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Spain cancels Israeli missile license and seeks non-Israeli alternatives

Tuesday 03 June 2025 - 15:35

Spain’s Ministry of Defence has officially revoked the license granted to the Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems for the production of SPIKE LR2 anti-tank missiles on Spanish soil. The government is now redirecting its efforts to identify alternative suppliers, as reported by Cadena SER and confirmed by Defence Ministry sources.

On October 3, 2023 just four days before Hamas's attacks on October 7 Spain had awarded a €285 million contract for 168 fifth-generation anti-tank missile systems. This move was justified by the outdated nature of existing missile systems, which needed replacement with more modern equipment already in use by allied nations.

The production license had been awarded to PAP Tecnos, the Spanish subsidiary of Rafael. However, in a strategic shift, the Spanish Defence Ministry has annulled the agreement and is actively seeking non-Israeli options for its anti-tank missile program.

This decision aligns with Spain’s broader defense strategy under Minister Margarita Robles, aiming for a gradual “disconnection” from Israeli defense systems. Amparo Valcarce, Spain’s Secretary of State for Defence, reaffirmed this last week, noting that the country had already halted all arms trade with Israel on October 7, the day the conflict in Palestinian territories escalated.

Valcarce highlighted that while some ongoing defense programs still involve Israeli technology, the Ministry is working on plans to eliminate any such dependencies. The objective is complete technological independence from Israel.

This effort is further supported by Spain’s recently approved €10.47 billion defense industrial plan, which aims to boost national capabilities in critical areas such as cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. The ultimate goal is to achieve full strategic autonomy and ensure that Spain is not reliant on any foreign state for its defense technology.

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