Navantia delivers the first S81 submarine to the Navy after 20 years of problems

In the course of Spanish naval history, a significant chapter is written today with the delivery of the S-81 Isaac Peral submarine by Navantia, the public company in charge of its development. This project, forged in the 1990s and officially materialized in 2004 with an initial budget of 2.3 billion euros, marks Spain’s debut in the independent design and construction of a submarine.

The challenges of the S-80: weight, the tip of the iceberg of problems

The S-80 program, of which the S-81 is the first of four submarines, has faced significant challenges. Problems began to arise in 2012 with the excess weight of the submarine, evidencing the need for a more adapted approach to the design of submarines, comparable in complexity to aerospace technology. This situation led to collaboration with the American company Electric Boat and the adoption of a NASA systems engineering model.

After this reconfiguration, the project became known as S-80 plus. A review in 2016 confirmed the viability of the redesign, saving the project from possible cancellation. With an increase in the spending ceiling approved in 2018, the S-81 Isaac Peral becomes a tangible reality, ready to begin its operational testing phase.

What is S-81?

The S-81, which measures 80.8 meters in length and has a displacement of almost 3,000 tons, represents a significant technological advance. Its design emphasizes autonomy, discretion, automation and security. Capable of varied missions and an advanced weapons system, the submarine stands out within NATO’s non-nuclear fleet.

One of the most innovative features, the AIP (Air Independent Propulsion) system, will not initially be present on the S-81 or S-82, but is expected to be added in future updates and subsequent models.

The future

This milestone positions Spain in a select group of nations with the capacity to design submarines and opens doors for future exports. Although international interest is evident, the sale to other countries will depend on the proven operability of the submarine.