ORP Mewa, the third in a series of modern mine countermeasure vessels built for the Polish Navy at Remontowa Shipbuilding in Gdansk, has been fitted with OSU-35K armament elements. “This is a modern, remotely-controlled, multi-purpose, anti-aircraft direct defence artillery system, equipped with an automatic 35mm calibre cannon with its own optoelectronic fire control system,” informs the Employer.
The trial assembly was carried out on Saturday, 12 November, at the quay of the PGZ Naval Shipyard in Gdynia.
As reads a communiqué from PIT-Radwar (one of the members of the consortium that developed the system), the OSU-35K “is designed for day and night combat operation, in any weather conditions in which the naval ship on which the OSU-35K is based operates. It is designed to work both in conjunction with the ship’s combat management system (CMS) and to operate autonomously – independently of the CMS.
The innovative design of the entire system and its components, using carbon fibre technology, has ensured optimum weight (just over 3 tonnes) and dimensions, as well as a high level of ergonomics. The low weight makes it possible to mount it on any platform – including small, weight-sensitive ones. The modularity of the system makes it possible to integrate it on different ships.”
The system consists of the AM-35K automatic cannon, the ZGS-35K integrated observation and tracking warhead, the BSKO-35K fire control system block and the RSKO-35K reserve fire control station. The OSU-35K combats aerial targets performing course, speed and altitude manoeuvres within the firing zone, as well as surface targets.
Its capabilities include detecting, tracking and countering air and surface targets (unarmoured and lightly armoured).
The system was developed by a consortium comprising: Wojskowa Akademia Techniczna (leader), Akademia Marynarki Wojennej, PIT-RADWAR SA, ZM Tarnów, with the participation of the Navy.
ORP Mewa is the last ship of the three built so far, which will go to the 13th minesweeper squadron which is part of the 8th Coastal Defence Flotilla. It was built under a contract signed in 2017 between the Armament Inspectorate and a consortium led by Remontowa Shipbuilding SA. The consortium also includes OBR CTM and PGZ Naval Shipyard in Gdynia.
It is worth mentioning that the OSU-35K armament will also find its way onto the equipment of three more minehunters of the 258 Kormoran II project ordered for the Polish Navy in June this year. The contract will be executed between 2022 and 2026 and provides for the delivery of three OSU-35Ks.
After technical trials, the test cannon will be transferred to the second ship in the series – ORP Albatros, on which the flag will soon be raised. The ceremony is scheduled for 28 November.
Photos: Fot.: Sławomir Lewandowski / PortalMorski.pl
