Chilean naval planners and government policy-makers recently reiterated calls to build up a domestic shipbuilding capability, although the South American country still lacks the industrial depth to undertake major programmes independently.
Adm Julio Leiva Molina, Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Navy, stated the case in a recent webinar called ‘Construcción Naval Continua’ (Naval Construction Continues), asking: ‘Should we continue to buy [second-hand warships] or should we take a giant leap?’
Since the early 2000s, ASMAR has built four OPV80-class offshore patrol vessels and the oceanographic vessel Cabo de Hornos for the Chilean Navy.
An icebreaker is also under construction as the