DTN News: EADS To Upkeep Spanish Navy's Harrier II, CESSNA Aircraft Fleet

DTN News: EADS To Upkeep Spanish Navy's Harrier II, CESSNA Aircraft Fleet *Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) PARIS, France - January 11, 2010: The Spanish Navy has signed a contract worth over $13 million with the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company which will provide engineering, maintenance and logistical support to its fleet of AV8B Harrier II, AV8B Harrier II Plus and CESSNA aircraft.An AV-8B Harrier II from the Spanish aircraft carrier Principe de Asturias (R 11) prepares to land after a live fire exercise as part of a passing exercise with ships assigned to Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG-2). SNMG-2 was established as an immediate reaction force and as NATO’s maritime ready response force.

Under the four-year contract, EADS will also give technical assistance, continued airworthiness support and airworthiness certification for all fixed-wing aircraft in the Spanish Navy’s fleet, the European company announced.

The AV8B Harrier II, a second-generation vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) ground-attack aircraft, was procured by Spain in 1977.

The Harrier II Plus is an upgraded version of Harrier II fighter and it joined the Spanish Navy in 1997. The combat aircraft is designed to deploy a wide range of weapons like the air-to-air AMRAAM and Sparrow missiles, anti-ship Harpoon and Sea Eagle missiles and a range of bombs and rockets.

Like its predecessor, the Harrier II Plus can operate from small aircraft carriers and large amphibious assault ships.

The CESSNA aircraft has been operating in the Spanish defence forces since 1964.

Navantia Lays Keel for First Spanish OPV / Navantia Lays Keel For Spanish Navy’s First “BAM”

Navantia Lays Keel for First Spanish OPV / Navantia Lays Keel For Spanish Navy’s First “BAM”

(NSI News Source Info) March 18, 2009: On 13th. March, the San Fernando-Puerto Real Shipyard laid the keel for the Spanish Navy’s first ”BAM”. This milestone, which was organised as a work ceremony, sees slipway construction work start on the first of the four ships, which is scheduled for delivery at the end of 2010.

Navantia and the Spanish Navy signed the Work Order on 31 July 2006 for four BAM's whose construction will mean 3,130,000 work hours, 270,000 of which are devoted to engineering tasks.

Its main characteristics are:

- Length Overall 93.90 m

- Maximum Beam 14.20 m

- Depth to Flight Deck: 9.90 m

- Full Load Displacement: 2,505 t

- Average Draft at Full Load: 4.15 m

- Maximum speed: 20.5 kn- Autonomy (at 15 knots): 8,000 miles

- Provisions Autonomy: 35-40 days

- Crew: 35 (+5)

- Transport Personnel: 35 (+1)These ships will be able to carry out diverse missions, such as supporting State Forces and Security Services in the control of maritime zones, sea rescue, protection and control of sea traffic, environmental protection and the fight against pollution, among others.

Navantia Lays Keel Of Fifth F-100 Frigate

Navantia Lays Keel Of Fifth F-100 Frigate

(NSI News Source Info) February 25, 2009: On January 20, the Fene-Ferrol shipyard laid the keel of F-105, the fifth F-100 frigate ordered by the Spanish navy. With this event, the shipyard began assembly of the ship on its launching slip; the ship is to be completed in 2010 and delivered in the summer of 2012.

The Álvaro de Bazán class (also known as the F100 class of frigates) are a new class of Aegis combat system-equipped air defense frigates entering service with the Spanish Navy. They are being built in the Spanish factory of Ferrol and are named after Admiral Álvaro de Bazán.

F-105 incorporates several modifications compared to earlier ships of its class, including improvements to the construction process and experience learned during operations of the previous ships. For example, living quarters will be improved, as will the command and control system, while a new radar, Lockheed Martin’s Aegis 1 D(V) will be installed. In addition, other modifications will be made so as to reduce maintenance costs.

The construction order for F-105 was signed on July 5, 2006 and its construction began on June 2007, with the cutting of the first steel plates.