The US State Department has approved a potential sale of five Aegis shipsets for the Spanish Navy’s new F-110 frigates.

A contract for the construction of five frigates is expected to be awarded this year and Navantia is already working on some elements of the ships’ systems and design.

The potential sale of US military equipment to Spain is worth an estimated $860.4 million and includes five MK7 Aegis weapon systems with computing infrastructure, fire control systems, baseline VII MK 41 vertical launching systems (VLS).

Included in the sale are two all-up-round MK 54 Mod 0 lightweight torpedoes, twenty SM-2 Block IIIB missiles and MK 13 canisters with AN/DKT-71 warhead compatible telemeter. Other systems to be delivered under the potential sale include UHF SATCOMs, AN/SLQ-24E Torpedo countermeasures systems and decoy launching systems.

Spain already operates five Aegis-equipped F-100 frigates and is proficient at using the AEGIS system.

“Spain has demonstrated the capability, flexibility, and responsibility necessary to acquire this AEGIS system into its fleet and will continue to operate it as required to ensure interoperability as a highly valued NATO partner. Spain will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment and support into its armed forces,” the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in its statement.

The prime contractors on the sale would be Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and General Dynamics.