Santa María-class (Oliver Hazard Perry variant)

The Santa María class consists of six guided missile frigates developed for the Spanish Navy as a successor to the Baleares class. Based on a long-hulled American design, these vessels were conceived as multi-role platforms capable of anti-air, anti-submarine, and anti-surface warfare. Although the initial units were ordered in 1977, production was delayed to prioritize the construction of an aircraft carrier. The lead vessel entered service in 1986, and the class is expected to remain operational until the introduction of the Bonifaz class.

These frigates are engineered with a wider beam than the original design to allow for greater weight reserves and future system upgrades. The primary armament consists of a single-arm missile launcher for anti-air and anti-ship engagements, complemented by a naval gun and a twelve-barrelled close-in weapons system for point defense. Subsurface detection and engagement are managed through a combination of towed array sonar and torpedo tubes. Propulsion is provided by gas turbines driving a single shaft with a controllable pitch propeller, while retractable auxiliary units facilitate maneuvering and docking. The vessels feature twin hangars and a flight deck equipped with a specialized handling system to support the operation of maritime helicopters.

The Spanish Navy operates all six vessels within the 41st Escort Squadron, homeported in Rota. The class has seen active service in international maritime coalitions, including deployments to the Persian Gulf and Red Sea following the 1991 invasion of Kuwait. These units serve as versatile escorts, maintaining a constant presence in naval operations to secure strategic interests and provide defensive capabilities within a fleet structure.