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Spanish Navy
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Spanish Navy

Armada Española, the naval service of Spain's armed forces.

The Spanish Navy used one of its robot boats as a launcher at REPMUS26 in Portugal, between 31 August and 25 September 2026: an Arquimea Q-Slam 40 flew from it, and the munition's video arrived in Spanish naval command systems.

Last refreshed: 7 October 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

Spain launched a loitering munition from a drone boat and is buying more AUVs.

Timeline for Spanish Navy

#13 21 Sept

Received live video from the launched munition

Autonomous Systems: Land & Sea: Arquimea fires a Q-Slam 40 from a USV
#13 14 Sept

Opened a tender to refit two Sparus II AUVs

Autonomous Systems: Land & Sea: Belgium buys Exail mine kit for Ukraine
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Background

The Spanish Navy now tests armed roles for its uncrewed boats, not just their seamanship. During REPMUS26, the NATO trial of uncrewed systems held on Portugal's Tróia Peninsula from 31 August to 25 September 2026, a Spanish robot boat fired a Q-Slam 40 loitering munition made by Arquimea, and the navy's command systems received its video. Infodefensa says the weapon had never before left a naval drone.

Its underwater robot spending runs at a smaller scale. A Cartagena tender published on 7 October 2026 seeks a refit of a pair of Sparus II underwater drones, with offers due by 23 October. European navies and universities that autumn were mostly ordering such vehicles singly or in pairs.

The Armada Española serves as the naval branch of Spain's armed forces, with a major base at Cartagena on the Mediterranean coast.

Common Questions
What is the Spanish Navy's Sparus II tender?
On 7 October 2026 the Spanish Navy at Cartagena opened a tender to refit two Sparus II AUVs (TED 691082-2026).Source: TED
Did the Spanish Navy launch a loitering munition from a drone boat?
Yes. At REPMUS26 an Arquimea Q-Slam 40 was launched from a Spanish Navy USV.Source: Infodefensa
What is the Spanish Navy called in Spanish?
Armada Española.Source: Spanish Ministry of Defence
Source Material