Spain will have a new submarine in its naval fleet that will be operational in 2023. Today the S-81 Isaac Peral, which will become the third submarine in the fleet and the first 100% Spanish design and production. It is the most advanced conventional (non-nuclear) submarine in the world, according to 20 Minutes.
The launching ceremony has been presided today by the kings of Spain, who have been accompanied by the Princess Leonor (godmother of the submarine) and Infanta Sofía, the president of the Murcian region, Fernando López Miras, and the Defense Minister, Margarita Robles.
For the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, this submarine “is science, innovation and future” and it is a “Historical milestone” of all those who have made possible “this masterpiece” and of “this great country.”
The ship has been blessed by the ordinary military of Spain, Carlos Jesús Montes, following the traditional formula of the Spanish Navy in which The Princess of Asturias has cut a cable that has caused the impact of a bottle against the hull of the submarine.
The S-81 Isaac Peral will serve to correct a precarious situation in the Spanish fleet, which only has two ships, the Tramontana and the Galerna, the latter being in an inspection process called “garena” that usually lasts about two years and that, therefore, it keeps it inactive.
To this ship It will be joined by the S-82 Narciso Monturiol, the S-83 Cosme García and the S-84 Mateo García de los Reyes after an investment of almost 4,000 million euros by Defense. The S-81 Isaac Peral now faces the sea trials of the submarine and the creation of its sustainment model.
Characteristics
The submarine S-81 Isaac Peral It has been manufactured in the shipyard of the public company Navantia in Cartagena (Murcia). The submersible has 80 meters long, 11.6 meters wide and 6 meters deep, as well as capacity for 32 crew members and 8 special forces.
The ship will reach 10 knots (18.5 km / h) on the surface and 19 knots (35 km / h) when submerged. You will also have a autonomy of 50-60 days on the surface and 21-30 days in immersion.
Regarding weapons, the ship has capacity for 12 long guns and 6 torpedo tubes that can launch a multitude of these, including Tomahawk missiles, GPS-guided weapons that can go over 800 km / h and hit objects at more than 1,600 km / h.
Among its main advantages is the Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system and its discretion, thanks in particular to the design of its propeller, one of the best kept secrets by engineers.
Following the success of this design, Navantia has submitted its offer to the Indian public tender for the construction of 6 submarines. If chosen, the operation could involve an injection of 7,000 million euros for the national public company.