Navantia puts industry at heart of frigate bid

Spanish shipbuilder Navantia has pledged extensive industrial cooperation if selected to build future frigates for the Royal Danish Navy.

The company says it has presented a proposal for strategic naval cooperation, alongside a delivery plan it describes as capable of ensuring reliable handover from 2030.

- Navantia’s proposal guarantees collaboration with Danish industry, support throughout the ships’ life cycle and training backed by the Spanish Navy, the company said in a statement.

Navantia recently visited Copenhagen to showcase its F-105 frigate, which took part in a NATO exercise in the Baltic Sea.

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According to the company, the F-105 hosted around one hundred representatives from Danish institutions and companies within the naval sector, alongside meetings with Navantia executives.

Maximising industrial return.

Navantia said it has a proven track record in international collaboration programmes and technology transfer, offering partnerships with Danish companies aimed at maximising industrial return.

The Spanish outreach follows a visit by the French frigate Amiral Ronarc’h, which also called in Sweden. France is promoting the Naval Group-built FDI frigate for the prospective requirements of the Royal Danish and Swedish navies.

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The FDI is a multi-purpose, blue-water combatant designed to operate independently or as part of a task group across the full spectrum of naval warfare.

Germany’s Naval Vessels Lürssen (NVL) has also expressed interest, proposing to build ships in Denmark at a facility currently producing tunnel elements for the Fehmarn Belt link between Denmark and Germany.

The UK-based shipbuilder Babcock is offering the Type 31 frigate, whose hull design is derived from Denmark’s Iver Huitfeldt-class