Juan Carlos I-class
Spanish amphibious assault ship, introduced in 2010, displaces 26,000 tons.
| Subtype | Amphibious assault ship |
| Displacement | 26000 tons |
| Crew | 261 members |
| Width | 32.0 m (105.0 ft) |
| Length | 230.82 m (757.3 ft) |
| Propulsion | 2 × 11 MW POD, GE ITP LM2500 + Navantia MAN 16V32/40 |
| Range | 9000 km at 15 knots |
| Maximum speed | 21 knots |
- 4 × RWS Sentinel 2.0
- 4 × 12.7 mm machine guns
- 2 x BPDMS (FBNW)
- 1 x VLS (FBNW)
- AV-8B Harrier II
- Chinook
- Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk
- NH90
- F-35B
Description
The Juan Carlos I is a multi-purpose landing helicopter dock and aircraft carrier operated by the Spanish Navy. Developed under the designation Buque de Proyección Estratégica (Strategic Projection Vessel), the design was approved in September 2003. The ship was ordered to replace the Newport-class tank landing ships Hernán Cortés and Pizarro and to provide a platform for carrier-based aviation following the withdrawal of the aircraft carrier Príncipe de Asturias. Navantia commenced construction in May 2005 at shipyards in Ferrol and Fene. The vessel was launched in March 2008 and commissioned in September 2010.
The ship's design incorporates a flight deck with a ski-jump ramp to support short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) operations. The deck includes landing spots for vertical-takeoff aircraft and helicopters, including heavy-lift models such as the CH-47 Chinook and V-22 Osprey. Internal facilities consist of a two-level multi-functional garage and hangar area for vehicles and cargo. A stern well deck allows for the deployment of landing craft and amphibious vehicles. The vessel employs diesel-electric propulsion connected to azimuthal pods, marking the first use of this technology in the Spanish Navy.
Operational capability includes the embarkation of the AV-8B Harrier II and helicopters such as the NH90, SH-60 Seahawk, and CH-47 Chinook. Reports in 2025 indicated that the Spanish government had ruled out the acquisition of the F-35B, with projections suggesting that carrier-based fighter operations on the Juan Carlos I will conclude around 2030. The ship is home-ported at Naval Station Rota.
The design has been utilized for international naval programs. The Royal Australian Navy operates two Canberra-class ships based on the Juan Carlos I design, with hulls constructed in Spain before being transported to Australia for completion. Navantia also provided design, technology transfer, and technical assistance to Turkey for the construction of TCG Anadolu, a modified variant of the class commissioned in 2023.