Maritime Security Vessel News Roundup | January 4 – Russian submarine and minesweeper deliveries, Turkish USV orders and more

The Russian Navy expands its submarine and minehunting fleets with the recent acquisition and commissioning of newbuild vessels. Construction continues on a new class of shallow-water anti-submarine boats for India and a fast patrol vessel for the UAE. A Turkish builder meanwhile secures orders for additional examples of a recently introduced series of unmanned craft.

Two new vessels delivered to Russian Navy

Russian state-owned company United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) handed over two newbuild warships to the Russian Navy in a joint virtual ceremony on Thursday, December 29.

Delivered to the navy during the ceremony, which had President Vladimir Putin as guest of honour, were the Project 955A nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Generalissimus Suvorov and the Project 12700 minesweeper Anatoly Shlemov.

Both vessels were commissioned into service on the same day that they were delivered. They will be operated as part of the Russian Pacific Fleet.

Keels laid for two new ASW craft for Indian Navy

Indian state-owned shipyard Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) has laid the keels of two shallow-water anti-submarine warfare (ASW) craft ordered by the Indian Navy.

Upon completion, each vessel will have a displacement of 750 tonnes, space for 57 crewmembers, and waterjet propulsion that will deliver speeds of up to 25 knots.

The craft’s ASW weaponry will include lightweight torpedoes and unguided rockets.

Construction begins on UAE Navy patrol vessel

Abu Dhabi Shipbuilding (ADSB) has commenced construction of the lead unit of the Falaj 3-class of fast patrol vessels slated for the United Arab Emirates Navy.

The completed vessel will measure 60 by 9.5 metres and will have space for 39 crewmembers. Missions will include anti-surface warfare, anti-subsurface warfare, and anti-air warfare.

The vessel’s design ensures protection even in CBRN environments.

Turkish Navy orders additional armed USVs from local builder

The Turkish Navy has placed orders for additional examples of the ULAQ armed unmanned surface vehicle (USV) to be manufactured by local company Ares Shipyard.

Ares said the examples will include both anti-surface warfare (ASuW) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) variants of the USV.

Each ULAQ USV will have a length of 12 metres, a draught of 0.6 metres, and a diesel engine that will deliver a top speed of 35 knots and a range of 400 kilometres. The ASuW craft will be armed with laser-guided anti-ship missiles while the ASW variant will have space for torpedoes and sonar.