The First Submarine of the S-80 Class of the Spanish Navy. The S-81 Isaac Peral is one of the largest non-nuclear submarines in the world. The 2,965-ton long-range boat will bring new capabilities to defense and is also offered in the export market.
The Spanish Navy’s new submarine, one of the largest non-nuclear submarines in the world, is equipped to launch Tomahawk missiles, an important step for the Navy.
Its S-80 Plus design will feature the use of an AIP (Air Independent Power) bioethanol fuel cell system. Known as BEST (Bio-Ethanol Stealth Technology) by the submarine’s builder, Navantia.
The submarine is equipped with three main weapons. The DM2A4 heavyweight torpedo, the UGM-84 Sub-Harpoon anti-ship missile and SAES seabed mines. They are also set to be fitted with the UGM-109 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missile.
Why is his name Isaac Peral?
The boat’s name dates back to a time when Spanish engineers were among the pioneers of submarine warfare. Isaac Peral (1851-1895) was an officer and naval engineer who designed the first all-electric submarine. The vessel was commissioned into the Spanish Navy in 1889, more than 10 years before the U.S. Navy and the Royal Navy commissioned their first Holland Class submarines.
In his honor, three other earlier submarines of the Spanish Navy have been named after Isaac Peral. Despite Peral’s pioneering work, the postwar Spanish submarine fleet has been built in part from acquired types. Local production of French designs began in Cartagena in the late 1960s with the Daphné class. Four of these were built, followed by four Agosta-class boats in the 1980s.
In the 1990s, Navantia (Spain) and DCNS (Now Naval Group, France) initiated the joint development of the Scorpène Class submarine. This was aimed at the export market and has been successful in Chile, Malaysia, India and Brazil.
However, the design was too small for Spanish requirements and the S-80 submarine program was launched. At this point, Navantia and Naval Group separated and the S-80 is seen as a Spanish design. Naturally, there are some general Scorpène characteristics in the design. This is most visible in the sail where the resemblance is clear.
The development of the S-80 consists of four submarines: Issac Peral (S-81), Narciso Monturiol (S-82), Cosme Garcia (S-83) and the Mateo Garcia de los Reyes (S-84).
The new class promises to thoroughly upgrade the Spanish Navy’s submarine fleet. The AIP lasts approximately 3 weeks and can be operated throughout the submarine’s depth range. Combined with the low crew requirements, only 32 people, this may make it attractive in the international market.