PC-24 selected to replace Spanish Citation fleet

Spain is set to introduce the Pilatus PC-24 as a replacement for its ageing fleet of Cessna Citation and Beechcraft King Air aircraft across both air force and naval aviation units.

Reports indicate that the new platform will succeed the Spanish Air and Space Force’s Cessna 560 Citation V and King Air C90, as well as the Spanish Navy’s Cessna 550 Citation. While the naval component has not been formally confirmed, the PC-24 is widely regarded as the leading candidate, subject to final funding and programme approval.

The move signals a clear shift toward a joint-service solution, aligning requirements under a single, versatile platform as part of a broader 'light jet replacement' effort.

Within the Ejército del Aire y del Espacio (EAE, Spanish Air and Space Force), the Citation fleet, operated by 403 Escuadrón at Madrid/Getafe, has been primarily tasked with aerial mapping missions. In parallel, the Armada’s Flotilla de Aeronaves (FLOAN) operates its Citation aircraft through Escuadrilla 004 at Rota, where they fulfil multi-role support duties centred on liaison and utility operations. The King Air C90 fleet, assigned to 409 Escuadrón and also based at Getafe, provides additional light transport and liaison capability.

The decision to adopt the PC-24 appears to have taken shape during the early-to-mid 2020s, emerging through internal procurement processes rather than a single high-profile announcement. By the time the type appeared in official future fleet planning documents, around 2022–2023, the selection had effectively been finalised and funded, underscoring its status as a committed acquisition programme.

Designed as a highly flexible multi-mission platform, the PC-24 will assume a broad spectrum of roles without the need for a dedicated replacement in the ISR or aerial mapping category. Instead, these functions are expected to be integrated within the aircraft’s operational envelope.

Current plans call for the acquisition of seven aircraft, with four allocated to the Air and Space Force and three to the Navy. Deliveries are scheduled between 2026 and 2027.

Spain will also benefit industrially from the programme through Pilatus Aircraft Ibérica in Seville, which has been involved in the production of primary PC-24 structures since early 2025, further embedding the country within the aircraft’s manufacturing ecosystem.

Credit photos: Rob Hendriks, Frank Kramer and Manolito Jaarsma (all Scramble Archive)