S-80-class submarine
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | Navantia, Cartagena |
| Operators: |
 Spanish Navy
|
| Preceded by: | Agosta class |
| Cost: | €2,212m for four (~US$700m/boat) |
| Built: | 2007–2021 |
| In commission: | 2021 (planned) |
| Building: | 4 |
| Planned: | 4 |
| Completed: | 0 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Submarine with AIP |
| Displacement: |
|
| Length: | 79.05 m (259.4 ft) |
| Beam: | 11.68 m (38.3 ft) |
| Draught: | 6.20 m (20.3 ft) |
| Propulsion: |
|
| Speed: |
|
| 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 AIP (air independent propulsion) submarines currently under construction for the Spanish Navy. Four boats have been ordered, three of which are under construction by the Spanish company Navantia at its yard in Cartagena. The submarines are being fitted with a new propulsion system designed for a high degree of autonomy under water. Their mission includes: projection of naval power onto land, naval special warfare, surveillance, protection of naval forces and deterrence. The first was planned to enter service in the Spanish Navy in 2015, with a second in 2016, but a weight imbalance issue has been identified which is to delay the project between 12 and 24 months. The construction of the third in the series began in 2009. The Indian Navy is considering this submarine for its next generation of submarines under Project 75I.
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.
Their capabilities include:
The AIP (air independent propulsion) implemented on the S-80 is completely different from the French MESMA (Module Energie Sous-Marin Autonome) project. The S-80's AIP 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 (which also supplied fuel cells for the Space Shuttle).
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.
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Wikipedia