South Africa’s IPV programme completes landmark stage
South African Navy’s new Inshore Patrol Vessel completes key landmark in progamme that will deliver key maritime security capabilities to the service
Equipped with OSI Maritime Systems integrated navigation and tactical systems, the lead vessel of the South African Navy’s three-ship class of IPV’s recently concluded the First Article Acceptance Test, a landmark stage in the programme’s development.
Being built by Damen Shipyards Cape Town in South Africa, the multi-mission IPVs (MMIPV) will be used for coastal security activities such as maritime patrol and securing the country’s EEZ.
‘I’d sum up the MMIPV as a patrol vessel with big capacity,’ stated Jim Davison, VP, business development at OSI. ‘It was a very interesting project for OSI, as we applied solutions to this compact vessel that are typically found on bigger or combat ready ships.’
For the South African progamme, dubbed Project Biro, OSI fitted the IPV with a navigation and tactical suite that included the company’s Tactical Asset Control and Tracking and Integrated Mission Management System.
In addition, the company’s warship electronic chart and display system, certified to NATO STANAG 4564, is integrated into critical sensor inputs including X-band and S-band radars, INS and GPS module, among others.
According to Defence Insight data Project Biro will see each IPV delivered at an estimated cost of £33.6 million.
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