Aker Finnyards signed a $28.6 million contract with the Finnish Navy Feb. 16 for the construction of the fourth Hamina-class fast-attack craft (FAC). Construction will begin immediately with the unnamed vessel being delivered by late 2006 or early 2007. The fourth unit was an option that was exercised as a result of a December 2003 contract for the third and fourth units of the class. The third unit will be commissioned by early 2006. The Hamina class was originally anticipated to be a class of two command-and-control platforms to control up to eight T-2000 air cushion vehicles; however, with the cancellation of the T-2000 program, the sea service will have to continue with additional Haminas. With no new orders for Aker Finnyards anticipated through 2006, and the Finnish Navy still needing more modern FAC, at least two additional Hamina-class FACs could be ordered by mid-2006.
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