Spanish shipbuilder Navantia has launched the F-111 Bonifaz, the first of the F-110-class frigates, marking a major milestone in the modernization of Spain’s naval fleet. The vessel, named after Admiral Ramón Bonifaz, the first Admiral of Castile, entered the water a month ahead of schedule with more than 70 percent of its construction completed. Built at Navantia’s Ferrol shipyard, the ship has been under construction since April 2022 and is slated for delivery in 2028.
The Spanish Navy is set to receive a total of five Bonifaz-class frigates to replace its aging Santa María-class fleet, which has been in service since the 1980s. Spain approved €4.3 billion ($5.09 billion) in 2019 to fund the program, aimed at enhancing the country’s maritime defense and global operational reach. Three of the five vessels are already under construction, with deliveries planned for 2028, 2029, and 2030, while the full fleet is expected to be handed over by 2032.
Designed as a versatile multi-role warship, the F-110 is capable of conducting anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine missions. The 145-meter-long vessel has a beam of 18 meters and can embark up to 150 troops alongside a helicopter such as the SH-60 Seahawk. Its weapons suite includes torpedoes, surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missiles, guided munitions, naval guns, and machine guns.
Propelled by a gas turbine and four diesel engines linked to controllable-pitch propellers, the Bonifaz can reach speeds exceeding 25 knots (46 kilometers/29 miles per hour). With advanced design and capabilities, the F-110-class frigates will significantly enhance Spain’s maritime security and strengthen the Navy’s role in joint and international operations.
