Spanish MoD green-lights construction of new combat supply ship for navy

The new BAC will be built to the same design as Spain's replenishment tanker SPS Cantabria (pictured), which has been in service with the Spanish Navy since 2010. (Janes/Alex Pape)

Spanish state-owned shipbuilder Navantia has been awarded a contract for the construction of a new combat supply ship (BAC) for the Spanish Navy.

The contract, valued at EUR650 million (USD748.4 million), was signed with the Spanish Ministry of Defence (MoD) on 10 June, Navantia confirmed.

Construction on the new ship is planned to start in 2026 at Navantia's Ferrol shipyard. Under current planning, the ship is planned to be in service in 2030. According to Navantia, the contract will result in the creation of 1,800 jobs during the four years of ship construction.

The BAC will be built to the same design as the Spanish Navy's double-hulled afloat replenishment ship SPS Cantabria (A-15), which was built by Navantia and commissioned in 2010, and the two updated versions, HMAS Supply and HMAS Stalwart, that were built for the Royal Australian Navy and entered service in 2021.

The new ship will have an overall length of 173.9 m, a beam of 23 m, and a full-load displacement of approximately 20,000 tonnes. It will have a top speed of 21 kt, a range of 6,000 n miles at 13 kt, and an endurance of 90 days. It will be equipped with two replenishment at sea (RAS) stations on each side and one stern refuelling station.

Alongside Cantabria