The potential sale of Spanish Eurofighters to Colombia and the risk of losing capabilities

@DefAviation ES 12·16·2023 · 23:38 0

Colombia has been a possible Eurofighter customer for years, and a political situation has recently reinforced that possibility.

The airplanes and helicopters that the Spanish Air Force expects to receive soon
The excellent demonstration of a Eurofighter of the Spanish Air Force in the Czech Republic

The IAI Kfir fighters of the Colombian Air Force

Currently, the only fighters that the Colombian Air Force (FAC) has are 19 IAI Kfir manufactured in Israel. In 1989, Colombia purchased 12 single-seat Kfir C.2 and 1 two-seat Kfir TC.2 from Israel, all of them second-hand aircraft from the Israeli Air Force. In 2008, Colombia purchased another 24 Kfir, in this case belonging to the C.10 and C.12 variants. Currently, the Colombian Air Force maintains 19 Kfir operational: 17 single-seaters and 2 two-seaters. These aircraft are already veterans and the end of their operational life is scheduled for 2025.

The problem created with the breakdown of relations between Colombia and Israel

Aware that they were old aircraft, Colombia began looking for possible replacements for its Kfirs in 2007. Then the idea was to buy F-16s, but the FAC did not have trained personnel to maintain aircraft of this type. That's when the purchase of more Kfirs arose. Now, the end of the operational life of these planes comes in a scenario of breaking diplomatic relations between Colombia and Israel, due to the position of the Colombian president, the ultra-leftist Gustavo Petro. Petro's slamming of the door on Israel has closed the door for the FAC to the main source of spare parts for Kfir, leaving Colombia in a very complicated position.

The option of the French Rafale and the offers of Spanish Eurofighters

At the end of last year, Colombia seemed clear about purchasing the French Rafale, but economic issues have canceled the project. It is at this point that the possibility of Colombia purchasing Spanish Eurofighters arises again, a quick solution to obtain modern aircraft without having to wait the time it would take for new fighters to arrive. The Spanish government of Mariano Rajoy already offered Eurofighters to Colombia in 2017, raising the possibility of selling to that country some Tranche 2 version aircraft currently operated by the Air Force. To give us an idea, these are the versions of the Spanish Eurofighters:

• Tranche 1 (2003-2007): 19 aircraft.
• Tranche 2 (2008-2012): 34 aircraft.
• Tranche 3 (2013-2020): 20 aircraft.
• Tranche 4 (desde 2021): 45 aircraft pending delivery.
• TOTAL: 114 aircraft.

Airbus already offered 15 new Eurofighers Tranche 3 to Colombia in 2018, but as the first Spanish offer of these aircraft, the operation did not prosper. A few days ago, Infodefensa.com published that Spain has made a new offer of between 12 and 16 Tranche 2 fighters to Colombia. It is the most numerous variant currently in service in the Air Force, with 34 aircraft in total. However, this Wednesday Defensa.com pointed out that Colombia wants 16 new Eurofighters.

The advantages for Colombia of the offer of Spanish Eurofighters

At the same time, Colombia would also have received offers to acquire the American F-16, the Swedish Gripen (an operation in which Brazil would also take part, since Embraer has started manufacturing these aircraft under license for the Brazilian Air Force) and the French Rafale. The Spanish offer would allow Colombia to acquire very modern aircraft that could be upgraded to Tranche 3 by Airbus, and would also avoid the waiting time for new aircraft.

The risk that the Spanish Air Force loses capabilities

However, the offer of Spanish Eurofighters to Colombia opens a mystery for Spain. Currently, the Air Force is in the process of replacing its already veteran EF-18 Hornet. The 45 Eurofighters Tranche 4 acquired by Spain are intended to replace those fighters of American origin. Selling Spanish Tranche 2 Eurofighters to Colombia would imply the risk of losing capabilities in some fighter units, which would see their squadrons reduced.

Although the money obtained from the operation could be used to purchase new aircraft, its cost would be higher than that of the aircraft sold to Colombia. In view of what happened at the General Air Academy, with a reduction in the fleet of aircraft available with the purchase of the PC-21, it is worth asking if there is already a plan to reduce the size of the Spanish fighter units. and even the possible dissolution of some. All of this at a time when other countries, instead of reducing their military capabilities, are increasing them, given the situation created by Russia with its invasion of Ukraine.

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Main photo: Ejército del Aire.