Steel cutting commences for USCGC Argus
Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) has cut first steel for the US Coast Guard’s first Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC), Argus, at its facility in Panama City, Florida.
The OPC has been design to deploy independently or as part of task groups and will conduct operations such as counter-smuggling, interdicting undocumented migrants, rescuing mariners, enforcing fisheries laws, responding to disasters and protecting ports.
The coast guard plans to acquire a total of 25 OPCs. The OPC will bridge the gap between the national security cutter and the fast response cutter. The vessel is capable of carrying an MH-60R or MH-65 helicopter and three operational over-the-horizon small boats.
Delivery of the lead ship is scheduled for 2021.
The coast guard has also ordered long lead time materials for the second OPC.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
HII signs $3 billion national defence contract with US DoD
The contract will let the company feed into the US DoD’s LOGIX programme.
-
US Navy extends life of 12 Arleigh Burke destroyers
The decision is intended to squeeze the Navy’s prize assets in a fiscally challenging economy.
-
Israel-based Orbit sells quad-band satcom system into a NATO fleet
The system is set to be installed on vessels across the course of 2025.
-
BAE Systems puts its nose to the Grindstone on weapons testing
The company has launched a new simulation software subscription for users of its Bofors weapons systems.
-
BAE Systems’ nuclear shipyard suffers “significant fire”
The shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness in the UK is where both Dreadnought and Astute-class nuclear submarines are being built.
-
Lockheed extends SEWIP programme with US Navy and Japan
The sale of SEWIP to the Government of Japan is the first international sale of the system.