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Damen at work on new MPSS drone warfare maritime vessel
Damen Shipyards Group have begun construction on a new Multi-Purpose
Support Ship with to serve an increase in drone technology in combat and
ISR.

Andrew Salerno-Garthwaite
February 28, 2024
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Damen Shipyards Group have begun construction on a new Multi-Purpose
Support Ship with an emphasis on drone warfare. Image courtesy of Damen.
Damen Shipyards Group, in collaboration with the Portuguese Navy,
announced on 27 February the launch of a new ship design intended to
meet modern defence and security demands.

From the outset, the Multi-Purpose Support Ship (MPSS) has been
designed to accommodate drone technology for combat and surveillance
operations. Beyond its primary military function, the MPSS is versatile
enough to support a variety of auxiliary tasks.

The two MPSS models. Image courtesy of Damen.
Construction on the inaugural vessel has already begun, according to a
release from Damen. The MPSS series offers two models, with weights of
either 7000 and 9000 tonnes, in line with requirements from the
Portuguese Navy.

Damen emphasised that the project is operating towards swift and
cost-effective process for the production of the vessels.

Piet van Rooij, commercial manager of Damen’s Defence and Security
department, highlighted the MPSS range’s strategic importance in
addressing the evolving role of drone technology in defence while
emphasising its multipurpose functionality. He said that the design
leverages cost-effective, commercially available technologies to deliver
a reliable platform that promises significant operational flexibility
and value.

See Also:
Austal Australia secures Evolved Cape-class contract amidst maritime needs
Malloy Aeronautics front and centre of new UK Drone Strategy

Details of the MPSS. Image courtesy of Damen.
The MPSS incorporates commercially available technology alongside
military-grade electrical, communication, and navigation systems. It has
multifunctional capabilities and has been designed with further
adaptability in mind to serve a broad spectrum of missions, such as
drone management, amphibious support, disaster relief, search and rescue
operations, diving and submarine rescue missions, and helicopter operations.

The use of modular technology facilitates year-round operation and
maintenance for the MPSS series and extends the vessels’ operational
capacity to at least 45 days at sea.

The MPSS 7000, measuring 107 by 20 metres, is designed to be operated by
a crew of 48, with additional capacity for up to 100 special personnel
and temporary accommodation for 42 personnel in scenarios such as
disaster relief missions. The larger MPSS 9000, at 130 by 20 metres, can
undertake a wider array of operations.

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