Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Spain cancels €285 million missile contract with Israel's Rafael - Jerusalem Post Staff

 

by Jerusalem Post Staff

Last Friday, Spanish Secretary of State for Defense Amparo Valcarce stated that the government was working on "disengagement plans" to avoid depending on Israel "in any way."

 

The logo of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is pictured at Eurosatory in Villepinte, near Paris, France June 13, 2022 (photo credit: SHUTTERSTOCK)
The logo of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is pictured at Eurosatory in Villepinte, near Paris, France June 13, 2022
(photo credit: SHUTTERSTOCK)

Spain's Defense Ministry has suspended the license of an Israeli company intending to manufacture missiles in Spain, local media reported on Tuesday afternoon.

The missiles were intended to equip the Army and Marine Corps units.

Pap-Tecnos is the Spanish subsidiary of the Israeli firm Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, and had been awarded a €285 million contract to develop 168 firing points and 1,680 Spike LR2 anti-tank missiles.

Last Friday, Spanish Secretary of State for Defense Amparo Valcarce stated that the government was working on "disengagement plans" to avoid depending on Israel "in any way."

Spain's soured relations with Israel

The original contract, which was awarded to Pap-Tecnos, was issued on October 3, 2023 - days before Hamas's southern Israel invasion kickstarted a war which has soured Spanish-Israeli relations. Spain is one of several countries which joined South Africa's International Court of Justice case against Israel, alleging genocide in the war against Hamas.

 Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles speaks during the La Toja Forum on global challenges in Lisbon, Portugal, April 1, 2025. (credit: PEDRO NUNES/REUTERS)Enlrage image
Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles speaks during the La Toja Forum on global challenges in Lisbon, Portugal, April 1, 2025. (credit: PEDRO NUNES/REUTERS)

The SILAM multiple rocket launcher program is expected to continue, although without technology which would have otherwise been provided by Elbit Systems, according to El Pais.

Despite the canceled contracts, Spanish media reported that the fate of Spain's acquisition of 46 laser designators for €207.1 million from the company Rafael remains unclear.


Jerusalem Post Staff

Source: https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-856385

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