Spanish Harrier IIs will not go to RIAT 2025, a big airshow where they are highly applauded

This week, from July 18-20, another edition of the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) takes place at RAF Fairford, England.

A British airshow singles out Spanish Harrier II as “a firm crowd favourite”
A Spanish Harrier II wins a RAFCTE trophy in England and flies with a small giraffe

In recent years, RIAT attendees have shown particular admiration for the Spanish Navy's Harrier II fighters, which have been putting on some of the most acclaimed displays at the event, which is the largest air show in the world.

In 2024, a Spanish Harrier II won the RAFCTE award at that festival, an award received by Lieutenant Commander Andrés Medina González del Tánago, pilot of the VA.1B-38, for "an evocative display of a classic aircraft type, unique for its time and bringing noise, presence and nostalgia to its subline performance"

That same year, the RIAT highlighted the Spanish Harrier II as the "firm crowd favourite". This was noted on October 22, on its YouTube channel, when the festival organizers published this video of one of the displays of these Spanish Navy fighters, which has 13 Harrier II Plus aircraft: 12 EAV-8B+ single-seat aircraft and 1 TAV-8B two-seat aircraft.

However, the Spanish Harrier IIs will not be attending RIAT 2025. This is a huge blow to the many enthusiasts of this aircraft in the United Kingdom, whose Armed Forces retired their Harrier IIs from service years ago. It's worth remembering that this aircraft model is now only operational in the Spanish Navy, the Italian Navy, and the US Marines.

None of those three military forces will be bringing their Harrier IIs to this year's festival. The only ones planned were the Spanish Harrier IIs, but this Tuesday, in an update published on its official website, today the RIAT has communicated the following: "The Spanish Harriers have cancelled, due to airframe unavailability."

The same update then adds another Spanish cancellation: "The Spanish Air Force CASA 235 VIGMA has cancelled, due to airframe unavailability." The Spanish Air Force currently has eight CN-235 VIGMAs, a maritime surveillance and search and rescue variant of this Spanish-made tactical transport aircraft. They are operated by Squadrons 801 (Son San Juan, Mallorca), 802 (Gando, Gran Canaria) and 803 (Cuatro Vientos, Madrid).

However, the RIAT website indicates that there will be Spanish participation in this edition, specifically two Eurofighter Typhoons from the 14th Wing (one of which will do a flight display), a CASA C-295M transport aircraft from the 35th Wing and a Sikorsky S-76C helicopter from the 49th Wing.

Regarding the absence of the Spanish Harrier IIs at RIAT 2025, Salvador Mafé, a prestigious defense analyst, stated today at 9:50 p.m. CET: "I have just been told by reliable sources that the Harriers are not going to RIAT due to lack of availability, but rather due to the very poor logistical support from the organization. The Ninth Squadron has six AV-8B+ operational plus the two-seater." If this is confirmed, hopefully these deficiencies will be corrected and next year the Harrier IIs will be able to once again amaze the international public that gathers at RIAT.

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Main photo: Armada Española.