Airbus Defence and Space and Indra Group have been selected by the Spanish Ministry of Defence to carry out a conceptual definition study for a future signals intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft for the Spanish Air and Space Force, Airbus announced on 30 December 2025.
This 18-month study will cover the analysis and definition of the most suitable platform and SIGINT equipment to provide a national solution based on three aircraft to detect, track, classify and identify targets of interest to the Spanish armed forces.
Airbus Defence and Space will draw up a proposal for an aircraft adapted to the Spanish customer’s needs and, together with Indra, will study the integration of electronic intelligence (ELINT) and communications intelligence (COMINT) systems as a preliminary step to defining the development and implementation of the programme.
At a later stage, Airbus is expected to carry out the necessary modifications to the selected aircraft to implement and industrialise the SIGINT system proposed by Indra.
Airbus has extensive experience in converting commercial aircraft into military platforms, such as the Multi Role Tanker Transport of the A330 airliner, which is converted at its facilities in Getafe.
The Spanish Air and Space Force currently has no airborne SIGINT capability, having retired the Boeing 707-based T.17 (TM.17-4) and Dassault Falcon 20-based TM.11 aircraft that it used for SIGINT missions in 2014 and 2020 respectively.
![The RC-135V/W Rivet Joint is perhaps the most recognisable Western SIGINT aircraft. The aircraft’s comprehensive array of COMINT DF antenna is clearly visible beneath the fuselage, while the distinctive ‘chipmunk cheeks’ at the forward fuselage contain its ‘Automatic Electronic Emitter Locator System’ (AEELS). [Luca Chadwick]](https://euro-sd.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/1-Kopie-218x150.jpg "Skybound scanners: Rebuilding Europe’s airborne SIGINT fleet")
