Airbus Defence and Space has unveiled the first Eurofighter Typhoon built for Spain under the Halcon I program, with the aircraft now preparing for engine tests and its maiden flight at the company's facility in Getafe, near Madrid.
The fighter is the first of 20 Eurofighter Tranche 4 aircraft covered by the Halcon I contract signed in 2022. Airbus said deliveries of the new fighters will begin this year.
Spain expanded the program in December 2024 by ordering 25 additional Eurofighters under the Halcon II agreement, bringing its total commitment to 45 new aircraft.
The new fighters are intended to replace part of the Spanish Air and Space Force's EF-18 Hornet fleet, which remains in service at several bases across the country.
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All Halcon aircraft will be equipped with the E-Scan active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, becoming the first Spanish Eurofighters delivered with the sensor installed from the factory. The radar replaces the mechanically scanned system fitted to earlier aircraft and is designed to improve target tracking, situational awareness and electronic warfare capabilities.
Spanish Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon 'Halcón I' | Airbus 
Spanish Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon 'Halcón I' | Airbus 
Spanish Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon 'Halcón I' | Airbus
The fighters will also be able to employ weapons including the MBDA Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile and Brimstone precision-guided weapon.
Spain currently operates about 68 Eurofighters from earlier production batches. The first Halcon aircraft are expected to enter service with Ala 14 at Albacete Air Base.
Once all 45 aircraft have been delivered, Spain's Eurofighter fleet is expected to exceed 110 aircraft. The country has not announced any further Typhoon acquisitions beyond the Halcon I and Halcon II programs.
Airbus has not disclosed the date of the aircraft's first flight or the timeline for its handover to the Spanish Air and Space Force.
