Lithuania's OPV Dzūkas is one of four Lithuanian OPVs that will receive a GEM Elettronica Columbus Mk2 3D navigation radar from Leonardo. (Lithuanian MND)
Lithuania has ordered GEM Elettronica Columbus Mk2 3D navigation radars from Leonardo for its offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), the Ministry of National Defence (MND) confirmed to Janes on 19 November.
The ministry announced on its website on 27 October that the EUR7.9 million (USD8.9 million) contract was signed the previous week, with its Defence Resource Agency carrying out the procurement. Leonardo will install and integrate the radars, provide technical documentation, and train their operators by the end of 2023.
The radars will be installed on Lithuania's former Royal Danish Navy (RDN) Flyvefiskenāclass (Standard Flex 300) Žemaitis , DzÅ«kas , AukÅ”taitis , and SÄlis OPVs. Identification friend or foe antennas will also be integrated into the radars.
The MND said the radars would be used mainly for the safe navigation of straits and canals and on the high seas, as well as for search-and-rescue (SAR) operations. The systems have a detection range of 100 km, according to the ministry, which added that the secondary purpose of the radars would be to detect and track surface and aerial targets for onboard weapons, even in extremely poor hydrometeorological conditions both during the day and at night. The MND expected defence savings from providing both navigation and detection/tracking with a single sensor.
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