Spain Selects A321 For Sigint Mission, Air Force Pub Reveals

Spain has selected the Airbus A321 as the proposed platform for three new signals-intelligence aircraft under Santiago II, according to its Air Force’s October official publication. Airbus and Indra are conducting conceptual design work on a crewed system intended to collect and process information across the electromagnetic spectrum. The program would restore a dedicated airborne capability lost when Spain retired its Boeing 707 intelligence aircraft in 2014. The publication also raises a possible national airborne early-warning derivative, but this remains an option rather than a confirmed additional fleet, and detailed production and delivery arrangements have not been announced.