NAVAL NEWS FEBRUARY 2021

Navy Forces Naval Maritime Defense Security Industry


Leonardo has signed a contract with Fincantieri worth approximately 150 million euro to provide equipment for the initial two U212 Near Future Submarines (NFS), the first of which is due to join the Italian Navy fleet in 2027. This strategic equipment will enhance the surveillance and protection capabilities of the Italian Navy as they carry out operations beneath the waves in Italian and international waters.

Fincantieri, one of the world’s leading shipbuilding groups and reference operator in the naval shipbuilding industry, and OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Cooperation en matiere d’Armement, the international organization for joint armament cooperation) will sign the contract for the construction of 2 new-generation submarines.Such contract, in which Fincantieri will act as prime contractor, envisages an option for 2 additional units and is part of the new U212NFS (Near Future Submarine) acquisition program of the Italian Navy. The total contract value for the first two vessels, including relevant logistics support, amounts to 1.35 billion euros.

According to a press release published by Saab, the firm has signed a contract with the UK’s Royal Navy to provide a Digital Tower solution at Air Station Culdrose´s satellite airfield at Predannack. Following a competitive procurement, the Royal Navy has become the fourth UK customer to select Saab’s Digital Towers as part of a framework contract. The technology, which enables air traffic services to be conducted remotely, will also enhance the controllers’ situational awareness, through video, automatic tracking, graphic overlays, and enhanced safety tools.

According to information published by French Ministry for Armed Forces on February 18, 2021, French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle which is based on Toulon is about to set sail on a news mission. The mission will mark the start of the “Clemenceau 21” mission which is involved in the fight against terrorism for several months, in the Mediterranean, in the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Gulf. The carrier is part of a group of ships which will be deployed for several months.

According to a press release published on February 19, 2021, Florence Parly, French Minister of the Armed forces, has announced, at the Centre of expertise for Hydrodynamic techniques of the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA), the launch of the program for the third generation of SSBN nuclear-powered ballistic-missile submarine (SNLE 3G) for the French Navy.

According to a press release, French Minister for the Armed Forces Florence Parly on Friday, February 19, 2021, February announced the launch of the full-scale development phase of the SNLE 3G program to build France's third-generation nuclear-powered ballistic-missile submarines (SSBNs). As part of the SNLE 3G program, the French defense procurement agency (DGA) has signed an MoU with Thales for the development of a complete sonar suite including a broad range of sonar arrays and associated processing systems.

IAI iIsrael Aerospace Industries) s expanding its family of electro-optical/IR payloads with the introduction of MegaPOP. The advanced electro-optical payload, which was developed by TAMAM, IAI’s electro-optical and navigation system house. The new payload is designed for land applications such as marine or land border control, surveillance of sensitive facilities, or any other operational mission that requires especially lengthy surveillance performance, as well as high-definition vision capabilities with a system that uses several sensors, simultaneously.

According to a press release published by Ultra on February 18, 2021, Ultra is delighted to announce a contract award to commence work on the S2150-C HullMounted Sonar (HMS) system for the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) program. This award comes soon after Ultra’s recent award of a contract to provide the CSC Variable Depth Sonar (VDS). These subcontracts move the development of CSC’s anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability from the program definition phase into the substantive manufacture and delivery of the vessels’ suite of sonars.

According to information published by Global Times on February 18, 2021, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy recently commissioned its last batch of Type 056A corvettes specialized in coastal defense, with the total number of the Type 056 series reaching 72. China could then shift focus to produce more larger warships as part of the country's aim to build a blue-water navy.

According to a press release published by Tass on 17, February 2021, the Iranian Army’s press office reported earlier that Iran and Russia would begin joint naval drills in the northern part of the Indian Ocean on February 16. The exercises included operations to free hijacked ships and a night shooting operation against aerial targets.

According to a press release published by Defense Security Cooperation Agency on February 17, 2021, the State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Egypt of Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM) Block 2 Tactical Missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $197 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

According to information published by NATO on February 17, 2021, standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) has recently completed a Passing Exercise (PASSEX) with Israeli Navy units in the Eastern Mediterranean. This PASSEX concludes the collaboration between SNMG2 units and the Israeli Navy after a three-day port visit to Haifa, Israel, between 12-15 February 2021.

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