UK’s $1 billion AUKUS support request signals strong ongoing US collaboration
The latest foreign military sales request from the UK has implications for the future of the programme and collaboration between the three nations.
Damen delivers vessel to Mexican Navy
Damen has delivered a long range ocean patrol POLA class vessel, ARM Reformador, to the Mexican Navy.
The POLA 101 will allow the Mexican Navy to carry out missions including safeguarding Mexican sovereignty, international security cooperation, law enforcement, long range search and rescue operations and humanitarian aid.
The 107m vessel is based on Damen’s SIGMA Frigate 10514 and is the tenth of its kind. The vessel’s modular design enables it to be built in more than one location simultaneously. For the Mexican project, two out of the six modules were built at Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding in the Netherlands. A Mexican team has been based in the Netherlands to supervise this process and to receive an intensive knowledge transfer. The remaining four modules were built at ASTIMAR 20 in Salina Cruz by the Mexican production team, subcontractors and suppliers.
Upon completion, the six different modules were brought together for final assembly, integration, commissioning and trials with assistance from Damen, including an intensive transfer of technology and training programme.
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