The Diplomat
The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, visited yesterday the Navantia shipyard in the city of Ferrol, A Coruña, to inquire about the evolution of the F-110 frigate program, which will place Spain “at the forefront of cutting-edge technology” and develop “one of the best frigates in the world”.
The F-110 program, which will be executed at the Galician shipyard, will provide the Navy with five multipurpose escort frigates designed for high intensity scenarios that will take over from the current Santa María class F-80s, “providing a response adapted to the changing environment of the 21st century and a fundamental boost for the national defense industry”, the Ministry informed in a press release.
“This was a commitment of the Government of Spain,” Robles stated. “The frigate is going to be one of the best in the world at the moment, which is positive for the Spanish Navy and the importance for us to have a modern and prepared Navy,” she continued. “With it, we are at the forefront of the most cutting-edge technology in R&D&I,” she added.
The F-110 program, whose execution order was signed in 2019, will have a direct investment of 4.325 billion euros and will entail a great socioeconomic impact for the region, generating 9,000 jobs, both direct and indirect, with the participation of more than 500 Spanish companies. It will also mean a technological leap that will place the Galician shipyard as a world reference.
“In such a difficult moment as the one we are living, to continue investing is to invest in peace, but for us it is also very important to boost the development of technology and above all the creation of jobs,” Robles declared. “The program will be an unequivocal and clear commitment to Spanish industry,” she stressed.
On her arrival at the shipyard, Robles was received by the president of Navantia, Ricardo Domínguez. She then attended a presentation on the project by the head of the F-110 Program, Captain José Antonio Toro, and the director of the Navantia-Ferrol shipyard, Eduardo Dobarro, explained the production situation and industrial impact. Robles was accompanied in the visit by the Government delegate in Galicia, José Manuel Miñones.
The F-110 program has so far passed the first two milestones scheduled for the construction of the first of the frigates. The sheet metal cutting of the F-111 took place on April 6 of this year, while the Critical Design Review was carried out last June, culminating the F-110 design process. The phased delivery of the frigates is scheduled for completion in 2032.
