Croatian shipbuilder Brodosplit has started construction works on four new coastal patrol vessels for the Croatian Navy with a steel cutting ceremony at its Split yard.
The August 10 ceremony comes some six months after the Croatian defense ministry ordered the vessels under an estimated $50 million deal. It also follows the delivery of the lead ship, the Omis, which entered Croatian Navy service in 2018.
As previously disclosed by the defense ministry, the four new boats are to be delivered between 2021 and 2023.
The Omis-class patrol vessels are the first locally-built naval units, with a few exceptions that include armament systems among others. Around 40 Croatian companies are said to have participated in the development and construction of the prototype vessel.
The 43,25-meter vessels carry Aselsan’s 30 mm SMASH remote controlled naval gun system, two Herstal 12,7mm machine guns and Strela manpads. Powered by two 2,525 kW Caterpillar engines, the vessels can achieve a top speed of 40 knots, according to the shipbuilder. They have an autonomy of 1,000 nautical miles at 15 knots.
Omis-class vessels are designed for patrol, search and rescue, and EEZ protection missions.
