Navy· 🇨🇱 Chile

Chilean Navy

The Chilean Navy operates 75 active ships in 2026 — 4 submarines, 8 frigates, 4 amphibious ships, 22 patrol vessels, 19 coastal craft, 13 auxiliaries. It ranks #30 of 80 navies worldwide.

Active ships

752026

Total ships

Major combatants

SEAS Index (Sea Equipment Aggregate Strength)

15.2/ 100

Global rank: #30 / 80

The score reflects a fleet of 12 major combatants, 4 light combatants and 41 minor vessels out of 75 active vessels, weighted by ship category, size and age.

Air wing ×1.00 · sustainment ×1.20 · armament ×1.13 · availability ×0.98

How this score is calculated

Fleet Composition

Patrol boats 22
Coastal boats 19
Support ships 13
Frigates 8
Other ships 5
Submarines 4
Amphibious ships 4
Cargo ships 1

Full inventory in 2026

76 ships

Navy

Type	Class	Ship Name	Hull Number	Status	Year
Amphibious ships
LST	BATRAL	Rancagua	LST-92	Active	1983
	BATRAL	Chacabuco	LST-95	Active	1986
LSM	Elicura	Elicura	LSM-90	Active	1968
LPD	Foudre	Sargento Aldea	LSDH-91	Active	2011
Cargo ships
Troopship	—	Aquiles	AP-41	Active	1988
Coastal boats
Coastal patrol craft	Alacalufe	Alacalufe	LSG-1603	Active	1989
	Alacalufe	Hallef	LSG-1604	Active	1989
	Ona	Ona	LSG-1625	Active	2011
	Protector	Aysén	LSG-1609	Active	1999
	Protector	Corral	LSG-1610	Active	2000
	Protector	Concepción	LSG-1611	Active	2000
	Protector	San Antonio	LSG-1613	Active	2000
	Protector	Caldera	LSG-1612	Active	2001
	Protector	Antofagasta	LSG-1614	Active	2001
	Protector	Arica	LSG-1615	Active	2001
	Protector	Coquimbo	LSG-1616	Active	2001
	Protector	Puerto Natales	LSG-1617	Active	2001
	Protector	Valparaíso	LSG-1618	Active	2002
	Protector	Punta Arenas	LSG-1619	Active	2002
	Protector	Talcahuano	LSG-1620	Active	2002
	Protector	Quintero	LSG-1621	Active	2003
	Protector	Chiloé	LSG-1622	Active	2003
	Protector	Puerto Montt	LSG-1623	Active	2003
	Protector	Iquique	LSG-1624	Active	2004
Frigates
Anti-aircraft frigate	Adelaide	Almirante Latorre	FFG-14	Active	2020
	Adelaide	Capitán Prat	FFG-11	Active	2020
Multi-role frigate	Duke	Almirante Cochrane	FF-05	Active	2006
	Duke	Almirante Lynch	FF-07	Active	2007
	Duke	Almirante Condell	FF-06	Active	2008
Multi-purpose frigate	Karel Doorman	Almirante Blanco Encalada	FF-15	Active	2005
	Karel Doorman	Almirante Riveros	FF-18	Active	2007
Anti-submarine frigate	Type 22	Almirante Williams	FF-19	Active	2003
Other ships
Landing craft utility	CDIC	Soldado Canave	—	Active	2011
Landing craft mechanized	CTM	Cabo Reyes	—	Active	2011
	CTM	Soldado Fuentes	—	Active	2011
Barquentine tall ship	Juan Sebastián de Elcano	Esmeralda	BE-43	Active	1954
Ironclad turret ship	—	Huáscar	RH	Non Commissioned	1879
Patrol boats
Patrol boat	Dabur	Grumete Díaz	LPC-1814	Active	1990
	Dabur	Grumete Salinas	LPC-1816	Active	1991
	Dabur	Grumete Machado	LPC-1820	Active	1995
	Dabur	Grumete Hudson	LPC-1823	Active	1995
Offshore patrol vessel	OPV-80	Piloto Pardo	OPV-81	Active	2007
	OPV-80	Comandante Toro	OPV-82	Active	2008
	OPV-80	Marinero Fuentealba	OPV-83	Active	2014
	OPV-80	Cabo Odger	OPV-84	Active	2017
Fast attack craft	Reshef	Casma	LAM-30	Active	1979
	Reshef	Chipana	LAM-31	Active	1980
	Reshef	Angamos	LAM-34	Active	1997
Large patrol craft	Taitao	Contramaestre Micalvi	PSG-71	Active	1993
	Taitao	Contramaestre Ortiz	PSG-72	Active	1993
	Taitao	Aspirante Isaza	PSG-73	Active	1994
	Taitao	Piloto Sibbald	PSG-78	Active	1996
Hydrographic patrol ship	Taitao	Corneta Cabrales	PSH-77	Active	1996
Small patrol boat	Type 44	Pelluhue	LSR-1703	Active	2001
	Type 44	Arauco	LSR-1704	Active	2001
	Type 44	Chacao	LSR-1705	Active	2001
	Type 44	Queitao	LSR-1706	Active	2001
	Type 44	Guaiteca	LSR-1707	Active	2001
	Type 44	Curaumilla	LSR-1708	Active	2001
Submarines
Attack submarine	Scorpène	O'Higgins	SS-23	Active	2005
	Scorpène	Carrera	SS-22	Active	2006
	Thomson	Thomson	SS-20	Active	1984
	Thomson	Simpson	SS-21	Active	1984
Support ships
Icebreaker	—	Almirante Viel	AGB-46	Active	2024
Oceanographic ship	—	Cabo de Hornos	AGS-61	Active	2013
Buoy tender	—	Ingeniero Slight	BRS-63	Active	1997
Oiler replenishment	—	Araucano	AO-53	Active	2010
AHTSV	—	Lientur	ATF-60	Active	2023
	—	Janequeo	ATF-65	Active	2021
Catamaran	—	Buzo Sobenes	YFB-113	Active	2013
	—	Grumete Bolados	YFB-112	Active	2016
Small landing craft	—	Guardián Brito	BSG-118	Active	2010
Oiler replenishment	Henry J. Kaiser	Almirante Montt	AO-52	Active	2010
Ferry	Meteoro	Grumete Pérez	YFB-116	Active	1974
Medical-dental patrol vessel	Taitao	Cirujano Videla	PMD-74	Active	1994
Tugboat	Veritas	Galvarino	ATF-66	Active	1987

Overview

The Chilean Navy is a formidable and professional force, widely regarded as one of the most capable in Latin America. Its maritime strategy is dictated by Chile's unique geography, which includes a long coastline, an extensive Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and interests in the Pacific and Antarctica. The navy is tasked with protecting sea lanes of communication, on which the nation's trade-dependent economy relies, and asserting sovereignty over its vast maritime territories.

The fleet is structured around a core of modern surface combatants and a capable submarine force. This includes frigates, diesel-electric attack submarines, and various support and patrol vessels. The submarine force, consisting of Scorpène and Thomson-class boats, has undergone significant modernization, including upgrades to their tactical and navigation systems to enhance their stealth and operational performance in challenging environments. This investment underscores their strategic importance for sea denial and maritime surveillance.

The Chilean Navy's operational reach enables it to patrol its EEZ effectively, support its Antarctic bases, and participate in international naval exercises. The construction of a new, domestically-built icebreaker further illustrates its commitment to its Antarctic claims and its ability to operate in demanding polar conditions. The ongoing fleet renewal and the drive for greater self-sufficiency in shipbuilding signal a clear strategic direction aimed at maintaining a modern, balanced, and regionally superior naval force.

Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) and other open sources. Last updated on 12 August 2026. Suggest a change

Frequently Asked Questions

How many ships does Chile's navy have?

Chilean Navy operates 75 active naval vessels. Including reserve and training ships, the total fleet size is 76 vessels.

How does Chile's navy rank globally?

Chilean Navy ranks #30 out of 80 navies worldwide based on the SEAS Index (Sea Equipment Aggregate Strength), which measures overall naval capability considering fleet composition and combat effectiveness.

Does Chile have submarines?

Yes, Chilean Navy operates 4 submarines. These include both nuclear-powered and conventional diesel-electric submarines for various missions including strategic deterrence, anti-submarine warfare, and reconnaissance.

Does Chile have aircraft carriers?

No, Chilean Navy does not currently operate aircraft carriers. Power projection relies on other surface combatants and land-based naval aviation.

What is the SEAS Index score of Chile?

Chile has a SEAS Index (Sea Equipment Aggregate Strength) score of 15.2 out of 100. This composite score weights every active hull by category (carriers and cruisers highest, then destroyers, submarines and frigates), size and age, with nuclear-powered submarines counted higher and minor and amphibious vessels capped at 30% of the combatant points; it then credits the carriers for their embarked air wing, the surface combatants for their replenishment ships and the combatants for their naval missiles, and applies a budget-based availability proxy to the whole fleet.

What types of ships does Chile's navy operate?

Chilean Navy operates a diverse fleet including 22 patrol boats, 19 coastal boats, 13 support ships, 8 frigates. The fleet composition reflects the country's maritime defense priorities and strategic requirements.

Compare this Navy

🇨🇱 Chile vs

🇦🇷 Argentina 🇧🇴 Bolivia 🇧🇷 Brazil 🇨🇴 Colombia 🇵🇪 Peru

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Latest Data Updates

AUG 122026 Updated 76 inventory entries added across 23 ship classes
JUL 242026 Updated Thomson linked to its equipment page; Adelaide linked to its equipment page