The Spanish submarine S-81 Isaac Peral is currently undergoing sea trials, marking the final step before its official entry into active service. This development opens up new opportunities in the international submarine market, with five countries showing potential interest in acquiring these next-generation vessels.
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Spanish submarine S-81 Isaac Peral is currently undergoing sea trials. (Picture source: Navantia )
Australia, Japan, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States were among the former potential candidates for the purchase of Spanish S-80 submarines. However, technical issues disrupted the program, leading Australia to opt for nuclear propulsion.
With the imminent delivery of the S-81 Isaac Peral to the Spanish Navy, five potential customers stand out: Turkey, India, the Philippines, Canada, and Poland. These countries are seriously considering the acquisition of these advanced submarines, known for their Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology called BEST.
Technically, the S-80 has a submerged displacement of 2,965 tons, a length of 81.05 meters, a beam of 11.68 meters, and a draft of 7.3 meters. Its propulsion system consists of a single-shaft Etanol-AIP, three bio-ethanol engines, an electric motor, and an AIP fuel cell unit, enabling it to reach a surface speed of 12 knots and up to 19 knots when submerged. It also boasts an impressive range of 8,000 kilometers and can stay submerged for 30 to 55 days, with a test depth of 460 meters.
The standard crew consists of 32 members, with an additional capacity of 8 troops. The armament includes six 533 mm torpedo tubes equipped with DM2A4 torpedoes and Harpoon missiles UGM-84 Sub-Harpoon block II.
