The PPA Programme achieved an important technical milestone in late December 2019: the integration of the first two X-Band fixed sensor arrays of the new Dual Band Radar (DBR) X/C at the test bed in Pratica di Mare airfield, near Rome.
The Chinese naval shipbuilding industry maintained its impressive production rate in 2019. In the past week alone, no less than 3 destroyers and a corvette were launched by various yards.
TechnicAtome and Naval Group teams fired up the nuclear boiler of the first-of-class nuclear powered attack submarine (SSN) “Suffren” for the first time, an event known as “divergence”. With this new milestone completed, the submarine is on track to start initial sea trials.
The Mexican Navy (Armada de México) announced that its first of class Patrulla Oceánica de Largo Alcance (long range oceanic patrol vessel or POLA) ARM “Reformador” successfully completed its Sea Acceptance Trials (SAT).
Austal, builder of the USS Independence-class and Lockheed Martin, builder of the USS Freedom-class LCS, have offered options for a “Frigate-type” LCS with hull lengthening, better weapons, better sensors, and various upgrades for higher performance, lethality, survivability, and C4SIR.
The Ministry of Armed Forces of Senegal and French shipbuilder PIRIOU signed November 17 a procurement contract for three OPV 58 S for the Navy of Senegal. The vessels will be fitted with missile systems, a first for this African navy.
The Italian Navy’s first Multipurpose Offshore Patrol Ship (PPA) “Paolo Thaon di Revel” started sea trials, setting sails in the blue waters of the Gulf of La Spezia on 12th Nov 2019.
Lockheed Martin, NAVAIR and the U.S. Air Force will start working on the integration of LRASM on the B-52 following a budget allocation in FY 2019. In addition, fit checks of LRASM aboard the P-8A Poseidon MPA were carried out about a year ago.
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) for the first time tested the Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) of its Hobart-class Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD).
At MADEX 2019, the naval defense show held last week in South Korea, local defense company TS TECH unveiled its new K-RBOC NG decoy launcher compatible with the latest solution by French company Lacroix Defense.
