According to information published on July 7, 2021, HENSOLDT UK will supply Kelvin Hughes Mk11 SharpEye surface search radars with combined HENSOLDT MSSR 2000 IFF systems to the French Navy “Patrouilleur d’Outre-Mer” or POM program being built by Socarenam Shipyard in France. The POM program provides six offshore patrol vessels for the French overseas territories.
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The French Navy POM OPV Offshore Patrol Vessel will be fitted with Kelvin Hughes Mk11 SharpEye surface search radars with combined HENSOLDT MSSR 2000 IFF systems(Picture source Hensoldt/Internet)
Each vessel will be supplied with a Kelvin Hughes Mk11 SharpEye X band Surveillance radar, with a co-located HENSOLDT IFF Antenna. This in turn is connected to the HENSOLDT MSSR 2000 NATO Mode 5 IFF system. These items will be supplied to the vessel prime integrator AVON Communications. Once installed on board, it will link to the combat system, also supplied by NEXEYA, a HENSOLDT company.
The radar and IFF system will be used to provide surface surveillance in the vicinity of the vessel. The IFF antenna being co-located on the radar reduces the number of turning units and space required on board. This makes the installation and integration a much less complex task, saving time in the installation and integration process, allowing smaller vessels to benefit from the capability of more complex systems in a smaller footprint.
The POM vessels will operate their own UAV systems and this system will contribute to safe UAV operations. The SharpEye Mk11 radar with combined IFF demonstrates synergies within the extensive HENSOLDT portfolio, resulting in a market-leading radar/IFF solution for smaller vessels.
The POM is an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) that will be built by the French shipyard Socarenam to replace the P400-class patrol boats in service with the French Navy deployed in the overseas territories. In October 2020, Florence Parly, French Minister of the Armed Forces, launched the construction phase of the first of the six POM overseas patrol boats, during a ceremony marking the first metal cut for the ship at the Saint-Malo shipyard.
The POM OPV will have a length of 80 m, a wide of 11.8 m, a draft of 3.5 m, and a displacement of 1,300 tons. The ship will be powered by a Diesel/Electric propulsion system and will reach a top speed of 24 knots with a maximum cruising range of 5,500 nautical miles at 12 knots. She will be armed with one 20mm remotely-operated cannon, two 12.7mm and two 7.62mm machine guns.
The POM will be able to operate a drone system. Its stability performance has been adapted to the navigation conditions which can be extremely difficult in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The ship also features an innovative hybrid propulsion architecture and hydrographic capability. It will be able to carry out missions of up to 30 days without refueling, with a crew of 30 sailors, and carry up to 23 passengers.
