The UK Government unveils a plan to introduce 12 new submarines into service in the next decade as a UAE builder secures patrol vessel orders from Kuwait. A German-Australian partnership will meanwhile further development of future frigates using an existing design.
China's Yantai Salvage Bureau has selected a consortium formed by local shipbuilders Dajin Heavy Industries and CSSC Wuhan Marine Machinery Plant (WMMP) for the construction of a new heavy lift salvage and engineering vessel.
The vessel will be designed by the Marine Design and Research Institute of China, a sister company of WMMP under China State Shipbuilding Corporation.
Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Saab Australia to explore potential collaboration on the MEKO A-200 frigate platform.
According to the companies, the MOU builds on an existing relationship and supports a shared focus on strengthening sovereign industrial capability in naval defence.
A keel laying ceremony was held on May 27 at the Baltic Workboats shipyard in Nasva, Estonia, marking a key milestone in the construction of a new semi-autonomous modular surface vessel being developed under the European defence fund’s Euroguard initiative.
The 45-metre vessel, designed for modular mission profiles, is being built as part of a €95 million (US$110 million) programme co-funded by the European Commission and participating member states. The project is coordinated by Estonian shipbuilder Baltic Workboats and involves a consortium of 23 organisations across ten European countries.
UAE naval shipbuilder the Edge Group has entered into an agreement with the Kuwait Ministry of Defence for the supply of new Falaj 3-class 62-metre offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) for the Kuwait Naval Force.
As the prime contractor, Edge will lead the programme, which includes the design, construction, trials, and delivery of the missile-capable vessels. In addition to supplying integrated logistics support and in-service support (ISS), Edge will also provide the ammunition for the vessels.
The BBC has reported that the UK will build 12 new conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines as recommended in a major defence review to be presented by the UK Government on Monday, June 2.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the 12 new submarines would replace the seven Astute-class boats in the Royal Navy's current fleet beginning in the late 2030s.