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 Coast Guard (USCG) has accepted delivery of its 20th Sentinel-class fast response cutter (FRC), USCGC Lawrence Lawson, it announced on 21 October.
This will be the second FRC to be stationed at Cape May, New Jersey, following its commissioning in early 2017.
The USCG is acquiring 58 Sentinel-class FRCs that will patrol coastal regions of the US and replace the 110ft Island-class patrol boats. The FRCs are 154ft in length and have an endurance of five days. They have command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment and can launch and recover standardised cutter boats from side davits or from astern.
A total of 38 FRCs have been ordered so far from Bollinger Shipyards, with 18 already in service: six each in Key West, San Juan and Miami. The 19th FRC will be commissioned in November 2016 and station at Cape May.
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).