Indonesia commissions next KCR-60M missile boats and constructs new OPVs
Indonesian is building two OPVs, and two additional missile boats were recently commissioned as well.
Italy has begun building its eighth FREMM frigate under the FREMM joint initiative programme. The first steel cutting ceremony of the eighth Italian FREMM frigate took place at the Fincantieri shipyard in Riva Trigoso on 25 February 2015.
This new FREMM frigate will be a general purpose vessel and delivered to the Italian Navy in early 2019. The FREMM joint initiative includes a total of ten frigates for the navy, eight of which have been confirmed with options for two more.
The first FREMM frigate, Bergamini, is currently fully operational by the navy. The second frigate is the anti-submarine warfare configuration Fasan, which is due to finish warranty works by the end of April 2015 and enter full operations. The Margottini, an anti-submarine warfare follow-on ship, will begin its warranty works period soon. The Carabiniere is a second follow-on, due to be delivered by April. The third follow-up ship is the Alpino, which was launched in December 2014. Rizzo, a follow-on ship in general purpose configuration, will launch in February 2016.
The FREMM programme also calls for 11 for the French Navy and one for the Royal Moroccan Navy.
FREMM frigates are heavily armed warships being built under DCNS prime contractorship to carry state-of-the-art weapons and systems including the Herakles multifunction radar, MdCN cruise missiles, Aster anti-air missiles, Exocet MM40 anti-ship missiles and MU90 torpedoes.
Indonesian is building two OPVs, and two additional missile boats were recently commissioned as well.
The new missile, which incorporates land-attack capabilities, is the latest evolution of the Otomat/Teseo anti-ship weapon family and is set to replace the legacy Mk2/A version in service with the Italian Navy.
Another twist has occurred in India's tortuous pathway to obtaining six AIP-equipped submarines, as Germany seeks pole position.
The Norwegian Chief of Defence has recommended the Scandinavian country procure more submarines in a report to the government about the future shape of its armed forces.
Apart from making progress with its troubled LCS programme, the priority for Malaysia's navy right now is the next three Littoral Mission Ships.
On 6 June at Fincantieri's Muggiano shipyard, steel was cut for the Italian Navy's second U212 Near Future Submarine (NFS).