S-80-class submarine

Class overview
Builders: Navantia, Cartagena
Operators:  Spanish Navy
Preceded by: Agosta class
Cost: €4 billion full programme aprox.[1]
Built: 2007–2021
In commission: 2022 (planned)
Planned: 4
Building: 4
Completed: 0
General characteristics
Type: Submarine with AIP
Displacement:
  • 3,200 tonnes (3,100 long tons; 3,500 short tons) surfaced
  • 3,426 tonnes (3,372 long tons; 3,777 short tons) submerged
Length: 81.05 m (265.9 ft)
Beam: 11.68 m (38.3 ft)
Draught: 6.20 m (20.3 ft)
Propulsion:
  • 1 shaft Etanol-AIP
  • 3 Bio-ethanol engines (3 x 1,200 kW)
  • 1 electric motor (3,500 kW), 1 AIP fuel cell unit (300 kW)
Speed:
  • 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced
  • 19 kn (35 km/h; 22 mph) submerged
Complement: 32 (plus 8 troops)
Armament: 6 x 533 mm torpedo tubes with DM2A4 torpedoes and Harpoon missiles

The S-80 Plus class (or Isaac Peral class) are a series of advanced technology submarines, initially of four units, which are already in production by the Spanish company Navantia in its Cartagena factory, with possible expansion to six units. The submarines are being fitted with a new propulsion system designed for a high degree of autonomy under water. By their conception, the S-80s are far ahead of the classic submarines of diesel-electric propulsion and even superior to the conventional AIP of the last generations. They are oceanic submarines of medium tonnage with the capacity to carry out long duration missions in scenarios far from their base, acting with a minimum level of indiscretion. They will have an integrated platform control system that allows operation with a reduced endowment and a high degree of automation with remote control. The characteristics of this class of ships place them at a level close to those of nuclear propulsion.

The first was planned to enter service in 2015, and the second in 2016, but weight imbalance problems delayed the project for 7 years.[2] The lead ship in the class, the Isaac Peral (S-81), is under construction, and is expected to be delivered by December 2022.[3][4] The S-80 class has also been offered for export.

Capabilities

The submarines of the S-80 Plus class are designed to better complete their mission in threat scenarios. Their operational mobility will allow them to operate in remote areas, traveling discreetly at high speeds. Their air independent propulsion (AIP) system, of new technological design, will ensure their ability to remain very long periods of time in an area without being detected and their ability to operate in possible conflict zones.[5]

Their capabilities include:

  • A combat system for multiple target acquisition in different scenarios
  • The ability to transport personnel, including special operations forces
  • Low noise and magnetic signatures in order to minimize detection
  • Low radar and infrared signatures in order to minimize detection

Propulsion

The S-80's AIP (air independent propulsion) system is based on a bioethanol-processor (provided by Hynergreen from Abengoa) consisting of a reaction chamber and several intermediate Coprox reactors, that will transform the BioEtOH into high purity hydrogen. The output feeds a series of fuel cells from UTC Power company.

The Reformator is fed with bioethanol as fuel, and oxygen (stored as a liquid in a high pressure cryogenic tank), generating hydrogen and carbon dioxide as subproducts. The produced hydrogen and more oxygen is fed to the fuel cells.

The bioethanol-processor also produces a stream of highly concentrated carbon dioxide and other trace gases that are not burned completely during combustion. This gas flow is mixed with sea water in one or more ejector venturi scrubbers and then through a new system called SECO2 (or CO2 Removal System), developed by Bionet, and whose purpose is to dissolve the "bubbles" of CO2 in water to undetectable levels.[6]

The oxygen and fuel flow rates are directly determined by the demand for power. The AIP power in the S-80 submarine is at least 300 kW.[6] A permanent-magnet electric motor moves a fixed propeller of a special design, that doesn't create cavitations at high speed.

History

In the 1980s France began studies for the replacement of their S-60 Daphné-class diesel submarines. The French shipyard DCNI came up with an all-new design called S-80, with a teardrop hull and new weapons and sensors, which their government decided not to fund.[7] DCNI then proposed a cheaper option called the S-90B, an S-70 Agosta-class submarine with limited improvements which was again rejected by the French but which was exported to Pakistan.[7] Meanwhile, Spain faced the same problem in replacing their Daphnés, known as the Delfín class in Spanish service, as part of Plan ALTAMAR. Bazán (later Izar, and then Navantia) started on a new design but when it started to look like the S-80, it was agreed to collaborate in a joint venture based on the French S-80.[7] This joint design was shown at Le Bourget Navale in October 1990.[7]

The end of the Cold War meant that funding dried up and the joint venture had to wait until 1997 for their first sale - to Chile - of the new design,[8] which was designated the Scorpène class in export markets. The same year Spain started to look again at its requirements, and in 1998 they indicated that they would buy four Scorpènes,[7] optionally with an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system for greater endurance when submerged. A staff requirement for the S-80 Scorpène variant was completed in October 2001.[9] This was soon overtaken by events, as the Armada (navy) became more interested in using submarines for power projection than in a more static, defensive role.[9] This shift was codified in guidance of January 2002 from the Chief of Naval Operations and in the strategic defence review of February 2003.[9] The new requirement called for a larger submarine with better endurance and land-attack missiles, which became known as the S-80A design. This was an AIP submarine with a hull diameter of 7.3 metres (24 ft) compared to 6.2 metres (20 ft) for the Scorpène family, a submerged displacement of around 2,400 tonnes versus 1,740 tonnes, larger rudder surfaces and a different fin position.[9]

The Spanish government approved the purchase of four S-80A submarines in September 2003 and signed a contract with Izar on 24 March 2004.[10] The original deal was €1,756m to design and build four submarines,[10] about €439m per boat, but by 2010 this had increased to €2,212m[11] (€553m/boat). The plan envisaged the first boat to be delivered in 2011 but government dithering over who should supply the combat system pushed it back to 2013.[9] In 2011 Spain's budget crisis further delayed the first delivery until 2015, with the remaining boats being delivered at one year intervals until 2018.[12] Construction of S-81 began on 13 December 2007.[13] In January 2012 the names were announced, honouring three engineers who made submarines and the first commander of Spain's submarine force respectively - Isaac Peral (S-81), Narciso Monturiol (S-82),[14] Cosme García (S-83) and Mateo García de los Reyes (S-84).[15]

In May 2013, Navantia announced that a serious weight imbalance design flaw had been identified which will delay the delivery of the first submarine to the Spanish Navy until possibly 2017.[16] Excess weight of 75 - 100 tons has been added to the sub during construction and the current design is not able to resurface after diving.[17][18] A former Spanish official says the problem can be traced to a miscalculation — someone apparently put a decimal point in the wrong place or by the addition of new technologic devices.[19] Lengthening the submarine would create additional buoyancy, though at a cost of €7.5m per metre.[17] With the project also suffering with an underperforming AIP system (which was to allow the submarine to stay underway for 28 days but was only managing 21 days) the Spanish Defence Ministry announced in June 2013 that Navantia has signed on the US company General Dynamics Electric Boat to help solve the excess weight.[20] In September 2014, the detected overweight was reported to have been resolved and the construction work to be ready to resume in late October 2014.[21] In November 2014, Navantia again reported having completed the redesign work to address the problem of overweight. In all, the hull will be lengthened by seven metres, and the displacement increased by 75 tons. As of January 2018, the intended delivery date of the first submarine is September 2022.[22] In January 2017, it was reported that the AIP system would not be ready in time for the delivery of the first submarine.[23]

The Indian Navy considered the S-80 for its next generation of submarines under Project 75I.[24][25]

See also

References

This article incorporates material from Spanish Wikipedia

  1. ↑ "Submarinos (VI): el S-80 tendrá capacidad para atacar con misiles objetivos en tierra". Por Tierra, Mar y Aire (in Spanish). 2018-01-04. Retrieved 2018-01-04.
  2. ↑ Expansion.com. "Navantia entregará el primer S-80 a la Armada en 2013, con un año de retraso - Expansión.com". www.expansion.com.
  3. ↑ "Navantia announce delays in the S-80 submarine programme". murciatoday.com. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  4. ↑ "Armada Española - Ministerio de Defensa - Gobierno de España". Armada.mde.es. Retrieved 2018-06-16.
  5. ↑ "Armada Española - Ministerio de Defensa - Gobierno de España". Armada.mde.es. Retrieved 2018-06-16.
  6. 1 2 "Armada Española - Ministerio de Defensa - Gobierno de España". Armada.mde.es. Retrieved 2018-06-16.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Market for Submarines Product Code #F673" (PDF). Forecast International. August 2010. pp. 5–8.
  8. ↑ "SS-23 "O´Higgins"" (in Spanish). Armada de Chile. Archived from the original on 15 May 2009. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Scott, Richard (23 November 2007). "Spains S-80A submarine comes up to the surface". Jane's Navy International. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011.
  10. 1 2 González, Miguel (2 April 2004). "Defensa firma contratos de armamento por más de 4.000 millones después de las elecciones". El Pais (in Spanish). Madrid.
  11. ↑ Ministerio de Defensa (September 2011). "Evaluación de los Programas Especiales de Armamento (PEAs)" (PDF) (in Spanish). Madrid: Grupo Atenea. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 October 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  12. ↑ Ing, David (7 November 2011). "Spain's S 80A submarines delayed by funding cuts". Jane's Defence Security Report.
  13. ↑ López, Antonio (14 December 2007). "Así se ensambla un submarino S-80". La Verdad (in Spanish).
  14. ↑ "El cuarto nuevo submarino rendirá honor a García de los Reyes, militar y exministro de Marina fusilado en Paracuellos". ABC.
  15. ↑ Mármol, G. (31 January 2012). "Los S-80 llevarán nombres clásicos". La Verdad (in Spanish).
  16. ↑ "Navantia retrasa hasta dos años la entrega del primer submarino S-80 por problemas técnicos". Europa Press news agency. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  17. 1 2 Govan, Fiona (22 May 2013). "£2 billion Spanish navy submarine will sink to bottom of sea". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  18. ↑ "Spain spent $680 million on submarine that 'can't resurface'". rt.com. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  19. ↑ "Spain builds submarine 70 tons too heavy after putting a decimal in the wrong place". o.canada.com. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  20. ↑ Kington, Tom. "Navantia Gets US Help To Fix Overweight Sub". defensenews.com. Defense News (Gannett). Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  21. ↑ Navantia corrige el proyecto del S-80 y espera la orden para retomar la obra. Antonio López, La Verdad.
  22. ↑ Villarejo, Esteban (2018-01-02). "Submarinos (III): Defensa prevé invertir 1.500 millones adicionales para el nuevo S-80" (in Spanish). ABC. Retrieved 2018-04-08. El calendario de entregas de los cuatro nuevos submarinos de la clase S-80 se estima ahora en: septiembre de 2022, mayo de 2024, marzo de 2026 y julio de 2027.
  23. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-01-27. Retrieved 2017-01-27.
  24. ↑ "India, Spain ink agreement on defence cooperation". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 27 October 2012.
  25. ↑ "Japan Spain Submarine Project". sputniknews.com.
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