The carrier is outfitted with the LANZA-N air-search radar fit, the ARIES surface-search radar fit, and the EID ICCS ("Integrated Communications Control System"). Onboard armament is purely self-defensive in nature, led by 4 x 20mm Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWSs), 2 x Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missile launchers, 1 x Vertical Launch System (VLS) missile bank and 4 x 12.7mm heavy machine guns.
Juan Carlos I holds a traditional profile silhouette with the island superstructure set to the starboard side of the hull. The bow sports a ski-jump type ramp for aiding fixed-wing aircraft during take-off and six deck spots can be used for launching and retrieving helicopters simultaneously. As speed is of the essence in amphibious operations, this quality is a tactically useful one.
The Spanish helicopter carrier design also forms the basis for the pair of new Australian Navy Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ships - HMAS Canberra and HMAS Adelaide, both detailed elsewhere on this site.
Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.