Indra to equip Spanish Navy’s future F110 frigates with sensors

Indra has been contracted to integrate advanced sensors on the Spanish Navy’s future F110 class frigates.

The company has signed multiple contracts with Navantia worth more than €150m ($169m).

Last year, Indra signed contracts to equip these frigates with an antenna for the S-band active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar.

Under the latest contracts, Indra will deliver the Rigel i110 radar electronic defence and the Regulus i110 communications interception systems.

Work under the contract is expected to conclude between 2020 and 2031.

Once equipped, the advanced technologies will improve the vessel’s situational awareness capability and allow it to defend against potential threats.

According to the company, Prisma 25 X multifunction solid-state radar on the frigate will support surface combat and helicopter landing on deck. It will monitor low-altitude aerial targets.

Leveraging flat array technology and high digitalisation, the new sensors decrease the frigates’ radar section and enhance stealth.

They also improve detection and countermeasure capabilities, allowing the Spanish Navy to deploy the ships to conduct operations in diverse demanding circumstances.

Indra noted that the new generation systems is the result of work carried out over the last several years under ‘the framework of several technology programmes’ related to F110.

The work was performed in close cooperation with Spain’s General Directorate for Armament and Material (DGAM), the Spanish Navy, and Navantia.

In December last year, Thales was selected to provide an integrated sonar suite for the Spanish Navy’s five new F110 multi-mission frigates.

Navantia and Spain’s DGAM awarded a contract to Thales to provide sonars and acoustic systems for the frigates.