Australian officer finds Spanish frigate mirrors his own destroyer - Big Tech and the digital economy

During the multinational Pacific Dragon exercise, HMAS Sydney officer Nicholas Newton discovered that Spain’s Álvaro de Bazán frigate shared the same basic design as his Australian destroyer. The resemblance dates back to Australia’s decision to base its Hobart-class ships on Spain’s F-100 frigates.

Lieutenant Nicholas Newton, a surface warfare officer aboard the Australian destroyer HMAS Sydney, embarked on Spain’s Álvaro de Bazán during the Pacific Dragon exercise. The multinational drill focused on air and missile defence, and Newton joined the US command team operating from the Spanish ship as an operations officer.

The officer soon realised that the frigate’s layout was remarkably familiar. According to Navy News, the official publication of the Royal Australian Navy, the Álvaro de Bazán was effectively the same ship as Sydney, structure by structure. The comparison was especially striking because Australia classifies its vessel as a destroyer, while Spain calls the Álvaro de Bazán a frigate.

The explanation lies in the Spanish F-100 programme. Designed and built by Navantia in Ferrol, the class began with the Álvaro de Bazán. Australia later used that architecture as the basis for its three Hobart-class air-defence destroyers: HMAS Hobart, HMAS Brisbane and HMAS Sydney.

Navantia contributed to the design and provided technical support, while the ships were built in Australia through an industrial programme involving ASC, Raytheon and the Australian government. Sydney, the third and final vessel of the class, entered service on 18 May 2020.

The two classes are not identical in every respect. Australia adapted the Spanish design to meet its own operational requirements, even though both use the Aegis combat system to combine radar information with weapons for detecting and engaging air threats. Sydney also carries anti-ship missiles, torpedoes, sonar systems, naval guns and helicopters.

Newton noticed differences in the Spanish crew’s daily organisation, including schedules and procedures. He also pointed to the atmosphere aboard the Álvaro de Bazán, mentioning flight-deck barbecues, music and the hospitality of its sailors.

His deployment also involved a practical coordination challenge. After the main Pacific Dragon missile-defence activities, the participating ships had to leave the area because a hurricane approaching with winds of up to 121 kilometres per hour threatened the region. Seven vessels needed fuel before they could move to safety.

Newton helped coordinate their movements and refuelling from the Spanish frigate, while the US logistics ship USNS Washington Chambers supplied fuel to the participating units. The operation enabled all seven ships to head towards safer areas before the storm arrived.

Newton’s experience highlighted the international reach of a naval design originally developed for Spain. The F-100 architecture gave Australia a starting point for its air-defence destroyers, which were then adapted to Australian military and industrial requirements. During Pacific Dragon, that shared heritage allowed an Australian officer to recognise the structure of a foreign ship almost immediately, while also revealing the operational differences between the two navies.

Sources: Xataka.