BAM-class (Meteoro)

The Meteoro class, also designated Buque de Acción Marítima (BAM), is a series of modular offshore patrol vessels manufactured by Navantia for the Spanish Navy. The program was initiated to replace several older vessel classes, including the Anaga, Toralla, Barceló, Conejera, and Descubierta classes. Construction of the first unit began in October 2007. The project is divided into phases; the first phase, consisting of six patrol vessels, was completed in January 2019.

The BAM utilizes a common platform designed for multiple roles through modularity. Primary mission profiles include maritime traffic control, escort operations in low-intensity or asymmetric warfare, and the interdiction of piracy, drug trafficking, and human trafficking. The design also supports search and rescue, humanitarian aid, and environmental law enforcement. Specialized variants are configured for specific tasks by modifying the base platform. The oceanographic version includes scientific laboratories, a data center, and a hyperbaric chamber, while omitting a helicopter hangar. The underwater intervention version, designated BAM-IS, is designed for submarine rescue, diving support, and shipwreck intervention.

Six vessels are currently active in the Spanish Navy. The first four units—Meteoro, Rayo, Relámpago, and Tornado—are stationed at Las Palmas Naval Base. Two subsequent units, Audaz and Furor, are based at Cartagena Naval Base. These six vessels entered service between 2011 and 2019.

An underwater intervention vessel, named Poseidón, began construction in July 2023 with a planned delivery in 2026. In 2023, the Spanish government authorized the construction of two additional maritime patrol vessels equipped with anti-submarine warfare capabilities to replace retired Descubierta-class ships. These units are projected for service entry in the mid-to-late 2020s. Two further units were authorized for design and construction in September 2025.