The Spanish Navy has conducted a test launch of the Hornet Block 1 interceptor from the F-81 Santa María frigate. The firing took place on 18 June 2026 as part of a joint demonstration with Destinus to evaluate containerised deployment of the system for ship-based air defence.
The test involved the launch of a single Hornet Block 1 from a containerised unit installed on the frigate. The Santa María, an Oliver Hazard Perry-class vessel, was used to examine how the interceptor could be integrated onto existing naval platforms without major structural changes. The demonstration focused on the system’s ability to operate in a maritime environment against subsonic aerial threats.
The Hornet Block 1 is a canister-launched interceptor designed to engage subsonic unmanned aerial vehicles and coordinated drone formations. It employs initial radar guidance followed by an autonomous terminal phase using electro-optical/infrared and radar seekers. The system is stated to function in GNSS-denied conditions. According to manufacturer data, it has a range of more than 75 km and carries a 1.5 kg payload. It is intended to provide a lower-cost option for countering Group 3 UAVs and swarm attacks compared to traditional surface-to-air missiles.
The containerised launch concept allows the interceptor to be deployed from standard shipping containers, which can be placed on deck or integrated into existing ship configurations. This approach is being examined as a means to increase the number of available interceptors on surface combatants without requiring dedicated vertical launch systems.
A follow-on variant, the Hornet Block 2, is in development. It is described as a dual-role system capable of both intercepting subsonic aerial threats and conducting precision strikes against maritime and ground targets. The Block 2 is listed with a range exceeding 150 km and a 3 kg payload. It includes provisions for AI-coordinated swarm operations and dynamic target allocation. Like the Block 1, it is designed for canister launch and all-weather performance.
The Spanish Navy test was limited to the Block 1 configuration. No information has been released on the specific threat profile used during the firing, the engagement parameters, or the results of the test.
