Spain to launch 15 new defense modernization programs

Spain's Ministry of Defense plans to launch 15 new Special Modernization Programs (PEM) before the end of the year. These programs are part of a broader effort to modernize the Spanish Armed Forces, which will bring the total number of active modernization programs to 95.

Lieutenant General Miguel Ivorra, Director General of Defense Industry Strategy and Innovation, stated that these new initiatives will focus on strategic fields including secure communications, command and control systems, cybersecurity, intelligence, and electronic warfare. The investment aims to sustain military spending above 2% of GDP, with one report noting a projected investment of up to 32 billion euros.

A key objective of these programs is to bolster domestic and European industrial capacity. The Ministry aims for at least 80% of the investment to remain within the Spanish industrial fabric and a minimum of 90% within Europe. This shift follows a period of excessive dependence on Israeli technology, which Spain ceased using in September 2025, creating a necessity for the national industry to develop these complex capabilities locally.