Navantia Begins Manufacturing an Innovative Prototype Module for Shipborne Point Defense Systems at the CFA

Navantia, through its center of excellence, Navantia COEX Advanced Manufacturing, has begun manufacturing an innovative prototype module for shipborne point defense systems at the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center (CFA). This module was conceived from the design phase onward using advanced manufacturing processes and new materials.

The goal of this project is to improve the system's performance while also strengthening key aspects such as security, maintenance, quality, cost, versatility, and sustainability.

Designed with a plug-and-play approach, the module allows for quick installation on ships already in operation, providing them with additional capabilities quickly and efficiently. Its self-supporting structure also facilitates both storage in shipyards and onboard integration within short timeframes, simplifying deployment processes.

The final design is the result of using innovative materials and new manufacturing techniques that allow for complex and disruptive geometries that are difficult to achieve using traditional methods. In particular, the use of advanced polymers offers greater design freedom and enables a highly optimized solution. The result is a lightweight and innovative module, with an estimated 40 % weight reduction compared to solutions based on conventional materials and processes.

The production of this prototype is the first 3D-printed project carried out at the CFA facilities using CEAD’s large-format 3D printer, a milestone for both Navantia and Spanish industry.

The CFA Cádiz’s involvement in these types of projects highlights its role as a technology platform serving industry. The center’s capabilities—which include additive manufacturing, robotics, metrology, digitization, and drone technologies—enable the development of innovative solutions and facilitate technology transfer to strategic sectors such as the shipbuilding and defense industries.

These types of initiatives reinforce the CFA’s position as a collaborative environment among companies, technology centers, and industry, driving the development of new solutions based on advanced technologies and helping to strengthen the industrial ecosystem.