Some news from Spain. 
The new Spanish Navy Guidelines - 2007, have been published some days ago.
The document of 24 pages made by the Spanish Navy and signed by the Admiral Zaragoza Soto, is mainly a continuation of the objectives and plans already presented in the Spanish Navy Guidelines - 2004, although introduce the adaptations of procedure caused by the last reform of the Spanish Armed Forces.
A very simplified resume of the objectives, programs and acquisitions procurements to short-mid term included in the document:
- Common to Navy and Marine Infantry:
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Reaching the 100% of manpower of Troop & Sailors level. (10.300 sailors & 4.800 Marines).
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Improving the conditions of life and work to raise the level of retention.
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Maintain the desired level of operating capacity and to continue the distant deployments and exercises with real fire to maintain as high as possible the levels of training and efficacy.
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Continuing the refinement of the Navy organization to improve the efficacy and simplification of its structures.
- Navy:
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Continuing the development of the national Combat System "SCOMBA" and the national Underwater Remote Search System "SIRAMICOR".
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Continuing the development of the national AIP System for the S-80A.
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Continuing the implementation of the Maritime Action HQ.
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Culmination of the Phase II of the F-100 program: Frigates F-105 (now in construction) and F-106 (waiting final Cabinet approval).
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Completing the BPE program: LHD Juan Carlos I (now in construction) and to proceed to decommission the two ageing LSTs Newport class (L-41 Hernán Cortés & L-42 Pizarro).
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Continuing the S-80A program: With the objective to maintain a submarine fleet of 8 units after the commission of the S-80s.
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Continuing the Phase II of the BAM program: With the Phase I already in execution at this moment (4 ships "Patrol Version" ordered to Navantia Shipyard). The Phase II would comprise another six ships "Patrol Version". Also inside the BAM Program is on study the renewal of the hydrographic ships, submarine rescue & salvage vessel, ship of intelligence, light transport ships, trawlers and ship of support to the oceanographic investigation.
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Completing the AOR Program: Finish and commission the AOR "Cantabria" (now in construction by Navantia Shipyards) and then decommission the Fleet Oiler "Marqués de la Ensenada" (A-11).
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Completing the LCM-1E program: LCM-112 to LCM-114 (now in construction) to complete the projected 14 LCMs and retire the older LCM-8s.
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Start the integration of the Tomahawk missiles: The Tomahawk will be integrated in the F-100 Class and the new AIP submarines S-80A (already ordered to Navantia Shipyards).
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Start the UAV & USV acquisitions: Undisclosed model at this time.
- Spanish Navy Air Fleet (FLOAN).
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Continuing with the Phase I of the program NH-90: 11 NH-90 ordered for the Navy (one of those to serve as prototype for the AEW version). Another 17 NH-90 are planned to be ordered in the Phase II.
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Start the renovation process of the Harrier AV-8B+ fleet by the F-35B: Project intended to be undertaken jointly with the Spanish Air Force.
- Marine Infantry:
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Completing the Piranha Program: Acquisition and reception of the second series of Piranha III vehicles.
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Start of the VAAMTAC* Program: Reception of VAAMTACs for the MArine Infantry to replace or complement the Hummers in service.
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Continuing with the SPIKE Program: Reception of the SPIKE-LR destined to the Marine Infantry. (The Phase I now in execution ordered 260 launchers & 2600 missiles for the Spanish Army and Marine Infantry. The planed Phase II would add another 84 launchers & 840 missiles)
*: The VAAMTAC is and undisclosed vehicle at this moment. Is known that there are some political interests pressuring the Navy and the Marine Infantry to make an acquisition of Rebecos (Uro VAMTAC) identical to the models in service with the Spanish Army, but at this moment the vehicle of Urovesa has not surpassed the hard tests of the Spanish Marines. Moreover they are demanding more hummers and rejecting the Rebecos for years. In this situation instead of including the designation: "VAMTAC" (Vehículo de Alta Movilidad TÁCtica - Vehicle of High Tactical Mobility) the document included the denomination "VAAMTAC" (Vehículo Anfibio de Alta Movilidad TÁCtica - Amphibious Vehicle of High Tactical Mobility) seems to indicate that is a matter of a new version especially modified of the Rebeco (something to what Urovesa denied to do until now) or maybe means the Navy intentions to acquire more Hummers. We will see...
Link to the Spanish Navy Guidelines - 2007. (Spanish Version - PDF Format).
Edited to add an alternative link if the put above have any problem or the connection is too slow:
Alternate link to the Spanish Navy Guidelines - 2007. (Spanish Version - PDF Format).
