Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigates to receive life rafts from Survitec
Babcock has signed a contract with the survival tech company for forty life rafts, which will be extended into 2028.
FarSounder’s 3D sonar systems have been selected for the Royal Netherlands Navy’s (RNLN’s) hydrographic survey vessels, the company announced on 30 July.
The company’s Forward-Looking Sonar (FLS) will provide the crew of HNLMS Snellius and HNLMS Luymes with real-time data that updates at every ping on their bridge regarding what lies ahead under the water as the ships navigate.
Snellius and Luymes carry out military and public safety operations, along with hydrographic survey duties in both the North Sea and the Netherlands Antilles. These duties include rapid environmental assessments, in addition to bathymetry and route surveys. The FarSounder FLS’ local history mapping capability allows for true real-time mapping of the seafloor. This map updates every two seconds and can be saved for future use.
The equipment will be installed as part of the vessels’ mid-life upkeep programme, being carried out by Damen Shipyards Den Helder.
Babcock has signed a contract with the survival tech company for forty life rafts, which will be extended into 2028.
The protection system would be fitted to a range of Royal Navy surface ships, including Type 26 and 31 frigates, and Type 45 destroyers.
The seventh annual REPMUS* and Dynamic Messenger naval exercises, organized and led by the Portuguese Navy and NATO, were held over a three-week period in September 2023.
The Hellenic Navy has been in the process of replacing its nine remaining Elli-class (Kortaener/S-type) frigates with two new acquisition programmes for frigates and corvettes. The US offer of second-hand US Navy (USN) Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) as potential corvette replacement, however, has given the Greek government pause for thought.
Deal signed in Canberra will see Australia and the UK bolster their defence partnership via operational agreements, security consultancy and further deals for their primary defence firms.
With the Netherlands selecting the Barracuda design for its new Orka-class submarines, it will give Australia a chance to see what it could have had after it cancelled its conventional submarine (SSK) project based on Barracuda, opting instead for a nuclear-powered submarine (SSN).