Alvaro de Bazan Class Frigate | The First European Warship With The Aegis Weapon System

Alvaro de Bazan Class Frigate | The First European Warship With The Aegis Weapon System - The Álvaro De Bazán Class (also known as the F100 class of frigates) are a class of Aegis combat system-equipped air defence frigates in service with the Spanish Navy. The vessels were built by Spanish shipbuilder Navantia in Ferrol, with the class named for Admiral Álvaro de Bazán. In February 2018, it was announced that a design based on the class was selected as one of five finalists for the U.S. Navy's FFG(X) program.
The ships are fitted with American Aegis weapons technology allowing them to track hundreds of airborne targets simultaneously as part of its air defence network. The F100 Álvaro de Bazán-class multi-role frigates are one of the few non-US warships to carry the Aegis Combat System and its associated AN/SPY-1 RADAR. Japan's Kongō class, South Korea's Sejong the Great class, the F100-derived Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen class of frigates also use the Aegis system.
The class are also the basis of the Australian Hobart-class destroyer (previously known as the "Air Warfare Destroyer").
The Álvaro de Bazán-class frigates are the first modern vessels of the Spanish Navy to incorporate ballistic resistant steel in the hull, along with the power plants being mounted on anti-vibration mounts to reduce noise and make them less detectable by submarines.
Six ships were originally planned, including Roger de Lauria (F105) and Juan de Austria (F106). These were cancelled but a fifth ship was later added as the F105 Cristóbal Colón.
The F-100 frigate is a multi-purpose ship with the following capabilities:
• Medium-size oceanic escort.
• Command and control ship in conflict scenarios, capable of operating with allied fleets, and providing cover to expeditionary forces.
• Capable of operating in coastal and blue waters depending on the conflict situation.
• High anti-air capability.
The Alvaro de Bazan class has strong anti-air warfare weapons. Missions of these Spanish frigates include protection of expeditionary forces, anti-submarine duties, long-range anti-aircraft defence and anti-missile protection. The vessels are also fitted with command facilities and can act as flagships.
In terms of displacement and firepower the Spanish Alvaro de Bazan class frigates are more closer to destroyers. Actually these warships have much ship platform commonality with the DutchDe Zeven Provincien class anti-air warfare destroyers. It seems that Alvaro de Bazan class ships are designated as frigates for political reasons.
The Alvaro de Bazan class is fitted with a 48-CELL MK 41 VERTICAL LAUNCH SYSTEM. It is armed with a combination of Standard SM-2MR and Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM). These missiles are linked to the Aegis system. The SM-2MR has a range of 70 km, while the ESSM has a range of 50 km. A total of 32 SM-2MR and 64 ESSM missiles are carried.
Other Alvaro de Bazan's weapons system is reinforced with the Harpoon Block II anti-ship missiles. The Harpoon has a range of 120 km, a 220-kg warhead and and active radar and thermal guidance. Additionally, the vessel is fitted with a 127 mm United Defence MK 45 GUN for SHORE AND ANTI-SHIP BOMBARDMENT. It has a maximum range of 23.6 km. Gun control is provided by the Dorna radar/electro-optic fire control system. The Dorna system includes K-band radar as well as infra-red, TV and laser range-finding. A FABA Meroka 2B weapon system forms the Close-In Weapons System (CIWS), which features two 20 mm guns. Further anti-submarine/anti-shipping capabilities are provided via two Mk.32 twin torpedo launchers for Mk.46 lightweight torpedoes.
Submarine detection is provided by a Raytheon DE 1160 active and passive sonar system. The ships also carry two anti-ship mortars. The Alvaro de Bazan's electronic countermeasures suite includes four chaff and decoy launchers, together with an acoustic torpedo countermeasures system.
The vessel was designed with a 26.4 m long flight deck, which can accommodate the Sikorsky SH-60B Seahawk anti-submarine warfare helicopter. The Spanish navy ordered some of these helicopters. The first was delivered in 2001. These are locally known as HS.23. The helicopters are fitted with Hellfire air-to-surface missiles and FLIR. They can also deploy AN/SQQ-28 LAMPS III sonobuoys to aid submarine detection. The Spanish Navy also planned to purchase the Northrop Grumman Fire Scout UAVs in order to improve the vessel's precision targeting capabilities, when guiding weapons during land attack missions.
The Alvaro de Bazan class ships are the first modern Spanish warships that incorporate ballistic resistant steel in the hull.

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