"Phase One Completed": Latvian Navy Launches Mine Defense Ship Modernization Program

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The Latvian naval forces will soon receive modernized mine defense ships. According to the press service of the Latvian Ministry of Defense, the first stage of work on the ships has been completed.

The French company ECA Group has completed the first stage of modernization of three Latvian Alkmaar type minesweepers purchased from the Netherlands in 2005. As it turned out in 2009, the ships did not meet the stated requirements, so it was proposed to upgrade. The competition was won by ECA Group.



After signing the contract in September last year, the company's specialists dismantled outdated equipment from the minesweepers and are now preparing to install the latest equipment. Instead of a conventional detection system based on a hull-mounted sonar, minesweepers will receive a smaller system consisting of AUV A18-M underwater unmanned vehicles responsible for finding mines, and Seascan MK2 and K-STER C for their identification and clearance.

The Latvian Navy hopes that the modernization will allow mine defense ships to carry out a full range of mine action. In addition, minesweepers must increase their service life.

At the same time, the command of the Latvian Navy calls the modernization of ships an intermediate option, stating that after 2030 it is planned to purchase new ships. It is not excluded that the purchase will be carried out jointly with Lithuania and Estonia.
  • Latvian Navy
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17 comments
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  1. +4
    14 June 2021 11: 36
    purchased from the Netherlands in 2005. As it turned out in 2009, the ships did not meet the stated requirements.

    It took only 4 years to compare TK and reality ...
    1. -1
      14 June 2021 11: 47
      As if one of the Latvian functionaries made a decision on the purchase of Dutch troughs! They called from the Washington Regional Committee and instructed to buy it no matter what, and Brussels gave the money to Latvia, because Latvia did not have its own money - the difference from the NATO financial scam French shipyards under the inspiring slogans of increasing the defense capability of the Latvian Navy (even Stoltenberg laughs loudly from this phrase when he hears it)! laughing
    2. 0
      14 June 2021 11: 51
      At whose expense is such a "holiday" in Latvia? .. laughing
      Cannon fodder in the upcoming confrontation between Russia and the United States.
      .They have made their choice! soldier
    3. 0
      14 June 2021 12: 05
      The technical task and reality were analyzed slowly, lazily, visibly, slowly, in a purely Estonian way.
    4. +3
      14 June 2021 12: 26
      In Latvia, the commander of the Navy, Alexander Pavlovich, was dismissed. When the ships arrived in Latvia, it turned out that their quality was poor, and there was no technical documentation in English.
      As the press reported, the minesweepers often broke down; in two years, three ships had to change turbines.
      The Latvian army had to buy the documentation separately, paying an additional 580 thousand euros for it.
      In general, mine seekers "undermined" the military budget of Latvia.
      1. +1
        14 June 2021 14: 35
        Quote: knn54
        When the ships arrived in Latvia, it turned out that their quality leaves ...

        And what to expect from the ships, which at the time of transfer to Latvia were already a quarter of a century old - old Dutch ships. Well, as it should be without a scandal, and not without ...
        They, in principle, participate in the work of the joint squadron: they regularly trawl the Baltic, not without results.
        But it's interesting about joint purchases - until now nothing really worked out, there have already been attempts: not always even tenders could agree
        1. +1
          14 June 2021 15: 10
          And to catch up: if I'm not mistaken - the ships were donated, with the condition of paying for repairs in Holland, hence the cost of 10+ Lyams per ship, and then the story with the documentation ... In a word, not cheap
  2. +1
    14 June 2021 11: 37
    Galoshes will be given a new shine.
    1. +4
      14 June 2021 12: 23
      In the 90s, these were not very bad minesweepers MINES SEEKERS. This is the name of this class. Minesweepers are easier. By the way, we have big problems with this, and the best Soviet ones were inferior to this ship even then. We need to think about ourselves, the problems of Estonians do not ... worry Russia.
      1. 0
        14 June 2021 12: 30
        Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians are so alike. They even think the same way.
      2. +1
        14 June 2021 16: 39
        Quote: URAL72
        In the 90s, these were not very bad minesweepers MINES SEEKERS. This is the name of this class. Minesweepers are easier. By the way, we have big problems with this, and the best Soviet ones were inferior to this ship even then. We need to think about ourselves, the problems of Estonians do not ... worry Russia.

        Thank you. Very reasonable comment
  3. +1
    14 June 2021 11: 52
    Latvian Navy

    It is difficult to read further. For 18 pelvis they have a whole admiral of the fleet ... wassat
  4. +4
    14 June 2021 12: 02
    Guys, you guys are getting a kick out of modernization. But the use of mine search facilities is a cheap and effective way of modernization. And if the hull is in good condition and the engines have a resource, then the ships fully meet their tasks. And how many are modernizing in our country? And then count the number of minesweepers at the BF and "respected" partners :
    1. -5
      14 June 2021 12: 14
      Quote: Luty
      Guys, you guys are getting a kick out of modernization. But the use of mine search facilities is a cheap and effective way of modernization.
      Excuse me, modernizing it? Shoals of sprat? Previously, they walked in a joint, but will they be a fan? belay
    2. +4
      14 June 2021 12: 19
      Indeed, many here forget that Latvia will not be alone in confronting Russia, but as part of the entire NATO alliance, and now they will have 3 more minesweepers, and quite modern ones, and I think the underwater vehicles for searching and neutralizing mines will be even better than now Russia has on the new "Alexandrites"
  5. The comment was deleted.
  6. 0
    14 June 2021 15: 32
    Are they being converted into fishing trawlers? Subsidies will end there will be nothing to eat.
  7. -1
    14 June 2021 15: 33
    Quote: Ratmir_Ryazan
    Indeed, many here forget that Latvia will not be alone in confronting Russia, but as part of the entire NATO alliance, and now they will have 3 more minesweepers, and quite modern ones, and I think the underwater vehicles for searching and neutralizing mines will be even better than now Russia has on the new "Alexandrites"

    Nobody from France, Germany, Great Britain and the USA will fight for Latvia. Saying one thing, doing another thing. And those who history does not teach will again be beaten, perhaps for the last time for them.

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