Navantia has finally launched the first S-80 Plus AIP submarine last April after a troubled and over a decade late development and construction programme, further complicated by the pandemic. The programme includes the delivery of four boats alongside a training centre with both tactical and platform simulators. Designed and built by Navantia with the support of US General Dynamics Electric Boat to conduct a wide range of operations, including ASuW with selective land attack capabilities, ASW, Special Forces operations support, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and mine-laying, the new long-range AIP submarine is characterized by a modular design, allowing to be customized according to potential customers requirements. With a surface and submerged displacement of respectively 2,695 and 2,965 tonnes, an overall length and beam of respectively 81 and 11.68 meters, the S-80 Plus features a propulsion system characterized by the new BEST (BioEthanol Stealth Technologies) Navantia AIP to be installed from the third boat and retrofitted to the first two boats. It is centred on an Abengoa Ethanol reformer plus Collins PEM fuel cells providing up to three weeks of underwater endurance, and its usage up to the maximum submarine operating depth of over 300 meters. The new submarine is equipped with a PMS developed by Navantia Sistemas alongside the steering and diving control system developed by Avio Aero and the S-80 Plus Integrated Combat System Core (ICSC), developed by General
Dynamics together with Navantia Sistemas. These two highly automated systems allow for a reduced crew of 32 sailors with additional eight accommodations for Special Forces operators. Based on the latest version of the SUBICS (SUBmarine Integrated Combat System) suite by Lockheed Martin, the ICSC allows the combat system’s sensors and weapons to be highly integrated to ensure optimal management of both information and command and control centres. It also manages the submarine sensors and weapons suite including the sonar complex provided by Lockheed Martin and Spanish SAES, the latter also providing the towed array sonar, the surface surveillance suite including Kollmorgen Electro-Optical (today L3Harris KEO) optronic non-penetrating mast (Model 2010 OS) and attack periscope (Model 2010 AP) with universal modular masts by L3Harris Calzoni, the Indra Pegaso RESM suite and the Aries-S radar. The communications suite includes Tecnobit’s Linpro processor to manage tactical data Link 11/22 and SATCOM links. The S-80 Plus is equipped with six torpedo launch systems capable to launch a Spanish Navy-selected weapon inventory including Atlas Elektronik DM2A4 Seehect/ SeaHake Mod 4 HWTs, Boeing UGM-84 SubHarpoon Block II and mines, while the platform is fitted for Raytheon UGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles. According to Navantia, the first sailing is scheduled for early 2022 and the delivery to the Spanish Navy is planned for early 2023. The S-80 Plus is being proposed on the international market, namely in India for the P-75I programme among others, thanks to its modular design and advanced AIP, allowing the crew accommodation to be moved from the forward to the central hull area thanks to the use of non-penetrating masts alongside new hull sections insertion for enhanced capabilities.
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