The Lithuanian Navy is set to take delivery of a new Flyvefisken-class patrol ship, P15, from Denmark.

In September 2016, the Lithuanian Armed Forces and the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization (DALO) signed an agreement, under which Lithuania purchased the P15 vessel and two anti-submarine detection sonar systems for patrol ships for €6.5m.

The P15 patrol boat will be christened in January 2017.

"Our newly purchased patrol ship from Denmark is our effort to maintain the capacity of the Patrol Ships Division of the Lithuanian Navy."

Lithuanian Navy captain commander said: “Our newly purchased patrol ship from Denmark is our effort to maintain the capacity of the Patrol Ships Division of the Lithuanian Navy.

“From now on it will be comprised of four up-to-date multirole ships of the same type which will ensure the tasks, i.e. patrolling Lithuania’s territorial Baltic Sea, search-and-rescue, and others, are completed efficiently for a long time to come.”

The P15 patrol boat will represent the fourth Flyvefisken-class or Standart Flex 300 type multirole ship in the Patrol Ships Division of the Lithuanian Naval Flotilla.

The first three ships of the division, Žemaitis (P11), Dzukas (P12) and Aukštaitis (P14) entered service with the Lithuanian Navy in 2008-2010.

Built by Danyard A/S Olborge, the 54m-long patrol boats have a displacement capacity of 450t, are propelled by two MTU diesel engines with three auxiliary engines, and can operate at a speed of 18k.

The patrol boats will be deployed for surveillance in the territorial waters and exclusive economic zone of the Republic of Lithuania and will be tasked to block trespassers, convoy, search-and-rescue operations and other missions.

Image: The Lithuanian Navy’s new P15 patrol boat purchased from Denmark. Photo: courtesy of Lieutenant Junior Grade Vytautas Drejeris.