Defense delays the delivery of the Eurofigther until 2015 and plans to defer and reduce A400M buying
The Ministry of Defense has agreed with Eurofighter to delay to 2015 the delivery of 15 combat aircrafts that the Spanish Army should receive between 2012 and 2014. According to the Secretary of State for Defense, Pedro Argüelles, this agreement has been possible thanks to the extraordinary credit recently approved by the Government which will allow to pay the debt accumulated between 2010 and 2012 with companies and programs of Defense, mainly the Eurofighter, and that amounts up to 1.783 billions.
Defense studies now to negotiate with companies of the 19 armament programs to search for solutions which allow economic commitments. This plan entails more delays in deliveries and reductions in orders, among which the A400M is not ruled out. However, Argüelles has highlighted that this issue will be discussed with Airbus Military and Defense. Spain has contracted 27 aircrafts to be handed over from 2016.
In total, payment commitments for armament programmes could reach up to 31,000€ millions that should be paid by Government before 2015. In addition to Eurofighter and A400M, these programs include Navantia maritime action vessels and Eurocopter attack helicopters Tiger.
