BAE starts building second UK OPV

BAE Systems in Glasgow has started construction on the second Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) for the Royal Navy, the future HMS Medway, on 8 June.

The vessel is the second of three River Class Batch 2 OPVs, with construction of the first vessel, HMS Forth, well underway in Glasgow. The first OPV is due for delivery in 2017. The third vessel, HMS Trent, is expected to begin construction by the end of the year.

The OPV has a length of 90m, maximum speed of 24 knots and a range of over 5,000 nautical miles. It has a flight deck that can operate Merlin helicopters and larger stores and accommodation for troops.

The three vessels are the first to be built with BAE System’s Shared Infrastructure operating system, which will be rolled out across the navy’s surface fleet over the coming decade. The Shared Infrastructure system uses virtual technologies to integrate sensors, management and weapon systems in warships. It replaces multiple large consoles with a single hardware solution.

Michael Fallon, Defence Secretary, said: ‘These new ships are an important part of the £160 billion we are investing over the next decade in the equipment our armed forces need. The contract will benefit the dedicated workers of the Clyde, their families and the local economy in Glasgow. And the investment will ensure these shipyards continue to develop into world class engineering facilities at the heart of a thriving British naval shipbuilding capability.’

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