Maritime Security Vessel News Roundup | May 4 – Swedish intelligence ship, a Russian submarine and patrol vessels for Senegal and Estonia

The Swedish Royal Navy welcomes a signals intelligence ship into service while construction continues on a Russian Navy attack submarine and a patrol vessel for the Senegalese Navy. Estonia’s main border security agency meanwhile places orders for three new patrol boats from a local shipyard.

Swedish Royal Navy takes delivery of intelligence-gathering ship

The Swedish Royal Navy has taken delivery of a new signals intelligence and information-gathering vessel built by Swedish defence manufacturer Saab.

The future HSwMS Artemis will replace the intelligence ship HSwMS Orion, which has been in operation since 1984. It will operate under the authority of Sweden’s National Defence Radio Establishment (Forsvarets Radioanstalt, FRA), the main signals intelligence agency of the country’s Ministry of Defence.

Saab said Artemis will have better manoeuvrability compared to Orion and will provide the armed forces and FRA personnel an improved onboard living environment. Electromagnetic compatibility capabilities are also significantly improved, reducing the number of disrupting signals generated by the vessel.

French yard floats out final patrol vessel in series for Senegalese Navy

French shipyard Piriou has launched the final example in a series of three offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) ordered from the company by the Senegalese Navy.

Named after a former kingdom that is now part of northern and central Senegal, the future Cayor is being built by the Kership joint venture formed by Piriou and compatriot shipbuilder the Naval Group. Construction of all three vessels in the series is scheduled to be completed by the summer of 2024.

As with its sisters, the future Cayor will have a length of 62 metres and guided weapon systems for anti-air warfare and anti-surface warfare. A stern ramp will be used for the launch and recovery of two small fast boats.

Future Russian Navy submarine Mozhaysk hits the water

Russia’s Admiralty Shipyards has launched the future Mozhaysk, a Project 636.3 diesel-electric submarine ordered by the Russian Navy.

The submarine measures 113 by 14 metres and is crewed by 52 officers and enlisted sailors. It has a maximum diving depth of 300 metres, an endurance of 45 days, and a maximum submerged speed of 18 knots.

Mozhaysk will operate as part of the Russian Pacific Fleet.

Estonian border guard orders locally-built patrol boats

The Estonian Police and Border Guard Board has awarded local builder Baltic Workboats a contract for the construction of three patrol boats in a series.

The boats will each have a length of 12 metres and waterjet propulsion delivering a top speed of over 35 knots.

Deliveries are scheduled to commence in the first half of 2024.