Navantia is exhibiting its S-80 submarine, the ‘most advanced conventional submarine in the world’. After the closure of the resistant hull of the S-81 “Isaac Peral” under construction for the Spanish Navy, that took place last December at Navantia’s Cartagena facilities, the submarine is in a high level of completion. The next round of work will focus on activities leading to commissioning of the unit, following a formal and regulated process, based on overcoming safety milestones. This process begins with the tensioning, when the submarine begins to receive electric current; then the batteries start up, to gain autonomy in power generation, and finally the floating (scheduled for October 2020) and the sea trials.
The S-80’s main features are: Length: 80.81m, Width: 11.68m, Draft: 13.69m, Diameter: 7.30m, Surface displacement / immersion 2,695 / 2,965t, Accommodation: 32 crew + 8 special forces, Conventional submarine of high autonomy, State-of-the art anaerobic propulsion developed by Navantia and Collins Aerospace, Extremely low acoustic signature, Excellent maneuverability at low speed, Systems with high automation, Next generation combat system, Air independent propulsion system (AIP) and a High complexity integrated design.
Navantia has been present in India since the beginning of the Scorpene programme, being co-designer of the six Scorpene submarines and is also participating in the tender for the future Indian LHD projects, ‘excellently’ positioned due to the experience of having designed four units built for the Spanish, Australian and Turkish Navies, the last under a transfer of technology system.
Both products, submarine and LHD have been offered to the Indian Navy, under transfer of technology programmes, in association with local companies, so that they can be managed within the “Make in India” programme. Navantia is enthusiastic to continue the collaboration with local yards which was started with the construction of Scorpene-class submarines, and still remain. Both projects represent state-of-the-art and technologically mature design solutions that will contribute to the creation of quality jobs in India and know-how, and to strengthen the capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces.
Courtesy: Navantia