29 Jul 15. Mexican Navy launches frigate construction programme.
The Mexican Ministry of the Navy (SEMAR) has requested MXN5.7bn (USD350m) to fund local construction of a new frigate-class ship from 2016, according to SEMAR documents published in mid-July by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance (Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público: SHCP).
The programme states that the new ship is required to fulfill national defence duties, participate in multinational operations, safeguard naval personnel and other surface vessels that participate in international peacekeeping operations, and to fulfill commitments by forming part of the ‘Alliance of the Pacific.’
The Alliance of the Pacific is a four-nation regional integration initiative aimed at promoting economic prosperity through enhanced trade between Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Mexico – requiring Mexico to provide a permanent naval presence in the Pacific. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
29 Jul 15. Philippines edges closer to Australian landing craft procurement. Key Points:
* President Benigno Aquino has signalled the Philippines’ intention to acquire three former Australian LCHs
* The procurement will bolster the Philippine Navy’s sealift and disaster relief capabilities
The Philippine government has begun preparations to acquire three more decommissioned Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Balikpapan-class heavy landing craft (LCH) vessels.
In his annual state of the nation address delivered on 27 July in Quezon City, President Benigno Aquino reiterated his administration’s intention to acquire the 45 m vessels and said that necessary paperwork for the procurement processes is moving ahead.
A Philippine Department of Defence (DND) official told IHS Jane’s on 28 July that the department is aware of the procurement efforts but was not able to give a concrete timeline on the acquisition.
The LCHs, formerly known as HMAS Wewak (L 130), HMAS Balikpapan (L 126) and HMAS Betano (L 133), were retired by Australia in December 2012. The vessels were inducted into RAN service between 1973 and 1974 as well as three other ships in class – HMAS Brunei (L 127), HMAS Labuan (L 128), and HMAS Tarakan (L 129).
Labuan was gifted to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force Maritime Element whileTarakan and Brunei were donated to the Philippine government and recommissioned as BRP Ivatan (AT298) and BRP Batak (AT299) respectively on 23 July. The vessels are scheduled to arrive in the Philippines during the week of 3 August.
According to IHS Jane’s Amphibious and Special Forces, the landing craft have a military lift capacity for three medium tanks or equivalent. The vessel has a range of 3,000n miles at 10kt and can accommodate a crew of 13 including two officers. While in service with the RAN, the vessels were each armed with two 12.7 mm machine guns.
The Balikpapan-class vessels underwent a life-of-type extension (LOTE) between 2000 and 2002 in an effort to extend their operational effectiveness by eight years in the RAN. These include the replacement of the LCHs’ water-distilling plant with a reverse osmosis plant and installation of a new sewage-treatment plant and oily water separator.
In a related development, a senior Philippine Navy (PN) official has given an indication about where the service intends to deploy Ivatan and Batak once the vessels arrive. Citing Commodore Jeorge Amba, commander of the PN’s Naval Forces North West, the Philippines News Agency (PNA) reported on 28 July that the LCHs will most likely be homeported on the island of Palawan. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
29 Jul 15. Brazil and Sweden reach financing agreement on fighter deal.
The Brazilian Ministry of Defence and Swedish Export Credit Corporation agreed on 29 July to a financing plan that fixes annual interest rates at 2.19%, compared with the 2.54% requested by the Swedish government to finance Brazil’s acquisition of 36 Saab Gripen E/F combat aircraft.
The current-signed financing contract complements a USD5.4bn sales contra