The Spanish Ministry of Defence has officially ended a €285 million ($310 million) arrangement with the Spanish unit of Israel's Rafael Advanced Defence Systems.
The contract, which was completed in October 2023, just days before Hamas attacked southern Israel, included the Spanish Army and Marine Corps getting 168 launchers and 1,680 Spike LR2 anti-tank missiles, as well as full logistical assistance.
Pap Tecnos, the local subsidiary of Rafael, was also granted a production license to manufacture the missiles in Spain.
Spanish media reports confirmed on Tuesday that the Ministry has now suspended that manufacturing license, effectively terminating the contract. The decision follows growing calls from within the Spanish government to sever defence ties with Israel due to its ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
Speaking last week, Secretary of State for Defence Amparo Valcarce said Madrid was developing “disconnection plans” to ensure Spain does not rely on Israeli defence technology “in any way.” This reflects a broader shift in policy, despite earlier justifications that cited the obsolescence of Spain’s existing missile inventory and Rafael’s technical advantages.
Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles' office also confirmed the cancellation, which forms part of the country’s wider strategy to eliminate military-industrial dependency on Israel. An alternative under consideration for replacing the Spike LR2 is the US-made FGM-148F Javelin system developed by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin.
The cancelled missile deal follows Spain’s earlier decision, six weeks ago, to revoke a separate contract for more than 15 million Israeli-made bullets. Spain is also among the nations supporting South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, a move that has further strained bilateral relations.
Despite no new arms sales currently being active, Spanish officials acknowledge that some legacy defence programmes remain linked to Israeli suppliers. Valcarce confirmed that plans are underway to phase out such dependencies.
Author: Özgür Ekşi
