Maritime Security Vessel News Roundup | May 12 – Israeli AUV, Falklands fisheries patrol boat and more

The US Navy commissions its newest littoral combat ship while new patrol vessels are delivered to the Falkland Islands government and a sheriff’s office in Louisiana. The Philippine Navy christens its two newest missile-capable attack boats. Finally, an Israeli defence company meanwhile introduces a new type of unmanned craft.

US Navy commissions littoral combat ship Cooperstown

The US Navy commissioned a new Freedom-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) into service on Monday, May 8.

USS Cooperstown is the 12th Freedom-variant LCS designed and delivered to the US Navy by the Lockheed Martin-led industry team that also includes Fincantieri Marinette Marine. It will be homeported in Mayport, Florida.

Cooperstown is the second Freedom-variant ship outfitted with the combining gear correction that will allow unrestricted operations. The navy said the correction addresses a class-wide flaw that was identified as the fleet deployed these ships in greater numbers.

The ship is the first US Navy vessel to honour the village of Cooperstown in Otsego County, New York.

Police RIB delivered to Louisiana’s St James Parish

Annapolis, Maryland-based Ocean Craft Marine has delivered a new rigid inflatable boat (RIB) to the St James Parish Sheriff’s Office in southern Louisiana.

The 26-foot (eight-metre) riverine boat will be operated by the sheriff’s Special Response Team. Missions will include anti-narcotics operations and disaster response.

The RIB is powered by two Mercury 150hp (111kW) outboard engines.

Falkland Islands Government acquires fisheries patrol vessel

The Falkland Islands Government has taken delivery of a new fisheries patrol vessel.

Designed by the Damen Shipyards Group, the 50-metre Lilibet will be operated by UK security consultancy Seagull Maritime via local company Larus Dominicanus. It will also be used for secondary missions such as search and rescue (SAR) and firefighting.

Although the vessel will be unarmed in its routine patrol configuration, it nonetheless retains port and starboard mounts for 12.7mm machine guns.

Philippine Navy christens fast attack craft pair

The Philippine Navy formally named its two newest fast attack interdiction craft (FAIC) in a ceremony on Monday, May 8.

Like their earlier sisters BRP Nestor Acero and BRP Lolinato To-ong, the future BRP Gener Tinangag and BRP Domingo Deluana were named after two Philippine Marine Corps personnel who were posthumously awarded the Medal of Valor, the Philippine armed forces’ highest combat decoration.

The newer FAICs are the third and fourth in the series, which are variants of the Shaldag Mark V class patrol boats built by Israel Shipyards. The navy will take delivery of a total of nine FAICs, which also includes four to be built locally in the Philippines.

Each vessel’s armament will consist of a 30mm autocannon, two 12.7mm machine guns, 7.62mm general purpose machine guns, and Rafael Spike NLOS anti-ship missiles.

New multi-role autonomous submersible unveiled in Israel

Israel Aerospace Industries recently unveiled a new type of autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) for defence applications.

The AUV will be used for missions including covert intelligence-gathering and detection of submarines and sea mines.

The craft will be fitted with a telescopic mast, radar, sonar, and electro-optical sensors.