The Spanish government has approved the procurement procedure for the design and construction of two new offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), as announced by the Spanish shipyard Navantia in September 2025. The vessels will complement the six Meteoro-class OPVs (2500 tonnes) already in service with the Spanish Armada.

The aim is to strengthen the surveillance and security capacities as well as the operational capability of the maritime forces. The two ocean-going vessels are estimated to cost 716 million euros and, according to Navantia, will feature significant improvements over their predecessors, both in terms of capabilities and living conditions on board. These include an updated combat system, a next-generation integrated platform management system, improvements to communication and navigation systems, advanced cyber security measures, the integration of unmanned vehicles, new work areas and medical facilities, as well as increased accommodation capacity for the crew.

The design of this expansion programme is developed entirely using Navantia's proprietary tool ELCANO, a digital environment based on Siemens technology. This environment enables the integration of design, modelling, simulation and construction in a networked digital workflow that incorporates the latest advances in Navantia's digital transformation processes. Something that the Dutch shipyard Damen Shipyard is currently unable to do for the construction of the frigate 126.

The OPV will be built at Navantia's Puerto Real Shipyard, which is equipped with a high level of automation and this advanced technology. Production is expected to start in the first half of 2027 once the contract has been signed.

kdk, euro-sd