- During the conference, the project “Essential Elements of the Autonomous Ship” was unveiled — a one-year programme open to companies in the sector.
- “The autonomous ship will embody a cultural shift that safeguards the combatant and will redefine the rules of naval warfare,” stated Admiral Chief of Staff of the Navy (AJEMA), Antonio Piñeiro.
- “The initiative seeks to mobilise the Spanish technological and industrial ecosystem to tackle challenges in naval autonomy, embedded AI, and maritime sustainability,” said Funditec CEO, Miguel Rego.
- “We are witnessing a paradigm shift where civilian developments increasingly drive military innovation,” acknowledged Vice Admiral Nicolás Lapique.
Madrid, septembe 24th, 2025 – The Armada (Spanish Navy) has presented the project “Essential Elements of the Autonomous Ship”, a strategic initiative designed to transform industry and lead technological innovation in defence. During the opening of the Navy–Defence Industry Technical Conference (AINDEF), held within the framework of the 15th Naval Week, Admiral Chief of Staff of the Navy (AJEMA), Antonio Piñeiro, recalled that the race for the autonomous ship “is global and has already reached a strategic level.”
In this context, Admiral General Piñeiro urged to “leverage innovation and cooperation with industry and academia to modernise the fleet, enhance combat readiness, and ensure a relevant naval force.” In his view, the autonomous ship is not merely a technological challenge but “the embodiment of a cultural shift — one that seeks to protect the combatant and remove them from the risk zone.” He also emphasised that it will bring about a doctrinal change, “altering the current rules of naval warfare.”
Vice Admiral Nicolás Lapique, Director of Naval Engineering and Constructions, underlined the importance of fostering innovative technical solutions “that can address future technological challenges, using the autonomous ship as a reference point.”
The Autonomous Ship initiative represents the platform where the greatest public and private innovation efforts converge, aligned with the strategic horizon of 2050. “Public–private cooperation is now decisive. Any actor that promotes innovation acceleration must be our partner in achieving technical sovereignty across all technologies that make up our weapon systems,” Vice Admiral Lapique affirmed.
With the support of Funditec, the Armada will oversee the evaluation process of submitted proposals, aiming to announce the selected projects during the first quarter of 2026. Funditec acts as a key technical collaborator, contributing its expertise in embedded artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and advanced electronics.
According to Funditec’s CEO, Miguel Rego, the project “aims to mobilise the Spanish technological and industrial ecosystem to meet the challenges of naval autonomy, embedded AI, and maritime sustainability.” The autonomous ship, he added, “serves as a convergence platform for these technologies, reinforcing Spain’s technological sovereignty and strategic autonomy towards 2050.”
Civil–Military Collaboration and Dual-Use Technologies
Through Funditec Defence, the research centre plays this role under the General Collaboration Protocol (PGA) signed with the Armada, aimed at strengthening civil–military cooperation in addressing future naval challenges. “It is an opportunity to consolidate our position as a strategic partner and demonstrate our commitment to innovation applied to naval defence,” stated Miguel Golmayo, Managing Director of Funditec Defence.
Vice Admiral Lapique also highlighted the importance of this collaboration and the growing trend towards dual-use technologies: “There are no longer companies dedicated exclusively to the military field; all have their civilian business areas. In fact, a paradigm shift is taking place, as civilian developments increasingly drive military ones.”
Robotics, Automation, and Digital Twins
In his remarks, the Vice Admiral also discussed the impact of artificial intelligence, digital twins, and autonomous systems on the next generation of ships: “Naval forces will evolve towards modular systems where robotics and automation will play a crucial role, especially through the use of drones to complement naval platforms.”
Furthermore, the Armada identifies combat cloud technologies and the use of digital twins as key elements to exploit in generating operational advantage. “The use of digital twins will enable real-time replication of tactical situations, improving real-time analysis, enhancing situational awareness, and supporting agile decision-making,” concluded Lapique.
