The 20mm Meroka is a Spanish shipboard close-in weapon system built around twelve Oerlikon 20/120 barrels arranged in two stacked rows of six. FABA developed it as a hard-kill point-defense layer for Spanish Navy ships, and Spanish defense sources place Meroka-equipped Santa Maria-class frigates in Persian Gulf War embargo and protection operations without documenting a combat firing.
Spanish Navy Santa Maria-class frigates deployed to the Persian Gulf during the crisis and war; a Spanish defense account identifies their anti-missile armament as the nationally built Meroka system, while available sources do not show Meroka being fired in combat.
The Meroka was designed as the innermost hard-kill layer for Spanish Navy surface ships, using a compact automatic turret and multiple 20 mm barrels to put a dense salvo pattern in front of incoming anti-ship missiles or aircraft.
Twelve 20/120 mm barrels in two stacked rows of six, with two twelve-round salvos per second in Spanish Navy commentary.
The row arrangement and rate of fire are supported by Revista General de Marina and NavWeaps.
Public descriptions associate the mount with radar and optronic or thermal backup systems, including the PVS-2 Sharpshooter radar in later references.
The exact sensor fit varied by upgrade state and source cutoff.
Spanish defense material places Santa Maria-class frigates in Persian Gulf embargo and protection operations and identifies Meroka as their anti-missile system.
The conflict row is for fielded shipboard point defense, not a documented combat firing.
Open sources describe Meroka development by upgrade standard rather than by separate export families.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| Original Meroka | Initial naval CIWS configuration | Forecast International places sea trials in 1978-1980, followed by Mod 2 trials on Cadarso and Spanish Navy ship installation beginning in 1984. |
| Meroka Mod 2A3 | Digital-processor upgrade | Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance and Forecast International describe the 1993-1995 upgrade path to Mod 2A3 standards for Spanish Navy installations. Sources: MDAA Meroka Overview, Forecast International Meroka Archive |
| Meroka Mod 2B | Later tracking-radar upgrade | Public summaries identify Mod 2B as a later upgrade standard with improved tracking radar and a limited 1996 upgrade start on two units. Sources: MDAA Meroka Overview, Forecast International Meroka Archive |
Revista General de Marina states that the Meroka point-defense system began as a 1975 FABA development for Spanish Navy ships.
Sources: Revista General de Marina ASMD
Forecast International's archived program note places completion of first-version Meroka sea trials in 1980.
Sources: Forecast International Meroka Archive
Forecast International lists 1984 as the start of Spanish Navy ship installations, with first installations complete by 1986.
Sources: Forecast International Meroka Archive
Public program summaries report Spanish Navy approval and contracting to upgrade Meroka mounts first to Mod 2A3 and then toward Mod 2B standards.
Sources: MDAA Meroka Overview, Forecast International Meroka Archive
Revista General de Marina says Spain began the final retirement process for the active Meroka systems in 2019 so freed spaces could support future functional replacements.
Sources: Revista General de Marina ASMD
Spanish Navy sources and program summaries place Meroka on the F-70 Baleares-class frigates, F-80 Santa Maria-class frigates, and the carrier Principe de Asturias. Forecast International's distribution note counted four systems on Principe de Asturias, six on Santa Maria-class frigates, ten on Baleares-class frigates, and one training system at Torregorda.
