US considers Phalanx upgrade for Saudi
The US State Department has approved the possible sale of MK 15 Phalanx Close-In Weapons System (CIWS) Block 1B Baseline 2 Kits, equipment, training, and logistics support to Saudi Arabia, it was announced on 11 February.
Under the estimated $154.9 million sale, Saudi Arabia has requested the upgrade and conversion of five MK 15 Phalanx CIWS Block 0 systems to the Block 1B Baseline 2 configuration. The Block 0 systems are installed on four Royal Saudi Naval Forces Patrol Chaser Missile ships and its naval forces school. Five local control stations, US government and contractor engineering, and support and test equipment are also included in the request.
Saudi Arabia has also requested spare and repair parts, personnel training and training equipment, publications, software, and technical documentation, technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of programme and logistics support.
The proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia's self defence capabilities for surface combatants supporting national and multi-national naval operations. It will also extend the life of the country's PCG Class ships.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Babcock to take over upkeep of Royal Navy Type-23 frigates]()
Babcock to take over upkeep of Royal Navy Type-23 frigates
The Royal Navy’s Type-23 Duke-class frigates for the UK Royal Navy were designed as anti-submarine warfare (ASW) ships but now have a multi-role function. Of the 16 Type 23s built, 12 remain in service with the Royal Navy and will be replaced by the Type-26 frigates before 2035.
-
![Austal completes autonomy trials with former Royal Australian Navy patrol boat]()
Austal completes autonomy trials with former Royal Australian Navy patrol boat
The work took place under the Patrol Boat Autonomy Trial (PBAT), which has been a collaboration between Austal, Greenroom Robotics, the Trusted Autonomous Systems Defence Cooperative Research Centre and the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Warfare Innovation Navy Branch.
-
![Singapore launches fourth and final Type 218SG submarine]()
Singapore launches fourth and final Type 218SG submarine
The era of southeast Asian submarine modernisation has been in full swing fuelled by growing tensions in the South China Sea.
-
![Keel laid for third Hellenic Navy frigate as harbour trials start for first]()
Keel laid for third Hellenic Navy frigate as harbour trials start for first
On 24 March 2022, Greece and Naval Group have signed a contract for three defence and intervention (FDI) frigates. Two warships will be due for delivery in 2025 and the third expected the following year, with the deal including an option to add a fourth frigate to be ready in 2027.
-
![New deal to make AUKUS cooperation easier]()
New deal to make AUKUS cooperation easier
The AUKUS agreement will support Australia’s purchase of at least eight nuclear-powered submarines under pillar one. Other pillars of the agreement cover high technology such as cyber, unmanned systems, AI, EW, undersea capabilities and information sharing between the three countries.
