Hamina-class missile boat FNS Pori at sea.
Photo: Finnish Navy
Posted on December 20, 2017
Finland’s defense minister on December 19 authorized the
country’s defense forces’ logistics command to sign contracts for the upgrade
of Hamina-class fast attack missile craft (FAC).
The authorization follows the signing of a letter of
intent and a pre-design activities contract with Patria Aviation Ltd. in
October this year.
Finnish defense minister Jussi Niinistö has now
authorized the logistics command to sign the upgrade contracts with Patria as
prime contractor and Swedish company Saab Dynamics which will be delivering its
torpedo system to Finland.
According to the defense ministry, the overall value of
the upgrade is EUR 223 million and is expected to generate a domestic
employment effect of about 300 man-years.
The mid-life upgrade (MLU) of the four vessels in the
class will be performed as part of the Squadron 2000 upgrade program and will
extend the missile boats’ service life to the 2030s. This will ensure
sufficient naval defense readiness in the 2020s after the decommissioning of
Rauma class FAC and before the Squadron 2020 corvettes enter service.
Upgrades are to start at the beginning of 2018 and to be
completed by the end of 2021. In addition to hull and structure maintenance,
Hamina boats will be equipped with light torpedoes, thus becoming the only
units in the Finnish Navy with this capability. The addition of the torpedo
capability will be the costliest part of the upgrade.
The boats will be equipped with the Surface Warfare
Missile 2020 system, to be chosen in 2018. The missiles fitted on the
Hamina-class boats will also be used on surface-to-surface missile batteries
and Squadron 2020 corvettes.
The lightweight torpedo weapon system to be purchased has
been designed bearing in mind the coastal conditions of the Baltic Sea, rich in
islands; it represents the most up-to-date technology for underwater surveillance
and warfare. The procurement of the lightweight torpedo system has been
coordinated with the similar procurement by the Swedish Försvarets
Materielverket (FMV); their system deliveries are scheduled to take place in
2023-2025.
The Hamina class is comprised of FNS Hamina, FNS Tornio,
FNS Hanko and FNS Pori. The ships were commissioned into the navy between 1998
and 2006.
Original post: navaltoday.com
Hamina Class: Details
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