Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:17:05-1:18:00

Spain must choose between patrol and expeditionary fleets

Whether Spain needs destroyers depends on whether it intends to retain an expeditionary LHD-centered navy or accept a patrol-and-presence role.

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Question

Should the Spanish Navy procure destroyers, or are its frigates sufficient?

Short answer

Frigates are enough for a patrol fleet; an expeditionary LHD-centered navy needs larger destroyers and could benefit industrially from building them.

Notes

The existing frigates suit a smaller patrol and support fleet, but they do not provide the weight expected alongside Juan Carlos I in an expeditionary force. Spain therefore has to choose which navy it wants to fund. A domestic destroyer program could also support its successful warship-export industry.