The strategic plans of the Spanish Navy are based on the National Defence Directive (NDD) signed by the President of the Government in June 2020. A subsequent Defence Policy Directive was then approved by the Minister of Defence. These serve to guide the Concept of Employment of the Armed Forces (CEFAS-21).[1] The earlier 2003 Strategic Defence Review identified six capabilities as critical to the navy. These included: a "Projection Capability" and three subordinate capabilities (Protection, Freedom of Action and Operational Logistic Support). Additionally, the protection of national maritime interests at sea (sovereignty protection) and contributing to early warning were identified to round out the strategic planning framework. The core element has been the "Projection Capability" which was deemed to necessitate platforms that included: a command and control ship, amphibious shipping, an aircraft carrier, platforms with land-attack capabilities and a strategic projection ship.The protection and logistical support capabilities necessitate ships with surface-to-air,surface-to-surface and ASW capabilities while the logistic support capabilities require vessels capable of sustaining task forces on deployment.[2]
These strategic planning concepts have resulted in a series of procurement programs for the Spanish Navy.
Frigates
F-110 class (5 planned with multi-role capabilities to fulfill both power projection and protection tasks)
F-112 Roger de Lauria (es:Roger de Lauria (F-112)) (planned 2028)
F-113 Menéndez de Avilés (es:Menéndez de Avilés (F-113)) (planned 2029)
F-114 Luis de Córdova (es:Luis de Córdova (F-114)) (planned 2030)
F-115 Barceló (es:Barceló (F-115)) (planned 2031)
In January 2023, it was announced that Spain would procure the Naval Strike Missile for the ship to carry out anti-ship and land-attack missions.[4] Delivery is anticipated from 2027.[5]
Submarines
S-80 class (equipped with air independent propulsion for multiple tasks; 1 in service, 3 more planned)[6]
S-83 Cosme García [es] (under construction, planned 2028)
S-84 Mateo García de los Reyes [es] (under construction, planned 2029)[8]
Patrol craft
Two offshore patrol vessels (BAM III) were approved for acquisition in 2023 at a cost of 550 million Euros; they are planned for service entry in the mid to latter 2020s[9]
Based on the Meteoro class for sovereignty protection tasks,[10] a platform is envisaged that will be more survivable and combat capable. Toward that end, Spain is a partner in the European Patrol Corvette program which envisages a vessel for delivery starting in the early 2030s.[11]
Auxiliary ships
Search and Rescue ship
Poseidón (A-21) [es]Meteoro modified class (authorized for construction at a projected cost of 166 million Euros in 2021; she began construction in July 2023 and is planned for delivery in 2026)[12][13][14]
Oceanographic Research ship (2 planned)
Combat Support Ship (1 vessel planned to complement existing AORs Cantabria and Patiño)[15]
Naval Aviation
In October 2022, the General State Budget allocated EUR220 million (US$216 million) to start the process of replacing both the Air Force's F/A-18 Hornet and the Navy's AV-8B Harrier aircraft. A request for information has also been sent to the United States Government about both the F-35A and F-35B aircraft.[16] Total projected budget of 6.25 billion Euros as of 2022.[14]
In 2022, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) authorized the sale of eight MH-60R helicopters to Spain, to replace the SH-60B helicopters of the Tenth Aircraft Squadron.[17][18] In 2023 the Council of Ministers appropriated 820 million for its acquisition, including engines, missiles and rockets.[19] In the longer-term, the acquisition of the NH-90 helicopter is planned as the Navy's principal multi-purpose helicopter.[20]
In 2021, 18 H135 "Nival" helicopters were ordered by the Defence Ministry, of which 7 will be allocated to the Navy's newly formed 12th Squadron. The first aircraft was delivered in October 2023.[21]
In December 2023, the Spanish Ministry of Defence ordered 16 maritime surveillance variants of the C-295 aircraft for the Spanish Air Force and Navy to replace the formerly flown P-3 Orion aircraft. Six of the aircraft are to be equipped for anti-submarine and anti-surface vessel warfare while the remaining ten aircraft are to operate in a maritime surveillance configuration. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2027.[22]
^"The Spanish Armed Forces in 2035" (PDF). defensa.gob.es. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
^"Spanish Navy (Armada)". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
^Staff, Naval News (8 April 2022). "Navantia begins construction of the first F110 frigate for the Spanish Navy". Retrieved 8 September 2023.
^"Spanish Navy to Procure a new anti-ship and land attack missile system via NSPA". NATO. 23 January 2023.
^Panasovskyi, Maksim (2 June 2023). "La Armada española no recibirá sus primeros misiles antibuque NSM de quinta generación y 185 km de alcance hasta 2027". Gagadget.com.
^"Armada - Ministerio de Defensa - Gobierno de España". armada.defensa.gob.es. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
^de Santos, Angel Luis (23 July 2024). "Problemas para la Armada: la entrega del submarino S-82 se retrasa hasta 2026 y el S-83 y S-84 no llegarán hasta 2028 y 2029". La Razon (in Spanish).
^de Santos, Angel Luis (23 July 2024). "Problemas para la Armada: la entrega del submarino S-82 se retrasa hasta 2026 y el S-83 y S-84 no llegarán hasta 2028 y 2029". La Razon (in Spanish).
^Palacios, Alonso (28 June 2023). "La Armada española se refuerza con dos nuevos buques de acción marítima". El Debate.
^"Armada Española - Ministerio de Defensa - Gobierno de España".
^Peruzzi, Luca (19 October 2020). "The Spanish Navy vision for future OPVs based on the EPC design". EDR on-line.
^"Comienza la construcción del BAM-IS para Armada española en los astilleros de Navantia". defensa.com. 3 July 2023.
^Groizeleau, Vincent (2 February 2023). "L'Espagne va mettre en chantier son nouveau bâtiment d'intervention sous-marine". Mer et Marine.
^ a bPalacios, Alonso (6 January 2023). "El gran rearme de la Armada española: nuevas fragatas, submarinos, cazas y helicópteros". El Debate. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
^Trelles, Gastón (25 January 2024). "Así será el nuevo buque para la Armada que construirá Navantia". Infobae.
^"Spain launches Hornet and Harrier replacement efforts". Janes.com. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
^España tramita la compra de ocho helicópteros Romeo para la Armada por 865 millones La Razón (17-03-2022 )
^SPAIN – MH-60R MULTI-MISSION HELICOPTERS WITH SUPPORT DSCA (15 de marzo de 2022)
^España elige al final el helicóptero MH-60R para reemplazar los SH-60B de la Armada Infodefensa (19 de abril de 2023)
^"Los sistemas de armas a los que se destinará el presupuesto de Defensa español 2023". Defensa.com. 4 February 2023.
^Maíz, Julio (27 October 2023). "La Armada española recibe su primer helicóptero H135 P3H "Nival", preparado para operar en buques". Defensa.com.
^Ruitenberg, Rudy (21 December 2023). "Spain orders Airbus maritime patrol, surveillance aircraft for $2B". Defense News.
