Metal Shark starts production on HSMUSVs as US shipyard targets further Caribbean orders
The US shipyard’s new High Speed Maneuverable Unmanned Surface Vessel (HSMUSV) will have a range of more than 500 nautical miles.
The port of Pointe Noire, Republic of Congo, will be secured by a Leonardo-Finmeccanica integrated maritime system under a contract announced on 18 November.
The €150 million contract was issued by the Congolese government to the Italian Alliance for Ports (IA4P), which is led by Leonardo-Finmeccanica; the company’s portion of the contract equals around €30 million.
Leonardo will provide systems for both maritime and land-based security which will employ radar and electro-optical sensors, communications systems, logistics management and port operations systems.
The wider agreement includes civil work including the construction of new docks for a total length of 700m as well as further engineering and design work and project management.
The contract is part of an agreement between the Italian and Republic of Congo governments which involves the development of a ‘multi-modal’ integrated transport system in the Congo basin covering river, sea and rail transport.
A second phase of the project will extend the maritime surveillance at Pointe Noire to cover the Republic of Congo’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) via an integrated system that will include radar sensors and a secure telecommunications network.
The US shipyard’s new High Speed Maneuverable Unmanned Surface Vessel (HSMUSV) will have a range of more than 500 nautical miles.
Singapore Technologies Engineering (ST Engineering) will supply uncrewed naval systems and supporting command and control equipment to support counter-mine operations with deliveries expected to begin in 2027.
The MARS platform was built be a low-signature, multi-role, mission-configurable capability.
Hefring Marine IMAS was designed to optimise vessels’ operation.
The small, unmanned surface vehicle will operate this year in multiple operations and military exercises worldwide.
The contract was awarded to HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division and General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB). As well as for the building of the boats, contract money will also go towards improving productivity at the shipyards, workforce support and other investment.