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.
The US Navy has accepted delivery of the eighth Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) the future USS Charleston during a ceremony at the Austal USA shipyard on 31 August.
Charleston is the 16th LCS to be delivered to the navy.
The modular, reconfigurable Independence variant ships have a trimaran hull and a large flight deck, and have been designed to perform critical warfare mission including anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare and mine warfare missions in the littoral region.
Using an open architecture design, modular weapons, sensor systems and a variety of manned and unmanned vehicles to gain, sustain and exploit littoral maritime supremacy, LCS provides the US joint force access to critical theaters.
Following commissioning, Charleston will be homeported in San Diego.
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).