F110-class frigate

The F110 class also known as the Bonifaz class are a multi-purpose, anti-submarine class of Aegis combat system-fitted heavy frigates under development for the Spanish Navy. The project is being co-developed by the Spanish Ministry of Defence and the state owned company Navantia. The construction of the frigates is to begin by 2020 and are scheduled to be delivered between 2023 and 2027.[5]

F110 class reproduction
Class overview
Name: F110 class
Builders: NAVANTIA
Operators:  Spanish Navy
Preceded by: Álvaro de Bazán class
Cost:
  • € 4.3 billion (US$4.91 billion) for five units[1]
  • € 860 million (US$982 million) per unit
Planned: 5
General characteristics
Type:
Displacement: 6,100 tonnes[2]
Length: 145 m (475 ft 9 in)[2]
Beam: 18 m (59 ft 1 in)[2]
Draft: 5 m (16 ft 5 in)[2]
Speed: >25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Complement: 150
Sensors and
processing systems:		 AN/SPY-7(V)1 Derivative Radar[3]
Armament:
Aircraft carried: 1 × SH-60 Seahawk or NH-90

Project history

The origins of the F110 class project are in the planned replacement for the Spanish Navy's Santa María-class frigates, as contemplated in the ALTAMAR Plan (Spanish naval white book to modernize the Spanish Navy), with five frigates originally to be built as an enlarged version of the Álvaro de Bazán-class frigates. This concept was latter discarded in favor of a mostly clean sheet design.

On 23 December 2011, the Spanish Ministry of Defence awarded a € 2 million contract to Indra and Navantia for the design of an integrated sensor mast [6] and in 2015, both companies agreed to develop and integrate the mast and future sensor suite in the ships SCOMBA (Local Aegis version) combat system .[7] Both companies created a consortium called Protec 110 for this project with finance from the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism (now Ministry of Energy, Tourism and Digital Agenda and Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness).

On 27 June 2017, the Spanish fleet admiral said that his Navy hopes the project will be approved by the end of 2017 or by 2018 at the latest.[8] In September 2018, the Spanish Ministry of Defence announced the selection of the Raytheon RIM-162 ESSM Block 2 as the ships' primary anti-air self-defence weapon.[9]

The go ahead order for the project was approved by the Spanish Council of Ministers on 29 March 2019.[10]

According to statements by Frigate Captain Carlos Martínez-Merello, Head of the Resources and Media Definition Section of the General Staff of the Navy in 2010, during the Conference on Naval Programs in progress and future programs, that the new frigate must be adapted to the current scenarios in response to conventional and asymmetric threats such as patrol of a coastline or operations against pirates that do not require a large vessel.

According to the Spanish Navy, the new frigates must have an operational life of 40 years, have accommodation for extra personnel, as well as being capable of operating with unmanned vehicles, aerial, surface and sub-surface. Regarding the desired characteristics, the Navy requests a sustained speed of more than 25 knots. The F110 will have a multi-purpose area for flexible mission profiles, 240 days of operation at sea and 18 months of high availability.[11][12][13]

Navantia is working on the project called by the company as F2M2 and is already in operation a working group that together with members of the Spanish Navy will structure the ship's capabilities.[14]

The first design of the five presented was of trimaran type, but this was rejected due to the noise of its propulsion system,[15] a great disadvantage since it is looking to develop an anti-submarine. The vessel will be seven centimetres (2.8 in) shorter than the F100 and will have a narrower beam of 18 m, 59 ft against 18.6 m, 61 ft of the F100. It can perform humanitarian and combat operations. The superstructure of the vessel will be integrated and is not yet defined if it will carry an AEGIS system with an AN/SPY-1 radar of versions D (V), carried by the Spanish frigate Cristóbal Colón or F(V) model carried by the Norwegian frigates of the Fridtjof Nansen class or of another type, although the company intends to install any type of product that future customers require. What is certain is that the SCOMBA system will be installed.[16]

To make it more difficult to locate by radar or thermal imaging will have some stealth capacity since in the superstructure masts or blocks of sensors will not be installed, will have a single gas escape zone that will be installed in the upper deck and the air intakes will be placed in line with the superstructure. The loading area shall be designed below the flight area with the installation of a downhill ramp on the starboard side and the possibility of using an output device similar to that used by the Danish logistical support vessels of the Absalon class.

The ship's hull will be of steel but the material of the superstructure is not yet defined although it is likely to be a composite material instead of aluminum.

Units

There are five units of the class planned.[2]

Pennant number Name Laid down Launched Commissioned Fate
F111Bonifaz[17] 202020212023Planned
F112Roger de Lauria[17] 202120222024Planned
F113Menéndez de Avilés[17] 202220232025Planned
F114Luis de Córdova[17] 202320242026Planned
F115Barceló[17] 202420252027Planned

See also

References
  1. "Spain's state-held Navantia to build five frigates for navy for 4.3..." Reuters. 2018-12-13. Retrieved 2018-12-14.
  2. F110 frigates program - Ministry of Defence
  3. https://news.lockheedmartin.com/2019-11-14-U-S-Government-Designates-Lockheed-Martins-Latest-Generation-Radar-AN-SPY-7-V-1
  4. https://www.infodefensa.com/es/2019/12/13/noticia-fragatas-llevaran-canon-12764-vulcano-leonardo.html
  5. "Spain to start the building of its new F-110 frigates this year". www.navyrecognition.com. Retrieved 2019-05-07.
  6. Defensa adjudica a Indra y Navantia el desarrollo de un nuevo mástil para las F-110
  7. Indra y Navantia se encargarán de la integración de sensores en el mástil y el SCOMBA de las F-110 por 135 millones
  8. El nuevo almirante jefe del Arsenal espera el inicio de las F-110 para el próximo año
  9. Ing, David (24 September 2018). "Spain opts for ESSM Block 2 for future F-110 frigates". IHS Jane's 360. Madrid. Archived from the original on 24 September 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  10. Infodefensa.com, Revista Defensa (2019-03-29). "El Gobierno aprueba la orden de ejecución de las fragatas F-110 - Noticias Infodefensa España". Infodefensa.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2019-05-07.
  11. La Armada establece como determinante la capacidad de guerra antiaérea en el futuro buque de superficie F-110
  12. Navantia trabaja ya con la Armada en una nueva generación de fragatas
  13. Las fragatas F-110 serán más rápidas y portarán vehículos no tripulados
  14. Euronaval news 2010 - F2M2 The concept ship of Navantia
  15. La armada presenta sus conceptos sobre la futura fragata F-110
  16. SCOMBA system
  17. La propuesta de la Armada para nombrar a las fragatas F-110: Bonifaz, Roger de Lauria, Menéndez de Avilés..., ABC (16/12/2019)
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