The Council of Ministers has given the green light this Tuesday to six framework agreements for an amount close to 500 million euros, aimed at reinforcing the material, supplies, transport, and various support services of the Armed Forces.
The first of these agreements is oriented towards the contracting of comprehensive support services for engineering and maintenance of the weapon systems of the Army of the Air and Space, also covering common and logistical systems, technical documentation, test benches, simulators, and support equipment, with an estimated budget of 153,331,236 euros.
This new contractual framework, which replaces the currently in force awarded in 2023, "will guarantee the contracting of these comprehensive support services and the continuity of engineering and maintenance actions for the upkeep of these systems in accordance with the requirements of airworthiness regulations, complementing and supporting the actions of the Logistics Support Command (MALOG), its logistics centers (air depots), and the units that operate them."
Secondly, the Executive has approved another framework agreement for the purchase of mortar shells intended for the Army, the Army of the Air and Space, and the Navy, for an amount of 111,348,930 euros.
According to the Ministry of Defense, this agreement enables the acquisition of mortar shells used in tactical exercises on national territory and during the preparation phase prior to the projection of forces, as they are part of the material that the units transport to the Area of Operations. In addition, it will allow reinforcing the ammunition reserve of the joint force and the specific reserve of each army, while maintaining adequate levels for the training of the units.
Likewise, the Council of Ministers has supported a framework agreement for the supply of provisions throughout the national territory to Ships, Units, and Facilities of the Navy, in order to ensure the proper feeding of its personnel and all authorized personnel. The estimated value of this contract is around 100,000,000 euros.
Combat helmets for the Army
On the other hand, the signing of a framework agreement for the purchase of combat helmets intended for the Army has been authorized, which will provide its personnel "with an essential element of personal combat in all operations in which Spain participates under UN, NATO, EU mandate, or those derived from an international agreement"; with a budget amounting to 61,560,000 euros.
Next, another framework agreement has been approved for the acquisition of all-terrain and electric forklifts for the Army, which "will allow the fleet of these vehicles to be renewed, both in operational and logistical units, essential for enabling the operations of hauling and handling loads, and which due to their age present a low degree of operability, being already close to the end of their life cycle," with an assigned amount of 43,556,000 euros.
A multipurpose vessel with high-sea towing
Finally, the Council of Ministers has authorized the contracting of a multipurpose vessel class Carnota with high-sea towing capacity, with the aim of providing the Navy with "modern" and "new" high-sea towing capabilities, logistical transport, water and fuel transport and supply, and disaster and catastrophe response.
"All of them leading to ensuring support for the deployment of other national military units or allied countries, their sustainment in operations and their withdrawal," they emphasize from the department headed by Margarita Robles.
This last agreement has an estimated value of 30,000,000 euros and a validity that will extend from the formalization of the contract until July 1, 2027, or until the deadline offered by the awarded company, or until the object of the contract is fully fulfilled.