Spanish Isaac Peral S-80 class submarine takes next step


According to a tweet published by the Spanish Ministry of Defense on July 27, 2021, Isaac Peral S-80 class submarine takes the next step with the installation of the attack periscope and successfully completed verification of water tightness. In the last quarter of the year, the Spanish Navy expects to start up the diesel engines of the submarine.
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Russian Vyborg Shipyard laid the Purga ice class coastguard ship of project 23550 925 001 Isaac Peral S-80 class submarine (Picture source: David Merta)


The S-80 Plus class (or Isaac Peral class) is a Spanish class of four submarines in production by the Spanish company Navantia in its Cartagena shipyard for the Spanish Navy.

They are oceanic submarines of medium tonnage with the capacity to carry out long-duration missions in scenarios far from their base, acting with a minimum level of indiscretion. They will have an integrated platform control system that allows operation with a reduced endowment and a high degree of automation with remote control. The characteristics of this class of ships place them at a level close to those of nuclear propulsion.

The S-80's air-independent propulsion (AIP) system is based on a bioethanol-processor consisting of a reaction chamber and several intermediate Coprox reactors. Provided by Hynergreen from Abengoa, the system transforms the bioethanol (BioEtOH) into high purity hydrogen. The output feeds a series of fuel cells from the UTC Power company.

The S-80 Plus-class submarines have a full load displacement of 3,200 tons, a total length of 81.05 m (265.9 ft), a beam of 11.68 m (38.3 ft), and a draught of 6.20 m (20.3 ft). With a cruising speed of 12 knots, the S-80 Plus-class submarines offer a range of 8,000 nm. The submarine can accommodate 32 personnel (plus 8 troops).

The S-80 Plus-class submarine can be armed with the DM2A4 heavy torpedo SeaHake, the UGM-84 anti-ship missile Sub-Harpoon, and SAES mines. It was also planned to equip the submarines with the UGM-109 land-attack cruise missile Tomahawk which would have placed the Spanish Navy in an elite group of submarine operators with a strategic attack capability (so-called deep fire). The order Tomahawk was not realized but the submarine retains the ability to transport them in case they are acquired in the future.