Navantia lays keel for third F110 frigate Menéndez de Avilés seven months early

Published Jul 21, 01:27 PM UTC

Navantia's Ferrol shipyard has formally laid the keel for the Menéndez de Avilés (F113), the third frigate in Spain's F110 program, seven months ahead of the contractual schedule. The ceremony was attended by senior Spanish defense officials and Navantia leadership. The F110 program, approved in 2019, includes five multi-mission frigates valued at €4.33 billion ($4.94 billion). Four frigates are currently under construction. The lead ship, Bonifaz (F111), is pier-side undergoing system installation and SPY-7 radar integration, with delivery planned for 2028. Roger de Lauria (F112) recently achieved a structural milestone and is set for post-summer launch. Luis de Córdoba (F114) construction is synchronized with the commissioning of Navantia's new digital module factory. The F110 class is designed for multi-domain operations against hybrid threats and incorporates digital twin technology for remote monitoring and maintenance using cloud computing, machine learning, and IoT.