Spain is preparing to upgrade its submarine fleet. Yesterday, April 23, the press service of the company Navantia reported that the shipyard in Cartagena held a solemn ceremony of launching the first submarine of the project S-80.
The significance of this event for Spain is emphasized by the fact that the entire royal family was present at the ceremony. On the submarine S-81 Isaac Peral, a bottle of champagne was traditionally broken, after which the submarine was transferred to a flooded dock.
Ceremony of launching the submarine S-81 Isaac Peral
The S-80 project is a "long-term construction" - it was launched in 1991, and the contract for the construction of four submarines with the Izar association (now Navantia) was signed in 2004. Due to a number of problems, the project required changes and additional cash injections, which led to a significant delay in the construction of submarines. Isaac Peral was planned to be transferred to the fleet in 2011, and the project cost of building four submarines increased from €1.8 billion to €4 billion.
The submarines of the S-80 project are equipped with air-independent power plants, which will allow them to "stay under water for weeks". The submarines have a displacement of 3,000 tons, a length of 80.8 m, and a diameter of 7.3 m.The Isaac Peral will be tested in 2022, and will be handed over to the fleet a year later. The last of the planned submarines is planned to be transferred to the Spanish Navy by 2028. The first two submarines will be built using the classic diesel-electric power plant, but will receive air-independent during subsequent maintenance, while the third and fourth will be immediately launched with a new generation engine.
