US embassy cable - 04MADRID2803

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