Finland Arms Stealth Boats with New Swedish Torpedoes

[BMD]

Finland Arms Stealth Boats with New Swedish Torpedoes | Defense Update:

• Europe
• Defense Technology
• Modernization & Upgrading
• Naval Systems
• Surface Vessels

Finland Arms Stealth Boats with New Swedish Torpedoes
By

Tamir Eshel
-

Jan 4, 2018
1465

Share on Facebook Tweet on Twitter
Finland is upgrading four Hamina-class fast attack missile crafts operated by Squadron 2000, preparing these vessels to assume the mission currently done by the Hamina boats and four Rauma class Fast Attack Crafts that will retire in 2020, after 30 years of active service.

The project will deliver the boats with their new lightweight Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) torpedoes in 2023-2025, and extend the service life of Hamina-class vessels until 2035. Following this mid-life upgrade and overhaul, Torpedo-armed Haminas will serve in the FACrole until the larger corvettes will be deployed by the mid-2020s as part of Squadron 2020 program.

Patria will be the prime contractor for the EUR 170 million upgrade. As part of the upgrade, the Hamina’s current Combat Management System (CMS) will be replaced by SAAB 9LV CMS, integrated with 9LV Fire Control System (FCS) and the Ceros 200 fire control director (radar and optronic tracking fire control director). The upgrade will also include the TactiCall integrated communications system. Each combat system also integrates the Trackfire Remote Weapon Station (RWS). The FACs will be equipped with SAAB Dynamics’ new lightweight ASW torpedoes currently in development. These weapons are optimized for operation in littoral conditions. The technical work associated with the midlife overhaul and installations of new systems will be performed by Oy Western Shipyard Ltd. in Finland.

The new lightweight torpedo is currently in development and will be available for platform verification in 2019. It is expected to be fully operational by 2023-2025. Photo: Swedish FMVThe Hamina class currently uses a centralized CMS designed by EADS, its ASW systems comprise two types of sonars and rails laying mines or depth charges. It is also armed with RBS-15 MK3 anti-ship missiles, Umkhonto IR surface-to-air missiles and a single Bofors 57mm automatic cannon. In the future, the Hamina class is likely to replace the RBS-15 with a new missile – currently known as ‘Surface Warfare Missile 2020’. This new anti-ship missile system will be selected by the Finnish Defense later this year, for use in coastal defense role and as the main surface warfare weapon for the new corvettes.
Patria will act as the prime contractor, designer and lead system integrator having the overall responsibility for the project. The delivery includes a number of sensor, weapon and communication systems, system upgrades, as well as ship technical modifications and overhauls. The upgraded Hamina crafts will also receive an ASW Training Target system to facilitate anti-submarine warfare training.

 

[Shashank]

Whats the role these fast atta k crafts usually play and is it really possible to install all sensors, controllers and weapon delivery systems to be really effective ?

 

[Guynextdoor]

Whats the role these fast atta k crafts usually play and is it really possible to install all sensors, controllers and weapon delivery systems to be really effective ?

Small countries with limited threat scenarios, should be ok.

 

[Parthu]

Small countries with limited threat scenarios, should be ok.

Plus - small boats have the advantage of speed & maneuverability. Especially in littoral waters.

Also they have small signatures (more so if their hulls are shaped for deflecting radar, like the Visby-class).

 

[Guynextdoor]

Plus - small boats have the advantage of speed & maneuverability. Especially in littoral waters.

Also they have small signatures (more so if their hulls are shaped for deflecting radar, like the Visby-class).

I think this should be the model countries like Britain should take up. An effective littoral fleet instead of a blue wAter navy of no effect. I believe they want to restart negotiations with India on buying out their second qe carrier. What use is one carrier for their navy except become white elephant.

 

[Parthu]

I think this should be the model countries like Britain should take up. An effective littoral fleet instead of a blue wAter navy of no effect. I believe they want to restart negotiations with India on buying out their second qe carrier. What use is one carrier for their navy except become white elephant.

RN doesn't have much of a littoral combat requirement. They don't have hostile neighbours. Patrolling & such operations can be managed by existing River-class and forthcoming OPVs.

What they have though are far-flung interests (like Falklands, Diego Garcia etc.) and for that they need a blue water navy. But that ability is diminishing to a degree. Numbers are being cut - certain important capabilities are being lost...all due to budget limitations.

 

[Shashank]

Usually it's to harass a larger regional player from within territorial waters. In Finland's case this is Russia as the larger regional player with its Baltic Fleet. Unfortunately for Finland its coastline is mostly devoid of hiding places for smaller craft like the Hamina (versus Norway which is littered with thousands of islands). That said, there's an opportunity too. Near Turku, where the Gulf of Finland opens to the Baltic Sea proper there is a chain of smaller islands that can help mask, but ultimately not hide a smaller craft that can make use of the cover they provide to launch hit and run attacks.

Still, the opportunity is limited versus Norway whose coastline makes fast attack craft like the Skjold class corvettes a virtual necessity to make use of our territorial advantage. Because of this lack of cover Finland (and Sweden) make small, but multi-purpose boats that can both defend themselves and punch above their weight. Contributing is a lack of territory to cover making large frigates or destroyers unnecessary versus Denmark and Norway (who's coastline is the world's 7th largest).

Norway's fleet is only 7 ships smaller then the British Royal Navy at 70 to 77 ships and the Danish Navy field large tonnage boats too, but because Finland is geographically confined, opening to the Baltic only, and because the Baltic is actually very shallow, Finland can concentrate its effort on regional defence.

We see with the Hamina that they're almost like Corvettes or pocket frigates versus missile boats, though they're classified as missile boats. This infographic is incomplete in a bad way missing RBS-15 and depth charge and mine racks for systems like the PM 04 mine, but it does show that the Hamina class should be seen more so in the same category as the Turkish Ada or American LCS ships in terms of armament, despite being much smaller at just 250 tons.

While our-ranged badly by the Turkish Adas, the Hamina compares favorably in terms of armament and packs similar sensors.

Yes it is. The Swedish Visby and Norwegian Hauk (out of service. Replaced by Skjold) provide similar examples of small tonnage ships packing anti-ship and anti-aircraft weaponry alongside torpedoes, mines and guns and the sensors to use them.

The Finish Hamina class already has the necessary sensors to be able to use its RBS-15 at range and Umkhonto-IR doesn't need to be linked to a sensor suite as it's lock-on-after-launch, saving space. A towed sonar array is already linked into the Hamina design which allows it the use of depth bombs and sea mines, but can also be linked to a torpedo launcher.

Thank you for detailed reply. Really appreciate it.