iXblue press release
This project involves the development of four Pohjanmaa class multi-role corvettes by the Finnish shipyard Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC). Together with existing Hamina-class missile boats, they will form the backbone of the Finnish Navy. Furuno is in charge of providing a fully integrated navigation system for those future vessels.
Key reasons for this success were iXblue’s Phins Series excellent navigation performance and efficient interfacing with weapon systems. In addition, important factors of Phins gyros are great heading performance, slow inertial drift and proven compatibility with the Combat Management System (CMS) and its subsystems.
Phins Series is an INS based on the Fiber-Optic Gyroscope (FOG) technology. Purely solid state, the FOG technology does not require preventive maintenance, which implies significant long-term savings for users. iXblue has constantly improved their level of accuracy and reliability, which led more than 40 Navies to equip their vessel with its navigation solutions. Meanwhile Netans is a COTS based data distribution unit used for data conversion and broadcast.
Enzo Aldrovandi, Sales Manager at iXblue said:
“We are truly thankful to Furuno, RMC and the Finnish Navy for their trust in iXblue inertial solutions. They have demonstrated strong performance in navigation at high latitude. Therefore, we look forward to partner with Furuno, a leading Naval integrator, to bring those capabilities onboard the future Pohjanmaa class corvettes of the Finnish Navy”
-End-
Naval News comments: About Pohjanmaa-Class Corvette
The Pohjanmaa-class corvettes (Squadron 2020 program) will be constructed in Finland. They will be multi role surface combatants with ice breaking capabilities. The construction contract (worth 647.6 million Euros) was awarded to Finnish shipbuilder Rauma Marine Constructions in September 2019. The construction of the four corvettes was set to start in 2022 and end in 2025. Sea trials are expected to begin in 2024. Full operational status of the entire Pohjanmaa-class with the Finnish Navy is expected to be achieved by 2028.
Saab was selected in September 2019 to provide and integrate the combat system and sensors of the corvettes. The vessels will be equipped with ESSM surface to air missiles, Gabriel V anti-ship missiles and Torpedo 47 torpedoes. Kongsberg will equip the vessels with its SS2030 and SD9500 sonars. Patria will supply the Sonac DTS variable depth sonar.
Saab will provide a wide range of systems and solutions for the Pohjanmaa corvettes, including:
- Trackfire Remote Weapon Station
- TactiCall integrated communication system
- Saab Lightweight Integrated Mast (SLIM)
- Sea Giraffe 4A Fixed Face radar
- Sea Giraffe 1X radar
- Saab’s new lightweight torpedo
- Ceros 200 radar and electro-optical director
- Saab Naval Laser Warning System
Together with the existing four Hamina-class missile boats that are currently being modernized, the four new corvettes will form the backbone of the Finnish Navy from the mid-2020s. They will replace seven older vessels that have been or are due to be decommissioned: the single Pohjanmaa and two Hämeenmaa-class minelayers as wll as four Rauma-class missile boats.
Pohjanmaa-class Corvette main characteristics
Length: 114 m (374 ft)
Beam: 16 m (52 ft)
Displacement: 3,900 tonnes (3,800 long tons; 4,300 short tons)
Crew: 70 to 120 sailors
