Intermarine and Leonardo unite for Italian Navy minehunter contract
Five modern minehunters will undertake sweeps of leading maritime areas of interest.
Commissioning ceremony in Itaguaí, Rio de Janeiro state. (Photo: Brazilian Navy)
The Brazilian Navy conduct on 1st September the commissioning ceremony of its first Riachuelo-class submarine in Itaguaí (Rio de Janeiro state). The eponymous lead boat is a diesel-electric attack submarine (SSK) that will operate off the Brazilian coast to support the protection of a 5.7 million km² area known as the Blue Amazon.
A press release issued by the Brazilian Navy noted that it will increase ‘the deterrent power of the Brazilian Armed Forces’.
The Brazilian Navy noted that, Riachuelo-class submarines are more versatile than the boats it already operates and ‘are considered operationally superior to several submarines currently available in the world’.
Shephard Defence Insight notes that Riachuelo-class SSKs are based on the Scorpene design from French shipbuilder Naval Group and feature six 533 mm torpedo tubes that can host F21 torpedoes or Exocet SM39 Block 2 Mod 2 anti-ship missiles.
This system was designed to replace the ageing Tupi and Tikuna-class systems and was acquired under the PROSUB programme, which comprises the procurement of five new submarines (four SSKs and one nuclear-powered).
Five modern minehunters will undertake sweeps of leading maritime areas of interest.
Maritime security concerns has led India to delay its pursuit of self-reliance in defence manufacturing and procurement as it makes urgent orders from international OEMs due to maritime security concerns.
The global defence giant chose a Spanish firm for its work on the Bonifaz-class frigate.
The first vessel in the Belgian-Dutch rMCM mine-clearing fleet, the Oostende, has begun its sea trials before officially entering service in 2025.
Textron’s latest order for Ship to Shore Connector (SSC), Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) follows on from a contract placed in August 2023 for five LCAC.
Japan is enhancing its naval capabilities with the construction of the 13DDX advanced destroyer and Aegis System Equipped Vessels (AESV), aiming to strengthen its air and missile defence amid increasing security threats, particularly in East Asia.