Washington has cleared a $1.7 billion foreign military sales package to Spain aimed at supporting the mid-life upgrade of the Spanish Navy’s F100-class frigates.
The modernization program applies to five vessels that have been in service since the early 2000s and is designed to extend their operational lifespan well into the 2040s.
The approved sale includes five Aegis combat systems, six digital signal processors, five Mk 41 Baseline VIII vertical launch systems, and five advanced surface-search radars. The package also covers a wide range of supporting equipment and services required to maintain the ships’ role within Spain’s integrated air defense architecture, including satellite communications, naval gun and torpedo components, munitions, software updates, maintenance support, training, and logistics.
Implementation of the program will be led by US industry partners Lockheed Martin, Ultra Maritime Naval Systems and Sensors, and General Dynamics, in coordination with the US government.
The agreement provides for the temporary presence of US government and contractor personnel in Spain to support technical oversight, program assessments, and workforce competency development.
Earlier statements indicate that the upgrade is expected to keep the F100 frigates in service until around 2045.
The F100, or Álvaro de Bazán-class, frigate is 147 meters long with a 19-meter beam and is equipped with .54-caliber naval guns, close-in weapon systems, heavy machine guns, autocannons, surface-to-air and anti-ship missiles, and anti-submarine torpedoes.
The ships can operate a helicopter comparable in size to the SH-60 Seahawk and support a crew of roughly 200 sailors. Powered by twin gas turbines and twin diesel engines driving two propellers, the vessels can reach speeds of up to 28 knots and have an operational range of 4,500 nautical miles.
