Dubai Airshow 2021: IAI launches USV, EO/IR projects with Edge

by Charles Forrester

IAI's POP300D is one of the sensor systems Edge and IAI will be collaborating on in the Gulf region. (Janes/Patrick Allen)

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) announced on 18 November that it had signed two agreements with Emirati defence conglomerate Edge at the Dubai Airshow covering unmanned surface vessels (USVs) and electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR) system maintenance.

The first agreement covers the development of a new USV between IAI and Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), with ADSB to be responsible for platform design, control system and payload integration, and concept of operations development. IAI will develop the autonomous control system and integrate payloads to the control system units according to mission requirements.

IAI currently makes the Katana USV, which can carry a payload of 2,200 kg and has a mission endurance of 350 n miles. The vessel can reach a top speed of 60 kt and has a cruising speed of 30 kt. The platform's command-and-control station can be mobile and is operated by two operators and a mission commander. The vessel also utilises POP300D-HD high definition, which has also been mounted on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).


Get the full article by
Already a Janes subscriber? Keep reading


CRS raises USCG Polar Security Cutter cost-estimate questions

by Michael Fabey

An artist rendering of the proposed US Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter, whose cost estimates are being questioned. (VT Halter Marine/Technology)

The accuracy of the estimated procurement cost of the proposed US Coast Guard (USCG) Polar Security Cutter (PSC), given its size and internal complexity, is a potential issue of concern, according to the US Congressional Research Service (CRS).

“The PSC's estimated procurement cost per weight is roughly half that of the [US] Navy's LPD-17 Flight II and LHA amphibious ships,” the CRS said in its report, Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter (Polar Icebreaker) Program: Background and Issues for Congress , released on 25 March.

“These amphibious ships are equipped with expensive combat system equipment that is not included in the PSC design, but whether this would account for all of the difference in cost per weight between the PSC design and the two amphibious ship designs is not clear,” the CRS said. “If substantial cost growth occurs in the PSC program, it could raise a question regarding whether to grant some form of contract relief to the PSC shipbuilder.”


Get the full article by
Already a Janes subscriber? Keep reading


Taiwan receives fifth, sixth Tuo Chiang-class corvettes

by Ridzwan Rahmat

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen seen here at the handover ceremony of An Chiang (625) and Wan Chiang (626) on 26 March 2024. (Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images)

The Republic of China Navy (RoCN) has received its fifth and sixth Tuo Chiang-class guided-missile corvettes.

Presiding over the vessels' handover ceremony on 26 March at Yilan was Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen who in an official social media post on the same day described the handover event as “an important step forward for Taiwan's indigenous naval defence”.

The Tuo Chiang class is a catamaran-hulled corvette that features a wave-piercing form factor with reduced radar cross-section (RCS) exteriors. It was developed by the country's National Chung-Shan Institute of Science & Technology (NCSIST) with local shipbuilder Lung Teh.

First-of-class ROCS Tuo Chiang (618) was commissioned in December 2014. The programme's second-of-class onwards are based on an improved design with a longer overall length of 65 m and a higher displacement of 685 tonnes. The first-of-class displaces about 600 tonnes and has an overall length of about 60 m.

The vessels that were handed over on 26 March are named An Chiang (625) and Wan Chiang


Get the full article by
Already a Janes subscriber? Keep reading


Myanmar equips second Kyan Sit Thar-class frigate with Indian-made radar

by Ridzwan Rahmat

Myanmar's second Kyan Sit Thar-class frigate, UMS Sin Phyu Shin , seen here as it arrives at Visakhapatnam, India, for Exercise ‘Milan' 2024. It can be seen here equipped with the Revathi radar. (Indian MoD)

Myanmar has equipped its second Kyan Sit Thar-class guided-missile frigate, UMS Sin Phyu Shin, with the Indian-made Revathi 3D air surveillance radar.

Janes can now confirm that the radar was fully incorporated in 2023, and a partial validation of its capabilities was carried out at the ‘Milan' multilateral naval exercise in Visakhapatnam, India. The exercise ran from 19 to 27 February 2024.

Images of Sin Phyu Shin arriving at Visakhapatnam for the exercise were released by the Indian Navy on 19 February, and they depict the frigate with what appears to be a new sensor on the pedestal above its aft superstructure.

The sensor that was previously found in this position was the Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) RAWL-02 surface search radar.

Janes has since verified that BEL was contracted to replace this with the Revathi radar as part of its efforts to improve the frigate's air-defence capabilities.


Get the full article by
Already a Janes subscriber? Keep reading


https://www.janes.com/defence-news/industry-headlines/latest/dubai-airshow-2021-iai-launches-usv-eoir-projects-with-edge

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) announced on 18 November that it had signed two agreements with Em...

Latest Podcasts

AI applications for OSINT in defence

 In this podcast Harry and Sean are joined by Dr Ingvild Bode to look at the application and challenges of AI use in weapons systems.   Dr Ingvild Bode has spent the last year researching this subject for her most recent policy report, Loiteri...

Listen now

Tracking the situation in Israel-Gaza using OSINT

Using OSINT to understand Yemen

Mis and disinformation considerations for OSINT

Review of 2023

Janes Case Studies

Using Janes Intara to build a common intelligence picture: Russian build up on the Ukrainian border

View Case Study

Assessing threats in the South China Sea 

A competitive assessment of the military aircraft market

Identifying an unknown aircraft

Case study: Using Interconnected Intelligence to Monitor Russian Troop Movement

News Categories

Request Consultation

Request a free consultation to discover how Janes can provide you with assured, interconnected open-source intelligence.

Industry Details