Spain has selected the Pilatus PC-24 to replace its ageing fleet of Cessna Citations, making it the second European military to adopt the Swiss-built light jet in just two months. The French Navy took delivery of its first PC-24s in February 2026. Now Spain’s Air and Space Force and Naval Air Arm will follow — and Pilatus is quietly building a European military franchise from a jet that was originally designed for the executive charter market.

The selection is no surprise to anyone who has followed the PC-24’s trajectory. Since its 2018 certification, the aircraft has carved out a unique niche: a jet fast and comfortable enough for VIP transport, yet tough enough to operate from unpaved strips that would ground most business jets. That combination makes it a natural fit for military liaison and light transport roles — missions that demand flexibility above all else.

What the PC-24 Brings to Spain

The Citations that the PC-24 replaces have served Spain’s military well, but they belong to an older generation of light jet. The PC-24 offers a leap in capability across nearly every dimension. Its standard cargo door — a rarity on jets this size — allows it to carry stretchers, palletised cargo, or mission-specific equipment without modification. It is certified for single-pilot operations, reducing crew requirements. And its ability to land on grass, gravel, and other unpaved surfaces opens up austere airfields that Citations could never reach.

Range is a solid 2,000 nautical miles with four passengers — enough to connect mainland Spain with the Canary Islands, North African bases, or any European capital without refuelling. Cruise speed tops 400 knots. The cabin is spacious enough for eight passengers or a mixed passenger-cargo configuration.

Pilatus Goes Military Across Europe

Spain’s selection is the second piece in what looks increasingly like a deliberate Pilatus strategy to establish the PC-24 as Europe’s default military light jet. The French Navy’s adoption in February 2026 was the first. Spain’s order — coming from both the Air Force and the Naval Air Arm — doubles the European military customer base in one stroke.

This is new territory for Pilatus. The Swiss company has long been a dominant force in military training, with the PC-7, PC-9, and PC-21 turboprops serving air forces worldwide. Spain itself recently ordered 24 PC-21s for pilot training, deepening an existing relationship. But the PC-24 marks Pilatus’s entry into the jet-powered military transport segment — and Europe is proving to be fertile ground.

The logic for European militaries is compelling. The PC-24 is a modern, in-production, European-built aircraft with a mature support network and a price tag that defence budgets can absorb without drama. For liaison, VIP transport, medical evacuation, and light cargo missions, it does the job at a fraction of the cost of larger military transports — and it can reach airfields they cannot.

Pilatus built the PC-24 as a business jet. European militaries are turning it into something more.

Sources: Scramble Magazine, Flying Magazine, Naval News, Defence Mirror