GlobalMilitary.net Open-source military intelligence Updated daily
Head-to-head

Navy comparison: Flag of Spain Spain vs Flag of France France

Spain operates 43 warships compared to 80 for France. Counting auxiliaries, reserve and non-commissioned hulls, the fleets number 84 and 166.

SEAS (Sea Equipment Aggregate Strength) Index face-off Full ranking →
Naval ensign of Spain SpainWorld #17 20.7
SEAS Index / 100

France leads on 7 of 8 categories

Naval ensign of France FranceWorld #8 39.6
  • 0 Aircraft carriersweight ×200 · size, era 1
  • 0 Destroyersweight ×50 · size, era 10
  • 2 Submarinesweight ×45 · size, era 9
  • 11 Frigatesweight ×30 · size, era 12
  • 3 Amphibiousweight ×12 · size, era 3
  • 6 Mine warfareweight ×5 · size, era 19
  • 21 Patrol boatsweight ×2 · size, era 24
  • 0 Unmannedweight ×2 · size, era 2
  • 8 Support shipsnot scored 86
  • 33 Other shipsnot scored 0
Spain France Bars: weighted contribution to the SEAS Index (hulls × category weight × size, era and propulsion factors, minor vessels capped at 30 % of the combatant points; the air-wing, sustainment, armament and availability multipliers apply on top) · figures: active hulls at each side's latest inventory year · Methodology
Key figures as of 2026
Spain France Ratio
Official name Spanish Navy French Navy
Total ships 84 166 🇫🇷 2.0×
Active ships 84 166 🇫🇷 2.0×
On order / planned 13 12 🇪🇸 1.1×
Submarines 2 9 🇫🇷 4.5×
Principal surface combatants 11 22 🇫🇷 2.0×
Aircraft carriers 0 1 🇫🇷
Amphibious ships 3 3 —
Show full breakdown · 3 more rowsHide the 3 extra rows
Patrol boats 21 24 🇫🇷 1.1×
Mine warfare 6 19 🇫🇷 3.2×
Auxiliaries 41 86 🇫🇷 2.1×
Backbone classes one per tier held
🇪🇸 SpainAgosta-class ×1Santa María-class ×6Galicia-class ×2
🇫🇷 FranceCharles de Gaulle-class ×1Barracuda-class ×4FREMM frigate-class ×8
Explore this matchup
Go deeper · same matchup, other lenses
Military strength Air forces Armies Ranks & insignia
Change opponent
Spain vsItalyUnited KingdomGreecePolandNetherlands
France vsUnited StatesUnited KingdomGermanyItalyRussia

Frequently Asked Questions

Which country has more naval ships, Spain or France?
France has a larger navy with 80 warships in service compared to Spain's 43.
Which navy has more submarines, Spain or France?
France operates more submarines with 9 compared to Spain's 2.
Which country has more aircraft carriers, Spain or France?
France has 1 aircraft carrier(s) compared to Spain's 0.
Which navy has more destroyers, Spain or France?
France operates 10 destroyers compared to Spain's 0.
Which navy has more frigates, Spain or France?
France operates 12 frigates compared to Spain's 11.
How do the Spain and France navies compare in size?
France's navy is 1.9 times larger than Spain's in terms of total ships (80 vs 43).