Rohde & Schwarz to deliver external communications systems for F110 frigates of Spanish navy

According to a press release published on October 19, 2020, Rohde & Schwarz has signed a contract with Spanish shipbuilder Navantia to equip five new F110 frigates with external communications systems.


According to a press release published on October 19, 2020, Rohde & Schwarz has signed a contract with Spanish shipbuilder Navantia to equip five new F110 frigates with external communications systems.
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Russian Vyborg Shipyard laid the Purga ice class coastguard ship of project 23550 925 001 Scale model of F110 frigate for the Spanish Navy. (Picture source Navy Recognition)


The Spanish Ministry of Defense (MoD) has ordered the construction of five new F-110 frigates by Navantia to replace the Spanish Navy’s Santa Maria-class frigates. The new Bonifaz-class multi-mission frigates are specialized in anti-submarine warfare. They will be used for force and fleet protection, maritime security, joint and combined missions and to prevent conventional and asymmetric threats.

Rohde & Schwarz (Spain) signed a contract with Navantia to design and supply external communications systems for line of sight and beyond line of sight communications. These consist of R&S M3SR software-defined radios (R&S Series4100 HF and R&S Series4400 VHF/UHF) including engineering services and Integrated Logistics Support (ILS).

“Rohde & Schwarz and Navantia have a long history of collaboration and providing the Spanish Navy with the best communications systems,” states Hansjörg Herrbold, Vice President Market Segment Navy Rohde & Schwarz. “We are very proud to have our equipment deployed in this major Spanish naval asset and we are looking forward to strengthening our relationship. We make sure that we deliver a safe, future-ready investment for today’s navies on time and on budget.”

“Rohde & Schwarz (Spain) has been a reliable local partner for the Spanish Navy and Navantia for decades, providing first-class equipment and services for a wide variety of platforms, such as the Juan Carlos I (L-61) landing helicopter dock (LHD), Galicia class landing platform dock (LPD), F-100 and F-105 frigates, Meteoro class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) and the upcoming S-80+ submarines,” says Rafael Falagan, Sales Manager Secure Communications & Radiomonitoring, Rohde & Schwarz (Spain).

The F110 class also known as the Bonifaz class is a multi-purpose, anti-submarine class of Aegis combat system-fitted heavy frigates under development for the Spanish Navy. The project is being co-developed by the Spanish Ministry of Defence and the state-owned company Navantia. She has a length of 145 meters, a beam of 18 meters, and a draft of 5 meters.  She can reach a maximum speed of >25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph).

The F110 class is armed with one Leonardo 127 mm/64 caliber naval gun, 16 Mk 41 VLS surface-to-air missile for SM-2 and RIM-162 ESSM, two 30 mm and .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns, two quadruple Harpoon missile canisters SSM and two Mark 32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes.