Navantia, Lockheed Martin Extend Surface Ships and Naval Combat System Tech Cooperation

Spain's state-owned shipbuilding company Navantia and US aerospace firm Lockheed Martin have signed a renewed Memorandum of Agreement to jointly explore mutually beneficial new business opportunities in the areas of surface ships and naval combat systems.

The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding to recognize their history working alongside each other and to seal the renewed agreement, Maryland-based Lockheed Martin announced in a company news release.

On Thursday, both the firms celebrated 20th anniversary of a successful agreement to supply the Spanish Navy with the Aegis Combat System for the F-100 frigate.

Between 2000 and 2010, Lockheed Martin and Navantia delivered four F-100 frigates to the Spanish Navy, and in 2013 a fifth and final was commissioned. In 2000, the Royal Norwegian Navy selected Navantia to develop and build five Fridtjof Nansen-class frigates, the last one of which launched in 2009. After the Norwegian frigates, the Australian Hobart class was designed, based on the F-100 with an updated Aegis Combat System configuration, the first of which was delivered to the Royal Australian Navy in September.

"With the success of the F-100, Fridtjof Nansen, and Hobart programs in our sails and F-110 just in front of us, we are excited to see what the next 20 years of this great partnership between two world-class companies can offer," Navantia Vice President, Sofia Honrubia said.