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The Sri Lankan Navy is focused on offshore operations, building up its OPV fleet and taking part in regional exercises. Two advanced OPVs for Sri Lanka are currently under construction in India.
Two ‘Challenger’ conventional hunter-killer submarines were retired in early 2015. Two new ‘Type 218SG’ class conventional hunter-killer submarines are on order from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, with deliveries expected from 2020, to replace the two remaining ‘Challenger’ class. Together with the two existing ‘Archer’ class conventional hunter-killer submarines (modified ex-Royal Swedish Navy ‘Sodermanland’ class) they will form the Republic of Singapore Navy’s underwater fleet from 2020. Plans to build a Joint MultiMission Ship (JMMS), developed from the ‘Endurance’ class, were confirmed in 2014, but a timescale for this project has yet to be announced. The JMMS will feature a starboard-side control island, a straight-through flight deck with five helicopter landing spots, and a well deck.
Sri Lanka ■ Sri Lankan Navy Ship Type Number in Service ‘Sukanya’ class offshore patrol vessel 1 ‘Reliance’ class offshore patrol vessel 1 ‘Vikram’ class offshore patrol vessel 1 ‘Jayasagara’ class offshore patrol vessel 1 ‘Sankalp’ class offshore patrol vessel Two under construction in India ‘Saar-4’ class fast attack craft 2 ‘Shanghai-I’ class offshore patrol vessel 2 ‘Shanghai-II’ class offshore patrol vessel 4 ‘Shanghai-III’ class offshore patrol vessel 3 ‘Lushun’ class offshore patrol vessel 2 ‘Bay’ class offshore patrol vessel 2 ‘Super Dvora Mk.III’ class patrol boat 6 ‘Super Dvora Mk.II’ class patrol boat 3 ‘Dvora Mk.I’ class patrol boat 4 ‘Shaldag’ class patrol boat 7 ‘Colombo’ class patrol boat 22
‘Simoneau’ class patrol boat ‘Chevron’ class patrol boat ‘Trinity Marine’ class patrol boat ‘Arrow’ class inshore patrol craft ‘Wave Rider’ class inshore patrol craft ‘Yuhai’ class heavy landing ship ‘Yunnan’ class heavy landing ship
3 4 5 90, numbers reducing 22, numbers reducing 1 2
Sri Lanka continues its dual-track strategy to cooperate on naval matters with both India and the People’s Republic of China. The fleet continues to expand, with no evidence of the disposal of older vessels, other than some of the very small craft used in counter-insurgency operations. Meanwhile, the first of two offshore patrol vessels being built in India’s Goa Shipyard is due to enter service in early 2017. Taiwan ■ Republic of China Navy (ROCN) Ship Type Number in Service ‘Chien Lung’ class conventional 2 hunter-killer submarine ‘Hai Shih’ class conventional 2 hunter-killer submarine ‘Kee Lung’ class destroyer 4 ‘Cheng Kung’ class destroyer 8 ‘Chi Yang’ class frigate 6, numbers reducing ‘Kang Ding’ class frigate 6 ‘Oliver Hazard Perry’ class frigate Two ex-US Navy ships are being refitted to enter service in 2017 ‘Ching Chiang’ class offshore 11 patrol vessel ‘Kuang Hua VI’ class fast attack craft 31
| september/october 2016 |
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