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Naval
Industry News - China |
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At
AAD 2014 CSOC showcased OPV, LPD and Aircraft Carrier designs from China |
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At
AAD 2014 (Africa Aerospace and Defence Exhibition which took place from
the 17 to 21 September in South Africa) the China Shipbuilding &
Offshore International Company (CSOC) showcased its P-18N Offshore Patrol
Vessels (OPV) and its LPD/LHD design. The booth also featured a scale
model of China's aircraft carrier Liaoning. CSOC is part of the part
of the State Shipbuilding Corporation, China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation
(CSIC). |
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Model of
the P18N OPV on the CSOC stand during AAD 2014 |
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P18N Offshore Patrol Vessel
CSOC's P18N OPV design has already been selected by the Navy of Nigeria
who ordered two vessels.
At AAD 2014, a representative from CSOC gave us the following specifications:
P18N Offshore Patrol Vessels have a displacement of 1,700 tons, a length
of 95 m, width of 12.2 m and beam of 3.5 m. It is powered by two MTU
20V 4000M diesel engines. The maximum speed is 21 knots. The endurance
of the vessel is 20 days at sea (range 3000 nautical miles at 14 knots)
for a crew of 70 sailors.
Sensors include:
- TR47 Tracking Radar
- SR60 Surveillance Radar
- Navigation radar (of chinese origin)
- PJ46 Decoy launchers
- 2x communication antennas under radomes
- UHF/VHF radios
The class is not fitted with sonars.
The Combat Management Systems (CMS) was developped by the Wuhan Digital
Engineering Institute.
These OPVs are fitted with a H/PJ26 76mm main gun mount and two H/PJ14
30mm gun mounts. The class may accomodate a Z- 9 helicopter thanks to
its helipad. Only rotary UAVs may fit inside the hangar space however. |
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Launch of
the first P18N OPV for Nigerian Navy in Wuhan, China in January 2014 |
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In April 2012, Nigeria signed a contract with China to build two P18N
OPVs. Under the contract, the lead ship was to be built in Wuhan with
construction starting in October 2012, while the second unit is expected
to be partially built in Nigeria.
Navy Recognition was told that the P18N was designed by China
Ship Design and Research Center, or 701 Institute of the China Shipbuilding
Industry Corporation (CSIC) at the Wuhan University of Science and Technology,
The first vessel which was launched in January 2014 in Wuhan, China,
is currently conducting sea trials. An institute will provide training
to the Nigeria Navy crew in China. The OPV will then sail to Nigeria
for its official delivery.
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