"Spanish companies are demonstrating our country's high level of aerospace technology", says Agustín Conde

Following this visit, Agustín Conde praised the aerospace sector and highlighted that "here we have cutting-edge companies in their sectors that compete on a level footing with companies from the most developed countries in the world in this global market, and which, moreover, have been capable, in extraordinarily difficult times, of maintaining technological capabilities and jobs in our country for so many Spaniards when many others were shedding them".

Agustín Conde thanked the aeronautical companies, on behalf of the Government of Spain, for "the effort you have made over recent years. You have found a way to continue investing, innovating and opening up new markets abroad to achieve overseas what you were unable to do in our country".

He also pointed out that "the aerospace sector in Spain accounts for 1% of the Gross Domestic Product and 5% of industrial GDP, and is a sector that exports everything that is manufactured and maintains 25,000 people in direct employment, and some 100,000 in indirect employment".

5th generation European combat aircraft

Agustín Conde also highlighted that "Europe must develop a 5th generation combat aircraft; Europe cannot be left behind and this should bring together the largest possible number of countries with aeronautical industries. Spain must be present in the development of the Eurofighter - a 5th generation fighter plane. We must not be left behind".

The State Secretary for Defence had the chance to visit the static displays of the Spanish companies represented at the Spain Pavilion and held a work meeting with the Director of the Joint Defence Cooperation Organisation, Major General Arturo Meiriño.

To bring his time at the Air Show to a close, Agustín Conde visited the stands of Airbus, MBDA and Thales.

Paris Air Show 2017

The Paris Air Show is the largest event given over to the technological creation of these sectors. The Spanish Association of Defence, Aeronautical and Aerospace Technology Companies (Spanish acronym: TEDAE) organises the Spain Pavilion to offer the most important international companies the opportunity to know the latest innovations in the different segments of Spanish aeronautical activity in an area of more than 600 m².

Spain is one of very few countries in the world that can design, manufacture, assemble, certify and maintain a complete aeroplane at this time. This means that it currently has an innovative aeronautical industrial fabric, which has 50% of the turnover of civil aeronautics and defence, broken down into 76% for aircraft, 12% for engines and 12% for equipment.

The Spanish aeronautical sector invoiced some 10.7 billion euros last year, 83% from the export of products and services. It also generated 55,800 highly qualified technical jobs, with 9.3% of its turnover being spent on R&D+i.