Sonar 2087 equips eight RN Type 23 frigates. Pictured here is the sonar room of HMS   Westminster  – the sonar director is nearest to the camera, with the four dual-screen sonar operator consoles ranged behind.  (NAVYPIX/Richard Scott)  Thales UK is set to start rolling out a package of enhancements for the Sonar 2087 low-frequency active/passive variable depth sonar equipping the Royal Navy's (RN's) eight anti-submarine warfare (ASW)-optimised Type 23 frigates under a phased capability insertion project (CIP)....

Malta's new OPV   P71  was commissioned into service on 23 March.  (Armed Forces of Malta)    The Maritime Squadron of the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) has commissioned its new offshore patrol vessel (OPV),   P71  , into service.   P71  , which is    the new flagship of the AFM, officially joined the fleet during a ceremony held at the AFM's Hay Wharf naval base in Floriana, Valetta, on 22 March.   The OPV was built by Italian shipbuilder Cantiere Navale Vittoria under a contr...

A file image of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-Un witnessing a test-firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile in mid-March 2023. North Korea has since test-fired more weapon systems, including what it claims to be an ‘underwater nuclear strategic weapon'. (Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images)  North Korea has tested an unmanned ‘underwater nuclear strategic weapon' system that can inflict ‘radioactive tsunamis' on coastal areas, state news agency Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) announced on 24 March.  Tests of the earlier unknown weapon...

The US Navy is altering the carrier   John F Kennedy's  delivery schedule.  (Michael Fabey)  The new US Navy (USN) Post Shakedown Availability (PSA) plan for aircraft carriers is pushing back the expected delivery date for the Ford-class John F Kennedy (CVN 79), but the service anticipates a more operationally capable ship at delivery, and there is no expected changes for vessel deployment or related operations, programme officials told Janes.  “CVN 79 delivery date is being adjusted to July 2025 to support a rev...

The Colombian Marine Infantry acquired three BAF-36 boats. (Erich Saumeth)  Colombia has acquired three river support boats of the MAR 10 BAF-36FT-Military type, to be deployed by its marine infantry, the Colombian Navy (Armada de la República de Colombia: ARC) confirmed to Janes.  The boats were delivered during the first and second week of March, Andrés Giraldo, general manager of MAR 10 told Janes.  The trio of ships cost about USD900,000, he said.  The BAF-36 is 11 m long and 2.9 m wide, with a load capacity of up to 5,000 kg, being ab...

US Naval Forces Central Command transferred three Cyclone-class coastal patrol ships to the Egyptian Navy during a formal ceremony in Alexandria, Egypt, on 21 March. (US Navy)  The Egyptian Navy has taken delivery of three Cyclone-class coastal patrol ships from the United States.  The three boats, ex-USS Hurricane (PC 3), ex-USS Sirocco (PC 6), and ex-USS Thunderbolt (PC 12), were transferred from US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) to the Egyptian Navy during a formal ceremony held in Alexandria, Egypt, on 21 March.  As part of the tr...

Colombia intends to deploy new USV. (Erich Saumeth Cadavid)    The Colombian Navy (ARC) intends to deploy the new electric unmanned surface vehicle (USV) CotEnergy Boat in April, Admiral Francisco Cubides, commander of the ARC, told   Janes  .   Adm Cubides confirmed the deployment earlier this month after the USV – produced by Atomo Tech and Cotecmar – was operated during a demonstration at the Colombiamar 2023 naval fair, which was held from 8 to 10 March.  The navy demonstrated capabilities of the vessel to representativ...

HNLMS  Schiedam,   one of six remaining Alkmaar (Tripartite)-class minehunters in RNLN service.  (Michael Nitz – Naval Press Service)  The Ukrainian Navy's mine countermeasures (MCM) capabilities are set to receive another boost with the donation of Dutch Alkmaar (Tripartite)-class minehunters.  While visiting southern Ukraine during the third week of March, Dutch Minister of Defence Kajsa Ollongren confirmed plans to donate two Alkmaar-class minehunters as part of a military aid package that also included drone...

A file image of a Fearless-class patrol vessel while it was in service with the Republic of Singapore Navy. Singapore has since transferred one of the boats to Brunei. (Singapore Ministry of Defence)  The Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) has commissioned the ex-Singapore Fearless-class patrol vessel it received on 15 March.  The vessel, which has been renamed KDB As-Siddiq with pennant number 95, was commissioned on 21 March at the RBN's naval base in Muara, Brunei.  Janes first reported on 10 March that Brunei has agreed to receive two ex-Singapore F...

Hensoldt UK will supply its Kelvin Hughes Mk11 SharpEye naval navigation radars (pictured) for the Philippine Navy's new offshore patrol vessels and corvettes, being developed by Hyundai Heavy Industries. (Hensoldt)  Hensoldt UK, formerly known as Kelvin Hughes, has secured two contracts to supply its Mk11 SharpEye naval navigation radars for the Philippine Navy's new offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) and corvettes, being developed by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI).  In addition to navigation, the Mk11 SharpEye pulse-doppler radar can provide en...

ACV is an eight-wheeled armoured personnel carrier designed to fully replace the USMC's ageing fleet of Amphibious Assault Vehicles. The USMC budget request includes a boost for ACV procurement in FY 2024. (USMC)  The US Marine Corps (USMC) is asking for USD705 million more in discretionary spending for its Force Design 2030 priorities in fiscal year (FY) 2024 than enacted in FY 2023, according to budget documents.  The USMC topline request for the modernisation experimentation campaign, which calls for a more agile force, was USD17.1 billion...

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force is expected to operate the OZZ-5 MCM UUV in Japan's disputed southern islands. (Janes/Jon Grevatt)  Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) is set to deliver its first OZZ-5 mine-countermeasures (MCM) unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).    Company officials told   Janes  at the DSEI Japan 2023 exhibition in Chiba that the first of five on-order OZZ-5 systems will be supplied to the JMSDF by the end of March. The initial five OZZ-5s are all...

A developmental Stork test vehicle going through flight trials. (Animal Dynamics)  Oxford-based Animal Dynamics' Stork STM parafoil unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has been selected by the UK Royal Navy (RN) to participate in the second phase of its Unmanned Aerial Systems Heavy Lift Challenge (UASHLC).  The Stork STM was selected following a pre-selection flying competition in late 2022, in which it demonstrated the ability to conduct beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations and carry a 135 kg payload over a distance of 400 km – meeting...

An MST special forces FRISC. (MST)  Dutch-owned Damen Shipyardshas awarded UK boatbuilder Marine Specialised Technology Group (MST) a contract to equip the German Navy's Type 126 frigates with 12 m fast interceptor craft.  Under the contract, announced on 13 March, Merseyside-based MST will supply 12 of its latest-generation Fast Raiding, Interception and Special Forces Craft (FRISC) rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs). The scope of supply includes transportation trailers and a comprehensive integrated logistics support package.  The 12 m v...

Saab has demonstrated the Sirius Compact (pictured) passive EW sensor to a Northeast Asian military, and is expected to also demonstrate to a South Asian military soon. (Saab)  Saab is pitching its ‘Sirius Compact' passive electronic warfare (EW) sensor, launched in May 2022, to countries in the Asia-Pacific, a company official told Janes at the DSEI Japan 2023 show being held in Chiba.  Janes understands that Saab has demonstrated the Sirius Compact to the armed forces of a Northeast Asian country. Saab has also received requests from a Sout...

A conceptual image, displayed at DSEI Japan 2023, showing how the UUV and semi-submersible USV developed by IHI Corporation will work together with the mother vessel to counter mines. (Janes/Oishee Majumdar)    Japanese heavy-industry manufacturer, IHI Corporation, has developed an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) to detect mines. The system has been delivered to the Japan Coast Guard and will also be provided to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), a company official told   Janes   at DSEI Japan 2023 being held in C...

The US Coast Guard's fiscal year 2024 proposed budget requests sustainment funding for ships such as the icebreaker USCGC   Healy  .  (Michael Fabey)  The US Coast Guard (USCG) is requesting about USD13.5 billion in its fiscal year (FY) 2024 budget proposal, compared with the USD13.9 billion enacted in FY 2023, according to USCG budget documents.  The FY 2024 budget requests USD10.2 billion for Operations and Support (O&S) and USD1.6 billion for procurement, construction, and improvements (PC&I).  Funding requeste...

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has displayed a new USV (pictured) at DSEI Japan 2023, which will be able to automatically launch and recover expendable mine disposal systems and smaller unmanned systems. (Janes/Oishee Majumdar)  Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) unveiled an unmanned surface vessel (USV) it has developed, named Whale, at DSEI Japan 2023 being held in Chiba from 15 to 17 March.  According to company specifications, the Whale USV has a length of 8.8 m, a beam of 3.05 m, and weighs about 6 tons. The system is equipped with a folding...

The development of the Island Defence ASM – seen here on display at the DSEI Japan 2023 show – has been allocated funding of USD257 million in the 2023 defence budget. (Janes/Jon Grevatt)  Japanese company Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) has unveiled a model of a new long-range cruise missile at the DSEI Japan 2023 exhibition in Chiba.  KHI told Janes that the weapon – known tentatively as the ‘Island Defence' anti-ship missile (ASM) – is designed to be launched from warships, aircraft, and land platforms. The company said the missile could a...

The original Type 12 SSM is pictured, on the left, being launched from a transporter-erector-launcher vehicle. Images on the right show the system's sensor and control station. (Japan MOD)  Japan's Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) expects the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) to induct the upgraded ship-launched variant of the Type 12 surface-to-surface missile (SSM) by 2026, ATLA told Janes at the DSEI Japan 2023 show in Chiba.  The missile – developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) – is an improved variant of...