A new frigate has entered service with Pakistan and two patrol boats have been delivered to Cabo Verde. Recently placed orders include an additional Constellation-class frigate for the United States and two amphibious ships for the Philippines.
Pakistan Navy's second Tughril-class frigate commissioned into service
The Pakistan Navy recently commissioned its newest Tughril-class guided missile frigate into service.
PNS Taimur is the second in a planned class of four frigates that are variants of the Type 054 A/P ships in service with the People's Liberation Army Navy. The final two ships in the class are in various stages of construction at China's Hudong Zhonghua Shipbuilding.
As with its sisters, Taimur will be used on anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and anti-air warfare missions. Its area of operations will include parts of the Indian Ocean.
Cabo Verde Coast Guard receives two new US-built patrol boats
The Cabo Verde Coast Guard has taken delivery of two new patrol boats in a series built by US-based Metal Shark Boats.
The 11.5-metre newbuilds will be operated alongside an earlier Metal Shark-built patrol boat in service with the Cabo Verde Maritime Police.
Metal Shark personnel also provided training for the coast guard crews who will operate the new boats.
US Navy exercises option for third Constellation-class frigate
The US Navy has exercised its second option for the Constellation-class frigate program by approving the construction of the third ship in the class.
The construction contract for the future USS Chesapeake has been awarded to Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM). Like its sisters, it will be built as a multi-mission platform optimised for operations in blue water and the littoral environments.
The Constellation-class frigates are designed to operate independently or as part of a carrier/expeditionary strike group or a surface action group and will be manned and equipped for navy composite warfare and joint maritime operations. The ships will be capable of anti-air warfare, anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, electronic warfare, and information operations.
Philippines orders two additional landing platform docks
The Philippine government has placed an order for two additional landing platform docks (LPDs) to be built by Indonesian state-owned shipyard PAL.
The 123-metre LPDs will be upgraded variants of the two Tarlac-class ships in service with the Philippine Navy.
The newer LPDs will have flight deck space for two 10-tonne helicopters and two diesel engines that will deliver a speed of 16 knots and a range of 9,000 nautical miles. Secondary missions will include humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) and search and rescue (SAR).
