Background
Spain’s geographic location sits on the border of Europe and Africa. Primary threats to Spain include failed and failing states in North Africa, as well as terrorists operating in the region. The country joined NATO in 1982 and has cooperated with the U.S. in the framework of the U.S.-Spain Missile Defense Technical Group.[i] As mandated by Phase 1 of the EPAA, Spain hosts four U.S. Arleigh Burke-class destroyers that are equipped with SM-3 Block IA and IB interceptors for missile defense.[ii]
Spain’s Ballistic Missile Defense Capabilities
| System | Operator | Number Deployed | Platform | |
| MIM-104 Patriot/PAC-2 | Spain | Six Batteries (One deployed in Turkey) | Ground-Based; Road-Mobile |  |
Spain’s Air Defense Capabilities
| System | Role | Number Deployed | Platform | |
| MIM-104 Patriot/PAC-2 | Medium- to Long-Range Air Defense | Six batteries (one deployed in Turkey) | Ground-Based; Road-Mobile |  |
| SM-2 | Medium-Range Air Defense | Deployed on five vessels | Alvero de Bazan-class Aegis frigates (5) |  |
| ESSM | Medium-Range Air Defense | Deployed on five vessels | Alvero de Bazan-class Aegis frigates (5) |  |
| Meroka 2B CIWS | Short-Range Air Defense | Deployed on five vessels | Alvero de Bazan-class Aegis frigates (5) |  |
| NASAMS | Medium-Range Air Defense | Unknown | Ground-Based; Road-Mobile |  |
| Spada 2000 | Short-Range Air Defense | Unknown | Ground-Based; Road-Mobile |  |
| Oerlikon Skyguard | Short-Range Air Defense | Unknown | Ground-Based; Road-Mobile |  |
| Mistral Missile System | Short-Range Air Defense | Unknown | Man-Portable |  |
Current Developments
Spain currently has at least one Patriot Air and anti-missile defense system in Turkey and plan on staying in Turkey until at least December of 2016 despite the withdrawals of United States and German units.
Raytheon was awarded a contract to provide engineering services for Patriot missile batteries operated by Spain, Kuwait, Taiwan, and Israel in January 2017. Work on the contract has an estimated completion date of December 31, 2018.[iii]
In October 2017, during the Formidable Shield Exercises, the Spanish frigate SPS Alvaro de Bazan (F101) fired an Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) against an incoming anti-ship cruise missile while the Netherlands frigate HNLMS Tromp (F803) fired ESSMs against a pair of incoming anti-ship cruise missiles demonstrating NATO’s smart defense concept for the first time.[iv]
As of January 2018, Spain has extended the term of its Patriot air defense missiles deployed at Turkey’s Incirlik Air Base until June 2018.[v]
Between June 28-30, NATO hosted a summit in Madrid to announce its 2022 Strategic Concept—which, for the first time, proclaimed that China poses a “systemic challenge.” During the summit, President Biden demonstrated his commitment to NATO by deploying more arms and soldiers to Europe. In Spain, he pledged to increase the number of U.S. Navy destroyers stationed in Spain’s Naval Station Rota to six. [vi]
Recent News
References
[i] http://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/31/world/spain-enters-nato-as-first-country-to-join-since-1955.html
[iii] https://sputniknews.com/military/201701271050053409-raytheon-maintain-kuwait-taiwan-missiles/
[v] https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/2018/01/09/term-of-spanish-patriot-missiles-in-turkey-extended-until-june
