Maritime Security Vessel News Roundup | June 25 – New frigates, corvettes and a special operations support ship

The Hellenic Navy acquires a former research vessel for special operations support as Japan welcomes a stealth frigate into service and new corvettes for Russia and the Philippines are launched. Construction begins on Australia’s Hunter-class frigates. Finally, ordered have been placed for frigates for the German Navy and patrol boats for Australia’s Pacific Island neighbours.

Hellenic Navy places special operations support ship into service

The Hellenic Navy recently welcomed a special operation support ship into service. HS Perseas, which was acquired by the Hellenic government via donation, is the former seismic survey vessel Viking Vision.

The vessel was originally completed in 1993 and was converted into a research vessel in 2007. It was donated by the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation.

Notable features include a DP system, aft deck space for up to 20 rigid inflatable boats (RIBs), and a flight deck capable of accommodating a 12.8-tonne helicopter.

Russian Navy’s second Project 20385 corvette floated out

Russian shipyard Severnaya Verf has launched a new guided-missile corvette ordered by the Russian Navy. Once commissioned into service, the future Provornyy will be assigned to the Russian Pacific Fleet.

Like its Project 20385 or Gremyashchiy-class sisters, the future Provornyy will have a length of 106 metres and two diesel engines that will deliver a speed of 27 knots. The corvette will be used primarily for anti-surface warfare and anti-submarine warfare missions. It is also designed to provide support for amphibious landings.

The second Project 20385 corvette was originally scheduled to be commissioned in 2022. However, the vessel suffered an onboard fire during the early stages of its construction in late 2021, forcing Severnaya Verf’s parent company United Shipbuilding Corporation to adjust the construction and delivery timeline.

Australian government orders two additional Guardian-class patrol boats

The Australian Government has ordered two additional Guardian-class patrol boats from Austal Australia by way of a contract valued at approximately AU$39 million (US$26 million). The 39.5-metre, steel-hull patrol boats, to be constructed at Henderson in Western Australia and scheduled for delivery in 2026, are in addition to the 22 Guardian-class boats previously ordered by the Australian government under the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project (SEA3036-1) since 2016.

Japan’s sixth Mogami-class stealth frigate formally enters service

The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) commissioned its newest stealth frigate into service in a ceremony on Thursday, June 20. JS Agano is the fifth frigate to be built under the Mogami-class. Construction of the vessel took place at the Nagasaki facilities of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

Construction begins on Royal Australian Navy’s Hunter-class frigates

Osborne Naval Shipyard in Adelaide, South Australia, has cut the first steel to be used in the construction of the first Hunter-class frigate ordered by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The piece of steel cut will form part of the under structure support for the port side propeller shaft brake system of the future HMAS Hunter.

German Navy orders two additional F126 frigates

The Procurement Organisation of the German Armed Forces has entered into an agreement for the construction of two additional F126 multi-purpose frigates for the German Navy. These ships will be the fifth and sixth in the F126 series, which is otherwise known as the Niedersachsen-class.

South Korean yard launches future Philippine Navy corvette

South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) launched the Philippine Navy’s newest guided-missile corvette in a ceremony in Ulsan on Tuesday, June 18. The future BRP Miguel Malvar is the lead ship of a new class of two corvettes ordered by the Philippine Navy from HHI in late 2021.