The F-102 is currently serving as flagship of NATO Standing Naval Group 1, one of NATO’s standing maritime forces operating primarily in Northern European waters. Its missions include deterrence, collective defence, naval presence and strengthening interoperability among allied navies, building on the established record of the Spanish Navy’s F-100-class frigates in NATO and EU operations.
During the port visit, the frigate hosted more than one hundred visitors, including the Swedish Minister for Defence, Pål Jonson, and the Minister for Civil Defence, Carl Oskar Bohlin. Senior military and defence officials were also present, including Rear Admiral Johan Norlen, Chief of the Royal Swedish Navy, and Rear Admiral Fredrik Linden, Director of the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, alongside industry representatives and media.
The Swedish Minister for Defence was received by the Chief of Staff of the Spanish Navy, Admiral Antonio Piñeiro, and the Spanish Ambassador to Sweden, Luis Cuesta. The visit enabled exchanges focused on operational experience, sustainment, programme governance and integration within allied force structures.
Navantia highlighted its role as prime integrator for complex naval programmes through the F-100 programme and other international surface combatant projects. This experience includes programme governance, systems integration and the adaptation of naval platforms to different national operational concepts and sovereign system architectures.
In this context, Navantia presented its approach for Sweden’s future Luleå-class frigates, based on the proposed ALFA 4000 light frigate. The design is intended to support the integration of national combat systems while operating within NATO force structures, with an emphasis on controlled development, defined interfaces and early alignment between design, classification, production and programme management.
Navantia also outlined its industrial set-up and build strategy, which are structured to support phased delivery aligned with defined pathways to Initial Operational Capability and Full Operational Capability. Digital engineering methods, including digital twins and integrated support systems, are applied to enable data-driven operation, predictive maintenance and high availability throughout the life cycle.
Within this framework, the proposed programme is intended to enable delivery of two frigates with trained crews by 2030, followed by two additional ships in 2031, subject to contractual arrangements. The approach places emphasis on long-term sustainment, training and through-life support, including industrial cooperation aligned with Swedish requirements.
“Navantia is in the position to be a reliable partner for Sweden, providing a rapidly operational naval capability, fully compliant with Swedish requirements, together with a through life support enhanced with state of the art digital technologies and close involvement of Swedish industry”, said Ricardo Domínguez, Chairman of Navantia. During his visit to Sweden, Domínguez also met with representatives of Swedish industry to explain Navantia’s capabilities and reinforce collaboration.
