Spain has solidified its commitment to enhancing national security by signing a $1.7 billion contract with Raytheon for the acquisition of four advanced Patriot air defense systems. The comprehensive procurement package encompasses critical components designed to bolster Spain’s air defense capabilities, including 24 M903 launch stations, four AN/MPQ-65 radar systems, four AN/MSQ-132 engagement control stations, two coordination and information centers, and four power supply plants.
The U.S. State Department gave the green light for this foreign military sale in October 2023, while Spain’s final approval came in mid-2024, underscoring the nation’s proactive approach to modernizing its defense infrastructure to counter evolving threats.
Pete Bata, Senior Vice President of Global Patriot at Raytheon, emphasized the significance of this deal, stating that modernizing air and missile defense is crucial for Spain’s security and sovereignty. He added that the collaboration with the Spanish government, alongside local industry, will enhance readiness against potential threats.
While the initial agreement included 51 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) interceptors, recent reports indicate these have been excluded from the present contract. Instead, Spain has entered a separate deal worth approximately 400 million euros ($471 million) for Patriot Guidance Enhanced Missile-Tactical interceptors in partnership with Raytheon and MBDA. This sale, finalized in early 2024, is part of a more extensive NATO initiative that also involves countries like Germany, the Netherlands, and Romania.
As part of its air defense strategy, Spain has also procured an undisclosed number of PAC-3 MSE missiles from Lockheed Martin, further strengthening its military capabilities.
Delivery of the newly acquired Patriot batteries is expected by June 2031, marking a significant enhancement in Spain’s defensive posture. Currently, Spain operates three second-hand Patriot batteries obtained from Germany, with the first set becoming operational in 2004 and the remaining two delivered in 2014. These systems are managed by the Spanish Army’s 73rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment in Marines, near Valencia. Each battery is equipped with six launchers, with the capability to fire up to 20 missiles each.
Notably, since 2015, one of Spain’s Patriot batteries has been deployed in Turkey as part of NATO’s Active Fence mission, tasked with defending the city of Adana against potential ballistic missile threats emerging from Syria. This ongoing commitment highlights Spain’s strategic role within NATO and its dedication to collective defense initiatives.
