Airbus Defence and Space has been selected by Spain’s Ministry of Defence to lead the development and deployment of the Spanish Air and Space Force’s new Integrated Training System for Combat (ITS-C), marking a major modernisation of the country’s advanced pilot training capability.
Under the programme, Airbus will act as national coordinator alongside Turkish Aerospace, manufacturer of the HÜRJET jet trainer, which will replace Spain’s ageing F-5 training fleet. The contract covers the acquisition of 30 HÜRJET aircraft, their adaptation with Spanish-specific systems, and the establishment of a comprehensive training and support ecosystem in Spain.
Deliveries will take place in two parallel phases. The first phase foresees delivery and certification of 30 HÜRJET aircraft in an initial configuration during 2028 and 2029. The second phase, running from 2031 to 2035, will focus on converting the entire fleet with national content to meet Spanish Air and Space Force requirements. The first two aircraft will be modified at Airbus’ Getafe facilities, with the remaining 28 converted at a new Aircraft Conversion Centre to be created in Spain.
Beyond the aircraft themselves, the programme includes refurbishment of the Fighter and Attack School at Talavera la Real Air Base in Extremadura and the introduction of a new Airbus-led Ground Based Training System from 2028. This will feature mission simulators, virtual reality systems, computer-based training and other advanced simulation tools.
According to Airbus, the programme is designed not only to meet Spain’s immediate training needs but also to strengthen national industrial participation, technological sovereignty and long-term operational autonomy, while ensuring high fleet availability through integrated operations and maintenance services.