Navantia launches second F-110 frigate as Spanish Navy plans two more

Navantia has launched the second F-110 frigate, the F-112 'Roger de Lauria', four months ahead of schedule, as part of the Spanish Navy's ambitious fleet modernization. The €4.896 billion program for five frigates is now reportedly being considered for expansion with two additional Flight II vessels specialized in anti-air warfare.

What happened

The F-112 'Roger de Lauria' was floated at Navantia's Ferrol shipyard on Tuesday, just over a year after the first unit, the F-111 'Bonifaz', was launched. The first frigate is scheduled for delivery in 2028, with the Navy expecting to receive one frigate per year thereafter Source: El Español. The third unit, F-113 'Menéndez de Avilés', already has two blocks assembled on the slipway, and the fourth, F-114 'Luis de Córdova', is in early cutting stages at the new Digital Block Factory Source: El Español.

The reaction

Spanish military sources have told ABC that the Navy plans to acquire two additional F-110 frigates of the Flight II model, specialized in air defense and high-intensity naval warfare Source: ABC. This variant, presented by Navantia in August at a Nordic defense industry fair, features enhanced anti-air and anti-missile capabilities with more vertical launch cells and greater speed Source: ABC. The expansion would add to the existing €4.9 billion program, which sustains around 9,000 jobs over a decade Source: El Español.

What's next

The F-110 program is part of the broader 'Armada 2050' plan, described by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral General Antonio Piñeiro as "the largest naval transformation in the country in 30 years" Source: ABC. The plan aims to adapt the fleet to multi-domain environments, artificial intelligence, and unmanned vessels, with a clear focus on combat readiness Source: ABC.