Naval Group launched the Belgian Navy's first new mine countermeasures vessel, named Oostende (M 940), at Piriou shipyard in Concarneau, France, on 29 March. (Naval Group)

French shipbuilder Naval Group launched the first of 12 mine-countermeasures vessels (MCMVs) on order for the Belgian and Netherlands (BE/NL) navies and laid the keel for the third ship during a ceremony at Piriou shipyard in Concarneau, France, on 29 March.

First-of-class Oostende (M 940) and third ship Tournai

The Spanish Navy's first S-81 Plus submarine, Isaac Peral , conducted its first static dive test on 30 March 2023. (Navantia)

The Spanish Navy's first new S-80 Plus diesel-electric submarine (SSK) has achieved another milestone with the completion of its first static dive test.

First-of-class Isaac Peral (S-81) conducted its first static immersion in the waters of La Algameca naval station, opposite the Spanish Navy's diving centre in Cartagena, on 30 March. The test follows the successful completion of surface navigation trials in mid-2022.

Isaac Peral's

An artist's rendition of the Flight III DDG 51 shows the new AN/SPY-6(V) radar antenna array. (Huntington Ingalls Industries)

The US Navy (USN) awarded Raytheon Technologies a USD619 million contract to continue producing AN/SPY-6(V) radars, the company confirmed on 29 March, exercising the second option from the March 2022 hardware, production, and sustainment contract that is valued up to USD3 billion over five years.