Overview
- The Council of Ministers authorized the waiver on December 23 after a favorable report from JIMDDU, using a clause that allows exceptions when national interests would be harmed.
- The authorization covers the A400M, A330 MRTT, C295 and SIRTAP, with the government citing a lack of immediate guaranteed substitutes and the risk that final assembly would shift out of Spain.
- Airbus warned the government that program continuity and thousands of high‑skilled jobs were at risk if imports of specific Israeli technologies were blocked.
- Key systems cited include Elbit’s DIRCM countermeasures for A400M and A330 MRTT fleets and Elta radars selected for Spain’s new C295 maritime patrol aircraft.
- The exception was not granted for the SILAM launcher, Spike LR2 missiles or the 8x8 Dragón vehicle, where domestic alternatives are being pursued that are expected to delay those programs.