First Defiant-class NCPV enters service in Dominican Republic
The Navy of the Dominican Republic (Armada de Republica Dominicana - ARD) has received a new coastal patrol craft built by Metal Shark.
The vessel is now in service with the ARD as Betelgeuse after a commissioning ceremony on 21 August. It is the first of 13 Defiant-class near coastal patrol vessels (NCPVs) being produced by Metal Shark under a $54 million FMS contract from the USN to support Caribbean and Central American allies.
Other NCPV operators besides the Dominican Republic will include Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.
The monohull NCPV design is based on the 2606 Standardized Patrol Vessel from Damen Shipyards.
Powered by two 1,600hp Caterpillar C-32 marine diesel engines turning fixed-pitch Michigan Wheel propellers through Twin Disc MGX-6599 transmissions, the NCPV is designed for missions of up to six days at sea in near-shore ocean conditions, supporting an operating crew of ten. It also carries a 5.6m-long aluminium RIB.
The vessel is designed to support a wide range of missions including SAR, border patrol, police and customs duties, counter-narcotics operations and EEZ patrol.
As noted by Shephard Defence Insight, the Metal Shark Defiant design has also been selected as a replacement for the fleet of force protection boats currently in use with the USN Expeditionary Combat Command’s Coastal Riverine Forces (CRF).
Subject to annual appropriations, the USN intends to replace approximately 100 to 160 of its existing 25ft (7.62m) and 34ft CRF patrol boats with the larger and more modern PB(X) platform over the next 15 years.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Next Generation Patrol Boat - PB40 (USA)
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Naval Warfare
-
![NAVDEX 2025: First of UAE Navy’s four Falaj-3 OPVs commissioned]()
NAVDEX 2025: First of UAE Navy’s four Falaj-3 OPVs commissioned
The vessels were first discussed a full ten years before the commissioning ceremony, and three more are due within the next three years.
-
![Portuguese mothership of uncrewed vehicles locks in Cube ecosystem from SH Defence]()
Portuguese mothership of uncrewed vehicles locks in Cube ecosystem from SH Defence
The multi-purpose support ship being built by Damen for the Portuguese Navy has added a skidding system to its design to enhance its operational capabilities on launch.
-
![Royal Thai Navy enhances weaponry on its Tor 997 patrol boats]()
Royal Thai Navy enhances weaponry on its Tor 997 patrol boats
A new deal with EM&E Group has added Sentinel 30 remote stations to the boats’ armament profile.
-
![Israel Shipyards begins steel-cutting on new Reshef-class corvettes]()
Israel Shipyards begins steel-cutting on new Reshef-class corvettes
The new indigenously-built corvettes will replace Israel's Sa'ar 4.5 class which has been in service for four decades.
-
![USSOUTHCOM in ‘desperate need’ for fleet assets says commander]()
USSOUTHCOM in ‘desperate need’ for fleet assets says commander
Adm Holsey also warned that were “zero Navy P-8 aircraft available due to being pulled to other theatres”.
-
![Aselsan test-fires Turkey’s first indigenous naval defence missile]()
Aselsan test-fires Turkey’s first indigenous naval defence missile
The test of the Goksur missile is regarded as a pivotal moment of Turkey’s journey towards developing an indigenous naval defence capability.
