FINLAND APPROVES €223 M FOR ARMING HAMINA FAC WITH TORPEDOES

[Khafee]

FINLAND APPROVES €223 M FOR ARMING HAMINA FAC WITH TORPEDOES
Dec 20, 2017
by Bilal Khan

Finnish Navy Hamina-class fast attack craft. Photo source: Finnish Navy

On December 19 the Finnish Ministry of Defence (MoD) approved €223 m for upgrading the Finnish Navy’s four Hamina-class fast attack crafts (FAC) with lightweight anti-submarine warfare (ASW) torpedoes.

As per the MoD, the Hamina FACs will be armed with a lightweight torpedo (LWT) system from Sweden’s Saab (i.e. Saab Tp 47 LWT). The upgrade is intended to serve as a bridge between the retirement of the Rauma-class FAC and the induction of the Squadron 2020 corvettes.

Finland intends to operate the Hamina FAC until 2035. It is the Finnish Navy’s anti-access and area-denial (A2/AD) asset. Currently, it is armed for deterring ships and low-flying aircraft, but the inclusion of the Saab Tp 47 LWT will make it a complete defensively-focused multi-mission asset.

Notes & Comments:
The Hamina FAC has a displacement of 250 tons. Despite its small size, the Hamina FAC is armed with a Bofors 57 mm main cannon, anti-ship warfare (AShW) and anti-air warfare (AAW) munitions that in fact are standard-fare on large corvettes and frigates. Its superstructure is made from carbon fiber composite materials, helping with
radar cross-section and weight reduction in the design.

The Hamina FAC is armed with four Saab RBS-15 Mk3 anti-ship missiles (AShM) and eight Denel Dynamics Umkhonto IR surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems. FACs under 500-tons are rarely equipped to this level, such ships are often armed with a main gun, AShM and possibly pedestal-mounted SAM (generally in the range umbrella of under 10 km, while the Umkhonto IR has a range of 20 km).

In the 2020s, the Finnish Navy is slotted to induct four multi-mission corvettes. The aim is to enable the Finnish Navy to replace seven aging ships and to continue providing a “year-round and long-endurance presence [in the Baltic Sea] in all weather and ice conditions.”

https://quwa.org/2017/12/20/finland...il&utm_term=0_290f015d1a-722c9ad369-206475549

 

[Khafee]

Finnish defense minister authorizes Hamina-class upgrades, torpedo system acquisition

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.

https://navaltoday.com/2017/12/20/f...upgrades-torpedo-system-acquisition/?uid=1067

 

[Khafee]

Patria to overhaul Finland's Hamina class fast attack crafts
Overhauls of the vessels ensures that Finland can maintain capabilities between the decommissioning of Rauma Class crafts and the commissioning of Squadron 2020 corvettes during the next decade.

By James LaPorta | Jan. 04, 2018

The Finnish Defence Forces' Hamina Class fast attack craft, pictured, is to be overhauled for stop-gap use between decommissioning of Rauma-class fast attack vessels and the new Squadron 2020 corvettes. Photo courtesy of the Government of Finland

Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Finnish Defence Forces have signed a contract with Patria to overhaul the Hamina Class fast attack craft, the company announced on Thursday.

The contract between Finland and Patria is worth more than $205 million and is expected to employ around 300 workers in the country, the company said.

"The Hamina Class mid-life upgrade is a large effort, which has been planned in close cooperation with the Finnish Defence Forces," Pasi Niinikoski, president of Patria's Systems Business Unit, said in a press release. "We have strong expertise and capabilities for leading and implementing challenging and extensive system integration projects as a prime contractor."

"We were also responsible for the successful Rauma Class fast attack craft mid-life upgrade project," Niinikoski added.

The Finnish Defense Forces and Patria say the procurement is part of the Naval Capability Development Program and will ensure continued naval defense capabilities as Finland decommissions the Rauma Class fast attack craft and commissions the new Squadron 2020 corvettes over the next decade.

The contract includes delivery of several "sensors, weapon and communication systems," in addition to "ship technical modifications and overhauls."

The Hamina Class fast attack craft will also receive anti-submarine warfare capabilities, along with Patria training Finnish ship crews to use the new enhanced technology.

https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/20...class-fast-attack-crafts/6581515090251/?nll=1

 

[Lieutenant]

Finland seems to be going after an ACC as well. Did it just sign a deal for SH f/18? Future Russian aggression with all the deals it just signed! Maybe.