The Principe de Asturias (R11) is an aircraft carrier, the flagship of the Spanish Navy and the second largest vessel in the fleet. She was built in Bazan's Shipyards and delivered to the Spanish Navy on 30 May 1988. Principe de Asturias (R11) Spanish aircraft carrier is permanently assigned to the Alpha Group, comprising the carrier and six Santa Maria-class frigates (a Spanish version of the USN Oliver Hazard Perry FFGs). Other vessels such as logistic ships, tankers and corvettes are frequently assigned to the Group when required. Principe de Asturias and the Alpha Group have participated in peace support operations in the Adriatic Sea.
| General characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Displacement: | 15,912 tons standard, 16,700 tons loaded |
| Length: | 195.9 metres (643 ft) |
| Beam: | 24.3 metres (80 ft) |
| Draught: | 9.4 metres (31 ft) |
| Propulsion: | 2 × General Electric LM2500+ gas turbines in COGAG configuration, one shaft, 46,400 shp |
| Speed: | 26 knots (48 km/h) |
| Range: | 6,500 nautical miles (12,000 km) at 20 knots (37 km/h) |
| Complement: | 763 (total); 600 ship crew, 230 air crew |
| Sensors and processing systems: | Raytheon SPS-52C/D 3D air search radar, ISC Cardion SPS-55 surface search radar, ITT SPN-35A aircraft control radar, FABA SPG-M2B fire control radar, SELEX Sistemi Integrati RTN-11L/X missile approach warning radar, Selex RAN 12 L target designation radar |
| Electronic warfare and decoys: | Nettunel electronic countermeasures unit, Super RBOC, Sensytech AN/SLQ-25 Nixie decoy |
| Armament: | 4 x FABA Meroka Mod 2B CIWS, 12 × Oerlikon L120 20 mm guns |
| Aircraft carried: | 29 fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft |
| Aviation facilities: | 12° ski jump 46.5 m in length |
The design is basically that of the initial US Navy's Sea Control Ship design of the 1970s, modified to enable V/STOL aircraft to be carried. Constructed by the National Company Bazan (then Empresa Nacional Bazán, now Navantia) in their shipyard at Ferrol, Principe de Asturias was delivered to the Navy on 30 May 1988. The construction process had begun eleven years previously, on 29 May 1977. The processing of the steel began on 1 March 1978 and the keel was laid on 8 October 1979. On 22 May 1982, in a ceremony presided over by Juan Carlos I of Spain, the launch took place, with Queen Sofía of Spain as the ship's godmother. The ship made her first sea trials in November 1987. The Thai warship HTMS Chakri Naruebet, delivered in 1997, is based on the Spanish ship's design.
The self-defense armament of Principe de Asturias (R11) Spanish aircraft carrier includes four close defense Meroka systems and six chaff decoy launchers. For offensive weapons, the ship relies on the capabilities of her embarked aircraft. For anti-submarine defense, she relies upon the detection capacity and attacks of her ASW helicopters.
The Principe de Asturias (R11) Spanish aircraft carrier supports AV-8B Harrier II Bravo or AV-8B Harrier II Plus aircraft. The Harriers are armed with AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missile and AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missiles, in addition to GAU-12U cannon. The carrier also has facilities to support helicopters, usually Sikorsky Sea King SH-3H, Agusta AB-212 and Sikorsky SH-3 AEW (Airborne Early Warning) helicopters.
The Principe de Asturias (R11) Spanish aircraft carrier supports a maximum of 29 fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft with up to 12 on deck and 17 aircraft in the hangar. The Principe de Asturias (R11) Spanish aircraft carrier hangar which measures 2,398 m² is accessed by two flight deck lifts. The 5,100 m² flight deck is 176 m in length. Operating V/STOL aircraft, the carrier has the characteristic "ski-jump" (12° here), with the runway sightly off the longitudinal axis, tilted portside.
