Click here - to select or create a menu

Naval News

DSEI Japan 2023
  • News
  • Event News
    • SNA 2023
    • Euronaval 2022
    • Indo Pacific 2022
    • Sea Air Space 2022
    • DIMDEX 2022
  • Interviews
  • Videos
  • Advertising
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Home» News»The First S-80-Plus Class Submarine Will Launch New Era For Spanish Navy
Isaac Peral Class Submarine
Click to enlarge. Cutaway of the Spanish Navy's S-80 Plus design is a long-range non-nuclear submarine with Air Independent Power (AIP).

The First S-80-Plus Class Submarine Will Launch New Era For Spanish Navy

S-81 Isaac Peral is one of the largest non-nuclear submarines in the world. The long-range 2,965 ton boat will bring new capabilities to the Spanish Navy and is being offered on the export market. Uniquely for a Western non-nuclear submarine it is equipped to launch Tomahawk missiles.

H I Sutton 22 Apr 2021

On a sober day, as the submarine community awaits news of the missing Indonesian sub, KRI Nanggala, there are submarines elsewhere with more positive stories. New submarines are being launched. The Royal Navy’s fifth Astute Class boat, HMS Anson, has been rolled out in Barrow-in-Furness, UK. And in Spain another new submarine, the first in its class, is being launched by Navantia.

The Spanish Navy’s new submarine, Isaac Peral (S-81), is being christened today in Cartagena, Spain. It is one of the largest non-nuclear submarines in the world and promises to be a major step up for the Spanish Navy (Armada Española).

Its S-80 Plus design will be characterized by its use of a bioethanol fuel cell AIP (air independent power) system. Known as BEST (Bio-Ethanol Stealth Technology) by the submarine’s builder, Navantia, this offers some advantages over other AIP systems. After use the ethanol is reformed which overcomes the need to separately store hydrogen aboard. Other AIP submarines need hydrogen tanks. Additionally, the ethanol is a relatively available fuel to source.

The submarine will be armed with three primary weapons. These are the DM2A4 heavyweight torpedo, UGM-84 Sub-Harpoon anti-ship missile and SAES seabed mines. It was also planned to equip them with the UGM-109 Tomahawk land attack cruise missile. This would place the Spanish Navy in an elite group of submarine operators with a ‘first night’ strategic strike capability. While the Tomahawk order has passed into history, the submarine retains the capability to carry them if they are acquired in the future. This capability is unique among non-nuclear NATO submarines.

About The Name: Isaac Peral

The lead boat’s name harkens back to a time when Spanish engineers were among the first pioneers of submarine warfare. Isaac Peral (1851-1895) was a naval officer and engineer who designed the first all-electric submarine. The craft was commissioned into the Spanish Navy in 1889, more than 10 years before the US Navy and Royal Navy commissioned their first Holland Class submarines.

In his honor, the name Isaac Peral has been given to three more previous submarines of the Spanish Navy. Despite Peral’s pioneering work the Spanish postwar submarine fleet has partly been built from acquired types. Local production of French designs started at Cartagena in the late 1960s with the Daphné-class. Four of these were build, followed by four Agosta Class boats in the 1980s.

In the 1990s Navantia (Spain) and DCNS (Now Naval Group, France) started the joint development of the Scorpène Class submarine. This was aimed at the export market and has been successful with sail to Chile, Malaysia, India and Brazil.

However the design was too small for Spanish requirements and the S-80 submarine program was launched. At this point Navantia and Naval Group parted ways and the S-80 is seen as a Spanish design. Naturally there are some general characteristics of the Scorpène in the design. This is most visible in the sail where the resemblance is clear.

Two submarines rolled out in recent days. HMS Anson in UK (left) and Isaac Peral in Spain (right). Photos BAE Systems and Navantia

Compared to the Scorpène Class

Compared to the Scorpène the S-80 has a wider hull. The pressure hull diameter is 7.3 meters (24 ft) compared to 6.2 meters (20 ft). This seemingly small difference is enough to allow for an extra deck level. It also means that the same number of torpedoes can be carried but with the torpedo room not taking up the entire height of the forward part of the submarine. Length is also greater at 80.8 meters (232 ft) compared to 61.7 meters (202 ft).

Another major difference is that the S-80 has been designed from the start as an AIP submarine. Currently no Scorpène class boats have AIP although there are plans for them to catch up. French submarine builder Naval Group, who now market the Scorpène exclusively, offer a system. And in India a local AIP system will be retrofitted to the Kalvari Class variant.

The development of the S-80 has not been without complications and delays. The first two boats, Issac Peral (S-81) and Narciso Monturiol (S-82) will enter service without the AI. Instead it will be added during a later overhaul. The third hull, Cosme García (S-83), should have the AIP installed this year. The last boat, Mateo García de los Reyes (S-84) will also receive it during construction.

The new class promises to bring the Spanish Navy’s submarine fleet thoroughly up to date. Most recently the launch of the first boat has been delated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The AIP has endurance of about 3 weeks and can be operated throughout the entire depth-range of the submarine. Combined with the low crewing requirements, just 32 people, this may make it attractive on the international market. So it may also have some export potential, although it faces tough competition. It is reportedly in the running for India’s next non-nuclear submarine program, the P-75I.

Armada Española Isaac Peral Navantia S-80P S-81 Spanish Navy Submarine 2021-04-22
Tags Armada Española Isaac Peral Navantia S-80P S-81 Spanish Navy Submarine
Facebook Twitter Stumble linkedin Pinterest More

Authors

Posted by : H I Sutton
H I Sutton writes about the secretive and under-reported submarines, seeking out unusual and interesting vessels and technologies involved in fighting beneath the waves. Submarines, capabilities, naval special forces underwater vehicles and the changing world of underwater warfare and seabed warfare. To do this he combines the latest Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) with the traditional art and science of defense analysis. He occasionally writes non-fiction books on these topics and draws analysis-based illustrations to bring the subject to life. In addition, H I Sutton is a naval history buff and data geek. His personal website about these topics is Covert Shores (www.hisutton.com)

Related Articles

Russia Decommissions World’s Largest Submarine

Russia Decommissions World’s Largest Submarine

Tomasz Grotnik 07 Feb 2023
The Russian Navy's Northern Fleet has finally decommissioned the "Dmitry Donskoy" (TK-208) Typhoon-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN).
Harland & Wolff signs subcontract with Navantia for Fleet Support Ship

Harland & Wolff signs subcontract with Navantia for Fleet Support Ship

Naval News Staff 02 Feb 2023
Harland & Wolff announced that it has now formally signed the manufacturing subcontract with Navantia UK in relation to the £1.6 billion FSS warship programme.
Indian Navy Commissions 5th Scorpene Submarine INS Vagir

Indian Navy Commissions 5th Scorpene Submarine INS Vagir

Xavier Vavasseur 23 Jan 2023
The Indian Navy today commissioned INS Vagir, its fifth Scorpene type submarine (Kalvari-class)...

Advertisement

Advertisement

Legal / Privacy Policy
About Us
Contact Us

Copyright © 2022 Naval News
All Rights Reserved