Baptism of the second S-80 Narciso Monturiol submarine in Cartagena

On October 3 in Cartagena, the baptism ceremony of a submarine was held.S-82 Narciso Monturiol– the second S-80 type unit built by Navantia for the Spanish Navy. The event was attended by representatives of the Spanish Ministry of Defence and the management of the shipyard. The invited guests also included representatives of several Polish industry editorial offices.

Ceremonial confirmation of S-80 progress

The event was another stage in the implementation of the S-80 submarine programme, which Spain has consistently developed as a foundation for its own technological capacity in the field of submarine construction – a project particularly important also in the context ofPolish programmeEagle.

The ceremony was presided over by defence minister Margarita Robles, while the godmother of the ship was Isabel López – the wife of the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Teodoro López Calderón. Among the invited guests were also the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral General Antonio Piñeiro Sánchez, Secretary of State for Defence Amparo Valcarce and the management of Navantii with operational director Gonzalo Mateo-Guerrero at the head.

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Gonzalo Mateo-Guerrero, operational director of Navantii, stressed:

The S-80 programme is a direct contribution to the defence, sovereignty and international position of the Spanish shipbuilding industry. It is a project of strategic and economic importance which contributes to the development of technology, job creation and strengthening the security of the state.

The Chief of Staff of the Navy, Admiral Piñeiro Sánchez, pointed out that:

The submarine remains the most effective means of deterrence – discreet and lethal. The presence itself restricts the freedom of the opponent at sea.

Defence Minister Margarita Robles recalled that:

The construction of S-80 ships is a continuation of the path of success and progress, strengthening not only the navy, but also the industry of the Murcia region and the potential of the whole country.

Narciso Monturiol– tribute to the pioneer of submarines

The baptized ship received the nameNarciso Monturiol Estarriol– in tribute to the Catalan engineer and inventor, who in the 19th century enrolled in the history of marine technology as a builder of a unitIctíneo. Monturiol is one of the pioneers of submarines, alongside Cosme García Sáez andIsaac Peral, considered the creator of Spain's first modern submarine. In 1859, he attempted a submarine in Barcelona.Ictíneo, which remained submerged for more than two hours at a depth of about 20 metres, then safely surfaced.

S-80 technology – Spanish underwater autonomy

The event took place atequipment hallwhere the installation of on-board systems has been completed. In the coming weeks, the unit will be launched using a floating dock, which is one of the final stages of the construction process.

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After launching S-82Narciso Monturiolwill pass port and sea tests – including sea exits in the navigable position and a series of immersions to the maximum operating depth. This will be a crucial moment to confirm the progress of the S-80 programme, which is a pillar of the independence of Spain in the field of underwater technologies and defence industry.

S-80 ships have a length of 80.8 metres, a diameter of 7.3 metres and an underwater displacement of about 3000 tonnes. They were designed and built with full design preparation for the installation of the Air-independent System (AIP) BEST –Bio-Ethanol Stealth Technology. This system, developed by Navantia, will allow the production of electricity using bioethanol as a hydrogen source.

The AIP system will first be mounted on a third ship of this type –S-83, the futureCosme García, whose hull sections are currently being built at Navantii shipyards in Cartagena. At a later stage, as part of the planned reviews, this system will also be integrated into S-81 unitsIsaac Peraland S-82Narciso Monturiol.

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This solution will allow individuals to stay in immersion for a long time without having to surface to periscopic depth,significantly increasingtheir autonomy and secrecy of action – key operational features of submarines of this type.

Navantia Sistemas is responsible for the development of the fighting and platform management system. The S-80 submarine programme includes nearly one hundred partner companies, which translates into more than six thousand jobs and an annual contribution to Spanish GDP estimated at over €250 million.

Written by Mariusz Dasiewicz