Electric Boat awarded Newport News Shipbuilding a contract modification for Block V attack submarines. (Newport News Shipbuilding)  General Dynamics Electric Boat awarded HII's Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) unit a USD305.2 million contract modification to procure long-lead-time material for two additional Block V Virginia-class submarines, HII confirmed on 24 May.  The contract modification brings the overall contract value to USD10.2 billion, HII said.  “These funds are critically important to stabilising and providing predictability to th...

The Portuguese Navy is looking to commission the Multifunctional Naval Platform in 2026. (Victor Barreira)    The Portuguese Navy is poised to issue a tender to acquire a helicopter and unmanned systems mother ship    for a maximum of EUR132 million (USD142 million) to meet its Pilar I project.     A tender by prior qualification for the design and construction of the Plataforma Naval Multifuncional (Multifunctional Naval Platform) is scheduled to be published in mid-June in the   Portuguese Official Gazette...

Hyundai Heavy Industries displayed this model of the HDC-2000 LMS at the LIMA Exhibition 2023 in Langkawi. (Janes/Nishant Kumar)  Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) unveiled models of its new HDC-2000 Littoral Mission Ship (LMS) and HDL-10000 amphibious vessel at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) Exhibition 2023 held in Malaysia from 23 to 27 May.  An HHI spokesperson told Janes that the HDC-2000 design will be proposed for the Royal Malaysian Navy's (RMN's) programme to procure a second batch of LMS vessels. The design of...

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has displayed a model of a Multi-Role Support Ship that it is proposing to meet requirements within the Royal Malaysian Navy. (Janes/Nishant Kumar)  Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) unveiled a model of its new Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS) at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) Exhibition 2023.  An MHI spokesperson told Janes that work on the design of the new MRSS was initiated two to three years ago. However, the spokesperson said the design is not yet finalised and may change based on navi...

Indra will deliver three Lanza-N 3D radars to the Indian Navy in collaboration with its Indian partner company, TASL. The first of these radars has been delivered and is being installed on an Indian Navy destroyer. TASL is expected to build 20 more Lanza-N radars in India based on technology transfers from Indra. (Indra)  Spanish company Indra has begun delivery of the naval version of its Lanza 3D surveillance radar to the Indian Navy, in collaboration with its Indian partner company, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL).  Indra said on 17 M...

A model of Mazagon Dock's autonomous underwater vehicle swarm drones displayed at LIMA 2023. (Janes/Nishant Kumar)  Indian company Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) unveiled a model of its autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) swarm concept at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) Exhibition 2023 being held from 23 to 27 May in Malaysia.  The concept is to enhance Indian Navy mine-countermeasures (MCM) capabilities. Operating as a swarm, the AUVs will comprise three units. The first will act as the master AUV, with two...

Commander of the Republic of Singapore Navy's First Flotilla Colonel Ng Kok Yeng Daniel at Changi Naval Base alongside RSS   Supreme   – the ship he once served on.   (Janes/Ridzwan Rahmat)    On 14 July 2012 the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) made history when two Harpoon anti-ship missiles flew from the weapons bay of first-of-class RSS   Formidable  . In the cross-hairs of these missiles was a decommissioned US Navy (USN) vessel moored in waters near Hawaii and both Harpoons struck their intend...

The Sancar USV on display at LIMA 2023. (Janes/Nishant Kumar)  The Turkish Navy is set to receive at least two unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) by the end of this year, according to Turkish defence companies exhibiting at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) Exhibition 2023, held in Langkawi, Malaysia, from 23 to 27 May.    On display at LIMA was the Sancar USV developed by Havelsan in partnership with Turkish shipbuilder Yonca-Onuk. Under a contract awarded in early 2022, the two companies will deliver one Sancar USV...

The UK has signed a contract with Elbit Systems UK for up to 130 ground-based surveillance radars. (Elbit Systems UK)  The UK will receive new ground-based surveillance radars (GBSRs) to bolster its front-line threat-detection capabilities following a contract signed with Elbit Systems UK.  Under the contract, Elbit Systems UK will deliver 90 GBSR systems between 2023 and 2024, with an option for an additional 40 systems, the company announced on 23 May.  The portable GBSR systems are designed to detect, track, and classify targets moving on...

The ULAQ search-and-rescue unmanned surface vessel displayed at LIMA 2023. (Janes/Nishant Kumar)  Turkish firm Meteksan Defence unveiled a model of the new search-and-rescue (SAR) variant of its ULAQ unmanned surface vessel (USV) at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) Exhibition 2023.  Meteksan's international sales director Burak Akbaş told Janes on 23 May that the company is positioning the SAR USV to meet requirements in Southeast Asia. He said the platform has been developed for coastguard SAR operations.  The ULAQ SA...

The US Navy awarded Austal USA a detail design and construction contract for up to seven T-AGOS 25 class ocean surveillance ships. (L3Harris Technologies)  The US Navy (USN) awarded Austal USA a contract with a potential value of USD3.2 billion for the detail design and construction of up to seven T-AGOS 25 class ocean surveillance ships, the contracting team confirmed on 19 May.  Austal USA has teamed up with L3Harris Technologies (L3Harris), Noise Control Engineering (NCE), TAI Engineering (TAI), and Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors (TMC) for...

The new amphibious artillery platform, as part of the Amfbat 2030 plan, will provide indirect fire support for marine regiments. (FMV)  Sweden's Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has awarded Swede Ship Marine AB a contract to deliver a new class of amphibious artillery platform (artilleriplattformar) for use by the navy's Amphibious Battalion.  Announced on 17 May, the order covers eight vessels designed to provide indirect fire support to coastal units in the ground and naval forces. No contract value has been announced.  Under the Amfib...

The Aselsan CIWS was unveiled at the IDEF 2019 exhibition. (Janes/Patrick Allen)  The first Aselsan Gökdeniz naval close-in weapon system (CIWS) destined for the Turkish Navy has been integrated into the lead Istanbul (TF-100)-class frigate following the completion of its factory acceptance test (FAT), the company has announced.    First-of-class   İstanbul  is under construction at the Istanbul Shipyard Command and is planned to be commissioned in the last quarter of 2023.   The FAT milestone follows the successful comple...

The US Navy is expected to accept the Aegis Ashore facility by the end of 2023. (US Navy)  The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is expected to confirm the Aegis Ashore site in Poland “safe and technically capable”, and the US Navy (USN) is expected to accept the facility this year, according to US Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released on 18 May.    The GAO report  Missile Defense: Annual Goals Unmet for Deliveries and Testing  also cited other recent milestones for the delayed programme.   “Aegis Light Off o...

Indra will deliver three Lanza-N 3D radars to the Indian Navy, in collaboration with its Indian partner company, TASL. The first of these radars has been delivered and is being installed on an Indian Navy vessel. TASL is expected to build 20 more Lanza-N radars in India based on technology transfers from Indra. (Indra)  Spanish company Indra has begun delivery of the naval version of its Lanza 3D surveillance radar to the Indian Navy, in collaboration with its Indian partner company, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL).  Indra said on 17 May...

The UK has confirmed its intentions to equip the RN's five Type 31 general-purpose frigates with the Lockheed Martin Mk 41 vertical launching system (VLS). (Royal Navy)  The UK Royal Navy (RN) has revealed plans to install the Lockheed Martin Mk 41 vertical launching system (VLS) into its five new Type 31 Inspiration-class general-purpose frigates. The fit will expand the range of missiles and capabilities the ships can deliver.  Speaking on 17 May at theFirst Sea Lord's Sea Power Conference 2023 – co-hosted by the RN, the Council on Geostrat...

The two second-hand Lake-class IPVs purchased from the New Zealand government for the Irish Naval Service have arrived in the country. (Irish DoD)  Two second-hand Lake-class inshore patrol vessels (IPVs) purchased from New Zealand to equip the Irish Naval Service (INS) have arrived in Ireland.    The two ships, the former HMNZS   Rotoiti   and HMNZS   Pukaki,  arrived in Ringaskiddy, Cork, onboard the Dutch-registered heavy lift ship   Happy Dynamic   on 14 May, completing a month-long transit from Aucklan...

The ex-USS   Robert G Bradley  undergoing refurbishment in a dry dock in Charleston in May 2022. The frigate will be called RBNS   Khalid Bin Ali   in Bahraini service.  (NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support)  Bahrain's existing Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate and a second it is in the process of acquiring will have their radars and combat management systems (CMSs) replaced, according to a notice that the US Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division released via the System for Award Management website on 15...

Sumaysimah  (F 104), the fourth and final Al Zubarah-class corvette on order for Qatar, was handed over during a ceremony held at Fincantieri's shipyard in Muggiano, La Spezia, on 16 May.  (Fincantieri)  Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has delivered the final Al Zubarah-class multirole corvette on order for the Qatari Emiri Navy.    Fourth-of-class   Sumaysimah  (F 104) was handed over during a ceremony held at Fincantieri's shipyard in Muggiano, La Spezia, on 16 May.   The four Al Zubarah-class corvettes wer...

The NApANt  Alimirante Saldanha   Antarctic support ship is scheduled to be commissioned by the Brazilian Navy in 2025.  (EMGEPRON)  The Brazilian privately owned shipbuilder Estaleiro Jurong Aracruz (EJA) officially marked the start of construction of the NApAnt Almirante Saldanha (H22) Antarctic support ship for the Brazilian Navy on 9 May with the first steel cut of the ship at the company's shipyard located in Aracruz, State of Espírito Santo.  The ship, which is scheduled to replace the NApOc Ary Rongel (H44...