EM&E Group will provide the Portuguese Ship Navy

Portuguese Polish Navy will receive 47 ship-operated Sentinel weapons stations produced by the Spanish EM&E Group. The systems will be equipped with large caliber machine guns 12.7 mm or 30 mm automatic cannons.

In the article

This is not a purchase from the category of large rocket systems, but its importance is very practical. The experience of recent years has shown that ships increasingly have to respond to the threats emerging close to the port: fast boats, unmanned vessels and unmanned aircraft.

47 weapons stations for Portuguese vessels

The Spanish EM&E Group will provide Marinha Portugues with 47 ships of remotely controlled weapons stations. The order includes SENTINEL 2.0 and SENTINEL 30 systems, suitable for 12.7 mm and 30 mm weapons.

The contract will be executed in two stages. NATO Support and Procurement Agency is responsible for its operation, i.e. the agency responsible for supporting and ordering the States of the Alliance. This is important because it shows that Portuguese modernisation is not carried out as an isolated purchase, but as part of an allied procurement mechanism.

SENTINEL 2.0 and SENTINEL 30

In this case, it is not the machine gun itself or the cannon itself, but a complete remotely controlled weapon station. It consists of armaments, drives allowing guidance in asimuth and elevation, electro-optical observation-coal head and control elements. This allows the operator to conduct surveillance, track the target and open fire from inside the ship.

SENTINEL 2.0 is a stand designed for the 12,7 mm weaponry. SENTINEL 30 is a heavier variant, provided for the 30 mm automatic cannon. In practice, this means strengthening the self-defense of Portuguese ships, in particular against small water targets, fast boats, unmanned vessels and unmanned aircraft.

Self-defence of Ships again gaining meaning

Over the years, most attention has been given to missile missiles, radars, and air defense systems in the debate on the weapons of ships. Today it is more and more clear that the last line of defence of the ship remains equally important, that is, measures to respond when the threat is very close to the port. This shows the war in Ukraine, especially in the Black Sea, where unmanned submarines have become a real threat to ships and port infrastructure. Similar lessons come from the Middle East, where naval forces must count on drones, fast boats, and attacks from a short distance. Remotely controlled weapons stations shall not replace missiles or main artillery. However, they supplement the ship's defense system where rapid response, the possibility of continuous observation and safe conduct of fire without exposing the operation to weather conditions, shrapnel or direct fire.

For patrol units, frigates and ships operating in high-risk areas, this is of practical importance today. A ship without effective short-range self-defense means may be vulnerable to cheaper, simpler and harder to detect than classical Anti-ship weapons.

Spanish industry strengthens position in NATO

For EM&E Group, the Portuguese contract is another step in the development of the maritime offer. The systems of this company are already being used on Armada Española ships, and now they will also go to the NATO Navy.

From an industrial perspective, this is another example of the growing role of the Spanish arms sector in the modernisation of European fleets. Madrid is building a position not only in the area of ship design and construction, but also in the segment of their equipment and on-board weapons. At a time when NATO states strengthen the resilience of their fleets, such orders show not only the scale of supply but also the direction of change in European Navy.