Navantia launches first F-110 frigate

The first of the Spanish Navy's F-110-class frigates, Bonifaz , is launched from Galicia on 11 September 2025. (Navantia)

Spanish shipbuilding and naval systems group Navantia has launched the first of the Spanish Navy's five new F-110-class frigates.

Bonifaz (F-111) was dynamically launched at the company's Ferrol shipyard in Galicia in the early evening of 11 September. The vessel, which is over 70% complete, will continue fitting out alongside ahead of delivery in 2028.

Procured to replace the ageing F-80 Santa María-class frigates, the F-110 design is intended to provide the Spanish Navy with a multimission surface combatant marrying a primary anti-submarine warfare (ASW) mission with additional anti-air warfare (AAW) capability. Navantia was awarded a five-ship manufacture contract in April 2019.

Navantia Sistemas is taking the role of combat system design agent for the F-110 programme and providing the indigenous Sistema de Combate de los Buques de la Armada (SCOMBA) combat management system (CMS). SCOMBA will integrate with Lockheed Martin's AN/SPY-7(V)2 radar and its International Aegis Fire Control Loop (IAFCL), being supplied under a US government Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract.

Just prior to the launch of Bonifaz