The Spanish Council of Ministers has approved the launch of the definition phase for the Spanish Navy’s future intelligence-gathering vessel (BAM-AGI).
Spanish shipbuilder Navantia will carry out engineering studies to define the platform over an 11-month period, under a contract valued at an estimated 14 million euros ($16.30 million).
The phase will pave the way for the subsequent design and construction of an intelligence vessel incorporating new operational features and technological advancements, while defining the project’s scope and mitigating development risks.
To Upgrade Maritime Signals Intelligence
Part of Spain’s Industrial and Technological Plan for Security and Defence, the new vessel will replace the aging Alerta intelligence-gathering ship, which has been in service since 1992.
The BAM-AGI is intended to provide the Spanish Navy with advanced capabilities for signal collection and processing, cyber defense, and naval electronic warfare, enabling the service to respond more effectively to emerging threats.
Its intelligence suite originates from the Santiago program, which seeks to modernize data collection and analysis across all branches of the Spanish Armed Forces.
The initiative follows a broader trend among European navies — including Germany, Poland, and Sweden — that have launched programs to renew their surface-based intelligence-gathering assets.
