NAVAL NEWS NOVEMBER 2023

Navy Forces Naval Maritime Defense Security Industry


The Spanish submarine S-81 Isaac Peral is currently undergoing sea trials, marking the final step before its official entry into active service. This development opens up new opportunities in the international submarine market, with five countries showing potential interest in acquiring these next-generation vessels.

On November 26, 2023, the Iranian Defense Ministry showcased a series of photographs through its official X account, revealing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGC-N), also known as NEDSA (Niru-ye Daryâyi-e Sepâh-e Pâsdârân-e Enghelâb-e Eslâmi), during a military drill. The images displayed IRGC-N marines equipped with modern weaponry, such as the AK-103/133 rifles with RU-03 optics. This special force is also called the Sepah Navy Special Force.

The launching ceremony of the Spartaco Schergat frigate, the 9th of a series of 10 FREMM vessels (Multi-Mission European Frigate), took place on November 27 at the integrated shipyard of Riva Trigoso (Genoa). The 10 FREMM vessels have been commissioned to Fincantieri by the Italian Navy within the framework of an Italo-French international cooperation program, under the coordination of OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matiére d’Armement), the joint organization for European cooperation in armaments. The godmother of the launch was Arianna Somma, granddaughter of the Golden Medal for Military Valor Spartaco Schergat, from whom the ship takes its name.

Russia already operates more icebreakers than any other country and, of course, travels along the Northern Sea Route. The country will now be arming its icebreakers with guns as part of an ongoing effort to exert more influence, station more forces and potentially claim territory in the Arctic, Kris Osborn, President, the Center for Military Modernization, writes in Warrior Maven.

On November 22, 2023, as part of a live-fire exercise showcasing its defensive capabilities, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105) utilized its Phalanx Close-In Weapons System (CIWS). The exercise took place in the Philippine Sea, where the USS Dewey operates as part of Task Force 71/Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest DESRON and the principal surface force of the US Navy's 7th Fleet.

The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China is making significant advancements in the field of stealth technology, particularly with its diesel-electric submarines of the 039A (Yuan) class, now upgraded to the 039C variant. This new variant of class submarines is equipped with a stealthy sail structure.

According to Tasnim on November 27, the new destroyer named Daylaman and bearing hull identification number 78 was officially commissioned during a ceremony held in the northern port city of Bandar Anzali. The event was attended by prominent figures, including Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, Army Commander Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, and Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani.

According to a PR published by Kongsberg on November 24, 2023, the firm has developed Naval Strike Missile (NSM) and will take the lead role in developing the new naval strike missile, which will complement the NSM, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. The new missile will be known as SuperSonic Strike Missile (3SM) Tyrfing and is scheduled to be ready in 2035.

According to a post published by the Portuguese Navy on November 24, 2023, Portugal is set to revolutionize maritime technology with the construction of a "plataforma naval multifuncional", a landing helicopter capable to carry out helicopter and unmanned aerial vehicles. She is scheduled to enter service in the second half of 2026.

According to information published by the French MoD on November 23, 2023, the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) has ordered seven offshore patrol vessels (patrouilleurs hauturiers) for the French Navy on November 17, 2023. The order, amounting to a total of €900 million, is divided into three contracts.

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