Navantia mentions the F-35B when commenting on the grounding of the Spanish aircraft carrier 'Juan Carlos I' L-61

On July 17, the Spanish Navy's aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos I" L-61 entered dry dock for maintenance and modernization work.

An official magazine of the Ministry of Defense: “Spain will be left without embarked fixed-wing”
Spain plans its first aircraft carrier capable of operating US-style CATOBAR fighters

Yesterday, the Spanish company Navantia announced that the work is in its final phase, with the launch of the Spanish Navy's flagship expected on Monday, November 10. Once launched, "the remaining work will continue until completion, followed by sea trials scheduled for the first half of December", Navantia stated.

The Spanish company has announced that an average of 300 workers and more than 35 specialized companies are participating in this process, "which reflects the magnitude and technical complexity of the project, one of the most significant undertakings carried out since its delivery to the Navy in 2010". The L-61 was launched on March 10, 2008 and was registered in the Official List of Navy Ships on September 30, 2010. This is the ship's third dry-docking. The first two took place in 2015 and 2020. Just like then, the work is being carried out at the Navantia shipyard in Puerto Real, Cadiz.

Navantia explained that among the main tasks is "the replacement of the propulsion system, which will optimize its performance and guarantee its operability for the coming years. The work has included the dismantling of the existing pods, the uninstallation of 48 pieces of equipment from the previous system, and the installation of 50 new pieces of equipment associated with the next-generation propulsion system." The Spanish company added: "The project has required the laying and connection of more than 35,000 meters of cabling, both power and control, and the reconnection of another 31,000 meters of existing and reusable cabling, to achieve the complete integration of the new system."

The Spanish company also notes that "a comprehensive dry-docking program has been carried out, including: surface treatment of the superstructure and hull; overhaul of transverse thrusters, stabilizers, anchors, and chains; renewal of hull anodes" (referring to sacrificial anodes, which protect the ship's hull against corrosion); "impressed current cathodic protection systems (ICCP) and antifouling system (MGPS); replacement and overhaul of more than 200 seacocks; cleaning and painting of nearly 80 tanks and bilges, among others."

Navantia also highlights "the maintenance carried out on the diesel generator sets, a project that requires a complete overhaul and ensures the reliability and future availability to power the new pods." Yesterday, through its YouTube channel, Navantia published this video showing and explaining this work, a video in which the most striking feature is the ship's enormous propellers (the video is in Spanish; you can activate automatic English subtitles in the bottom bar of the player):

A significant detail in this video is that Navantia points out: "The planned air capacity is that it can transport and operate up to 30 aircraft, including medium and heavy helicopters, in an amphibious operations profile, or between 10 and 12 F35B or AV-8B+ aircraft, plus a similar number of medium helicopters, when operating in an aircraft carrier mission profile." Curiously, the press release published yesterday by Navantia made no mention of this. Have these maintenance works included tasks to adapt the ship for an aircraft that Spain has no intention of purchasing? Or perhaps there have been some changes in this regard that have not yet been made public?

---

Main photo: Armada Española.