Overview
- Queen Sofía sponsored the launch of F-111 Bonifaz at Navantia’s Ferrol yard, with President Pedro Sánchez and other senior officials in attendance, while some workers staged protests and displayed a Palestinian flag.
- Navantia says the hull was launched about a month early and over 70% complete, and it will return to dock for outfitting before pier-side and sea trials.
- Navantia and Lockheed Martin report successful visualization of SPY-7 radar tracks in the SCOMBA combat system during tests in Moorestown, with further checks planned at the CIST in San Fernando and final naval certification at Rota.
- The five-ship F-110 program replaces the Santa María class and is a multi‑billion‑euro national project involving roughly 500 companies and thousands of jobs, including about 1,300 direct positions at Navantia and more than 2,000 in auxiliary industry.
- Designed as multipurpose escorts with a strong antisubmarine focus, the frigates introduce a digital twin and CODLAG propulsion, and Bonifaz is planned to complete trials for entry into service around 2028.