Italy’s 3 new frigates at sea together for the first time

Carlo Bergamini (F590) is a general purpose frigate while Virginio Fasan (F591) and Carlo Margottini (F592) are ASW variants. A total of 6 GP and 4 ASW frigates are planned for the Italian Navy. France will take 7 ASW frigates and 2 air-defence frigates. Morocco has accepted a single frigate into service.

“Nuovo successo per la Marina Militare e l’industria italiana” – Le prime tre FREMM prendono il largo

Golfo di La Spezia – Nel corso della mattina del 26 settembre il Golfo dei poeti ha tenuto a battesimo Nave Carlo Margottini che ha effettuato la sua prima uscita in mare. L’ultima “nata” del programma FREMM, strategico ed ambizioso programma di costruzioni navali militari in Europa che vede impegnati Francia ed Italia, rappresenta un successo programmatico nato dalla vincente sinergia tra la cantieristica italiana e la Marina Militare.

Nave Margottini, unitamente alle altre due FREMM (fregate europee multi-missione) italiane, realizzate da Orizzonte Sistemi Navali, la joint-venture fra Fincantieri e Selex ES, hanno lasciato per la prima volta tutte insieme i moli del cantiere del Muggiano per il mare aperto.

La capoclasse nave Carlo Bergamini, consegnata alla Marina Militare lo scorso maggio e le gemelle Virginio Fasan e Carlo Margottini, che dovrebbero essere consegnate rispettivamente entro fine anno ed il prossimo febbraio, hanno effettuato una serie di evoluzioni e prove nel corso della giornata volte a testare l’efficienza dei moderni imbarcati.

Sea trials for Morocco’s FREMM frigate

The FREMM multipurpose frigate is a joint French-Italian design for a frigate capable of anti-submarine warfare and anti-ship warfare. France’s Marine Nationale will acquire 8 ASW frigates with options for 9 more, Italy’s Marina Militaire will acquire 4 ASW and 6 GP frigates, and the Royal Moroccan Navy is acquiring 1 French-built ASW frigate.

Sea trials validate frigate’s combat systems

LORIENT, France, July 11 (UPI) — French shipbuilder DCNS has completed a third series of sea trials on a FREMM frigate for the Royal Moroccan Navy.

The trials were to check the performance of the ship’s combat systems and were performed off the coast of Brittany.

“This third series of sea trials represents a major milestone for the overall program and more particularly for the ship’s combat system,” said Gilles Raybaud, DCNS’s FREMM program manager for Morocco. “Our crews thoroughly tested the full suite of combat system hardware and software that makes FREMM frigates among the most versatile and advanced on the world market.”

DCNS said specific tests included target engagement sequences using Aster anti-air missiles and MM40 anti-ship missiles, fire control tests for the 76-mm main gun and testing of the frigate’s multi-function radar.

Other tests involved helicopter approach control and the deployment of various towed devices.

Initial sea trials on the ship – the future Mohamed VI – took place in April, during which the frigate’s propulsion and navigation systems were evaluated.

DCNS is building a total of 12 FREMM frigates. Eleven are for the French Navy.

FREMM frigates have a maximum speed of 27 knots and a range of 6,000 nautical miles at 15 knots.

http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2013/07/11/Sea-trials-validate-frigates-combat-systems/UPI-23481373557564/

Russia marketing new Amur class submarines over proven Kilo class boats

The Amur-class submarine (Project 1650) is the export version of the Lada-class submarine (Project 677) and it would seem that Russia is aggressively marketing the new design over its existing Kilo-class boats.

Russia offering submarines to Morocco

Russian state arms export company Rosoboronexport will offer its Amur 1650 submarine to Morocco if the North African country announces a tender, the company has announced. Morocco is reportedly shopping for new submarines.

Rosoboronexport Vice-President Viktor Komardin at the International Maritime Defence Show on July 4 said that the company was “actively promoting” the Amur 1650 on the world market. He said Rosoboronexport “plans to offer it to Morocco should the kingdom announce a tender”.

ITAR-TASS quoted Komardin as saying that “if Morocco announces a tender for a submarine, we will take part and offer the Amur-1650.” He added that Rosoboronexport aims to improve military cooperation with Morocco, developing on an economic cooperation agreement. In terms of military cooperation, he noted that Russia has recently delivered Msta-S self-propelled howitzers to the North African country. “Morocco is showing an active interest in weapons for air defence and ground troops. The choice is now theirs to make,” said Komardin.

The Amur 1650, designed by the Rubin Naval Design Bureau in St Petersburg, can carry 18 missiles, torpedoes or mines (including anti-ship and cruise missiles) and can dive to 300 metres. It is an export model of the Lada class diesel-electric submarine, a modernised version of the Kilo class, featuring better acoustic stealth and new combat systems.

Provision has been made for the submarine to be fitted with an air-independent propulsion system, which would allow it to remain submerged for more than 25 days.

The Amur 1650 has been offered to meet the Indian Navy’s requirements for six submarines and is competing against France’s Scorpene, Germany’s Type 214 and Spain’s S-80, amongst others.

Morocco is enlarging its navy, having recently received three new Sigma class frigates from Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding. It will soon take delivery of a FREMM frigate from DCNS. The current Moroccan fleet includes two Floréal-class frigates and a Descubierta-class corvette in addition to some 21 patrol craft and a number of other ships and vessels.