The third Skjold class fast patrol boat P963-Steil was delivered to the Royal Norwegian Navy by DCNS recently. The Skjold programme had been awarded to a consortium of three contractors with DCNS as the combat system design authority and co-supplier working along with Norwegian contractors Umoe Mandal and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.
Designed specifically for maritime security & safety missions in Norway’s littoral waters, the combat system is designed for demanding environments and reduced crewing. The state-of-the-art communications and sensor suites are fully compatible with active participation in international and NATO-led operations.
With a length of around 50 metres, Skjold-class FPBs are heavily armed for their size. The combat system features eight anti-ship missiles and a 76 mm gun that can engage several targets at once at ranges exceeding 12 kilometres. |