The Sancar USV on display at LIMA 2023. (Janes/Nishant Kumar)  The Turkish Navy is set to receive at least two unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) by the end of this year, according to Turkish defence companies exhibiting at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) Exhibition 2023, held in Langkawi, Malaysia, from 23 to 27 May.    On display at LIMA was the Sancar USV developed by Havelsan in partnership with Turkish shipbuilder Yonca-Onuk. Under a contract awarded in early 2022, the two companies will deliver one Sancar USV...

The US Navy awarded Austal USA a detail design and construction contract for up to seven T-AGOS 25 class ocean surveillance ships. (L3Harris Technologies)  The US Navy (USN) awarded Austal USA a contract with a potential value of USD3.2 billion for the detail design and construction of up to seven T-AGOS 25 class ocean surveillance ships, the contracting team confirmed on 19 May.  Austal USA has teamed up with L3Harris Technologies (L3Harris), Noise Control Engineering (NCE), TAI Engineering (TAI), and Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors (TMC) for...

The new amphibious artillery platform, as part of the Amfbat 2030 plan, will provide indirect fire support for marine regiments. (FMV)  Sweden's Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has awarded Swede Ship Marine AB a contract to deliver a new class of amphibious artillery platform (artilleriplattformar) for use by the navy's Amphibious Battalion.  Announced on 17 May, the order covers eight vessels designed to provide indirect fire support to coastal units in the ground and naval forces. No contract value has been announced.  Under the Amfib...

Indra will deliver three Lanza-N 3D radars to the Indian Navy, in collaboration with its Indian partner company, TASL. The first of these radars has been delivered and is being installed on an Indian Navy vessel. TASL is expected to build 20 more Lanza-N radars in India based on technology transfers from Indra. (Indra)  Spanish company Indra has begun delivery of the naval version of its Lanza 3D surveillance radar to the Indian Navy, in collaboration with its Indian partner company, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL).  Indra said on 17 May...

The two second-hand Lake-class IPVs purchased from the New Zealand government for the Irish Naval Service have arrived in the country. (Irish DoD)  Two second-hand Lake-class inshore patrol vessels (IPVs) purchased from New Zealand to equip the Irish Naval Service (INS) have arrived in Ireland.    The two ships, the former HMNZS   Rotoiti   and HMNZS   Pukaki,  arrived in Ringaskiddy, Cork, onboard the Dutch-registered heavy lift ship   Happy Dynamic   on 14 May, completing a month-long transit from Aucklan...

The UK has confirmed its intentions to equip the RN's five Type 31 general-purpose frigates with the Lockheed Martin Mk 41 vertical launching system (VLS). (Royal Navy)  The UK Royal Navy (RN) has revealed plans to install the Lockheed Martin Mk 41 vertical launching system (VLS) into its five new Type 31 Inspiration-class general-purpose frigates. The fit will expand the range of missiles and capabilities the ships can deliver.  Speaking on 17 May at theFirst Sea Lord's Sea Power Conference 2023 – co-hosted by the RN, the Council on Geostrat...

The US Navy is expected to accept the Aegis Ashore facility by the end of 2023. (US Navy)  The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is expected to confirm the Aegis Ashore site in Poland “safe and technically capable”, and the US Navy (USN) is expected to accept the facility this year, according to US Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released on 18 May.    The GAO report  Missile Defense: Annual Goals Unmet for Deliveries and Testing  also cited other recent milestones for the delayed programme.   “Aegis Light Off o...

The Aselsan CIWS was unveiled at the IDEF 2019 exhibition. (Janes/Patrick Allen)  The first Aselsan Gökdeniz naval close-in weapon system (CIWS) destined for the Turkish Navy has been integrated into the lead Istanbul (TF-100)-class frigate following the completion of its factory acceptance test (FAT), the company has announced.    First-of-class   İstanbul  is under construction at the Istanbul Shipyard Command and is planned to be commissioned in the last quarter of 2023.   The FAT milestone follows the successful comple...

The ex-USS   Robert G Bradley  undergoing refurbishment in a dry dock in Charleston in May 2022. The frigate will be called RBNS   Khalid Bin Ali   in Bahraini service.  (NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support)  Bahrain's existing Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate and a second it is in the process of acquiring will have their radars and combat management systems (CMSs) replaced, according to a notice that the US Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division released via the System for Award Management website on 15 May.  Ba...

Sumaysimah  (F 104), the fourth and final Al Zubarah-class corvette on order for Qatar, was handed over during a ceremony held at Fincantieri's shipyard in Muggiano, La Spezia, on 16 May.  (Fincantieri)  Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has delivered the final Al Zubarah-class multirole corvette on order for the Qatari Emiri Navy.    Fourth-of-class   Sumaysimah  (F 104) was handed over during a ceremony held at Fincantieri's shipyard in Muggiano, La Spezia, on 16 May.   The four Al Zubarah-class corvettes wer...

The NApANt  Alimirante Saldanha   Antarctic support ship is scheduled to be commissioned by the Brazilian Navy in 2025.  (EMGEPRON)  The Brazilian privately owned shipbuilder Estaleiro Jurong Aracruz (EJA) officially marked the start of construction of the NApAnt Almirante Saldanha (H22) Antarctic support ship for the Brazilian Navy on 9 May with the first steel cut of the ship at the company's shipyard located in Aracruz, State of Espírito Santo.  The ship, which is scheduled to replace the NApOc Ary Rongel (H44...

UK Royal Navy's (RN's) Type 26 City-class frigate  Glasgow  arriving in Scotstoun on 3 December 2022 following its launch. The ship is planned to enter service in the late 2020s.  (BAE Systems)    Work on the UK Royal Navy's (RN's) Type 26 City-class frigate  Glasgow  has resumed at defence prime BAE Systems' Scotstoun shipyard on the River Clyde in Scotland, while it investigates the cause of damage to ship cables.     Fitting-out work on  Glasgow  was temporarily halted after ar...

JFD's US-based strategic partner BTM is pursuing potential opportunities for Shadow Seal with US Special Operations Command, the US Navy, and other government agencies. (JFD)  A new hybrid multimission swimmer delivery vehicle developed by UK-based JFD has commenced sea trials ahead of delivery to US partner Blue Tide Marine (BTM) later in 2023.  Shadow Seal is described by JFD as “an adaptable and extremely capable lightweight tactical diving vehicle (TDV) able to transport a pilot, a navigator, and two passengers in surface, semi-submerged,...

HMS   Vanguard  is expected to return to operations later in 2023 following the completion of its post-refit trial period.  (Crown Copyright)    The UK Royal Navy's (RN's) nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), HMS   Vanguard  (S28), has finally departed Babcock International's Devonport Royal Dockyard facility in Plymouth following the completion of a much-delayed deep maintenance and refuelling programme.     An RN spokesperson confirmed to   Janes   that   V...

The KTSSM, pictured above from a test in 2021, features a payload section carrying a small-diameter penetrator warhead filled with a high‐blast or thermobaric explosive intended to attack protected, underground artillery emplacements. (ADD)  South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) conducted a quality certification shooting test (QCST) of the Korean Tactical Surface-to-Surface Missile (KTSSM).  The QCST was jointly conducted and supervised by DAPA, the Defense Science Research Institute, the Republic of Korea (RoK) Army...

The ANAO said the country's project to construct Hunter-class frigates – an artist's impression of which is pictured above – faces an 18-month delay, with the first vessel now expected to be delivered in mid-2032 rather than early 2031. (Commonwealth of Australia)  The future of the AUD45 billion (USD30.2 billion) programme to build nine Hunter-class anti-submarine frigates for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) was called into question, with a report by the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) warning of further delays and significant cost i...

Australian Army soldiers from the 16th Regiment and the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery received training on the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System. The system includes the Raytheon AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel X-band 3D air-defence radar, the Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace Fire Distribution Centre (FDC), and the Kongsberg Mk II canister launcher with provision for the AMRAAM and the AIM-9X interceptors. (Commonwealth of Australia)  The Australian Army has received hands-on training of the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile S...

A computer-generated image of the OPV that is being built by Hyundai Heavy Industries for the Philippine Navy. Hanwha Systems has secured a contract to provide its combat management system (CMS) and tactical datalink (TDL) for the OPV. (Hyundai Heavy Industries)  South Korea's Hanwha Systems has secured a contract worth USD34.5 million to supply its combat management system (CMS) and tactical datalink (TDL) for the Philippine Navy's new offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), being built by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI).  Under the contract, Hanwha...

Japan's defence budget is forecast by  Janes   to grow strongly over the next few years.  (Janes Defence Budgets)  Japan's biggest defence companies – Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) – have said they expect orders for military equipment to expand rapidly on the back of the country's growing defence budget.  The companies reported on 10 May strong increases in defence-related revenues and profits for fiscal year (FY) 2022. The two firms also said that Japan's new defence polic...

Cayor,  the third and final OPV 58 S on order for Senegal, is pictured during its launch at Piriou's shipyard in Concarneau on 2 May.   (Piriou)  French shipbuilder Piriou launched the third and final missile-armed Walo (OPV 58 S)-class offshore patrol ship on order for the Senegalese Navy.    The new vessel, named   Cayor  , was floated out during a ceremony held at Piriou's Concarneau shipyard in Brittany, northwest France, on 2 May.   The three OPV 58 S ships are being built by Piriou under a contract signe...