Contracts
Patria contracts Saab for Finnish Navy Squadron 2000 mid-life upgrade program
Finland’s Patria has contracted Swedish defense contractor Saab for work on the Finnish Navy Squadron 2000 mid-life upgrade program. The contract awarded to Saab is worth SEK 960 million (approx. US$117.7 million) with deliveries set to start in 2018. According to Patria, the total value of the upgr
Report: Royal Navy helicopter carrier HMS Ocean definitely sold to Brazil
UK helicopter carrier HMS Ocean has reportedly been bought by Brazil. The purchase was confirmed by Brazilian defense minister Raul Jungmann, according to UK Defence Journal. Brazil is reportedly paying £84 million for the UK helicopter carrier which recently returned from her final deployment as a
Russia setting up permanent naval presence at Syrian bases
The Russian Navy will be establishing a permanent presence at its Syrian bases after a deal signed with Syria was ratified by the lower house of the Russian Federal Assembly. According to Russian news outlet RIA, the bill – submitted earlier this month – was ratified on Tuesday. In addition to the n
Germany returns lead F125 frigate to builder, report
The German defense procurement agency BAAINBw has reportedly returned FGS Baden-Württemberg, the lead ship of German Navy’s new class of F125 frigates, to the Blohm+Voss shipyard. According to a report in the German Kieler Nachrichten, BAAINBw has requested Blohm+Voss – which is part of the ARGE F12
Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Argyll tests Sea Ceptor missile against multiple targets
Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate HMS Argyll recently carried out a test firing of the Sea Ceptor missile to verify the weapon system upgrade. The first firings of Sea Ceptor were conducted from HMS Argyll at the Hebrides range off the coast of Scotland and involved firing the system to assess its perfor
Finnish defense minister authorizes Hamina-class upgrades, torpedo system acquisition
Finland’s defense minister on December 19 authorized the country’s defense forces’ logistics command to sign contracts for the upgrade of Hamina-class fast attack missile craft (FAC). The authorization follows the signing of a letter of intent and a pre-design activities contract with Patria Aviatio
RFA Mounts Bay stops in Bermuda
Taking a break from her Atlantic patrol duties, Royal Fleet Auxiliary Mounts Bay stopped in Bermuda on December 15 for a three day visit. The ship has been deployed to the region to provide humanitarian and disaster relief for the UK’s Caribbean overseas territories and Bermuda. This year RFA Mounts
Royal Navy submarine service reaches 350th deterrent patrol milestone
The Royal Navy’s submarine service achieved a major milestone recently as a Vanguard submarine completed the country’s 350th deterrent patrol. As the country’s ultimate weapon, submarine operations and movements are kept a closely guarded secret, but the ‘Silent Service’ has temporarily broken its s
Finnish Pansio-class minelayers complete midlife upgrade
The Finnish Navy’s three Pansio-class minelayers have completed their midlife upgrade program, Atlas Elektronik Finland Oy – the prime contractor on the project – announced. FNS Pyhäranta, the third and final vessel to undergo the upgrade, was delivered to the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Comman
Armed Forces of Malta gets upgraded OPV P61
On November 27, 2017, Fincantieri delivered Offshore Patrol Vessel P61 to the Armed Forces of Malta, following upgrading activities carried out at the Group’s drydocking facility within the Port of Genoa. The aim of the works, which lasted about 6 months, was to improve the reaction capability of th
UK defense ministry announces new £18m Long Range Radar contract
A new £18 million contract for work on the Royal Navy’s Long Range Radar (LRR) was announced by UK defense minister Harriett Baldwin as she visited BAE Systems’ Great Baddow site on November 23. The contract will ensure the continued availability of Long Range Radar (LRR) equipment on the UK’s six T
GDBIW joins forces with Navantia for US Navy FFG(X) frigate bid
US shipbuilder General Dynamics Bath Iron Works has teamed up with Spanish Navantia to compete for a contract to build the US Navy’s FFG(X) frigate. Announced by Navantia on Thursday, the agreement will see the two companies work together on evolved designs of Navantia’s AEGIS frigate family. Norweg
Bergen to refit Norwegian Navy training ship SS Statsraad Lehmkuhl
Norwegian maritime services company Bergen Group Services AS announced it has been contracted for maintenance and upgrade work on the 10-year classification of SS Statsraad Lehmkuhl. SS Statsraad Lehmkuhl is a 3-masted steel bark, built by Johann C. Tecklenberg AG in Bremerhaven-Geestemünde in 1914
UK eyeing Australian CEAFAR radar for future warships
The UK defense ministry is considering the use of an Australian-developed radar on future Royal Navy ships. The announcement was made by UK under secretary of state for defense procurement, Harriet Baldwin during her visit to Adelaide on Friday. Baldwin said the UK would conduct a capability study t