Navantia accelerates F-110 frigate program, planning F-112 launch in October

Spain's shipbuilding program is moving faster than anyone expected. At Navantia's sprawling Ferrol yard, workers are assembling the F-112 'Roger de Lauria'—the second in a new class of frigates meant to anchor the Spanish Navy's future—and they're running several months ahead of schedule. The original plan called for launching this ship in early 2027. Now, according to defense officials, that launch will happen in October of this year.

The acceleration is real and measurable. Twenty-six of the thirty-two hull blocks that make up the F-112 are already in place on Slip 3, with only block thirty-three remaining to be installed after the ship hits the water. The construction is, by all accounts, moving at a pace that surprised even those managing it. This isn't a matter of cutting corners or rushing work—it's the result of a well-coordinated operation that has simply found its rhythm.

The first ship in the series, the F-111 'Bonifaz', was launched in September 2025 and is now moored at Pier 10, where technicians are installing the systems needed before sea trials begin. Diesel generators have already been started to test the electrical systems. If all goes according to plan, the Navy will take delivery of this first frigate in 2028. After that, the program aims to deliver one ship per year—a cadence that would see the entire five-ship class in service over the next several years, assuming no major delays.

The third frigate, the F-113 'Menéndez de Avilés', is in the fabrication phase across various workshops, with twenty-seven blocks in different stages of production. The keel-laying is scheduled for before summer. The F-114 'Luis de Córdova' will begin production within weeks, leaving only the F-115 'Barceló' waiting to start. This staggered approach keeps the yard busy and the supply chain flowing.

But there's a wrinkle in the plan that could reshape the final two ships. The Navy, emboldened by increased defense spending in recent years, is evaluating whether to give the F-114 and F-115 significantly enhanced anti-air capabilities. The first three frigates will carry sixteen vertical launching system cells—the tubes from which missiles are fired. The Navy is considering tripling that capacity to forty-eight cells on the last two ships, a substantial upgrade that would require design changes and additional investment. If approved, it would make those final frigates considerably more powerful than their predecessors.

Meanwhile, the Spanish Navy is managing a broader modernization effort. The five F-100 class frigates—the 'Álvaro de Bazán' class that have proven themselves reliable workhorses—are undergoing a mid-life upgrade. The budget for this modernization has grown from an initial estimate of two billion euros to three point two billion euros, spread across the five ships. The goal is to bring their capabilities closer to the new F-110 class. What was originally planned as a straightforward update has evolved into a more comprehensive overhaul, including deeper standardization of systems and components.

The Navy is also studying whether to extend the service life of the F-80 'Santa María' class frigates. These ships are old—the lead ship was launched forty-two years ago—but still capable. The evaluation is in its early stages, with no decisions yet made about which ships would be upgraded or what systems would be replaced. The underlying strategy is clear: overlap the retirement of the F-80s with the arrival of the F-110s, ensuring the Navy maintains continuous frigate strength.

Navy officials acknowledge that bringing a new class of warship into service always brings complications. They point to their experience with the S-81 'Isaac Peral' submarine, the first of its class, which faced certification challenges. They're determined not to repeat that experience with the F-110. The acceleration in construction is welcome, but the real test comes when these ships begin their operational lives.