At the Cartagena shipyard facilities, the Spanish Navy and Navantia marked a new milestone in national naval and industrial development with the launch ceremony of the S-82 “Narciso Monturiol,” the second unit of the S-80 Plus new attack submarine construction program.
The ceremony, held at the shipbuilder’s facilities, was led by the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, marking another achievement for the Spanish naval industry, which recently launched the F-111 “Bonifaz,” the first of five frigates in the new F-110 series.
The upcoming launch of the S-82 “Narciso Monturiol,” joining the S-81 “Isaac Peral,” reflects the progress made by Navantia and the Spanish naval industry, which brings together thousands of highly skilled workers and an industrial network composed of hundreds of local companies and international partners.
At the same time, in terms of renewing the Spanish Navy’s submarine capabilities, this milestone underscores the ongoing efforts by the Navy and the Ministry of Defense to modernize their fleet, considering that the new units of the S-80 Plus series are intended to replace the S-70 Galerna submarines, of which only one remains in service, entering its final operational years.
It should be noted that, in addition to the S-81 and S-82, Navantia’s shipyards are also progressing with the construction of the remaining units of the program, namely: the S-83 “Cosme García,” which has already completed the integration of the innovative third-generation bioethanol-based AIP system, and the S-84 “Mateo García de los Reyes,” currently in the assembly phase of its combat and propulsion systems.
Finally, regarding the “Narciso Monturiol” specifically, the S-82 will follow the same path as the S-81 “Isaac Peral,” undergoing dockside testing and, shortly thereafter, sea trials to evaluate and test all systems integrated into its pressure hull. While no specific dates have been mentioned, it is expected that the unit, barring any changes in this new stage of construction, will be delivered to the Spanish Navy during 2026.
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