01 September 2021
by Gabriel Dominguez & Rahul Bedi & Mark Cazalet
The Indian Navy (IN) has awarded public-sector company Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) a contract for the supply of a locally developed system designed to detect, track, and neutralise micro unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The contract, which was signed on 31 August, is for an undisclosed number of ‘Naval Anti Drone Systems (NADSs)' featuring both soft- and hard-kill effector options. The former consists of a jammer used to suppress the control and navigation signals to the UAV, with an effective range of 3 km. The latter consists of a high-energy laser that works by directly damaging or destroying the UAV's flight-critical systems, thereby downing it.
An example of the vehicle-mounted version of the NADS counter-UAV system being acquired by the Indian Navy under a contract awarded to BEL on 31 August. (Via PIB)
Developed jointly by the IN, BEL, and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the counter-UAV (C-UAV) system “will be an effective all-encompassing counter to the increased drone threat to strategic naval installations”, said the Indian government's Press Information Bureau (PIB) in a statement.
17 April 2024
by Kate Tringham
A keel-laying ceremony for first Fininish Navy Squadron 2020 corvette was held at Rauma shipyard on 11 April. (Rauma shipyard)
Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) laid the keel for the first Squadron 2020 Pohjanmaa-class multirole corvette on order for the Finnish Navy during a ceremony at its shipyard in Rauma on 11 April.
Announcing the milestone the same day, RMC said the yard has been making good progress on the first ship since the first steel was cut on 30 October 2023. “It has been five months since the start of construction, and the operative phase has progressed efficiently,” RMC said.
RMC is delivering four Pohjanmaa-class multirole corvettes in total for the Finnish Navy under a EUR647.6 million (USD687.8 million) design and construction contract awarded in 2019 – with the build being carried out by its subsidiary RMC Defence. The corvettes are being constructed in a new covered assembly hall built specifically for the Squadron 2020 programme, measuring 180×40×30 m and with a floor area of about 13,000 m².
Under current planning, the lead ship is expected to start sea trials in 2026, with all four ships to be delivered by 2029.
17 April 2024
by Jeremy Binnie
One of the new Z-9WE helicopters at Malabo airbase. (Partido Democrático de Guinea Ecuatorial)
The Armed Forces of Equatorial Guinea (FAGE) is now operating two new Harbin Z-9 helicopters, the country's ruling Democratic Party (Partido Democrático de Guinea Ecuatorial: PDGE) revealed on 9 April when it reported that Vice-President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue had inspected the aircraft.
The PDGE released photographs showing the vice-president with at least one of the new helicopters at a location that could be identified as the airbase at Malabo International Airport. It was fitted with a gimballed electro-optical system under its nose and pylons for weapons that can include guns, rockets, and anti-tank missiles.
The Z-9 is the Chinese-made version of the Airbus AS365 Dauphin. The PDGE identified the new helicopters as the Z-9WE variant. It added that Equatorial Guinea is considering acquiring additional combat helicopters.
The FAGE was not previously known to have any Chinese aircraft in its fleet, which consists almost entirely of Soviet-era types.
For more information on the Z-9, seeHAIG (Airbus Helicopters) Z-9 Haitun .
17 April 2024
by Michael Fabey
The US Navy is the contracting agent for the US Coast Guard's Polar Security Cutter. (VT Halter/Marine Technology Associates)
Alaskan Senator Lisa Murkowski asked US naval officials to show “robust” support for platforms and facilities for Arctic-related operations on 16 April during a Senate Appropriations Committee (SAC) hearing.
In particular, Murkowski asked for greater support for the US Coast Guard's (USCG's) Polar Security Cutter (PSC) programme and the effort to create a naval port facility in Nome, Alaska.
“I've been trying to get [the] coastguard going with the Polar Security Cutter and I've been frustrated on many levels,” she said, noting the US Navy (USN) is the official contract agent for the joint programme.
She said she wanted USN commitment that it is backing the programme.
“It doesn't help that in the president's [Fiscal Year 2025] budget [request] there's no money for the Polar Security Cutter,” she said. “I'm nervous.”
The country needs “assets that will break the ice. We can't hope subs will poke a hole through that a ship will able to move through. That's not how it works”, Murkowski said.
The Indian Navy (IN) has awarded public-sector company Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) a contract f...
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