WASHINGTON -- On June 26, 2025, LIG Nex1 held a completion ceremony for the construction of its close-in weapon system (CIWS)-II system assembly building, near-field testing facility, and the third radar system test facility in Gumi, South Korea. The CIWS-II system assembly building and test sites, completed with an investment of KRW21 billion ($15 million), are equipped with optimal facilities and equipment for system assembly, systems integration and simulated interoperation testing, and performance verification, supporting both the development and mass production of CIWS-II.

LIG Nex1 plans to complete development of the CIWS-II by 2027, which features a 360-degree AESA radar, electro-optical tracking equipment, and a 30mm Gatling gun for enhanced range, response speed, and firepower. In particular, the system is planned to incorporate Advanced Hit Efficiency and Destruction (AHEAD) munitions to effectively respond to drone swarms and defend key facilities and bases against threats like surface-to-surface cruise missiles and rocket artillery.

A CIWS is the last line of defense on warships, designed to intercept anti-ship missiles and other close-range threats if a vessel’s air defense systems, such as surface-to-air missiles, fail to intercept them. Both the recently delivered FFX Batch-III frigate, ROKS Chungnam, and the newly launched ROKS Gyeongbuk have yet to be equipped with a CIWS. The announcement of LIG Nex1’s completion of its CIWS-II production and testing facilities is a strong indicator that Republic of Korea Navy warships will soon be equipped with CIWS-II.

Source: Naval News
Associated URL: https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/06/lig-nex1-completes-construction-of-ciws-ii-mass-production-facility/

NEWPORT NEWS, VA - HII has announced a partnership with C3 AI, an enterprise AI application software company, to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into its shipbuilding operations. This collaboration aims to apply AI to improve shipbuilding processes at HII's Newport News Shipbuilding and Ingalls Shipbuilding divisions.

HII will expand its existing relationship with C3 AI to implement AI solutions across various aspects of its shipbuilding operations, including planning, operations, supply chain, and labor allocation. These initiatives are intended to support production and the U.S. Navy’s fleet readiness requirements. The partnership will also explore applications in uncrewed vehicle production and sustainment.

This collaboration follows a six-month pilot program at Ingalls Shipbuilding, where teams used algorithms to adjust and optimize work schedules. The initial use of the C3 AI application demonstrated improvements in schedule performance. This effort will now be expanded across HII shipyards.

Initial efforts will concentrate on using AI to enhance planning and scheduling at HII’s two shipbuilding divisions: Ingalls Shipbuilding, which constructs amphibious ships and destroyers, and Newport News Shipbuilding, which builds nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines for the U.S. Navy.

Source: HII
Associated URL: https://hii.com/

WASHINGTON -- The Belgian mine countermeasure (MCM) vessel BNS Narcis and the Dutch HNLMS Vlaardingen were handed over to Ukraine during a recent ceremony at the Belgian naval base Zeebrugge. The exact date of the transfer was kept secret due to operational security considerations.

From now on, HNLMS Vlaardingen will bear the name of the Ukrainian city of Melitopol. At the end of 2025, HNLMS Makkum will also be handed over to Ukraine. That ship will be named after the Ukrainian city of Henichesk. At the time of the press release, both Ukrainian cities remain currently occupied by Russian forces.

The donation is the result of intensive cooperation between Ukraine, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Before the transfer of the first two ships, the new Ukrainian crew had already begun training to operate the vessels with Belgian and Dutch instructors, technicians, and maintenance teams.

Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans spoke at the ceremony about the donation, noting that "The major ports of Odessa and the Black Sea shipping lanes are the lifeblood of the Ukrainian economy, ….. and that is under constant threat. Ukraine may not win the war at sea, but it can certainly lose the war there. We simply cannot let that happen. That is why it is so important for maritime security and free passage that Ukraine can use minehunters."

Source: Naval News
Associated URL: https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/06/belgium-and-the-netherlands-transfer-mcm-vessels-to-ukraine/