Rohde & Schwarz to deliver external communications systems for F110 frigates of Spanish navy.

According to a press release published on October 19, 2020, Rohde & Schwarz has signed a contract with Spanish shipbuilder Navantia to equip five new F110 frigates with external communications systems.
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Scale model of F110 frigate for the Spanish Navy. (Picture source Navy Recognition)

The Spanish Ministry of Defense (MoD) has ordered the construction of five new F-110 frigates by Navantia to replace the Spanish Navy’s Santa Maria-class frigates. The new Bonifaz-class multi-mission frigates are specialized in anti-submarine warfare. They will be used for force and fleet protection, maritime security, joint and combined missions and to prevent conventional and asymmetric threats.

Rohde & Schwarz (Spain) signed a contract with Navantia to design and supply external communications systems for line of sight and beyond line of sight communications. These consist of R&S M3SR software-defined radios (R&S Series4100 HF and R&S Series4400 VHF/UHF) including engineering services and Integrated Logistics Support (ILS).

“Rohde & Schwarz and Navantia have a long history of collaboration and providing the Spanish Navy with the best communications systems,” states Hansjörg Herrbold, Vice President Market Segment Navy Rohde & Schwarz. “We are very proud to have our equipment deployed in this major Spanish naval asset and we are looking forward to strengthening our relationship. We make sure that we deliver a safe, future-ready investment for today’s navies on time and on budget.”

“Rohde & Schwarz (Spain) has been a reliable local partner for the Spanish Navy and Navantia for decades, providing first-class equipment and services for a wide variety of platforms, such as the Juan Carlos I (L-61) landing helicopter dock (LHD), Galicia class landing platform dock (LPD), F-100 and F-105 frigates, Meteoro class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) and the upcoming S-80+ submarines,” says Rafael Falagan, Sales Manager Secure Communications & Radiomonitoring, Rohde & Schwarz (Spain).

The F110 class also known as the Bonifaz class is a multi-purpose, anti-submarine class of Aegis combat system-fitted heavy frigates under development for the Spanish Navy. The project is being co-developed by the Spanish Ministry of Defence and the state-owned company Navantia. She has a length of 145 meters, a beam of 18 meters, and a draft of 5 meters.  She can reach a maximum speed of >25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph).

The F110 class is armed with one Leonardo 127 mm/64 caliber naval gun, 16 Mk 41 VLS surface-to-air missile for SM-2 and RIM-162 ESSM, two 30 mm and .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns, two quadruple Harpoon missile canisters SSM and two Mark 32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes.