A computer-generated image of the final configuration of the Polish Navy's first Miecznik frigate. (Babcock)  Thales UK has sealed a contract with Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) to supply and integrate the core combat suite for Poland's Miecznik (Swordfish) frigate programme.  Signed on 4 October, the EUR400 million (USD419 million)-plus contract – being primed through the company's Above Water Systems business line – covers the supply of the TACTICOS combat management system (CMS) above-water sensors and fire control, and an anti-submarine s...

SurveilSPIRE provides perimeter surveillance for military installations, reconnaissance operations, and/or for high-value target search. (DefSecIntel)  Ukraine will receive an additional batch of automated reconnaissance systems from Rheinmetall, funded by the German government.  Deliveries are under way for the trailer-based reconnaissance system, SurveilSPIRE, as part of a double-digit million-euro contract, Rheinmetall announced on 5 October.  Developed by Estonia-based DefSecIntel, SurveilSPIRE comprises mobile surveillance towers, equipp...

Kimon  , the first FDI frigate for the Hellenic Navy, was officially launched at Naval Group's Lorient shipyard on 4 October.   (Naval Group)  French shipbuilder Naval Group has officially launched the first Frégate de Défense et d'Intervention (FDI) multimission frigate on order for the Hellenic Navy (HN).  A formal launch ceremony for the future HS Kimon (F 601) was held at Naval Group's shipyard in Lorient, France, on 4 October following the ship's technical launch the previous week. Kimon was laid down in October 2022 and f...

Jacques Chevallier   has an overall length of 194 m, a full load displacement of 31,000 tonnes, and can carry up to 10,800 tonnes of fuel for ships and aircraft and 1,500 tonnes of solid cargo.  (Guy Toremans)  Following the completion of a three-week operational sea training period, the first of the French Navy's four new fleet replenishment ships (Batiment Ravitailleur de Forces: BRF), Jacques Chevallier, departed Toulon naval base on 27 September to begin its four-month maiden operational deployment.  A French Navy spokesperso...

The LOpRib is intended to lift fully armed combat teams in riverine regions bordering with neighbouring countries to combat smuggling and other illicit activities. (Victor Barreira)  The Brazilian Army has placed an order to the country's state-owned shipyard Arsenal de Marinha do Rio de Janeiro (AMRJ) to build four LOpRib (Lancha de Operações Ribeirinhas) multimission riverine fast armoured attack crafts to provide further mobility and firepower to combat groups deployed in remote regions of Brazil, the army's Manufacturing Directorate confi...

Norway's CV90 armoured reconnaissance vehicles will be equipped with Chess Dynamics' Hawkeye MMP long-range surveillance solution. (Janes/Patrick Allen)  The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) has selected UK-company Chess Dynamics to provide its surveillance systems for the country's Combat Vehicle 90 (CV90) armoured reconnaissance vehicles.  According to a Chess Dynamics announcement on 2 October, the company will supply its Hawkeye Modular Mission Pod (MMP) long-range surveillance solution for the Norwegian military's Observation T...

Lithuania has transferred naval radars to Ukraine as part of its latest assistance package. (Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Lithuania)  Lithuania has transferred maritime radars to the Ukrainian Navy as part of an assistance package.  The equipment was provided at the request of the Ukrainian Navy and will support and enhance its maritime surveillance and awareness capabilities as well as protect Ukraine's territorial waters, the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence (MND) announced on 27 September.  A Lithuanian MND spokes...

An unarmed Trident II (D5LE) missile launches from the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS   Wyoming   during a Demonstration and Shakedown Operation 31 in September 2021. A similar test was conducted on 27 September 2023 from the submarine USS   Louisiana  .  (US Navy)    The Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS   Louisiana  (SSBN 743) launched an unarmed life-extended Trident II (D5LE) missile on 27 September on the Western Test Range off the coast of San Diego, Califor...

The Royal Brunei Navy's   Al-Faruq  , seen here during its handover ceremony at RSS Singapura – Changi Naval Base on 2 October.   (Republic of Singapore Navy)  The Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) has taken delivery of another ex-Singapore Fearless-class patrol vessel.  The vessel, which will be in service as KDB Al-Faruq with pennant number 99, was handed over to the service in a ceremony at RSS Singapura – Changi Naval Base in Singapore on 2 October.  Janes first reported in March 2023 that Brunei has agreed to receive t...

A graphic depiction of SSN-AUKUS. (BAE Systems)  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded contracts totalling GBP4 billion (USD4.8 billion) to BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, and Babcock for the detailed design and long leads phase of the UK's and Australia's next-generation nuclear-powered attack submarine programme.  As part of their trilateral AUKUS security partnership arrangement, Australia, the UK, and the US in March 2023 unveiled plans that will see the UK and eventually Australia equipped with a future nuclear-powered attack submarine,...

The Royal Navy's former Sandown-class minehunter, ex-HMS   Blyth,  is pictured during its decommissioning ceremony on 4 August 2021. The vessel was transferred to the Romanian Navy in September 2023.  (Crown Copyright)  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has sold two second-hand Royal Navy (RN) Sandown-class minehunters to the Romanian Navy to support maritime security operations in the Black Sea region.    In a 28 September announcement, the MoD confirmed the sale of ex-HMS   Blyth  , which was deco...

US Coast Guard Cutter   Forward  (WMEC 911) steams near an iceberg in the Atlantic in support of ‘Operation NANOOK'.  (US Coast Guard)  Having been successful in blurring the lines of US naval command responsibilities for Atlantic Ocean theatres, the US Navy (USN) is looking to create a similar single approach for ensuring US interests and national security in Arctic regions, according to Admiral Daryl Caudle, US commander of Fleet Forces Command, Naval Forces Northern Command (NAVNORTH), Naval Forces Strategic C...

Germany and Israel signed a joint declaration of intent on 28 September on the procurement of the Arrow Weapon System for the Luftwaffe. (IAI)  German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, signed a joint declaration of intent in Berlin on 28 September on Germany's procurement of the Arrow Weapon System (AWS) for the Luftwaffe.  Pistorius said afterwards in a joint press conference with Gallant that “the Arrow system will prepare German air defence for the future”, with the system defending Germany from ba...

Taiwan's first locally built submarine is seen here before it was officially unveiled by President Tsai Ing-wen at the CSBC Corporation shipbuilding company in Kaohsiung on 28 September 2023. (Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images)  Taiwanese shipbuilder CSBC Corporation has unveiled the country's first indigenously developed submarine, which will be in service with the Republic of China Navy (RoCN).  The boat was unveiled by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on 28 September at CSBC's facilities in Kaohsiung. A ceremony to mark the occasion was broadc...

The third Italian Navy PPA,   Raimondo Montecuccoli,  was formally handed over at Fincantieri's Muggiano shipyard on 27 September.  (Fincantieri)  Fincantieri has delivered the Italian Navy's first multi-purpose offshore patrol ship (Pattugliatore Polivalente d'Altura: PPA) configured for medium-intensity (light plus) operations.  Raimondo Montecuccoli (P 432) was handed over during a formal ceremony held at Fincantieri's shipyard in Muggiano, Trieste, on 27 September.  Laid down in November 2018 and launched in...

The US Navy is worried about Virginia-class submarine construction delivery rates. (Janes/Michael Fabey)    Virginia-class attack submarine   Arkansas  (SSN 800) is now “pressure hull complete” at HII's Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) in Virginia, HII confirmed on 27 September.   Pressure hull construction of the submarine was completed when all the hull sections were joined to form a single, watertight unit, HII noted in a statement.    “It's a visible sign that construction has progressed to the point where   A...

Work has begun revamping Harland & Wolff's yard in Belfast to support construction of a new class of three Fleet Solid Support ships for the UK Royal Navy. (Harland & Wolff)  Harland & Wolff has announced the start of work to upgrade the existing fabrication halls at its Belfast shipyard to support the construction of the UK Royal Navy's (RN's) future Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ships.  The three FSS vessels will be delivered under a GBP1.6 billion (USD1.94 billion) contract awarded by the UK Ministry of Defence to the Team Resolute consortium...

The new class of the ASWFs is planned to enter service with the Netherlands and Belgian navies from 2029 to 2031. (Damen)  Dutch shipbuilder Damen Naval has awarded Heinen & Hopman a contract to supply the climate and filtration systems for the four new anti-submarine warfare frigates (ASWFs) on order for the Netherlands and Belgian navies.  Under the contract, announced on 26 September, the Spakenburg-based company will supply a complete heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAR-R) system as well as a chemical, biologic...

Damen sees its Enforcer family of amphibious ship designs providing the basis for a joint UK/Netherlands acquisition programme. (Damen Naval)  Dutch shipbuilding group Damen is pitching its Enforcer amphibious ship family as the basis for a potential joint UK/Netherlands amphibious ship acquisition.  Enforcer is a scaled portfolio of landing platform dock (LPD) designs, ranging from 120 to 180 m in length, designed for the transport and offload of an embarked military force using both surface connecters and helicopters. Damen Naval – the nav...

The laser weapon demonstrator installed on the German Navy's F 124 air-defence frigate FGS   Sachsen  will inform further development of operational laser weapon systems.  (MBDA)  The German armed forces (Bundeswehr) has successfully completed an extended laser weapon trial at sea onboard the Germany Navy's F 124 air-defence frigate FGS Sachsen.  Announcing the milestone on 22 September Rheinmetall Waffe Munition (RWM) said the laser weapon demonstrator (LWD) had performed more than 100 test-firings onboard Sachs...