Exporting Good Ideas: The RiverHawk Multimission Platform Launched

MSS Image

For Lebanon, as reported by MarineLink, RiverHawk's Multimission Platform Launched

RiverHawk Fast Sea Frames (RHFSF) has launched its signature Advanced Multimission Platform (AMP) at its shipyard in Tampa, Florida. Fully designed and built in the United States, the 145-foot coastal security craft was contracted 12 months ago by the U S Department of the Navy’s Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) to Maritime Security Strategies (MSS) of Tampa, Florida. RiverHawk designed, produced and is outfitting the ship, scheduled for final delivery to NAVSEA in May. Subsequent transfer is expected this summer to the Lebanese Armed Forces under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. The launching ceremony was attended by NAVSEA program officials, representatives from the U S Central Command (USCENTCOM) and a delegation from Lebanon led by the Chief of the Lebanese Navy, Rear Admiral Nazih Baroudi.

The AMP 145 is a design contracted for by Maritime Security Strategies of Tampa, which describes the design as follows:

Each Advanced Multimission Platform begins with our basic design, the AMP-145.
The platforms are built performance tough, using state of the art fabrication processes, materials, and technologies.
12 month delivery.
Composite hull with Aluminum deck and superstructure for speeds of 30+ knots.
Twin Hamilton Waterjets/MTU diesel plants.

Basic Design Parameters

RiverHawk AMP picture of an add-on flight deck

Length 145 ft (42 m) Beam 28 ft< Draft 6 ft Displacement 230 metric tons Crew Compliment  Up to 22 Maximum Speed  30+ knots (2 Engines) 40 knots (3 Engines) Maneuver Speed  1-3 knots Horsepower   9,300 to 17,300 HP (2 and 3 Engine Packages Available) Range  at 11 knots / 2,650 NM (transit speed) Effective Limits at 12 knots Sea State 4 Survivability   > 20' seas Endurance  9+ days Fuel Capacity 12,000 gallons Water Capacity  800 gallons (plus water maker) Sewage Capacity  500 gallons Electric Generator Capacity  99 KW x 3 Mission Packages Available

C4ISR - Customer Driven
Small Boat - Stern Recoverable RHIB
Adaptable Mission Modules & Weapon Systems
Small helo pad capability - VERTREP

MSS partners include three retired U.S. Navy officers, all of whom with experience in the mine sweeping/small ship world.

The reported contract price for this small ship - about $29 million. 

Hmm. Imagine having 40 or 50 of these things to play with - with up armoring, of course.