The Portuguese Navy’s Multifunction Naval Platform D. João II (A5209) for unmanned platforms was launched at Damen’s Galati shipyard located in Romania.
Dutch shipbuilder Damen announced the launch of the D. João II multipurpose vessel for the Portuguese Navy, set to carry various unmanned platforms, including UAVs, USVs, and UUVs.
The ship was built in the Galati shipyard, located in Romania.
D. João II, measuring 107 m in length, has a flight deck to accommodate helicopters and VTOL/Catapult Launched UAVs, potentially smaller tactical UAVs as well.
The ship is based on Damen’s Multipurpose Support Ship (MPSS) line, which ranges between 7000 and 9000 tonnes in displacement. MPSS is one of the concepts for a new type of ship that has gained attention from different navies around the world as a joker card in support and low-intensity missions.
MPSS and similar concepts from other firms (Turkish STM, British Steller Systems, German NVL Group…) combine different capabilities to different degrees with a rather modular layout, thanks to a wide and tall hull relative to the length. The large hangar volume allows for various internal configurations for patrol, anti-submarine warfare, mine countermeasures missions; or non-combatant duties like logistics support and medical support.