Portuguese 
Navantia presented the first scale model of the F-110 Flight II frigate at the DALO Industry Days in Herning, a stretched and rearmed version of the Bonifaz class, which shifts from anti-submarine capabilities to integrated air and missile defense, and offered it to the Royal Danish Navy, which is renewing its fleet starting in 2030.
The unveiling took place on August 27, 2026, during the DALO Industry Days, Denmark’s annual defense procurement event. According to a report by Naval News, this was the first time the state-owned Spanish shipyard publicly displayed a model of this variant, named F-110 Flight II for the Spanish Navy and F-110 IAMD, which stands for Integrated Air and Missile Defense, for the export market.
The choice of this event as a backdrop is straightforward. The Royal Danish Navy announced a new naval procurement plan that includes frigates, and Navantia had previously presented a proposal for strategic cooperation in Copenhagen in February, promising “timely and reliable delivery starting in 2030,” according to the company’s own statement. The model showcased in Herning is the tangible product supporting that offer.
What Changes in the F-110 Flight II Compared to the Bonifaz Class
The foundation is the Bonifaz class, part of the F-110 program that Navantia is building in Ferrol for Spain. Five ships were contracted in April 2019 for approximately €4.3 billion, according to the program’s page on Wikipedia, and the first of these, Bonifaz (F111), was launched in September 2025, with expected incorporation in 2028. Navantia states that construction is on schedule, “even slightly ahead of time.”
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The Flight II variant takes this hull and stretches it. Its length increases from about 145 meters to 150 meters, adding 5 meters, while the displacement rises from approximately 6,100 tons to 6,700 tons. The beam remains at 18.6 meters. The maximum speed, according to Naval News, exceeds 29 knots, compared to the 26 knots cited for the Flight I, with a cruising speed over 18 knots and a range of about 4,100 nautical miles at 15 knots.
The expected crew is around 170 sailors, with accommodation for another 37 people. This allows space for an onboard staff or aircraft detachments.
Propulsion is of the CODLAG type, combining diesel generators, electric motors, and a gas turbine, a quiet configuration that Navantia inherited from the original design.
The real leap, however, lies in the armament. The Flight I carries a single Mk 41 vertical launcher with 16 cells. The Flight II upgrades to a block of 48 “strike” Mk 41 cells in front of the bridge and an additional module of 16 tactical cells integrated into the superstructure, totaling 64 cells. In practice, according to Naval News, this allows for the deployment of up to 64 SM-2 missiles or as many as 256 ESSM missiles. The ESSM is packaged in groups of four per cell.
The Australian site Defence Connect summarizes the change by stating that Navantia transformed a platform designed for anti-submarine warfare into a vessel focused on air defense and missile defense, with larger hull volume, increased electrical capacity, and more room for the combat system. The author notes a point that resonates well in today’s European context: the importance of magazine depth. A new ship should be designed with significant growth margins.
SPY-7 Radar and the Concept of IAMD
IAMD, or Integrated Air and Missile Defense, is the term NATO uses for the capability to detect, track, and coordinate the neutralization of everything that flies towards a naval force, from inexpensive drones to ballistic missiles. Sensors and weapons from various ships and aircraft share the same tactical picture.
It’s not just about having more missiles; it’s about being able to use them as part of a network.
That’s why the heart of Flight II is the radar. The frigate is equipped with the AN/SPY-7(V)2 from Lockheed Martin, a solid-state S-band radar, but each face increases from 68 to 100 antenna subassemblies, enhancing range and sensitivity. The radar operates with the SCOMBA combat system from Navantia, integrated into the international Aegis fire control cycle and the Cooperative Engagement Capability. This U.S. protocol allows one ship to engage a target another ship is tracking.
Additionally, the list of sensors is extensive. There’s an Indra PRISMA-25X multifunction radar for surface surveillance, two Raytheon AN/SPG-62 fire control radars to guide the SM-2 missiles in the terminal phase, and an electronic warfare package, Rigel and Regulus, also from Indra.
Underwater, the ship is outfitted with a BLUEMASTER hull-mounted sonar and a CAPTAS-4 Compact towed sonar, both from Thales. Thus, the anti-submarine capability has not been abandoned; it has simply ceased to be the priority.
The rest of the armament includes a Leonardo 127 mm gun, eight Kongsberg Naval Strike Missiles in two quad launchers, two dual Mk 32 torpedo launchers for lightweight Mk 54 torpedoes, and two remote-operated 30 mm stations and four 12.7 mm stations from Spanish company Escribano.
According to Naval News, the model also includes a directed energy weapon, circulating munition launchers, and a dedicated capability against drones. The hangar accommodates NH90 or MH-60R helicopters.
The Competition for Denmark and the Brazilian Reflection
Spain, for its part, has already contracted two Flight II units for its navy, in addition to the five Flight I units, three of which are under construction. This weighs in on the bidding process because Denmark would be purchasing a project with an established client rather than a paper design. In the February proposal, Navantia’s president, Ricardo Domínguez, offered technology transfer, involvement of Danish companies, and training support from the Spanish Armada.
However, competition emerged at the same trade fair. A week earlier, British company Babcock signed a collaboration letter with the Danske Flådeskibe consortium, formed by OMT Group, Terma, PensionDanmark, and Semco Maritime. The idea is to offer the Arrowhead 140 project built on Danish soil, promising about 2,000 direct and indirect jobs. I must admit that this battle is likely to be decided by both industrial policy and the technical specifications.
Looking at Brazil, the comparison helps to gauge the scale. The Brazilian Navy is renewing its fleet with the Tamandaré class, constructed by TKMS Estaleiro Brasil Sul in Itajaí, Santa Catarina, by the Águas Azuis Consortium.
According to an official document sent to the Chamber and reported by Metrópoles, the program received R$ 9.525 billion (about US$1.8 billion) by April 2026 and still needs R$ 4.724 billion (about US$850 million) to complete the first batch of four ships. Three new units are projected by 2029. The Tamandaré is an escort profile frigate, not an area air defense ship like the Flight II.
Thus, the Herning model shows where the European frigate market is heading: more cells, larger radar, onboard laser, and drone defense already included in the design. Navantia aims for the first delivery in 2030. Meanwhile, the original Bonifaz has yet to begin sea trials. I wonder if Denmark will prefer firepower or a hull built at home. Share your thoughts in the comments.
Does a ship with 64 cells and expanded radar make sense for Denmark, or will the domestically built hull weigh more?
