Fincantieri to upgrade Malta’s P61 OPV
Fincantieri will upgrade the P61 offshore patrol vessel (OPV) of the Malta armed forces under a contract announced on 13 January.
The work will upgrade a number of shipboard systems in order to improve the vessel's reaction capability and extend its service life. The vessel was built and delivered to the Malta armed forces by the Fincantieri shipyard of Muggiano in 2005.
The upgrading activities, which are estimated at €7 million, are scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2017 and will last about six months.
The 53 meter long OPV is a modified variant of the Diciotti class patrol boat, built by Fincantieri for the Italian Coast Guard.
More from Naval Warfare
-
What the rise of interoperability between Western allies means for defence procurement
Major naval initiatives including the European Patrol Corvette programmes and Norway’s UK partnership-focused purchase of Type 26 frigates point to the growing interest in the advantages of commonality across allied navies.
-
Kraken’s Royal Navy USV contract signals next step in crewed-uncrewed integration
The UK Royal Navy’s rapid procurement of uncrewed platforms aligns with the force’s strategic shift towards a fleet better equipped to handle modern threats.
-
HMS Anson’s milestone stay in Australia cut short during AUKUS deployment
The Astute-class submarine’s visit to Australia was the first time maintenance activity on a UK Royal Navy nuclear submarine had been carried out in the country.
-
How Operation Epic Fury could reduce US readiness to face China
The offensive against Iran could impact training and maintenance cycles and accelerate the degradation of the US arsenal on top of depleting Washington’s stockpiles.
-
UK Royal Navy explores modular counter-drone capabilities for future hybrid fleet
The UK MoD is scoping out systems to counter the growing threat of uncrewed aerial systems, with a focus on low-cost modularity and speed to field.