Spain cancels license to produce Israeli SPIKE LR2 missiles
Madrid, June 4 (Hibya) – Spain's Ministry of Defense has taken a significant step in its strategy to reduce technological dependence on Israel by canceling the licenses granted to Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to produce SPIKE LR2 anti-tank missiles in Spain.
The decision directly affects a contract signed on October 3, 2023 – just four days before the Hamas attack that triggered the current Israeli offensive on Gaza – for the purchase of 168 fifth-generation missile systems worth €285 million.
According to ministry sources, the contract will be redirected toward finding alternative suppliers of non-Israeli origin, in line with the government's desire to achieve greater strategic autonomy in defense matters.
Following the suspension of arms trade with Israel on October 7, 2023, and amid growing societal and political pressure to sever military ties with the Israeli state, the ministry opted to halt local production of the SPIKE system and redesign the ongoing program.
Defense Minister Amparo Valcarce had previously anticipated this strategic course, stating that Spain is working to "technologically detach" from Israel. Although she acknowledged the difficulty of achieving a full embargo due to Israel’s role in areas like cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, she said that plans are already underway to reach "zero" dependence.
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