Spain Approves €3.16 Billion for S-80 Submarine Upgrades and New Missiles
Spain has approved more than €3.16 billion in contracts to modernize its S-80 submarines and equip them with new missiles. The Spanish government approved two funding packages on November 10 as part of efforts to strengthen the capabilities of its navy.
The largest, estimated at €2.37 billion, covers the maintenance and modernization of the S-80-class submarines. The Spanish Council of Ministers authorized the project to keep the vessels operational and adapt their equipment to technological advances. The facilities needed to maintain them will also benefit from the investment.
On Bladi.net : Spain’s navy outguns Morocco in combat capability, but ship counts tell only part of the story
Madrid also approved a €792 million contract, spread over nine budget years, to develop, integrate and acquire missiles intended to be launched from S-80 submarines. The government aims to give its fleet new combat capabilities, in line with the Spanish navy’s needs and NATO’s guidelines.
The missile model selected has yet to be officially specified. The specialist press has mentioned the JSM-SL, developed by Norwegian group Kongsberg. Designed to be fired from a submarine, the weapon could strike targets several hundred kilometers away.
The S-80 program, entrusted to Spanish shipbuilder Navantia, calls for four conventionally powered submarines. Its development has faced delays and required major technical modifications. The first vessel, the Isaac Peral (S-81), was finally delivered in 2023, while the second, the Narciso Monturiol (S-82), was launched in October 2025.
The new investments will therefore support the gradual entry into service of these vessels while preparing for their future upgrades. Integrating submarine-launched weapons will mark a new step in the development of the Spanish fleet, whose capabilities currently rely on torpedoes and onboard combat systems.
