Madrid has scrapped two Israeli contracts, including €700 million rocket launchers, as part of a legal ban on arms trade with Israel over its Gaza assault.
Spain has cancelled a contract worth nearly €700 million for Israeli-designed SILAM rocket launcher systems derived from Elbit Systems’ PULS platform, according to official documents released on 9 September. The move follows Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s pledge to enshrine in law a ban on military equipment sales or purchases with Israel over its offensive in Gaza.
(Photo Credit Escribano)
The following day his institutional address from the Moncloa Palace, Sánchez announced measures aimed at stopping what his government calls “the genocide in Gaza”, including a decree imposing a full arms-trade ban with Israel. Madrid also cancelled a €287 million deal for 168 anti-tank missile launchers licensed from an Israeli company and is reviewing plans to phase out Israeli weapons and technology from the Spanish armed forces.
Sánchez drew parallels with international sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, stating: “As long as the barbarity continues, neither Russia nor Israel should participate in any international competition.” On Monday he also urged Israel’s exclusion from international sport.
This decision comes after Spain barred Israeli participation in the FEINDEF defence exhibition in Madrid in May, underlining its shift toward a hard line against Israeli defence cooperation.
What is Next for Spain on the Road to New MLRS?
Spain’s cancellation of PULS acquisition might pave the way to alternatives, which are comparable in both firepower and mobility. After all, these are among the reasons for PULS finding multiple customers in Europe, as HIMARS uses a single pod and currently offers three options (GMLRS at 70+ km, GMLRS-ER at 150 km, ATACMS up to 300 km) while M270 with more firepower lacks the high mobility of a 8x8 truck.
ROKETSAN’s MLRS system and the Korean K239 Chunmoo can be given as the direct alternatives to PULS, with both employing a wide range of munitions.
ROKETSAN’s system with two pod slots can use TRG-122 GNSS/INS guided rockets (20x2), TRLG-122 laser-guided rockets (12x2), middle ground TRG-230/TRLG-230 rockets (6x2), TRG-300 heavy rockets (2x2), and BORA TBMs (1). Additionally, it has been observed that the system is used as a launcher for the ATMACA-UM cruise missile as well.
K239 Chunmoo, with a similar layout, can fire 130 mm rockets (20x2), 239 mm guided rockets (6x2), and the KTSSM TBM (1x2). A notable user of K239 in Europe is Poland, for which the MLRS will be adapted as Homar-K with 122 mm unguided rocket integration.
Author: Özgür Ekşi
