Spanish defense review calls for coastal Navy, new submarines

Sea Power, Oct 2003

A strategic review by the Spanish Ministry of Defense has argued for reorienting the fleet from an oceanic and antisubmarine force to one primarily capable of projecting power in coastal waters. More specifically, the Navy should be able to project amphibious and ground forces as well as to provide logistical support. In addition, the review called for the replacement of the existing submarine force.

The document is intended as a guide for the Spanish armed forces and for actions planned through 2015. This review, considered to be a follow-on, incorporates changes agreed upon during the November 2002 NATO conference in the Czech Republic capital of Prague directly into Spain's national defense review of 1999.

The Spanish Navy completed the second Galicia-class amphibious landing ships in 2000 and is now planning for at least one large-deck amphibious assault ship under the LX program, which is expected to start around 2004. The replacement of the existing submarine force will probably begin with the order of the first two S80-class submarines in late 2003 or early 2004.