Article Posted on : - Jan 11, 2010

The Harrier-II fighter aircraft. Boeing Photo

PARIS (BNS): The Spanish Navy has signed a contract worth over $13 million with the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company which will provide engineering, maintenance and logistical support to its fleet of AV8B Harrier II, AV8B Harrier II Plus and CESSNA aircraft.

Under the four-year contract, EADS will also give technical assistance, continued airworthiness support and airworthiness certification for all fixed-wing aircraft in the Spanish Navy’s fleet, the European company announced.

The AV8B Harrier II, a second-generation vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) ground-attack aircraft, was procured by Spain in 1977.

The Harrier II Plus is an upgraded version of Harrier II fighter and it joined the Spanish Navy in 1997. The combat aircraft is designed to deploy a wide range of weapons like the air-to-air AMRAAM and Sparrow missiles, anti-ship Harpoon and Sea Eagle missiles and a range of bombs and rockets.

Like its predecessor, the Harrier II Plus can operate from small aircraft carriers and large amphibious assault ships.

The CESSNA aircraft has been operating in the Spanish defence forces since 1964.