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Spain Awarded the First Development Contract for the Future Spanish Navy F-110 Frigates.

20 Aug, 2015 9:08 | 2015

Naval Forces News - Spain

Spain Awarded the First Development Contract for the Future Spanish Navy F-110 Frigates

The Spanish government has awarded the first contract for the F-110 project which officially launch the program of this new-generation of frigates. According to the government press release: "The Cabinet has approved the contract for the development and integration of F-110 sensors mast, for a maximum amount of 135,314,364 Euros."

A basic scale model (made with 3D printer) was showcased by Spanish shipbuilder Navantia during Euronaval exhibition last year.

The new class of ships is known as the F-110 project and is set to replace the six Santa Maria-class frigates (F-80) commissioned with the Spanish Navy service between 1986 and 1994.

According to the government press release:
The purpose of this R&D contract i is the implementation of three programs: that
- Technological studies for the integration of sensors on the mast
- Incorporation of new capabilities in the SCOMBA combat system of Spanish Navy ships
- Development of a system actuation and control of missiles to be installed in future F-110 frigates.

A prototype will be developed to test the integrated and form part of the systems to be installed in the F-110 frigates mast. Another aim is to develop the combat system of Navy ships (SCOMBA). It is a unified system that since 2002 equips most of the ships of the Navy and was developed from the Aegis combat system US, based on the connection between the radar early warning of possible alerts and armament of ships.

The HC-130J aircraft has a unique mission system suite installed on the aircraft. The mission system suite includes a two operator workstation on the flight deck, a nose-mounted EO/IR pod, a belly-mounted surface search radar, as well as other communication and surveillance sensors.

Image source: Spanish Navy/Navantia

Officially designated Buque de Superficie de la Armada (patrullero multifunction) for Navy Surface Ship (multifunction patrol), the F-110 will be larger than Spanish navy's BAM (Buque de Acción Marítima) OPV but smaller than the F-100 Alavaro de Bazan class AEGIS Frigates.

National shipbuilder Navantia along with the Spanish navy started F-110 concept studies and came up with an initial design of the ship following a feasibility study contract awarded last year.

Detailed design-and-build contract is expected to be awarded in 2016 while delivery of the first vessel is set for 2022 for an operational life of 40 years. F-110 is designed to be operational 240 days in a row with a high availability of 18 months.

As multifunction vessels, the F-110 will be fitted with 24x Mk 41 VLS cells for SM-2s and ESSM surface-to-air missiles, 8x anti-ship missiles, a 127mm main gun. Sensors will include the new integrated mast (combining fire control radar, main search radar, communication devices and EW sensors), a towed array and a hull sonar. A "multi mission space" will allow to transport and deploy unmanned vehicles (AUV, USV, UUV), containers and RHIBs. F-110 are expected to reach 30 knots thanks to a the hybrid propulsion system.

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Spain Awarded the First Development Contract for the Future Spanish Navy F-110 Frigates.