Spain Launches Advanced Fighter Pilot Training Programme Replacement

An Airbus-led group of Spanish companies has presented the industrial programme for the Spanish Air and Space Force's new Integrated Combat Training System (ITS-C). Awarded under contract in December 2025, the programme will replace the current fleet of F-5 aircraft and includes a 60% national industry participation.

The ITS-C programme is based on a co-development agreement between Airbus, as prime contractor, and Turkish Aerospace (TA), as manufacturer of the HÜRJET training aircraft. It covers the entire advanced training process for Spanish fighter pilots, from Spanish-specification customisation of the 30-aircraft fleet — designated nationally as the SAETA II — to the provision of an integrated suite of operation and maintenance services.

Airbus will also lead the redesign of the Fighter and Strike School Training Centre at Talavera la Real Air Base in Extremadura, which will include simulators developed in collaboration with Indra, along with logistical support for operations and maintenance of both aircraft and synthetic training systems.

"As a result of this national programme, Spain achieves three strategic milestones: we ensure technology transfer in key areas, we obtain a deep-reaching industrial return, and, above all, we provide the programme with the strategic sovereignty and independence necessary to manage the sustainment and any future evolution of the system," said Marta Nogueira, Head of Business Spain, Airbus Defence and Space.

The programme runs in two phases. From 2028, an initial batch of 21 aircraft will be delivered, with one used as a prototype for next-generation avionics integration. A ground-based training system is scheduled to enter operation during the 2029–2030 academic year. In a second phase, all 30 aircraft will be converted to Spanish standards, with deliveries of the completed SAETA II variant between 2031 and 2035.

Spanish industry will independently manage maintenance and evolution of the fleet, integrating national technologies from GMV, Sener, Aertec, Grupo Oesía, Orbital, and Indra.