Maritime Security Vessel News Roundup | October 11 – A new Hellenic Navy frigate, Brazil’s first nuclear-powered submarine and more

The US Navy and the Papua New Guinea Defence Force formally welcome new vessels into service.

A future multi-role frigate for the Hellenic Navy is floated out. Finally, Brazil starts building its first nuclear-powered submarine.

US Navy commissions destroyer Jack H. Lucas

The US Navy commissioned the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Jack H. Lucas into service in a ceremony in Tampa, Florida, on Saturday, October 7.

The 73rd Arleigh Burke-class destroyer is also the first ship in the class to be built in the Flight III configuration. The Flight III upgrade is centered on the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar and incorporates upgrades to the electrical power and cooling capacity.

The destroyer honours the late US Army Captain Jacklyn “Jack” Lucas. For his actions at the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945, then US Marine Corps Private First Class Lucas became the youngest World War II recipient of the Medal of Honor at age 17.

Jack H. Lucas was built by Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division.

New patrol boat handed over to Papua New Guinea Defence Force

Austal Australia recently delivered a new Guardian-class patrol boat to the Australian Department of Defence.

The vessel, HMPNGS Gilbert Toropo, was then gifted by the Australian Government to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) at a handover ceremony held earlier this month.

The new Guardian-class boat is the final one of four vessels to be gifted to Papua New Guinea under the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project, part of the Australian Government’s Pacific Maritime Security Program.

Like its sisters, Gilbert Toropo measures 39 by eight metres and is powered by two Caterpillar 3516C engines that deliver a speed of 20 knots. Armament includes a 30mm cannon and two 12.7mm machine guns.

The vessel honours Major General Gilbert Toropo, the current commander of the PNGDF.

Hellenic Navy’s newest frigate hits the water

French defence shipbuilder the Naval Group has launched the first in a new series of three frigates slated for the Hellenic Navy.

The future HS Kimon is an export variant of the defence and intervention frigate (Fregate de Defense et d’Intervention; FDI), which was originally designed by the Naval Group for the French Navy. The Hellenic Navy FDI ships will have the designation FDI HN.

Once completed, the FDI HN frigates will each have a displacement of 4,500 tonnes, a length of approximately 122 metres, a beam of 18 metres, and a maximum speed of 27 knots. Armament will include surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, torpedoes, and a 76mm naval gun.

The future Kimon is scheduled to undergo initial sea trials in 2024. Delivery to the Hellenic Navy will be in 2025.

Construction starts on Brazil’s first nuclear-powered submarine

Brazilian state-owned shipbuilder Itaguaí Construções Navais (ICN) has begun construction of what will be the first nuclear-powered submarine to be operated by the Brazilian Navy.

The future Alvaro Alberto will be the fifth in the ICN-built Riachuelo-class submarines, which are themselves variants of the Scorpene-class diesel-electric boats built by France’s the Naval Group. The fifth Riachuelo-class boat will have nuclear propulsion while its earlier sisters will continue to be powered by diesel-electric propulsion.

Once completed, Alvaro Alberto will measure 100 metres long and will be able to reach a top speed of 25 knots. Armament will include torpedoes, mines, and anti-ship and cruise missiles.

The submarine will honour the late Vice Admiral Álvaro Alberto da Motta e Silva, a Brazilian Navy officer and scientist who helped establish Brazil’s own nuclear program in the 1950s.