Finnish Navy Completes Upgrade Of 4th And Final Hamina-Class FAC
44In mid-April, the Finnish Navy began sea trials of the fourth and final upgraded Hamina-class fast attack craft, "Pori". The "Pori" will be recommissioned after completion of the initial trials, which are expected to last until the summer.
The Hamina-class missile boats were overhauled to enhance the Finnish Navy’s warfighting ability to counter maritime attacks, maintain sea lanes, and regulate and secure territorial integrity. The modernized Hamina-class ships are capable of monitoring and countering threats from the air, surface, and underwater. The Hamina-class boats will provide the Finnish Navy with a torpedo system and a new surface-to-surface missile system as a new weapon system. The life cycle of the Hamina-class warships is expected to last into the 2030s.
“The versatile effect of the upgraded boats extends subsea, surface, and to the air. In ships of this size, it is an exceptional package.”
In recent weeks, the Hamina-class missile boats, which have previously undergone modifications, have been kept busy. Two weeks ago, the Tornio missile boat participated in a maritime security exercise alongside a Danish frigate. Underwater combat skills were trained with a Swedish submarine in the Gulf of Finland last week.
In addition to the Navy’s strategic project’s future Pohjanmaa class corvettes, Hamina-class missile boats will constitute the backbone of the Navy’s maritime mobile operational capability in the 2030s.
All four Hamina-class boats are being modernized as part of the Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU), providing new capabilities to the Finnish Navy. Local defense contractor Patria acted as prime contractor, designer, and lead system integrator.
The goal of the Mid-Life Upgrade project is to secure the life of the ships through 2030 and extend the time the ships can operate independently. The project will also add new capabilities to anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and surface defence capabilities.
Modernization work includes:
A BAE Systems Bofors 40 Mk4 40mm main gun (replacing the 57mm Mk3).
IAI Gabriel V anti-ship missile.
Saab Torpedo 47.
Saab trackfire remote weapon stations.
Saab 9LV combat management system.
Kongsberg ST2400 variable depth sonar.
With this MLU, the Hamina-class will have a fair share of commonality with the future Pohjanmaa-class corvettes of the Finnish navy.