Navy’s first new Ostrobothnia-class ship was lowered to the water
Rauma|The Navy Commander no longer expects new nasty surprises for the project. « This moment has been expected for many years. »
Naval The first new Ostrobothnia-class war vessel was launched on Wednesday in Rauma. The ship 2020 project will build a total of four platforms for the Navy, which are expected to be introduced in stages between 2027 and 29.
Naval Commander, Counter-Admiral Tuomas Tiilikainen New ships are expected to be used until the 2060s. The ships to be built at RMC’s Rauma shipyard are suitable for year-round use and are clearly longer than the current naval vessels.
« It’s a great thing to see the ship in that shipyard.
Down the water the defense minister of the participant Antti Häkkänen (co) by Independent ability to build modern warships is a tough performance from a country of Finland.
« These ears strengthen Finland’s defense, and in addition, their ability to achieve the entire Baltic Sea will strengthen the security of the entire Baltic Sea, » Häkkänen said in his speech.
The first multifunctional core of the Navy 2020 project was launched in Rauma.
The Navy calls new vessels as multifunctional earrings, although their size (length 117 meters, width of 16.5 meters, 5 meters) could also be considered as frigates.
Now, in addition to the first ship, the second ship has already begun. Tiilikainen emphasizes that a lot of work is still required before the first of the vessels is in the operational use of the Navy. The installation of equipment and weapon systems, staff training and sea tests are ahead.
The Fleet 2020 project is late for the original schedule, and the cost estimate also increased from the planned EUR 1.45 billion. Due to the delay, the Navy has had to continue the planned life of some other vessels, which, according to Tiilikainen, has been smooth.
Four The ship’s Ostrobothnia class is expected to be fully operational in 2029.
« All actors, including the Navy, are working hard to achieve this goal, » Tiilikainen assures.
The patterns of the defense industry have been internationally mixed by both the corona pandemic and subsequently Russia’s large -scale attack on Ukraine. According to Tiilikainen, Fortunately, orders for the ship 2020 were made in time that they are among the first in the order queue.
« It is widely known that subcontracting chains are long and have come in surprises for individual components. I do not know any critical deviation for this class, » says Tiilikainen.
According to the commander, with the new vessels, Finland will receive world -class performance, which have also been interested in the allies. For example, on ships’ ice, there is something that is not found in similar other battle ships.
« They are able to control and influence underwater, on the surface, on the air, and also on the electromagnetic environment.
In addition New ships will benefit other branches of defense as supporters of land and air operations.
Four new Ostrobothnia platforms will replace a total of seven old naval platforms. Tiilikainen assures that new vessels’ own protection is in order, and not all eggs are in only four baskets anyway.
« We will not fight in the Ostrobothnia class alone in the future, » he says.
