In Spain, the Ministry of Defense in Madrid has revoked licenses for the PAP Tecnos, the Spanish subsidiary of the Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense System, for the production of Spike LR2 anti-tank missiles in the country, and is seeking to redirect the program to explore alternatives.
Additionally, the Defense has decided to skip Israeli technology in the new multiple rocket launcher system SILAM by Elbit Systems based on the PULS for a 576 million euro program, opting instead for an entirely Spanish technology, the latter being developed by Escribano and Expal-Rheinmetall.
This decision was made before the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, when the Government had assigned to Rafael ADS a contract for the supply of 168 launchers with 1678 fifth-generation Spike LR2 anti-tank missiles, alleging the obsolescence of the previous systems and the need to replace them with more modern technologies used by Allied countries.
The reconsideration is part of the efforts of the Ministry of Defense in Madrid to reduce dependence on Israeli technology, in response to the demand of the political parties that support the Government to impose an arms embargo on Israel and those for the recognition of a Palestinian state.
However, there are several problems as some ongoing programs are technologically tied to Israeli companies, but the Spanish Ministry of Defense is working to decrease this dependence and achieve technological independence.
Photo credit @Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.
