The
Álvaro de Bazán class (also known as the
F100 class of
frigates) are a new class of
Aegis combat system-equipped air defense frigates entering service with the
Spanish Navy. They are being built in the Spanish factory of
Ferrol and are named after Admiral
Álvaro de Bazán.
The ships utilize American Aegis weapons technology allowing them to track hundreds of airborne targets simultaneously as part of its air defense network. The F100 Alvaro de Bazan class multirole frigate is one of the few non-US warships to carry the SPY-1D AEGIS system (Japan's Kongo class also uses SPY-1).
The
Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen class of frigates is a derivative design. The F100 will also 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 with the first due for delivery in 2014.
Lockheed Martin,
Navantia and the
U.S. Navy are conducting final systems integration.
The Alvaro de Bazan 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, reducing the noise and making them less detectable by submarines.
Recently the Spanish Navy signed a 72 million USD contract to buy and install 24 Tomahawk missiles in the F100 fleet. During the first 5 years of service, this technology cannot be used by the Spanish Navy without the permission of US authorities.
Units
Pictures
See also
- Ferrol, city and naval station in north-western Spain.
