Landing helicopter dock (LHD) and Spanish Navy flagship Juan Carlos I is set for sea trials next month with her refit almost complete.
The amphibious assault vessel, first commissioned in 2010, has been in dry dock since July this year but was due to be refloated earlier this week, as per a recent press statement by Spanish shipbuilder Navantia.
Once afloat, the remaining elements of her refurbishment will be completed ahead of scheduled trials at sea next month.
The propulsion system on the LHD has been replaced — an undertaking that has involved laying and connecting more than 35km of power and control cabling, and reconnecting another 31km.
Featuring a ski-jump ramp, the LHD is a multi-purpose aircraft carrier, also capable of carrying Harrier jets as well as Chinook, Seahawk and NH90 helicopters. At 231m long she is the largest ship ever built for Spanish Navy.
The Royal Australian Navy operates two similar Canberra-class LHDs built by Navantia to the same design, but then towed to Australia and completed by BAE Systems.
Navantia also licensed the design, technology transfer and equipment to Turkey’s Sedef Shipyard for the production of its TCG Anadolu, another modified variant of the original LHD design.
- You can read more details about the refit on the Navantia website