The Spanish Navy (Armada) sank the previously decommissioned patrol vessel “ SINKEX-26 ” during the live-fire exercise on 4 November 2026, using a single torpedo. The conventionally powered submarineInfanta Elena” was used. The Armada confirmed the operation in an official statement, describing it as a planned live-ammunition exercise to test systems and operational procedures. S-81 "Isaac Peral”. The Armada confirmed the operation in an official statement and described it as a planned live-ammunition exercise to test systems and operational procedures.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the exercise provided realistic testing of the submarine’s and its crew’s operational capabilities. The single-torpedo hit met the exercise’s primary objective: to test the effectiveness of the weapons system under operational conditions and validate procedures. The sinking took place in a designated exercise area in the Atlantic .
Before the sinking, the Armada says, the required environmental and safety precautions were taken. These included removing reusable equipment and draining and properly disposing of fuel, oils and other potentially harmful substances on board the target vessel. With these measures, the Navy complied with the applicable regulations, which aim to minimise risks to the marine environment and shipping.
With this deployment, the Armada is continuing to integrate the new S-80 submarine class into the fleet. The S-81 “Isaac Peral” is the first vessel of this class and represents a capability increase, particularly in sensors, command capability and weapons effectiveness. According to official sources, participation in SINKEX exercises remains an established practice in allied navies for testing weapons systems, tactics and crew procedures under controlled conditions.
The target vessel “Infanta Elena” had previously been decommissioned and prepared for the sinking operation. The Navy stressed that the procedure complies with international standards for such exercises. Detailed ammunition data were not released.
The operation comes at a time when Spain is modernising its maritime capabilities. For the Armada, the S-80 class’s reliable operational readiness is important for national defence planning and contributions to multinational alliances. According to previous statements, further exercises and tests of the new platforms form part of the regular planning horizon, although no additional dates have been announced.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).