Armée Omanaise / Sultan of Oman's Armed Forces

Rappel du premier message :

Plein de photos des forces aériennes du Sultanat de Mascate-et-Oman

(Faut avoir les fontes arabes installées)

http://www.omania2.net/avb/showthread.php?t=25342

Encore un coup dur pour les Frenchies ... 2.1 milliards quand même, lourd le contrat .

Citation :

Oman confie sa défense aérienne à l'américain Raytheon

21/01/2014, 11:27

Raytheon équipera le sultanat d'un système de défense aérienne NASAMS (lanceur fixes) et SLAMRAAM (lanceurs mobiles). Un contrat estimé par les diplomates américains à 2,1 milliards de dollars mais qui était promis au missilier européen MBDA.

Les Etats-Unis ont gagné. Par la force. Entre Paris et Washington, le sultan d'Oman, Qabous bin Saïd, a choisi... le plus puissant. Et c'est donc Raytheon qui équipera le sultanat d'un système de défense aérienne NASAMS (lanceur fixes) et SLAMRAAM (lanceurs mobiles) armés par des missiles AMRAAM, un contrat estimé par les diplomates américains à 2,1 milliards de dollars. Hasard ou pas de calendrier, Oman a signé le contrat avec Raytheon la veille d'un déplacement ce mardi de la ministre du Commerce extérieur, Nicole Bricq à Mascate. Ce qui manque un peu de tact d'autant que c'est la première visite d'un membre du gouvernement français depuis bien longtemps à Mascate.

Le contrat a été paraphé lundi entre le ministre des Affaires de défense, Sayyid Badr bin Saud bin Harib al-Busaidi, et le Dr Thomas A. Kennedy, qui sera PDG de Raytheon à compter du 31 mars 2014. Pourtant, initialement il était promis à MBDA... "Le contrat avec Oman, que nous avons perdu, a expliqué Antoine Bouvier aux députés, s'élevait à un milliard d'euros, soit deux années de notre chiffre d'affaire en France", avait expliqué cet automne à l'Assemblée nationale le PDG de MBDA, Antoine Bouvier.

La puissance de feu américaine
En mai dernier lors d'une visite à Mascate, le secrétaire d'Etat américain, John Kerry, avait fini le travail en forçant la main des Omanais contraints de choisir un système de défense aérienne américain. La puissance américaine avait eu raison de MBDA, qui avait de bonnes références dans ce pays du Golfe mais qui s'est fait souffler le contrat par Raytheon, bien appuyé par la puissance de feu de l'administration américaine. "En janvier 2013, les Omanais ont décidé d'acheter un système de défense sol-air fabriqué par Raytheon... ce pour quoi le secrétaire (d'État) faisait campagne lorsqu'il était au Sénat", a indiqué un haut responsable du département d'État.

Dans un communiqué commun publié au terme de la visite de John Kerry, les deux pays avaient indiqué que "les négociations finales sur l'achat du système sont en cours avec Raytheon et une conclusion définitive du contrat est attendue après un accord sur les aspects techniques du système (...) et d'autres questions annexes".

Manurhin à Oman
En revanche, le fabricant de machines de munitions Manurhin basé à Mulhouse (Haut-Rhin) avait annoncé en décembre avoir décroché le plus important contrat de son histoire, de plus de 60 millions d'euros, pour construire une usine dans le sultanat d'Oman. Manurhin participera à hauteur de "60 à 80 millions d'euros" à la création d'une usine de fabrication de cartouches dans le sultanat d'Oman qui sera opérationnelle dans trois ans, a annoncé le président du conseil de surveillance, Rémy Thannberger.

Il porte à près de 200 millions d'euros le carnet de commandes de Manurhin, soit l'équivalent de plus de six ans d'activité, selon 'entreprise alsacienne. Manurhin, qui emploie 130 salariés, réalisera un chiffre d'affaires de 30 à 35 millions d'euros cette année 2013, soit le double de 2012 (17 millions d'euros), a relevé Remy Thannberger.

http://www.latribune.fr/entreprises-finance/industrie/aeronautique-defense/20140121trib000810970/oman-confie-sa-defense-aerienne-a-l-americain-raytheon.html

rien n´est promis dans ce bas monde  c´etait attendu depuis juin 2013
les omanais n´ont pas acheté des AIM120C7 pour rien

aie aie..1,28 B$ pas 2,1 B$   

Citation :

Raytheon receives contract for Ground Based Air Defense System for Oman

Sultanate becomes seventh NASAMS customer and the first in the Gulf region

TEWKSBURY, Mass., Jan. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has received a direct commercial sales contract from The Sultanate of Oman for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS). The award, valued at $1.28 billion, includes ground support equipment, a full training package, and technical assistance. NASAMS is the trusted system that protects critical assets in six nations, including the U.S. National Capital Region.

The contract, which was awarded in the fourth quarter of 2013, was announced in Oman at a signing ceremony attended by Mohammed bin Nasser al Rasbi, Secretary General at the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Matar bin Ali al Obaidani, Commander of the Royal Air Force of Oman, the US ambassador to the Sultanate, the US Military Attache and Tom Kennedy, Chief Operating Officer, Raytheon Company.

"The Sultanate of Oman's competitive selection of Raytheon's National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) validates the superior performance, system adaptability and overall security that NASAMS provides," said Dan Crowley, president of Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS). "Raytheon is committed to delivering the exceptional defense capabilities of NASAMS to Oman."

Raytheon, along with its long term partner KONGSBERG, will supply the system to The Sultanate of Oman. Work under this contract will be performed by Raytheon at the Integrated Air Defense Center in Andover, Mass. and in Kongsberg, Norway.

As part of Raytheon's integrated air and Missile defense portfolio, NASAMS works seamlessly with the Patriot Air and Missile Defense System and the Hawk Air Defense system. In addition to the U.S. National Capital Region, NASAMS is operationally deployed in Norway, The Netherlands, Spain, Finland and one additional country.

http://raytheon.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=2508

 

Citation :

New F-16 For Oman
Posted 12 February 2014

The first of twelve Block 50 F-16s for Oman's second buy, formally called the Peace A'sama A'safiya II program, was flown for the first time on 14 January 2014. The flight set a record, coming only twenty-four months after contract award—the shortest foreign military sales production program in the history of the F-16 program. The aircraft landed Code 1 and  returned to the air the same day for its second flight, which also returned Code 1.

codeonemagazine

puissant LM  

Citation :

Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules military transport aircraft of the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) are being upgraded with Flight2 avionics management system of Rockwell Collins. It will include LynxOS-178 real-time operating system from LynuxWorks Inc.

Flight2 avionics system will provide the aircraft with Communication, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) capability over the global airspace.

The fleet of three aircraft is being modernized by Singapore Technologies Aerospace Ltd and also involves major servicing of the aircraft, repair and overhaul of aircraft components as well as the T56 / 501 engines and its accessories.

Oman has also received three C130J Super Hercules military transport aircraft (one long and two short configurations) that were acquired from Lockheed Martin though the foreign military sales (FMS) process of the United States.

defesa global

Citation :

Royal Navy of Oman Second Khareef class Corvette 'Al Rahmani' reaches homeport


The Royal Navy of Oman on March 17th 2014 held a ceremony to mark the arrival of Al Rahmani vessel. Al Rahmani is the second of three 99 metres Khareef class corvettes built by BAE Systems for the Royal Navy of Oman.

The ship will now complete final hot weather trials during which the ship will demonstrate her ability to perform in temperatures in excess of 45 degrees celsius.

The Royal Navy of Oman on March 17th 2014 held a ceremony to mark the arrival of Al Rahmani vessel. Al Rahmani is the second of three 99 metres Khareef class corvettes built by BAE Systems for the Royal Navy of Oman.
Khareef class Corvette
Picture: BAE System

The Royal Navy of Oman's Khareef class corvettes were built by BAE Systems based on the "99 Metre Corvette" design. It is an efficient platform with sea-keeping qualities allowing blue water operations. Its fully integrated combat systems makes the Khareef class capable of both Anti-air warfare and Anti-surface warfare operations.

http://www.navyrecognition.com

Citation :

Le sultanat d'Oman se prépare à recevoir de nouveaux F-16C/D

Le 07/04/2014 à 16h17, par Guillaume Steuer


Un F-16C de la Royal Air Force of Oman © Lockheed Martin

Le sultanat d'Oman poursuit le processus de modernisation de sa force aérienne. La Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) a ainsi formellement accepté le 3 avril aux Etats-Unis le premier F-16C/D Block 50 issu d'un lot de douze avions commandés en décembre 2011, au titre du programme "Peace A'sama A'safiya II". Ces chasseurs-bombardiers, qui arriveront à Oman "plus tard dans 'l'année", doivent venir compléter un parc de douze avions du même type dont les livraisons avaient eu lieu en 2005 et 2006. Un appareil aurait été perdu sur accident en septembre 2013.

En janvier dernier, lors du vol inaugural du premier F-16 issu de ce deuxième lot de production, Lockheed Martin se félicitait d'avoir atteint cette étape vingt-quatre mois seulement après la notification du contrat -- un record dans l'histoire des commandes de F-16 via FMS, selon l'avionneur. Au titre d'un contrat parallèle, l'industriel va rétrofitter les avions du premier lot dans une configuration similaire à celle des nouveaux appareils.

En décembre 2012, Mascate commandait également douze Eurofighter Typhoon qui devraient être livrés par BAE Systems à partir de 2017.

http://www.air-cosmos.com/2014/04/07/21547-le-sultanat-d-oman-se-prepare-a-recevoir-de-nouveaux-f-16c-d

Citation :

Damen names Royal Oman Navy flagship


Dignitaries from the Ministry of Defence of Oman joined senior Damen management at a ceremony at Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding, Vlissingen on May 8th to mark the naming of the Royal Navy of Oman’s new flagship, the Sail Training Clipper Shabab Oman II.

The 87m long steel-hulled vessel is a three-mast, full square rigger built to design principles set for the iconic tea clippers of the 19th century, benefiting from 21st century technology and comfort. Featuring a fully unfurled sail area of 2,700m2, the vessel can accommodate 34 navy recruits plus a 58-strong crew.

Shabab Oman IIwill replace a vessel of the same name, fulfilling its training role while acting as a roving emissary promoting Oman's long maritime tradition to the peoples of the world.



Damen Project Manager Arnoud Both explains: “This is a clipper with an Arabic touch. Our design partners toured Oman seeking inspiration for its interiors and furnishing. Finishing touches include hand-carved teak at the bow, teak palm leaves at the stern, and gilded interior wood work from Hertel.” Shabab Oman’s main sail will also catch the eye – its khanjardagger in a sheath superimposed upon two crossed swords motif is the emblem of Oman.

“However, this is also a working training ship equipped to the most modern standards,” says Both. “Tall Ships capture the public imagination and win friends as they glide gracefully into port, but Shabab Oman is also key to the recruitment and training underlying the fleet expansion.”

The new clipper is the third example of Damen’s working relationship with Dykstra Naval Architects, following the delivery of Stad Amsterdam training ship and the Brazilian navy’sCisneBranco.Its traditional profile houses cutting edge bridge systems from Imtech Marine/Alewijnse and controls from Johnson, Both says, describing “an internal re-engineering” to meet higher air AC demand.

“Shabab Oman will feature three generators plus an emergency back-up unit, compared to the two,” says Both, “so that each cabin has AC. For reasons of redundancy, she will also have a twin propeller shaft arrangement.” All internal spaces have been designed for low noise and vibration.

Managed from Damen headquarters in Gorinchem, the clipper was principally constructed at Damen Shipyards Galati, Romania then towed to the Vlissingen yard where the 50m steel/aluminium masts, rigging and spars were installed and finishing works undertaken.

Given the vessel’s training role, Both says Damen takes considerable pride in its role in training the crew that will operate Shabab Oman II.“Even for experienced sailors, this is a complex sailing ship with 35 sails, each of them operated via eight ropes. We provided a hands-on training course to the crew on board another Damen Sail Training Vessel Stad Amsterdam, and separate training for executive officers and technical officers.”

http://www.navyrecognition.com

Citation :

Last warship built in Portsmouth is handed over to Royal Navy of Oman


A CEREMONY has been held to mark the handing over of a warship to the Royal Navy of Oman.

Al Rasikh is the third and final Khareef class corvette built by BAE Systems in Portsmouth.

She is the last warship to be constructed in Portsmouth after the company’s announcement that shipbuilding will end in the city.

The handing over ceremony took place at Portsmouth Naval Base this morning, attended by local dignitaries as well as families of the crew.

Mick Ord, managing director of BAE Systems, said: ‘The Interim Acceptance of Al Rasikh, is a significant milestone in the Khareef project and reflects a culmination of the long and successful relationship that BAE Systems has enjoyed with the Royal Navy of Oman for over 35 years.’

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk

Citation :

Austal contract for two 72m High Speed Support Vessels is for the Royal Navy of Oman


Austal announced earlier this year that it has been awarded a contract from a naval customer in the Middle East for the design, construction and integrated logistics support of two new 72 metre High Speed Support Vessels (HSSVs) based on the U.S. Navy's Joint High Speed Vessels design. It now appears that this customer is the Royal Navy of Oman.

Austal announced earlier this year that it has been awarded a contract from a naval customer in the Middle East for the design, construction and integrated logistics support of two new 72 metre High Speed Support Vessels (HSSVs) based on the U.S. Navy's Joint High Speed Vessels design. It now appears that this customer is the Royal Navy of Oman.
Rendering of Austal's High Speed Support Vessel (HSSV) currently being built for the Royal Navy of Oman. Note the Royal Air Force of Oman NH90 Helicopter on the helipad.


Image: Austal

The value of the contract is approximately US$124.9 million.

Austal will construct the HSSVs at its shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia. Construction of the first vessel is expected to commence in CY2014, with the second vessel expected to be delivered in CY2016.

The HSSVs will be deployed with a similar mission to the Joint High Speed Vessels currently being constructed by Austal for the US Navy at the Company’s shipyard in Mobile, Alabama.

Austal announced earlier this year that it has been awarded a contract from a naval customer in the Middle East for the design, construction and integrated logistics support of two new 72 metre High Speed Support Vessels (HSSVs) based on the U.S. Navy's Joint High Speed Vessels design. It now appears that this customer is the Royal Navy of Oman.
Rendering of Austal's High Speed Support Vessel (HSSV) currently being built for the Royal Navy of Oman. Note the Royal Air Force of Oman NH90 Helicopter on the helipad.


Image: Austal

The HSSVs will offer a range of capabilities to support naval operations, including helicopter operations, rapid deployment of military personnel and cargo, and search and rescue operations.

Basic specifications of future Royal Navy of Oman HSSVs:
Hull number: 390 & 391
Hull type: Catamaran
Length: 72.50 metres
Capacity: 320 tonnes, 69 Crew, 69 fixed berths, 250 personnel seating
Speed: 35 knots

http://www.navyrecognition.com

Citation :

Two F-16 block 50s departed Fort Worth, Texas to begin the first long leg of the trip to the Middle East.



RAFO F-16C block 50 #832 takes off from NAS Fort Worth on July 22nd, 2014 as part of a four-ship ferry to Oman. The aircraft represent the first of twelve aircraft of the second order of F-16s for the Royal Air Force of Oman. [Photo by Carl Richards]

Total for this order is 12 aircraft with this being the second batch of F-16s ordered for Oman. Originally the 23rd F-16 customer world-wide and the 5th Arab F-16 customer. First batch of F-16s were also block 50s under the Peace A'sama A'safiya (Clear Skies) program. First delivery was in August 2005.
On August 3rd, 2010 a new order for another 18 F-16s was placed, but ultimately became an order for another 12 aircraft under program Peace A'sama A'safiya II. This program is worth roughly $600 million and will be complete by 2016.

http://www.f-16.net

Citation :

12/08/2014

Oman dit adieu à ses Jaguar !



Le Sultanat d’Oman vient de retirer du service ses derniers avions de combat de type SEPECAT Jaguar. Une cérémonie d’adieu avec un défilé aérien a ponctué le départ à la retraite du vénérable chasseur-bombardier.

Les quatre derniers SEPECAT Jaguar encore en service au sein du 8 Escadron de la Royal Air Force d'Oman ont été retirés. Ces appareils étaient en service sur la base aérienne de Thumrait.

Le Sultanat d’Oman a reçu ses premiers Jaguars en 1977, en vertu de ce qui était à l'origine une acquisition de 12 avions du Royaume-Uni. Un deuxième lot a été ordonné en 1982, et introduit à partir de l'année suivante. Au total, la Royal Air Force d'Oman a disposé de 4 biplaces Jaguar OB et 20 monoplaces Jaguar OS. Le Sultanat avait modernisé à deux reprises au standard GR.1A à la fin des années 1980, puis au standard GR.3A à la fin des années 1990 appareils.

F-16 et Eurofighter :

Pour compenser le départ à la retraite de ses derniers Jaguar, le Sultanat d’Oman met en ligne une seconde tranche d’avions de combat Lockheed-Martin F-16 C/D Block50, qui sera décliner comme suit : 8 monoplaces C et 4 biplaces D. Ces appareils sont optimisés en plus, de la supériorité aérienne, pour la destruction des radars, ainsi que pour la neutralisation des défenses ennemies (SEAD). Doté de moteurs General-Electric F110-GE-129 et du radar Raytheon AN/APG-68 (V), ils disposeront de nacelles de désignation SNIPER.

Puis dès 2017, le petit Emirat recevra 12 avions de chasse Eurofighter " Typhoon II " commandés en décembre 2012.


Photos : 1 Jaguar OS Royal Air Force d'Oman @ UKMinistry 2 Biplace  OB Ted Bayliss

http://psk.blog.24heures.ch/archive/2014/08/12/oman-dit-adieu-a-ses-jaguar-856773.html

4 F16 C/D Blk50 à Lajes en route vers Oman

Citation :

Oman to get Lanza surveillance radar system

David Ing, Madrid - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly


The Lanza is available as a mobile, medium-range system (seen here) or as a fixed, long-range system. Photo: Indra

Oman has ordered a new air defence surveillance system for its air force based on the Lanza 3D radar.

The Spanish company Indra announced on 30 September that it will "integrate its most advanced air surveillance solutions" in Oman. The company did not identify the system, but said the radar Oman will receive is already in operation with several air forces and "handles the surveillance in Europe's NATO southwest flank".

A company representative confirmed to IHS Jane's that this is a reference to the Lanza surveillance radar, which is in service with both the Spanish and Portuguese militaries, as well as several Latin American countries.

http://www.janes.com/article/43855/oman-to-get-lanza-surveillance-radar-system

Citation :

RNO names first Al-Ofouq patrol vessel



http://www.janes.com/article/44437/rno-names-first-al-ofouq-patrol-vessel

....

Citation :

Oman retires Jaguars


The Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) has held a ceremony to mark the retirement of its fleet of SEPECAT Jaguar attack aircraft at the Al-Shafaq Club in Seeb, the Oman News Agency reported on 16 October.

It added that the Jaguars, which had been in RAFO service for nearly 37 years, were being replaced by new Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters.

Earlier this year the RAFO began receiving the first of the 12 F-16C/D multi-role fighters it ordered in 2011. These aircraft are joining the 12 F-16C/Ds that the RAFO has had in service since 2006.

Reports in 2011 that the RAFO was replacing the wings on 20 of its Jaguars suggested it intended to keep them in service for far longer.

http://www.janes.com

Citation :

Deux navires de transport rapide pour la marine omanaise



http://www.meretmarine.com/fr/content/deux-navires-de-transport-rapide-pour-la-marine-omanaise

Citation :

Raytheon awarded $491 million contract for AMRAAM®

TUCSON, Ariz., Dec. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) is being awarded a fixed-price contract $491,478,068 for the Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile. The contract is for the production of the AMRAAM® missile and other AMRAAM system items, including the captive air training missile, common munitions bit/reprogramming equipment and non-developmental item airborne instrumentation unit.

The contract includes foreign military sales to Korea, Oman, Singapore and Thailand.

Work will be performed in Tucson and is expected to be completed by February 2017.

http://raytheon.mediaroom.com

DSI/HS 40

Oman accepts first Al-Ofouq patrol vessel, names second

Citation :

Key Points

• The Royal Navy of Oman has accepted its first Al-Ofouq patrol vessel
  
• The ship will replace the first of four Seeb-class patrol craft commissioned in the early 1980s
  

The Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) has taken interim acceptance of its first Al-Ofouq-class patrol vessel from Singapore shipyard ST Marine.
The ship, Al-Seeb (Z 20), was accepted on 31 March in a ceremony presided over by commander of the RNO, Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Khamis bin Abdullah al Raisi, at ST Marine's premises in Benoi.
Al-Seeb is the first of four vessels ordered from the shipyard under a SGD880 million (USD640 million) contract awarded in April 2012 by Oman's Ministry of Defence.
The RNO has said the Al-Ofouq programme would bolster the service's ability to deal with current and future maritime security issues.
"Different types of illicit activities have been flourishing and as a result, the maritime security challenges are becoming considerable and challenging, including non-traditional security threats," said Commodore Khalifa bin Hamad Al-Qasmi, the RNO's Director General of Support, in his address to mark acceptance of the first ship.
The commodore said that Oman, as a country that depended on safe and secure sea lines of communications (SLOCs), remained vulnerable to such emerging threats. "This undoubtedly indicates the urgent need for these ships to [enter] the fleet," he added.
Al-Seeb is scheduled to depart Singapore for Oman at some time around May, after which it will conduct further sea trials before formal induction into the RNO.
Al-Seeb is armed with a Oto Melara 76 mm Super Rapid gun system as a primary weapon and two Oto Melara 30 mm guns. The vessel is also equipped with two rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) which can perform tasks such as maritime interdiction and search-and-rescue (SAR).
On the same day, a naming ceremony for the second-in-class ship was conducted. RNOV Al-Shinas (Z 21) is expected to proceed to sea trials with RNO personnel in the coming months.

http://www.janes.com/article/50364/oman-accepts-first-al-ofouq-patrol-vessel-names-second

Citation :

India, Oman mull greater naval co-operation

Ridzwan Rahmat, Singapore - IHS Jane's Navy International
08 September 2015



ndia and Oman are exploring options for improving bilateral naval co-operation, the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on 7 September.

The statement came while the Commander of the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO), Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Khasim bin Abdullah al-Raisi, is conducting an official visit to India, which concludes on 10 September.

Areas for potential enhanced co-operation being explored include training, the exchange of 'white' shipping information, and the bilateral biennial exercise 'Naseem Al Bahr', which takes place in the North Arabian Sea.

In a statement, the MoD said the two navies "share a robust relationship, with the Indian Navy being the major partner in undertaki

Citation :

Austal prepares to launch Omani Navy's first high-speed support vessel

Ridzwan Rahmat, Singapore - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
18 October 2015



Australian shipbuilder Austal is preparing to launch the first of two high-speed support vessels (HSSVs) on order for the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO), the company announced on 16 October.

The vessel, bearing pennant number A10 with the name Al-Mubasher , is being delivered under a USD124.9 million contract awarded by Oman in March 2014. Construction began in August 2014 at Austal's shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia.

The two-ship programme is intended to bolster the RNO's sealift capabilities.

"Based on the proven Expeditionary Fast Transport platform, previously known as the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV), the HSSV offers a range of capabilities to support naval operations, including helicopter operations, rapid deployment of military personnel and cargo, search-and-rescue operations, [and] humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions", Austal said in a statement.

According to IHS Jane's Fighting Ships , the platform has an overall length of 72.5 m, an overall beam of 18.2 m, and a draught of 3.2 m. Powered by four MTU16 V 4000 M93L diesel engines, the platform has a top speed of 35 kt and a standard range of 2,150 n miles at 12.5 kt. The vessel can accommodate a crew of 69 with space for 250 civilian personnel, and has a military lift capacity of 350 tonnes.

The HSSV will be armed with one 20 mm gun as a primary weapon, and four 12.7 mm machine guns.

The platform, which features a catamaran design, will be launched during the week of 19 October, before undergoing final outfitting and sea trials, according to Austal. The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2016.