NEWS
Surface combatants Final corvette for
Oman named Te last of three corvettes under construction at BAE Systems in the UK for the Royal Navy of Oman was formally named in a launching ceremony at Portsmouth Naval Base in August. Mick Ord, Managing Director of BAE Systems’
Surface Ships division, said: “We have developed a close working relationship with the Royal Navy of Oman as we work in partnership to deliver the Khareef corvettes. “These highly sophisticated ships are fitted with
complex weapons and high quality accommodation with exceptional sea keeping ability. I have no doubt thatAl Rasikh, and her sister ships, will be a valued asset within the Royal Navy of Oman’s surface fleet.” Al Rasikh is part of Project Khareef, signed in 2007,
for the design and build of three 99m corvettes for the Royal Navy of Oman. With a continued commitment to providing through-life support and services to its customers, BAE Systems is also delivering training for Omani personnel, as well as an initial logistics support package for the ships. Te corvette is an efficient and operationally flexible
platform, equipped to defend against both surface and air threats. Al Rasikh and her sister ships will be used to protect Omani territorial waters, conducting coastal patrols in peacetime, with the ability to conduct search and rescue, as well as disaster relief, while providing ocean going capability for use in deterrent operations during times of tension. Following hand over next year, first-of-class Al
Shamikh and her crew will undergo the UK Royal Navy’s Flag Officer Sea Training programme before sailing to Oman for hot weather trials. Al Rahmani, the second ship of the class, was officially named in July 2010 and will undertake sea trials later this year.
Submarines Construction of
Brazilian sub begins DCNS and its partner Odebrecht, through their joint company Itaguaí Construções Navais (ICN), have launched construction of the first S-BR Scorpene class submarine under the Brazilian submarine programme. Te ‘first cut’ ceremony, marking the effective implemen- tation of the technology transfer agreement, was held in Itaguaí, Brazil, in the presence of the country’s most senior political officials. Te ceremony was held in presence of the Brazil
President, Dilma Rousseff, the Brazilian Ministry of Defence, Nelson Jobim, the French Ministry of Defence, Gerard Longuet and the Chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of DCNS President Patrick Boissier and for Odebrecht, the CEO, Marcelo Odebrecht. The start of construction work in Brazil on the
first S-BR Scorpene class submarine is one of the most important milestones of the programme. It demonstrates that
the engineers, technicians and
workers trained at DCNS in France have acquired all the necessary knowledge and skills, particularly the steel forming and welding techniques used in the construc- tion of the pressure hull. It highlights also that Brazil has the state-of-the-art industrial facilities needed to produce latest-generation submarine hulls. All aspects of the programme are supervised by the Brazilian Navy, under a wide-ranging technology transfer agreement. Te programme covers the design and construction
of four Scorpene conventional-propulsion submarine submarines, design and construction assistance with the non-nuclear portion of Brazil’s first nuclear-powered submarine and support for the construction of a naval base and a naval shipyard. Te first of the four Scorpene class conventional-propulsion submarines is scheduled to enter active service in 2017. Te four submarines have conventional diesel-electric propulsion. Teir length overall is approximately 75m, with a surface displace- ment of close to 2000tonnes. Tey will be operated by a crew of 30 to 45.
Amphibious ships Spain’s first BAM
starts trials Te first example of the Spanish Navy’s Maritime Action Ship (BAM), Meteoro, successfully completed sea trials at the end of July, during which the ship’s platform and combat systems were tested. Meteoro was launched on 16 October 2009 and will
Al Rasikh, the last of three corvettes for Morocco, was launched in August.
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have a range of roles including protecting and escorting other vessels; controlling maritime traffic; counter-terror-
Warship Technology October 2011
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