Spanish Navy new F110 frigates could be equipped with laser weapons.

According to information published by the Defensa.com website on March 12, 2021, the Spanish could install laser weapons onboard its warships and especially to the five future F110 frigates ordered by the Spanish Navy.
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Artist rendering of new F110 frigate for Spanish Navy. (Picture source Navantia)

Today, Navies all over the world are faced to new threats as small boats, drones used to conduct suicide attacks. Laser weapons could be one of the solutions to counter the new threats. The typical weapons available on a ship to engage such threats are general-purpose machine guns, Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS), naval artillery guns, and missiles.

The U.S. Navy has developed Solid State Lasers (SSLs) to improve the ability of U.S. Navy surface ships to defend themselves against surface craft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as well as anti-ship cruise missiles.

According to a U.S. Congress report the U.S. Navy has been developing SSLs for several years, and in 2014 installed on a Navy ship its first prototype SSL capable of countering surface craft and UAVs. The U.S. Navy since then has been developing and installing additional SSL prototypes with improved- the capability for countering surface craft and UAVs. Higher-power SSLs being developed by the Navy are to have a capability for countering ASCMs.

Spain has launched the SIGILAR program to develop laser weapon systems that will be used in the military field. The goal of this program is the development of a pedestal with a laser emitter allowing the neutralization of objects that are seen as clear threats. Spain is also working on HEL (High Energy Laser) demonstrator with an output power of 15 kW.

The Spanish company Escribano Mechanical and Engineering works together with the National Institute of Aerospace Technology to build Solid State Laser (SSL) systems that are suited to destroy and illuminate targets for air defense, mine destruction, ship protection, and optoelectronic warfare.

The F110 also called Bonifaz class is a multi-purpose, anti-submarine class of Aegis combat system-fitted heavy frigate under development for the Spanish Navy by the Spanish company Navantia. In April 2019, the Spanish Ministry of Defense has signed a contract with Navantia for the construction of five F100 frigates. The Spanish navy plans to deploy the first F110 frigate in 2026.