called {{lang|es|Grupo de Fuerzas Aéreas}} (Air Force Group, shortened to {{lang|es|Grupo}} and followed by a numerical) including the aviation squadrons and a flight operations support squadron. An operations group is normally composed of two or three {{lang|es|escuadrones}} ([[Squadron (aviation)|squadrons]]), each one normally consisting of 18 to 24 aircraft. Thus, Ala 15, with its base in [[Zaragoza Air Base]], is formed by two squadrons with 18 F/A-18s each. Another group within the wing is the {{lang|es|Grupo de Material}}, providing maintenance and repairs to the aircraft, their weapons and systems. The {{lang|es|Grupo de Apoyo}} completes the typical wing structure and it is the air base group, providing the functioning of the air base as a military installation. A variation of the wing structure is the {{lang|es|Ala 11}} in Morón de la Frontera air base, which has not one, but two operational groups. The {{lang|es|Grupo 11}} operates Eurofighter aircraft in the multi-mission fighter role, while the {{lang|es|Grupo 22}} operates P-3 Orion aircraft in the maritime patrol and ASW role and correspondingly there are two separate maintenance squadrons for the two aircraft types.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ejército del Aire - Organización - Unidades - Detalle unidad|url=https://ejercitodelaire.defensa.gob.es/EA/ejercitodelaire/es/organizacion/unidades/unidad/Ala-11/#mision-227536765|access-date=2021-06-19|website=ejercitodelaire.defensa.gob.es}}</ref>

Smaller operational units are the separate groups. They are also army regiment equivalents, but unlike the wings they are composite units, in which the operational aircraft, the maintenance and the air base squadrons report directly to the group. Such example is the {{lang|es|47/o. Grupo Mixto de Fuerzas Aéreas}} (47th Air Force Composite Group) a mixed intelligence, electronic warfare and aerial navigation systems calibration unit at Torrejón de Ardoz air base.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ejército del Aire - Organización - Unidades - Detalle unidad|url=https://ejercitodelaire.defensa.gob.es/EA/ejercitodelaire/es/organizacion/unidades/unidad/47-Grupo-Mixto-de-Fuerzas-Aereas/#mision-234697429|access-date=2021-06-19|website=ejercitodelaire.defensa.gob.es}}</ref>

When an air base houses more than one {{lang|es|ala}} or multiple separate {{lang|es|grupos}}, the function of a lodger unit is provided by an air force installation unit (an army regiment equivalent) called Groupment of the ... Air Force Base ({{lang|es|Agrupación de la Base Aérea de ...}}). Three such examples are the {{lang|es|Agrupación de la Base Aérea de Torrejon}},<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ejército del Aire - Organización - Unidades - Detalle unidad|url=https://ejercitodelaire.defensa.gob.es/EA/ejercitodelaire/es/organizacion/unidades/unidad/Agrupacion-de-la-Base-Aerea-de-Torrejon/#mision-248358758|access-date=2021-06-19|website=ejercitodelaire.defensa.gob.es}}</ref> the {{lang|es|Agrupación de la Base Aérea de Cuatro Vientos}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ejército del Aire - Organización - Unidades - Detalle unidad|url=https://ejercitodelaire.defensa.gob.es/EA/ejercitodelaire/es/organizacion/unidades/unidad/Agrupacion-de-la-Base-Aerea-de-Cuatro-Vientos/#mision-263335639|access-date=2021-06-19|website=ejercitodelaire.defensa.gob.es}}</ref> and the {{lang|es|Agrupación de la Base Aérea de Zaragoza}}.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ejército del Aire - Organización - Unidades - Detalle unidad|url=https://ejercitodelaire.defensa.gob.es/EA/ejercitodelaire/es/organizacion/unidades/unidad/Agrupacion-de-la-Base-Aerea-de-Zaragoza/#mision-263792215|access-date=2021-06-19|website=ejercitodelaire.defensa.gob.es}}</ref> An {{lang|es|agrupación}} could be responsible for the support of air force operations at more than one airfield (military or civilian). As an example the Groupment of the Zaragoza Air Force Base is responsible for the mixed use military / civilian airfields of Zaragoza, Logroño-Agoncillo and Huesca-Pirineos. An air force base, which does not house flying units is classified as an Acuartelamiento Aéreo (roughly translated as Air Force Installation in English, one such example is the {{lang|es|Acuartelamiento Aéreo Bardenas}}, supporting the Bardenas Reales training range) and an airfield, which does not house permanently flying units is classified as an {{lang|es|Aerodromo Militar}} (military airfield), such as the {{lang|es|Aerodromo Militar de Pollensa}}.

===Air bases===
{{colbegin|colwidth=20em}}
*[[Alcantarilla Air Base]]
*[[Armilla Air Base]]
*[[Cuatro Vientos Airport|Cuatro Vientos Air Base]]
*[[Gran Canaria Airport|Gando Air Base]]
*[[Getafe Air Base]]
*[[Albacete Airport|Los Llanos Air Base]]
*[[Salamanca Airport|Matacán Air Base]]
*[[Morón Air Base]]
*[[Murcia–San Javier Airport|San Javier Air Base]]
*[[Santiago de Compostela Airport|Santiago Air Base]]
*[[Palma de Mallorca Airport|Son San Joan Air Base]]
*[[Badajoz Airport|Talavera Air Base]]
*[[Torrejón Air Base]]
*[[Valladolid Airport|Villanubla Air Base]]
*[[Zaragoza Air Base]]
{{colend}}

====Defunct air bases====
{{colbegin|colwidth=20em}}
*[[Agoncillo Air Base]] ([[FAMET]] base now)
*[[Manises Air Base]] (Part of [[Valencia Airport]])
*[[Reus Air Base]] (Now as [[Reus Airport]])
*[[Villafría Air Base]]
{{colend}}

==Aircraft==
=== Current inventory ===
{| class="wikitable"
! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;" |Aircraft
! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;" |Image
! style="text-align: center; background:#acc;" |Origin
! style="text-align:l center; background:#acc;" |Type
! style="text-align:left; background:#acc;" |Variant
! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;" |In service
! style="text-align: center; background:#acc;" |Notes
|-
! colspan="7" style="align: center; background: lavender;" | [[Military aircraft#Combat aircraft|Combat aircraft]]
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''[[McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet|F/A-18 Hornet]]'''
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Spanish air force 15-16.jpg|200px]]
| rowspan="2" | {{USA}}
| rowspan="2" |[[Multirole combat aircraft|multirole]]
| [[McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet#Spain|EF 
18A+]]
| 69<ref name="World Air Forces 2025">{{cite news |last= |first= |year=2025 |title=World Air Forces 2025 |url=https://edition.pagesuite.com/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=Supplements&edid=7bc72e1e-65fc-4001-b963-749509c821a0 |access-date=12 January 2025 |newspaper=Flight Global |publisher=Flightglobal Insight |doi=}}</ref>
| 1 crashed in 2024<ref>{{cite web | url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/449522 | title=Accident McDonnell Douglas C-15 Hornet (EF-18A+) C.15-66, Friday 4 October 2024 }}</ref>
|-
|[[McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet#Spain|EF-18BM]]
|12<ref name="World Air Forces 2025" />
|provide [[Trainer aircraft#Operational conversion|conversion training]]
|-
| rowspan="3" |'''[[Eurofighter Typhoon]]'''
| rowspan="3" |[[File:Typhoon - RIAT 2006 (altered).jpg|200px]]
| rowspan="3" |{{ITA}} {{GER}} {{ESP}} {{GBR}}
| rowspan="3" |[[Multirole combat aircraft|multirole]]
|[[Eurofighter Typhoon#Variants|T1]]
|17<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-11-14 |title=Spain Abandons F-35, Focuses on European Fighter {{!}} TURDEF |url=https://turdef.com/article/spain-abandons-f-35-focuses-on-european-fighter |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=turdef.com |language=en}}</ref>
|Modernised OFP-02
|-
|[[Eurofighter Typhoon#Variants|T2]]
|32<ref name=":0" />
|
|-
|[[Eurofighter Typhoon#Variants|T3A]]
|19<ref name=":0" />
|20 ordered in 2022 and 25 ordered in 2024
|-
! colspan="7" style="align: center; background: lavender;" | [[Maritime patrol aircraft|Maritime patrol]]
|-
|'''[[CASA/IPTN CN-235|CASA CN-235]]'''
|[[File:CN-235 VIGMA (1).JPG|200px]]
| {{ESP}}
| patrol / [[Search and rescue|SAR]]
|CN-235 D.4 VIGMA
| 8<ref name="World Air Forces 2025" />
|
*1 aircraft used for [[Surveillance aircraft|surveillance]]
*will be replaced<ref name="c295mpa2" />
|-	
! colspan="7" style="align: center; background: lavender;" | [[Reconnaissance aircraft|Reconnaissance]]
|-
|'''[[Cessna Citation V]]'''
|[[File:Cessna 560 Citation V - Chris Lofting.jpg|200px]]
| {{USA}}
| [[Reconnaissance aircraft|aerial reconnaissance]]
|
|3<ref name="World Air Forces 2025" />
|<ref name="EdA">{{cite web |title=Spanish Air Force Equipment |url=https://ejercitodelaire.defensa.gob.es/EA/ejercitodelaire/en/Equipment/ |accessdate=5 March 2021 |website=ejercitodelaire.defensa.gob.es}}</ref>
|-
! colspan="7" style="align: center; background: lavender;" | [[Electronic-warfare aircraft|Electronic warfare]]
|-
|'''[[Dassault Falcon 20]]'''
|[[File:TM11-3-DassaultFalcon.jpg|200px]]
|{{FRA}}
| electronic-warfare
|20E
|1<ref name="World Air Forces 2025" />
|
|-	
! colspan="7" style="align: center; background: lavender;" | [[Aerial refueling]]
|-
|'''[[Airbus A330|A330-MRTT]]'''
|[[File:KC-30 A39-002 refuelling an USAF F-16 (cropped).jpg|200px]]
|{{EUR}}
| Tanker & Transport
| 
| 1<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spain receives the first European multi-role aircraft, the Airbus A330 MRTT {{!}} armyrecognition |url=https://armyrecognition.com/news/aerospace-news/2025/spain-receives-first-european-airbus-a330-mrtt-multi-role-aircraft-to-replace-us-made-boeing-707-tankers |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=armyrecognition.com}}</ref>
| 2 additional to be converted from ex-Iberia A330 
|-	
! colspan="7" style="align: center; background: lavender;" | [[Military transport aircraft|Transport]]
|-
|'''[[Airbus A330]]'''
|[[File:GDN 452-01 5.jpg|200px]]
|{{FRA}}
|Transporter 
|
|1<ref Name="World Air Forces 2025" />
|
|-
|'''[[Airbus A400M Atlas|Airbus A400M]]'''
|[[File:Fuerza Aérea Española (Spanish Air Force) Airbus A400M-180 (T.23-01).jpg|200px]]
| {{ESP}}
| Multirole [[Airlift|strategic, tactical airlift]] & [[aerial refueling]]
|
|17<ref>{{Cite web |last=InfoDefensa |first=Revista Defensa |title=El Ejército del Aire confirma la llegada de tres nuevos A400M que elevarán la flota a 17 unidades |url=https://www.infodefensa.com/texto-diario/mostrar/4982026/ejercito-aire-confirma-llegada-tres-nuevos-a400m-elevaran-flota-17-unidades |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=Infodefensa - Noticias de defensa, industria, seguridad, armamento, ejércitos y tecnología de la defensa |language=es}}</ref>
| 10 more on order
|- 
|'''[[CASA C-212 Aviocar|CASA C-212]]'''
|[[File:EADS_CASA_C-212_-_ILA2002.jpg|200|200x200px]]
| {{ESP}}
| transport
|
| 7<ref name="World Air Forces 2025" />
|
|-
|'''[[EADS CASA C-295|CASA C-295]]'''
|[[File:C-295.JPG|200px]]
|{{ESP}}
|[[Airlift|tactical airlift]]
|T21
|13<ref name="c295mpa2">{{cite press release |url=https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2023-12-spain-orders-16-airbus-c295-in-maritime-patrol-and-surveillance |title=Spain orders 16 Airbus C295 in Maritime Patrol and Surveillance configurations |publisher=Airbus |date=2023-12-20 |access-date=2023-12-24}}</ref>
|
|-
|'''[[Beechcraft King Air|King Air]]'''
|[[File:King Air EdA (2).JPG|200px]]
| {{USA}}
| [[Utility aircraft|utility]]
| [[Beechcraft Super King Air#Variants|C90A]]
| 3<ref name="World Air Forces 2025" />
|
|-
|'''[[Airbus A310]]'''
|[[File:T.22-1 - Spain -Air Force.jpg|200px]]
|{{EUR}}
| [[Air transports of heads of state and government|VIP transport]]
|A310-304
|2<ref name=":1">{{cite web |title=Spanish Air Force Fleet of A310 (Active) |url=https://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Spanish%20Air%20Force-active-a310.htm |accessdate=5 March 2021 |website=airfleets.net}}</ref>
|
|-
|'''[[Dassault Falcon 900]]'''
|[[File:Dassault Falcon 900B.jpg|200px]]
|{{FRA}}
|VIP transport 
|Falcon 900B
|5<ref name=":3">{{cite web |title=Dassault Falcon-900 (T.18-5)— Spanish Air Force |url=https://planefinder.net/data/aircraft/T.18-5 |accessdate=5 March 2021 |website=planefinder.net}}</ref>
|
|-
! colspan="7" style="align: center; background: lavender;" | [[Aerial firefighting]]
|-
|'''[[Bombardier CL-215]]'''
|[[File:4316MAT5.jpg|200px]]
| {{CAN}}
| [[Aerial firefighting#Airtankers|water bomber]]
|
|10<ref name="infodefensa_4856536">{{Cite web |last=InfoDefensa |first=Revista Defensa |title=El Gobierno aprueba la compra de siete apagafuegos DHC-515 para el Ejército del Aire por 375 millones de euros |url=https://www.infodefensa.com/texto-diario/mostrar/4856536/gobierno-aprueba-compra-siete-apagafuegos-dhc-515-375-millones-euros |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=Infodefensa - Noticias de defensa, industria, seguridad, armamento, ejércitos y tecnología de la defensa |language=es}}</ref>
|
|-
|'''[[Bombardier CL-415]]'''
|[[File:Botijo por debajo.jpg|200px]]
| {{CAN}}
| [[Aerial firefighting#Airtankers|water bomber]]
|
|4<ref name="infodefensa_4856536"/>
|
|-
! colspan="7" style="align: center; background: lavender;" | [[Helicopter]]s
|-
|'''[[NHIndustries NH90|NHI NH90]]'''
|[[File:Spanish Air Force NH90 in Airbus Helicopters.jpg|200px]]
|{{EUR}}
|[[Utility helicopter|utility]]
|[[NHIndustries NH90#TTH: Tactical Transport Helicopter|TTH]]
|6
|6 on order<ref name="World Air Forces 2025" />
|-
|'''[[Sikorsky S-76]]'''
|[[File:S-76C (5083463144).jpg|200px]]
| {{USA}}
| Trainer / [[Search and rescue|SAR]]
|S-76C
|8<ref name="World Air Forces 2025" />
|Replaced by [[Eurocopter EC135|H-135]]
All units sent to 49th Wing for [[Search and rescue|SAR]] operations.
|-
|'''[[Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma|AS332 Super Puma]]'''
|[[File:Aerospatiale AS-332B1 Super Puma - Lofting.jpg|200px]]
|{{FRA}}
| utility / [[Combat search and rescue|CSAR]] / [[Air transports of heads of state and government|VIP transport]]
|AS332B/B1
|10<ref name="World Air Forces 2025" />
|
*To be replaced by [[NHIndustries NH90|NH90]] TTH<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bruijn |first=Stephan de |date=2020-10-15 |title=First Spanish Air Force NH90 delivered |url=https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/first-spanish-air-force-nh90-delivered |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=www.scramble.nl |language=en-GB}}</ref>
*4 used as [[Air transports of heads of state and government|VIP transport]]
|-
|'''[[Eurocopter AS 532 Cougar]]'''
|[[File:Festival Aéreo Internacional Aire75 (15325579770).jpg|200px]]
|{{FRA}}
| [[Air transports of heads of state and government|VIP transport]]
| AS 532 UL Cougar
| 2
| will be replaced<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Government's defense plan includes replacing the helicopters used by the King, Sánchez, and the ministers {{!}} infodefensa |url=https://www.infodefensa.com/texto-diario/mostrar/5271185/gobierno-incluye-plan-defensa-sustituir-helicopteros-usan-rey-sanchez-ministros |access-date=2025-05-30 |website=infodefensa.com |language=es}}</ref>
|-
! colspan="7" style="align: center; background: lavender;" | [[Trainer aircraft]]
|-
|'''[[Pilatus PC-21]]'''
|[[File:pilatus pc-21 hb-hzc lands arp.jpg|200px]]
| {{SWI}}
| [[Trainer aircraft#Advanced training|advanced trainer]]
|
| 24<ref name="World Air Forces 2025" />
| 16 on order<ref name="AFMMAY23-12">{{cite book |title=[[AirForces Monthly]] |date=May 2023 |publisher=[[Key Publishing|Key Publishing Ltd]] |location=[[Stamford, Lincolnshire|Stamford]], [[Lincolnshire]], [[England]] |pages=12}}</ref>
|-
|'''[[Northrop F-5]]'''
|[[File:AE.9-00123-23 F-5M Freedom Fighter Ala 23 Spanish Air Force Dijon AB 2008.jpg|200px]]
| {{USA}}
| [[jet trainer]]
| [[Northrop F-5#Variants|F-5BM]]
| 19<ref name="World Air Forces 2025" />
| will be replaced
|-
|'''[[Eurocopter EC120 Colibri|Eurocopter EC120]]'''
|[[File:Colibri Patrulla Aspa.jpg|200px]]
|{{FRA}}
|[[Helicopter|rotorcraft]] trainer
|
|14<ref name="World Air Forces 2025" />
|
|-
|'''[[Eurocopter EC135|Airbus H135]]'''
|[[File:Alfa_Helicopter_-_EC-135T-2+.jpg|200px]]
|{{GER}}
|[[Helicopter|rotorcraft]] trainer
|TH135
|4<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |title=Los Airbus Helicopters H135 se incorporan a la base de Armilla |url=https://fly-news.es/defensa-industria/los-airbus-helicopters-h135-se-incorporan-a-la-base-de-armilla/ |work=Fly News |publisher=Luis Calvo}}</ref>
|7 more being delivered between 2023 and 2026<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=9 May 2023 |title=H-135 Press Release Spanish Ministry of Defence |url=https://www.defensa.gob.es/gabinete/notasPrensa/2023/05/DGC-230509-entrega-helicoptero-h131.html}}</ref>
|-	
! colspan="7" style="align: center; background: lavender;" | [[Unmanned aerial vehicle|UAV]]
|-
|'''[[General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper|MQ-9A Predator B]]'''
|[[File:MQ-9 Reaper UAV (cropped).jpg|200px]]
| {{USA}}
| MALE [[UCAV]]
|MQ-9A Block 5 
| 4<ref name=":6">{{cite web |date=28 November 2020 |title=Los dos últimos drones Predator del Ejército del Aire ya están en España |url=https://www.infodefensa.com/es/2020/11/28/noticia-ultimos-drones-predator-ejercito-estan-espana.html |access-date=12 December 2020 |publisher=Infodefensa}}</ref>
|
|}

=== Future aircraft types ===
{| class="wikitable"
! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;" |Aircraft
! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;" |Image
! style="text-align: center; background:#acc;" |Origin
! style="text-align:l center; background:#acc;" |Type
! style="text-align:left; background:#acc;" |Variant
! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;" |Quantity
! style="text-align: center; background:#acc;" |Notes
|-
! colspan="7" style="align: center; background: lavender;" | [[Military aircraft#Combat aircraft|Combat aircraft]]
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''[[Eurofighter Typhoon]]'''
| rowspan="2" |[[File:C16-44-14-09 (28099995841).jpg|200px]]
| rowspan="2" | {{ITA}} {{GER}} {{ESP}} {{GBR}}
| rowspan="2" |multirole
| Tranche 4
| 20
|Order under ''Project Halcon I<ref name=":0" />''
(delivery 2026 to 2030) 
|-
|Tranche 4+
|25
|Order under ''Project Halcon II''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-07 |title=25 Eurofighter pour l'Espagne ! |url=https://www.avianews.ch/post/25-eurofighter-pour-l-espagne |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=Avia news |language=fr}}</ref>
|-
|'''[[Future Combat Air System|FCAS]]'''
|[[File:FCAS NGF mock-up at Paris Air Show 2019 (1).jpg|200px]]
| {{FRA}} {{GER}} {{ESP}}
| [[Swing-role fighter|swingrole]], [[Stealth aircraft|stealth]]
|
|
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-07 |title=Future Combat Air System (FCAS) |url=https://www.airbus.com/en/products-services/defence/multi-domain-superiority/future-combat-air-system-fcas |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=www.airbus.com |language=en}}</ref>
|-
! colspan="7" style="align: center; background: lavender;" | [[Maritime patrol aircraft|Maritime patrol]]
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''[[EADS CASA C-295|CASA C-295]]'''
| rowspan="2" |[[File:C-295 Persuader (1).JPG|200px]]
| rowspan="2" | {{ESP}}
| Maritime surveillance
|C295 MSA
| 8
| rowspan="2" |<ref name="c295mpa2"/>
|-
|maritime patrol
|C295 MPA
|8
|-
! colspan="7" style="align: center; background: lavender;" | [[Aerial refueling]]
|-
|'''[[Airbus A330 MRTT]]'''
|[[File:KC-30 A39-002 refuelling an USAF F-16 (cropped).jpg|200px]]
|{{EUR}}
| transport / [[aerial refueling|tanker]]
|
|3
|Ex-Iberia A330 to be converted<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=11 November 2021 |title=Spanish Ministry of Defence signs order for three Airbus A330 MRTT &#124; Airbus |url=https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2021-11-spanish-ministry-of-defence-signs-order-for-three-airbus-a330-mrtt}}</ref>
|-
! colspan="7" style="align: center; background: lavender;" | [[Aerial firefighting]]
|-
|'''[[DHC-515]]''' ([[Viking Air]])
|[[File:I-DPCN at work 03 (cropped).jpg|200px]]
| {{CAN}}
| water bomber
|
|7
|<ref name="infodefensa_4856536"/>
|-	
! colspan="7" style="align: center; background: lavender;" | [[Unmanned aerial vehicle|UAV]]
|-
|'''[[Eurodrone]]'''
|[[File:EuroMALE ILA 2018 (01) (cropped).jpg|200px]]
| {{FRA}} {{GER}} {{ITA}} {{ESP}}
| [[Medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle|MALE UAV]]
|
| 12
|4 systems<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 February 2022 |title=Eurodrone : Berlin, Madrid, Paris et Rome signent un chèque de 7 milliards pour 20 systèmes |url=https://www.latribune.fr/entreprises-finance/industrie/aeronautique-defense/eurodrone-berlin-madrid-paris-et-rome-signent-un-cheque-de-7-milliards-pour-20-systemes-904841.html |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=La Tribune |language=fr}}</ref>
|-
|'''SIRTAP'''
|
|{{ESP}} {{COL}}
|[[Intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance|ISR]]
|
|27
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Tim |date=2023-11-29 |title=Spain signs $500M-plus deal for SIRTAP drones from Airbus |url=https://breakingdefense.com/2023/11/spain-signs-500m-plus-deal-for-sirtap-drones-from-airbus/ |access-date=2024-12-24 |website=Breaking Defense |language=en-US}}</ref>
|}

=== Potential future order ===
{| class="wikitable"
! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;" |Aircraft
! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;" |Image
! style="text-align: center; background:#acc;" |Origin
! style="text-align:l center; background:#acc;" |Type
! style="text-align:left; background:#acc;" |Variant
! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;" |Quantity
! style="text-align: center; background:#acc;" |Notes
|-
! colspan="7" style="align: center; background: lavender;" | [[Trainer aircraft]]
|-
|'''[[TAI Hürjet]]'''
|[[File:TAI Hürjet Teknofest2019 (1).jpg|200px]]
|{{TUR}}
|jet trainer 
|
|Spanish order of 28 to 30 aircraft<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Ministry of Defense is working on the purchase of up to 30 new advanced trainers for the Air Force and Space Force {{!}} infodefensa |url=https://www.infodefensa.com/texto-diario/mostrar/5269607/defensa-trabaja-compra-hasta-30-nuevos-entrenadores-avanzados-ejercito-aire-espacio |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=infodefensa.com}}</ref>
|Replacement of Northrop F-5BM<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spain Selects Hurjet For Advanced Jet Training Role {{!}} Aviation Week Network |url=https://aviationweek.com/defense/aircraft-propulsion/spain-selects-hurjet-advanced-jet-training-role |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=aviationweek.com}}</ref>
Spain and Turkey forge strategic alliance for co-production of the Hürjet Advanced Jet Trainer<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spain and Turkey forge strategic alliance for co-production of the Hürjet Advanced Jet Trainer {{!}} armyrecognition |url=https://armyrecognition.com/news/aerospace-news/2025/spain-and-tuerkiye-forge-forge-strategic-alliance-for-co-production-of-huerjet-advanced-jet-trainer |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=armyrecognition.com}}</ref>
|-
|'''[[Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master|Leonardo M-346]]'''
|[[File:Aermacchi M-346 (code MT55219) arrives RIAT Fairford 13July2017.jpg|200px]]
| {{ITA}}
| [[jet trainer]]
|
|
|Replacement of [[Northrop F-5#Variants|Northrop F-5BM]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=An Airbus and Leonardo agreement brings the excellent M-346 Master aircraft closer to Spain |url=https://www.outono.net/elentir/2023/06/23/an-airbus-and-leonardo-agreement-brings-the-excellent-m-346-master-aircraft-closer-to-spain/ |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=Counting Stars |language=en}}</ref>
|}

==Armament==
=== Current inventory ===
{| class="wikitable"
! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;" |Name
! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;" |Image
! style="text-align: center; background:#acc;" |Origin
! style="text-align:left; background:#acc;" |Range
! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;" |Aircraft
! style="text-align: center; background:#acc;" |Notes
|-
! colspan="6" style="align: center; background: lavender;" | [[Air-to-air missile]]
|-
|'''[[IRIS-T]]'''
|[[File:IRIS-T air-to-air-missile (recortada).jpg|200px]]
|{{EUR}}
|16 miles
| [[F/A-18 Hornet]], [[Eurofighter Typhoon]]
|Between 2007 and 2011, 700 missiles were delivered.
|-
|'''[[AIM-9 Sidewinder]]'''
|[[File:Sidewider missile 20040710 145400 1.4.jpg|200px]]
|{{USA}}
|0.6 to 22 miles
|[[F/A-18 Hornet]], [[Northrop F-5]]
|L/I and JULI versions
|-
|'''[[AIM-120 AMRAAM]]'''
|[[File:Aim 120 amraam missile 20040710 145603 1.4.jpg|200px]]
|{{USA}}
|AIM-120A/B 40 nmi
|[[F/A-18 Hornet]], [[Eurofighter Typhoon]]
| +100 AIM-120B
|-
|'''[[AIM-7 Sparrow]]'''
|[[File:AIM-7 Sparrow.jpg|200px]]
|{{USA}}
|38 nmi
|[[F/A-18 Hornet]]
|100 AIM-7 in the P version
|-
|'''[[Meteor (missile)]]'''
|[[File:Meteor (Luft-Luft-Rakete).jpg|200px]]
|{{EUR}}
|62 to 120 miles
|[[Eurofighter Typhoon]]
|At least 100 rockets delivered from a batch of 232 rockets
|-
! colspan="6" style="align: center; background: lavender;" | [[Air-to-surface missile]]
|-
|'''[[Taurus KEPD 350]]'''
|[[File:Taurus KEPD 350 (recortada).jpg|200px]]
|{{EUR}}
|310 miles
|[[F/A-18 Hornet]], [[Eurofighter Typhoon]]
|46 missiles were delivered between 2008 and 2010
|-
|'''[[AGM-88 HARM]]'''
|[[File:AGM-88E HARM p1230047.jpg|200px]]
|{{USA}}
|43 nmi
|[[F/A-18 Hornet]], [[Eurofighter Typhoon]]
|80-200
|-
|'''[[Harpoon (missile)]]'''
|[[File:AGM-84 Harpoon (SLAM) (recortada).jpg|200px]]
|{{USA}}
|67 nmi
|[[F/A-18 Hornet]], [[Eurofighter Typhoon]]
|27 Harpoonblock II
|-
|'''[[AGM-65 Maverick]]'''
|[[File:AGM-65 Maverick MG 1382.jpg|200px]]
|{{USA}}
|12 nmi
|[[F/A-18 Hornet]]
|250 Maverick
|-
! colspan="6" style="align: center; background: lavender;" | [[Laser-guided bomb]]
|-
|'''BPG-2000 Paveway III'''
|
|{{USA}}{{ESP}}
|
|[[F/A-18 Hornet]], [[Eurofighter Typhoon]]
|
|-
|'''[[GBU-24 Paveway III]]'''
|[[File:GBU-24 xxl.jpg|200px]]
|{{USA}}
|
|[[F/A-18 Hornet]], [[Eurofighter Typhoon]]
|
|-
|'''[[GBU-10 Paveway II]]'''
|[[File:GBU-10 xxl.jpg|200px]]
|{{USA}}
|9.2 miles
|[[F/A-18 Hornet]], [[Eurofighter Typhoon]]
|
|-
|'''[[GBU-16 Paveway II]]'''
|
|{{USA}}
|8 nmi
|[[F/A-18 Hornet]], [[Eurofighter Typhoon]]
|GBU-48 Enhanced Paveway II (EP2) 
|-
! colspan="6" style="align: center; background: lavender;" | [[General-purpose bomb]]
|-
|'''[[Mark 82 bomb]]'''
|[[File:Mk-82 xxl.jpg|200px]]
|{{USA}}
|
|[[F/A-18 Hornet]], [[Northrop F-5]]
|
|-
|'''BR-250'''
|
|{{ESP}}
|
|[[F/A-18 Hornet]], [[Northrop F-5]]
|The BR-250 is a Spanish multi-purpose bomb used in the Falklands War and Operation Deliberate Force.
|-
|'''BRP-250'''
|
|{{ESP}}
|
|[[Eurofighter Typhoon]]
|This is the Spanish BRP-250, a High-Explosive (HE), General-Purpose (GP), Aircraft-Bomb that can be used for ballistic free-fall delivery by changing the tail-assembly and fuzing, with the BRP-S series being Super-Retarded.
|}

==Aircraft identification==
[[File:F-5M El "Mago" de Talavera (15358021790).jpg|thumb|Northrop F-5 at Talavera la Real, identified with the serial prefix A (attack) E (training).9 in the Spanish system]]

The Spanish Air and Space Force has its own alphanumeric system for identifying aircraft. This forms a prefix to the airframe serial number, usually marked on the tail. The letter or letters, correspond to the use given. Thus, C means {{lang|es|cazabombardero}} (fighter bomber); A, {{lang|es|ataque}} (attack); P, {{lang|es|patrulla}} (patrol); T, {{lang|es|transporte}} (transport); E, {{lang|es|enseñanza}} (training); D, search and rescue; H, helicopter; K, tanker; V, Vertical Take Off and Landing ([[VTOL]]); and U, utility. An example would be that the F/A-18 with "C.15-08" on the tail is the fifteenth type of fighter that arrived in the Spanish Air and Space Force (the Eurofighter is the C.16) and is the eighth example of this type to enter the SAF. On the nose or fuselage the aircraft has a numeral specific to the unit in which it is based.

Variants of planes in service, for example two-seater versions or tanker versions of transports planes, add another letter to differentiate their function, and have their own sequence of serial numbers separate from the primary versions. Example: "CE.15-02" will be the second F/A-18 two-seater (Fighter Trainer) delivered to the SAF. In addition, the aircraft used by the Spanish Air and Space Force usually carry a code consisting of one or two digits followed by a dash and two numbers, painted on the nose or fuselage. The first number corresponds to the unit to which they belong, and the second the order in which they entered service.  Example: the fourth F/A-18 arriving at Ala 12 will have on the nose the code "12-04". Those codes do change when the aircraft is re-allocated to a different unit.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}
{{Clear}}

==Ranks==
{{Main|Military ranks of Spain}}

===Officers===
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Air Forces/OF/Blank}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Air Forces/OF/Spain}}
|}

===Non-commissioned officers and enlisted===
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Air Forces/OR/Blank}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Air Forces/OR/Spain}}
|}

==Spanish air aces==
===Spanish Civil War===
{{Further|List of Spanish Civil War flying aces}}
{{div col}}
*[[Joaquín García Morato|Joaquín García-Morato y Castaño]]
*[[Julio Salvador Díaz-Benjumea]]
*[[Manuel Vázquez Sagastizábal]]
*[[Arístides García-López Rengel]]
*[[Miguel Zambudio Martínez]]
*[[Ángel Salas Larrazábal]]
*[[Miguel García Pardo]]
*[[Andrés García Calle]]
*[[Manuel Aguirre López]]
*[[Joaquín Velasco Fernández Nespral]]
*[[Carlos Bayo Alessandri]]
*[[Manuel Zarauza Clavero]]
*[[Juan Lario]]
*[[Javier Allende Isasi]]
*[[Esteban Ibarreche Arriaga]]
*[[Felipe del Rio Crespo]]
*[[Emilio O'Connor Valdivielso]]
*[[José Larios Fernández]]
*[[José María Bravo|José María Bravo Fernández-Hermosa]]
*[[Leopoldo Morquillas Rubio]]
{{div col end}}

===World War II===
{{Further|List of World War II aces from Spain}}
{{div col}}
*[[Vicente Aldecoa Lecanda]]
*[[Dámaso Arango López]]
*[[Luis Azqueta Brunet]]
*[[Vicente Beltrán]]
*[[Fernando Bengoa Cremades]]
*[[Mariano Cuadra Medina]]
*[[Lorenzo Lucas Fernández Peña]]
*[[José Ramón Gavilán Ponce de León]]
*[[Antonio García Cano]]
*[[Juan Lario Sánchez]]
*[[José Luis Larrañaga]]
*[[Ángel Salas Larrazábal]]
*[[José Mateos Recio]]
*[[Bernardo Meneses Orozco]]
*[[Francisco Meroño Pellicer]]
*[[José Pascual Santamaría]]
*[[Fernando Sánchez Arjona Courtoy]]
*[[Manuel Sánchez-Tabernero de Prada]]
*[[Francisco Valiente Zárraga]]
*[[Manuel Zarauza Claver]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
* [[Aviazione Legionaria]]
* [[Bombing of Guernica]]
* [[Condor Legion]]
* [[German rearmament]]
* [[List of Lockheed F-104 Starfighter operators]]
* [[Museum of Aeronautics and Astronautics (Madrid)]]
* [[Patrulla Águila]]
* [[Coats of arms, badges and emblems of Spanish Armed Forces#Air and Space Force|Emblems of the Spanish Air and Space Force]]
* [[Spanish Air and Space Force Anthem]]
* [[Spanish Civil War]]
* [[Spanish Republican Air Force]]
* [[Structure of the Spanish Air and Space Force]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite journal |last1=Avila Cruz|first1=Gonzalo|title=Birth of a Modern Force: North American F-86F Sabres in Spain|journal=Air Enthusiast |date=January–February 2004 |issue=109 |pages=29–45 |issn=0143-5450}}
*{{cite magazine|last=Mafé Huertas|first=Salvador|title=Spain's First 'Flat-Irons': The Mirage III Era |magazine=[[Air Enthusiast]] |date=Spring 1994|issue=53 |pages=32–39 |issn=0143-5450}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Spanish Air and Space Force}}
*{{in lang|es}} [http://www.ejercitodelaire.mde.es/ Home page of the Spanish Air and Space Force]
*{{in lang|es}} [http://www.militar.org.ua/foro/ Foro Militar General (Spanish military forum)]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100618065106/http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Air_Power/Spansh_CW/AP18.htm Aerial Warfare and the Spanish Civil War]

{{FFAA España}}
{{Air forces in Europe}}
{{Air forces}}
{{Space forces}}
{{Allied Air Command}}
{{Politics of outer space}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Spanish Air and Space Force| ]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1939]]
[[Category:1939 establishments in Spain]]