Spanish shipbuilder Navantia showcased its ALPHA-3000 frigate design at Defense and Security 2025 in Bangkok. With no Request for Proposal issued yet, Navantia is proposing an adaptable platform that can be tailored to Thai requirements once they are defined.
The ALPHA-3000 is built around an open architecture concept, allowing modifications and upgrades based on client needs. At the core of this flexibility is Navantia’s CADIZ combat management system, which the company says can integrate any sensor or weapon system. This modularity extends to technology transfer arrangements, with Navantia expressing willingness to support Thailand’s indigenous defense industry through local production and modernization capabilities.
It is also worth noting that Navantia, the builder of Thailand’s sole aircraft carrier, HTMS Chakri Naruebet, has recently been awarded a contract by the Royal Thai Navy to upgrade its two Pattani-class offshore patrol vessels. The Spanish shipbuilder will also provide its CATIZ CMS and DORNA FCS for the chinese-built LPD HTMS Chang.
Counter-UAS as a Design Priority
The most notable feature of the ALPHA-3000 proposal is its integrated counter-unmanned aerial system capability. According to a Navantia official at the exhibition, this wasn’t driven by Thai requirements but by operational lessons from the Ukraine war and Red Sea conflicts, where drones and firstperson-view (FPV) systems have emerged as significant naval threats.
The ship’s electronic warfare suite centers on Indra’s Crow system, originally developed for land-based units but adapted for naval use within the past year. Crow integrates multiple detection technologies—radar, radio frequency analysis, direction finding, and electro-optical sensors—into a single command post. Once a drone threat is confirmed, the system disrupts its guidance through RF datalink and GNSS jamming. Demo units of the Crow system were fitted to two Spanish Navy ships nine months ago.
For kinetic defense, the ALPHA-3000 carries a Millennium gun as its close-in weapon system. The gun uses airburst munitions specifically designed to engage small, fast-moving targets like FPV drones. The main surveillance radar is Leonardo’s Kronos, selected for its performance against low-slow-flying targets and drone-sized objects.
Armament and Specifications
The ALPHA-3000 measures 104 meters in length with a beam of 14.4 meters and a displacement of approximately 3,000 tonnes. Maximum speed is 27 knots, with a range of 5,000 nautical miles and endurance exceeding 20 days. The ship can operate in sea states up to 5/6, with helicopter operations possible in sea state 4.
Primary anti-ship armament consists of Exocet missiles, likely the MM40 Block 3 variant, mounted in quadruple launchers. The ship also features a 16-cell vertical launch system for surface-to-air missiles, a 76mm main gun, and two triple torpedo launchers. A flight deck and hangar accommodate an 11-ton helicopter, with facilities for UAV operations.
Propulsion is a CODAD arrangement with four 5,920 kW diesel engines driving two controllable-pitch propellers through reduction gears. The ship carries a crew of 102 with capacity for 124 personnel total.
Proven Design – Regional Variants
The ALPHA-3000 is not a paper design. Five units of similar but lighter design, the AVANTE-2200 corvettes, are contracted to the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, with some already operational. Navantia previously proposed the platform to Australia’s SEA 3000 general purpose frigate program, though with a completely different mast configuration tailored to Australian requirements.
The counter-UAS integration reflects a broader shift in naval thinking. While traditional frigate designs focus on anti-submarine warfare, anti-air, and anti-surface capabilities, the ALPHA-3000’s emphasis on drone defense addresses an emerging threat that most current naval vessels are poorly equipped to handle. The Crow system’s ability to detect, track, and neutralize small unmanned systems fills a capability gap that has become increasingly apparent in recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Red Sea.
For Thailand, Navantia is emphasizing the ship’s ability to be configured around whatever requirements the Royal Thai Navy eventually specifies, while highlighting that the counter-UAS capabilities are already integrated and proven. The company’s willingness to support local industry through technology transfer may also appeal to Thai defense planners seeking to build domestic shipbuilding capacity. Whether this approach resonates remains to be seen, but Navantia is betting that operational
lessons from current conflicts will shape future naval requirements.
