Spain to spend 7.3€ billion on the military

According to sources inside Spain’s Defence Ministry, the government is planning to approve three military programmes worth 7.3€ billion.

Five F-110 class frigates will be constructed at shipyards in Galicia between 2019 and 2032 at a cost of more than €4.3 billion together with a 906€ million upgrade of Spain’s contingent of Eurofighter aircraft and the addition of 348 military vehicles worth 2.14€ billion.

Since assuming government control in June Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has approved the release of 1.2€ for the S-80 submarine project and 1.4€ billion for new communications satellites. This is together with a 1.4€ billion purchase of German NH-90 battlefield helicopters and a 819€ million upgrade for Spain’s fleet of Chinook helicopters.

The building of the frigates is expected to create 7,000 jobs and will incorporate US-developed naval weapons system known as Aegis.