Combat Fleets

Chile's two new Scorpène-class attack submarines, O'Higgins, on sea trials in September 2004, and sister Carrera, will be the first foreign warships to be armed with the new Black Shark dual-purpose wire-guided heavy torpedo. Torpedo trials on the O'Higgins were conducted in November 2004. Chile's Scorpène-class can be armed with up to 18 of the Black Sharks, which are upgraded versions of the Italian A-184 torpedo. The torpedo is produced by Italy's Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacqui (WASS) and will also arm Scorpène-class boats purchased by the Royal Malaysian Navy. Additional Black Shark sales are likely in the near future. Improvements over older torpedoes include a new multibeam acoustic seeker, an acoustic wake-homing system, silver-zinc batteries, fiber-optic guidance link, brushless motor, and quieter propellers. Maximum speed of the weapon is reportedly 50 knots and its range is said to be 50 kilometers.

The long expected phase-out of Dutch P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft has come to fruition. Earlier this year, the German Navy purchased eight of the aircraft, which are expected to begin operating from Nordholz Air Base in 2006. The price of the deal is considered low by some expectations, and has reportedly cost Germany less than 300 million Euros for the eight aircraft, including training and spare parts. The German P-3Cs are expected to replace Atlantic Mk 1 maritime patrol aircraft that have served admirably for nearly 40 years. Three Atlantic Mk 1s that have been specially modified for intelligence collection will apparently remain in service, working alongside the Orions. The German purchase of the Dutch P-3Cs occurs in lieu of a new construction maritime patrol aircraft that had been under consideration. In addition to the eight P-3Cs going to Germany, up to five Dutch Orions are to be purchased by Portugal for delivery next year.

Romania recently received its second retired Type 22, Batch 2-class frigate from the United Kingdom. Rigina Maria (ex-HMS London) is shown departing Portsmouth for sea trials in March. She joins sister Rigele Ferdinand (ex-HMS Coventry) already in Romanian service. Several upgrades are planned for the two ships, if funding permits. The Bulgarian Navy has also begun expansion with the planned acquisition of the ex-Belgian Wielingen-class frigate Wandlaar, which will be renamed Drusky. The retired frigate, along with her three sisters, served Belgium's Navy since 1978 as that nation's principal surface combatants. The frigates were frequent contributors to NATO operations and exercises. Bulgaria is also reportedly negotiating for the possible purchase of the Belgian Tripartite-class mine hunter Myosotis along with up to two more of the class. There are also indications that one of the recently decommissioned Danish Kobben-class submarines may be purchased by the rapidly modernizing Bulgarian fleet.