Spanish shipbuilding company Navantia has begun testing of the air-independent propulsion system (AIP) incorporated into the section of the Spanish Navy’s submarine S-83 Cosme García, the third unit in the S80 series.

The section of S83 carrying the AIP is located in a special test facility at the Cartagena shipyard, known as IPS3, where a multidisciplinary task force from the Submarine Business has carried out all the necessary checks to begin testing.

These final tests are starting after all prior installation work on the various pieces of equipment required for their proper execution has been completed.

According to Navantia, the tests will make it possible to carry out the necessary adjustments to the system in its actual location before joining the 12-meter-long, approximately 400-ton section to the rest of the submarine’s pressure hull.

Testing of the AIP in its section has begun with the first loading of liquid oxygen and bioethanol, from which the system produces hydrogen to fuel its hydrogen fuel cell and propel the submari