Italy readies LHD Trieste for 2023 delivery, expands F-35 operations https://t.co/kIVbKinv4u #ShephardNews #NavalWarfare pic.twitter.com/604LE3hXpN
— Shephard News (@ShephardNews) June 2, 2022
In the acquisition of new ships even in the long term, with the first step being the activation of the option for the 4th French frigate Belharra and the simultaneous modernization of the units already available, the Naval Staff is reportedly oriented after the latest developments. The postponement of the execution of the program for the new corvettes of the Fleet due to the reduction of the budget and the impossibility of finding a definitive and viable solution for the Elefsina shipyards changes the "course" of the Navy.
Thus, the first and main objective is now reportedly the acquisition of the 4th Belharra so that the Navy will have four new ultra-modern ships as a base in the coming years on which to support the "building" of the fleet with new units. While at the same time with the modernization of the four frigates of the YDRA class to keep a high "ceiling" on main strike units. The four French Belharra frigates will come to replace the non-upgraded "S" frigates in the first phase, with the aim of retiring the rest when the programme for the acquisition of new corvettes also progresses.
Reports say that the Navy Staff's recommendation to the government will be to activate the option for the 4th Belharra as soon as possible even within 2022 so that the ship can be delivered soon and in continuation of the three frigates for which the programme is already "underway". So that by the end of 2026 the fleet will have received all four ships. The cost of the 4th Belharra which is already provided for in the contract for the remaining three is about 900 million euros with armament and support included. And this opportunity as Navy Executives estimate should not be missed given the skyrocketing prices within months of the start of the war in Ukraine.
At the same time the Naval Staff wishes to accelerate the procedures for the modernization of the four MEKO frigates of the "YDRA" class. Selection of the company that will undertake the difficult task since the ships have far exceeded the Medium Life Modernization age limit and contracting as soon as possible. The favourite is the German consortium TKMS/Thales Netherlands, which is also the manufacturer of the ships.
Navy Executives have already come up with what the modernization will provide and set a "ceiling" of 500 million on the final cost. The German proposal is very close to this amount in financial terms, unlike Lockheed Martin's American proposal, which is close to or over 1 billion. While the information says that the Germans have reached a decision on the Greek shipyard where the modernization will take place.
The amount that will be left over from the 2 billion budget released by the government according to the Navy's planning is expected to be used for the modernization of the four submarines "214" class "Papanicolis" and the fast patrol guided missiles "Roussen" class.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Vandaag een nieuwe mijlpaal bereikt. De offerte-aanvraag voor 4 nieuwe onderzeeboten is verstuurd naar 3 kandidaat-werven. Zo wordt onze unieke capaciteit voor de NAVO behouden. Betrokkenheid van 🇳🇱 industrie bij bouw en onderhoud is belangrijk ⤵️ https://t.co/X9Aqpf5h8k pic.twitter.com/F1iLsFLCki
— Christophe van der Maat (@DefensieStas) November 16, 2022
Dutch Submarine Replacement going on well
SAAB, NG and TKMS contenders.
Video: Future Dutch Submarine – TKMS Type 212CD E #Submarine #Militarylife #Navy #SilentService #WW3 https://t.co/6PvokKDCrA
— The Sub Vet (@THESUBVET) November 30, 2022