Italy offers Indonesia to convert an aircraft carrier into a drone platform

 

ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi

The Italian shipbuilding company Fincantieri came to Jakarta for a reason — it is seriously applying for a deal with Indonesia. At a two-day meeting on July 15-16, the Italians revealed in detail a plan: how to convert their old aircraft carrier ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi to the needs of the Indonesian Navy. Only now it will not be a classic aircraft carrier, but almost like a "drone home" — a helicopter carrier with a focus on drones.

The proposal covers four key areas: deck upgrades, control system upgrades, helicopter adaptations, and, most interestingly, preparing the ship for UAV launch and reception. That is, in fact, they want to turn the old Italian "veteran aircraft carrier" into a modern floating base for drones and helicopters.

For Indonesia, this is an attractive option: not to build from scratch, but to take an already proven building and update it to suit your needs. This is especially true if a country wants to strengthen control over its islands and sea lanes at no huge cost.

So far, this is just a suggestion, but it looks serious. If it works, Indonesia may get its first helicopter drone ship, and Fincantieri may get a new major contract in Asia.

The Virginia-class submarine USS Arkansas (SSN 800) was launched at the Newport News Shipbuilding shipyard

Launching of the Virginia-class submarine USS Arkansas (SSN 800) at the Newport News Shipbuilding shipyard

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has announced an important milestone in the construction of one of the most advanced nuclear submarines in the United States, the Virginia—class submarine USS Arkansas (SSN 800). The boat was successfully launched on the James River from the Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) shipyard, one of two companies in the United States capable of building nuclear submarines.

After completing the main work on the hull assembly and installation of equipment, the shipbuilders transferred the boat from the construction site to a floating dry dock, where it was then launched. After that, the submarine was towed to the submarine berth at the shipyard, where the final stage of completion will begin, including comprehensive system testing, reactor testing and crew certification.

The Virginia-class submarines are among the most technologically advanced multi-purpose submarines in the world. They are designed to perform a wide range of tasks, from fighting enemy submarines to attacking ground targets, conducting reconnaissance and supporting special operations. The SSN 800 will be the continuation of this successful series, which plays a key role in the U.S. Navy's maritime strategy for the 21st century.

The production of these boats is carried out jointly by HII and General Dynamics Electric Boat companies as part of the Block IV/V program, focused on improving reliability and reducing operating costs. The launch of new submarines is also part of efforts to modernize the American submarine fleet, especially in the face of the growing naval presence of China and Russia in the world's oceans.

Huntington Ingalls Industries, which is the largest manufacturer of warships in the United States, also recently announced upcoming advertising campaigns under the slogan "Build It: In America, For America" aimed at promoting domestic shipbuilding and jobs in the country. In addition, the company is preparing to publish financial results for the second quarter of 2025, which are expected in the period from July 31 to August 4.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries launched the 11th Mogami-class frigate for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces

Mogami-class frigate

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), one of Japan's leading industrial and defense concerns, launched the eleventh Mogami-class frigate on July 3, 2025 for Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). The ceremony took place at the company's shipyard in Nagasaki, one of the country's key shipbuilding centers, where many military and civilian vessels have been built since the founding of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in 1884.

The new frigate was named Tatsuta, named after the Tatsutagawa River, which is a tributary of the Yamatogawa River and flows near the city of Ikoma in Nara Prefecture. This name continues the tradition of naming ships after natural sites and historical sites, typical of the Japanese Navy. The Tatsuta frigate has become another representative of a series of new-generation corvettes designed to enhance anti-submarine and multi-functional combat effectiveness.

Mogami-class frigates belong to the new generation of ships of the FFM (Multi-purpose Frigate) project, created under the JMSDF modernization program. They are designed to replace outdated patrol ships and light frigates, providing higher speed, improved electronic weapons and the ability to operate in remote areas of the ocean. The ships are equipped with modern radars, missile defense systems, anti-ship missiles and the possibility of basing UAVs.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has a rich tradition in the field of shipbuilding and defense production. The company was founded in 1884 as part of the Mitsubishi Concern, starting with the lease of the Nagasaki state shipyard and the subsequent large-scale development of the shipbuilding industry. Throughout its history, MHI has demonstrated technological leadership on several occasions, including the recent launch of the first fully autonomous Soleil vessel in 2022. Today, the company remains a key player in the defense and energy sectors of Japan and the world.

Naval Group and Royal IHC have signed a contract for the construction of Orka-class submarines for the Dutch Navy

The French shipbuilding company Naval Group has officially announced the conclusion of a strategic contract with the Dutch company Royal IHC to support the construction of new Orka-class submarines for the Dutch Navy. This agreement was an important milestone in the implementation of the modernization program of the country's submarine fleet, aimed at replacing obsolete Walrus-class submarines.

 Features of the contract and cooperation

- Technological transfer: The Naval Group will ensure the transfer of advanced technologies and know-how to Royal IHC, which will create modern submarines tailored to the requirements of the Dutch Navy.

- Localization of production: A significant part of the work will be carried out in the Netherlands, which will support the national industry and create new jobs.

- Innovative solutions: The Orka class will be equipped with modern navigation, stealth and weapons systems, which will increase the fleet's combat capability and its compliance with NATO standards.

The contract with Naval Group and Royal IHC strengthens the defense potential of the Netherlands and contributes to the development of national shipbuilding. The new Orka-class submarines will allow the country's Navy to effectively carry out tasks of protecting maritime borders, participating in international operations and ensuring security in the North Sea and beyond.

It is expected that the first Orka-class submarines will be handed over to the fleet in the coming years, and the cooperation between the Naval Group and Royal IHC will be an example of successful integration of European defense technologies and industrial partnership.

Saronic Technologies unveils 150-foot unmanned ship

 The American firm unveils a 150-foot giant unmanned spacecraft with a payload of 90,000 pounds and a range of 4,000 miles.The autonomous vessel is designed to sail up to 3,500 nautical miles or for 30+ days, depending on the mission requirements.

Texas-based American firm Saronic Technologies has unveiled a 150-foot medium unmanned surface vehicle (MUSV) known as the Marauder.

This statement was made after, how the company announced the acquisition of Gulf Craft shipbuilding company from Louisiana in order to accelerate its development in the field of autonomous shipbuilding.

Saronic said that with this acquisition, it has acquired a strategically located shipyard on the Gulf Coast, which will become a prototyping and manufacturing hub for its MUSV fleet.

Marauder