WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Navy plans to equip its future guided missile battleships (BBG(X)) with directed energy lasers to counter missile and drone threats, according to comments made by Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle at the Surface Navy Association annual symposium. The CNO's comments included the assessment that naval "point defense needs to shift to directed energy" over the traditional close-in guns and interceptor missiles currently used. Adm. Caudle cited directed energy's "infinite magazine" compared to traditional countermeasures.

These comments were supported by the recently updated Congressional Research Service's (CRS') Navy Shipboard Lasers report, which stated that the future battleship class will feature two lasers of either 300 or 600 kW power. The Navy has trialed several directed energy weapons as low-cost solutions to countering unmanned systems and missile threats, including the High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-Dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) and the Optical Dazzling Interdictor (ODIN). Both ODIN and HELIOS systems have been installed on a limited number of Arleigh Burke class destroyers.

Source: The War Zone
Associated URL: https://www.twz.com/news-features/trump-class-battleships-could-get-megawatt-lasers-navys-top-officer
Author: Joseph Trevithick, Hope Hodge Seck 

LUANDA, Angola - An Angola-based shipyard has launched a production line for maritime patrol boats that will be supplied to the Navy and other agencies.

Lobinave shipyard officially inaugurated its new production line for the boats on January 12 that included Gen. Franciso Furtado, Angola's Minister of State and Chief of the President's Military Household. The shipyard will now be capable of constructing frigates, corvettes, and interceptor vessels, officials said at the event, adding that upgrades were also being made to the shipyard's pier.

A floating dock will be installed in the near future, as well.

The Angolan Navy has typically sourced its warships from abroad, such as a 2023 agreement with EDGE Group of the UAE and France's CMN for the acquisition of three 71-meter corvettes alongside smaller patrol craft. Those vessels are due to be delivered between 2026-2027. Moving forward, Angola aims to achieve local production in its naval procurement contracts.

Countries along the Gulf of Guinea have boosted their procurement of patrol boats in recent years amid a spike in piracy in the body of water.

Angola is a major producer of oil, much of which is obtained from offshore fields that require the government to invest in patrol capabilities.

Source: Janes
Associated URL: https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/sea/angolan-patrol-boat-production-inaugurated

ANNAPOLIS - In a formal handover ceremony held in the United States, on January 12th the Ecuadorian Navy accepted the donation of a former U.S Coast Guard Island Class patrol vessel into its ownership. The 33.5 meter vessel has been rechristened the LG-40 Isla Santa Rosa and represents a joint effort by Ecuador and the United States to bolster the country's martitime patrol and interdiction capabilities amidst its struggle against rising narcotics trafficking and crimina violence.

Source: Ministry of Defense of Ecuador
Associated URL: https://www.defensa.gob.ec/la-cooperacion-internacional-da-resultados/