Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate

Almirante Juan de Borbón
Class overview
Name: Álvaro de Bazán class
Builders: NAVANTIA-IZAR, Astillero Ferrol
Operators:  Spanish Navy
Preceded by: Santa María class
Subclasses:
Cost:

F101/4 €453m[1] (~US$600m) each

F105 €834m[1] (~US$1.1bn)
In commission: 5
Active: 5
General characteristics
Type: Guided missile frigate
Displacement: 5,800-6,391 tonnes[2]
Length: 146.7 m (481 ft)[3]
Beam: 18.6 m (61 ft)
Draft: 4.75 m (15.6 ft)
Propulsion:
Speed: 28.5 knots (52.8 km/h; 32.8 mph)[3]
Range: 4,500 nmi (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)[3]
Complement: 250 (48 officers)[3]
Sensors and
processing systems:
Electronic warfare
& decoys:
  • 4 × FMC SRBOC Mk36 flare launchers
  • SLQ-25A Enhanced Nixie torpedo countermeasures
  • Indra SLQ-380 EW suite
  • Indra Mk 9500 interceptor
Armament:
Aircraft carried: 1 × Sikorsky SH-60B LAMPS III Seahawk

The Álvaro de Bazán class (also known as the F100 class of frigates) are a new class of Aegis combat system-equipped air defence frigates entering service with the Spanish Navy. They are being built in the Spanish factory of Navantia in Ferrol and are named after Admiral Álvaro de Bazán.

The ships are fitted with American Aegis weapons technology allowing them to track hundreds of airborne targets simultaneously as part of its air defence network. The F100 Álvaro de Bazán-class multi-role frigate is one of the few non-US warships to carry the Aegis Combat System and its associated AN/SPY-1 radar. Japan's Kongō class, South Korea's Sejong the Great class, the F100-derived Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen class of frigates also use the Aegis system. Lockheed Martin, Navantia and the U.S. Navy are conducting final systems integration.

The F105 will be the basis of the Australian Hobart-class destroyer (previously known as the "Air Warfare Destroyer"). The Australian government announced in June 2007 that, in partnership with Navantia, three F100 vessels will be built for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) with the first due for delivery in 2014.

The Australian Government also confirmed in April 2016 that a modified F100 class was one of three vessels shortlisted to replace the Anzac-class frigates currently in service with the RAN.[4]

The Álvaro de Bazán-class frigates are the first modern vessels of the Spanish Navy to incorporate ballistic resistant steel in the hull, along with the power plants being mounted on anti-vibration mounts to reduce noise and make them less detectable by submarines. The original contract for four ships was worth €1,683m but they ended up costing €1,810m.[1] As of 2010 it was estimated that the final vessel, F-105 would cost €834m[1] (~US$1.1bn).

Units

Méndez Núñez moored at South Quay in London in April 2015

6 ships were originally planned, including Roger de Lauria (F105) and Juan de Austria (F106). These were cancelled but a fifth ship was later added as the F105 Cristóbal Colón.

Pennant number Name Laid down Launched Commissioned Fate
F101 Álvaro de Bazán 2002 In service
F102 Almirante Juan de Borbón October 2001 28 February 2002 3 December 2003 In service
F103 Blas de Lezo 2004 In service
F104 Méndez Núñez 2006 In service
F105 Roger de Lauria Cancelled
F105 Cristóbal Colón 2012 In service
F106 Juan de Austria Cancelled

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Ministerio de Defensa (September 2011). "Evaluación de los Programas Especiales de Armamento (PEAs)" (PDF) (in Spanish). Madrid: Grupo Atenea. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  2. ↑ F-105
  3. 1 2 3 4 F-100
  4. ↑ Anderson, Stephanie (18 April 2016). "Malcolm Turnbull says 12 offshore patrol vessels to be built in Adelaide". ABC News. ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 18 April 2016.
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