Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04MADRID2803
2004-07-23 08:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Madrid
Cable title:  

TOMAHAWK RELEASABILITY - SPAIN COUNTRY TEAM

Tags:  MASS MARR SP 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 002803 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2014
TAGS: MASS MARR SP
SUBJECT: TOMAHAWK RELEASABILITY - SPAIN COUNTRY TEAM
ASSESSMENT

Classified By: Political Counselor Kathleen M. Fitzpatrick for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 002803

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2014
TAGS: MASS MARR SP
SUBJECT: TOMAHAWK RELEASABILITY - SPAIN COUNTRY TEAM
ASSESSMENT

Classified By: Political Counselor Kathleen M. Fitzpatrick for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).


1. Confidential - entire text.


2. (SBU) The following is Mission Spain Country Team's
assessment on releasability of the Tomahawk System to the
Spanish Navy.


3. (C) In recent years the Spanish armed forces have
significantly contributed to international peace, stability
and the Global War on Terror within a multinational
framework. Over the past year, Spain has deployed nearly
4,000 forces in Iraq, NATO-led forces in Bosnia and KOSOVO,
Operation Enduring Freedom, and ISAF in Afghanistan. The new
socialist government pulled Spanish forces from Iraq, but the
GOS has also recently announced it will increase its presence
in Afghanistan from some 130 service members to between 940
and 1,040 by September 2004. Spanish Navy policy has matured
to the point that power projection and protection has become
the mainstay of its required naval capabilities. The Spanish
Navy plans to accomplish this primarily via surface
combatants utilizing advanced weapons systems that offer a
land-attack capability. Specifically, the SDR states, "The
transformation of the navy involves a re-orientation of its
fleet away from its oceanic and anti-submarine focus. It
must become a force primarily capable of power projection in
littoral and coastal waters, reaching all the way into the
interior as well." To achieve this land-strike capability,
the Spanish Navy has expressed its desire to acquire the
Tomahawk Land Attack Missile, to be carried on the F-100
class AEGIS frigate.


4. (C) The Spanish Navy has demonstrated a commitment to
U.S.-derived acquisitions for its complex combat systems.
The success of the F-100/AEGIS program, and the commitment of
the Spanish Navy to a U.S. solution in that program has
strengthened the Spain-U.S. military-military relationship
and allowed for greater interoperability between U.S. and
Spanish combat systems and platforms. This interoperability
was demonstrated in July 2003 with the success of the
first-ever combined (U.S. and foreign navy) Combat System
Ship Qualification Trial, conducted with the Spanish F-101
and USS Mason. Additionally, the U.S. and Spanish navies are
currently coordinating a plan to deploy the F-101 with the
Theodore Roosevelt Battle Group.


5. (C) The release of the Tomahawk to Spain would serve to
strengthen the U.S.-Spain military-military relationship by
improving interoperability and would enhance navy-navy
cooperation already established through the F-100 program.
Release would also dissuade Spain from looking elsewhere,
such as to France, to satisfy its desire for advanced weapons
systems. Although Spain's new socialist government has a
more Euro-centric focus than the previous government, this
Foreign Military Sales case, if approved, would outlast the
current government and probably several others after that.
The Spanish Navy has the ability to safeguard Tomahawk
technology. Training, operation, maintenance and follow-on
support, in addition to end-use monitoring and compliance
verifications would all be conducted under FMS guidelines.
Spain has an established, proven record as a reliable FMS
customer. No human rights issues are related to this
technology.


6. (C) Embassy anticipates Morocco may initially react
negatively to the release of Tomahawk to Spain but would not
raise serious objections. Relations between Spain and
Morocco are warming somewhat, and Morocco would likely accept
U.S. assurances that the weapon is being released to Spain
primarily to enhance U.S.-Spain military cooperation.
MANZANARES