Lockheed Martin and Navantia Expand Partnership for Naval Combat Systems

Lockheed Martin, the American defense powerhouse, is intensifying and broadening its partnership with Spain's leading shipbuilder, Navantia, focusing on the SCOMBA combat management system, based on the renowned Aegis Combat System.

On March 15, Lockheed Martin disclosed an extension and expansion of its 27-year collaboration with Navantia for an additional three years. This expanded cooperation will chiefly concentrate on the SCOMBA (Sistema de Combate de los Buques de la Armada) combat management system, a customized version of the Aegis Combat System.

The agreement, signed by Lockheed Martin's Chauncey McIntosh and Joe DePietro, alongside Navantia's Donato Martínez and José Manuela Mondéjar, aims to propel the exploration of commercial endeavors in surface ships and submarines further.

This allied venture has empowered the Spanish Navy (Armada Española) to outfit its Álvaro de Bazán-class F100 frigates with the proven Aegis Combat System, tailored into the SCOMBA variant. Over two decades, the collaboration between Lockheed Martin and Navantia has not only benefitted the Spanish Navy but has also extended to the Norwegian Navy (Sjøforsvaret) and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), enhancing the combat capabilities of their fleets. Moreover, both firms are contributing to the integration of combat management and sonar systems in the Spanish Navy's S-80 Plus submarines.

"The enduring partnership with Spain's Ministry of Defense and defense sector underscores Lockheed Martin's commitment to bolstering Spain’s defense capabilities, as seen through projects like the F100 and F110 frigates. Extending our collaboration with Navantia ensures the continuation of significant employment opportunities in Spain, fostering further cooperation between our companies," remarked Chauncey McIntosh, Vice President of Integrated Warfare Systems and Sensors at Lockheed Martin.

"Our dedication to meeting the needs of not just the Spanish Navy, but also our global allies, is essential to our collaboration with Navantia. For nearly three decades, we've evolved our partnership to develop critical capabilities for a variety of missions, from undersea warfare to integrated air and missile defense. We’re eager to build on our track record to equip navies with cutting-edge technology," stated Joe DePietro, Vice President of C6ISR at Lockheed Martin.

"Renewing and expanding our collaboration with Lockheed Martin is a privilege that has allowed us to deliver the latest defense technologies to the Spanish Navy and our international clientele. Our joint efforts are crucial in advancing the technology of our products. This extension signifies our dedication to providing top-tier solutions to our customers for both surface ships and submarines," expressed Donato Martínez, Vice President and Director of Technology and Systems at Navantia.

The Spanish Navy's fleet will soon be augmented by five Álvaro de Bazán-class F110 frigates, with the first two ships already under construction — the future Bonifaz (F111) and Roger de Lauria (F112). Upcoming milestones for Lockheed Martin and Navantia include radar AN/SPY-7(v)2 real target tracking tests at the Lockheed Martin Aegis-SCOMBA Integration Center in Moorestown, New Jersey, and the integration of tactical software for the Aegis Combat System and SCOMBA at the land-based test range ASIC and Navantia in San Fernando, Spain. These milestones will be critical in ensuring that the F110 program remains on schedule, with the first frigate set to be commissioned in 2028.

The current agreement emphasizes capabilities relating to naval ships and maritime combat systems, elevating the partnership as construction progresses on the F110 frigates and the S-80 Plus submarines for the Spanish Navy.

Lockheed Martin's global partnerships, including those in Spain, represent multimillion-dollar investments in its worldwide supply chain, bolstering local security and strengthening economic, industrial, and community ties.