Navantia is proud to announce the launch of another frigate for the Spanish Navy. The frigate, named ‘Cristóbal Colón’, is the fifth that Navantia has built for the Spanish Navy since 2000.

Navantia launched the F-105 frigate on 4 November 2010 at the Fene-Ferrol shipyard. The godmother is Margarita de Borbón and the celebrations were attended by the head of the Spanish Navy, Manuel Rebollo, the vice president of SEPI, Federico Montero and the president of Navantia, Aurelio Martínez.

The construction of the frigate started in June 2007. The keel was laid in February 2009 and it is expected to be commissioned to the Spanish Navy in summer 2012.

The F-105 incorporates modifications to other F-100 units, derived from the improvements achieved from the experience of operating other ships of the same series. It is to highlight, that the ship offers improvements in its habitability and in the command and control system as the new new Lockheed Martin radar AEGIS 1-D (V) has been installed. It will also contain improvements to reduce the crew and the maintenance costs.

The excellence of the F-105 frigate has contributed to the Spanish Navy’s decision to choose Navantia as the designer of its AWD.