Navantia aims to return to profitability in 2027, and to achieve this, the company has designed a roadmap that includes significant investments in R&D and expansion into new business areas related to technological development. Among these is a market that is gaining momentum in the defense sector: that of autonomous military vessels.
According to Expansión, the state-owned company is exploring the potential of this business and is in talks with Spain, the United Kingdom, and Australia to assess the needs of their respective navies. The goal is to analyze the possibilities offered by so-called hybrid fleets, which combine manned ships with autonomous or unmanned systems.
Navantia, wholly owned by the State Industrial Holdings Company (SEPI), already has a platform developed specifically for this new scenario through its subsidiary in the United Kingdom. It is the LASV75 (Large Autonomous Surface Vessel), an autonomous surface vessel designed to operate alongside manned warships and drones—both underwater and aerial.
According to the company, the LASV75 can be built quickly and on a large scale, at a significantly lower cost than manned vessels. Its modular hull also allows for different configurations. The platform was showcased in late May at the Combined Naval Event, held in Farnborough, United Kingdom.
Beyond the autonomous platforms themselves, one of the pillars of Navantia’s strategy in this area is the development of its combat cloud. This system is designed to collect, process, and distribute tactical and operational information in real time in an agile, decentralized, and secure manner.
This proprietary technology enables the coordinated operation of drones, aircraft, and marine and underwater platforms—both manned and unmanned. The company is thus developing a system that serves as a link between the various platforms and technologies that make up a hybrid fleet.
The shipyard in San Fernando (Cádiz), where Navantia Sistemas has its headquarters, will soon host a second event to showcase the capabilities of this combat cloud.
Navantia is also participating in NATO’s Repmus (Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping using Maritime Unmanned Systems) exercise, designed as a test bed for the integration of technologies that combine manned and unmanned platforms.
Navantia’s strategy in this new market also includes the possibility of forming business partnerships. According to sources consulted, the company is exploring both acquiring stakes in other companies and creating joint ventures.
This initiative is part of a strategy to collaborate with other major players in the shipbuilding sector, in line with the partnerships Navantia has recently entered into with companies such as Fincantieri and TKMS.
The commitment to autonomous systems is thus part of the strategic plan through which Navantia aims to return to profitability by 2027, relying on investment in R&D and the development of new technological capabilities for the military shipbuilding business.
