The Spanish government has given the green light for the acquisition of two new Buques de Acción Marítima (BAM) offshore patrol vessels, to be designed and constructed by Navantia. This procurement, valued at 716 million euros ($847 million), aims to bolster the Spanish Navy’s maritime action force with upgraded capabilities and enhanced crew support systems. The new BAM-class ships will expand the current fleet of six already in service, providing additional strength to maritime surveillance, border defense, and naval security missions. Beyond simple fleet expansion, the acquisition reflects Spain’s determination to modernize its naval assets to match evolving maritime security challenges, including migration control, counter-piracy, and protection of strategic sea lanes. Engineering activities will commence once contracts are finalized, with construction expected to begin in early 2027 at Navantia’s Puerto Real shipyard. The vessels will integrate an upgraded combat system, next-generation integrated platform management, and advanced communication and navigation technologies. Importantly, they will feature unmanned vehicle support, improved medical and working facilities, and larger accommodation spaces to improve crew living conditions during extended deployments. Navantia will apply its ELCANO digital engineering platform, based on Siemens software, to accelerate design and production with a high level of automation. These improvements not only boost operational efficiency but also signal Spain’s investment in both national shipbuilding and defense self-sufficiency.
