The DRDO conducted a successful flight test of the new-generation missile from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha, in mid-January. (Indian Ministry of Defence)  India's state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has test-fired the new-generation Akash (Akash-NG) surface-to-air missile (SAM) from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur off India's northeastern coast of Odisha, the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a press release in mid-January.  According to the MoD, the flight test...

The first of five Dutch navy landing craft utility (LCU) Mk IX vessels to undergo its MLU,   L 9525  , is launched at De Haas Shipyards in Rotterdam on 9 January.  (Dutch MoD)  The first modernised Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) landing craft utility (LCU) Mk IX vessel was launched at De Haas Shipyards in Rotterdam on 9 January.  De Haas Shipyards is carrying out the LCU mid-life upgrade (MLU) programme for the RNLN's five LCUs under a contract awarded in 2022, with work to be completed by 2025.  The first unit, L...

A Hermes 900 in maritime configuration. The Indian Navy will induct two Hermes 900 Starliner UAVs by the end of February. (Elbit Systems)  The Indian Navy will induct two Hermes 900 Starliner unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by the end of February, a spokesperson for the Indian Navy told Janes on 10 January.  Elbit Systems' Hermes 900 Starliner is manufactured in India by Adani Defence and Aerospace under the name ‘Drishti 10' for Indian customers. Drishti 10 was unveiled on 10 January in the presence of India's Chief of the Naval Staff, Admir...

The US Navy combined a CUSV with a UAV for a recent live-fire targeting demonstration. (Textron Systems)    The US Navy (USN) recently combined different types of unmanned platforms for    a successful live-fire demonstration, Captain Matthew Lehmann, programme manager for Littoral Combat Ship Mission Modules (LCS MM), noted on 10 January during a briefing at the Surface Navy Association (SNA) National Symposium 2024.   According to the USN's Unmanned and Small Combatants (USC) programme office, during a C4F Fleet Experimen...

The first four G2000 Mk II fast interceptor crafts that were received by the Royal Malaysian Navy on 12 January 2024. (Royal Malaysian Navy)  The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has taken delivery of its first locally built G2000 Mk II fast interceptor craft (FIC).  The vessels were handed over by local shipbuilder Gading Marine on 12 January, the service disclosed on the same day.  Gading Marine received a contract for 13 G2000 Mk II FICs from the Malaysian government in 2022. The contract is a repeat order following the delivery of six older G20...

US Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro wants a review of shipbuilding issues with programmes like the Constellation-class frigate. (US Navy)  US Navy (USN) Secretary Carlos Del Toro has told Nickolas Guertin, assistant secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, & Acquisition (ASN RD&A) and Vice Admiral James Downey, commander Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the navy shipbuilding portfolio, the USN confirmed on 11 January.  Guertin and Vice Adm Downey are to provide an interim progress review to Del T...

A Temsah-3 on display at the SOFEX show held in Jordan in November 2022. (Janes/Jeremy Binnie)  The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced the approval of two Egyptian requests on 10 January: one covering chassis and engines for light tactical vehicles and the other for additional 28 m coastal patrol craft.  It said the REV1-B Rolling Chassis, which is used for the Humvee series, and 205 hp turbocharged engines will be supplied by AM General. It did not say how many Egypt has requested but estimated the proposed sale to be wo...

A Hermes 900 in maritime configuration. The Indian Navy will induct two Hermes 900 Starliner UAVs by the end of February. (Elbit Systems)    The Indian Navy will induct two Hermes 900 Starliner unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by the end of February, a spokesperson for the Indian Navy told  Janes  on 10 January.   Elbit Systems' Hermes 900 Starliner is manufactured in India by Adani Defence and Aerospace under the name ‘Drishti 10' for Indian customers. Drishti 10 was unveiled on 10 January in the presence of India's Chief...

The US Navy is buying more John Lewis-class oilers to meet deployment refuelling needs. (General Dynamics NASSCO)  As the US Navy (USN) continues to deploy its surface fleet to hot spots around the globe, the service must hone its ability to rearm and refuel those ships at sea, according to USN Secretary Carlos Del Toro.  “Every day, our ships respond to aggression and illegal activities with our allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific, the Arabian Gulf, the Caribbean, and across Europe,” Del Toro said on 10 January during a keynote speech at...

The USN is looking to combine live and virtual elements in exercises as it did during ‘Large Scale Exercise' 2023. (Janes/Michael Fabey)  The US Navy (USN) needs to shift its global force management plans to better reflect the more dangerous and competitive nature in the world, according to Admiral Daryl Caudle, commander, US Fleet Forces Command.  “We typically generate forces with our model to support global force management presence requirements for peacetime rotations,” Adm Caudle said on 9 January during a keynote speech at the Surface N...

Cold spray process applies powdered metal at a highly accelerated velocity – the speed of sound or faster – on a surface using an applicator and nozzle quickly and effectively. (Janes)    The US Navy (USN) is seeking to expand its use of cold spray technology to repair and maintain its platforms and improve fleet readiness, Dan Stanley of the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) engineering directorate technology branch told   Janes  .     “We've made some good headway with cold spray in the navy,” Stanley told   Ja...

HMS   Richmond   deploys to the Red Sea to help safeguard international shipping.  (Crown copyright)  The UK Royal Navy (RN) has deployed a third ship to the Gulf to provide resilience to UK naval presence in the region amid ongoing attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels on merchant shipping.    The Type 23 Duke-class frigate HMS   Richmond  (F 239) departed Devonport Naval Base in Plymouth, the UK on 6 January and is now en route to the Gulf to support the international effort to protect shipping...

The IRGCN's new missile-armed catamaran  Martyr Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis  .  (Mehr News Agency)    Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Navy (IRGCN) formally received  Martyr Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis  (PC313-01), a new type of stealthy missile-armed catamaran, during a ceremony held at the force's main base in Bandar Abbas on 6 January.   IRGCN commander Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri said the new vessel, which is named after an Iraqi militant leader who was killed in a US airstrike along with the IR...

The US Navy is planning to use HELIOS technology to introduce laser capabilities into fleet operations. (Lockheed Martin)  The successful missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) defence by US Navy (USN) ships in the Red Sea has prompted discussion for accelerated development of lasers on USN surface ships in such scenarios.  However, the USN is still struggling, trying to achieve the power necessary for missile defence, according to defence analysts.    “Most of the problem is trying to aim for higher powers that can be useful against...

The S-BR, 71.6 m long and displacing 1,870 tonnes, can carry 35 crew and has six 533 mm launch tubes firing either Naval Group F21 heavy weight torpedoes or MBDA Exocet SM39 Block 2 Mod 2 missiles. (Marinha do Brasil)    The Brazilian Navy's Submarine Development Program (Programa de Desenvolvimento de Submarinos: PROSUB) is to reach a new milestone on 12 January with the Submarines Force Command commissioning the second Riachuelo-class conventional attack submarine (SSK), S  Humaitá   (S41), at the Itaguaí Naval Complex (CNI...

The four additional Istanbul-class frigates will complement four already under construction. First-of-class   Istanbul  (pictured) commenced sea-acceptance trials in June 2023 and is shortly due to be commissioned.  (Turkish MoD)  The Turkish government has given the green light to build four additional Istanbul (TF-100)-class frigates and to progress plans for an aircraft carrier to the design phase.  The decisions were taken during a meeting of the Defence Industry Executive Committee (SSIK), chaired by Turkish...

The new OPVs will complement the navy's four existing Viana do Castelo-class OPVs, which consist of NRP   Viana do Castelo  , NRP   Figueira da Foz  , NRP   Sines   (pictured above), and NRP   Setúbal. ( Victor Barreira)  An ambitious effort by the Portuguese Navy to deploy six new Viana do Castelo-class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) reached a milestone on 29 December 2023 with the award of a EUR299.7 million (USD329.2 million) contract to the local privately owned shipbuilder West Se...

LIG Nex1 displayed a mock-up of its LAMD system at the DX Korea defence show in 2022. The missile is 165 mm in diameter and will intercept targets at a maximum firing range of 7 km and at an altitude of 5 km. (Janes/Jon Grevatt)  South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has accelerated the exploration and development of the low-altitude missile defence (LAMD) system – also known as the long-range artillery interception system – by a year, the agency said in a press release on 1 January.  According to DAPA, the system's...

A Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Soryu-class submarine. The country has embarked on a programme to design the next-generation submarine, which will be able to deploy stand-off missiles with greater ranges. (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries)  Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) has received a research and development (R&D) contract from the Japan Ministry of Defense (MoD) to design a new class of diesel-electric submarines (SSKs), a representative from the company confirmed to Janes on 28 December.  The boats will be the next generation of SSKs to b...

The Talaiyeh long-range anti-ship missile is seen next to its launcher during the ceremony at Konarak naval base. (defapress.ir)  The Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN) held a ceremony on 24 December to induct new equipment that included an anti-ship missile called the Talaiyeh, which is said to have a range of more than 1,000 km.  Iranian media coverage showed a Talaiyeh on display next to a mobile launcher at the naval base in Konarak, the headquarters of the IRIN's third region. It appeared to be the same type of missile as the one unvei...