Internationale ontwikkelingen maritiem

[Harald]

Schepen lijken almaar "vetter" te worden.
Da's bijna vier meter breder dan de Kortenaer- en Doorman-klasse.
Het "rank en slank" verdwijnt.

Ik vergelijk het Arctic frigate ff met een Damen Crossover XO 131L, maar deze is ook al 19,6 meter breed.
Het "oude" ontwerp RMF-22D voor de ASWF fregatten is ook 17,1 meter breed.

Het idee achter die Arctic Fregatten lijkt wel wat op het Crossover idee van Damen

https://media.damen.com/image/upload/v1632424639/catalogue/defence-and-security/crossovers/product-sheet-xo-131-l.pdf

[ARM-WAP]

length of 125 meters, an 18.0-meter beam

Schepen lijken almaar "vetter" te worden.
Da's bijna vier meter breder dan de Kortenaer- en Doorman-klasse.
Het "rank en slank" verdwijnt.

[Harald]

Danish firm OSK Design introduces Arctic frigate design for Northern Operations

According to a PR published by OSK Design on September 12, 2023, the firm has revealed its Arctic frigate concept tailored for operations in the challenging waters of the North Atlantic, High North, and Greenland.


Artist rendering of the future Arctic frigate design.

The vessel includes an onboard helicopter, intended for various roles including aerial reconnaissance, transport, and search and rescue in the Arctic conditions.

The Arctic frigate is designed to operate year-round in the Arctic, capable of enduring tough ice conditions. Its specifications include a length of 125 meters, an 18.0-meter beam, a 6-meter maximum draught, and a top speed of over 23 knots.

The vessel comes equipped with a range of weapons for security purposes, including a gun, missile launchers, and overhead systems. It's powered by a diesel-electric system (PODs).

Depending on the operation, it can accommodate a crew ranging from 60 to 125 members. Additionally, the frigate has drone capabilities for various tasks and two RHIBs (Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boats) of up to 9 meters, along with a 12-meter stern-launched boat.

The mission bay of the frigate is designed to be versatile, housing systems such as the ACTAS ASW system, mine-laying modules, and equipment for the Arctic Standby Force. This makes the vessel adaptable for different missions, from Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and surveillance to disaster response.

https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-news-archive/2023/september/13571-danish-firm-osk-design-introduces-arctic-frigate-design-for-northern-operations.html




video van 5:00

[Harald]

Charting New Horizons: BMT Showcases Vision For LUSV

BMT, a maritime-orientated high-end design house and technical consulting company, unveils its Large Uncrewed Surface Vessel (LUSV) solution at DSEI 2023 exhibition in London.



BMT press release

In a stride towards shaping the future of naval technological prowess, BMT, the leading international multi-disciplinary engineering and ship design consultancy, has unveiled its Large Uncrewed Surface Vessel (LUSV) vision.

As part of its commitment to horizon scanning, BMT demonstrates why LUSVs could be a necessary enabler for any future blue water navy, as it seeks to balance operational capability and cost-effective mass.

"The naval landscape is evolving and so must our operating strategies.  Whilst the concept of a LUSV is not new, many navies debating their future fleet composition have yet to formally consider the use of these types of high endurance vessels to enhance its surface fleet.  Our purpose with this vision was to explore the potential of LUSVs adding mass to an existing or future fleet. When considered within a mixed fleet approach, the LUSV demonstrates compelling technical feasibility.  However, as we chart this course towards the future of naval capabilities, it will be imperative that we further explore the economic viability to ensure a balanced and sustainable naval strategy."

Monty Long, Global Business Development Director for Defence, Maritime and Security at BMT



The unveiling of this vision underscores BMT's role as a vanguard in innovation and adaptability backed by decades of proven ship design experience. This conceptual stance is further backed by the company's experience and pursuit of next-generation platform-designs and autonomous systems. At over 80m long, to ensure it can operate within high sea states, the LUSV vision comprises six challenges and research areas:

1. Command and Control – controlled via shore operations centre but commanded as part of a fully-networked, interoperable fleet.

2. Sensor Data Management – providing key, encrypted operational data at the speed of relevance.

3. Engineering Systems – considering sustainable propulsion systems and future alternative fuels.

4. Vessel and Mission Resilience – allowing the vessel to remain at station whatever is thrown its way, a key factor here is to understand and achieve a balance between resilience on mission and achieving a cost that allows these vessels to support increasing fleet mass.

5. Maintenance and Logistics – ensuring system reliability and availability with different approaches to implementing maintenance.

6. Modularity – providing a flexible solution with ample capacity for carrying various modular payloads.

The LUSV vision is an evolution of BMT's Highly Autonomous Warship Technologies (HAWT) programme launched at DSEI two years ago where the company created a vision of a safe and secure lean crewed warship.  The aim of this programme was to reduce crew numbers to a minimum by embracing onboard automation and safety, whilst still maintaining the flexibility of the vessel with a minimal crew and evolving its use into the future battlespace.

"Despite the effectiveness of HAWT, they are not the full solution on their own.  A future fleet of lean crewed warships enabled with high levels of costly automation systems could lead to a loss of mass/hull numbers for a fixed fleet cost. It needs to be built into a mixed fleet solution as part of the pivot to protean capabilities. The question for us then became – how can we effectively add mass to the fleet in a cost-effective manner?  This led to the creation of the LUSV vision – a simplified supporting vessel that can utilise the full benefits of autonomy to help reduce costs.  The LUSV vision strongly complements the HAWT operating concept and could operate alongside the lean crewed vessel providing cost effective, added mass to the fleet and utilising many of the same underlying technologies."

Jake Rigby, Research and Development Lead for Defence and Security at BMT

https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/dsei-2023/2023/09/charting-new-horizons-bmt-showcases-vision-for-lusv/#prettyPhoto

[Parera]

Royal Navy Charts A Course To Uncrewed ASW



The Royal Navy (RN) has outlined ambitions to introduce uncrewed and autonomous systems as a means to increase lethality and build mass in its future anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability.


https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/dsei-2023/2023/09/royal-navy-charts-a-course-to-uncrewed-asw/

[Harald]

https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/dsei-2023/2023/09/dsei-2023-team-resolute-unveils-evolved-design-of-fss-for-the-rfa/



Team Resolute Unveils Evolved Design Of FSS For The RFA

Team Resolute, a consortium of Navantia UK, BMT and Harland & Wolff, unveiled its evolved design for the Fleet Solid Support ship at DSEI 2023.

[Parera]

Dit is nu gewoon een simpele maar naar mijn idee prima OPV.

Italy's new generation OPVs by Orizzonte Sistemi Navali



On 31 July, the Naval Armaments Directorate (NAVARM) of the Italian MoD's General Secretariat of Defence /National Armaments Directorate assigned Orizzonte Sistemi Navali (OSN), the joint venture between Fincantieri (51%) and Leonardo (49%), a € 925 million contract for the design, construction, and delivery of the first three new generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) with related ten-year support. It also includes options for three further units, support and the infrastructural enhancements necessary for the operational bases of Augusta, Cagliari and Messina, divided into different batches.

The new OPVs, previously known as PPX, will gradually replace the two series of Constellation ships better known as Cassiopea- (4 units) and Sirio- (2 units) classes, as part of the Italian Navy's wider plan to renew its surface patrol component. The latter also includes the Comandanti-class six OPVs that will be replaced under the UE PESCO's Multi-Mission Patrol Corvettes (MMPCs) also known as European Patrol Corvettes (EPC) programme. The nationally managed new generation OPV programme sees OSN awarding contracts to Fincantieri and Leonardo worth approximately € 540 and € 255 million respectively, pending the approval of the framework contract by the Court of Auditors expected in early autumn. According to OSN, the first-of-class will be delivered in the first half of 2027 if the go-ahead will be obtained at the scheduled date. The programme is planned to last 43 months; the formal go-head (T0) will give the green light for the detailed design phase that will last 11 months, bringing to the first steel cut,  delivery being planned 32 months later.

The new platforms
Resulting from the close cooperation between the Italian Navy General Staff and defence industries represented by OSN, the new ships will be able to mainly carry out high seas patrolling contributing to Homeland Security and the protection of national interests in the open spaces seafarers, with a marked propensity for Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO), without neglecting combat employment profiles and complementary tasks in support of the community, such as the contribution to anti-pollution operations in case of oil spills at sea.

To fulfil these missions, the Italian Navy and Fincantieri selected the FCX20 platform from the new FCX naval ships family, which hull design was developed in 2017-2018 and subsequently refined in 2021-2022 with the aim of guaranteeing excellent sea keeping capabilities, reduced drag and limited RCS and acoustic signatures, the latter characteristics being of particular importance for 'combat' versions. The design requires the platform to be able to ensure full operation without restrictions up to Sea State 5 conditions.

With a full load displacement of about 2,400 tonnes, an overall length of about 95 meters, a maximum beam of 14.2 meters, a construction height of 8.4 meters and a maximum draft of only 5.4 meters to operate from a wide range of harbours. The hull design provides for a bow area with a bulb and a completely covered mooring area to maximize sea keeping performances and ensure protection from bad weather conditions and rough seas, active stabilizer fins amidships contributing to ensure operational capability in high sea state conditions.  A large aft area under the flight deck is available to house inflatable floating tanks used to collect the oil recovered via the anti-pollution system or, alternatively and in the event of an emergency, to accommodate a large number of castaways who can be hosted in the large hangar.

The forward superstructures are characterized by a bridge followed by the combat operations centre (COC) and dominated by the Naval Cockpit which represents the main distinctive feature and innovation derived from the developments of the PPA project, together with the extended bridge wings that ensure practically 360°  coverage around the unit. On the main deck amidships, between the two blocks of superstructures, we find the RHIB launch and recovery stations and the equipment intended for anti-pollution operations. The aft area of the new ships is characterized by the flight deck and superstructures incorporating a large hangar to host not only an NH-90 medium-sized helicopter but also an AW Hero-type Class 2 vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle.

The CODLAD (COmbined Diesel-eLectric And Diesel) propulsion system is configured on two shaft lines, each including an 8,000 kW diesel engine and a 500 kW reversible electric motor, directly connected to a double input/single output gearbox and variable pitch propellers, while the rudders are of the conventional type. According to requirements, the diesel engines together with the electric ones must ensure a maximum speed exceeding 24 knots. The pace at basic speeds is ensured by electric motors that must be able to ensure a speed of no less than 10 knots. Maximum range is indicated at 3,500 nm at a speed of 14 knots, with a maximum mission endurance of 20 days.

To meet the various speed requirements and reduce fuel consumption and emissions, beside the aforementioned diesel engines and electric motors the design features an electric power generation and distribution plant based on four diesel gensets of around 680-700 ekW each divided in two separate electrical stations. The compartment arrangement for the propulsion and power generating equipment guarantees 50% of the propulsion power with damage to a single compartment and 50% of the electrical power with damage to two contiguous compartments.

The automation and the combat system
The new OPVs have been designed with accommodation for 97 crew members, helicopter/UAV flight detachment and special forces personnel. Although the unit has been conceived with a high degree of automation, to satisfy the requirements in terms of personnel in the event of platform damage, crew rotation, management of mission equipment, armament and on-board maintenance, the crew has been set at around 70 elements.

To ensure commonality with Italian Navy's latest platforms, the new OPVs will be equipped with the same SeasNavy family of ship management system supplied by Fincantieri NexTech, alongside other equipment and a latest generation damage management system. Among the most innovative features, the main one is certainly the Naval Cockpit requested by the Italian Navy General Staff based on the operational experience gained on the PPAs.  An integrated station, co-produced by Fincantieri NexTech and Leonardo, it allows the conduct of ship and air-sea operations by only two personnel, the pilot and the co-pilot. Two navy officers can therefore carry out all duties intended for ship conduction and tactical operations. From this position, located on the bridge, it is possible to manage machines, rudders, platform systems, and some combat system functions. Nearly identical to that installed on board the PPAs, keeping the man-machine interface unchanged, the Naval Cockpit is part of a mini combat operational bridge (PLOC) characterized by two stations with fully reconfigurable multi-functional consoles (MFCs) of the combat management system (CMS), which is the same SADOC 4 by Leonardo used from all new Navy units. Behind the PLOC, as on the PPA, we find the Combat Operations Center (COC) that includes three SADOC 4 MFCs and large wall screens. As the ship is designed from the outset for operating a Class 2 VTOL unmanned air system in addition to the NH90 helicopter, the mission planning and control station is co-located with the COC. Following the recent joint presentation between Leonardo, Italian Navy and the Ministry of Defence at Seafuture 2023, the AWHero is expected to be the logical candidate.

The combat system also features a communications suite supplied by Leonardo with Software Defined Radio (SDR) equipment in V/UHF and HF bands as well as civil/military SATCOM together with the Multi Data Link Processor (MDLP) with Link 22 and Link 16. The sensors suite includes the GEM Elettronica Columbus Mk3 solid-state 3D air and naval surveillance radar with integrated IFF, together with an Elettronica RESM system for electronic surveillance, a Leonardo NA-30S Mk 2  main gun's fire control system, and two GEM Elettronica Gemini DB in X/Ka band radars for navigation and helicopter control. Panoramic day/night observation and tracking is assured by a Leonardo suite with two Janus EO turrets while two Sitep Italia MASS (Multirole Acoustic Stabilized System) ensure non-lethal close-in defence.

The gun armament includes a Leonardo 76/62 mm Super Rapido and two 30 mm Leonardo Lionfish remote-controlled weapons on platform sides. The main gun comes in the Davide/Strales configuration with the multi-feeder magazine and DART guided ammunition. The gun is also fitted for 76 Vulcano ammunition. The 30 mm Lionfish adoption makes the service the launch customer of the new Leonardo's gun system, under development together with ABM (Air Burst Munition) ammunition. The Lionfish will be equipped with a day/night electro-optical sensor and laser that, together with the combination of gun and ABM ammunition, will allow to engage and neutralize challenging threats such as drones.

The new OPVs will be equipped with a Solas 7 metres RIHB and a 9.3 metres RHIB, which can also be used to support anti-pollution operations and commercial traffic control. To fulfil the anti-pollution mission, the suite includes two rods for spraying chemical dispersants situated over the bow area, an oil-skimmer module for the recovery of dispersed oil amidships, booms and floating boxes for respectively the containment and confinement of dispersed oil and its storage under the flight deck .

The bivalent 'patrol/combat' project nature
The FCX20 project is also conceived and offered as a 'combat' unit characterized by a continuous superstructure with covered central boat accommodation areas to reduce the RCS. It can also host a vertical launching system (VLS) for VL MICA or alternatively CAMM-ER surface-to-air missiles, both supplied by MBDA, positioned between the bow-mounted  76 mm Super Rapido and the superstructure, as well as MBDA Exocet anti-ship missiles and a RAMSyS RAM-type close-in defence missile system above the hangar in addition to previously mentioned weapons. As for the combat system, this is centred on Leonardo's latest generation ATHENA family CMS, the sensor suite including a main radar that for the 'combat' configuration would possibly be the Leonardo Kronos Naval HP (High Power), in addition to an Elettronica EW suite with decoy launchers. Obviously, this reference configuration can be adapted based on the specific requests of the customer.

Images courtesy Fincantieri

https://www.edrmagazine.eu/italys-new-generation-opvs-by-orizzonte-sistemi-navali

[Parera]

Het bedrijf achter de CB-90 (Docksta Varvet) heeft naast de CB-90 nog een serie van andere modellen ontwikkeld voor de militaire / overheden industrie:

- CB-90 (14,90 x 3,85 m)
- Interceptor 11 ( 11,30 x 2,94 m)
- Interceptor 16 ( 15,90 x 3,80 m)
- Interceptor 16,5 ( 16,50 x 4,20 m)
- Interceptor 20 (21,55 x 4,46 m)

Dit laatste model is recent geupdate en is er nu in 3 varianten:
- Search and Rescue / Service vessel
- Highspeed Patrol / Landing craft
- Highspeed Mortar

Deze landings versie bied ruimte aan 10 troepen + 4 een kajuit voor bemanningsleden. Daarnaast is er aan boord een kleine kombuis en eet ruimte voor 6 man. In de SAR versie is ruimte voor 20 troepen.

https://www.saab.com/products/docksta-ic20m

[Harald]

Ik heb het vermoeden dat Zweden een nieuw Stridsbåt type aan het ontwikkelen is, een CB90 achtig vaartuig maar dan langer, 16 tot 20 meter. (doorontwikkeling, vergroting van de CB90 ?)
Ze willen dit type vaartuig uitrusten met een RWS 30mm (30x113mm), een short-range Anti-Ship Missile (ASM) of Surface-to-Surface (SSM) Missile system en een Short-Range Air Defense (SHORAD) systems.
Ze spreken over een aantal van 8 tot 12 vaartuigen.

Ik ben erg benieuwd naar deze ontwikkeling.

De Laatste verbeterde versie (HSM) van de CB90 werd in 2021 in London aan de wereld laten zien, deze was voorzien van RWS 12,7mm (0.5).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=epbzbRgTNdU

Extra info :

Swedish Marines Seeking More Firepower

The Swedish Marines are undergoing a major transformation as part of the Amfbat 2030 initiative, which aims to provide them with the ability to fight in the littorals both mounted and dismounted, especially against surface and air threats.

As reported by Naval News earlier this year, the Swedish Marines are currently undergoing a major change as the Amfbat 2030-program strives to give them the ability to fight in the littorals both mounted and dismounted – including against surface and air threats. The program took another major leap forward recently, with the release of a Request for Information for a number of key systems.

These cover the remaining three expected major weapons, as well as a remote weapon station (RWS). The size of the vessel these system are planned to go on – 16 to 20 meters in length, larger than the current CB 90 – means that a new vessel class is also planned, though not covered by the RFIs.


A CB 90 with current Trackfire RWS

The RWS is to be able to target both stationary and moving targets. While Sweden's most recent CB 90HSM come equipped with Saab Trackfire RWS, the Trackfire is not marketed as able to mount a modern 30 mm autocannon. The reason this is notable is that two other RFIs concern 30×113 mm autocannons and rounds. For the autocannons, the envisioned targets include both land, surface, and airborne targets (helicopters and unmanned airborne systems).

It deserves to be mentioned that a modern system in the described configuration is available on the market in the form of the Kongsberg RS6 RWS with a 30×113 mm XM914E1 Bushmaster cannon ordered for the US Marine Air Defense Integrated System program (MADIS), and as such this configuration could well be the frontrunner.

Related is the requirement for a light air-defence system, either in the form a man-portable very-short range system or a short-range system. Among man-portable systems, there exists the options on the market to integrate these to RWS – such as the MADIS where RS6 can fit a Stinger-launcher – and still retaining the ability for the marines to bring the launchers along when going ashore.

On the other hand, Saab's domestic RBS 70 NG has been offered as an integrated vehicle-mounted solution, and with the RBS 70 scoring notable successes against Russian helicopters in Ukrainian hands, orders for additional systems (and newer versions) from the Swedish Armed Forces would not be surprising.

The heaviest system is an anti-ship or surface-to-surface missile with range in excess of 70 km, able to be used against both ground targets and enemy shipping. The range requirement points toward a dedicated anti-ship missile rather than a converted anti-tank missile such as the AGM-114C HELLFIRE currently in use, as even modern non-line of sight systems struggle with the range. Coupled with the size of the envisioned launch platform, MBDA's Marte ER is the likely favourite.

While the planned vessels are larger than the CB 90, they are still small to sport this kind of firepower. In particular mounting a Marte ER-class anti-ship missile on a vessel below 20 meters in length is closer in size and relative firepower to the motor torpedo boats of the immediate post-war era rather than more recent fast attack craft.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/09/swedish-marines-seeking-more-firepower/

[Ace1]

Mehr als nur Tender  (NTV130, toch LPD- achtige schepen voor Duitsland of kijken ze naar NL voor de LPX ? )


De toekomstige CH-47 transporthelikopters moeten kunnen landen op de NTV 130

(vertaald via Google Translate)

De klasse 404-tenders zullen naar verwachting binnen minder dan tien jaar worden vervangen. De Marine wil graag dat de nieuwe schepen de mogelijkheid krijgen om extra taken op zich te nemen. Op basis hiervan heeft de NVL-werf een eerste ontwerp gepresenteerd.

In het streefbeeld voor de jaren na 2035 voorziet het marinecommando zes ondersteunende eenheden ter vervanging van de Type 404-tender. De modulaire platforms zijn bedoeld om "organische logistiek, operationele ondersteuning inclusief verkenning" te garanderen, aldus de samenvatting van taken en mogelijkheden in de Marine 2035+ doelbrochure. In lezingen wordt het pakket door vertegenwoordigers van de marineleiding uitgebreid met "amfibische operaties, leiding, transport inclusief transport van gewonden". Ze worden ook beschreven als onderdeel van een systeem van een operationele groep met en zonder autonome systemen.

https://marineforum.online/mehr-als-nur-tender/

Deze schepen zijn bedoeld om de Elbe klasse te gaan vervangen?
In dat geval mis een of meerdere Davits zoals bij de Karel Doorman het geval is.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbe-class_replenishment_ship

[silvester herc]

https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/2023/09/07/britain-tests-transport-drones-ability-to-land-take-off-from-ship/ voor meer zie link
LONDON — A twin-engine transport drone has landed on the deck of a British aircraft carrier in what the Royal Navy said is a first for the service.

The drone, dubbed HCMC, flew on and off the deck of the HMS Prince of Wales during a trial near the coast of Cornwall, southwest England, the Royal Navy announced Sept. 7.

[silvester herc]

https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/2023/09/07/britain-tests-transport-drones-ability-to-land-take-off-from-ship/ voor meer zie link
LONDON — A twin-engine transport drone has landed on the deck of a British aircraft carrier in what the Royal Navy said is a first for the service.

The drone, dubbed HCMC, flew on and off the deck of the HMS Prince of Wales during a trial near the coast of Cornwall, southwest England, the Royal Navy announced Sept. 7.

[Benji87]

Ik denk dat de Duitser hun behoefte in eerste opzicht anders is dan die van onze behoeftes. Het Duitse seebataillon richt zich veel meer op boardings, kustverdediging en verkenningen. In tegenstelling tot ons korps wat meer richting "small unit raids" wil gaan. Dat vereist twee totaal verschillende schepen. De Duitsers kunnen beter samenwerken met de Britten wat dat betreft

[Harald]

Mehr als nur Tender  (NTV130, toch LPD- achtige schepen voor Duitsland of kijken ze naar NL voor de LPX ? )


De toekomstige CH-47 transporthelikopters moeten kunnen landen op de NTV 130

(vertaald via Google Translate)

De klasse 404-tenders zullen naar verwachting binnen minder dan tien jaar worden vervangen. De Marine wil graag dat de nieuwe schepen de mogelijkheid krijgen om extra taken op zich te nemen. Op basis hiervan heeft de NVL-werf een eerste ontwerp gepresenteerd.

In het streefbeeld voor de jaren na 2035 voorziet het marinecommando zes ondersteunende eenheden ter vervanging van de Type 404-tender. De modulaire platforms zijn bedoeld om "organische logistiek, operationele ondersteuning inclusief verkenning" te garanderen, aldus de samenvatting van taken en mogelijkheden in de Marine 2035+ doelbrochure. In lezingen wordt het pakket door vertegenwoordigers van de marineleiding uitgebreid met "amfibische operaties, leiding, transport inclusief transport van gewonden". Ze worden ook beschreven als onderdeel van een systeem van een operationele groep met en zonder autonome systemen.

https://marineforum.online/mehr-als-nur-tender/

[Harald]

Austal USA To Build LCU 1700 Vessels For US Navy



Austal press release

Austal USA was awarded a $91,535,551 fixed-price incentive and firm-fixed-price type modification to definitize a previously awarded contract for the detail design and construction of three Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 1700 class craft. The contract also includes options for nine additional craft and associated support efforts.

"Austal USA is honored to be able to build this important connector for the U.S. Navy," commented Dave Growden, vice president of new construction projects. "We recognize the critical role this platform plays in supporting expeditionary operations for the Navy and Marine Corps and are looking forward to continuing to deliver ships and boats to our customers on time and on budget."

LCU are carried aboard amphibious assault ships to the objective area and used across a range of military operations to deliver vehicles, personnel and cargo from sea-to-shore and back. These connectors provide a heavy-lift capability and can carry about the same payload capacity as seven C-17 aircraft.

Austal USA continues to diversify its product line in both steel and aluminum.  Production is ongoing for two Navy Towing, Salvage and Rescue Ships (T-ATS) and the Navy's 90,800 square-foot Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock Medium (AFDM) on the company's state-of-the-art steel line.  Austal USA also holds multi-ship contracts for the Navy's TAGOS-25 ocean surveillance ship and the U.S. Coast Guard's Heritage-class Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) programs.

-End-

Naval News Comments:

The US Navy's plans call for buying 30 LCU-1700s, but it remains unclear how the construction will be divided between Austal USA and Swiftships LLC, the current builder of the LCU 1700. According to Navy budget documents, Swiftships has struggled with the construction of the LCU 1700 craft, citing several issues that range from labor issues, and material availability to design issues.

Due to the pressing need to replace the aging LCU 1610, the Navy brought in Austal USA as a second source to handle the construction of the LCU-1700. Four of the five Fiscal Year 2021 craft that were initially awarded to Swiftships are now being awarded to Austal USA. The company will also receive contracts for four craft planned for FY2022.

The contract awarded to Austal USA follows several major contracts the company has been awarded in the last few years. Austal USA's future was a bit uncertain as work on the Independence Class Littoral Combat Ship started to wind down in recent years.

However, in anticipation, the company began investing in a steel production facility. This allowed Austal USA to expand their business line beyond the capabilities of the current line which was limited to building aluminum ships. This investment is starting to pay off as the company now has a solid backlog of work ranging from Auxiliary Floating Drydocks, Towing, Salvage, and Rescue ships to the Coast Guard's Offshore Patrol Cutter.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/09/austal-usa-to-build-lcu-1700-vessels-for-us-navy/