The Spanish Directorate General for Armaments and Materials (DGAM) has awarded the technology group Indra Sistemas the SILAEM research and development contract. A short-range, rocket-based launch system on a “fire-and-forget” basis is to be developed for 51 million euros, which in future will provide short-range self-protection for ships of the Spanish Navy such as the light aircraft carrier “Juan Carlos I”. The program runs until August 2028.
The order comprises two system variants: Firstly, a self-sufficient, independently operable launch system, and secondly, a version that will be integrated into the Spanish command and weapon deployment system SCOMBA. Both are to be developed, manufactured, qualified, validated, integrated and tested under real conditions.
The SILAEM programme is part of the industrial plan for defence and security presented last April, which provides for six special modernization programmes (PEM) for the navy. One of these is the “carrier-based launch system”, which explicitly addresses the protection of ships against air and missile threats in high-risk scenarios. 70 million euros have been earmarked for this PEM in the current financial year, and Indra has also received advance funding of 42 million euros from the Ministry of Industry.
Years of capability gap
The order marks an important breakthrough after the Spanish navy had tried in vain for years to procure a missile-based point defense system. Around a year ago, a tender for an ASMD system worth 7.5 million euros was canceled. An offer from MBDA Spain was not considered at the time.
The aim of these – ultimately failed – projects was to protect the most valuable units of the Armada Española, including the amphibious transport ships “Galicia” and “Castilla” as well as the supply ships “Patiño” and “Cantabria” in addition to the “Juan Carlos I”.
MBDA Spain had already investigated the feasibility of short-range air defense systems based on the Mistral missile on behalf of the DGAM in 2019 and 2021, including various launch solutions from the SIMBAD family. However, these initiatives remained without operational implementation.
With SILAEM, the Spanish Navy now has a concrete, state-funded development line for a modern, integrated ship self-protection system for the first time – and is thus closing a critical capability gap that has existed for years.
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