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Navantia to Build Two New Anti-Submarine BAM Vessels for the Spanish Navy.
Negotiations between Spain and the company Navantia for the construction of two new Buques de Acción Marítima (BAM) vessels are in the final phase. This program, with an estimated budget of 550 million euros, received approval from the Ministry of Finance in mid-2023, although the official contract has yet to be signed. According to sources close to the process, the contract is expected to be signed in the coming days, marking the official launch of construction.
Negotiations between the Spanish Ministry of Defense and Navantia for the construction of two new Buques de Acción Marítima (BAM) vessels are nearing completion. (Picture source: Spanish MoD)
Negotiations between the Spanish Ministry of Defense and Navantia for the construction of two new Buques de Acción Marítima (BAM) vessels are nearing completion. With a budget of 550 million euros, the program was approved by the Ministry of Finance in mid-2023, and the official contract is expected to be signed soon, initiating the construction process.
The news was confirmed by Socialist MP Mamen Sánchez, who highlighted that the construction of these new vessels will coincide with the fabrication of other Navantia projects in the province of Cadiz, such as the BAM-IS and coastal hydrographic vessels. This investment package, which exceeds 900 million euros, will strengthen employment in the region, creating high-value-added jobs in the local shipbuilding industry.
Since the government's approval, the Ministry of Defense has focused its efforts on defining and specifying the new BAMs. While technical details have not yet been fully disclosed, it is known that these vessels will be equipped with anti-submarine capabilities, a key feature to enhance the Spanish Navy's capabilities in this strategic area.
The new vessels will join the six BAMs already in service, bringing the fleet total to eight units. This fleet reinforcement is considered essential for the modernization and expansion of the Spanish Navy's operational capabilities, particularly for maritime surveillance missions and the protection of strategic infrastructure.
At the same time, Navantia is constructing the BAM-IS, a Buque de Acción Marítima designed for underwater interventions, with delivery scheduled for 2026. This project, with a budget of 211 million euros, adds to the ongoing work on two coastal hydrographic vessels, valued at 162 million euros, with delivery planned for 2028.
The Spanish government continues to consolidate its commitment to improving the country's naval capabilities, and the finalization of these agreements marks a crucial step in the evolution of the Spanish Navy's fleet, ensuring a significant presence in the field of maritime defense.