Lithuanian Navy selects local design firm for future patrol vessels

The Lithuanian Navy has selected Lithuanian engineering firm Western Baltic Engineering for the development of a new class of patrol vessels.

The design work on the vessels belonging to the Perkuna ("Thunder") project will be undertaken in cooperation with Danish naval architecture firm OSK Design while construction will take place at the Klaipeda facilities of the Western Shipyard Group.

Upon completion, each vessel will have a length of 88 metres, a beam of 17 metres, a draught of 4.5 metres, space for up to 60 crewmembers, and a speed of over 18 knots. Missions will include protection of critical infrastructure, escort, anti-air warfare, reconnaissance, minelaying, mine countermeasures, counter-terrorism, and strike.

Each vessel's armament will include a naval gun and an anti-aircraft gun. Among the other key features are a helicopter deck and hangar and launch facilities for small fast boats.

OSK Design had earlier unveiled a class of 70-metre patrol vessels based on the Perkunas vessels. These other vessels will have smaller dimensions but will retain nearly the same functionality for a range of missions.