The United States government has authorized the potential sale of a modernization package for the F-100 “Álvaro de Bazán”-class frigates in service with the Spanish Navy. This was notified by the State Department to the U.S. Congress, in order to approve a transaction under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, valued at US$1.7 billion.
Alongside the construction of the new Bonifaz-class F-110 frigates, currently underway by Navantia, the modernization of the existing F-100 class is one of the main programs being pursued by the Spanish Navy and the Ministry of Defense.
As indicated by the Council of Ministers last November, these efforts — for which an investment of €3.2 billion is planned — aim to ensure the ships’ operational life through 2045, while also “…eliminating identified obsolescence, introducing commonality across upgraded systems, improving efficiency and operational performance, and adapting them to environmental regulations.”
At the same time, the work covering the five in-service units — which are the Spanish Navy’s primary surface combat platforms — will bring them to a standard similar to that of the new F-110s. This includes the incorporation of new capabilities, such as the integration of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace’s (KDA) Naval Strike Missile (NSM), as well as the modernization of key components of the SPY radar and the AEGIS combat management system.
These developments are reflected in a recent release issued by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on January 29, through which the Government of Spain requested the purchase of various components from the United States for the mid-life modernization of the frigates.
With Lockheed Martin as the prime contractor — alongside companies such as RTX Corporation, General Dynamics, and Ultra Maritime Naval Systems and Sensors — the package, valued at the aforementioned US$1.7 billion, provides an overview of some of the main systems and equipment to be installed aboard the ships, including:
• AEGIS combat system (5 sets)
• Digital signal processors (6 sets)
• MK 41 Vertical Launch System Baseline VIII (5 sets)
• Next-generation surface search radar (5 sets)
• UHF satellite communications
• Military GPS receivers with M-code
• AN/SRQ-4 Ku-band hardware
• Upgrade of the NIXIE SLQ-25A towed anti-torpedo decoy system to SLQ-25E
• MK 331 torpedo control panels
• Upgrade of MK 32 torpedo launch tubes
• Support for the MK 45 Mod 2/2B naval gun
• Systems integration and test support
• Classified software and technical assistance
• Crew training
• Logistics support, spare parts, and maintenance
The State Department stated: “The proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO ally that is an important force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.”
It added: “The proposed sale will improve Spain’s ability to meet current and future threats by providing increased flexibility and capabilities to counter regional threats and continue to strengthen stability in the region. The purchaser will use the articles and services to modernize five AEGIS-equipped frigates within its fleet, enhancing its ability to conduct defense missions and to interoperate with the United States and NATO allies in ballistic missile defense tasks in the theater of operations. Spain will have no difficulty integrating this equipment and support into its Armed Forces.”
Photos: Spanish Navy.
You may also be interested in: The ASPA Patrol is already in Uruguay and will soon begin its displays in honor of the Plus Ultra centenary
