Spanish Navy improves anti-submarine warfare operations with first F110-class frigate Bonifaz.

On September 11, 2025, Navantia launched the F111 Bonifaz, the first of the new F110 class frigates for the Spanish Navy, at its Ferrol shipyard. The vessel entered the water one month earlier than planned, with more than 70 percent of its construction complete, and is now scheduled for outfitting and sea trials before delivery in 2028.
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The F110-class is well armed, with a main gun capable of firing extended range and guided ammunition, a 16-cell Mk 41 vertical launch system, two four-cell Naval Strike Missile launchers, and twin 324 mm launchers for Mk 54 torpedoes. (Picture source: Navantia)

The launch was marked by a traditional ceremony in which Queen Sofía acted as sponsor, breaking a bottle of Albariño wine against the hull, while the Northern Tercio Music Unit played the national anthem and Navy chaplain Vicente Hernández Chumillas gave the blessing. Approximately 5,000 people attended, including Navantia employees, their families, personnel from partner companies, and Defence Minister Margarita Robles signed the formal acceptance of the launch prior to the event.

The F110 programme was formally approved in 2019 with a contract value of 4.325 billion euros for five frigates intended to replace the Santa María class. Steel cutting for the F111 occurred on 6 April 2022, its keel was laid on 9 August 2023, and by late 2023, 24 of the 33 blocks were already in production. On 25 April 2025, Navantia held a double ceremony to start the construction of the F113 Menéndez de Avilés and lay the keel of the F112 Roger de Lauria, both milestones achieved ahead of schedule. Production now involves three frigates under construction in Ferrol, with four blocks of the F112 assembled on the slipway and nine blocks of the F113 progressing in the workshops. Deliveries will take place at a pace of one ship per year, beginning in 2028 with the F111 and continuing until 2032 with the F115 Barceló.

The F111 Bonifaz measures 145 metres in length, 18 metres in beam, and 5 metres in draft, with a standard displacement of about 6,100 tonnes. The frigate is designed as a multipurpose escort capable of anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine operations, and can support maritime security tasks and cooperation with civil authorities. Propulsion uses a CODLAG configuration combining a General Electric LM2500 gas turbine, four MTU 4000 diesel engines, and two electric motors powered by four 3 MW generators. This arrangement allows speeds of more than 26 knots and an operational range of around 4,100 nautical miles at 15 knots. Shock qualification for the propulsion system has been carried out on barge test platforms in Scotland, including trials of the diesel generator, main switchboard, fuel purifier module, electric motor, and frequency converter, confirming survivability standards.

The F110 class is equipped with Navantia’s SCOMBA combat system, which integrates with Lockheed Martin’s International Aegis Fire Control Loop and the AN/SPY-7(V)2 radar housed within the integrated mast structure. During integration testing at the AEGIS SCOMBA Integration Center in Moorestown, radar tracks were displayed on SCOMBA consoles and engagements were simulated, validating anti-air warfare functions. Additional testing will occur at Navantia Sistemas’ land-based site in San Fernando and at a coastal integration facility in Rota before final shipboard installation. The ships will also carry advanced sonar systems from Thales and SAES, including the UMS 4110 hull-mounted sonar and the CAPTAS-4 towed array sonar, along with the TUUM-6 underwater communications system. Complementary systems include Indra’s Rigel and Regulus for ESM/ECM, IRST i110, laser warning systems from Saab, and secure data links such as Link-11 and Link-22 developed by Tecnobit.

Armament consists of a 127 mm Leonardo OTO Melara 127/64 LW Vulcano gun, a 16-cell Mk 41 vertical launch system with capacity for SM-2 Block IIIA and RIM-162 ESSM missiles, two quadruple launchers for Naval Strike Missiles ordered in December 2023, and twin 324 mm launchers for Mk 54 torpedoes. Close-in defense includes remote weapon stations of 30 mm and 12.7 mm calibers, and a Sentinel RFG 25 CIWS. The design reserves provisions for future installation of directed-energy weapons. Aviation capacity includes a flight deck and hangar able to support two NH90 NFH or SH-60 helicopters, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles, while a multimission garage provides stowage for unmanned underwater vehicles and RHIBs. Crew size is set at about 150, with additional accommodation for embarked personnel such as special forces.

The programme is expected to generate around 9,000 jobs across Spain over a ten-year period, involving 500 companies in the supply chain. Engines and other major systems are being produced at Navantia facilities in Bahía de Cádiz and Cartagena, while electronic and sensor suites involve collaboration with multiple domestic suppliers and universities. Navantia has implemented an acceleration plan supported by pilot-block production trials, a robotic welding cell, and the development of a fully digital block factory to come online in 2026. These measures are designed to reduce construction time, improve production quality, and provide more reliable assembly processes. The programme also includes the introduction of the digital twin, a virtual replica of the ship that receives continuous input from thousands of sensors and allows predictive maintenance and lifecycle management from land-based centers.

The F110 series is designed to replace the six Santa María class frigates that have been in service for more than three decades. Five hulls are confirmed, each named after historical Spanish admirals: Bonifaz, Roger de Lauria, Menéndez de Avilés, Luis de Córdova, and Barceló, with discussions reported on the possibility of two additional units with enhanced capabilities. The ships are intended to provide anti-submarine emphasis compared to the F-100 Álvaro de Bazán class, while maintaining flexibility for high-intensity escort missions and lower-intensity tasks such as maritime patrol and counter-piracy. With deliveries set between 2028 and 2032, the Spanish Navy plans to maintain one new frigate entering service each year, ensuring fleet continuity. The integration of digital systems, modular mission spaces, and provisions for unmanned systems reflects the intent to align the class with long-term operational requirements and with the Armada 2050 strategic vision.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.