Spain to launch new S-82 Narciso Monturiol submarine on October 3

The event comes shortly after the launch of the F-111 Bonifaz, the lead ship of Spain’s new F-110 frigate program. Taken together, these milestones underscore the momentum and ambition of the Spanish naval and defense industry, which is now simultaneously delivering world-class surface and subsurface capabilities.

The S-80 program: ambitions and challenges

Launched in 2004, the S-80 program aims to provide Spain with full strategic autonomy in the design, construction, and sustainment of modern submarines.

Key innovations include:

• a fully indigenous design developed by Navantia,
• the integration of AIP (air independent propulsion) using BEST (bio-ethanol stealth technology), enabling multi-week submerged operations,
• NATO-standard combat systems, including the ability to deploy heavy torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, naval mines, and—potentially—Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The program comprises four units:

1. S-81 Isaac Peral – commissioned in 2023
2. S-82 Narciso Monturiol – launch scheduled for October 2025
3. S-83 Cosme García – expected around 2026, with AIP installed from the start
4. S-84 Mateo García de los Reyes – planned around 2028

Technical characteristics of the S-80 Plus

• Length: 81 m
• Beam: 7.3 m
• Displacement (submerged): ~2,965 tons
• Crew: 32 sailors + 8 special operations forces
• Armament: 6 × 533 mm torpedo tubes, capable of firing DM2A4 torpedoes, Harpoon missiles, naval mines, and potentially Tomahawk cruise missiles
• Range: ~8,000 km
• Propulsion: diesel-electric, with provision for AIP retrofitting

S-82: from dock to sea

The Narciso Monturiol has already passed critical safety milestones, including the “power up” test, which marked the activation of its main electrical systems.

After the launch ceremony, the submarine will undergo:

• harbor acceptance trials and shallow-water maneuvers,
• progressive diving tests,
• combat system validation,
• and eventually, a full sea trial campaign lasting more than a year.

Industrial and international impact

The S-80 program represents a technological landmark for Navantia and the Spanish defense sector, placing Spain among the select group of nations capable of independently designing and building modern submarines.

The program also reflects strong international cooperation:

• selected technologies were developed in collaboration with U.S. and Korean partners,
• the S-80 design has been offered abroad, including in Canada and Poland (as part of its Orka submarine program),
• it provides valuable knowledge transfer and safeguards high-value shipbuilding skills in Spain.

A new era for the Spanish Navy

The launch of S-82 Narciso Monturiol, together with the recent launch of F-111 Bonifaz, signals the modernization of the Spanish Navy on both the surface and subsurface fronts.

By fielding advanced platforms like the S-80 Plus, Spain strengthens its position as a capable NATO maritime power—ready not only to protect its own waters, but also to contribute to allied operations worldwide.