Sea trials for Spanish frigate

• Tweet

MADRID, March 15 (UPI) -- The first sea trials of F-105 frigate Cristobal Colon, built for the Spanish navy by Navantia, are under way.

Navantia is testing the ship's maneuverability, propulsion and navigation systems, radar and communications suites.

"These first sea trials, which will be followed by a second batch of sea trials in June, are also verifying, while sailing, the performance of the AEGIS Combat System and the integration of all the Spanish … radars, communications, guns, fire control system and command & control," the company said.

The F-105 frigate is 437 feet long, has a maximum speed of nearly 33 mph and a cruising speed of 20.7 mph.

The Spanish navy is expected to commission the vessel in July.

Navantia said more than 200 people are participating in the sea trials off the northwest coast of the country near the Ferrol estuary.