Spanish Navy Orders Naval Strike Missiles worth €305M for F-110 Frigates

Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KONGSBERG) has been awarded a contract worth €305 million by the Spanish Navy for the supply of Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) for its F-110 fleet.

The F-110 class frigate, currently under construction by Navantia, will be the first ship class to receive the NSM. The missiles are slated to be integrated into the F-100 frigates during their Mid-Life Update and will also find application on forthcoming naval vessels.

The acquisition of the NSM by the Spanish Navy is facilitated through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), marking the agency's first involvement in a missile contract for KONGSBERG Defence & Aerospace.

Simultaneously, KONGSBERG is set to formalize a cooperation agreement with the Directorate General for Armament and Material (DiGAM). This agreement serves as the foundation for an industrial plan aimed at maximizing Spanish industry participation. The plan includes exploring opportunities for Spanish involvement in the global missile supply chain and proposing the establishment of a full life cycle maintenance capacity for NSM at the Rota Naval Base. This initiative aligns with efforts to enhance local industry coordination.

F110 frigates are being constructed as a replacement for the Spanish Navy’s Santa Maria-class frigates. A €4.3 billion deal for these warships, set to replace the Navy’s Santa Maria-class frigates, was signed in April 2019. The vessels will feature anti-submarine capabilities and will undertake fleet protection, maritime security in joint and combined missions.

The construction of the first pilot blocks of the F-111, the first of its class, began in 2021.

The Bonifaz-class frigates, recognized for their advanced capabilities, will incorporate key features, including a sonar suite by Thales featuring the BlueMaster UMS 4110 and CAPTAS 4 Compact sonars, the TUUM-6 underwater communication system, and the BlueScan digital acoustic system. The SCOMBA combat system by Navantia, Lockheed Martin’s SPY-7 radar in the S-band variant, and Leonardo's 127mm 127/64 LW main gun are integral components. Additionally, the frigates will be equipped with Raytheon’s Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2 missile, Rohde & Schwarz external communications systems, GMV’s SENDA navigation system, and propeller systems by Kongsberg Maritime.