Maritime Security Vessel News Roundup | September 8 – India’s newest aircraft carrier, an attack submarine for the UK, and Canadian, French, and Philippine patrol vessels
MARITIME SECURITY WEEK
India commissions its first locally-built aircraft carrier as Britain welcomes its newest submarine into service. Deliveries include two patrol vessels for the Philippines and one for Canada. Lastly, the French government places an order for a new class of coastal enforcement boats for police use.
Indian Navy commissions indigenous aircraft carrier
The Indian Navy commissioned the indigenously built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant into service in a ceremony on Friday, September 2.
Built by Cochin Shipyard, the ship measures 262 metres long and will have an embarked air wing consisting of 26 MiG-29K multi-role fighter aircraft and 10 helicopters for utility, anti-submarine warfare, and airborne early warning and control duties. Armament includes surface-to-air missiles, 76-millimetre naval guns, and 30-millimetre close-in weapon systems.
The new carrier is the second Indian Navy ship to be named Vikrant. The first Vikrant was the country’s first aircraft carrier, which was completed in 1961.
Royal Navy’s fifth Astute-class submarine enters service
The Royal Navy recently commissioned its fifth Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarine into service.
HMS Anson was built by BAE Systems to be capable of missions ranging from task force protection to long-range strikes and intelligence gathering.
The submarine’s armament will include up to 38 Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles. Facilities are also available for launching and recovering small raiding and reconnaissance teams of Royal Marines.
Philippine Navy takes delivery of two new Israeli-built fast attack craft
The Philippine Navy formally took delivery of two new missile-capable fast attack interdiction craft (FAIC) from Israel Shipyards in a ceremony in Manila on Tuesday, September 6.
The 32-metre vessels have been christened BRP Nestor Acero and BRP Lolinato To-ong after two Philippine Marine Corps personnel who were posthumously awarded the Medal for Valor, the Philippine armed forces’ highest combat decoration.
The Philippine Navy FAICs are variants of the Shaldag Mark V patrol vessels being built by Israel Shipyards for the Israeli Navy and other customers.
A total of nine FAICs will be supplied to the Philippines beginning in the third quarter of this year for operation in littoral and EEZ waters. This number also includes four vessels that will be built at the Philippine Navy’s own shipyard facilities in Cavite City just outside Manila.
Third Harry DeWolf-class patrol ship delivered to Royal Canadian Navy
Irving Shipbuilding of Nova Scotia has handed over the third Harry DeWolf-class Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) ordered by the Royal Canadian Navy.
The future HMCS Max Bernays will also be the first ship in its class to operate primarily off the west coast of Canada.
The 103-metre vessel was designed in compliance to IACS Polar Class 5. A diesel-electric propulsion system consists of four 3.6MW diesel engines that supply electrical power to two 4.5MW motors to deliver speeds of 17 knots in open water and three knots for icebreaking.
French consortium to supply new patrol boats to Maritime Gendarmerie
The Direction Generale de l’Armement (DGA), the French government’s defence procurement agency, has placed an order for a new class of coastal patrol boats to be operated by the Maritime Gendarmerie police force.
Each vessel will have a length of 46 metres, a displacement of 350 tonnes, and armament consisting of 7.62mm and 12.7mm machine guns.
The patrol boats will be built by a consortium formed by local shipbuilders Socarenam and CNN MCO. The contract covers a maximum of six vessels with deliveries scheduled to commence in the second half of 2024.
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