Royal Navy matters

[buglerbilly]

U.K. Budget Cuts May Target Royal Navy Amphib Vessels

By andrew chuter

Published: 11 January 2010

LONDON - The future of Britain's amphibious warfare capabilities will come under the microscope this year, along with the rest of the military, as a post-election defense review seeks to square a new government's foreign policy aspirations with a potentially crushing shortage of funds.

The Royal Navy's 5 billion pound ($8 billion) program to build two 65,000-metric-ton aircraft carriers is among the potential casualties in any dial-back in capabilities, as Britain targets defense as a department where spending may be cut to pay down its crippling public finance debt.

Cancellation of one or both carriers by a new government is a concern here, and the move would have a severe impact on potential amphibious assets.

The carriers, the first of which is under construction, have been deliberately designed to be able to operate helicopters such as the Chinook and Apache for amphibious operations as well to carry strike aircraft.

The size of Britain's Royal Navy has been shrinking for years, with escort ship numbers bearing the brunt of the cuts. Last month, the government announced a further reduction, taking a hydrographic ship and a minesweeper out of service to help pay for equipment needed in Afghanistan.

The general downsizing of the Navy, though, has not yet affected amphibious warfare capabilities. The current Labour Party administration may have a poor record funding Britain's armed forces, but capability in amphibious shipping has grown considerably in the last decade or so.

Most of the warships were on the drawing board before Labour came to power in 1997, but they were backed by a strategic defense review the following year, which emphasized expeditionary warfare. The Royal Navy and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary have added two Albion-class landing platform docks, four Bay-class landing ship docks and an Ocean-class helicopter assault ship in the last 12 years.

How vulnerable the amphibious capability will be to defense cuts as the next government seeks to remedy Britain's ailing public finances is a decision for the strategic defense review planned by all three major parties here after the election, which must be called by early June.

Nobody knows how the review will play out, but senior naval sources said that while littoral maneuver remains a pillar of the maritime defense strategy, alongside the aircraft carriers and nuclear deterrence, they are confident Britain will retain a significant capability in the sector.

"Where else in the military do you get the combination of being able to deliver anything from soft-power projection to hard-power delivery of violence into the battlespace, at a time and place of our choosing, from a sovereign base sitting off someone's coastline?" a senior naval source said. "Littoral maneuver is part of the family silver and should not be sacrificed for the short-term aberration that is Afghanistan.

"The worst-case scenario is that one or two of the vessels are put on low readiness," the source added. "These are not generally high-end technology ships, and regeneration from being alongside would not be difficult once the MoD's financial issues are resolved. In terms of getting rid of them altogether, no, I don't see that."

A former senior MoD official agreed.

"There is little in the way of early savings to be made from cutting the amphibious warfare capability here except in running cost and people," he said. "In the end, though, whether any of them go or whether they stay comes down to what kind of nation the defense review wants us to be."

Logistically Sustained From Sea

A Royal Navy spokesman justified continued high-level amphibious capabilities, saying, "every military intervention engaged in by the U.K. has been logistically sustained from the sea and therefore has an amphibious underpinning. As an example, Afghanistan was an amphibious operation at its inception, with forces launched from, sustained from and recovered to HMS Illustrious in the Indian Ocean.

"Today, our operations in Afghanistan are dependent on sustainment from the sea, and 50 percent of air power over Afghanistan comes from [U.S. Navy] carrier-based air."

Lee Willett, the head of maritime studies at the Royal United Services Institute here, said one immediate issue for amphibious-capability supporters is the fact that the war in Afghanistan has taken the focus away from naval operations.

"The Royal Marines have a high public profile and are heavily engaged in fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan, but they are not being used in the way they are trained for - they are being flown in and out of the country by the Royal Air Force," he said.

"Nevertheless, the requirement for high-end punch to go ashore, as well as the ability to conduct conflict prevention and humanitarian roles, gives the British government political and military options, which should make the case for amphibious even stronger in future," Willett said. "If Britain wants to retain expeditionary capabilities, it will need amphibious assets."

A second analyst said it is "all about money. An amphibious warfare capability is expensive. There may have to be cuts, particularly during a time when littoral maneuver is having a holiday while the Marines are used as light infantry in Afghanistan."

Naturally, that is not how the Royal Navy sees its activities. For example, last year the amphibious forces took part in a major naval exercise to the Far East, regenerating core skills along the way. Funds permitting, the Navy plans another big amphibious exercise for 2011, while a strike carrier exercise that will include amphibious assets, including the helicopter assault ship HMS Ocean, is planned with the U.S. military this year.

Cuts to frigate and destroyer fleets are pushing amphibs into roles they were never designed for. For example, Bay-class Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships are in places such as the Caribbean and in the Arabian Gulf supporting operations in Iraq.

The amphibious warfare capabilities of the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers could be scrutinized during the defense review.

Willett said the Royal Navy is reinforcing the view that the carriers are more than just strike platforms and provide a flexibility that other assets can't match.

"It is important to keep the two new carriers and HMS Ocean if Britain wanted to guarantee a comprehensive amphibious capability," he said. Ocean is tied into the issue of whether the Navy has three platforms - one carrier strike, one amphibious and one in maintenance. It makes Ocean and its replacement, around the end of the next decade, vital, he said.

The ex-MoD official said that building 65,000-metric-ton warships to be part-time amphibious vessels is an "incredibly expensive" way of providing capability.

"It doesn't really make sense. Perhaps it would be better to buy more Ocean- or Albion-class ships at a fraction of the cost," he said. ■

[Zen9]

Littoral maneuver is part of the family silver and should not be sacrificed for the short-term aberration that is Afghanistan.

Please give this chap a medal, and possibly promote him.

PS. This maybe my only time posting, since the last time I registered and logged out, I could not then logg in after.

[buglerbilly]

Future British Frigate Takes Shape

Thursday January 21st 2010, 9:26 am


Future Surface Combat. BAE art.

by DAVID AXE

BAE Systems has released the first artist’s impressions of the planned Future Surface Combatant for the Royal Navy. The British government has awarded the U.K. defense contractor a 3.4-million-pound contract for initial design work on the vessel, which is intended to replace the existing Type 22 and Type 23 frigates beginning in around a decade.

The FSC will have a lot in common with the U.S. Navy’s new Littoral Combat Ship. BAE’s concept art depicts a vessel with the “stealth lines and … other capabilities inherent in USS Freedom,” according to Iain Ballantyne, writing in Warships International Fleet Review. Like the American LCS, FSC will have a huge flight deck, with room for a large helicopter plus vertical-takeoff robots. The two designs both feature stern ramps for quickly launching small boats.

Where FSC and LCS differ is in hull form and “modularity.” The U.S. Navy is experimenting with the mono-hull Freedom as well as the trimaran USS Independence and will pick one for the full production run of more than 50 Littoral Combat Ships. The Royal Navy built a trimaran demonstrator, RV Triton, in the 1990s and found it “clearly not persuasive,” Ballantyne wrote. FSC will be mono-hull.

Also, LCS is built to accomodate different mission modules, in theory allowing a single ship to rapidly switch between anti-sub, anti-mine and surface patrol missions. FSC will probably be hard-wired for its missions, reflecting the European preference.

The Royal Navy wants at least 17 FSCs for anti-sub and patrol missions. The class could also gain air-defence missiles to help protect the two large aircraft carriers under construction. To keep the RN’s current frigates in service until the FSC is ready, several frigates are getting life extensions out to 30 years or more.

[JKM Mk2]

Interesting comment: the RN found the LCS trimiran hull-form to be “clearly not persuasive”

I wonder if that could be a general comment on the Austral design and be part of USN thinking with the LCS program. i.e. 'Independance' is interesting as a concept ship but the GD 'Freedom' design will ultimately win the competition.

Of course there is a different operational concept between LCS and FSC which probably makes the comment irrelevant to the LCS competition.

I also wonder how many of their 17 wishlist the RN will finish up with given their current budget woes!

Cheers
JKM

[buglerbilly]

My opinion they'll be lucky to get 12..............6 x Type 45's and 12 of the FSC..............PATHETIC if one considers that the arguments during the 80's were about the frigate/destroyer force dropping below 32 warships!!!

BUG

[JKM Mk2]

If you also take into account all the other 'proposed' reductions (admitedly only rumors at this stage, but...) max 5/6 Astutes, only one carrier (if any!), Vangard replacement on shakey ground, reduction in RFA, rethinking the Royal Marines and Fleet Air arm ..... Pathetic would have to be the operative word here.

I'm sure the Argies are taking this all in and planning their next move! In a few years time the Royal Navy will not be in much of a position to do very much about anything IMHO!

Cheers
JKM

[buglerbilly]

Building UK’s Future Aircraft Carriers


Final assembly to take place at Babcock’s Rosyth dockyard.

Babcock International looks at one of the UK’s most complex defence programmes

07:40 GMT, March 16, 2010 After many years in gestation, the UK’s new aircraft carrier programme – a highly complex engineering, logistical and project management undertaking – is coming to life, as the manufacturing programme gains momentum. In the following Babcock International, part of the integrated industry/UK MoD alliance, the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, responsible for the design and build of the Queen Elizabeth (QE) Class aircraft carriers, provides an insight to defpro.com readers into the programme and the company’s contribution, from preparations to ongoing work and the progress being made.

As preparations are being made for the imminent shipment of the first Lower Block from Babcock’s Appledore shipyard in Devon to Rosyth (marking a significant milestone and start of the assembly and integration process), and with work having recently begun on a section of the hull at Portsmouth (the fifth UK shipyard to start construction on the programme), work on this national project is now underway at sites across the country, with blocks under construction and many of the systems and machinery items in production.

At 65,000 tonnes, 280 metres long, 74 metres wide and 56 metres high, the two vessels will be the UK’s largest warships, each with a flight deck area of around 4 acres (1.6 hectares) from which to project airpower anywhere in the world. Inevitably, the scale of the operation and technical and logistical complexity of the delivery programme for these vital joint military assets is equally huge.

Infrastructure preparations

At Babcock’s Rosyth dockyard, where final assembly and integration of the massive Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers is to take place, a significant programme of civil engineering works is in-hand, to allow entry of the blocks from the various dockyards where they are being built, assembly in No.1 Dock, and then departure of the completed vessels. Works to modify the dock itself began in March 2008.

“Modifications to No.1 Dock have now been successfully completed within the planned timescale and budget,” Babcock Warships Managing Director Mike Pettigrew comments. “This has included cutting back the huge granite steps (known as ‘altars’) along the sides of the dock to adapt its conventional V-shaped profile to a U-shape, and widening the gated entrance.”

Following the construction of a massive five cell, 50,000 tonne cofferdam (a temporary structure to create a dry work environment), the dock was de-watered in October 2008, and work was then undertaken to remove the intermediate caisson cills and jambs; install 165 rock anchors through the dock walls; build the new propped gate cills and jambs; demolish the original entrance to the dock and construct a new, wider, entrance; and reconstruct the foundations for the new gate. With the removal of the ‘altar steps’ the dock floor is some nine metres wider.

Two intermediate gate positions, recessed into the walls, have been located to suit the build strategy for the carriers, and the modified floating caisson gate has been installed. The primary skidding system, used to support and move the blocks in the dock once the water has been removed, has also been constructed. This carries the upper docking and skidding system comprising tools, jacks and rams required to support and manoeuvre the sections of the vessel to a high degree of accuracy during assembly.

Work to modify the direct entrance is still on-going. Rosyth has the largest non-tidal basin for ship repair in the UK, separated from the Firth of Forth by an existing sliding gate entrance to hold the water back. This is being widened by four metres to over 42 metres, and the substantial engineering project that this entails is due to be completed later this year.

Additionally, rails for the gigantic Goliath crane have also been installed, and the crane itself will arrive at Rosyth this autumn. “After four months to erect, test and commission it, the crane will be operational by early 2011,” Babcock Project Director Sean Donaldson reports. “At a height of 68 metres to the underside of the main beams, and with a span of 120 metres to cover the construction area of the new carriers, the Goliath crane will be largest in the UK. Its 1,000 tonne lifting capacity is provided by three hooks, which provides a valuable degree of flexibility. The crane will lift and place the carrier modules, including the upper blocks and sponsons, as well as the bow block, islands and aircraft lifts.”

Design and build

The design and build of the carriers is managed by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance (ACA); an integrated industry/MoD alliance comprising Babcock, BAE Systems, Thales UK and the UK MoD (acting as both partner and client), which is responsible for delivering the ships to time and cost. In addition to the modular build strategy involving construction at different locations, the design is being carried out at a number of different sites using 3D modelling, bringing its own challenges.

Two different CAD tools have been used; Tribon on the forward sections and Foran on the remainder. Babcock’s role includes almost 50% of the CAD-based modelling design and development work on the vessels and, as the assembly site for the carriers, its Rosyth-based engineering design team receives data in both CAD formats. Having one of the largest pools of marine design expertise in Europe, and familiarity with different CAD formats has been an important factor, according to Babcock Integrated Technology Director Ian Lindsay.

“Discussions with the software vendors has led to the successful procurement and integration of both systems allied to the associated hardware, allowing the whole ship to be modelled seamlessly (in itself a project involving hundreds of thousands of man-hours) to ensure that all the separately manufactured elements work together,” he says. “Massive servers are needed to hold all the information, to which all the high spec workstations needed are linked, requiring a high speed of communication for considerable quantities of data. Investment in integrating the software has been backed with parallel infrastructure investment, centralised offices and training programmes.”

Drawing board to reality

As the project moves from modelling to manufacture, construction of various blocks and component parts is now underway at five of the six UK shipyards involved (at Glasgow, Rosyth, Newcastle, Devon, Portsmouth) and is due to begin at Birkenhead in summer 2010, in addition to nearly 100 further contracts throughout the supply chain. The blocks include four Lower Blocks, five upper Central Blocks, 12 sponson units, and two island superstructures, each of which will be transported by sea to Babcock’s Rosyth dockyard for assembly and integration. The project has been aptly described as a gigantic 3D jigsaw puzzle.

Already initial component units for the first carrier sponsons have begun arriving at Rosyth. The first shipment, from Babcock’s Appledore yard in Devon, arrived last August, comprising 11 fabricated units and two flat packs for the first of the sponson blocks, each unit measuring around 10 metres long by 7.5 metres wide and three metres high, and weighing 20 to 36 tonnes. The 12 different sponson units for each carrier form part of the ship structure to provide a wider flight deck.

This was the first of some 20 shipments from Appledore to Rosyth for each of the two vessels, including the 12 sponson units, two shipments for the Lower Block 1 sub blocks, and four shipments for centre block units. For the first carrier these are taking place at various intervals from August last year to early 2012.

Each of the shipments received at Rosyth will allow work to start on combining the 20-40 tonne individual units into 300 tonne blocks. Major outfit can then commence on electrical cabling and equipments, mechanical pipe systems and equipments, ventilation ducts and equipments, furniture and propulsion, weapon or aviation systems. This will lead to completion of the approximately 1500 different compartments and numerous systems, prior to whole ship assembly.

Shipment of Lower Block 1 will be taking place by barge in the coming weeks. Manufacture of this block at Appledore has included the huge ‘bulbous bow’; a protruding ‘bulb’ at the bow of the ship just below the waterline which alters the water flow around the hull to reduce drag, increasing the carrier’s speed, fuel efficiency and stability. Similar in size and appearance to a conventional submarine, manufactured by joining massive steel plates to produce the complex curvature required, this component alone measures a substantial 27 metres long and 9.5 metres maximum height, and weighs some 315 tonnes, giving a good indication of the enormity of the vessel.

“The assembly and integration stage will involve the use of our heavy lifting, alignment, and fabrication skills,” Pettigrew points out. “As block build progresses, two 500 tonne transporters (delivered to Rosyth last year) as well as the Goliath crane, will play a major part.”

System advances

Meanwhile, many of the various components and machinery have been manufactured or are under construction, such as the diesel generators and turbines, aircraft lifts and steering gear, and progress is also being made on a number of the vessels’ systems. Among these, the highly mechanised weapons handling system (HMWHS) , and integrated waste management system (IWMS), both designed and being built by Babcock, are two examples.

Here again, strong progress is being seen, with component delivery milestones recently announced. The first component of the HMWHS, a pair of hydraulically operated magazine doors each measuring 12 metres wide by 3 metres high and weighing 6000kg, were delivered to schedule for integration at the end of last year. “These will be fitted within the deep magazine complex and are designed to operate automatically as part of the HMWHS,” Babcock Integrated Technology director Matt Hatson explains. “Delivery of the doors was required at this early stage in the build programme as their size and location within the ship means that the doors are an integral component of the vessel. The door insert is welded into the bulkhead of the ship.”

The HMWHS provides mechanical handling facilities for moving palletised munitions around the deep magazine and weapon preparation areas, and a series of weapons lifts connect the magazines, hangar, weapon preparation area and flight deck. This innovative solution to munitions handling represents the first maritime application of shore-based commercial warehousing processes using automated systems with all-electric control, adapted for safe transport and stowage of munitions in a warship environment. The system equates to more than 300 linear metres of handling and storage equipment, with multiple stowage locations for high levels of flexibility and redundancy, and plays a critical role in meeting enhanced operational capability requirements. It is estimated to yield a 65% reduction in manpower required for what is traditionally a labour-intensive, time-consuming and potentially hazardous process, thereby helping to reduce through-life costs and adopt increased safety standards.

Similarly, the first major component of the IWMS, the waste water treatment plant, was also delivered at the end of 2009 by Babcock, ready for installation. The QE Class aircraft carriers are to have the first fully integrated waste management system in a warship, which addresses the collection, transfer, treatment, stowage and disembarkation of the various fluid and solid waste streams generated onboard the carriers, and will process these until the outputs are benign and compatible with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) requirements for overboard discharge, or enabling them to be stored efficiently until landed.

Fluid shipboard waste includes, black water (sewage), grey water (from showers, washbasins, galleys and laundries), and bilge water (oily water waste accumulating in the bottom of the hull), while solid waste products include clinical waste, sanitary waste, food waste, paper, glass, metals and plastics. The IWMS integrates these waste streams and final treatment into a coherent system operating through the ship’s Integrated Platform Management System. It will minimise the manpower requirement and remove some of the current labour associated with waste handling, as well as freeing up valuable on-board storage space, and minimising reliance on shore side facilities. The system will also ensure that increasingly stringent environmental and marine pollution control requirements are met.

“Systems such as these, along with the construction of the vessels themselves and the multiple components that involves, are seeing years of combined design, effort, and integration, starting to come to fruition, thanks to close working between the Aircraft Carrier Alliance partners and throughout the national supply chain,” Pettigrew remarks. “As Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth commented recently, the progress already being made to deliver these assets which will be a cornerstone of future defence policy is a testament to the skill and professionalism of UK industry.”

[SteveJH]

Isnt using multiple CAD programs just asking for trouble? Or do they use a common file type?

[buglerbilly]

Nah not really as even opposing systems always have the ability to read each others files............I cannot think of ANY Industry-standard system that cannot do this. Most of the systems are commercially available to anyone in any case so its in no ones interests to make things too hard to swop between each other................

[Chunder]

Nah mate, with most CADs when it comes to the actually projection of the drawing - you can save the file in any number of recognisable formats. Whether the other program will allow you to modify that or not (from licensing & or data recognition) is another matter. I.E Using a more modern data format will not be recognisable on an older system (at least with Autodesk Inventor)

I have not heard of either program.

You might find though that one may be more base modelling, and another having more structural analysis capability in it. As CAD suites can be very expensive (Base will start at around 8 G - all the way up to 100's of G's) along with their updates and yearly releases - companies tend to hang onto their suites as long as possible. So even this is not really a rule of thumb.

Autodesk Inventor gives me about 10 different file formats to save in - and can recognise other file formats & coding.

[JimWH]

Different CAD packages being unable to talk to one-another was one of the problem with the Astute class in the late 1990s. But that's ancient history in CAD terms. I also rather suspect that this particular lesson from the Astute program has been thoroughly learned.

[SteveJH]

OK, fair enough. My latest experience with CAD was Autocad in high school....so...i know nothing....

Anyway, only reason I even brought it up is because, wasnt CAD issues one of the problems they had with Astute?

[buglerbilly]

The ASTUTE problem was due, as far as I know, to lack of people who knew how, not the system they used..........

[buglerbilly]

France offers to join forces with UK's nuclear submarine fleet

Officials from both countries have discussed a deterrent-sharing scheme but Britain has so far opposed the idea

Julian Borger and Richard Norton-Taylor guardian.co.uk,

Friday 19 March 2010 00.05 GMT


A Royal Navy Trident nuclear submarine. Photograph: Corbis

France has offered to create a joint UK-French nuclear deterrent by sharing submarine patrols, the Guardian has learned.

Officials from both countries have discussed how a deterrence-sharing scheme might work but Britain has so far opposed the idea on the grounds that such pooling of sovereignty would be politically unacceptable.

Britain and France each maintain "continuous at-sea deterrence", which involves running at least one nuclear-armed submarine submerged and undetected at any given time. It is a hugely expensive undertaking, and its usefulness in a post-cold war world has long been questioned by disarmament campaigners.

Britain's independent deterrent, based on Trident missiles carried by submarines, could cost the country up to £100bn, according to some estimates, once planned modernisation to the fleet has been completed.

France also maintains a four-submarine Strategic Oceanic Force, with each submarine armed with 16 missiles.

Last September the prime minister said Britain's submarine fleet could be reduced from four to three as a gesture towards disarmament, but the total financial savings were reported as relatively small.

"We have talked about the idea of sharing continuity at sea as part of a larger discussion about sharing defence burdens," a French official said.

A British official confirmed that the French government had raised the idea of shared "continuous at-sea deterrence", but added that any such scheme would cause "outrage" in the midst of an election campaign.

Nicolas Sarkozy and Gordon Brown discussed the idea when the French president visited London in March 2008. The joint declaration afterwards simply said the two countries would "foster our bilateral dialogue on nuclear deterrence".

The same month, Sarkozy hinted at the potential for shared deterrence in a speech at Cherbourg. "Together with the United Kingdom, we have taken a major decision: it is our assessment that there can be no situation in which the vital interests of either of our two nations could be threatened without the vital interests of the other also being threatened," he said.

Sarkozy and Brown met again in Downing Street last Friday and "discussed some issues on the nuclear agenda", according to Downing Street, but he would not say whether the idea of joint UK-French deterrence had been explored further.

Following an underwater collision between French and British nuclear-armed submarines last February, France's defence minister, Herve Morin, said the two navies would consider co-ordinating patrols. "Between France and Britain, there are things we can do together … one of the solutions would be to think about the patrol zones," he said.

It is unclear whether Morin's offer was taken up by the Royal Navy. The Sarkozy proposal would go much further – Britain and France would take turns to maintain an underwater vigil.

Proposals for closer UK-French defence co-operation have been driven by Paris, British defence officials emphasised yesterday, though Brown may raise the issue in remarks today to the Foreign Press Association in London.

Britain and France could synchronise nuclear deterrent patrols and co-operate in the deployment of surface fleet task forces, sources say. However, British officials played down the possibility of formal agreements on the nuclear deterrent – or on sharing each other's aircraft carriers.

"We could not make a full commitment," a defence source said, referring to the deployment of carriers. He referred to the British intervention in Sierra Leone 10 years ago and Iraq. France did not "want to have anything to do with" either operation, the source said.

However, both governments say they recognise the potential scope for much closer co-operation both in terms of strategy and in procuring new weapons systems.

Liam Fox, the shadow defence secretary, has spelled out the possibilities of closer co-operation on a number of occasions recently.

"Our most important bilateral relationship in Europe is with France," he said in a keynote speech. "Most importantly, we are Europe's only two nuclear powers and we contribute greatly to Nato's security because of this. A future Conservative government will continue and strengthen this relationship."

He added that if the Conservatives formed the next government, the Ministry of Defence would invite France to make a formal submission to the promised Strategic Defence and Security Review "stating what they expect from their relationship with the United Kingdom".

Fox told the Commons earlier this week: "We will need to be able to project power on a strategic level alongside the US and France."

He is expected today to point to the advantages of closer defence procurement co-operation with France – on a bilateral basis, he will emphasise.

Successive British governments have been committed to a policy of "continuous at-sea deterrence", with one nuclear-armed submarine on patrol at any time. Naval commanders in the past have argued that to ensure this would require four Trident submarines – one on patrol, one preparing to go out on patrol, with two others being refitted, perhaps one needing an unexpected and long period in dock.

Those in favour of maintaining four submarines also argue that producing three would be almost as expensive, because many of the costs go on initial research and development, building the infrastructure and training the workforce.

France has three nuclear-armed submarines plus a new sub yet to be deployed. Unlike Britain it also has aircraft capable of carrying nuclear bombs.

[Riđđu]

[B]France offers to join forces with UK's nuclear submarine fleet

Officials from both countries have discussed a deterrent-sharing scheme...

De Gaulle would not be happy to see this! Anyway, remember what happened couple of years ago when M. Sarkozy proposed nuclear weapons burden sharing with Germany…

[buglerbilly]

Royal Navy Gets Green Light on Frigates, Subs

By andrew chuter

Published: 25 Mar 2010 14:43

LONDON - Britain's Royal Navy has the government's green light to get a new generation of frigates and two more nuclear attack submarines, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth told Parliament.

BAE Systems Surface Ships has a four-year, 127 million pound ($189 million) contract for assessment work on the Type 26 frigate, which is to replace Type 22 and 23 warships. The first Type 26 is to enter service around the start of the 2020s.

Part of the Future Surface Combatant program, the Type 26s will be used primarily to ward off submarines and support land warfare. Expected to displace around 6,000 tons, the warship may carry vertically launched precision strike and anti-air missiles, and include a mission bay on the stern to launch small boats, unmanned vehicles and special forces.

A second element of the FSC program, a general-purpose warship, is in the concept planning stage.

Last month, an MoD official said the ministry was holding talks with Australia and New Zealand about cooperating on the FSC program.

The MoD has also received approval to move ahead with the fifth and sixth Astute-class nuclear attack submarines. The government stopped short of giving full construction go-ahead to the two vessels but said it is providing 300 million pounds split roughly evenly for initial construction - primarily early steelwork - on boat five and long-lead procurement activities for boat six.

The MoD has already spent close to 150 million pounds on long-lead items for boat five.

The Astute submarines cost around 1 billion pounds each. The first of class, HMS Astute, is presently undergoing sea trials; it is to be handed to the Royal Navy later this year.

A seventh Astute-class boat is planned for the Royal Navy, although the government hasn't officially committed to purchasing it.

Still, union leaders from Barrow-in-Furness, where Britain's nuclear submarines are built, met defense procurement minister Quentin Davies earlier this week and were told the government is committed to building seven Astutes.

A final decision on the seventh boat will likely have to await a defense review planned after a general election expected for early May.

In a third maritime-related deal, the MoD said it had signed a 15-year strategic business agreement with Babcock International covering surface warships and nuclear submarine support. The deal extends Babcock's management roles at Clyde and Devonport naval bases, and covers engineering on major warships and nuclear submarines.

The naval contract announcements are the second time this week the government has revealed major defense contracts. Earlier, they named General Dynamics UK as the winner of a specialist armored vehicles deal for the British Army that could eventually be worth billion of pounds. They also said they were buying three Rivet Joint signals intelligence aircraft from the U.S. government to replace the Royal Air Forces retiring fleet of Nimrod R1 aircraft. A further round of defense orders are expected from the government next week ahead of an announcement of a date for the general election.

[buglerbilly]

Contract signed for Assessment Phase of Navy's next warships

An Equipment and Logistics news article

25 Mar 10

The MOD has signed a contract for the Assessment Phase of the Royal Navy's next generation of warships - the Type 26 combat ship.


Computer-generated image of the Type 26 combat ship
[Picture: BAE Systems 2010]

A team led by BAE Systems Surface Ships, working with the MOD, will consider design proposals for the Type 26 combat ship, named in recognition of its planned multiple roles.

The Type 26 will replace the Type 22 and 23 frigates, which are to begin leaving service at the end of the decade. The ship will provide support for land operations as well as undertaking other key tasks such as anti-submarine warfare.

The Assessment Phase will play a critical part in ensuring that the necessary capabilities identified during the Strategic Defence Review are incorporated into the Type 26 design.

Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth announced the contract for the Type 26's Assessment Phase today.

He also announced that progress will continue on the Astute Class of submarines, the largest and most advanced attack submarines ever ordered for the Royal Navy.

The MOD is proceeding with the initial build work for Boat 5, as well as procurement activities to ensure key items for Boat 6 are available when needed.

The MOD has also negotiated a long term partnering agreement with Babcock Marine covering surface ship and submarine support activities.

This 15-year commercial arrangement - known as a Terms of Business Agreement (TOBA) - will generate financial benefits to the Department of over £1.2bn.

It represents the MOD's ongoing commitment to providing world-class capability for our Armed Forces in the most cost-efficient manner.


Computer-generated image of the Type 26 combat ship
[Picture: BAE Systems 2010]

Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said:

"Planning for future defence is crucial. It is our duty to provide key equipment that will ensure the UK is properly prepared to meet its own defence needs in an ever changing world, and continues to play an important role in maintaining global security.

"Programmes like the Type 26 and Astute not only ensure the Royal Navy continues to have cutting-edge capability but also sustain the industry that supports them.

"These commitments, and the long-term partnering agreement with Babcock Marine, will protect the long-term future of the maritime industry and preserve the industrial capability and skills needed to carry out future programmes cost-effectively."

First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, said:

"These programme announcements are welcome news for the Royal Navy. You simply cannot have an effective Navy without capable frigates, and the Type 26 combat ship will form the future backbone of the Royal Navy's surface combatant force, alongside the new Type 45 destroyers.

"These ships will be highly versatile, able to operate across the full spectrum of operations, from war-fighting to disaster relief.

"The Astute Class submarine gives us a real edge, exploiting stealth and covert presence to offer enormous utility across a wide range of military tasks, everything from anti-submarine warfare, through intelligence-gathering, to striking targets far inland."

The key design aims for the Type 26 are for a ship that is:

• Versatile - able to undertake a number of roles;
• Flexible - to adapt to the changing needs of defence;
• Affordable - both in build and support through its service life;
• Exportable - designed with the international market in mind.

[Riđđu]

Computer-generated image of the Type 26 combat ship
[Picture: BAE Systems 2010]


What is the logic behind that hangar arrangement? Some British tradition?

[Deks]

No VLS on the T26? I had thought that was something of a standard for new surface combatants, why is it not appropriate here ?

[Gubler, A.]

What is the logic behind that hangar arrangement? Some British tradition?

The hangar is to be combined with a multi role mission deck like on LCS with space for containers and small boats/UUVs and the like. As to having a CIWS on the aft starboard side this would appear to be a top weight issue to keep it a deck down despite cutting the firing arcs in half.


No VLS on the T26? I had thought that was something of a standard for new surface combatants, why is it not appropriate here ?

There is space forward between the CIWS and gun for a small VLS pack for Sea Wolf/ESSM sized missiles. It’s only a ‘small’ ship that big gun up forward is a 76mm Oto gun. This is a traditional ‘frigate’ (ie tradition as in Nelson) and similar in concept to the USN’s 4,000 tonne LCS and the RAN’s 2,000 tonne SEA 1180 Offshore Patrol Combatant ie ‘corvette’ project. So the focus on mission systems is the mission deck, self defence and maritime interdiction weapons.

[buglerbilly]

I wouldn't go drawing too many conclusions from these images.............this design is in early conceptual stages and what eventuates when Final Design stage is achieved in 6-7 years could be completely different from this..............

The first warship is unlikely to be built much before 2020 or later............

[buglerbilly]

UK Government Go-Ahead for Fifth and Sixth Astute Submarines

25 Mar 2010 | Ref. 065/2010

Barrow-in-Furness, United Kingdom: BAE Systems today welcomed news it had been given the go-ahead to begin constructing the fifth Astute class submarine and start the procurement process for a sixth vessel.

It follows a statement made earlier today by UK Secretary of State for Defence, Bob Ainsworth, in which he underlined the Government’s continuing support for the Astute programme.

The first of class Astute attack submarine is currently undertaking sea trials, the second (Ambush) is due to be launched later this year, and the third and fourth (Artful and Audacious) are both advanced in their construction.

The Secretary of State said: “The Government has made a contractual commitment to proceed with the initial build of Astute Boat 5 and long lead procurement activities associated with Astute Boat 6, at a total cost of over £300M. This commitment is necessary now to ensure a consistent workload for the UK’s submarine building industry.

“This investment will allow the timely delivery of the Astute class boats, which are the most advanced attack submarines ever ordered for the Royal Navy. Furthermore, since the same industrial skills, experience and capability are necessary to deliver the successor deterrent submarine programme, this investment will play a part in ensuring a smooth transition from the Astute programme to the successor deterrent.”

John Hudson, Managing Director of BAE Systems, Submarine Solutions commented: “I am delighted the Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the submarine programme today. This order represents a key milestone in the overall Astute class submarine programme, and underlines the Government’s confidence in BAE Systems’ ability to deliver an advanced submarine capability for the Royal Navy.

“The commitment to the successor programme will allow BAE Systems to continue to recruit highly-skilled engineers to meet existing and future workload requirements, and progress the concept design work. Just as importantly, it will help sustain key skills and capabilities throughout our workforce, our suppliers and partners.

“The 7,400 tonne submarines will be the fifth and sixth of what is expected to be a seven boat Astute class, the largest and most powerful attack submarines ever built in Britain for the Royal Navy. The Astute class will replace the Swiftsure and Trafalgar class, which have been in-service since the 1970s and 1980s respectively.

Work is expected to start immediately at the shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness.

The first of class Astute submarine successfully completed its first phase of sea trials having left Barrow for its operational base in Faslane in November 2009. The programme of sea trials continues, including a successful first at-sea dive off the coast of Scotland.

Test and commissioning of second in class Ambush continues ahead of its scheduled launch later this year. The command deck module – the largest of the boat’s modules - has been shipped into third in class Artful, successfully completing one of the boat’s 2010 milestones. Construction of major steelwork for fourth in class Audacious continues after its keel was laid in 2009.

[buglerbilly]

Bow sections of Navy's new carrier are ready

An Equipment and Logistics news article

6 Apr 10

The bow sections of one of the UK's two new aircraft carriers have now been completed and have set sail to where the ships' will be assembled.


A bow section for the Navy's new carrier
[Picture: POA(PHOT) N Harper]

The bow sections for the Queen Elizabeth carrier are travelling by barge from Babcock's Appledore shipyard in Devon to Rosyth in Scotland, where the ships will be assembled. The barge journey is expected to take six days.

The two sections will make up the bow of the ship, and together weigh about 400 tonnes.

The larger of the two sections, called the bulbous bow, is similar in size and shape to a conventional submarine, yet only a tenth of the full length of the ship.

It is designed to increase speed, fuel efficiency and stability, sitting just below the waterline to help the ship cut cleanly through the water, reducing drag.

The second section sits above, making up decks seven to five below the aircraft hangar.

Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies, said:

"The progress we are making with the Queen Elizabeth Class carriers is not only good news for the Royal Navy it is good news for defence and the UK defence industry.

"This national project will sustain thousands of jobs in shipyards and in the wider supply chain.

"The carriers will be a cornerstone of future defence policy and a key asset for our Armed Forces as a whole, providing four acres of sovereign territory which can be deployed to support operations anywhere in the world."



The bow sections set sail
[Picture: POA(PHOT) N Harper]

Chief of Material Fleet Vice Admiral Andrew Mathews said:

"Seeing these sections, which are only a small part of the ship, makes the overall scale of the carriers clear.

"The transportation of the bow sections to Rosyth will be a key step in the construction of these hugely important ships.

"The two Aircraft Carriers of QE Class will provide the UK with a large, deployable airfield capable of projecting airpower globally, including fast jets, helicopters and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, to support Joint Operations for up to 50 years.

"It was important from the start of the project to achieve maximum efficiency using new construction techniques. For example, the ‘block integration' method has allowed us to build the ship in many locations simultaneously, reducing the time it takes to construct. It has the added advantage of spreading the economic benefits widely across the country."

Work now continues on the forward section of the ship, from the keel up to the flight deck.

Shipyards throughout the UK, including Glasgow, Rosyth, Newcastle, Portsmouth, Devon and Birkenhead are contributing to the project.

[buglerbilly]

From The Times April 9, 2010

US-Russia nuclear pact means UK can delay Trident renewal, analysts say

Deborah Haynes, Defence Editor

The US-Russia pact offers Britain a chance to delay any decision on renewing its nuclear deterrent rather than pushing ahead with an expensive plan to replace a fleet of Trident submarines, analysts said.

Such a move, opposed only by the Liberal Democrats, would lock Britain into at least another three decades of keeping a full-time at-sea deterrent in contrast with disarmament efforts championed by President Obama.

“The more momentum President Obama generates on disarmament, the more out of place the immediate decision to renew Trident will look,” Ian Kearns, a senior Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, told The Times. “It’s about exploring options for delaying the UK decision for another five years in order to save money and signal UK support for Obama’s agenda.”

Britain has four Trident submarines, which are up for renewal at a cost of £20 billion. Labour and the Conservatives believe that the replacement must go ahead to ensure Britain’s security. They said that postponing the decision on whether to replace the submarines would result in a gap in the deterrent because Britain’s nuclear arsenal has already been reduced to its lowest level.

In contrast, the Liberal Democrats are in favour of increasing the lifespan of the current Trident fleet, while looking at possible alternatives such as medium-range nuclear missiles launched from a tactical submarine.

Tom Collina, research director for the Washington-based Arms Control Association, agreed that the new US-Russia treaty should prompt other nuclear powers to review their much smaller arsenals.

“For countries like the UK and China, it is time to start thinking about how you can start contributing to the process,” he said, while acknowledging that the US and Russia would have to make significant cuts to their stockpiles before the rest of the nuclear club would be willing to join a multilateral disarmament process.

[buglerbilly]

Britain needs the Navy to provide firepower – not a ferry service

The Senior Service has been sidelined in Afghanistan but still has a role to play, says Con Coughlin.

By Con Coughlin, UK Daily Telegraph

Published: 6:30AM BST 23 Apr 2010

HMS Albion arriving at Portsmouth harbour, carrying stranded service personnel and holidaymakers from Santander Photo: Helen Yates In times of crisis, there is no more reassuring sight than a Royal Navy warship hoving into view. In Victorian times, gunboat diplomacy was regularly employed to protect British citizens from the evil designs of foreign potentates, or to persuade hostile governments to think twice before taking on the might of the British Empire. More recently, the Navy's contribution was vital to the success of the Falklands campaign, while British warships have seen active service in many of the world's major conflict zones, from the Gulf to Sierra Leone.

So the arrival of HMS Albion at the northern Spanish port of Santander this week, to rescue hundreds of stranded Service personnel and tourists, serves as timely reminder of how important it is for this island nation to have a well-resourced and effective Navy.

Gordon Brown's shabby leadership betrays our vital mission in AfghanistanIn terms of the long and noble tradition of our Senior Service, rescuing a school football team, a Girl Guide troop and the Mayor of London's father hardly compares with the feats of the past. But, then, the fact that the Royal Navy can only get into the headlines these days by providing an emergency ferry service for fractious holidaymakers is indicative of just how little public attention is paid to it. Indeed, its role in the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan has been so peripheral that many people might be surprised to discover that we still have a navy at all.

In fairness, it is not the Navy's fault that the two major wars Britain has fought in the early 21st century have been in countries with little or no access to the sea. These conflicts have been low-intensity, where the overwhelming priority has been force density – boots on the ground – rather than the hi-tech stuff, such as cruise missiles and anti-aircraft batteries, at which the Navy excels. As with the RAF, the Navy has been mainly reduced in Afghanistan to providing a support role for the movement of troops and equipment to and from the conflict zone. The only contribution of real note has come from the Royal Marines, who have fought heroically.

The Navy has also been badly hit by Gordon Brown's insistence on footing the bill for the war in Afghanistan by slashing expenditure on other parts of the defence budget, with the result that it has often had more ships moored at Portsmouth than on active service. Yet it must share some of the blame for its decline in the military rankings, given its less than impressive showing on those rare occasions when its expertise has been called upon.

Senior naval officers are still on the receiving end of cruel barbs from the other Services about the 15 personnel kidnapped by Iran's Revolutionary Guards three years ago, after the crew of HMS Cornwall failed to intervene. When they appeared, weeping, on Iranian television, the young sailors seemed more concerned about losing their iPods than the humiliation their capture heaped on the Navy. There was further embarrassment last year with the failure to prevent an elderly British couple being abducted from their yacht by Somali pirates, even though armed personnel were nearby.

But even if it appears that the Navy has seen better days, it still has a crucial role to play – a factor that will need to be given serious consideration when the next government begins the long-overdue defence review. Just because most of our military effort today is focused on fighting a war in a landlocked country does not mean that the wars of the future will be fought in similar circumstances. Prior to the September 11 attacks, one of our most successful overseas interventions was in Sierra Leone. The aircraft carrier Illustrious made a crucial contribution: with its Harrier jets providing vital air cover for the Paras fighting on the ground. The carrier's presence also allowed helicopters to fly troops and supplies to and from the combat zone.

Sierra Leone could provide the model for future operations, where the three Services pool whatever resources are needed. Certainly, the need for greater flexibility is likely to increase after the general election, as none of the three main parties appears to have an appetite for committing to the type of open-ended intervention we have seen in Afghanistan. After more than a decade of fighting Blair's wars, the last thing Labour wants is another overseas adventure. The Tories seem keen to revert to Douglas Hurd's policy of keeping out of any conflict that does not directly impinge upon Britain's national interests, while the pacifism of the Liberal Democrats makes them constitutionally unsuited for the prosecution of modern warfare.

That means that the next government will be more inclined to use the Sierra Leone model than the Afghan one if it became necessary to launch military action against Islamist terrorists in Yemen or Somalia. And to guarantee success, we will need all the naval firepower we can muster.

[buglerbilly]

UK nuclear submarines 'in service despite serious safety flaws', leaked memo finds

Two British nuclear submarines were allowed out to sea with “serious” safety problems that could have led to a fatal explosion, a leaked government memo has disclosed.

By Andrew Hough

Published: 8:00AM BST 03 May 2010


HMS Tireless, pictured, and HMS Turbulent were allowed to leave port with important safety valves blocked. Photo: MoD

HMS Tireless and HMS Turbulent were allowed to leave port with important safety valves blocked in what the Ministry of Defence memo admitted was a “serious incident".

The leaked memo, written last week by senior MoD officials, found that nuclear reactors on both vessels were allowed to be used "without overpressure protection on steam generators".

The blocked valves, contained on the hull of the submarines, meant steam from nuclear-powered boilers would not have been able to be released in an emergency.

Experts said the build up of pressure could have led to an on-board explosion which could have caused a deadly radiation leak.

The submarines should have been declared were unfit for service.

During this time HMS Turbulent was involved in operations around the Atlantic and visited Bergen in Norway, the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, and Faslane naval base near Glasgow.

The memo said the problem went undetected on HMS Turbulent for more than two years and unnoticed on HMS Tireless for more than a year.

The problems were finally detected last month, two months after Tireless started sea trials from its home port at Devonport naval base in Plymouth.

The memo, circulated to managers, naval personnel and civilian workers and leaked to The Guardian, concluded the safety flaws raised major questions about the "weak and ambiguous" safety procedures in the Royal Navy.

It admitted the incidents should have been prevented.

"Despite there being several potential safety nets, none succeeded in identifying and arresting the events," it stated.

As a result senior officials have ordered a complete shake-up of safety procedures.

John Ainslie, a spokesman for Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, who monitors nuclear submarine activity, said such detailed safety warnings and criticisms were proof of the MoD’s concern.

"This is one of a series of serious problems that they've had with the nuclear fleet and at some point, there will be serious consequences," he said.

John Large, a consultant on nuclear safety who advises governments on submarine safety, added: "It was a very significant failure.

“These two submarines were unfit for service. It was a perilous situation."

The MoD admitted “issues” were identified during checks with a spokesman confirming the contents of the memo.

“We can confirm that, as part of routine maintenance checks, an issue was identified on HMS Turbulent and HMS Tireless which has now been resolved,” the spokesman said.

“We take safety extremely seriously and as soon as we were aware of this potential issue we took action to address the problem.

“Detailed investigations to assess the cause and any possible safety implications are ongoing and it is too early to speculate on the outcome of those investigations.”

[buglerbilly]

The original Guardian article..........

Nuclear submarines went to sea with potentially disastrous defectBritish vessels Turbulent and Tireless allowed to leave port with safety valves sealed off, risking catastrophic explosion, leaked memo reveals

Severin Carrell and Rob Edwards guardian.co.uk,

Sunday 2 May 2010 17.56 BST Article history

Two British nuclear submarines went to sea with a potentially disastrous safety problem that left both vessels at risk of a catastrophic accident, the Guardian can reveal.

Safety valves designed to release pressure from steam generators in an emergency were completely sealed off when the nuclear hunter killers Turbulent and Tireless left port, a leaked memo discloses.

The problem went undetected on HMS Turbulent for more than two years, during which time the vessel was on operations around the Atlantic, and visited Bergen in Norway, the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, and Faslane naval base near Glasgow.

It was not noticed on HMS Tireless for more than a year, and was finally detected last month, two months after Tireless started sea trials from its home port at Devonport naval base in Plymouth.

Tireless was involved in another serious incident in 2007, when two submariners were killed in an onboard explosion in air purification equipment. In 2000, it was stranded in Gibraltar for nearly a year after a leak from pipework leading from its reactor, putting immense strain on British relations with Spain.

The Ministry of Defence memo, which was written last week, admits that both cases involving the sealed-off valves were "a serious incident" that raised major questions about "weak and ambiguous" safety procedures at Devonport dockyard and within the Royal Navy.

The blocked valves, on the hull of the submarines, meant that steam from nuclear-powered boilers could not have been released in an emergency, leading to a potentially disastrous build-up of pressure.

John Large, a consultant on nuclear safety who advises governments on submarine safety, said: "It was a very significant failure. These two submarines were unfit for service. It was a perilous situation."

He said sealing these valves was like blocking the valve on a domestic pressure cooker. If pressure had built up to dangerous levels, the submarine's steam circuit could have burst, leaking radioactivity into the submarine and shutting down the reactor. "There would be a risk of fatalities," Large said. "This was such a glaring and fundamental omission. It's jaw-dropping."

The MoD memo, which has been circulated to thousands of managers, naval personnel and civilian workers at Devonport and Faslane naval bases, admits that the incidents should have been prevented but that safety procedures were seriously flawed.

"Despite there being several potential safety nets, none succeeded in identifying and arresting the events" before the submarines left the dockyard, the memo reveals. It adds there has been a major shake-up of safety procedures.

The MoD told the Guardian: "We can confirm that, as part of routine maintenance checks, an issue was identified on HMS Turbulent and HMS Tireless which has now been resolved.

"We take safety extremely seriously and as soon as we were aware of this potential issue we took action to address the problem. Detailed investigations to assess the cause and any possible safety implications are ongoing and it is too early to speculate on the outcome of those investigations."

The memo said that the problem arose after the hull valves were replaced by "test blanks" during repair and maintenance work at the privatised Devonport nuclear dockyard. These test blanks were fitted for "essential" leakage tests on the hulls and "useful" strength and leakage tests of steam discharge pipes inside the vessels.

They should have been removed before the submarines left the dockyard to begin their pre-operational "work-up" voyages in advance of going on patrol. But there was "poor" discipline at Devonport.

The nuclear reactors on both vessels were allowed to be turned on and operated in sea trials and during full operations "without overpressure protection on steam generators", the memo states.

John Ainslie, a spokesman for Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, who monitors nuclear submarine activity, said that the very detailed safety warnings and criticisms in the memo showed the MoD was extremely worried about the discovery.

"This is one of a series of serious problems that they've had with the nuclear fleet and at some point, there will be serious consequences," he said. "What this document picks out is a concern that they're missing something as serious as this because the maintenance procedures are very complex. There's the clear potential that they're not picking things up that they should."

[buglerbilly]

Now the Navy gets a 'drone' of its own: Unmanned attack boat to be used against maritime terrorists and pirates

By Mail On Sunday Reporter

Last updated at 10:24 PM on 26th June 2010

Military chiefs have tested a revolutionary unmanned attack boat to use in the war against maritime terrorists and pirates who threaten British ships.

The new £8million remote-controlled craft – which could have come straight from the pages of a James Bond novel – is being considered by officers in the Special Boat Service, the maritime equivalent of the SAS.

The 35ft-long Israeli-built ‘Silver Marlin’ can be used for electronic warfare and mine clearance. Coated in bullet-resistant Kevlar and equipped with radar, it has a 7.62mm calibre weapon system with laser aiming, range finder and target illuminator and can carry missiles.


Remote-controlled: A Silver Marlin attack boat on a test run

With a maximum speed of 45 knots, the drone can operate for 24 hours over a distance of 500 miles. It carries a TV camera to send back images of its missions and has sensors to detect small boats or obstructions up to four miles away.

SBS officers and civil servants recently trialled the Silver Marlin with American special forces Seals in the Middle East.

A senior Special Forces source said: ‘These vessels have huge potential and can be exposed to a higher risk than operations involving troops. They could clearly be used ahead of an amphibious assault, steered by controllers through minefields to identify an approach to land while providing real time pictures for commanders.’

An MoD spokeswoman said: ‘There are no current plans to assess or procure Unmanned Surface Vehicles. However the MoD continues to explore a range of options to meet our future capability requirements.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1289849/Now-Navy-gets-drone-Unmanned-attack-boat-used-maritime-terrorists-pirates.html#ixzz0s15hGDvw

[buglerbilly]

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

MBDA Says Aster 30 Problems Resolved

Posted by Robert Wall at 6/28/2010 5:08 AM CDT

I'm sure the RN will be ecstatic about this................

A series of Aster 30 firings from French, Italian and British vessels appear to have validated a fix MBDA had to make to the air and ballistic missile interceptor after performance problems were unearthed.

The Royal Navy last year suffered two failures with the Sea Viper configuration, which forced MBDA to make design changes and also to delay delivery of further Aster 30s.


(credit: MBDA)

The company now says that it has completed a series of launches to demonstrate that the design changes work. “The trials were conducted over a range of scenarios of steadily increasing complexity, culminating in a final trial featuring a salvo firing against a sea skimming target performing a high-g terminal maneuver,” the company says.

Launches were conducted from the Italian Andrea Doria frigate, the French Forbin frigate, and British Longbow trial barge using two ranges in the Mediterranean.

[JimWH]

Well that's a relief. Shooting from Daring herself is due before the end of the year isn't it?
I wonder when Longbow is going to decommission, and what they're going to do with her mission systems when they're done?
[IIRC 8 SAMPSON-PAAMS have been built, the first production standard prototype is now a land-based simulator, the second production standard prototype is aboard Longbow, and the six production sets are aboard the Darings. Like the 3 prototype Nimrod MRA4, that extra set does seem like a great opportunity to fractionally increase capability if extra cash becomes available any time in the next 5 years time.]

Actually, my mistake, 3 prototype SAMPSON were built. One was used in testing, one was used for system integration (and is now the simulator) and one was used aboard Longbow. Which means there are going to be two of them floating around...

[buglerbilly]

NOT in the next 3-5 years but I expect more Darings to be ordered, at least two but hopefully more...............let's see if anything comes out of the new review?

The Con/Lib Dem Coalition I expect to be in power for at least two Terms, possibly three which should be good news for the Forces.

[SteveJH]

I thought the System on Longbow and the system on the Simulator were supposed to go onto the 5th and sixth Darings.

[buglerbilly]

They were or so it was said............but 5 and 6 don't exist at the moment................

[SteveJH]

They were or so it was said............but 5 and 6 don't exist at the moment................

5 was launched last October, 6 is supposed to be launched this October. I think that means they exist.

[buglerbilly]

My bad, I meant 7 & 8............obviously I need to use more fingers when counting

[buglerbilly]

Review into Costs of Trident

(Source: U.K Ministry of Defence; issued July 6, 2010)

A review of the cost of renewing the Trident nuclear system will look at a number of elements associated with the deterrent to ensure they provide value for money, Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox said yesterday.

Dr Fox said during a defence debate in the House of Commons yesterday that the Government has committed to maintaining Britain's nuclear deterrent but that the renewal of Trident should be scrutinised to ensure value for money.

Dr Fox said the value for money review would be completed by the end of the month and the findings would go to the Cabinet Office and be considered by the National Security Council.

The council's conclusions will 'inform' both the Strategic Defence and Security Review and the cross-Whitehall Comprehensive Spending Review which will be published in the autumn.

At Commons question time Dr Fox said:

"The programme will cover the timetable itself, submarine numbers, the number of missiles, missile tubes and warheads, infrastructure and other support costs, and the industrial supply chain."

On the commitment to maintain Trident and not to consider it in the Strategic Defence and Security Review, Dr Fox said:

"We know that abroad there are a number of countries trying to develop nuclear weapons.

"We do not know what will happen between now and 2015, the timescale for the Trident replacement programme, and we cannot play fast and loose with Britain's defences."

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

Teams Vie To Provide C2 Helos for UK Carrier

Posted by Bradley Peniston | July 21st, 2010

By ANDREW CHUTER, FARNBOROUGH, UK – The first skirmishes between two industry teams vying to provide Britain’s new aircraft carrier force with an airborne surveillance and control capability were being played out at the Farnborough air show this week.


The Thales UK / AgustaWestland proposal for the Royal Navy's Crow's Nest program hangs a sensor from the ramp of an AW101 Merlin. (Thales image)

A Thales UK and AgustaWestland team and a rival offering from Lockheed Martin, possibly in partnership with Northrop Grumman, were briefing Ministry of Defence officials on their solutions to provide the Royal Navy with a surveillance capability fitted to AW101 Merlin helicopter.

The long-serving Sea King Mk7, which provides the current capability, is being taken out of service in 2016 and the RN has been searching for some time for a replacement.

V-22 Osprey, Hawkeye and other options have been looked at and discarded. Now the British have settled on the Merlin platform, which is already widely used by the military here.

The Merlin offers longer endurance and can fly at higher altitude then the Sea King. Additionally, the British will have spare airframes in their inventory to use for the requirement.

Around 10 machines are expected to be required by the RN, although the number and the requirement will not be settled until after the strategic defense and security review is complete in October.

The two potential bidders for the project, known as Crow’s Nest, are proposing radically different solutions.

The Thales/AgustaWestland team is offering to use the existing Searchwater 2000 radar and Cerberus mission control system from the Sea King in what it calls a “low-cost, low-risk” solution to provide the airborne surveillance and control capability for the new Queen Elizabeth carriers when the first of two warships enter service in 2016.

The Sea Kings were recently upgraded with improved radar and other capabilities and the system is now being used overland as part of the surveillance operations against the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The Thales-supplied Searchwater would be palletized, allowing rapid role-on roll-off to increase the role flexibility of the machine. The radar is deployed through the rear ramp of the Merlin.

Lockheed declined to discuss the details of its potential proposal.

Industry executives at the show said the company is looking at using a Northrop Grumman AESA radar adapted from a fighter application.

Under the Lockheed plan, several radar arrays are believed to be dotted around the Merlin fuselage to give the 360-degree coverage demanded by the RN.

Lockheed said in a statement that it was “in discussions with industry partners, including Northrop Grumman, who can work with us to offer a proven yet technically superior design for the Crow’s Nest opportunity.

The U.K. arm of Lockheed Martin has been involved with the AgustaWestland-built Merlin for the last 18 years as the systems integrator. It is currently under contract to provide an extensive mid-life upgrade of avionics and other systems on the machine.

The Merlin is already used by the RN in the anti-submarine role and a number of AW101s used by the British Army in the support role will be switched to provide seaborne lift when the entire Sea King fleet is pensioned off mid-decade.

[Deks]

Is utilising the merlin platform purely a cost-cutting measure? It'd make sense if so, but I wouldn't have thought so otherwise.

[JimWH]

Hawkeye was effectively ruled out when the UK confirmed the decision to go with F-35B: although it was possible to still have a CVF with cat and traps for the AEW, doing so would come at a considerable price in both monetary terms and operationally (i.e. flight deck ops would become a nightmare). V-22 was some advantages over Merlin, but again comes at a considerable price*, and so I'm not surprised that it's been eliminated either. Merlin as the preferred platform was really to be expected.
As is the offer to bring across the Cerberus mission systems: the closest thing to zero-risk that can realistically be organised. I am intrigued by the Lockheed bid though, without more details it is difficult to assess, but the idea sounds interesting. It also sounds complicated, and I'd be quite surprised if they could get the system to a workable state by 2016. Even if the dollar hose principle is applied (pour money onto a project and a working system grows).
So, I'm backing Cerberus as the most likely final solution, with the hope that in the medium term (2016-2020) an upgraded radar system can be mated to the system to make use of the additional payload and altitude available to the Merlin.

*Buying the aircraft, and then operating them.

[buglerbilly]

EADS Defence & Security Radars Protect Royal Navy Vessels

(Source: EADS; issued July 21, 2010)

-- Sophisticated identification systems avoid accidental attacks on friendly forces and support new Air Traffic Control requirements
-- New equipment increases situational awareness for allied forces and improves security for airborne and naval forces
-- 250 systems under contract worldwide

EADS Defence & Security (DS) provides several ships of the Royal Navy with advanced identification systems in order to enhance flight safety and situation awareness.

Defence Electronics (DE), an integrated activity of DS, has been awarded the Maritime Mode S Interrogator Capability (MSMIC) contract by the UK MoD to deliver its MSSR (Monopulse Secondary Surveillance Radar) 2000 I identification systems for the installation by 2011 onboard vessels such as the Type 42 destroyers, the "Invincible" class aircraft carriers and the future assault ships.

The system is the first secondary radar of its type worldwide. It is capable of both military and civil Air Traffic Control interrogations, thus supporting new requirements of the Civil Aviation Authority. EADS Defence & Security will provide local support and project management through its Test & Services division based in Ferndown.

"Providing latest technology IFF systems like MSSR 2000 I increases situational awareness for allied forces" explained Bernd Wenzler, CEO of Defence Electronics, “and therefore increases mission success and security for airborne and naval forces.”

IFF systems, so-called secondary surveillance radars (SSR), precisely collect data such as origin, course, speed etc. of individual aircraft by automatically sending interrogation signals which are answered by so-called transponders on-board friendly aircraft. Thus, the IFF systems ensure reliable identification of incoming aircraft, thus substantially reducing the risk of accidental attacks on friendly forces. This data exchange in the military field is based upon encrypted signals which cannot be analyzed or jammed by hostile forces.

Secondary radars are also used in civil Air Traffic Control (ATC). In a civil ATC mission, MSSR 2000 I sends out interrogation signals to all the aircraft and collects the responses. Thus, the radar provides a real-time overview of aircraft positions and additional aircraft data which results in a significant improvement in air traffic control and in the efficient use of air space.

Defence Electronics has delivered IFF systems to several NATO nations for ground and naval applications. For example, the MSSR 2000 I interrogator protects the German Navy K130 corvettes and F122/123 frigates as well as the French Navy "Mistral" assault ship and the Australian amphibious ships. In total, DS has approx. 250 systems in 29 nations under contract.

EADS Defence & Security is a systems solutions provider for armed forces and civil security worldwide. Its portfolio ranges from sensors and secure networks through missiles to aircraft and UAVs as well as global security, service and support solutions. In 2009, DS – with around 21,000 employees – achieved revenues of EUR 5.4 billion. EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2009, EADS generated revenues of EUR 42.8 billion and employed a workforce of about 119,000.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

Converteam develops catapult launch system for UK carriers

By Tim Fish

26 July 2010

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is investing in the development of an electromagnetic catapult system for the Royal Navy's Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers in case procurement of the F-35B short take-off/vertical landing (STOVL) version of the Joint Strike Fighter is abandoned.

Power conversion specialist Converteam UK announced on 20 July that in 2009 it was awarded a GBP650,000 (USD1 million) follow-on contract to continue the design, development and demonstration of high-power electrical systems for its EMCAT (electro-magnetic catapult) system and that work on the contract was nearing completion.

The naval director at Converteam UK, Mark Dannatt, told Jane's on 22 July that a small-scale EMCAT system had been completed in 2007 to prove the operation of modern linear motor, energy stores and control systems. Since then, extensive testing of the system has been successfully undertaken, as well as further work at the request of the MoD to enable Converteam UK to scale the system up to a full-size catapult suitable for the RN's new aircraft carriers.

"The EMCAT is designed to fit in the space envelope that has been allowed within the aircraft carrier for a catapult. The intention of building and designing a small electromagnetic catapult and then developing the technology so that it could be scaled up was always a de-risking exercise in case the MoD did not choose the STOVL aircraft or it was considered necessary to launch other types of aircraft from these ships. The option would then exist to fit a catapult and operate conventional carrier-borne aircraft," Dannatt said.

255 of 525 words
Copyright © IHS (Global) Limited, 2010

[buglerbilly]

CCM unveils Centurion shipboard soft-kill decoy launcher

By Richard Scott

27 July 2010


Centurion trains on to the appropriate bearing and the selected launcher barrel is depressed to the optimum firing angle. (Richard Scott/NAVYPIX)

UK-based Chemring Countermeasures (CCM) has revealed a new trainable shipborne soft-kill decoy launcher to meet requirements for improved countermeasures payload placement.

Known as Centurion, the 130 mm 12-barrel system is being offered as a candidate option for the UK's Maritime Integrated Defensive Aids Suite (MIDAS) programme. MIDAS is looking at the progressive enhancement of the soft-kill capability on board Royal Navy ships and includes the replacement of the existing Outfit DLB/DLJ fixed-barrel launcher units.

According to CCM, the effectiveness of ship-launched expendable countermeasures – including chaff, infrared and obscuration decoys, corner reflectors and many active offboard decoys – is critically conditioned by their placement in time and space. "Maximising the capabilities of both current and future products to meet the current and future threat scenarios critically depends upon accurate positioning of the deployed decoy or individual placement of submunitions," it says.

"This is best achieved through a launching system that can be positioned in both azimuth and elevation, which, when fighting the ship in a multi-threat environment significantly reduces the need for ship manoeuvre."

174 of 391 words
Copyright © IHS (Global) Limited, 2010

[buglerbilly]

Carrier construction begins on the Mersey

An Equipment and Logistics news article

27 Jul 10

The nationwide programme to build the Royal Navy's new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers passed another milestone when construction on the first ship, the Queen Elizabeth, began in Birkenhead yesterday, Monday 26 July 2010.


Computer-generated image of the Future Carrier
[Picture: via MOD]

Birkenhead company Cammell Laird is the final shipyard in the programme to begin construction and will build two of the sections that will make up the ship's giant flight deck.

Construction began yesterday when Minister for International Security Strategy Gerald Howarth started the crane that laid the first of the steel plates for the flight deck.

Together the two sections will weigh in at 7,500 tonnes - more than a Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer.

The work is worth £44m to Cammell Laird and will provide a significant number of jobs in the area, boosting the local economy.

As he toured the yard, Mr Howarth met some of the 1,200-strong workforce involved in the project - including some of the 72 apprentices. He said:


"Aircraft carriers represent a national asset for the UK. Power and versatility make them a formidable warfighting tool and able to fulfil a wide range of requirements in an increasingly diverse and changing global defence landscape.


Laying of the first of the steel plates for the giant flight deck of the new Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier
[Picture: Andrew Linnett, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]


"The workers I have met here today are rightly proud to be a part of it and it's particularly exciting to see so many young apprentices learning their trade on such a prestigious project."

Six shipyards across the UK are involved in the massive construction project - Govan and Rosyth in Scotland, Portsmouth and Devonport in the south, and Newcastle and now Liverpool in the north - providing around 10,000 jobs, with thousands more suppliers contributing with smaller contracts through the supply chain.

The Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Philip Jones, said:


"Carriers offer invaluable freedom of action with four acres [16,000 square metres] from which to project power anywhere in the world.

"But they are much more than an air base capable of providing support to land operations and humanitarian assistance in disaster zones.

"They also play an important role in conflict prevention; their scale, range and capability making them a powerful statement of intent."

[McDethWivFries]

How does the QE compare size wise to the LHDs were buying?

[Deks]

Significantly larger, displacement is between 2-3 times greater, I'm sure the flight deck has considerably more space on it also (sure looks it, though I don't have figures)

[Gubler, A.]

Significantly larger, displacement is between 2-3 times greater, I'm sure the flight deck has considerably more space on it also (sure looks it, though I don't have figures)

That's just how much they weigh. The JCI LHD will have a lot more empty space inside them and will look a fair bit bigger than its displacement indicates. Of course the QEII CVF will be bigger. But the LHD is higher and the CVF's spoonsons are what make the flight deck bigger. Side by side and the LHD will tower over the CVF.

[McDethWivFries]

Cheers all

[SteveJH]

CVF will look better though, being without those ugly slab sides.

[Raven22]

Speeking of the size of the LHDs, I saw a couple of pictures the other day that really demonstrates their increase over the LHAs.





Not a bad increase there.

[Gubler, A.]

Speeking of the size of the LHDs, I saw a couple of pictures the other day that really demonstrates their increase over the LHAs.

I can't wait till they park one beside that uber rich persons apartment wharf thing and it blocks out their sun and they start to complain... Kidmann vs LHD. Should be priceless.

[JimWH]

Looks good. And contrary to the views of others I actually quite like the clean slab-sided aesthetic (though I can also see the beauty in big sponsors).
There'd better be room on there for me to have a real coffee machine. I'll call it a High Pressure Steam generator if needs be... Yes, all MOs really are this petty

[SteveJH]

I can't wait till they park one beside that uber rich persons apartment wharf thing and it blocks out their sun and they start to complain... Kidmann vs LHD. Should be priceless.

They should sell tickets and supply popcorn.

[Chunder]

I've always wanted to know, and never been able to find out, The markings on the flight deck of the LHD's, why are they marked that way?

[Gubler, A.]

They help helicopter pilots to land.

[JimWH]

Am I the only one who wants to see the LHDs marked in the old-school RN way (black strip with red border and a green deck park)? .... nope, just me, thought so.

[Gubler, A.]

Am I the only one who wants to see the LHDs marked in the old-school RN way (black strip with red border and a green deck park)? .... nope, just me, thought so.

You want to maintain the paintwork?

[JimWH]

I'm an Lt Abe, I never think of anyone except myself.

[SteveJH]

I'm an Lt Abe, I never think of anyone except myself.

:roflcat

:southpark

[Weasel]

Converteam develops catapult launch system for UK carriers

By Tim Fish

26 July 2010

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is investing in the development of an electromagnetic catapult system for the Royal Navy's Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers in case procurement of the F-35B short take-off/vertical landing (STOVL) version of the Joint Strike Fighter is abandoned.

Power conversion specialist Converteam UK announced on 20 July that in 2009 it was awarded a GBP650,000 (USD1 million) follow-on contract to continue the design, development and demonstration of high-power electrical systems for its EMCAT (electro-magnetic catapult) system and that work on the contract was nearing completion.

The naval director at Converteam UK, Mark Dannatt, told Jane's on 22 July that a small-scale EMCAT system had been completed in 2007 to prove the operation of modern linear motor, energy stores and control systems. Since then, extensive testing of the system has been successfully undertaken, as well as further work at the request of the MoD to enable Converteam UK to scale the system up to a full-size catapult suitable for the RN's new aircraft carriers.

"The EMCAT is designed to fit in the space envelope that has been allowed within the aircraft carrier for a catapult. The intention of building and designing a small electromagnetic catapult and then developing the technology so that it could be scaled up was always a de-risking exercise in case the MoD did not choose the STOVL aircraft or it was considered necessary to launch other types of aircraft from these ships. The option would then exist to fit a catapult and operate conventional carrier-borne aircraft," Dannatt said.

255 of 525 words
Copyright © IHS (Global) Limited, 2010
Have to be using a mechanical capacitor like a flywheel for the contract to be so cheap and yet require substantial scaling up.

cheers

w

[SteveJH]

Have to be using a mechanical capacitor like a flywheel for the contract to be so cheap and yet require substantial scaling up.

cheers

w

Nothing would surprise me, from memory it has been mentioned that the automatic weapons handling equipment aboard is based upon the luggage handling system at heathrow.

[Riđđu]

Nothing would surprise me, from memory it has been mentioned that the automatic weapons handling equipment aboard is based upon the luggage handling system at heathrow.

Funding research doesn´t have to mean that they actually seriously plan to build something.

[Gubler, A.]

Nothing would surprise me, from memory it has been mentioned that the automatic weapons handling equipment aboard is based upon the luggage handling system at heathrow.

So it won't work?

[Deks]

So it won't work?

I wonder if weapons will get lost with the same frequency as baggage does at heathrow.

[SteveJH]

So it won't work?

No idea

I guess we'll find out if they start reporting in the papers that they've lost a 2000lb bomb somewhere in the middle of the ship....

[buglerbilly]

I wonder if weapons will get lost with the same frequency as baggage does at heathrow.

Baggage doesn't get lost at Heathrow, it gets taken, looked over and then the best items nicked, thats why so many baggage Handlers are now doing time compliments of HMG............

[SteveJH]

Baggage doesn't get lost at Heathrow, it gets taken, looked over and then the best items nicked, thats why so many baggage Handlers are now doing time compliments of HMG............

Probably no different to any large international airport. And more likely to happen there then at most as it is the busiest of them all.

[buglerbilly]

Royal Navy's Sea Viper missile system hits its target

An Equipment and Logistics news article

17 Aug 10

The Royal Navy's newest air defence missile, designed to arm the Navy's new fleet of Type 45 destroyers, has successfully completed its toughest test yet during trials in the Mediterranean. Report by Sally May.


Sea Viper missile is fired during recent trials
[Picture: MBDA]
Sea Viper, the groundbreaking missile system previously called PAAMS until it was renamed by the Royal Navy, will set new standards in air defence.

And, during recent trials in the Mediterranean, the system achieved a direct hit in a salvo (multiple missiles) firing against a manoeuvrable sea-skimming target travelling at hundreds of miles an hour.

Sea Viper is capable of defending the Type 45 and ships in its company against multiple attacks from the most sophisticated enemy aircraft or missiles approaching from any direction and at supersonic speeds. It can even engage more than ten targets simultaneously - a huge leap in capability for the Royal Navy.

Speaking about the recent trials, Richard Smart, Head of Complex Weapons at Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), said:

"The DE&S weapons and destroyers teams and MBDA, alongside our international partners, have worked closely together to achieve a very successful trials outcome. We have overcome a number of significant hurdles and everyone involved is rightly proud of reaching this milestone.


Realistic warfare scenarios were put in front of HMS Daring and crew as they took part in basic operational sea training in the English Channel
[Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) James Crawford, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

"While there is more work to do, we are well on our way towards the first firing later this year from a Type 45 platform, Dauntless, in support of demonstrating Sea Viper's world class capability on board the Type 45 destroyers."

A key element of Sea Viper's capability is the sophisticated, phased-array Sampson radar, which has a range of 400 kilometres. Its onboard position about 30 metres above the water widens its horizon at sea level to enable the system to react to high-speed, very low-level, anti-ship missiles.

Sampson, which was designed to the Royal Navy's specific requirements in the UK by BAE Systems, sends a target location update to the missile during its flight which then uses thrusters powerful enough to shift the missile sideways several metres to bring the warhead into range of even manoeuvring targets.

It is the latest in a string of recent milestones for the Type 45 project which saw the second ship in the class, HMS Dauntless, commissioned into the Royal Navy in June, and the fourth ship, Diamond, complete its latest set of sea trials. The landmark launch of the final ship of the class, Duncan, is due before the end of the year.


Sea Viper missile
[Picture: MBDA]

Meanwhile the first of the class, HMS Daring, has passed basic operational sea training (BOST) that saw the ship put through her paces over several weeks off the coast of Devon and Cornwall to test the crew.

Training culminates in a realistic war at sea with other ships, submarines and aircraft, where every possible scenario is simulated, from attack from above and below water to fires and floods.

Commodore Steve Brunton, DE&S Head of Destroyers, said:

"The successful completion of BOST has proved that HMS Daring will provide the Royal Navy with a world class platform and a step change in capability.

"Daring's commanding officer and his company deserve immense credit for achieving so much during BOST, as do the Destroyers Team in DE&S, Navy Command, and industry for their critical contribution.

"We have all learned a huge amount about Daring and the Type 45 Class and my team in DE&S, in partnership with the ship's company, Navy Command and industry, are determined to take forward all we have learned through BOST to deliver an even greater level of performance in future."


HMS Daring conducts basic operational sea training in the English Channel
[Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Martin Carney, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

In a further demonstration of progress on the Type 45, Transfer of Asset for HMS Dauntless has taken place.

The second of three key acceptance events within the Type 45's progressive acceptance programme, Transfer of Asset is declared when six of the nine Type 45 key user requirements are agreed.

The final agreement that all key user requirements are met will be at the in-service date (ISD).

The first milestone in this acceptance programme - Acceptance off Contract - was achieved on 3 December 2009, and the final milestone will be the declaration of ISD.

HMS Dauntless is currently undergoing Stage 2 sea trials which are progressing well.

This report by Sally May was first published in the August 2010 issue of desider - the magazine for Defence Equipment and Support.

[buglerbilly]

Speculation mounting over carrier fighter jet

20 August 2010

By Sion Donovan
Defence correspondent, Portsmouth News

Royal Navy pilots have been sent to America to train on catapult-launched fighter jets - prompting speculation the cheaper aircraft will be bought for the new Portsmouth-based carriers.

Two Queen Elizabeth class carriers are due to have 150 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets onboard.

The Lockheed Martin-built fighter planes will have a short take off and vertical landing - the same technique used by the Harriers.

But the estimated cost has risen dramatically over the past nine years to £262bn.

The MoD has confirmed a group of 12 Royal Navy pilots will undergo training with the US Marine Corps over the next eight years - including training on the catapult-launched F-18 fighter jets.

It's thought that as part of the government's defence spending review, the MoD is looking at other options and could buy the cheaper, catapult-launched version of the F-35 instead.

The MoD has denied it was looking to axe the jets.

But recently power conversion specialist, Converteam, said it had been awarded a £650,000 contract from the MoD to develop an electromagnetic catapult system suitable for the new aircraft carriers.

Portsmouth South MP Mike Hancock, who sits on the Commons defence committee, said: 'It's been a long time since British ships had catapult launched fighters so pilots would need training if that's the direction we're heading. There are a lot of unanswered questions.

'It's not certain whether the Joint Strike Fighters will be up for the job and they're incredibly expensive at a time when the MoD are looking to reduce costs.

'We might even have the situation where we have aircraft carriers built but no aircraft to put on them.'

The contractual decision on what type of F-35 to buy does not have to be made until early in 2011.

Carrier builders BAE said the ships wouldn't require a significant redesign as they've been designed to have flexible platforms.

But an MoD spokesman said 'it would be wrong to assume' that it had a preference for a catapult-launched version of the F-35.

The carriers are due to come into service from 2016 and 2018

[Deks]

8 years is a fairly lengthy period of time, though I suppose hedging their bets at this point in the JSF's development cycle is a smart thing to do. FWIW I've never understoon the RN/RAF's desire for the F-35B, though I'd figured it was an institutional thing.

[Chunder]

8 years is a fairly lengthy period of time, though I suppose hedging their bets at this point in the JSF's development cycle is a smart thing to do. FWIW I've never understoon the RN/RAF's desire for the F-35B, though I'd figured it was an institutional thing.

I was actually wondering, what they were told about the recovery ability of the carrier for STOVL aircraft. It just hasn't been done on anywhere near the scale proposed by the RN.

[buglerbilly]

Who'll Fund U.K.'s Next Nuke Subs? Industry Wants to Know

By ANDREW CHUTER

Published: 26 Aug 2010 19:00

LONDON - Britain's largest defense industry organization wants Prime Minister David Cameron to clarify the government's position on funding the replacements for Britain's Trident nuclear missile submarines.


Britain’s largest defense industry organization wants the government to clarify its position on funding the replacements for the Trident nuclear missile submarine fleet. Above, a Trident in port at Faslane naval base, Scotland. (FILE PHOTO / AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE)

In an Aug. 25 letter sent to Cameron and released to the media, ADS Chairman Ian Godden said recent official statements appear to call into question the government's commitment to the nuclear deterrent, and to suggest that the cost of the program, dubbed Successor, will fall on the Ministry of Defence and require cuts elsewhere.

It is "vital this confusion is cleared up as soon as possible," Godden wrote. "Uncertainty caused by the statements will be as unsettling for investors as it must surely be for our allies. A decision to move Trident renewals to the defense budget without a commensurate transfer of funding calls into question the integrity of the Strategic Defence and Security Review process and complicates the future funding of our conventional capabilities and our nation's ability to support its allies."

Godden said the issue was of such national significance that the aerospace, defense and security trade body was making the letter public.

Chancellor George Osborne and Defence Secretary Liam Fox are rowing over who should pick up the cost of building a new fleet of nuclear submarines for the Royal Navy. Osborne said the cash would have to be found in the Ministry of Defence budget. Fox argues the government should pick up the tab, as was pledged by the previous Labour Administration who lost power to the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition in May.

A government White Paper put the cost of Successor at 15 billion to 20 billion pounds, at 2006 prices. At its height, Trident spending would likely top 2 billion pounds a year.

The MoD's entire annual budget currently stands at 36.7 billion pounds.

The MoD recently completed a review of the Successor program to see where it could reduce costs. One of the options looked at was reducing the planned four-boat fleet to three.

The British government is scheduled to publish its defense review at the end of October along with the defense budget figures for the next four years. The MoD is bracing for a 20 percent cut over those four years, even as it faces an unfunded liability of around 37 billion pounds ($57.1 billion) over a decade, Fox revealed in a recent speech. Having to find the billions of pounds needed to replace the Trident subs would exacerbate the expected wide-scale cuts required by the military over the next few years.

[buglerbilly]

UK's most powerful submarine joins the Navy

An Equipment and Logistics news article

27 Aug 10

The UK's most powerful attack submarine, HMS Astute, has been welcomed into the Royal Navy today in a commissioning ceremony overseen by the boat's patron, the Duchess of Cornwall.


The commissioning pennant is raised on HMS Astute
[Picture: LA(Phot) A J MacLeod, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

HMS Astute, which officially becomes 'Her Majesty's Ship' today, is quieter than any of her predecessors, meaning she has the ability to operate covertly and remain undetected in almost all circumstances despite being fifty per cent bigger than any attack submarine in the Royal Navy's current fleet.

The latest nuclear-powered technology means she will never need to be refuelled and can circumnavigate the world submerged, manufacturing the crew's oxygen from seawater as she goes.

The submarine has the capacity to carry a mix of up to 38 Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes and Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles, and can target enemy submarines, surface ships and land targets with pinpoint accuracy, while her world-beating sonar system has a range of 3,000 nautical miles (5,500km).

The First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, said:

"The Astute Class is truly next generation - a highly versatile platform, she is capable of contributing across a broad spectrum of maritime operations around the globe, and will play an important role in delivering the fighting power of the Royal Navy for decades to come.


Astute arriving at her home base on the Clyde in November 2009
[Picture: LA(Phot) J J Massey, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]

"A highly complex feat of naval engineering, she is at the very cutting-edge of technology, with a suite of sensors and weapons required to pack a powerful punch.

"Today is an important milestone along the road to full operational capability which will follow after a further series of demanding seagoing trials testing the full range of the submarine's capabilities."

Following the successful completion of her first rigorous set of sea trials, which began at the end of 2009, HMS Astute has also now achieved her in-service date, signalling that she has proven her ability to dive, surface and operate across the full range of depth and speed independently of other assets, thereby providing an initial level of capability.

Rear Admiral Simon Lister, Director of Submarines, who oversees the build programme of the class for the MOD, said:

"To my mind Astute is a 7,000-tonne Swiss watch. There is an extraordinary amount of expertise that goes into putting one of these submarines together. There are stages when it's like blacksmithing and there are stages when it's like brain surgery.

"So to see Astute commissioned is momentous not only for the Royal Navy, who have been eagerly anticipating this quantum leap forward in capability, but for the thousands of people around the country who have been involved in the most challenging of engineering projects."


Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall is escorted by Commander Andy Coles, the Commanding Officer of HMS Astute, at the commissioning ceremony for HMS Astute
[Picture: LA(Phot) Stuart Hill, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

Following the commissioning, HMS Astute will return to sea for further trials before she is declared as operational.

As the base port of all the Royal Navy's submarines from 2016, Faslane will be home to the whole Astute Class, including Ambush, Artful and Audacious which are already under construction.

Astute was built by BAE Systems at Barrow-in-Furness, with hundreds of suppliers around the country contributing component parts, including Rolls-Royce, Derby (nuclear plant); Thales UK, Bristol (visual system and Sonar 2076); and Babcock, Strachan & Henshaw, Bristol (weapon handling and discharge system). Astute is affiliated to the Wirral in the North West.

About HMS Astute

She is 97 metres from bow to stern.
She has a beam of 11.2 metres.
She displaces 7,400 tonnes of seawater.
Her cabling and pipework would stretch from Glasgow to Dundee.
She is the first Royal Navy submarine not to have a traditional periscope, instead using electro-optics to capture a 360-degree image of the surface for subsequent analysis by the commanding officer.
Astute is the first submarine to have an individual bunk for each crew member.
She manufactures her own oxygen from seawater as well as her own drinking water.
She could theoretically remain submerged for her 25-year life, if it were not for the need to restock the crew's food supplies.
She is faster under the water than she is on the surface - capable of speeds in excess of 20 knots (37km/h), although her top speed is classified.
Astute's crew of 98 are fed by five chefs who, on an average patrol, will serve up 18,000 sausages and 4,200 weetabix for breakfast.

[buglerbilly]

Russian subs stalk Trident in echo of Cold War

Russian submarines are hunting down British Vanguard boats in a return to Cold War tactics not seen for 25 years, Navy chiefs have warned.

By Thomas Harding, Defence Correspondent, UK Daily Telegraph

Published: 10:37PM BST 27 Aug 2010


A British Vanguard submarine Photo: GETTY

A specially upgraded Russian Akula class submarine has been caught trying to record the acoustic signature made by the Vanguard submarines that carry Trident nuclear missiles, according to senior Navy officers.

British submariners have also reported that they are experiencing the highest number of "contacts" with Russian submarines since 1987.

If the Russians are able to obtain a recording of the unique noise of the boat's propellers it would have serious implications for Britain's nuclear deterrent. Using its sophisticated sonar, the Akula would be able to track Vanguards and potentially sink them before they could launch their Trident D4 missiles.

The Daily Telegraph has learnt that, within the past six months, a Russian Akula entered the North Atlantic and attempted to track a Vanguard. The incident has remained secret until now.

It is understood that the Russians stood off Faslane, where the British nuclear force is based, and waited for a Trident-carrying boat to come out for its three-month patrol to provide the Continuous At Sea Deterrent.

While patrolling in the North Atlantic, there are a limited number of places the Vanguard is permitted to go and it is thought that the Akula attempted to track it on several occasions.

Navy commanders are understood to have ordered a Trafalgar-class hunter-killer submarine to protect the Vanguard. A recording of the Akula was made by the Trafalgar submarine's sonar operators and has been played to The Daily Telegraph.

"The Russians have been playing games with us, the Americans and French in the North Atlantic," a senior Navy commander said.

"We have put a lot of resources into protecting Trident because we cannot afford by any stretch to let the Russians learn the acoustic profile of one of our bombers as that would compromise the deterrent."

[Riđđu]

At least the British know the acoustic profile of Le Triomphant pretty intimately.

[Zen9]

At least the British know the acoustic profile of Le Triomphant pretty intimately.

And nice closeup pictures of every prop on the USNs CVs too ;)

So the Russikies are back on the old game eh. All that willly waving its going to make them go blind.

Still good news to put out to No.11 I imagine, along with RAF QRA 'interceptions' of supposedly nuke toting Bears, Blackjacks and Backfires.

[Gubler, A.]

And nice closeup pictures of every prop on the USNs CVs too ;)

That old chestnut. I'd like to see those same submariners try stalking a USN CBG on full weapons release... Might find it a little bit harder...

[Tim]

And nice closeup pictures of every prop on the USNs CVs too ;)

So the Russikies are back on the old game eh. All that willly waving its going to make them go blind.

Still good news to put out to No.11 I imagine, along with RAF QRA 'interceptions' of supposedly nuke toting Bears, Blackjacks and Backfires.

I'd rather assumed this wasn't a particularly unusual incident, and the RN are just dropping it into the news to add some public noise to their case for procuring the full number of Astutes/actually spending money on a Vanguard replacement. Or am I totally off-base?

[Unicorn]

I too have heard that there has been an uptick on Russian sub operations, they seem to have dusted off some of the cold war tactics for a new generation of Captains.

The issue is that the current batch are a lot less experienced than their predecessors, and are making mistakes while learning the trade.

That said, they are getting better, and their equipment is better now than it used to be, not least because the explosion of processing capability available to even commercial PCs dwarfs that available a decade ago.

Meaning better acoustic signal processing capability at far reduced price and as anyone who has had their computer infected with a nasty virus can attest, Russian programmers are not incompetent.

While we can make all the jokes we like about the Kuznetsov always deploying with a fleet tug when out of area, the increase in Russian optempo at sea will be a recurring theme over the next few years.

I might also point out that Russia's deployments to the area off Somalia for anti-piracy patrols is giving them a wonderful sigint and opint opportunity not only against the US, UK and other western navies, they are getting a good look at the Chinese in a deployment mode as well.

Unicorn

[buglerbilly]

HMS Bulwark leaves dry dock in £30m refit

An Equipment and Logistics news article

21 Sep 10

The Royal Navy amphibious landing ship HMS Bulwark has been floated out of dry dock after 127 days as part of a £30m refit at Devonport Royal Dockyard in Plymouth.


HMS Bulwark towers over the dry dock at Devonport Royal Dockyard in Plymouth
[Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

At the end of the refit programme the ship will be more advanced for helicopter flying and have improved accommodation.

Babcock, the prime contractor, and the ship's company achieved the important refit milestone with a delay of just a single day caused by the near gale force winds that prevented the 20,000-tonne ship's safe passage through the narrow gap of the dock.

A significant improvement for the amphibious task group to which the ship belongs is conversion of HMS Bulwark to full tactical night-vision capability by her landing craft and aircraft and the capacity of the flight deck to simultaneously operate two heavy-lift Chinook helicopters.

So far, the hull and propeller shaft work have also been completed to schedule and freshly painted in technically-advanced anti-fouling paint.

The finishing touches will now be added to the extensive accommodation enhancements for the 380 sailors and marines to move themselves and all the ship's equipment back onboard in late October.


HMS Bulwark moves out of dry dock at Devonport
[Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

This is the first major refit of the ship and has included additional improvements to the machinery and magazine spaces, the ship's high voltage propulsion system, advanced communication sensors, IT network capability and defensive weapon upgrades.

Commander Nick MacDonald-Robinson, HMS Bulwark's Commanding Officer, said:


"The undocking demonstrates the success of the significant work undertaken so far by my ship's company and the contractors here in Devonport, of which I am justifiably proud.

"There is, however, still a considerable amount of work to be done to attain a successful move onboard of my ship's company and to allow the ship to progress toward sea trials.

"The close working relationship we have established with Babcock this past year will undoubtedly prove to be successful and allow us to achieve each milestone to schedule over the next months."


A refloated HMS Bulwark in Plymouth Sound following the ship's undocking
[Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

HMS Bulwark is the Royal Navy's newest commando assault and command and control ship.

Launched in November 2001 she has a ship's company of 380, a quarter of whom are made up from members of 4 Assault Squadron Royal Marines.

The ship can carry up to 200 Royal Marines in dedicated accommodation for long periods and another 500 troops for short periods.

Her flight deck can accommodate two Chinook or two Merlin helicopters. A large floodable dock holds four large landing craft - with another four carried on davits on the ship's sides.

[buglerbilly]

Fortress of the Sea Returns to the Waves

(Source: BAE Systems; issued September 21, 2010)

PORTSMOUTH, United Kingdom --- HMS Edinburgh has emerged sleeker and faster as she embarks on sea trials following an extensive £17.5 million overhaul by BAE Systems, demonstrating the company's capability in naval support and services.

The last of the Type 42 destroyers to undergo a major upkeep, HMS Edinburgh has been fitted with a new underwater spoiler to her stern, known as a transom flap, and a coat of new 'intersleek' paint that will cut fuel consumption by up to 15%. A newly refurbished diesel engine has also been fitted to the ship, whilst its IT network, accommodation areas, fresh water systems, galley and laundry facilities have all been revamped to ensure the 30 year old ship is fighting fit as she prepares to return to the Royal Navy's fleet next month.

HMS Edinburgh's commanding officer, Commander Paul Russell, said: "The close partnership between the ship's company and BAE Systems has seen the refit programme surge ahead over the last few weeks, and the ship will be fit for operational service later this year. We now have to put Edinburgh through her paces at sea and turn a safe and fully equipped vessel into a war-fighting unit once again."

Malcolm Fudge, BAE Systems' project manager for the HMS Edinburgh refit, said: "We work side by side with the Royal Navy here in Portsmouth to maintain the surface fleet and have worked tirelessly over recent months to conduct this intensive refit.

"We are now embarking on a critical stage of the programme as we test the engineering work to ensure that she has been brought back to a fully operational standard before she returns to the fleet for her final years of service."

The sea trials will test the ship's propulsion machinery, radar and communication equipments, as well as its ability to conduct flying operations. HMS Edinburgh's signatures will then be assessed for radar cross section, heat, magnetic and acoustics before trials culminating in live firings of medium and close range weapons.

The Fortress of the Sea is set to be formally accepted back into the Royal Navy fleet in late October, followed by a Rededication Ceremony in early November. BAE Systems will continue to support the ship through her Operational Sea Training early next year in preparation for her six month overseas deployment in May.

BAE Systems is a global defence, security and aerospace company with approximately 107,000 employees worldwide. The Company delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. In 2009 BAE Systems reported sales of £22.4 billion (US$ 36.2 billion).

-ends-

[SteveJH]

From Wiki:


HMS Edinburgh became the final Type 42 destroyer to undergo a refit when it entered dry dock at BAE Systems Surface Ships shipyard in Portsmouth Naval Base for work that will keep the ship in service until 2013.[3]

Under a £17.5 million contract, the company will refurbish the destroyer's weapons and communications systems, add a transom flap to the stern and apply a coat of Sigma 990 anti-fouling paint.

Edinburgh 's four Rolls-Royce gas turbine engines will be removed; with two placed in storage to be refitted at a later date (port Olympus TM3B and starboard Tyne RM1C), while two engines will be replaced by overland units (port Tyne and starboard Olympus).

In an 18 January company statement, BAE Systems said that the modifications will cut fuel consumption by 15 per cent.

The refit is set to be completed in October 2010 and will include a renewal of crew living quarters, catering facilities and laundry equipment.


Whats it saying about the engines? I'm not quite sure what its saying talking about overland units.

Is it saying the ship is going to be running on two engines with each engine hooked up to both propellers?

[JimWH]

I agree that it is plenty confusing. Sounds as though they've taken out half the GTs and replaced them with diesels, with the other GTs replaced by overhauled units drawn from stocks. At a guess I'd say her maximum speed will have been decreased (though probably not by all that much, with the stern flap the already efficient hull will gain even more efficiency) but her range will have gone up considerably under normal cruising speeds. In practice I'd imagine this relates to the fact that the Type 42s will no longer be tasked as escorts for the CVS (owing to the pending availability of multiple Type 45s) which mean that they no longer really need the sprint speed.

[Gubler, A.]

No way you can replace turbines with diesels without major work. I think what it is saying is the turbines are to be replaced with refitted more efficent turbines ("overland") but only the port engines will be of the improved type with the starboard to follow after an engine set has been upgraded.

[Gubler, A.]

A quick search of the net shows a bit more info from the BAE into refit press release:

"During the extensive refit, her hull will be coated with a super-efficient Sigma 990 paint to make it glide through the water more easily and an underwater spoiler known as a transom flap will be fitted to the stern, which together will cut fuel consumption by up to 15%. Weapons and communications systems will also be revamped and preparations are underway to remove all four of the ship’s engines, with two to be restored and the other two to be replaced."

So the engines aren't being modded the fuel efficiencies are from improved hydrodynamics. As I suggested before the engines are being gradually refitted.

[buglerbilly]

Portsmouth Welcomes Diamond – The Jewel In the Navy’s Crown

(Source: Royal Navy; issued Sept. 22, 2010)


HMS Diamond, the third Type 45 air defence warship built for the Royal Navy, arrives in her home port of Portsmouth for the first time on Sept. 22. (UK MoD photo)

The third of the Royal Navy’s formidable new air defence destroyers has been formally handed over to the MOD today, in a ceremony at Portsmouth Naval Base.

Diamond’s captain and company sailed past the Round Tower and into home port for the first time this morning, ready to take command of the ship for sea trials that will test both them and the ship to the limit before she is declared operational.

The Type 45 destroyer set sail from the Clyde on Saturday, bidding farewell to the construction shed for the last time and to the thousands of proud BAE Systems’ workers who built her.

Head of Destroyers, Commodore Steve Brunton, accepted Diamond on behalf of the MOD’s Defence Equipment and Support. He said: “It is a huge privilege to accept this magnificent ship on behalf of the MOD, hot on the heels of HMS Daring’s acceptance into service with the Navy.

“With five ships in the water - one in service, two in MOD hands and two more on contractor trials - 2010 has been an extremely busy year on the Type 45 programme already and is still to see the last of the class, Duncan, launched down the slipway into the Clyde.”

The ship’s company and BAE Systems employees stood to attention on the flight deck to salute the White Ensign being raised as Angus Holt, UK Programmes Director at BAE Systems’ Surface Ships division, transferred responsibility for the ship to Commodore Brunton.

Diamond’s Commanding Officer, Commander Ian Clarke said: “It is an enormous responsibility to command a ship with Diamond's cutting edge. The ship performed magnificently during its early sea trials.

"I am supported by a truly dedicated team and together we are keen to progress to the next stage, transforming Diamond into an effective front-line warship, ready for operations anywhere in the world.”

As well as her world-beating anti-air defence capability - the Sea Viper missile system can engage up to ten targets – one of Type 45’s greatest assets is her versatility. Anti-piracy, anti-smuggling activities and surveillance operations are among just some of the roles she will be able to perform as well as high intensity war fighting. Her large flight deck can operate a range of helicopters and she has additional capacity for 60 people – enabling her to contribute in support of land operations or humanitarian disaster relief.

Diamond was launched by Lady Johns, wife of Vice Admiral Sir Adrian Johns, on the Clyde in 2007. Since then she has been fitted out internally and undergone two sets of sea trials which completed in June. The ship will now begin a further challenging set of sea trials designed to test the crew as well as the ship.

BACKGROUND NOTES:

1. Diamond is affiliated to Coventry and Aberdeen.

2. 2010 Type 45 programme milestones:
* HMS Daring In Service Date - August
* Successful third test firing of the Sea Viper missile system – July
* HMS Dauntless commissioned – June

3. Type 45 facts:
- The hull structure is made of 2,800 tonnes of steel which is more than the weight of the Blackpool Tower. Approximately 40 tonnes of paint will have to be applied to cover an area of 100,000 square meters of steel
- The Sea Viper missile system reaches twice the speed of Concorde in under 10 seconds
- At 152m she is longer than 16 double-decker buses and as high as an electricity pylon
- Her onboard power plant supplies enough electricity to light a town of 80,000 people
- She has 220 bunks, 22 single beds and her own hospital facilities. She is fitted with 1 bath, 44 showers, 54 toilets and 100 wash basins.

(ends)

Diamond Sparkles As She Arrives In Portsmouth

(Source: BAE Systems; issued Sept. 22, 2010)

PORTSMOUTH, United Kingdom --- Diamond, the third Type 45 anti-air warfare destroyer built by BAE Systems for the Royal Navy, has been handed over to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) at a ceremony at Portsmouth Naval Base today.

Members of the ship’s company raised the white ensign for the first time onboard Diamond, as the Royal Navy’s Commodore Steve Brunton formally accepted the destroyer on behalf of the MOD in Portsmouth, where she will join her sister ships HMS Daring and HMS Dauntless.

Angus Holt, UK Programmes Director at BAE Systems’ Surface Ships division, said: “Diamond is an exceptional ship and we are proud to hand her over to the Royal Navy today. The Type 45 programme is a great example of an effective partnership between industry, the Royal Navy and the Ministry of Defence to deliver enhanced capability to our armed forces.

“Our work on Diamond and her sister ships now continues, providing in-service support to the ship and the rest of the fleet, to ensure that they meet the UK’s operational requirements.”

Head of Destroyers, Commodore Steve Brunton, said: “It is a huge privilege to accept this magnificent ship on behalf of the MOD, hot on the heels of HMS Daring’s acceptance into service with the Navy.

“With five ships in the water - one in service, two in MOD hands and two more on contractor trials - 2010 has been an extremely busy year on the Type 45 programme already and is still to see the last of the class, Duncan, launched down the slipway into the Clyde.”

First steel was cut on Diamond in May 2005 and she was launched at the Company’s Govan yard in November 2007. After undergoing an extensive sea trials programme, Diamond left the Clyde with a combined BAE Systems and Royal Navy crew for the final time on Saturday, 18 September, and arrived into her new home port of Portsmouth earlier today.

As Class Output Manager for the fleet, BAE Systems will also provide in-service support to the fleet. Working side by side with the Royal Navy at Portsmouth Naval Base, the company’s engineers will coordinate all aspects of repair, maintenance and support to improve ship availability and reduce through life support costs to enable the Royal Navy to meeting its operational commitments around the world.

The Type 45 destroyer is the largest and most powerful air defence destroyer ever built for the Royal Navy and will provide UK Defence with a world-class military capability. The Type 45s will provide the backbone of the UK's naval air defences for the next 30 years and beyond. The destroyers will be capable of carrying out a wide range of operations, including anti-piracy and anti-smuggling activities, disaster-relief work and surveillance operations as well as high intensity war fighting.

Each destroyer will be able to engage a number of targets simultaneously, and defend aircraft carriers or groups of ships, such as an amphibious landing force, against the strongest future threats from the air. The vessels will contribute a specialist air warfare capability to worldwide maritime and joint operations until 2040.

BAE Systems is a global defence, security and aerospace company with approximately 107,000 employees worldwide. The Company delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. In 2009 BAE Systems reported sales of £22.4 billion (US$ 36.2 billion).

-ends-

[JimWH]

No way you can replace turbines with diesels without major work. I think what it is saying is the turbines are to be replaced with refitted more efficent turbines ("overland") but only the port engines will be of the improved type with the starboard to follow after an engine set has been upgraded.

[Switching brain to 'on', that'll learn me for posting before thinking during stuvac]
Yeah, good point, and you're no doubt right. That press release by BAE is, however, really poorly written. Though, it does prompt my interest in how difficult it would be to replace a GT set with a diesel set in a COGAG/COGOG ship (or visa versa). Depending on how the transmission is actually constructed, would it be possible to replace a GT-reduction gearbox set that feeds into the transmission for the main gearbox with a new diesel-reduction gearbox set that attaches to the clutch with similar torque? Not that it's really much of a concern anymore with the immanent arrival of efficient IFEP transmissions.

[buglerbilly]

[Switching brain to 'on', that'll learn me for posting before thinking during stuvac]
Yeah, good point, and you're no doubt right. That press release by BAE is, however, really poorly written. Though, it does prompt my interest in how difficult it would be to replace a GT set with a diesel set in a COGAG/COGOG ship (or visa versa). Depending on how the transmission is actually constructed, would it be possible to replace a GT-reduction gearbox set that feeds into the transmission for the main gearbox with a new diesel-reduction gearbox set that attaches to the clutch with similar torque? Not that it's really much of a concern anymore with the immanent arrival of efficient IFEP transmissions.

No it wouldn't be easy they are not a direct match in any shape or form. There is a potential for power systems where you have a turbine or diesel as a the engine power for a generator as in later vessels but you need significantly different baseplate foundations etc so still unlikely in all other than desparate circumstances.

[buglerbilly]

Royal Navy Confirms Sea Viper Missile Firing

(Source: Royal Navy; issued Oct. 1, 2010)

Sea Viper, the Royal Navy’s groundbreaking new air defence missile, has been fired from a Type 45 Destroyer for the first time, the MOD confirmed today.

At the MOD’s range in the Hebrides, HMS Dauntless successfully fired an Aster 30 missile and hit a moving target drone.

The Sea Viper can engage multiple targets simultaneously, meaning it is capable of defending the new Type 45 fleet and ships in their company against multiple attacks from the most sophisticated aircraft or missiles approaching from any direction and at supersonic speeds.

Sea Viper also has state-of-the-art Sampson radar, allowing it to react to high-speed, very low-level, anti-ship missiles and can track targets to a range of up to 400 kilometres. The Aster missiles are capable of speeds in excess of mach four and are highly agile.

Captain Richard Powell, Commanding Officer of HMS Dauntless, said:

"This firing is the culmination of a series of trials of Sea Viper as the system moves towards acceptance into the Royal Navy. Both my ship's company and the equipment manufacturers have done a sterling job in preparing for and conducting the test.

“We are delighted with the success of this firing which is particularly important for the UK as the Sea Viper system will also work in support of land and air forces.”

Richard Smart, Head of Team Complex Weapons at the MOD, said:

“Sea Viper is one of the most advanced weapons systems in the world. Its ability to engage multiple targets gives the Royal Navy unparalleled protection from air attack which, together with the ship’s speed and agility, makes the Type 45 a truly formidable fighting force. The first firing from HMS Dauntless is a fantastic achievement that has successfully built on the weapon system’s extensive qualification programme.”

BACKGROUND NOTES:

Sea Viper is the Royal Navy’s version of the MBDA-designed PAAMS (Principal Anti Air Missile System) which is composed of the Sampson radar, a Combat and Control system, the Sylver missile launching system and Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

Last of Navy’s New Air Defence Destroyers Launched

(Source: UK Ministry of Defence; issued Oct. 11, 2010)


Duncan, the sixth and final Type 45 air-defense destroyer ordered by the Royal Navy, is launched at the BAE Systems shipyard on the Clyde. UK MoD photo)

The sixth and last of the Royal Navy’s powerful new Type 45 Destroyers was launched today on the Clyde.

The 7,500 tonne warship HMS Duncan has been built by BAE Systems using 2,800 tonnes of steel - more than used in Blackpool Tower. This equates to 100,000 square metres and is covered with 40 tonnes of paint.

Marie Ibbotson, wife of the Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet Vice Admiral Richard Ibbotson, sent the Type 45 down the slipway on the anniversary of the Royal Navy’s significant victory over the Dutch fleet in 1797 which was led by Admiral Adam Duncan after whom the ship is named.

On his first visit to the Clyde as Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology Minister, Peter Luff, watched the launch and met members of the shipyard workforce. He said:

“The launch of HMS Duncan is the culmination of a huge effort by workers here on the Clyde, across the country throughout the supply chain, and in the MOD, completing this class of potent warfighters of which everyone involved can be very proud.

“Following on from HMS Daring being declared in service and the successful first firing of the Sea Viper missile system, this is another significant milestone in the delivery of a truly world-class air defence capability to the Royal Navy.”

Equipped with the Sea Viper missile system, the Type 45 will be able to engage multiple airborne or sea skimming targets from any direction at supersonic speed, helping her to provide unrivalled protection to the fleet from the most sophisticated aircraft or missiles.



Commander-in-Chief Fleet Admiral Sir Trevor Soar said:


“The Type 45 is world class. These ships are as versatile as they are powerful. Providing flexible global reach they will deliver broad utility, common to maritime forces, and give the UK military, diplomatic and political options, with their ability to exert effect on land from the sea. This ranges from deterrence and conflict prevention right up to high intensity war fighting and all points between.


“Naturally her war-fighting capability includes the ability to engage hostile forces using the Sea Viper missile system, her gun or other onboard weapon systems, while her Ship’s Company provide anything from boarding parties that deter and disrupt pirates, to landing ashore for the provision of humanitarian disaster relief. HMS Duncan can also deploy up to 60 Royal Marines Commandos and their equipment and operate a range of helicopters from her flight deck. These are fantastic ships and I look forward to HMS Duncan joining the Fleet.”

Duncan is affiliated to Dundee and Belfast. She completes the Class of six Type 45 warships along with Daring, Dauntless, Diamond, Dragon and Defender. She is expected to enter service in 2014.

BACKGROUND NOTES:

1. Duncan is named after Viscount Adam Duncan of Camperdown. Her ship’s motto is ‘Secundis dubusque rectus’ (Upright in prosperity and peril). Construction began on the ship early in 2007.

2. The Type 45s are the largest and most powerful destroyers ever ordered for the Royal Navy. They have a range of around 7,000 nautical miles which equates to travelling to New York and back without refuelling. Each gas turbine on the ship produces about 24 Megawatts of power.

3. Type 45 programme progress:

-- Ship 1 - HMS Daring was declared in service with the Royal Navy in July 2009.
-- Ship 2 – HMS Dauntless was Commissioned into the Royal Navy in June 2009. Sea Viper was fired from HMS Dauntless on 29 September in the first firing of the missile from a Type 45 platform.
-- Ship 3 – HMS Diamond was accepted off contract at Portsmouth Naval Base in September.
-- Ship 4 – Dragon will shortly commence her first set of Sea Trials.
-- Ship 5 – Defender was launched on the Clyde in October 09 and is currently being fitted out on the Clyde.

-ends-

[Unicorn]

Defence review: Cameron unveils armed forces cuts

David Cameron: "We expect to continue with the 4th largest military budget in the world"
Harrier jump jets, the Navy's flagship HMS Ark Royal and planned Nimrod spy planes are to be axed and 42,000 MoD and armed forces jobs cut by 2015.

Unveiling the strategic defence review, PM David Cameron said defence spending would fall by 8% over four years.

The RAF and navy will lose 5,000 jobs each, the Army 7,000 and the Ministry of Defence 25,000 civilian staff.

Axing the Harrier and Ark Royal means no planes will be able to fly from British aircraft carriers until 2019.

Mr Cameron opened his Commons' statement by denying the review was simply a "cost saving exercise", saying it was a "step change in the way we protect this country's security interests".

He said Britain would still meet Nato's target of spending 2% of GDP on defence and would continue to have the fourth largest military in the world and "punch above its weight in the world".

But he said the country had to be "more thoughtful, more strategic and more co-ordinated in the way we advance our interests and protect our national security".

There would be no cuts to support for troops in Afghanistan - which is funded separately from the Treasury's special reserve, the prime minister stressed in his statement.

But he said he wanted the Ministry of Defence to become more commercially "hard headed" and said it would face "significant challenges" as a result of cuts.

He outlined savings of £4.7bn at the department - including a reduction in civilian staff by 25,000 by 2015. The department will also sell off "unnecessary assets", renegotiate contracts and cut overheads.

He confirmed HMS Ark Royal will be decommissioned four years early and the UK's Harrier jump jets will be axed. Two new aircraft carriers will be built but one would be placed on "extended readiness".

The decision to axe the replacement Nimrod MRA4 reconnaissance planes - a project Mr Cameron said had cost more than £3bn and was more than eight years late - puts the future of RAF Kinloss, which employs 1,500 people, in doubt. The future of nearby RAF Lossiemouth remains uncertain.

Mr Cameron acknowledged there would be changes but said some RAF bases were "likely to be required by the Army, as forces return from Germany".

A "large well-equipped" Army would remain - that would amount to 95,500 personnel by 2015 - 7,000 fewer than today, Mr Cameron said.

Tanks would be cut by 40% and heavy artillery 35% - but there would be 12 more Chinooks and communications equipment and more money for unmanned planes, he said.

He also said naval manpower would fall to 30,000 by 2015 and the total number of frigates and destroyers would drop from 23 to 19 by 2020.

But he said the government would procure a fleet of hunter killer Astute class submarines, complete production of six Type 45 destroyers and and start a programme to develop "less expensive, more flexible, modern frigates".

Mr Cameron also vowed to push ahead with replacing Britain's Trident nuclear missile system but said their replacement would be scaled back, with the number of warheads per boat cut from 48 to 40, as part of a £750m package of savings.

Jonathan Beale, Defence correspondent, BBC News
"Two new aircraft carriers - but no planes to fly off them for nine years" is not the headline the government wanted, but may be what the public remembers.

The debate over the carriers illustrates the difficulties the government faces in trying to make sense of the last government's legacy and reshaping the armed forces for the future.

In the end it would have been more expensive to cancel the carriers than build them. To pay for the new Joint Strike Fighters that will use them, the government had to sacrifice the Harrier fleet.

Labour left a £38bn black hole in the MoD's budget. Cuts in the armed forces were inevitable. The real test will be whether Britain has the capabilities to meet the threats of the future.

The reality is smaller armed forces and "capability gaps", but even after the cuts Britain will still be the world's fourth biggest spender on defence.

Had this review been driven by strategy alone, the outcome would have been different - but the government has had to cut its cloth to the current financial situation.

The life of the current Trident submarines would also be extended, with the final spending decision on their replacement delayed until 2016 - after the next general election.

Labour leader Ed Miliband said the review was a "missed opportunity".

He told MPs: "It is a spending review dressed up as a defence review, it has been chaotically conducted, it has been hastily prepared and it is simply not credible as a strategic blueprint for our future defence needs."

BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said the decision to decommission the Ark Royal immediately and axe the UK's force of Harrier jump jets meant that, until at least 2019, no planes would be able to fly from the new aircraft carriers.

Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy described the arrangement as "peculiar" and "driven by finance".

He told the BBC: "What's the purpose of an aircraft carrier if not to carry aircraft? And I think to leave our country without a single fixed-wing aircraft able to fly off our aircraft carriers for a decade is a very worrying decision.

"It can't be driven by security needs or strategic needs. No-one based on the security needs of our country would come to the decision that a decade without an aeroplane on an aircraft carrier is the right decision."

Defence Secretary Liam Fox told the BBC there had been periods in the past - before the Harriers came on stream - when the UK had aircraft carriers with no planes to fly on them. Dr Fox said there would be a range of helicopters and unmanned aircraft which would still be able to fly from them.

At least one of the new carriers will be redesigned so that it can deploy normal fighter aircraft that do not need a Harrier-style vertical lift capability - allowing strike fighter aircraft from allies like France to land on UK aircraft carriers, and vice versa.

[buglerbilly]

HMS Bulwark Leaves Dry Dock In £30m Refit

(Source: UK Ministry of Defense; issued Sept. 21, 2010)

The Royal Navy amphibious landing ship HMS Bulwark has been floated out of dry dock after 127 days as part of a £30m refit at Devonport Royal Dockyard in Plymouth.

At the end of the refit programme the ship will be more advanced for helicopter flying and have improved accommodation.

Babcock, the prime contractor, and the ship's company achieved the important refit milestone with a delay of just a single day caused by the near gale force winds that prevented the 20,000-tonne ship's safe passage through the narrow gap of the dock.

A significant improvement for the amphibious task group to which the ship belongs is conversion of HMS Bulwark to full tactical night-vision capability by her landing craft and aircraft and the capacity of the flight deck to simultaneously operate two heavy-lift Chinook helicopters.

So far, the hull and propeller shaft work have also been completed to schedule and freshly painted in technically-advanced anti-fouling paint.

The finishing touches will now be added to the extensive accommodation enhancements for the 380 sailors and marines to move themselves and all the ship's equipment back onboard in late October.

This is the first major refit of the ship and has included additional improvements to the machinery and magazine spaces, the ship's high voltage propulsion system, advanced communication sensors, IT network capability and defensive weapon upgrades.

Commander Nick MacDonald-Robinson, HMS Bulwark's Commanding Officer, said:
"The undocking demonstrates the success of the significant work undertaken so far by my ship's company and the contractors here in Devonport, of which I am justifiably proud.

"There is, however, still a considerable amount of work to be done to attain a successful move onboard of my ship's company and to allow the ship to progress toward sea trials.

"The close working relationship we have established with Babcock this past year will undoubtedly prove to be successful and allow us to achieve each milestone to schedule over the next months."

HMS Bulwark is the Royal Navy's newest commando assault and command and control ship. Launched in November 2001 she has a ship's company of 380, a quarter of whom are made up from members of 4 Assault Squadron Royal Marines.

The ship can carry up to 200 Royal Marines in dedicated accommodation for long periods and another 500 troops for short periods. Her flight deck can accommodate two Chinook or two Merlin helicopters. A large floodable dock holds four large landing craft - with another four carried on davits on the ship's sides.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

From The Engineer (UK).........

Defence review considers UK aircraft carrier launch systems

19 October 2010 | By Stephen Harris

One of Britain’s two new aircraft carriers could be fitted with an electromagnetic launching system as part of defence changes announced today.

Following the Strategic Defence and Security Review, the government has confirmed it will build both Queen Elizabeth class carriers but the first will carry no planes and be removed from active service after three years once the second is completed.

The second carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, will be redesigned to enable it to take the conventional Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) planes currently being built by the US, rather than the more advanced and more expensive variant the previous government had planned to buy.

The first carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, will be completed in 2016 but will only carry helicopters before being put into ’extended readiness’, effectively replaced by the Prince of Wales.

With the immediate retiring of existing carrier HMS Ark Royal, the UK will lose the ability to launch fighter jets at sea until 2019. But the government plans to fit a system of catapults and arrestor wires (known as ’cats and traps’) to the Prince of Wales.

‘This will allow our allies to operate from our operational carrier and allow us to buy the carrier version of the JSF, which is more capable, less expensive, has a longer range and carries more weapons,’ said prime minister David Cameron today in parliament.

The carriers were originally designed to launch the F-35 Lightning variant of the JSF, capable of short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) without catapult launch or arrested recovery. But the possibility was left open of adapting the ships.

An electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) is smaller and less complex than traditional steam-powered catapults, can cope with heavier naval aircraft and offers a more exact degree of control over the launch, which would suit lighter unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Following Cameron’s announcement, a Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesperson said they could not yet confirm which kind of launch system would be used, although conversations with industry had begun.

However, last year The Engineer reported that UK-based naval power and propulsion specialist Converteam was investigating the EMALS for the MoD. Recent reports in The Times and The Financial Times also said the electromagnetic system would be used.

By agreeing to continue with both carriers, the government has saved tens of thousands of jobs among major defence firms and subcontractors across the country, although Cameron noted that proceeding with the two ships would cost less than the cancellation fees to scrap the second.

In particular, the move will protect workers on the Clyde and in Rosyth in Scotland, where an alliance of Babcock, BAE Systems and Thales UK has begun construction of the Queen Elizabeth.

Read more: http://www.theengineer.co.uk/news/defence-review-considers-uk-aircraft-carrier-launch-systems/1005604.article#ixzz12xNG6fja

[Riđđu]

Nuclear submarine HMS Astute 'grounded on rocks'

BBC News


The HMS Astute submarine is believed to have been undergoing sea trials off Skye on Scotland's west coast. The Royal Navy's newest and largest attack submarine HMS Astute has got into difficulty off Skye, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed. An eye-witness said the sub - described as the stealthiest ever built in the UK - appeared to have grounded on rocks.

A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said: "This is a not a nuclear incident. "We are responding to the incident and can confirm that there are no injuries to personnel and the submarine remains watertight." The spokeswoman added: "There is no indication of any environmental impact." The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said it was alerted to the incident at about 0819 BST. A spokesman said they were monitoring the situation. HMS Astute is believed to have been undergoing sea trials as it is not expected to enter service until next year.

Aside from attack capabilities, it is able to sit in waters off the coast undetected, listening to mobile phone conversations or delivering the UK's special forces where needed. The 39,000 acoustic panels which cover its surface mask its sonar signature, meaning it can sneak up on enemy warships and submarines alike, or lurk unseen and unheard at depth. The submarine can carry a mix of up to 38 Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes and Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise missiles, able to target enemy submarines, surface ships and land targets, while its sonar system has a range of 3,000 nautical miles. WTF?

Speaking to the BBC last month, HMS Astute's commanding officer, Commander Andy Coles, said: "We have a brand new method of controlling the submarine, which is by platform management system, rather than the old conventional way of doing everything of using your hands. "This is all fly-by-wire technology including only an auto pilot rather than a steering column" Submarine HMS Trafalgar sustained millions of pounds worth of damage when it ran aground off Skye in 2002. Two senior commanders were reprimanded after admitting that their negligence caused the incident.

[buglerbilly]

A bit more on this............

HMS Astute: world's most advanced nuclear submarine runs aground

The world’s most advanced nuclear submarine, HMS Astute, has run aground on rocks off Scotland causing considerable embarrassment for Navy chiefs.

By Thomas Harding, Defence Correspondent
Published: 11:02AM BST 22 Oct 2010


Britain's Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarine HMS Astute (top) sails into the River Clyde towards HM Naval Base Clyde in Faslane near Glasgow, Scotland Photo: REUTERS

The grounding of the £1.2 billion Astute hunter-killer comes at the end of a dire week for the Royal Navy which has seen its carrier force halved, Harrier jump jets axed and warship force reduced by almost a quarter.

It is understood that the boat, which is first in its class, ran aground by its stern in a manoeuvre that “went slightly wrong” after it had dropped some sailors ashore in tidal waters off the Isle of Skye.

As the tide rapidly ebbed it is thought the skipper of Astute, Commander Andy Coles, decided not to power it off the obstruction as it would risk damaging the hull that carries some of the most advanced acoustic tiles that make Astute virtually undetectable beneath the seas.

Navy insiders insisted that there was no likelihood of a nuclear reactor leak or any other environmental issue.

No one was injured in the incident that happened earlier today. It came the morning after Trafalgar Day, where sailors celebrated the 205th anniversary of Nelson's victory.

“Astute ran aground by her very stern earlier this morning as she was transferring people ashore,” a Navy spokesman said. “There’s no nuclear issue or no environmental issue that we are aware of and no one has been hurt.”

The submarine, which carries a crew of 98, will now wait until later today for tug boats to pull her off when the tide comes in.

Astute, which was handed over to the Navy by its builders BAE Systems in late August, will then continue her sea trials.

It is not known whether the boat, which can carry up to 38 Tomahawk cruise missiles and Spearfish torpedoes, was carrying any weapons.

At 7,200 tonnes the Astute is the biggest British nuclear attack submarine ever built, although it is half the size of the Trident nuclear submarines at 16,000 tonnes. The boat’s nuclear reactor will never need refueling during its 35 year life.

Amid the gloom of Navy cuts, which will see the Senior Service reduced by 5,000 sailors to 30,000, there was some celebration following publication of the defence review on Tuesday after it was announced the seventh and final Astute-class submarine would be ordered.

However the incident comes on the back of a number of submarine accidents in the last few years.

[buglerbilly]

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

Industry Still Speculates on Real U.K. Carrier Plan

Posted by Robert Wall at 10/25/2010 11:23 AM CDT

Industry officials are still trying to digest what the Strategic Defense and Security Review unveiled last week in the U.K. really all means.

While there were a few clear statements in the document -- Nimrod will not be fielded, HMS Ark Royal and Harriers will be retired, as will the Sentinel R1 -- the fact is much was left vague and has folks wondering how much credence to give to what was said in those areas where specificity was lacking.

One example is the aircraft carrier issue. Despite speculation that it will be HMS Queen Elizabeth that is built as a helo carrier, only then to be mothballed, and HMS Prince of Wales that will be converted for catapult launch and arresting gear operations, that's not exactly spelled out in the SDSR. The official line is that the order and timing are still be sorted.

Several industry officials believe it will be the first carrier that will be modified for F-35C operations, rather than the second. They argue it would simply be politically too difficult to field an aircraft carrier with no aircraft to put on it and then mothball the whole thing.

More on this in the weeks to come, no doubt. One thing that clearly will need to be modified is the Queen Elizabeth-class carrier model Thales is showing at Euronaval. I thought I'd share it for those nostalgic about the F-35B on a U.K. carrier:

[Chunder]

Yeah, the whole aircraft carrier thing has me somewhat perplexed.

1) On completion they are not even going to have the aircraft to put on them. So it's only effective use is a helicopter carrier anyway.
2) Lets face it, the RN is not going to be up for the full cost of a Carrier Airwing anyhow for several years once the thing is actually floating and learning to use the things is realised.
3) 2019 is 8 years away.
4) One can't but help thinking it's been a great excuse to "pull the wool" over treasury and get the F-35C in a political compromise (Thankfully)

So in practicality, who is playing who here? A week is a long time in politics.

Edit: Whilst we are here touching on the F-35C topic... What does it mean for the AWACS if anything?

[JimWH]

At the moment it doesn't mean shit for MASC (i.e. AEW). However right now Grumman would be barking mad if they weren't putting together an extremely compelling brief on why 5 Hawkeye-D isn't the cheapest way of getting high quality AEW to sea (though obviously this ignores that pulling the Cerberus kit out of the ASaC.7 and dumping it in an existing Merlin HM.1 without modifications wouldn't be all that expensive).

[Deks]

We have discussed it briefly before, I think the helo-mounted AEW to be used has already been developed; It was said though that the primary reason for going this route was that the carriers weren't going to have cats.

[JimWH]

Not quite Deks, early contracts have been let to Thales and Raytheon to develop concepts for a Merlin mounted MASC solution. Fitting cat and traps aboard CVF does change the dynamic, especially as the money spent thus far on MASC is pretty piddly. The potentially largest problem is the age of the SeaKing ASaC7: if they can't make it to 2020, then a Merlin based MASC will basically be the default winner. However, if SeaKings can be made to stretch far enough (and let's face it, there are a fair few airframes in order to support deployment aboard one LPH some of the time) then I'd say that Hawkeye is in with a real chance.

[pdf27]

Yeah, the whole aircraft carrier thing has me somewhat perplexed.

1) On completion they are not even going to have the aircraft to put on them. So it's only effective use is a helicopter carrier anyway.
2) Lets face it, the RN is not going to be up for the full cost of a Carrier Airwing anyhow for several years once the thing is actually floating and learning to use the things is realised.
I've got to wonder if the announced defence cooperation agreement with France that is coming up in the next few days relates to this somehow - get MN pilots to use the carrier while CdeG is in refit, and maybe have a few FAA pilots on exchange (plus as many as they can cram in with the USN/USMC over the next few years).

[buglerbilly]

This statement from MORIN the French Defence Minister basically says yes this is the path they will follow...........


Morin asked the French military staff to assess whether the installation of catapults would allow French aircraft, such as the Rafale, to operate off the Royal Navy vessel, and the answer was: "Yes, it's technically feasible," he told journalists.

That opened up potential opportunities of interoperability and mutual interdependence between the British and French fleets, he said. With such cross-deck operations came the possibility of a "permanent presence at sea," he said.

"We have a complementarity to play with," he said.

Morin, however, said a French decision on whether to build a second carrier, dubbed porte-avions 2 or PA2, would be made at the end of 2012 or early 2013.

Up to now, President Nicolas Sarkozy has said such a decision would be made in 2011 or 2012.

.................permanent presence at sea are the KEY words for me, both the Brits and the French want their Forces gainfully employed in potentially/probably Shared Assets.............the above is from remarks made at the EURONAVAL show currently being held in Paris, Monday or Tuesday this week.

It also wouldn't surprise me if PA2 becomes one of the Brit Carriers and becomes the third Shared Asset between the UK and France. France and the UK then mutually have three carriers with the possibility of TWO at-sea at any one time. Also expect to see the NEW RAF Tankers shared.

[buglerbilly]

Upgrade for Royal Navy Minehunters Powers Ahead

(Source: BAE Systems; issued October 28, 2010)

PORTSMOUTH, United Kingdom --- BAE Systems has secured a £15 million contract as part of a major overhaul project to replace the 30 year old propulsion systems onboard the Royal Navy’s eight Hunt Class mine countermeasure vessels.

The equipment procurement contract comes on the back of the Company’s successful completion of the technical recommendation for a new propulsion and machinery control system to the Ministry of Defence. Reflecting BAE Systems’ commitment to help drive down operational costs and maximise availability of the fleet, its engineers have proposed a modern, reliable and supportable, propulsion system using commercial off the shelf equipment. This will not only minimise initial procurement costs, but will also ensure spares are readily available for future repair and maintenance work.

John Walton, Mine Warfare Marine Engineering Manager, for Defence Equipment and Support, said: “Lower through life costs and better reliability of the minehunters is essential to enable the Royal Navy to carry out its operational commitments, which includes protecting valuable shipping lanes.

“The design of the new propulsion and machinery control system will reduce the upkeep maintenance load on the ship’s staff and increase availability of the vessel for operational duties. It also takes significantly less space and the layout makes it more accessible, providing better working conditions for Royal Navy engineers carrying out maintenance and repairs, often in difficult climatic conditions.”

Mark Draper, Hunt Re-Propulsion Project Manager at BAE Systems, added: “This major
upgrade work will be carried out over the next six years by support engineers at our facilities in Portsmouth.

“The first new propulsion system is expected to be installed onboard HMS Chiddingfold in late 2011, with upgrades to the remaining seven Hunt Class taking place during planned ship docking periods up to 2016, in order to maximise efficiency and avoid disruption to availability of the fleet.”

Customer support and services activity accounts for a significant and growing part of BAE Systems’ business worldwide. In October 2009, the Company was appointed Class Output Manager for the Royal Navy’s Hunt Class vessels, which means that it acts as a single point of contact responsible for all repair, maintenance and upgrades for the Hunt Class. The re-propulsion project is the first major upgrade to be initiated under the Class Output Management approach and will involve the installation of new engines, gearboxes, bow thruster systems, propellers and machinery control systems to significantly improve operational availability and reliability of the ships.

BAE Systems has already down selected Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine to provide the Machinery Control Alarm and Surveillance Systems, Finning UK to supply the engines, gearboxes and bow thrusters, and Stone Marine Propulsion to provide the Propellers for the ships.

BAE Systems is a global defence, security and aerospace company with approximately 107,000 employees worldwide. The Company delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. In 2009 BAE Systems reported sales of £22.4 billion (US$ 36.2 billion).

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

Babcock says Aircraft carrier changes will add up to £800m to taxpayer bill

Changes to the £5.2bn aircraft carrier programme, intended to save the taxpayer money, will add as much to £800m to the cost of each ship.


Babcock said switching to the carrier variant of the F35 would save the Government money in the long run.

By Amy Wilson 6:15AM GMT 10 Nov 2010

The addition of catapult and arrestor gear to the aircraft carrier means the UK does not need to buy the more costly vertical take-off and landing model (VTOL) of the F35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), which will fly off the carriers when they finally go into service in 2020. The extra equipment also means the ships can be used by US and French jets.

However Babcock, part of the BAE Systems-led consortium building the two carriers, estimates adding the equipment will cost £600m to £800m per ship, potentially taking the total bill for the vessels to almost £7bn.

At present, the Government plans to add the extra equipment to only one carrier. A "fully effective" carrier will not go into service with the Royal Navy until 2020 as a result of the changes, rather than 2016 as originally planned.

Britain will not have an aircraft carrier with planes on board for the best part of a decade, as the Harrier jump-jet will be taken out of service next year.

Babcock has already hit the headlines over the carrier programme this week, with Lord Hesketh forced to step down as deputy chairman of the engineering support services company after using an interview with The Daily Telegraph to label the carrier programme a "disaster" which would make Britain a "laughing stock".

However Babcock's chief executive, Peter Rogers, said installing the catapult equipment and switching to the so-called carrier variant of the F35, rather than the VTOL version, would save the Government money in the long run.

Buying the carrier variant will allow the Ministry of Defence to greatly reduce the number of aircraft it has to buy and cut the cost of the planes by 25pc over their life-span, according to last month's Strategic Defence & Security Review.

"This version of the jet has a longer range and greater payload: this, not large numbers of aircraft, is the critical requirement for precision strike operations in the future," the review said.

Mr Rogers declined to comment on Lord Hesketh's resignation, and said it would take some time to appoint someone else, if the board decided a replacement was necessary.

Babcock, which bought defence and support services rival VT Group earlier this year, reported a 31pc rise in first-half sales to £1.22bn. Pre-tax profit climbed 27pc to £90.9m, excluding amortisation and redundancy costs linked to the VT takeover. Including those, profit slipped to £41.1m from £66.1m the previous year.

Mr Rogers said Babcock has approached the MoD with suggestions of changes to working practices which could save the cash-strapped department £5bn over the next 10 years.

"We don't expect to win all of that of course, but that is what we have identified," Mr Rogers said. "We think that is do-able - we would not exist unless we could save money and improve output."

Taking over VT has produced "no skeletons," Mr Rogers said, adding that he was "pleasantly surprised" by the training business, which runs apprenticeships for BMW and British Energy

Mr Rogers said Babcock would not be pressing its suppliers for retrospective rebates in order to cut costs. He called the practise "unethical".

[buglerbilly]

Helipower: RN evaluates Q-Sight for Lynx gunners

November 17, 2010



The Royal Navy (RN) is carrying out an operational evaluation of a new helmet-mounted optical sighting system that will be issued to Lynx Mk8 helicopter door gunners.

At the Heli-Power 2010 conference in London on 17 November it was announced that BAE Systems has now delivered 12 Q-Sight gunner remote sighting systems (GRSS) to the RN, in what is the first order of the system for the company.

Speaking to reporters at the conference, RN Lynx capability manager, Lt Cdr Ant Laycock, said the ‘heads-up, eyes-out’ capability provided by Q-Sight would greatly enhance operations and the RN was now working through the tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) of how the system would be employed for such missions as counter-piracy, counter-narcotics or force protection.

Q-Sight clips onto current flight helmets and projects flight, mission and targeting information to the user through company-patented holographic technology.

Originally designed with the flying members of the crew in mind, the system was adapted by BAE Systems for the gunner’s role for the RN, incorporating the image from the Lynx Mk8’s existing thermal weapon sight.



BAE Systems defence avionics business development director Paul Cooke said the system gave the gunner greater range of movement while allowing them to retain the targeting image.

‘With the current thermal weapon sight you really have to put your eyeball right up to the sight. This can be difficult with the movement of the target and of the helicopter itself. This system takes the remote picture that the sight produces and puts it right on the Q-Sight,’ Cooke said.

BAE Systems has developed the system as a low-cost option for helicopter crews, which in most cases do not get their helmets personally fitted in the same way as fast jet pilots. To that end the system has been designed with a ‘large exit pupil’ to allow some movement of the helmet without losing the image.

The version delivered to the RN differed from the original concept demonstrator in development since 2007 in that it provided improved peripheral vision, five axis adjustment, and a stow-away ability, while the cooling fan had been removed.

While the RN is not considering equipping flying crew members with the system in the near term, Cooke pointed out that the Q-Sight has application across a range of applications, including armoured vehicles or soldier modernisation programmes.

By Tony Skinner, London

[buglerbilly]

Heli-Power 2010: CHF commander reveals challenges ahead

November 17, 2010

The commander of the UK's Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) says his organisation is facing a challenging time over the next decade.

With heavy commitments in Afghanistan and the need to provide a contingent amphibious assault capability ready to be deployed anywhere in the world, Capt Jon Pentreath told delegates at the Heli-Power 2010 conference in London that the force would soon have to start making plans to introduce two new aircraft models and have to prepare crews to operate those types.

'We face huge uncertainties,' explained Pentreath, 'We are heavily committed to Afghanistan, and training for deployments there. Paving the way for new aircraft and training crews for those types will provide us with a real challenge.'

Based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset, the force is made up of three squadrons operating the Sea King Mk4 – 845 and 846 Naval Air Squadrons are front-line units while 848 NAS is the training squadron. A fourth unit, 847 NAS operates the Lynx Mk7 flown by Royal Marine aircrews.

However, under current plans in 2020 the look of the force will be very different. The current plan is for the unit to be equipped with 25 Merlin Mk4s - marinised Merlin Mk3s, which are currently used by the RAF's 28 and 78 squadrons. The Merlins would replace the Sea King, and four Wildcats will replace the six Lynx currently in use.

The four Wildcats will come out of the Fleet Air Arm's allocation of 28 aircraft and will be equipped like those to be operated by the British Army Air Corps.

'In an ideal world we would retire the Sea Kings after the new fleet of Merlins is ready,' Pentreath told Rotorhub.com.

So far no clear plans have been made about the Merlin Mk4 programme. Pentreath said the aircraft would ideally have a folding rotor head, but a folding tail rotor might not be necessary as the aircraft would probably fit onto the deck lifts being developed for the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers the CHF is likely to operate from.

Cost is another issue, however, and although it’s common for naval aircraft to be converted for operation on land – take the Royal Navy's F-4 Phantom and Buccaneer strike aircraft which were handed down to the RAF during the 60s and 70s – it’s quite another to retrofit a land-based fleet for naval operation.

The entire UK Sea King fleet is due to exit service at the end of 2016, which means the first CHF Merlins would have to be ready to begin training in 2015.

By Tony Osborne, London

[buglerbilly]

Submarine commander relieved of post after running aground

The naval officer charge of a nuclear-powered submarine which ran aground on a shingle bank has been relieved of his command.


Naval chief Andy Coles, who has lost his command of HMS Astute Photo: PA

12:24PM GMT 27 Nov 2010

HMS Astute, the Royal Navy's most advanced nulcear submarine, was on sea trials last month when it became stuck off the coast of Skye and ended up marooned for several hours.

Navy officials confirmed that Commander Andy Coles, 47, lost his command of the submarine on Friday. He will remain with the Royal Navy and is to be given another post.

A final decision has still to be made about whether Commander Coles will face a court martial over the incident.

A Royal Navy spokesman said: "From yesterday, November 26, he was removed from command of HMS Astute.

"He's going to continue with the Royal Navy. He will be reappointed to another post.

"It's an internal administrative matter between Commander Coles and his senior officers."

The spokesman said it was not known what the new post will be.

He added that a new commanding officer of HMS Astute will be appointed in the near future.

The vessel ran aground on the west coast of Scotland on October 22. It was freed by the evening when the tide began to rise.

However, it is understood HMS Astute was damaged after a collision with the coastguard tug the Anglian Prince, which was sent to free it.

The submarine returned to its base at Faslane on the Clyde three days after the incident.

The Navy spokesman said repairs to the vessel have now been completed, but the final cost of the work is still being calculated.

Unconfirmed reports have suggested the repair bill could run into millions.

The spokesman said: "It will be paid out of the existing MoD budget."

He added a service inquiry into the incident had concluded and its findings were being considered.

The submarine weighs 7,800 tonnes, equivalent to nearly 1,000 double-decker buses, and is almost 100 metres (328ft) long.

Its Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles are capable of delivering pinpoint strikes from 2,000km (1,240 miles) with conventional weapons.

The submarine's nuclear reactor means that it will not need refuelling once in its entire 25-year life and it makes its own air and water, enabling it to circumnavigate the globe without needing to surface.

Built by defence giant BAE Systems at Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, it is the first in a fleet of six hunter-killer submarines intended to replace the Trafalgar-class submarine.

As the base port of all the Navy's submarines from 2016, Faslane will be home to the whole Astute class.

The accident happened almost exactly 50 years after the UK's first nuclear submarine was launched. HMS Dreadnought was launched on October 21 1960 by the Queen.

[buglerbilly]

Aircraft carrier HMS Invincible is put up for sale

After 32 years of service in the Royal Navy, the carrier Invincible is up for sale on the Disposal Service Authority website – the government equivalent of eBay.


HMS Invincible was scrapped in the defence cuts but could rake in £2million after being put up for sale on an E-bay style website Photo: M&Y

By Sean Rayment, Defence Correspondent 8:45AM GMT 28 Nov 2010

It is an ignominious end for a ship that served in the Royal Navy from 1973 to 2005, and took part in the Falklands, Balkans and Iraq wars before being decommissioned in 2005.

The Ministry of Defence is understood to be hoping to raise £2 million after they put the 17,000 ton vessel up for sale on edisposals.com.

But so far no bids have been received for Invincible, which is listed on the site as 'in stock'.

In its heyday the ship was powered by four Rolls-Royce gas turbine engines, could reach a top speed of 28 knots, and had a range of 7,000 nautical miles. It was equipped with up 18 Sea Harrier, four Sea King helicopters and had a ships compliment of 1,050.

The ship underwent a major refit in 2004 but was decommissioned in 2005 with the proviso that she could be "reactivated" at 18 months notice if a crisis beckoned. But over the years her engines, pumps and gear boxes were cannibalised for use in other ships. Of her total weight of 17,0000 tons, 10,000 is compose of metal which made her attractive on the scrap market.

Leavesley International said they are interested in using the ship for its scrap metal. The company's operations manager Stuart Halsley said: "I haven't made any decision. I'm still pricing it up at the moment. There's certainly a lot of ship there but anybody looking at doing the job needs to look at the associated costs involved.'"

Bids for the ship, which served from 1980 until 2005, must be tabled by January 5 2011.

Invincible was due to be sold to the Australian navy for £175 million in 1982 but the deal fell through after the Falklands War broke out.

The ship was built at Barrow-in-Furness by Vickers Ship Building and Engineering. Her hull was laid down in 1973 and she joined the fleet on 3rd May 1977.

Richard Scott, naval consultant for Jane's Defence Weekly, said: 'She certainly carved her name out in history in 1982. But every ship reaches the end of its career and she is at the end of hers.'

[buglerbilly]

Changes to Royal Navy's surface fleet announced

A Defence Policy and Business news article

15 Dec 10

Changes to the Royal Navy's surface fleet, including the withdrawal from service of HMS Illustrious and the four remaining Type 22 frigates, have been announced today by Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox.


HMS Illustrious (left) will be withdrawn from service in 2014 and HMS Ocean will be retained to provide the landing platform helicopter capability for the longer term
[Pictures: Crown Copyright/MOD]

The changes follow announcements regarding the Royal Navy's surface fleet in the White Paper 'Securing Britain in an Age of Uncertainty: The Strategic Defence and Security Review' published on 19 October.

In a written ministerial statement to parliament today, Dr Fox said that HMS Illustrious will be withdrawn from service in 2014 and HMS Ocean will be retained to provide the landing platform helicopter capability for the longer term.

Four frigates are also to be withdrawn from service. These are the remaining Type 22s: HMS Chatham, Campbeltown, Cumberland and Cornwall.

Chatham will be withdrawn from service at the end of January 2011, Campbeltown and Cumberland will follow on 1 April, and Cornwall at the end of April.

HMS Ark Royal will be finally withdrawn from service at the end of this year.

The Bay Class amphibious support ship to be withdrawn from service will be RFA Largs Bay, in April 2011. The Auxiliary Oiler RFA Bayleaf and the Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment vessel RFA Fort George will also be withdrawn from service in April next year.

October's White Paper explained the Government's intention to make certain changes to the Armed Forces in order to deliver the force structure we require for the future and to help address the legacy of unaffordability in the Defence Budget.

Today's written ministerial statement explains in more detail those changes that affect the Royal Navy's surface fleet.


The remaining Type 22 frigates, including HMS Cumberland (pictured), Chatham, Campbeltown and Cornwall, will be withdrawn from service by the end of April 2011
[Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Steve Johncock, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]

HMS Ark Royal, Ocean and Illustrious

The White Paper announced that the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal would be decommissioned, and, accordingly, she will finally be withdrawn from service at the end of this month.

It also announced that either her sister ship HMS Illustrious or the Landing Platform Helicopter ship HMS Ocean would be withdrawn from service following a short study into which of these two ships was better able to provide the capability we require over the next few years.

This work has now been completed and it has been decided that HMS Ocean should be retained to provide our landing platform helicopter capability for the longer term.

HMS Illustrious will be withdrawn from service in 2014, once Ocean has emerged from a planned refit and been returned to a fully operational state. This will ensure that we retain the ability to deliver an amphibious intervention force from the sea and maintain an experienced crew to support the later introduction into service of the new Queen Elizabeth Class carrier.

HMS Chatham, Campbeltown, Cumberland and Cornwall

The White Paper explained that four frigates would be withdrawn from service in 2011. These are the remaining Type 22 frigates HMS Chatham, Campbeltown, Cumberland and Cornwall.

Chatham will be withdrawn from service at the end of January 2011 and Campbeltown and Cumberland will follow on 1 April.

HMS Cornwall will be withdrawn at the end of April once she has returned from her current operational deployment to the Indian Ocean.


RFA Fort George (left) conducts a replenishment at sea with HMS Ark Royal
[Picture: Petty Officer Airman (Photographer) Jonathan Hamlet, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

Amphibious Ships

Other changes affect the Navy's amphibious ships. One of the two Landing Platform Dock ships will in future be placed at extended readiness while the other is held at high readiness for operations.

From November 2011, the high-readiness ship will be HMS Bulwark, and on current plans this will change to HMS Albion in late 2016 when Bulwark enters a refit period.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary

The final changes affect the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The White Paper said that there would be a fleet of resupply and refuelling vessels scaled to meet the Royal Navy's requirements.

With a smaller surface fleet these requirements are correspondingly lower, and hence we have decided to withdraw from service the Auxiliary Oiler RFA Bayleaf and the Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment vessel RFA Fort George from April 2011.

Additionally the Bay Class amphibious support ship RFA Largs Bay will be withdrawn from service in April 2011.

[buglerbilly]

Better to share Britain’s second carrier

By David Manning and Franklin Miller

Published: December 19 2010 18:49 | Last updated: December 19 2010 18:49

In our era of austerity, governments are having to consider a range of hitherto unthinkable cuts. Few areas are more sensitive than defence, as was signalled so clearly by the British press this autumn in their emotive coverage of the last voyage of the aircraft carrier, HMS Ark Royal. Defence cuts do however give governments the opportunity to pursue radical ideas, which could open the way to a new age of defence co-operation. This might include sharing an aircraft carrier with Nato, France or America.

After a debate that spilt out from Whitehall’s closed doors, ministers decided in the Strategic Defence and Security Review, published in October, to continue the project they inherited to build two new aircraft carriers. They did so because they concluded that the way the contracts had been written made it more costly to scrap the ships than build them; and because of the impact that cancellation would have had on the UK’s shipbuilding and defence industry. But the government made an important change to the ships’ specification. Neither will now be configured to take the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, as previously envisaged. Instead, one carrier will be equipped so the naval version of the JSF can be flown from it instead. What will happen to the second carrier is left undecided.

It is obvious that, although the strategic defence and security review commits to a two-carrier programme, the government is uncertain what to do with the second carrier once it joins the fleet. Axing HMS Ark Royal and the Harrier force has prompted criticism that the UK faces a decade without a carrier-strike capability just when threats to shipping may be increasing. Rather than delay until the next SDSR in four years’ time, the government should explore three radical options about what to do with the second carrier.

The first is to offer the second carrier to Nato, designating it a Nato asset with the modifications and operational costs underwritten jointly by all Nato countries, in the way that the Alliance’s Awacs fleet is operated today. The Royal Navy could supply the crew, or the carrier could be manned by a multinational Nato crew. Cost-sharing, the crewing arrangements and deployment patterns would present challenges, but not insuperable ones. A month after the alliance reaffirmed its commitment to common defence at the Lisbon summit, this may be an idea whose time has come. Sharing a carrier’s costs would project Nato’s power in defence of the sea lanes and would be striking affirmation of its purpose. It would be a way of challenging Nato members whose defence spending falls short of the target of 2 per cent of GDP to take a fairer share of the strain. This option is one that Nato defence ministers could discuss at their meeting next March.

A second option would be to share the carrier with France. The UK/France summit in November at which David Cameron and Nicolas Sarkozy signed treaties pledging new defence co-operation might make this viable. The carrier would need to be configured to take French naval planes as well as JSFs; and both countries would need to agree that when either had its exclusively national carrier in refit the second carrier would be immediately available as a replacement.

A third option is sharing the carrier with America. The huge budget deficit confronting the Obama administration makes cuts to the US defence budget all but inevitable. The US navy’s carrier fleet is a likely target. One way of easing the strain on both US and UK naval budgets would be to share the second carrier, perhaps for a year at a time; perhaps with a UK starboard crew and a US port one. This would be a bi-national variation of the two-crew system currently used by each nation when deploying Trident submarines.

All three options are worth exploring: any seems better than building a carrier only to sell it at probably a knockdown price to a non-Nato power with different security priorities from ours and those of our Nato allies. The second carrier offers us the chance to open up a new era of bilateral or multilateral defence co-operation.

When the government published the SDSR it concluded: “We would not start from here.” Maybe it is not such a bad place to start from after all.

The writers are former UK ambassador to Nato and to the US, and a former senior US national security official.

[buglerbilly]

7 January 2011 Last updated at 08:01 GMT

Chinese businessman bids £5m for UK's HMS Invincible


Invincible is the sixth ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name Continue reading the main story

A UK-based Chinese businessman has bid £5m for the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible, which is being auctioned.

Lam Kin-bong - who owns restaurants in the West Midlands - has said he wants to turn the former warship into an international school in China.

He said if he was not allowed to tow it to China he would instead try to berth the stripped-out carrier in Liverpool.

Several bids have been received since Invincible was put up for sale on a government internet auction website.

The vessel, which saw action in the Falklands War, Gulf and Balkans and was based in Portsmouth, was decommissioned in 2005. It was put up for sale on the edisposals website and was expected to fetch about £2m.

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Invincible's engines and many other parts had been salvaged and it was expected to be sold for scrap. The carrier has been stripped of anything that might be of military use and the blueprints of the ship will not be sold with it.

'Purely commercial'

Mr Lam, who began as a chef and now owns the Wing Wah chain of Chinese restaurants, is also a lawmaker in the city of Zhuhai, in southern China.

He told the South China Morning Post that the bid - entered via his Zhuhai-based company Sunway Yacht Limited - was purely commercial.

If successful in buying the carrier he told reporters he wanted to tow the vessel to Zhuhai and berth it at a marina he is building in the city. He said it would cost £11m to buy the Invincible, tow and convert it.

"My intentions are purely commercial and have nothing to do with the military," he told the English-language newspaper.

If the vessel could not be taken to China his second preference would be to base it in Liverpool and turn it into a school "to boost the understanding of China and the Chinese in Britain".

Mr Lam said he had spoken to the Chinese Embassy in London about the bid and received a supportive response.

The restauranteur moved to London nearly 20 years ago, then to Birmingham where he helped set up the Wing Wah chain of restaurants, which he runs with his wife.

Earlier this week the MoD confirmed a "number of bids" had been received for the carrier and a preferred bidder would be announced once terms had been agreed.

Invincible was laid down at Vickers' shipyard in Barrow in 1973 and launched by the Queen in 1977.

The ship served in the 1982 Falklands War, deploying Harrier fighter aircraft against Argentine forces.

It is one of the navy's three Invincible class anti-submarine warfare carriers, along with HMS Ark Royal and HMS Illustrious.

Ark Royal is to be decommissioned this month and HMS Illustrious in 2014.

The ships will be replaced by two new carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, which are expected to enter service by the end of the decade.

[buglerbilly]

Lockheed Martin Collaborates With U.K. Businesses on Advanced Naval Radar Research

(Source: Lockheed Martin; issued Jan. 11, 2011)

WALLOPS ISLAND, Va. --- Lockheed Martin is collaborating with several United Kingdom companies to provide an advanced naval radar demonstrator as part of a joint U.S. Navy and Royal Navy research program that will help guide performance improvements to existing and planned radar systems in both the U.S. and U.K.

The Advanced Radar Technology Integrated System Test-bed (ARTIST) program uses two advanced, multifunction S-band active phased array radars – one for each nation – to develop technology and assess techniques for defeating emerging threats, such as smaller, faster targets in dense clutter. Joint trials began at the U.S. Navy's Wallops Island, Va., facility in May 2010.

"The ARTIST program is a great example of international collaboration between government and industry," explained Allan Croly, director of Lockheed Martin's naval radar programs. "It leverages our combined technology experience and the open architecture inherent in our radar designs to jointly evolve capabilities, avoid duplication of efforts, and reduce cost and risk for future radar development."

The U.S. ARTIST demonstrator is led by Lockheed Martin in collaboration with U.K. technology companies BAE, QinetiQ and Roke Manor Research. The U.K. ARTIST demonstrator is being provided by QinetiQ, BAE and Roke Manor Research.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 133,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2009 sales of $44.0 billion.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

A leaner, meaner Merlin

January 13, 2011



Improved avionics and updated tactical systems are set to give the Royal Navy Merlin crews the edge in underwater warfare.

Under the £850 million Merlin Capability Sustainment Programme (MSCP), 30 of the Fleet Air Arm's 38-strong fleet of Merlin Mk1s are being upgraded to the Mk2 standard.

The project, led by prime contractor Lockheed Martin, aims to deliver a more intuitive avionics and combat mission system that will keep the aircraft effective for at least 20 years.

During a briefing at the AgustaWestland plant in Yeovil, where the work on the upgrade is taking place, Rod Makoske, VP and Group MD of Lockheed Martin UK, described the Merlin as a 'critical capability' for the Royal Navy.

'The Merlin Mk2 will sustain that capability whilst giving crews the reliability and performance through enhanced technologies,' Makoske said.

Externally, the Merlin Mk2 will look no different to the Mk1, with the exception of some antennae and a spotlight over the cabin door. It's under the skin where the Mk2 differs and significant effort has been made to improve the level of information available to the crew.

In the cockpit, the pilots are presented with a modernised layout - gone are the small CRT displays, replaced with five large 10x8 NVG compatible panels. On the centre panel between the pilots are two 10x8 touch screen panels providing aircraft management and tactical system functions. Two more of these are fitted into the new design mission console in the rear of the aircraft. These four screens combined allow crew in both the back and the front to share the workload.

Dave Ingram, one of the lead engineers on the programme, said: 'One of things we have found, especially during work on the test rigs with the touch screens, is that people were happy to go up to them and play with them - they are very intuitive and easy to use.

'This a key issue over the Mk1 where there were 17 levels of menus in the system and part of maintaining currency in the aircraft was knowing this structure.'

So far two Merlins have been converted to Mk2 standard with two more in the production process. These four aircraft will represent the flight test fleet which is set to complete a 750 flight hour test programme in the second quarter of 2013.

Full rate aircraft production/conversion is set to begin in the second half of this year. Once the production is underway, full conversation from a Mk1 to Mk2 is expected to take around nine months. Initial operating capability is expected in late 2013 with four aircraft and 12 crews and full operational capability (FOC) is due by the end of 2014.

As well as avionics, the upgrade also adds a new mission computer, map systems as well as new processors for the radar and acoustic sensors.

These new systems and improvements in technology mean a smaller number of black boxes in the aircraft allowing the avionics compartments to be redesigned and shrunk. The Mk1's Sonics processor, described by some as like a 'small fridge' has been replaced by a considerably smaller unit.

The changes mean that the Mk2 is a leaner machine than its predecessor. When weighed, the aircraft came in around 200 kg (440 lbs) lighter than a Mk1 even with test instrumentation onboard.

The rear mission console, designed to be operated by two air warfare officers, has the option to be split in half if the aircraft is required for non anti-submarine warfare missions. With half the console removed, the aircraft can carry 12 patients in the CASEVAC role, over the Mk1s eight, or up to 16 combat troops, with the area previously occupied by the console being used for 'bergen' or backpack storage.

Other changes to the aircraft include a new environmental control system, fast roping equipment and the option of fitting a M3M 0.50 calibre machine gun for use out of the cabin door.

By Tony Osborne, Yeovil

[buglerbilly]

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

Merlin's New Look

Posted by Robert Wall at 1/14/2011 11:20 AM CST

The U.K. is now undergoing flight trials of the Merlin Mk2, an upgrade of its anti-submarine warfare helo.

The service will get 30 updated helos, with upgraded radar and acoustic performance, although the core of the program is to deal with obsolescence and stretch service life until at least 2029.

Lockheed Martin, the prime contractor, and AgustaWestland, the platform provider, released a video of the Mk2. Here are excerpts showing the airframe, but also the new cockpit and mission station:



The cockpit and workstations feature touch screens and have been redesigned to make on-board operations easier. The refurbishment also cuts weight.

The helo is to reach full operational capability in 2014.

[buglerbilly]

Heavy demand for Royal Navy Merlins

January 14, 2011

The Royal Navy's Merlin helicopter force is busier than it has ever been, according to the fleet's commander.

'Whether it’s the anti-piracy work or the anti-narcotics mission, everyone wants a Merlin,' Commander Kevin Dodd, chief of the Fleet Air Arm's (FAA’s) Merlin force, told Rotorhub.com.

Since the first FAA Merlin entered service in 1997, the fleet has been extremely busy on a wide-range of deployments not only on the back of the Royal Navy's Type 23 frigates but also its carriers and the Royal Fleet Auxiliaries.

'The aircraft's versatility makes it a highly demanded asset, we are much more than just an anti-submarine warfare aircraft, we are often referred to as the ops room in the sky,' Dodd said.

At home, the aircraft are used to sanitise the waters for the UK's fleet of Trident missile submarines, while further afield the force has deployed aircraft to the Middle East where the type has been used on maritime security operations in the Arabian Gulf and in particular the shallows and narrows of the Straits of Hormuz.

Indeed the mission there has helped to shape some of the criteria for the Merlin Capability Sustainment Programme. One particular improvement useful in that part of the world will be new transmit waveforms that will make the sonar more effective in shallower waters.

'The Merlin is very much the backbone of the UK's ASW capability and will remain so throughout the life of the Merlin Mk2,' explained Dodd

However, the introduction of the Merlin Mk2 presents a new challenge. Not only must the Merlin force introduce a new type, but it will also oversee a reduction in numbers from the current 38 Mk1s to 30 Mk2s.

On top of this, the retirement of the Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft means that the protection of UK waters from submarines falls squarely on the shoulders of the Merlin force. Furthermore, crew training is likely to suffer some disruption as the simulator facilities at Culdrose – the home of the FAA Merlin fleet – is modernised to Mk2 level.

Dodd and the Mk2 team have had to develop a plan which also allows maximum availability of the aircraft, particularly as the conversion plan could see as many as 10 aircraft undergoing conversion, albeit at different stages at any one time. Fortunately the eight aircraft that are not being converted will act as a buffer, allowing the force to continue operational flying until all the Mk2s are in service.

What will happen to the remaining eight Mk1s is not currently clear. AgustaWestland has mooted a plan to turn these aircraft into airborne surveillance and control (ASaC) aircraft to replace the Sea King when it retires from service in 2016 under the Future Helicopter Strategy, but no decision has been made.

By Tony Osborne, Yeovil

[buglerbilly]

02/02/2011

Chinese bid for UK aircraft carrier fails

KJM Varma

Beijing, Feb 2 (PTI) A Chinese businessman has said he failed to win the bid to buy a junked British aircraft carrier put for auction in December last year despite offering double the expected price, claiming that his offer was turned down due to "political reasons".

Lam Kin-bong a UK-based Chinese businessman from south China''s Guangdong Province offered five million pounds (USD 8.02 million), more than double the expected price, but still did not win the bid because the British authority said he "failed to provide all the necessary information."

The light aircraft carrier HMS Invincible was decommissioned in 2005 and was stripped of engines and weapons. The 17,000-ton hull was sold on Disposal Services Agency, an online auction platform under the UK Ministry of Defence, Shanghai Daily reported.

"I feel quite disappointed because I planned to turn the warship into a floating international school on the coast of Guangdong," Lam, 48, told the Hong Kong-based Wen Wei Po newspaper.

A Turkish ship recycling factory won the bid at a price Lin said was far lower than his.

Lam who runs a restaurant chain in Birmingham said he would continue bidding for other decommissioned warships on the online platform.

Wen Wei Po said many suspected Lam failed the bidding due to "political reasons." But Lam said his intention was purely commercial.

"My intentions are purely commercial and have nothing to do with the military. We convert it into an international school to help foster communication and cultural ties between China and Britain," he said.

China till has no aircraft carrier and it is currently refurbishing an aircraft carrier bought from Ukraine in 1998, which will be its first such vessel.

The aircraft carrier had served for 28 years in naval campaigns including conflicts in the Falklands, Iraq and the Balkans. The 500-metre-long warship could carry 22 warplanes and nearly 1,100 sailors.

[buglerbilly]

HMS Queen Elizabeth Steps Out Into the Lime Light

(Source: BAE Systems; issued Feb. 13, 2011)

GLASGOW, United Kingdom --- Construction of the first of the two new aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy, HMS Queen Elizabeth, took a huge step forward today as workers at BAE Systems' Govan yard moved two giant sections of the hull together for the first time.

The structure is so big that it fills an entire hall at Govan and now extends beyond the doors onto the yard, providing a spectacular view from across the River Clyde.

Highlighting the skill and technology involved in British shipbuilding today, it took a team of 20 employees and remote controlled transporters just one hour to move 1,221 tonnes of steel over 100 metres across the shipyard. The hull section was then manoeuvred carefully into position to line up with the rest of the block.

Steven Carroll, Queen Elizabeth Class Project Director at BAE Systems’ Surface Ships division, said: “Seeing the midsection of the carrier come together brings into sharp focus the sheer scale and complexity of this engineering feat.

“With construction underway at six shipyards across the country, it is one of the biggest engineering projects in the UK today – second only to the London 2012 Olympics – and we’re all very proud to be a part of it.”

The two sections brought together today form the mid-section of the hull up to the hangar deck and is referred to as Lower Block 03. Workers will now continue to outfit the block, which on completion will weigh over 9,300 tonnes and stand over 23 metres tall, 63 metres long and 40 metres wide. She is set to embark on the next stage of her journey to Rosyth in the latter part of this year, where HMS Queen Elizabeth will be assembled in the dry dock.

As a member of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, BAE Systems is working in partnership with Babcock, Thales and the Ministry of Defence to deliver the nation’s flagships. This huge massive engineering project is rapidly gaining momentum and employs over 8,000 people across shipyards in Glasgow, Portsmouth, Appledore, Rosyth, Merseyside and Newcastle, with thousands more across the supply chain.

BAE Systems is also constructing the main stern section at its yard on the Clyde, which is the largest and most complex section of the carrier. At its Portsmouth facilities, work is well underway to construct the forward and lower stern sections of the hull, as well as the pole mast, whilst integration and testing of the ships’ complex mission system is underway at the Company’s Maritime Integration and Support Centre. Another team of BAE Systems engineers on the Isle of Wight is testing the advanced communication systems. The Company is set to begin work on the two island structures, which house the bridge and traffic control facilities, towards the end of the year.

Each 65,000 tonne carrier will provide the armed forces with a four acre military operating base which can be deployed worldwide. The vessels will be versatile enough to be used for operations ranging from supporting war efforts to providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

Navy to buy new aircraft

Published on Tue Feb 22 13:07:21 GMT 2011

How many P-8's do you get for a 1 Billion? 5-6? Cos you can bet thats the direction they are looking.............

THE Royal Navy is looking to buy a fleet of maritime patrol aircraft for up to £1 billion just weeks after the Ministry of Defence scrapped the new Nimrod aircraft at a cost of £3.6 billion.

The MoD confirmed last week that the navy wanted to buy its own maritime patrol aircraft to track enemy submarines to replace the Nimrods, which are being broken up for scrap.

The new RAF Nimrod MRA4s had not even come into service when the prime minister announced last October that as part of the strategic defence review he was scrapping Nimrod.

The navy, which was furious that RAF bosses had agreed to get rid of Nimrod at a time of increased submarine activity, has already set up a team to buy a replacement and ensure that it is flown by the Fleet Air Arm. The programme is being run by Commodore Simon Kings with a team made up of naval officers.

[buglerbilly]

RFA Fort George going into retirement...........take a hint RAN and buy her for peanuts, you need the capacity especially the helo capability...................


RFA Fort George leaving HM Naval Base Devonport for the last time
[Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

RFA Fort George sets sail on final voyage

A History and Honour news article
23 Feb 11

Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessel Fort George left Plymouth on her final voyage yesterday, before her planned retirement from distinguished service around the world.

The one-stop supply ship, RFA Fort George entered HM Naval Base Devonport for the final time earlier this month and offloaded her remaining cargo and equipment prior to yesterday's departure..............EDITED..........


RFA Fort George leaving HM Naval Base Devonport for the last time
[Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

[Milne Bay]

RFA Fort George going into retirement...........take a hint RAN and buy her for peanuts, you need the capacity especially the helo capability...................

]

How likely is this Bug - as a replacement or as extra capacity?
Maybe a package deal with Largs Bay?
MB

[McDethWivFries]

Could be interesting if they picked her up as well as a Bay . . .

[edit] - i would've thought they'd make it a replacement for Success?

[SteveJH]

Why would a Fort Victoria be Decomm'd rather then one of the much older Fort Rosalie's?

[buglerbilly]

How likely is this Bug - as a replacement or as extra capacity?
Maybe a package deal with Largs Bay?
MB

It isn't at the moment but then the BAY acquisition wasn't on the cards a few months ago. All we can do is voice our opinions and hope someone listens..............happens occasionally.

[buglerbilly]

Why would a Fort Victoria be Decomm'd rather then one of the much older Fort Rosalie's?

The Rosalie's are STORES-only ship, the Fort George a Replenishment/AOR ship..............the MoD think they have enough Tankers for the new-size RN for the next 5 years or so when many/most of the current Tanlers need replacing anyway, apart from the 2 x WAVE-class Tankers commissioned in 2003...........

[tiddles]

Could be useful ,but what sort of nick is she in seing as she is the one getting the flick. The Fort george Web Site shows that routine maintenance was done in August 2010. Anyhow at 17 years old there should be plenty of work left in her provided she has been kept in proper shape over those years. On paper a package deal looks good for us provided these ships are in reasonable condition but i suspect that others might think the same thing.Lets hope that we hear somthing soon on the Largs Bay at least.
http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&sqi=2&ved=0CCAQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.royalnavy.mod.uk%2Foperations-and-support%2Froyal-fleet-auxiliary%2Frfa-flotilla%2Ffleet-replenishment-ships%2Frfa-fort-george%2Findex.htm&ei=cB5mTaeRJMrJcbLrpY4M&usg=AFQjCNFeU9lZlNN1eAfBxhwgIZPGzkdy1w&sig2=N2IXhDXBNikgXP1Ldi7upw
Tiddles

[SteveJH]

The Rosalie's are STORES-only ship, the Fort George a Replenishment/AOR ship..............the MoD think they have enough Tankers for the new-size RN for the next 5 years or so when many/most of the current Tanlers need replacing anyway, apart from the 2 x WAVE-class Tankers commissioned in 2003...........

I thought the Victoria's were both Stores and AOR? Plus they are considerably larger, newer ships.

[amtp10f]

Are they double hulls? If not, forget it. Add in the fact she's 17 years old already and Navy would be reluctant to buy (you'd only be kicking the age problem down the track a few years plus maintenance support is a very big issue thanks to the LPA's).

As for replacing either the AO or the AOR, if you wanted a capability improvement, replace SIRIUS. If Navy was intelligent they would replace the AO and AOR with 3 new larger AOR type ships.

[Raven22]

If Navy was intelligent

Well there's your problem right there. Expecting the headshead of any service to be intelligent is an exercise in futility.

[buglerbilly]

I thought the Victoria's were both Stores and AOR? Plus they are considerably larger, newer ships.

They are, go to my original post on them...............

[buglerbilly]

Are they double hulls? If not, forget it. Add in the fact she's 17 years old already and Navy would be reluctant to buy (you'd only be kicking the age problem down the track a few years plus maintenance support is a very big issue thanks to the LPA's).

As for replacing either the AO or the AOR, if you wanted a capability improvement, replace SIRIUS. If Navy was intelligent they would replace the AO and AOR with 3 new larger AOR type ships.

NOT sure if she is single-hull OR double as I cannot remember when the RN swopped over from one to the other? I agree with your other comment............

[SteveJH]

NOT sure if she is single-hull OR double as I cannot remember when the RN swopped over from one to the other? I agree with your other comment............

Fairly sure the two waves are the RN/RFA's only double hulled AOR's.

[tiddles]

According to Beedel the Fort George is single hulled so IMO I will now say it is a waste of money to consider it unless it at a giveaway price & then maybe even not.
http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CBkQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnavy-matters.beedall.com%2Fmars.htm&ei=s7dmTej-MIi7ceLOlI8M&usg=AFQjCNHfwEMkv--OXR5hGxSYZn8F-F5aPA&sig2=PhQuyj8qpy25tVLUrpzfqQ
tiddles

[buglerbilly]

Well if thats the case only take her as an Interim vessel until SUCCESS is back in service, and then only if you get a take-away price.

Anyone who thinks that she will be back in service any time soon better think again............

As has already been said, we need 2-3 fleet tankers similar to the Fort Victoria's, large AOR capacity and large dry stores/ammo/etc capacity, the LHD's only make this requirement more urgent.

[tiddles]

What we need & what we get[3/5] might be two different things. I cant see the Greens letting the idea of the Govt. buying a single hulled AOR go anywhere,without a huge outcry,it is just the sort of cause that might interest them & certainly their supporters. The Greens dont seem to have a real Defence policy but the Govt. needs to keep them onside as best they can for political purposes. Regardless of our needs & even at giveaway price I cant see the Fort George out here anytime at all.It might make sense to you & me to buy it as a short time interim solution but these sort of things are lost on the general public & do not win any brownie points for the Govt.,in fact could be just the opposite.Another solution needs to be found thats if one exists.
Tiddles

[buglerbilly]

I understand your view BUT the Greens are irrelevant to this discussion............

[amtp10f]

International maritime pollution regs have changed (double hulls for tankers are now required). Although naval vessels have exemptions, the Navy decided that complying with the double hull regs would save us from potential grief down the track should one of our tankers hit the lumpy stuff.

[Unicorn]

Navantia continue to suggest at every opportunity that the RAN consider several Cantabria class AORs on the same principles as the Canberra's, build in Spain, fit out in Australia.

Makes sense, but when has that ever influenced the grey sponge at Russell?

.

[buglerbilly]

HMS Cumberland en route to Malta from Libya

A Military Operations news article

25 Feb 11

The Royal Navy's HMS Cumberland has now departed Benghazi in Libya, having safely extracted 207 entitled persons (EPs) and, despite heavy weather, is now making passage to Malta.


Britons and entitled persons are processed for transit to Malta aboard HMS Cumberland at the port of Benghazi in Libya
[Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Jay Allen, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

The Type 22 frigate was on her way back to the UK from operations in the Gulf to be decommissioned when she was ordered to stay in the eastern Mediterranean to evacuate Britons trapped by the unrest taking place in the North African country.

Lieutenant Commander James Farrant from Cumberland said:

"We had literally just popped out the north end of the Suez Canal when we got the call. We had been in the Arabian Gulf on security patrols."

HMS Cumberland's Commanding Officer, Captain Steve Dainton, said:

"There were some fairly harrowing tales of violence during the last couple of days and certainly there is a great deal of relief to see the safety of a Royal Navy warship arriving in Benghazi.

"The atmosphere is very good on board at the moment. There are obviously a number of relieved people that we embarked when we arrived in Benghazi.

"We've just managed to get everybody fed and watered for the night and hopefully bedded down for a bit of rest. The weather is quite rough," he added. "A lot of people are not feeling too good."


HMS Cumberland alongside at Benghazi
[Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Jay Allen, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

Lt Cdr Farrant continued:

"People are very happy to be involved in the operation to help people and save lives. We won't be going full speed. We want to keep the passengers as comfortable as possible. People have gone through a lot already; we don't want to put them through anything uncomfortable."

Once in Malta, the Foreign Office will arrange forward transport for the civilian passengers on board HMS Cumberland.

The MOD continues to assist Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials in Tripoli and has pre-positioned a number of other assets and personnel in the area.

HMS Cumberland has been based in the Gulf for the last four months where her duties have included helping to protect the Iraqi oil platforms that account for nearly 90 per cent of Iraq's national income. She has also supported counter-piracy operations on her way to and from the Gulf.

[buglerbilly]

Trident Nuclear Fleet Cuts Ruled Out by Liam Fox

(Source: British American Security Information Council; issued February 23, 2011)

A cut in the number of Trident submarines is not possible if the UK's nuclear deterrent is to be maintained, the defence secretary has said.

Dr Liam Fox told BBC Scotland that the current technology required the retention of all four submarines.

The Royal Navy currently operates 58 nuclear-armed ballistic missiles and about 200 nuclear warheads on four Vanguard-class submarines at Faslane.

His comments follow speculation the fleet could be cut from four to three.

Britain operates a "Continuous At Sea Deterrent", which means a fully-armed submarine is on patrol in the Atlantic at all times.

However, the fleet is ageing and in 2005 the Labour government pledged to build four new submarines at a cost of £20bn.

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown said in 2009 that he would be willing to cut the number of submarines from four to three in a bid to save money and contribute to global arms reduction.

In a speech last summer, Dr Fox said he would be prepared to follow suit, as long as the move did not compromise the UK's defences.

'Rogue regimes'

But speaking to a BBC Scotland documentary team, Dr Fox said: "At the moment the assessment is we need four.

"If you reduce the number you take an increased risk in your ability to deploy that deterrent at all times.

"So at the moment the technology says four. That's something that can always be kept under review."

Dr Fox said the coalition was committed to reducing the size of the UK's nuclear weapons stockpile, and the next generation of submarines would carry fewer warheads.

But he insisted that while other states were developing nuclear weapons, the UK needed to retain an independent deterrent.

He added: "We have rogue regimes like North Korea who are actually trying to develop nuclear weapons.

"We are seeing other countries potentially trying to develop nuclear weapons. And we cannot gamble with Britain's future security."

The coalition government has opted to delay work on the next generation of submarines until 2016.

Opponents of Trident believe the delay is an opportunity to get rid of Britain's entire nuclear deterrent.

The SNP's defence spokesman, Angus Robertson, said: "It's a weapon system which is unjustifiable.

"We can never use it. It's immoral, it's illegal, and frankly, we should be spending our money on more important things."

CND Scotland's Alan Mackinnon said the government's own security review found that the UK was far more at threat from terrorism, cyber attack or even natural disaster.

He added: "Nowhere down the line was there the threat of a nuclear attack from another country because that's just not on the horizon. It's just not going to happen."

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

Crane for Navy's new carriers arrives in Scotland

An Equipment and Logistics news article

7 Mar 11

The UK's largest crane, which will be used to help assemble the Royal Navy's new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, passed under the Forth bridges last week on its way to Babcock's Rosyth dockyard in Fife.


The crane on its way to Rosyth dockyard where it will be used to help assemble the two new Royal Navy aircraft carriers, the Queen Elizabeth and the Prince of Wales
[Picture: Mark Owens, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

The crane, which has been christened 'Goliath', arrived after a sea voyage from Shanghai, where it was specially constructed by Shanghai Zhenhua Port Machinery.

Goliath left Shanghai on 17 December last year on a specialist crane transport vessel which has travelled 14,000 nautical miles (26,000km) to deliver it to its new home in Rosyth.

The crane's delivery is a significant milestone in the assembly of the Royal Navy's new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers. The component parts of the carriers are being built at yards across the UK, but will be put together at Rosyth dockyard.

Sean Donaldson, Babcock's project director for the aircraft carriers' construction, said:

"This is a major landmark for the aircraft carriers project. After watching the Goliath crane being fabricated, it was fantastic to see it coming under the Forth bridges. I look forward to welcoming it to its new home in Rosyth."

The crane is being delivered partially-erected, with the girder and upper sections of the legs already assembled. It will be erected to its full height on the ship carrying it over a six-week period, before being winched from ship to shore directly onto the crane rails.

It will then take a further four months to erect, test and commission the crane for its final handover in the summer of 2011, ensuring that it will be ready for use by September 2011.

The new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers - Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales - promise to be the biggest and most powerful surface warships ever constructed for the Royal Navy.

Due to enter service in 2014 and 2016 respectively, the ships are being delivered by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance - an alliance comprising industry participants and the Ministry of Defence - in which the MOD acts as both client and participant.

[Jezza]

I understand your view BUT the Greens are irrelevant to this discussion............

arent they irrelevant most of the time

[SteveJH]

arent they irrelevant most of the time

I thought they were irrelevant all the time.

[buglerbilly]

Replacement for HMS Endurance announced

An Equipment and Logistics news article

25 Mar 11

The Royal Navy's ice patrol ship HMS Endurance is to be replaced with a Norwegian ship on a three-year loan basis.


The Norwegian ice patrol ship MV Polarbjørn will serve in the Royal Navy as HMS Protector
[Picture: GC Rieber Shipping]

Speaking in the House of Lords this week, Lord Astor, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Defence, said the new ship, to be called HMS Protector, will be leased for three years while HMS Endurance's future is considered:

"The intention is to lease MV Polarbjørn, a Norwegian ice patrol ship, for an initial period of three years," Lord Astor said.

The ship's mission is to patrol and survey the Antarctic and South Atlantic, after the Portsmouth-based Endurance suffered a flood in 2008 following a maintenance error off the coast of Chile.


HMS Endurance during an Antarctic survey mission in 2007 (stock image)
[Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Kelly Whybrow, Crown Copyright 2007]

HMS Endurance has been docked at HM Naval Base Portsmouth ever since she was transported back to the UK on a special container ship in 2009.

MV Polarbjørn, as HMS Protector, is due to arrive in May for refitting ahead of deployment.

Lord Astor said a contract for the lease was expected to be signed soon with GC Rieber Shipping - the Government's preferred bidders.

Six ships of the Royal Navy have previously been called HMS Protector, including an Antarctic survey vessel which served from 1936 to 1970.

The future of HMS Scott, which is not an icebreaker but which has been conducting patrols in the Antarctic, is yet to be announced.

[Unicorn]

Sad to see a once great Navy in the twilight of its history.

.

[buglerbilly]

Northrop Grumman to Supply Bridge and Navigation Suite for Next-Generation U.K. Aircraft Carriers


Artist's impression of the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier island. (Illustration: UK MoD)

15:19 GMT, March 29, 2011 LONDON | Northrop Grumman Corporation's Sperry Marine business unit has signed a full production contract for the Integrated Navigation Bridge System (INBS) for the U.K. Ministry of Defence's (MoD) Queen Elizabeth Class (QEC) Aircraft Carrier Programme. The company also signed a design phase contract for the Navigation Lights, Shapes and Sounds (NLSS). Terms of the contracts were not disclosed.

Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine will build and deliver the complete INBS, including electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS-N (U.K.)) for the new aircraft carriers. The system will include navigation planning, electronic charts and radar displays, as well as a comprehensive set of sensors and software. The contract also provides for equipment integration and testing. Deliveries are scheduled to be completed in 2018. Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine has already completed the initial design phase of the contract, including change requests, and is currently designing a Navigation Light System under an option in the production contract.

"Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine has a long and productive relationship with the Royal Navy as a major supplier of navigation radars, gyrocompasses, inertial navigation systems and platform management systems, and we recognize the critical importance of the new aircraft carriers for the defense posture of the U.K.," said J. Nolasco DaCunha, vice president of Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine. "Sperry Marine has installed more than 2,300 ECDIS systems on commercial ships and international naval vessels around the world, and the company's naval ECDIS systems are standard on U.S. Navy ships and submarines."

The INBS/ECDIS-N (U.K.) is based on Sperry Marine's advanced VisionMaster FT ship navigation technology and will integrate all of the ship's navigation sensors and systems into a modern, efficient, ergonomic network of multi-function workstations to meet operational requirements.

The VisionMaster FT ECDIS-N (U.K.) fully meets MoD specifications, NATO standards STANAG 7170 and STANAG 4564, and International Electrotechnical Commission standards IEC 62288 and IEC 61174.

In a ceremony at the Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine offices in New Malden, the contracts were awarded by BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies Ltd as a member of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance (ACA), the industrial alliance which includes BAE Systems Surface Ships Ltd, BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies Ltd, Thales U.K. Ltd, MoD and Babcock Ltd. The contracts were signed by David Bass, QEC Mission System Head of Procurement, and David Perry, vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman's Naval and Marine Systems Division.

[JKM Mk2]

People are talking about the 'critical importance of the new aircraft carriers.' But for what? Are they actually going to have any aircraft to fly off them -it's looking increasingly doubtful? Also I was under the impression that at least one of them will be mothballed (or sold) as soon as it is completed. It just doesn't seem like there is any planning going into what the role or makeup of the RN will be over the next 10/20 years -just ad-hoc cuts! I have to agree with Unicorn here. The RN is increasingly becoming history.

JKM

[buglerbilly]

HMS Lancaster to Get New Lease of Life

(Source: BAE Systems; issued March 31, 2011)

PORTSMOUTH, United Kingdom --- The Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate, HMS Lancaster, is undergoing an extensive refit at Portsmouth Naval Base as part of a £17.9 million contract with BAE Systems, reflecting the Company’s continued growth in support services.

The mid-life upkeep will significantly upgrade the capability of the 20 year old frigate to ensure she is ready to fulfil future operational commitments. The work includes upgrades to the ship’s Seawolf guided missile system, command system, communications and the installation of a small calibre 30mm gun system, which can be remotely operated. This will boost her air defence capability, improve the ship’s situational awareness and make it easier to enable future systems upgrades as operational requirements evolve.

A significant amount of work will also be undertaken on the ship’s hull as well as its power and propulsion machinery. This includes a new coating of underwater paint, which will deliver greater operational efficiency and reduced fuel consumption, refurbishment of her diesel generators and replacement of shafts and propellers.

Captain Tim Chidley, Superintendent Fleet Maintenance at Portsmouth Naval Base, said: “HMS Lancaster’s refit shows how even well founded relationships can learn and be strengthened. Novel integrated approaches to planning the project, adopting a more structured approach to partnering and challenging ourselves to improve through innovation have given this project added momentum. Getting all parties to look beyond ‘the contract’ to the ship’s return to operations has fostered real focused enthusiasm at all levels around a common aim.”

Barry Woolley, Head of the Ship Support Integrated Operations Team at BAE Systems, said: “The work that we are now undertaking in partnership with the Royal Navy here in Portsmouth will boost the war fighting capability of HMS Lancaster to ensure that she returns to the fleet in 12 months, fighting fit and continues to deliver exceptional capability to the Royal Navy for years to come.”

The project team conducted extensive surveys of the ship and her systems prior to the start of work in order to optimise planning and preparations for the refit. The project is expected to complete in March 2012, with HMS Lancaster set to return to the operational fleet later that month.

Working side by side with the Royal Navy at Portsmouth Naval Base, through a partnering relationship known as Team Portsmouth, the Company provides support to naval base infrastructure as well as the surface fleet. In particular, BAE Systems coordinates all aspects of repair, maintenance and support for the Hunt Class vessels and Type 45 destroyers, helping to maximise ship availability and reduce through life costs, ensuring the Royal Navy has the support it needs whenever and wherever it needs it.

-ends-

[Unicorn]

Trusty Lynx makes its last appearance at sea
28 March 2011



After more than 30 years’ service one of the mainstays of the Fleet Air Arm has made its final appearance at sea.

Nearly four decades to the day that the very first Lynx helicopter took to the skies, a Mk3 variant lifted off from the sprawling flight deck of HMS Ocean.

The last flight was a short 35-minute hop from the helicopter carrier in the Channel to the home of the Lynx, RNAS Yeovilton.

The aircraft – tail number XZ693 – shared the deck of the Mighty O with Apaches, Merlins, Sea Kings, Chinooks, Dauphins and the newer Mk8 Lynx.

The Lynx has been the backbone of destroyer and frigate operations, as well as the Antarctic patrol ship, since 1979. Over the past few years, however, the trusty helicopter has increasingly been replaced in the front line by the Mk8 Saturn.

Inwardly and outwardly the variants are noticeably different: the Mk3 has a smooth nose, while the Mk8’s is packed with sensors and kit while the older Lynx’s cockpit is more ‘analogue’, the Mk8’s is a digital extravaganza.

Despite the last embarkation of a Mk3 on a warship, don’t write the venerable aircraft off just yet. There are still four in service with 702 Naval Air Squadron, the Lynx training unit.

Cdr Mike Ryan, Commanding Officer of the Lynx Helicopter Force, said the Fleet Air Arm could “look back with considerable pride at the Mk3’s many operational achievements over thirty years of valuable service”.

As for the Mighty O, she’s conducting aviation trials in the Channel before she deploys next month with the Cougar amphibious task force to the Mediterranean.

ENDS

Source http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-events/rn-live/index.htm

[Chunder]

People are talking about the 'critical importance of the new aircraft carriers.' But for what? Are they actually going to have any aircraft to fly off them -it's looking increasingly doubtful? Also I was under the impression that at least one of them will be mothballed (or sold) as soon as it is completed. It just doesn't seem like there is any planning going into what the role or makeup of the RN will be over the next 10/20 years -just ad-hoc cuts! I have to agree with Unicorn here. The RN is increasingly becoming history.

JKM

Im of the belief they would be better off pairing back the RAF fast jet fleet for carrier capable aircraft. If they need to fly them off ships, then they have them, a-la USMC.

[buglerbilly]

HMS Scott returns from the Antarctic

A Military Operations news article

4 Apr 11

The Royal Navy's ocean survey vessel HMS Scott is hoping for a warm welcome on her return to Devonport on Sunday 10 April 2011, after travelling over 22,500 miles (36,000km) through one of the most austere maritime environments on the planet.


HMS Scott anchored in Neumayer Channel, Antarctica
[Picture: POA(Phot) Ray Jones, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

The ship left her home port last November and has now completed her second deployment to Antarctica. HMS Scott has spent the austral summer working on behalf of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the British Antarctic Survey and the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office.

The ship's tasks have included inspecting Antarctic research stations and unique areas of scientific interest, enforcing and observing the stringent environmental protective measures of the Antarctic Treaty.

This helps to ensure that the pristine nature of Antarctica is maintained for generations to come. HMS Scott has also used her state-of-the art sonar equipment to map the Antarctic seas to ensure safe passage for the plethora of cruise ships that are now visiting the region.

Thanks to the good weather and the use of smaller boats, the ship has been able to conduct visits to the bases of thirteen different nations, significantly more than in previous years.

Each visit allowed the ship's company to see how different nationalities cope with life in the 'deep freeze'. A common thread was the importance of food; from Chinese delicacies at their Great Wall Station, to afternoon tea and cakes at the British base at Rothera, Scott's sailors were lucky to sample food from all over the globe.


HMS Scott is dwarfed by an ice cliff in Neumayer Channel, Antarctica
[Picture: POA(Phot) Ray Jones, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

The Commanding Officer of HMS Scott, Commander George Tabeart, said:

"The ice patrol ship deployment is a privileged step change from HMS Scott's usual tasking of ocean survey. The capabilities of the ship allow a variety of alternative activities that are complementary to the work that has been previously undertaken by HMS Endurance and will be undertaken by HMS Protector.

"With safety of life paramount in these remote waters, our survey work will ensure that tourists can safely visit the pristine environment and witness the abundance of wildlife."

HMS Scott's deployment to the South Atlantic has been in support of the UK's long-term strategic, scientific, environmental and sustainable resource management interests in the Antarctic, South Georgia, the South Sandwich Islands, and the wider area.

The UK protects these interests, and the nation's sovereignty, by taking a leading role in the Antarctic Treaty system through a policy of presence, governance and commitment to deliver the UK's international obligations.


Gentoo penguins look on during HMS Scott's visit to Port Lockroy, Antarctica
[Picture: POA(Phot) Ray Jones, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

The ship is due to undergo a short maintenance period on her return to Devonport before returning to her deep-water ocean survey duties.

Commissioned in 1997, HMS Scott is the fifth largest vessel in the fleet at 13,500 tons (12,250 metric tonnes). Her size is a consequence of her unique sonar fit, capable of surveying the deepest oceans in continuous lines of up to 400 miles (640km) in length.

The full ship's crew is 78, but the crew rotation system means 52 are onboard at any one time during a standard 35-day operational cycle, with the remainder of the crew taking leave.

By operating in such a manner the ship maximises its operational availability and effectiveness by being at sea for 307 days per year.

The Royal Navy has recently announced the procurement of HMS Protector, a Norwegian ice patrol ship, which will initially be leased for three years. The ship's mission will be to patrol and survey the Antarctic and South Atlantic while the long-term future of HMS Endurance is considered. See Related News.

[buglerbilly]

HMS TRIUMPH has just returned to Devonport..........guess who launched Tomahawak missiles (see flag at bottom pic)......

[buglerbilly]

Officer shot dead on board submarine HMS Astute

A Royal Navy officer has been killed after a rating turned a gun on him following a dispute between sailors on Britain’s most modern submarine.

By Thomas Harding, Defence Correspondent

2:35PM BST 08 Apr 2011

The incident happened this afternoon during a changeover of armed guards at the pier where the £1 billion nuclear submarine Astute was berthed in Southampton.

It is understood that the submariner pulled out his 9mm pistol and shot the officer and fellow sailor who had come to change the guard. The officer was killed outright and the rating suffered severe wounds that are said to be critical but not life-threatening.

The sailor was disarmed and has been detained by Hampshire police. Sources suggest that he will be charged with murder.

“It happened earlier today when they had the weapons changeover for the sailors who are guarding Astute,” a source said.

“It appears this rating got into an argument then just went crazy and began shooting people. He has not served in Afghanistan so it doesn’t appear to be related to combat stress like PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder).”

Astute was visiting Southampton as part of a goodwill visit during sea trials before she becomes fully operational later this year.

She is the first of seven boats in her class and will be the most sophisticated hunter-killer submarine in the world when she begins operations in earnest.

However she has already attracted controversy after her first captain Commander Andy Coles was relieved of command after the boat ran aground on mud off the Isle of Skye last October.

He was replaced by Cdr Iain Breckridge who was in command of the submarine Tireless when an oxygen generator exploded killing two crew while she was submerged under the polar icecap in 2007. He received an OBE in recognition of his leadership skills in bringing the crew to safety to the surface through the ice while the boat filled with noxious fumes.

The incident took place in the Eastern Docks area of the city. Police have sealed off the area.

A police spokesman said: "Hampshire police were called by their Ministry of Defence colleagues at 12.12pm today and are currently liaising with them to establish the exact circumstances of the incident.

"People should be reassured there is no risk to public safety."

Television news pictures showed police vehicles, fire engines and a helicopter believed to be the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance on the dockside alongside the submarine.

The vessel arrived on Wednesday, following 46 days at sea for the 98-strong crew, for an informal five day visit.

The submarine was at 38/9 berth, with a 50 metre exclusion zone being patrolled by MoD police officers at all times.

During its stay HMS Astute was hosting several visits from sea scouts and local school and college pupils from the throughout the city and New Forest.

HMS Astute previously hit the headlines when it ran aground on a shingle bank between the Scottish mainland and the Isle of Skye and remained marooned for several hours.

The embarrassing incident in October last year cost Commander Andy Coles his command of the submarine. His successor is commanding officer Iain Breckenridge.

HMS Astute was named and launched by the Duchess of Cornwall in June 2007 before being welcomed into the Royal Navy in August last year at a commissioning ceremony at Faslane Naval Base on the Clyde.

The submarine weighs 7,800 tonnes, equivalent to nearly 1,000 double-decker buses, and is almost 100 metres (328ft) long.

Its Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles are capable of delivering pinpoint strikes from 2,000km (1,240 miles) with conventional weapons.

The submarine's nuclear reactor means it does not need refuelling and it makes its own air and water, enabling it to circumnavigate the globe without needing to surface.

Built by defence giant BAE Systems at Barrow in Furness, Cumbria, it was the first in a fleet of six which will replace the Royal Navy's Trafalgar class submarines.

The £1.2billion submarine - flagship of the Navy’s submarine fleet - made headlines last October when it ran aground off the Scottish coast.

The boat, which is first in its class, ran aground by its stern in a manoeuvre that “went slightly wrong” after it had dropped some sailors ashore in tidal waters off the Isle of Skye.

A few weeks after the Isle of Skye incident it broke down on its first day back at sea and had to limp back to port.

The 97m-long (318ft) HMS Astute is described as the stealthiest ever built in the UK.

It is supposed to be capable of staying at sea for three months at a time.

The submarine weighs more than 7,000 tonnes.

In place of a periscope, the sub has a towering 'Optronic Mast,' gathering information via fibre optic cables and transmitting images to the control room in high definition format.

Its 39,000 acoustic panels mask its sonar signature, meaning it can go undetected at sea and can even listen to mobile phone conversations.

Its nuclear reactor will not need to be refuelled once during its projected 25 years of service.

The stair wells and corridors are narrow, the ceilings are low and bunk spaces that are the size of a reasonable double bedroom sleep up to 18 seamen.

[buglerbilly]

Politician tackles gunman who shot officer on submarine

April 10, 2011 .


Scene of killing ... HMS Astute. Photo: AP

LONDON: A Royal Navy officer was killed and another seriously injured in a shooting on a British nuclear-powered submarine which was only halted when a visiting politician tackled the gunman.

Another member of the navy was arrested on suspicion of murder on Friday morning in Southampton. Officials stressed that the shooting was not related to terrorism.

The attack, aboard the navy's most advanced and newest submarine, HMS Astute, came to an end when the leader of the local council disarmed the gunman and wrestled him to the ground. Royston Smith was on a guided tour of the submarine, which was in Southampton on a five-day visit after seven weeks at sea. HMS Astute has only been in service since August.


Royston Smith... tackled a gunman.

Mr Smith told the BBC: ''He had a magazine with 30 rounds in it so I took the view that someone had to stop him.

''At some point I decided that the best form of defence was to try to disarm him. He fired again while I had hold of the weapon. I had a strange feeling. I was not sure if I'd been hit … but I wasn't, thankfully.''

Mr Smith, a former member of the Royal Air Force, pushed the gunman to the ground and prised the weapon from his grasp. He then restrained the man with the help of the council's chief executive, who along with the mayor was on the tour.

Witnesses said armed police, firefighters and paramedics were quickly sent to the docks. The other crew member who was shot was taken to hospital with significant injuries. His condition was described as stable.

Police said submarine security was not breached as part of the incident. Thirty witnesses will be questioned.

Agence France-Presse

[Tim]

Anyone have any other details/speculation on the crew member that did the shooting? Really sad state of affairs, I'm curious what on earth could have prompted it...

[buglerbilly]

Who let Moondogg the rapper guard sub?

Sailor held after gun killing on HMS Astute changed his name by deed poll - and wrote violent rap lyrics

By Christopher Leake

Last updated at 11:23 PM on 9th April 2011


Smiling: This picture, taken on board HMS Astute, shows Ryan Donovan, circled, smiling with his fellow crewmates earlier this week. Donovan, who was unemployed before joining the Forces, bizarrely changed his name by deed poll to 'Reggie Moondogg'

The Royal Navy faced serious questions over its recruitment policy last night after disturbing details were revealed about the sailor held over a gun killing on a nuclear submarine.

Hampshire Police have been given more time to question Able Seaman Ryan Donovan, 22, after the fatal shooting of Lieutenant-Commander Ian Molyneux on board HMS Astute.

But it is now known that Donovan, who was unemployed before joining the Forces, bizarrely changed his name by deed poll to ‘Reggie Moondogg’. Social networking websites reveal that he wrote a series of violent rap songs in which he boasted about being ‘big and mean’ and a ‘serious sinner’ and talked about ‘dead presidents’.

Last night, a senior MP said the disclosures raised serious questions about why Donovan – who was about to take over guard duty on Astute when the shooting happened – had been allowed to go to sea in the first place.

Liberal Democrat MP and defence expert Mike Hancock said he planned to quiz Defence Ministers in Parliament about how Donovan was vetted and allowed to join the crew of the £1.2 billion nuclear attack submarine.

‘I am surprised that this man was on a nuclear submarine,’ he said.

‘I would have thought there was tight scrutiny for our submariners, so how on earth he passed I don’t know.

"I will be questioning what’s going on. I feel very unsure about somebody who has an element of eccentricity about himself – by calling himself Reggie Moondogg, putting it on Facebook – joining the Navy, getting recruited to serve on a nuclear submarine and then being given a weapon to guard it.

‘So there must be some questions about his suitability. I can’t understand how the vetting programme has let this happen.’

The Mail on Sunday has established that in late 2009, Donovan, from Woolwich, South-East London, picked ‘Moondogg’ from a book of dogs’ names and said he had always liked the name ‘Reggie’.

The aspiring musician, who was unemployed at the time, was quoted in an article as saying: ‘My mum is getting used to it now and I quite like it. It has a certain ring to it.’

He said he took up rapping because he ‘fancied something different’.

Claiming to be signed to the record label Trigger Digit House, he showcased his rapping talents on the MySpace website. Donovan was also pictured on networking website Twitter smiling in a bar next to a table covered with bottles of cider.

The shooting, on Friday, came after HMS Astute docked in Southampton on a ‘goodwill’ visit after spending 46 days undergoing sea trials in the Irish Sea.

Yesterday, a man who occupied a cell near Donovan’s at Southampton Central police station revealed that the submariner had been very emotional when in his cell after questioning.

As magistrates gave police an extra 36 hours to question the seaman, Bradley Tennent, 19, who spent Friday night in an adjoining cell, said: ‘He kept calling everyone “Sir,” addressing them “Yes Sir, No Sir” as if he was in the Forces.

‘He must have slept for just one hour all night.’
Mr Tennent, who was released without charge yesterday after being arrested for allegedly being drunk and disorderly, added: ‘He kept asking for lawyers.’

Donovan was arrested by Hampshire Police after father-of-four Lieut-Cmdr Molyneux, 36, the vessel’s weapons engineering officer, was shot in the chest with an SA80 assault rifle in front of visiting dignitaries. Fellow officer Lieut-Cmdr Chris Hodge was seriously injured but survived and was still in hospital last night.

Before they begin training, Navy recruits must pass an aptitude test, which includes their abilities for reasoning, English language, numeracy and understanding basic mechanics.

Personal qualities and life experiences are assessed by a careers adviser and all candidates have a medical examination, which includes measuring heart rate, blood pressure, cholesterol levels and providing a urine sample.

The final stage is a security check. Successful candidates must complete a security questionnaire before their application is forwarded to the Ministry of Defence for approval.

Senior Navy sources said last night they were mystified about why Donovan had apparently snapped and fired six shots in the sub’s operations room.

The sources dismissed suggestions the seaman had lost his temper because he was denied shore leave or that it was because he was unable to use the toilets as they were being used by VIP guests.

They also denied that Donovan may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Last Wednesday, two days before the incident, Donovan was pictured on board Astute smiling and relaxing with crewmates after it docked in Southampton for its five-day visit. He was apparently without a care in the world.

One senior naval commander said: ‘It’s beyond belief that this could have happened on a submarine. They are such close-knit communities and it’s like one big family, because the men spend so much time together at close quarters for long periods.

‘We simply do not know what caused this tragedy, but the police and Navy inquiries will find out.’

Southampton’s Mayor Carol Cunio, 72, yesterday told how she helped save the life of wounded Lieut-Cmdr Hodge by pressing her hand against a gunshot wound to his side.

Grandmother Mrs Cunio, a retired primary school teacher, described how a bullet had ripped straight through the right side of the officer’s body, just below the ribcage, and exited from his back.

Mrs Cunio said: ‘I instantly went into first aid mode. I used my hand to stem the blood from his wound and held his hand. I kept talking to him and he was able to talk to me.

He said his back hurt and I told him he was all right but he had been shot. There was an exit wound on his back.’

Mrs Cunio said a team of Navy medics arrived moments later.

During the drama, Southampton Council leader Royston Smith, a former RAF engineer who served in the 1982 Falklands War, single-handedly wrestled the gunman to the floor and disarmed him, pushing his rifle under a table out of reach.

Last night Lieut-Cmdr Molyneux’s widow Gillian led tributes to the dead officer.

She said: ‘Ian was utterly devoted to his family. Everything he did was for us. He was very proud to be an officer in the Royal Navy Submarine Service. He will live on in our four beautiful children.’

Captain Phil Buckley, Captain of the Faslane Flotilla to which HMS Astute belongs, said: ‘Ian Molyneux was a thoroughly professional and competent submarine engineer and a great asset to HMS Astute and the Royal Navy’s Submarine Service.

‘His untimely death is a big blow to his family, who have the Flotilla’s deepest sympathy.

‘His loss will also be felt by his shipmates and across the Service. He was, simply, a good bloke.’
Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, First Sea Lord, said: ‘This is a very sad day for the Royal Navy and in particular the Submarine Service.

‘Our submarines are crewed by a highly professional cadre of sailors, many of whom are actively involved today in operations in the North Atlantic, Mediterranean and Indian Ocean.

‘This incident is indeed tragic and the Royal Navy, in co-operation with the Hampshire Constabulary, will investigate this incident fully.

‘My personal thoughts and sympathies and those of the whole Royal Navy are with the family of Lieut-Cmdr Molyneux, and that of the injured submariner.’

The MoD refused to make any comment about Donovan or his vetting when he was recruited.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1375303/HMS-Astute-shooting-Sailor-held-gun-killing-nuclear-sub-changed-deed-poll-Moondogg--wrote-violent-rap-lyrics.html#ixzz1J5aciSrM

[buglerbilly]

Anyone have any other details/speculation on the crew member that did the shooting? Really sad state of affairs, I'm curious what on earth could have prompted it...

By the looks of it he is a Wannabe.............someone seeking "glory" no matter the cost............

[buglerbilly]

Submarine shooting: Ryan Donovan charged

Ryan Donovan faces murder and attempted murder charges after fatal shooting on Royal Navy nuclear sub

Ben Quinn

guardian.co.uk, Sunday 10 April 2011 23.03 BST


The scene in Southampton docks where Lt Cdr Ian Molyneux was shot and killed aboard the Royal Navy's nuclear submarine HMS Astute. Photograph: Chris Ison/PA

A Royal Navy serviceman has been charged with the murder of a colleague on board a nuclear submarine on Friday.

Able Seaman Ryan Samuel Donovan, 22, was charged on Sunday with the murder of Lieutenant Commander Ian Molyneux, 36, who was fatally shot on board HMS Astute as it was docked in Southampton on a goodwill visit.

Hampshire police said that Donovan was also charged with the attempted murder of Petty Officer Christopher Brown, 36, Chief Petty Officer David McCoy, 37, and Lieutenant Commander Christopher Hodge, 45, who remains in hospital after he was shot.

Donovan, of Hillside Road, Dartford, Kent, is in custody and will appear at Southampton Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Nick Hawkins, chief prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service in Wessex, said: "I have been working closely with Hampshire Constabulary and now have authorised them to charge Ryan Samuel Donovan with Ian Molyneux's murder and with the attempted murder of Christopher Brown, David McCoy, and Christopher Hodge.

"Having reviewed the evidence, I am satisfied that there is sufficient to charge him, and that it is in the public interest to do so."

Lt Cdr Molyneux's widow, Gillian, paid tribute to her late husband on Sunday, describing the father of four as "utterly devoted to his family".

She added: "Everything he did was for us. He was very proud to be an officer in the Royal Navy submarine service."

A group of children had just left HMS Astute and a party of dignitaries, including Southampton city council's mayor, chief executive and leader, was being shown around when the incident happened.

The visit to Southampton by HMS Astute was billed as the first chance for members of the public outside Scotland and the north-west of England, where she was built, to see her.

[buglerbilly]

Thales Signs New Merlin Support Contract with LM

(Source: Thales UK; issued April 12, 2011)

Thales UK has signed a new contract with Lockheed Martin UK for the next five-year phase of the existing 25-year Integrated Merlin Operational Support (IMOS) programme.

This new contract covers the period April 2011 to March 2016 and continues to provide an availability-based support package for the acoustic sub-system for the Merlin Mk1 and Mk2 helicopters operated by the Royal Navy.

The Merlin's acoustic sub-system comprises the Folding Light Acoustic System for Helicopters (FLASH) Active Dipping Sonar, combined with a sonics sub-system for sonobuoy processing. FLASH is the Royal Navy's principal airborne sensor system for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and also equips the US Navy MH60-R ASW helicopters, French, Norwegian and Swedish NFH90s and is in service with the United Arab Emirates in the Cougar helicopter.

The IMOS contract ensures the availability of depot stock levels to support the Royal Navy's forward fleet by providing service management, supply support, technical support and equipment performance analysis.

This period of support will see the replacement of the Thales sonics sub-system by a phased introduction of the Thales acoustic sub-system as part of the Merlin Capability Sustainment Programme, which introduces a new common acoustic processor incorporating the latest processing technology. Thales's naval business facility at Brest will continue to be the main sub-contractor for the FLASH Active Dipping Sonar sub-system.

Phil Naybour, head of Thales UK's naval business, said: "The FLASH dipping sonar is a proven world-class sonar system and an integral part of the Merlin's outstanding ASW capability. This contract continues Thales's long-term commitment to provide efficient and effective support solutions through a partnered approach with Lockheed Martin and the Royal Navy."

The FLASH sensor is designed for deep and shallow water ASW operations and is proven in worldwide littoral environments. FLASH is the most versatile ASW sensor for use in support of operations conducted by independent warships or task groups. The system offers the best optimisation between mechanical performance (weight, volume) and acoustic performance (optimal frequency).

Thales is a global technology leader for the defence & security and the aerospace & transport markets. In 2010 the company generated revenues of £11.2bn (EUR 13.1bn), with 68,000 employees in 50 countries. With its 22,500 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements. Thales UK employs 8,000 staff based at 40 locations. In 2010 Thales UK’s revenues were around £1.5bn.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

QUEEN ELIZABETH CLASS AIRCRAFT CARRIER RADAR DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES

11 April, 2011


Artisan 3D Radar
Artisan 3D realizes the full potential of modern anti-aircraft warfare (AAW) missile systems and provides unrivalled performance in the littoral. It delivers a level of track quality suitable for air traffic management and includes world-beating electronic protection measures to maintain detection ranges even when attacked by complex jammers.

Farnborough, United Kingdom – As the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers start to take shape in UK shipyards, one of its new radars is already being tested on the Isle of Wight off the south coast of England.

The new ARTISAN 3D radar that will track the aircraft operating from the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers continues its manufacturing and test program and has undertaken aircraft tracking trials on a full-size mock-up of the carrier’s superstructure. This has proved it will be able to operate effectively in close proximity to the other surveillance and communications systems co-located with the radar on the new carrier.

ARTISAN 3D is a new medium range radar which – as well as performing air traffic management for the Queen Elizabeth Class – provides replacement surveillance, target tracking, back-up navigation and Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) capabilities to the UK’s Type 23 frigates and amphibious fleet.

The radar’s improved surveillance and tracking accuracy also provides benefits in the inshore environment. With modern targets smaller and quicker than those previously faced, the new radar is better able to distinguish between those targets and background clutter, particularly over land. The use of lightweight materials delivers greater performance than the radar it will replace without incurring a weight penalty, which would affect ship stability.

ARTISAN 3D has been designed for greater reliability and a reduced maintenance requirement that will set new standards for this class of radar. It will be fitted to the current fleet of frigates and amphibious ships during standard maintenance periods to ensure that no operational time is lost while the ships receive the updated capability.

Group Captain Mike Quigley, Short Range Air Defense Team Leader at the Ministry of Defense said “The delivery of ARTISAN is keenly anticipated by the Royal Navy, bringing with it improved performance at a lower through-life cost.”

The first full system is due to be delivered to the Land Based Test Facility in Portsmouth, UK later this year where it will be integrated in advance of the first ship fit. HMS Queen Elizabeth, the first of the two UK Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, will be fitted with her ARTISAN 3D radar during her final assembly in Rosyth.

Les Gregory, Radar Director, BAE Systems Mission Systems, said: “ARTISAN 3D is a prime example of the world-leading radar capability which BAE Systems provides to the UK and customers worldwide and will, I am sure, delight both customers and users.”

[buglerbilly]

'Non-slip paint' is a clue to possible reprieve for threatened Harrier jets

Published Date: 22 April 2011

By David Maddox

Political correspondent, The Scotsman newspaper

Storm-in-a-teacup, non-slip paint means bugger all as far as re-operating Harrier is concerned, its juts standard practice for deck areas where sailors and equipment needs to operate...............

Refitted aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious is being prepared to accommodate combat aircraft, prompting further speculation that the government is preparing to perform a U-turn on the mothballing of the Harrier fleet.

The Scotsman has learned that the ship's deck, which has been earmarked as a helicopter carrier, has been painted with special paint which would allow for Harriers to fly from it.

While the Ministry of Defence has claimed that this would be normal, even if Illustrious does not have Harriers, Dunfermline and West Fife MP Thomas Docherty told The Scotsman that he was informed on a visit to Rosyth that a grade of paint is being used specifically to allow the fighter jets to be launched.

The suggestions come amid increasing speculation that UK ministers regret the decision in last autumn's Strategic and Security Defence Review to mothball the 90 Harrier fighters early and leave Britain without a functioning aircraft carrier for a decade.

With Britain involved in operations in Libya, the UK has been forced to fly jets from Italian airbases and RAF Marham in Norfolk because it is unable to put a carrier in the Mediterranean.

The Italian bases have proven to be problematic logistically for the RAF and there were also threats at one stage by the Italian government to withdraw their availability.

Defence Secretary Liam Fox is believed to be pushing for the Harriers to be brought back and either Illustrious or the recently mothballed Ark Royal to come back into action.Mr Docherty, a member of the Commons Defence Select Committee, was shown on a recent visit to the shipyard in Rosyth, where Illustrious is being refitted, that the carrier's deck has been painted with non-slip paint required for Harriers to be launched from it.

This was denied by the MoD but Mr Docherty suggested that the instruction to do this may have come from the navy or even Dr Fox in an effort to give Britain an aircraft carrier again.

And he said he intends to put Dr Fox under pressure over the lack of an aircraft carrier when the defence secretary appears before the select committee next week.

"Having visited HMS Illustrious last week I know it can be ready in a matter of weeks," he said.

"It is clear yet again the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Government have made the wrong choices on defence and the flawed strategic defence review must now be reopened.

"It is disgraceful that while British forces are enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya, the resources to do their job are mothballed by the Government. I will raise this matter when Liam Fox appears in front of the Defence Committee next week."

Last night a spokeswoman for the MoD denied a U-turn is imminent.

"There are currently no plans to bring the Harriers back into operation," she said.

"The paint used is non-slip paint which would be put on the deck anyway for safety reasons to prevent people and equipment from slipping."

Taking the Harriers out of service early has also had a financial cost on the MoD with The Scotsman revealing last month that the government had to write off £1.4 billion in wasted spending out of a total of £6 billion.

[buglerbilly]

The U.K. pays the cost for carrier aviation

By Philip Ewing Thursday, April 28th, 2011 11:05 am



The Royal Navy’s pending class of two aircraft carriers, the Queen Elizabeth and the Prince of Wales, could end up costing more than double what government officials initially projected, according to a BBC report today. It underscores how big a deal it was for the U.K. to decide to buy F-35C Lightning IIs, as opposed to the delayed B version. When the Brits shifted to the Cs last fall, it was read in Washington as just another blow against the B, but many Americans may not have realized the consequences it would also have in today’s Austerity Britain. The Royal Navy now needs to redesign one or both carriers to accommodate the conventional C models, and that could raise the cost of the ships from £5.2 billion — or about $8.7 billion — to £7 billion, or about $11.7 billion.

Or it could be worse — although there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, wrote the BBC’s Robert Peston:


One defence industry veteran said the final bill was bound to be nearer £10 billion, though a government official insisted that was way over the top. The Ministry of Defence and the Treasury believe that total final costs could be nearer £6bn, if only one of the carriers is reconfigured to take the preferred version of America’s Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. An MoD official said no final decision had been taken on whether the first carrier to be built, the Queen Elizabeth, or the second carrier, the Prince of Wales, or both would be reconfigured. He said it would probably be the case that changing the design specification for the Prince of Wales would be the cheapest option.

But if that happened, it is not clear when — if ever — the Queen Elizabeth, due to enter service in 2019, would actually be able to accommodate jets (as opposed to helicopters). Whatever happens, the increase in the bill will be substantial — and is only regarded by the Treasury as affordable because the increment is likely to be incurred later than 2014/15, when the expenditure constraints put in place by the Chancellor’s spending review come to an end.

The Royal Navy likes to look on the bright side: It argues that the F-35C will end up being a more capable aircraft (longer range, more payload) and cheaper to buy per bird. And it will make the Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales — or whichever one is the full-fledged carrier — an equal partner with the U.S. in a potential future conflict, launching first-day-of-the-war sorties with the same aircraft that the Americans will be flying. Assuming, of course, that Britons are willing to continue paying what it costs to field carriers and air wings.

Read more: http://www.dodbuzz.com/2011/04/28/the-u-k-pays-the-cost-for-carrier-aviation/#ixzz1KsSgBF11
DoDBuzz.com

[Milne Bay]

The U.K. pays the cost for carrier aviation

By Philip Ewing Thursday, April 28th, 2011 11:05 am



The Royal Navy’s pending class of two aircraft carriers, the Queen Elizabeth and the Prince of Wales, could end up costing more than double what government officials initially projected, according to a BBC report today. It underscores how big a deal it was for the U.K. to decide to buy F-35C Lightning IIs, as opposed to the delayed B version. When the Brits shifted to the Cs last fall, it was read in Washington as just another blow against the B, but many Americans may not have realized the consequences it would also have in today’s Austerity Britain. The Royal Navy now needs to redesign one or both carriers to accommodate the conventional C models, and that could raise the cost of the ships from £5.2 billion — or about $8.7 billion — to £7 billion, or about $11.7 billion.

Or it could be worse — although there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, wrote the BBC’s Robert Peston:



The Royal Navy likes to look on the bright side: It argues that the F-35C will end up being a more capable aircraft (longer range, more payload) and cheaper to buy per bird. And it will make the Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales — or whichever one is the full-fledged carrier — an equal partner with the U.S. in a potential future conflict, launching first-day-of-the-war sorties with the same aircraft that the Americans will be flying. Assuming, of course, that Britons are willing to continue paying what it costs to field carriers and air wings.

Read more: http://www.dodbuzz.com/2011/04/28/the-u-k-pays-the-cost-for-carrier-aviation/#ixzz1KsSgBF11
DoDBuzz.com

So will the UK carriers retain the ski-jump, or will the modifications include catapult launching?
With the ski-jump, can landings be carried out between launches?
It appears that the ski-jump eliminates the angled flight deck, so there will only be one avenue available for launch. Looks a bit restrictive.
MB

[Unicorn]

The ski jump will be replaced by catapults and arrestor wires.

.

[buglerbilly]

Politicians hide their plans to put French jets on Royal Navy carriers

The Royal Navy won't be flying Anglo-US Joint Strike Fighters, but providing a platform for French Rafales as part of an EU force, writes Christopher Booker.


A French Navy Rafale - which may be the air power of the Royal Navy in years to come Photo: AFP/GETTY

By Christopher Booker

7:00PM BST 30 Apr 2011

IF Booker had any brains he'd be dangerous. Thankfully he has the intellect and cranial capacity of a crushed gnat............:voodoo He's a right-wing moron and thats probably insulting to morons..........

Since the decision to go to F-35C Carrier version, the ability to operate other conventional aircraft becomes emminently possible which includes Rafale, F-18, etc and still includes F-35B WHEN that version finally makes it to in-service with the USMC.

France AND Britain have an agreement in place to provide NATO Carrier coverage with each other's CVF and/or De Gaulle Nuke Carrier when they have a carrier in refit or down due to failure. That agreement was put in place a year or two ago. The fact they can now interoperate each others planes off each others Carriers is a huge step forward. The fact the USN/USMC can also do so is equally a huge step forward.

This idiot has the RN taken over by the French?!! Like I said, a MORON!

The magnificent military pageantry of the royal wedding coincided, sadly, with yet another humiliating instance of the precipitate decline in Britain’s military power. There has long been something very odd about the two giant aircraft carriers which are to be the centrepiece of Britain’s defence capability over the next 50 years – one to be instantly mothballed, the other not due in service for another decade. Now, it seems, the bill for this project is to rise yet again, by further billions of pounds, because, according to the Ministry of Defence, one carrier needs extensive modification to accommodate the Joint Strike Fighters we are allegedly building with the US.

When are the MoD and our politicians going to tell us the truth about these ships – which has been hidden in plain view for years? The purpose of these latest changes is not to accommodate Anglo-US JSFs, which may never be built, but – as I first reported as long ago as 2006 – to equip the carriers to fly French-built Rafales.

Ever since 1996, under the last Tory government, these carriers have been planned as a joint Anglo-French project. Their only purpose has been to serve as the main Anglo-French contribution to the European Rapid Reaction Force, as agreed by Tony Blair at Helsinki in 1999, and confirmed between the lines in several treaties since, including the latest, signed by David Cameron and President Sarkozy last November.

This is where the 600-year history of the Royal Navy is to end – sailing partly French-built ships, crewed by British sailors, as a platform for inadequate French aircraft with French pilots (and with escorts provided by other EU nations such as Spain). But why are our politicians so reluctant to admit what they are up to, and trying to pretend that we shall somehow still have an independent Royal Navy, equipped with aircraft at least partly British? That is not what they are spending vast sums of our money to achieve, and it is time they came clean about it.

[buglerbilly]

United Kingdom – MK 15 PHALANX Close-In Weapon System CIWS) Block 1B Baseline 2

(Source: Defense Security Cooperation Agency; issued April 29, 2011)

WASHINGTON --- The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress Monday of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of the United Kingdom of Ordnance Alteration Kits for conversion and upgrades of MK15 PHALANX Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $137 million.

The Government of the United Kingdom (UK) has requested the sale of 20 Block 1A to Block 1B Baseline 2 configuration Ordnance Alteration Kits and 16 Block 1B Baseline 1 to Baseline 2 Ordnance Alteration Kits for conversion and upgrades of MK15 PHALANX Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), spare and repair parts, support equipment, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical documentation, software support, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services, and all other related elements of program support. The estimated cost is $137 million.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to maintain and improve the security of a key NATO partner that has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and economic power in Europe.

The MK 15 PHALANX CIWS overhauls/upgrades will be used for close-in ship self-defense against air and surface threats onboard the UK’s naval combatants and auxiliaries. The MK 15 PHALANX CIWS Block 1B Baseline 2 upgrades will provide enhanced electro-optical and radiofrequency close-in detection, tracking and engagement capabilities over the UK’s existing MK 15 PHALANX systems, while improving CIWS supportability, maintainability and interoperability with U.S. systems. The UK, which already has earlier versions of the MK 15 PHALANX in its inventory, will have no problem absorbing these upgrades and support into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The prime contractor will be Raytheon Systems Company in Tucson, Arizona. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to the UK.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

BAE Systems Receives New Contract To Support Falklands Islands Protection Ship


HMS Clyde during sea trials. (Photo: Royal Navy)

14:47 GMT, May 3, 2011 Portsmouth, United Kingdom | The Royal Navy’s patrol vessel HMS Clyde will remain in the South Atlantic to protect the Falklands Islands until 2018, following a six year contract extension with BAE Systems to deliver 24/7 support services to the ship.

The move follows an initial five year agreement and demonstrates the success of the company’s partnering approach to deployed support services. Ensuring maximum value to the Ministry of Defence, HMS Clyde’s enhanced capabilities enable her to fulfil the valuable protection role, which previously required two ships, and in 2010 the ship’s crew and BAE Systems team delivered an unprecedented 99.3% operational availability.

Mick Ord, Managing Director of BAE Systems’ Surface Ships division, said: “We have an engineer permanently based in the Falklands to deliver all repairs and maintenance to the vessel stationed 8,000 miles from the UK. This radical approach helps us to achieve great results and is helping to shape the way we deliver support services to our customer.

"Our ability to deliver repair and maintenance services to warships wherever they are around the world provides real value to the Ministry of Defence. Minimising return trips to the UK and ensuring rapid defect rectification, helps to reduce costs and deliver maximum availability of warships to meet operational commitments.”

Lieutenant Commander Carl Wiseman, Commanding Officer, HMS Clyde, said: “I am extremely pleased that the contract to lease HMS Clyde has been extended to 2018, allowing her to continue her role as the Falklands Islands patrol vessel, where she has been continually deployed since 2007. The unique arrangement with BAE Systems in the Falkland Islands has proven very successful with the Royal Navy getting high levels of availability providing a widely employable asset for the region.”

HMS Clyde is part of the Royal Navy’s Fishery Protection Squadron. The Offshore Patrol Vessel (Helicopter) was designed and built by BAE Systems and is leased and operated by the Royal Navy, while the company provides maintenance and logistical support to the vessel. Designed to replace the HMS Leeds Castle and HMS Dumbarton Castle, HMS Clyde’s enhanced capability and innovative support solution enables her to remain permanently stationed in the Falklands. The BAE Systems manager based in the Falklands works with local companies and a UK-based support team to ensure all sustainment services are delivered locally.

Weighing in at 1,847 tonnes, the Offshore Patrol Vessel has a top speed of 21 knots and a crew of 43. HMS Clyde is a highly flexible platform which makes a significant maritime contribution to Joint Operations within the South Atlantic Ocean. She regularly operates with fixed wing and rotary wing assets of the Royal Air Force using her air defence radar, versatile flight deck and helicopter-in-flight-refuelling capability. She has also shown her wider capabilities, able to embark and disembark infantry around the islands and reach the many remote settlements within the islands to provide reassurance to the local inhabitants.

[buglerbilly]

HMS Diamond joins the fleet

An Equipment and Logistics news article

6 May 11

6 x warships of the Daring Class is still too few, even for 1 x CVF..............FOR 2 x CVF its ridiculous. 12 Daring's is the minimum to suit the CVF's and the potential Amphib force. The PHALANX CIWS has still been fitted to HMS DIAMOND possibly as a result of the Upgrade programme announced a couple of days ago...............

The latest of the Royal Navy's new Type 45 air defence destroyers has been formally commissioned into the fleet today.


HMS Diamond, the Royal Navy's third Daring Class destroyer to be built by BAE Systems in Govan
[Picture: LA(Phot) Nick Crusham, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

HMS Diamond is one of six multi-role vessels being built to provide air defence using the Sea Viper missile system.

She can embark 60 troops and their equipment, supported by a modern medical facility that can deliver a surgical capability. She could also carry up to 700 people to support a civilian evacuation.

The Defence Secretary, Dr Liam Fox, said:

"The Type 45 programme is an example of how we are investing in capabilities for the future. This ceremony marks another step in the delivery of six of the most powerful air defence destroyers ever built for the Royal Navy. These new ships will provide the UK with a world class military capability that will form a key part of the Future Force 2020."

Hundreds of guests including families of the 190-strong ship's company attended the ceremony at Portsmouth Naval Base which was conducted by the Reverend Scott Brown, Chaplain of the Fleet.

During the ceremony the ship's sponsor, Lady Johns, who launched the ship at BAE Systems' Govan shipyard on the River Clyde in November 2007, inspected the members of the ship's company on parade.


From left: Commanding Officer of HMS Diamond, Commander Ian Clarke, watches as his wife Joanne and the youngest member of the ship's company, Engineering Technician Ross Hindmarch, cut the commissioning cake
[Picture: LA(Phot) Dave Gallagher, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

HMS Diamond's Commanding Officer, Commander Ian Clarke, read out a Commissioning Warrant and the ceremony was rounded off in traditional Royal Navy fashion with the cutting of a commissioning cake.

Performing the honour was the Commanding Officer's wife Joanne and Engineering Technician Ross Hindmarch, who, at 17, is the youngest member of the ship's company.

Commander Clarke said:

"This is a proud moment for all on board HMS Diamond. As she nears the end of her trials phase, this ceremony marks our transition to front line service.

"Thereafter, the emphasis will be on combat readiness in preparation for our first deployment next year. I'm thrilled that so many families, friends and affiliates, some from overseas, were part of our momentous day."

All the Type 45s will be based in Portsmouth. The first, HMS Daring, was commissioned in July 2009, followed by HMS Dauntless in June last year.

The fourth, Dragon, is due to arrive in Portsmouth for the first time in September. All six are scheduled to be in service by the middle of the decade.

[Chunder]

HMS Diamond joins the fleet

6 x warships of the Daring Class is still too few, even for 1 x CVF..............FOR 2 x CVF its ridiculous. 12 Daring's is the minimum to suit the CVF's and the potential Amphib force. The PHALANX CIWS has still been fitted to HMS DIAMOND possibly as a result of the Upgrade programme announced a couple of days ago...............


My thoughts regarding the LHD's (and now Largs) with (2) F-100's...
But then they talk about 12 Subs....

lol

[Goknub]

Theres always hoping that the AWD comes out without too many issues and the Govt orders another 5 to bring the total to 8.
Their capabilities are should really be the minimum for any frontline warship.

Not sure if its new but I see the RN is calling the Type 45 a "multi-role" ship instead of just an air defence ship now.

[Chunder]

Theres always hoping that the AWD comes out without too many issues and the Govt orders another 5 to bring the total to 8.
Their capabilities are should really be the minimum for any frontline warship.

3 seems absurd. 1 In dock, 1 escorting, 1 other tasking...

Seems rather povvo, Atlantic Conveyor anyone?

[SteveJH]

I suppose at the end of the day, by the time you could engage a sea skimming missile it would probably be within range of ESSM anyway. I assume the main benefit of Aegis is the CEC capability and that it can handle more targets simultaneously, so as long as we could ensure we have at least one AWD with any task group we sent out, it might be ok. But if that group has to split in two for whatever reason, one part will be much weaker then the other.

[Chunder]

I suppose at the end of the day, by the time you could engage a sea skimming missile it would probably be within range of ESSM anyway. I assume the main benefit of Aegis is the CEC capability and that it can handle more targets simultaneously, so as long as we could ensure we have at least one AWD with any task group we sent out, it might be ok. But if that group has to split in two for whatever reason, one part will be much weaker then the other.

Just a thought - can AEGIS Slave onto Wedgetail?

Edit: Or Rather the SM's get their cuing from Wedgetail?

[Gubler, A.]

Just a thought - can AEGIS Slave onto Wedgetail?

Edit: Or Rather the SM's get their cuing from Wedgetail?

With SM6 that is the plan.

By 2020 the Navy will be able to sustain at sea two surface combat task groups. Each with an AEGIS AWD and three CEAFAR Anzacs which will also probably have a new volume search radar in place of the SPS-49. Overhead the RAAF should be able to sustain a Wedgetail AEW&C except in the most extreme circumstances. The AEGIS CEC will be combining the radar measurements of all the air search radars in this task group: 1x SPY-1D(V), 1x MESA, 3x SPS-49 (or replacement), 18x CEAFAR and 1x SPQ-9B. With the ships spread out in a diamond 10 NM long and wide (ie each ship about 7 NM apart) this will provide a highly defended zone (for amphib ships or others) with interlocking fields of regard and fields of fire.

[Weasel]

3 seems absurd. 1 In dock, 1 escorting, 1 other tasking...

Seems rather povvo, Atlantic Conveyor anyone?

I guess I am tired, but I take exception to comparing (implied) the Atlantic Conveyor with a military vessel. It was a merchant vessel in which a good and valued man, leader and member of the maritime community died. Some of his knowledge sails out of Melbourne, Sydney and other parts of the world every day. My take away from the Atlantic Conveyor runs along the lines "you don't know the value of a person until they are taken away."


I suppose at the end of the day, by the time you could engage a sea skimming missile it would probably be within range of ESSM anyway. I assume the main benefit of Aegis is the CEC capability and that it can handle more targets simultaneously, so as long as we could ensure we have at least one AWD with any task group we sent out, it might be ok. But if that group has to split in two for whatever reason, one part will be much weaker then the other.

Just what exactly is the mission you are referring to? I'm kinda confused. Is Australia planning on conducting amphibious operations independently from it's allies? Or are we talking force projection/humanitarian aid within the South Pacific?



Just a thought - can AEGIS Slave onto Wedgetail?

Edit: Or Rather the SM's get their cuing from Wedgetail?


With SM6 that is the plan.

By 2020 the Navy will be able to sustain at sea two surface combat task groups. Each with an AEGIS AWD and three CEAFAR Anzacs which will also probably have a new volume search radar in place of the SPS-49. Overhead the RAAF should be able to sustain a Wedgetail AEW&C except in the most extreme circumstances. The AEGIS CEC will be combining the radar measurements of all the air search radars in this task group: 1x SPY-1D(V), 1x MESA, 3x SPS-49 (or replacement), 18x CEAFAR and 1x SPQ-9B. With the ships spread out in a diamond 10 NM long and wide (ie each ship about 7 NM apart) this will provide a highly defended zone (for amphib ships or others) with interlocking fields of regard and fields of fire.

And just to baseline that, the risk assessment based (on the above) gives you a max of 32% probability of success that Wedgetail will be able to do as you suggest Abe, without any hiccups. The question remains, what will DMO actively do to improve the odds of success?

[buglerbilly]

Royal Navy Ready for Unforeseen Global Events

(Source: U.K Ministry of Defence; issued May 9, 2011)

Numerous vessels are taking part in Cougar 11, this summer's deployment of the Royal Navy's new Response Force Task Group (RFTG).

Consisting of ships, aircraft and personnel held at very high readiness, the RFTG is at the heart of the UK's ability to react at short notice to unforeseen global events.

Ships currently deployed include HMS Ocean, which is leading a second group of ships, consisting of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) support ships Wave Knight, Fort Rosalie and Mounts Bay, to join Cougar 11.

After a period of work-up training in UK waters, they will head to the Mediterranean where they will join amphibious assault ship HMS Albion, Type 23 frigate HMS Sutherland (both Devonport-based) and landing ship RFA Cardigan Bay, all of which sailed from the UK at the beginning of April.

Their long-planned deployment as part of the RFTG will see them transit through the Mediterranean where they will take part in multinational amphibious exercises before moving further east through the Suez Canal for further exercises in the Indian Ocean.

The RFTG will be poised to respond to short-notice tasking across a diverse range of defence activities such as non-combatant evacuation operations, disaster relief, humanitarian aid or amphibious operations. This deployment is not linked to events in Libya which involve other elements of the UK Armed Forces.

Commodore John Kingwell, Commander UK Task Group, is embarked aboard flagship HMS Albion. He said:

"With the sailing of this second group, the Response Force Task Group is at full strength, and is ideally suited to respond to the uncertainties and instabilities that currently feature on the international landscape. This Task Group can operate at sea and in the air, and we will now commence a series of exercises to test versatility of this multi-role force."

The largest warship in the Royal Navy, HMS Ocean, is carrying a mixture of support helicopters, Apache attack helicopters and landing craft. These enable her to land Royal Marines, their vehicles and equipment and sustain them as they undertake exercises across the region.

"The Response Force Task Group is at full strength, and is ideally suited to respond to the uncertainties and instabilities that currently feature on the international landscape."

With an internal dock for landing craft, a large flight deck and accommodation for Royal Marines and their equipment, RFA Mounts Bay (like her sister ship Cardigan Bay) is ideally suited to operations the RFTG has been formed to undertake.

RFA Fort Rosalie is a fleet replenishment ship and will supply the RFTG with a range of stores, spares and equipment - anything from a missile to a chocolate bar. RFA Wave Knight is a fast fleet tanker able to provide the other ships with fuel to remain at sea for prolonged periods, greatly enhancing their ability to respond to unexpected events.

Commodore Bill Walworth of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary said:

"Over half the ships in Cougar 11 are from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, which highlights our strategic importance to the Royal Navy and our ability to sustain ships and embarked forces for as long as required. With the modern Bay Class landing ships, we are very much at the centre of amphibious operations."

Cougar 11 is to demonstrate the RFTG concept - announced in last year's Strategic Defence and Security Review and at the heart of the UK's maritime contingent capability, the Task Group will be held at very high readiness to respond to unexpected global events.

It highlights the enduring need for the Armed Forces to plan and train for unforeseen events that may occur in parallel with the Defence main effort of current operations.

Initially, the Task Group will demonstrate its amphibious capabilities through multinational exercises in the Mediterranean, before conducting further exercises in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

Carrier gap 'a major challenge'

12 May 2011

Regenerating carrier strike capability, lost with the scrapping of HMS Ark Royal, will be a "major challenge", the First Sea Lord has admitted.

Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, in evidence to the House of Commons Defence Select Committee, said that plans were in motion which would enable Britain to operate 12 Joint Strike Fighters from the deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth by the time of its 2019 launch.

However, Stanhope said that it was "absolutely" right to say he would rather have retained the capability than have to regenerate it.

"I wish there was just a little bit more money to meet the challenge that I now have, alongside the Chief of the Air Staff," said Admiral Stanhope. "Regenerating carrier strike in 10 years time clearly is major challenge."

Sir Mark said the gap meant the UK faced "a long period of getting back into the saddle again", but that three naval pilots were 'in the pipeline' to train on US F18 aircraft, with a fourth soon to arrive.

That number was described as "sufficient" to regenerate the capability in the long run under plans drawn up by the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.

The committee also heard that the Royal Air Force would operate around 60 per cent of the Joint Strike Fighters from the carrier, but the suggestion that there were plans to do away with the Fleet Air Arm altogether was strongly denied.

Admiral Stanhope also said that if the UK goes ahead with purchasing just one carrier, it could be available for just five out of every eight years.

"I'm very clear that if you want a capability that's available to this nation continuously then you can't do that with one carrier," he said. "The French [carrier] is a good example. You have your capability five years in eight because three years is roughly maintaining it or working it up."

Questioned about operations in Libya, Admiral Stanhope said that he would have welcomed a carrier positioned off the Libyan coast.

He also said that extending operations in the country beyond six months would be a "significant challenge" for the UK in rotating frigates and mine countermeasures ships in and out of the region.

Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton denied that forces were overstretched but said: "There are times within this period - there are days - where every available asset is being tasked absolutely.

"So therefore we are asking a lot out of our people, particularly, but also out of the assets we've got.

"Over a period if we carried on like this – what's that period? – things will be overstretched, because we need to take the aeroplanes out every so often and give them a major servicing, at which point you have less aeroplanes available and you're going to be stretching whatever is left."

[Chunder]

I guess I am tired, but I take exception to comparing (implied) the Atlantic Conveyor with a military vessel. It was a merchant vessel in which a good and valued man, leader and member of the maritime community died. Some of his knowledge sails out of Melbourne, Sydney and other parts of the world every day. My take away from the Atlantic Conveyor runs along the lines "you don't know the value of a person until they are taken away."

Maybe mate - condolences on your loss.

What I was implying that having your AD ships tied up leaves none for other taskings. Loosing the conveyor was a big loss, some taskings are just as important as others yes?

[Chunder]

Double Post.

[Gubler, A.]

Delayed aircraft carrier will lack jets for three yearsNavy will not get fleet of US joint strike fighters until 2023, three years after carrier due to enter service

Richard Norton-Taylor guardian.co.uk, Friday 13 May 2011 19.35 BST
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/may/13/delayed-aircraft-carrier-lack-jets

The Ministry of Defence has still not decided how many planes should be assigned to the navy's long-delayed and increasingly expensive aircraft carrier programme, but whatever the number they will not be available for more than a decade, it has emerged.

Confusion over the carrier project was compounded on Friday when the MoD said in its "business plan" that the navy will not get its fleet of US joint strike fighters (JSFs) until 2023, three years after HMS Prince of Wales, the carrier to be equipped with the aircraft, is due to enter service.

The government decided under last year's strategic defence review to switch from a short takeoff and landing version of the JSF aircraft to one that lands and takes off by catapult and arrester wires – "cats and traps".

Defence officials denied on Friday that there was any delay in the project. They said just how many of the aircraft the navy – and the RAF – would be provided with had yet to be agreed. "We do not talk about specific numbers," an official said.

The MoD originally planned to buy more than 130 of the fighters, a figure which will be drastically reduced.

Though the JSF "carrier variant" is cheaper than the model originally chosen by the navy, their costs have soared to about £100m each. It emerged last month that the cost of the carriers had also risen and could reach £7bn, partly due to the decision to redesign the Prince of Wales. The first carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, will be mothballed when it is completed and Britain will be without a carrier able to take aircraft for 10 years.

Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, the first sea lord, told MPs this week the navy faced a major challenge in building up a force of fighter jets to equip the new carrier.

In evidence to the Commons defence committee he said he wished he could revisit the government's last-minute decision in the defence review to scrap the Ark Royal and its Harrier jumpjets. He said that if the navy still had a carrier it would be deployed on the operations in Libya. "If we had a carrier it would be there."

Stanhope said the decision to scrap the Ark Royal before the Prince of Wales was ready in 2020 could limit Britain's ability to provide air support for British forces. He said that could leave the UK without a carrier for around three out of every eight years due to the need for periodic refits.

Jim Murphy, the shadow defence secretary, said Stanhope's comments and those of the head of the army and airforce "blow a hole in the government's arguments over their rushed defence review". He added: "Ministers have consistently said that decisions made in the review do not hinder our services but now we have service heads saying that an aircraft carrier would be used in Libya and that our forces are stretched".

As the government continues to come under pressure over defence cuts, it was reported on Friday that plans will be unveiled on Monday to enshrine in law the military covenant – the nation's duty of care for all servicemen and women. The MoD declined to comment.

Legislation being debated by parliament allows the defence secretary to make an annual report on the covenant, but stops short of endowing legal status. Its passage has been delayed, but defence minister Andrew Robathan told the Telegraph: "We are putting the military covenant on a statutory basis for the first time."

Putting it into law would potentially permit service personnel a recourse to the courts if they believed they had been disadvantaged in terms of accessing public services following tours overseas.

The RAF meanwhile said that its armed pilotless drones used in operations in Afghanistan and controlled from a US base in Nevada will for the first time be controlled from the UK.

Some 40 RAF personnel will be based at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire. At a cost of £125m, the RAF is to double its fleet of five Reaper drones now operating over Afghanistan.

[buglerbilly]

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

Apache Back At Sea

Posted by Robert Wall at 5/13/2011 6:20 AM CDT

The U.K. has for the first time fired a Hellfire from a ship-based WAH-64 Apache attack helicopter as it revives the concept of operating the system from ships after several years during which the mission lay dormant as the helicopters were heavily tasked performing land-based operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.



Three WAH-64s are deployed on the Royal Navy’s HMS Ocean amphibious assault ship and participating in Exercise Cougar 11. The exercise is to help prepare the Royal Navy’s Response Force Task Group to respond on short notice to pop-up crises.


(Photos: Crown Copyrght 2011)

The exercise begins in the Mediterranean and extends through the Suez Canal to the Indian Ocean.

The British defense ministry says the Apaches belonging to 656 Squadron from 4 Regiment of the Army Air Corps shot 550 rounds of 30 mm cannon fire and nine radar-guided Hellfire missiles, with a 100% strike rate. The firing took place near Gibraltar.

The U.K. Apaches this time also bring with them an enhanced capability to address one of the operational problems discovered during an at-sea exercise several years ago. At the time, the existing sight system was difficult to align, which affected the helicopters’ ability to deliver ordnance.

But the WAH-64 has since been upgraded with the Lockheed Martin Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight also used by the U.S. Army. It has an internal boresighting mechanism that cures the existing problem. A U.K. defense official says the WAH-64s have already been used to fire weapons during their latest at-sea stint.

In a statement, defense secretary Liam Fox says "to see Apache operating to its full capacity at sea reinforced the government's commitment to shape and equip our armed forces to best meet the range of current and future commitments." What he did not point out was that with the withdrawal from service of the Harrier fleet, the Apaches ability to attack from sea are critical to give the U.K. some semblance of this type of force projection capability.

[Weasel]

Maybe mate - condolences on your loss.

What I was implying that having your AD ships tied up leaves none for other taskings. Loosing the conveyor was a big loss, some taskings are just as important as others yes?

Not my loss; the industry's loss of corporate knowledge.

[buglerbilly]

HMS Daring fires Sea Viper for first time

An Equipment and Logistics news article

19 May 11

The Royal Navy's flagship Type 45 destroyer, HMS Daring, has successfully fired her groundbreaking new air defence missile system for the first time.


HMS Daring fires her new Sea Viper air defence missile system during a training exercise at the MOD's target range in the Hebrides
[Picture: MBDA 2011]

HMS Daring, the first of the formidable next generation of warships to be built, fired her world-leading air defence missile system, Sea Viper, during a rigorous training exercise at the MOD's target range in the Hebrides.

Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Peter Luff, said:


"This is another important achievement for the Type 45 project. Sea Viper is one of the most advanced weapons systems in the world and this capability, combined with the might and speed of the Type 45 destroyer, will provide the Royal Navy with a fearsome fighting force with unparalleled protection from air attacks."

Sea Viper is one of the most sophisticated weapon systems to date and is capable of defending the new battleships, and other vessels sailing with them, against missiles approaching from any direction and at supersonic speeds, representing a huge leap in capability for the Royal Navy.

Captain Guy Robinson, Commanding Officer of HMS Daring, said:


"This Sea Viper firing is a significant milestone for us and the final piece in the jigsaw as we prepare for our first deployment. I am very pleased with the test and how my team conducted themselves during this very complex procedure."


Type 45 destroyer HMS Daring (stock image)
[Picture: LA(Phot) James Crawford, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

The successful firing comes as the MOD announces that support for the Sea Viper weapon system has been secured for the next six years.

The £165m contract has been awarded to MBDA UK, who are based in Bristol and Stevenage, to provide technical assistance for the Sea Viper missile systems on the six destroyers that will be based at Portsmouth Naval Base.

Bernard Gray, Chief of Defence Materiel for MOD Defence Equipment and Support, said:


"Securing support to the Sea Viper missile system is an essential element in ensuring that the Royal Navy's new destroyers are always ready to undertake their role in defending Britain's interests wherever that may be."

In further progress to the Type 45 programme, HMS Diamond was formally commissioned into the Royal Navy on 6 May 2011, Dragon is undertaking her second set of sea trials and HMS Dauntless has completed her basic operational sea training.

[buglerbilly]

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

U.K. Trident Renewal: Maintaining West's Nuclear Parity With China

Posted by Robert Wall at 5/19/2011 4:03 AM CDT

The British government yesterday took the first policy decision to modernize its nuclear deterrent and sustain the submarine-based military capability until 2060 by approving the early design activity to replace the Vanguard Class submarines that can fire the Trident II D5 missile.


(Photo: Trident II D5 SLBM/Crown Copyright)

Despite some opposition in the country to the program, in part over the cost of the project, it was always likely the U.K. would sustain its nuclear deterrent.

The issue has strategic importance beyond the U.K., though. Given the way the global nuclear power structure is lining up, the move nominally assures NATO maintains parity with China in terms of nuclear powers in their respective spheres of influence, with the U.S., U.K. and France on one side and China, North Korea and Pakistan on the other.

The extent to which there is any direct linkage between the parties is debatable, and there are obvious differences in the quality and quantity of the arsenals, but the alignment does offer a slightly different way to look at the nuclear strategic power balance in the 21st Century.

As to the U.K. effort, what actually transpired is Defense Secretary Liam Fox has given the "initial gate" go ahead, paving the way for a "main gate" decision to properly launch the program in 2016. The goal is to field the first new submarine in 2028 at a cost of ₤11 billion to ₤14 billion.

[buglerbilly]

Navy's new ice patrol ship enters Portsmouth

An Equipment and Logistics news article

24 May 11

The ship that will fulfil HMS Endurance's role as an interim Antarctic patrol vessel entered Portsmouth Naval Base for the first time yesterday, Monday 23 May 2011.


The ice-breaker MV Polarbjorn enters Portsmouth Naval Base for the first time
[Picture: LA(Phot) Allen, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

The ice-breaker MV Polarbjorn - to be named HMS Protector - has been leased on a three-year contract from Norwegian company GC Rieber Shipping and has just had an intensive ten-day refit in Odense, Denmark.

The vessel - painted in the same distinctive red and white livery as her predecessor ice patrol ships - entered Portsmouth as MV Protector under the Norwegian flag. She will be officially named HMS Protector on 1 June 2011 and will be commissioned into the Royal Navy fleet on 23 June 2011.

She will deploy on the Navy's Antarctic task in November 2011, serving in the region for the 2011-12 austral summer. Meanwhile, the long-term future of Endurance will be considered.

Captain Peter Sparkes, Commanding Officer of HMS Protector, said the first entry into Portsmouth marked a key milestone in the regeneration of the Royal Navy's ice patrol ship:

"I am very proud of what my ship's company and all associated with this project have achieved in such short order.

"We look forward very much to naming our new ship formally on June 1 and commissioning her into the fleet at Portsmouth on June 23 which is symbolically the 50th anniversary of the implementation of the Antarctic Treaty."

The ship's refit included the removal and repositioning of the flight deck from the bridge roof to the stern, the installation of a multibeam echo sounder survey system, a complete overhaul of the main engines and gearboxes, and the addition of naval insignia.

The new ship was designed and built in 2001 as an Antarctic research ship. She is fitted with two main deck cranes and three internal holds and can position to within a radius of 70 centimetres in winds of up to 40 knots (74km/h).


MV Polarbjorn, to be named HMS Protector, has been leased on a three-year contract from GC Rieber Shipping
[Picture: LA(Phot) Allen, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

HMS Protector is to be equipped with a state-of-the-art survey motor boat and initially two Pacific 22 rigid inflatable boats, which will be replaced next year by a landing craft vehicle for the carriage of stores and equipment to shore.

Three all-terrain vehicles and three quad bikes, complete with trailers, will also be carried and craned directly onto the ice to assist in the resupply of British Antarctic Survey scientific stations.

Protector has a historic connection with Britain's Antarctic commitment - it was the name of the ship which preceded the former Endurance (1968-91) in the South Atlantic role.

Protector was the sixth ship to bear the name and completed 13 Antarctic deployments in 1955-68. A seventh ship of the name - formerly the Seaforth Saga - saw service as a Falkland Islands patrol vessel from 1983 before being sold in 1987.

Initially, the current HMS Endurance was also leased from a commercial source. Originally a Norwegian ice-breaker, she entered service as HMS Polar Circle in 1991 before being purchased outright by the MOD the following year and renamed Endurance.

Protector will carry out all the functions of an Antarctic patrol ship. She will deploy for seven months of the year to patrol and survey the Antarctic and South Atlantic, maintaining a UK presence and supporting the international community in the region.

This involves close links with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the UK Hydrographic Office and the British Antarctic Survey.

Currently the survey ship HMS Scott, with state-of-the-art surveying equipment, is maintaining the Royal Navy presence in the South Atlantic. While she can fulfil many of the tasks undertaken by Endurance, she does not have ice-breaking capability and therefore cannot reach some of the areas that Endurance could do and that Protector will.

No decision has yet been taken on whether to repair or to replace HMS Endurance which suffered significant damage following a major flood which occurred when the ship was operating in the South Atlantic in 2008.

[buglerbilly]

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

Lusty at sea

Posted by Christina Mackenzie at 5/25/2011 1:00 AM CDT

HMS Illustrious, known in the Royal Navy as Lusty, will be returning to sea on June 3 after 16 months of a €45 million modernization of her electronics, data processing systems and living quarters at the Scottish shipyard Babcock. As you can see from the photograph she has not lost her take-off ramp for Harriers although she will now only be carrying helicopters.


photo credit: Royal Navy

Work carried out since the revamp began early last year includes super-efficient paint applied to the hull which will mean the 20,000-ton warship will cut through the ocean faster – cutting her fuel bill in the process.

As the Royal Navy itself remarks fitting “the latest MOD computer system (DII)... throughout the ship [was] no mean task as Illustrious was designed in the pre-personal computer age.”

After the initial period of trials and return to the Solent, Illustrious will be alongside until the autumn when rigorous trials and training begin in earnest.

She’s due to take over from HMS Ocean as Britain's on-call helicopter carrier from the summer of 2012.

[buglerbilly]

First steel cut for new aircraft carrier

An Equipment and Logistics news article

26 May 11

The first steel for the HMS Prince of Wales, the second of the Royal Navy's Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, was cut by Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox earlier today, Thursday 26 May 2011.


The huge plasma cutting machine at BAE Systems' Govan shipyard on the Clyde
[Picture: Andrew Linnett, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

Dr Fox started the computer-guided laser to cut the first piece of hull for the ship at a ceremony at the BAE Systems shipyard in Govan.

The Defence Secretary also met members of the workforce during a tour of the facility. He said:

"We are committed to delivering this next generation of powerful British aircraft carriers that will mark a step-change in our carrier strike capability and form the cornerstone of the Royal Navy's Future Force 2020. This major construction project is creating and sustaining thousands of jobs in shipyards around the country."

The new 65,000-tonne Queen Elizabeth Class carriers, the largest ships ever built for the Royal Navy, are being built by an alliance of BAE Systems, Babcock, Thales UK and the Ministry of Defence, and will give the Royal Navy a four-acre (16,000-square-metre) military operating base which can be deployed worldwide.


Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox presses the button to initiate the cutting of the first steel for the hull of Royal Navy aircraft carrier the HMS Prince of Wales at BAE Systems' Govan shipyard
[Picture: Andrew Linnett, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

Each carrier will have nine decks, plus a flight deck the size of three football pitches, and two propellers weighing 33 tonnes - nearly two-and-a-half times as heavy as a double decker bus - producing a maximum speed of over 25 knots (46km/h).
The ships will operate at least twelve of the highly capable carrier variant Joint Strike Fighter jets, which offer value for money and allow for unparalleled interoperability with our military allies.

The Second Sea Lord, Vice Admiral Charles Montgomery, attended today's steel-cutting ceremony:

"The Queen Elizabeth Class will provide Britain with the means to deliver air power from the sea, wherever and whenever required, and in a stronger and more decisive form than ever before," he said.


Dr Liam Fox meets some of the BAE Systems engineers working on the new aircraft carrier at Govan shipyard on the Clyde
[Picture: Andrew Linnett, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

"In addition they will be able to undertake a wide range of tasks including support to peacekeeping operations and delivery of humanitarian aid in times of crisis. They will undoubtedly prove a tremendous asset both to the Royal Navy and to the UK as a whole."

Major sections of the HMS Prince of Wales will be constructed at six shipyards around the UK and transported to Rosyth dockyard in Fife for assembly.

Construction of the HMS Queen Elizabeth is well underway, with completed components already being brought together at Rosyth where they will be assembled with the help of the UK's largest crane, a 223-foot-high (68m) structure known as 'Goliath'.

Completion of the first carrier is expected towards the end of the decade.

[Chunder]

Im glad they are going to buy at least 12 jets to fly from them...

[ARH v.3.1]

The Italians will be able to fit 8 on a carrier nearly one third the size of the British carriers...

To think the RN virtually gutted itself in order to get the carriers, now they don't know if they can get the aircraft to fly from them.

[buglerbilly]

The RN carrriers have 12 as a minimum thats why it says "at least".............the max out no is nominally 36 x F-35 PLUS 4 x EH-101's, plus UAV's as they are defined and accepted for use.............the UAV's will probably become UCAV's soon after intro.

The following may help with understanding this:


Maximum 40 depending on mission could include a mixture of:

36-40 F-35 Lightning II
4 E-2C Hawkeye
12 Chinook
12 Merlin
4 Apache
4 Lynx Wildcat

[buglerbilly]

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

Trident and nuclear submarines safe from cuts

Posted by Christina Mackenzie at 6/8/2011 8:45 AM CDT

The Trident replacement and the UK's nuclear submarines are two programs which are "highly unlikely" to be modified, financially speaking at any rate, in the near future according to the controller of the British navy and director of precision attack.

Rear Admiral Amjad Hussain, who was the keynote speaker at the opening of the Undersea Defense Technology show in London, said yesterday that "we know what we're going to do [with these programs] for the next 25 years. They are our most fixed programs and are highly unlikely to change."

But apart from these "this is a very, very difficult time for us," he said and stressed that "we as the UK are too small to support industries we would want to keep so we must increase volume." Ways of doing this, he suggested, were through "partnerships, international collaboration and export." He said that the UK defense industries "have concentrated too much on our bespoke UK-centric needs" in the past which hindered the potential for export but that today "we're learning from others" and "reaching out for collaboration."

"We can no longer survive with bespoke UK," he said, conceding that in the past "our specifications were too complex," so "we won't be doing that again."

[buglerbilly]

UDT 2011: UK's MHPC trials expected next year

June 08, 2011

The UK MoD's Mine Countermeasures, Hydrographic, Patrol Craft (MHPC) project is set to progress onto it's assessment phase next year, according to BAE Systems.

Speaking to Shephard at the Undersea Defence Technology (UDT) Europe exhibition in London, the company's future systems team leader Phil Lynch said BAE Systems was continuing to concentrate on the development of wider C2 components of the programme despite its Talisman UUV losing out to an Atlas Electronik platform for the project's concept design phase.

The UK MoD's MHPC project comprises a wider effort led by the Naval Design Partnering Team aimed at dealing with requirements for future naval vessels and their systems and associated equipment. The MHPC project is also expected to tie in with the MoD's Tactical Maritime Unmanned Aerial System (TMUAS) programme which, according to industry sources, will involve the acquisition of a VTOL air frame.

Lynch said BAE Systems was focussing on MHPC's cooperation with other assets including UAVs, USVs, manned ships and vessels as well as towed sensors. He continued: 'The Royal Navy is looking for a more integrated approach and BAE Systems is concentrating on the command team and use [of MHPC]. We have talked about its concept of operations and wider aspects [of the project] with the MoD and an assessment phase is expected next year.' However, Lynch said any physical assessment would be preceded by 'synthetic' tests.

Referring to BAE Systems' littoral UUV which is known as Talisman 'L', Lynch said it was still holding the platform as a pre-production model and said the company was still looking for the 'right opportunity', adding that talks were ongoing with undisclosed nations and companies.

However, Lynch conceded that the Royal Navy was 'very happy' with its Hydroid's Remus UUV which is currently in service. ATLAS was not available to comment on the project.

By Andrew White, London

[buglerbilly]

The UK’s ‘joint strike frigate’

By Philip Ewing Wednesday, June 8th, 2011 11:32 am



From one perspective, BAE Systems’ planned Type 26 frigate will combine the best of both worlds: If all goes well, it’ll be advanced and ubiquitous like the F-35, and also have the ability to take aboard custom, modular equipment like the littoral combat ship, officials hope. From another perspective, the F-35 and the LCS, with their many challenges, are the last two weapons programs you’d ever want to emulate — especially together in the same ship.

Still, UK defense secretary Liam Fox said this week that there’s widespread interest in the Royal Navy’s planned ‘global combat ship,’ and that he is hoping for many international customers to help keep down the ships’ unit cost — just like the F-35.

Per Reuters’ Adrian Croft:


Britain offered Brazil the chance to become a partner in the project last year and the government has said that several other countries are interested, including Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and Turkey.

“There are conversations ongoing at government, Navy and industry level with a number of other potential partners,” a BAE Systems spokeswoman said, without naming them. She said the company hoped to make some formal offers to other countries to participate in the programme this year …

The new type 26s are expected to cost between 250 and 350 million pounds each, according to defence sources.

Fox said he wanted the Type 26 programme to be the “maritime equivalent” of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter project “where we build a basic vessel that can be adapted to a range of different uses and at different levels of specification.”

Below you can see a photo from BAE that gives a good perspective on the ships’ LCS inspiration: Just as with Lockheed and Austal’s ships, this Type 26 design includes a stern gate that will enable the ships to deploy small boats, or unmanned systems, or some other kind of naval accessory that hasn’t been dreamed up yet.



Read more: http://www.dodbuzz.com/2011/06/08/the-uks-joint-strike-frigate/#ixzz1OkDM6JM0
DoDBuzz.com

[buglerbilly]

DATE:13/06/11

SOURCE:Flight International

PICTURES: New Avengers to transform Royal Navy training

By Craig Hoyle

The UK's Military Flying Training System (MFTS) programme will begin providing instruction to its first students on 20 June, following the acceptance of four converted Beechcraft King Air 350ERs.

Ascent Flight Training took delivery of the new fleet on 9 June, with the type to meet observer training requirements with the Royal Navy's 750 Sqn at RNAS Culdrose, Cornwall. To be named the "Avenger" in RN use, the aircraft will replace the British Aerospace Jetstream T2, operations of which ended in March. Tasks will include preparing observers in areas such as route navigation and the use of tactical sensors.

Now equipped with a Telephonics 1700A maritime search radar, two onboard student consoles and two laptop-based instructor stations, the aircraft will train personnel before their conversion onto the navy's frontline helicopters.

To support this, the King Air has also been equipped with CAE's tactical mission trainer software, which can introduce emulated and simulated inputs, such as the use of electronic support measures equipment.


© Cobham Aviation Services

Cobham Aviation Services received a roughly £20 million ($32.6 million) contract in July 2009 to convert the King Air fleet at its Bournemouth airport site in Dorset. It started work on its first example in May 2010, before flying a modified aircraft last December. Avenger ZZ503 will be flown to Culdrose on 15 June, with the others to follow by the end of this month.

"These aircraft are going to be delivered on time," said Cobham Aviation Services managing director Des Taylor. "Hopefully that will build a level of confidence in Cobham's ability as part of the Ascent team." The company will provide in-service support for the new fleet for a five-year period starting on 1 July, but Taylor said its goal is to go "hopefully way beyond that".


© Craig Hoyle/Flightglobal

Ascent managing director Barry Thornton said the four-strong fleet should also be capable of meeting the MFTS programme's additional multi-engine rear-crew training requirements for the Royal Air Force.

Instructors for the new type will begin operating the aircraft at Culdrose on 1 July, with the first intake of students to undergo basic flying training on the fleet from later this year. This will follow their receipt of ground school, initial flying and elementary navigation training at RAF Barkston Heath in Lincolnshire, including the use of Grob 115Es from the navy's 703 Sqn.

Despite the use of a smaller fleet than the navy's previous nine Jetstreams, 750 Sqn commanding officer Lt Cdr Nick Armstrong said more students will be trained using the Avengers. The previous training system delivered three courses of 10 students each a year, while the new model will be based on six courses of six each, he said.

Once at full strength the unit will have nine instructor pilots - three navy officers and six Ascent recruits, plus eight naval observers and three from industry.

[buglerbilly]

How to land on an aircraft carrier without jump jets

16 June 2011 |UK By Will Inglis



Work has started on how to fly fast jets from Britain’s next generation aircraft carriers.

The decision was taken late last year to fly conventional catapult launched planes from the ships instead of more expensive harrier style aircraft that can land vertically.

But that has caused all kinds of headaches, and the designers have resorted to a simulator at BAE System's aircraft factory at Warton to sort them out.

By the time the Queen Elizabeth class carriers enter service it will be more than four decades since British pilots have operated from a conventional carrier – and that means lots of key skills have been lost in the mists of time.

[buglerbilly]

17 June 2011 Last updated at 15:21 GMT

Warship HMS Illustrious starts sea trials Illustrious will take over from HMS Ocean when it goes for a refit

The Royal Navy's last operational fixed-wing aircraft carrier has begun sea trials following a £40m upgrade to convert it into a helicopter carrier.

The 20,000-tonne warship is now capable of carrying a force of up to 20 helicopters and 600 personnel following the refit at Rosyth dockyard, Fife.

It will return to its home base of Portsmouth in July after the trials.

Illustrious will take over from HMS Ocean when it goes for a refit, due for completion by 2014.

When Ocean returns, Illustrious will be withdrawn from service following the exit of its sister ships, Invincible and Ark Royal.

Anti-torpedo system

Upgrades include the installation of a new computer and communications system and a defensive anti-torpedo system, and improvements to the living conditions.

The ship will now undergo a further five weeks of sea trials off the Scottish coast before returning to the fleet at the end of July.

It is the fifth warship and second aircraft carrier to bear the name Illustrious, and has participated in most major UK and Nato campaigns during the past 15 years, including the first Gulf War, the Sierra Leone evacuations and the war in Afghanistan in 2001.

Commanding officer, Captain Jerry Kyd, described it as an "historic day".

"We are in top condition for the challenges ahead thanks to the hard work of my sailors and the successful partnership that we have had with industry," he added.

"We are now raring to go, ready to take this great ship to sea for trials, and then home to Portsmouth, where we will prepare for her exciting future role."

Invincible was towed away earlier this year to a scrapyard in Turkey after being sold on Ministry of Defence auction website edisposals.com.

The same website is currently being used to sell Ark Royal which was decommissioned earlier this year after being axed in last year's Strategic Defence and Security Review.

The first of the new super carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth, is due to enter into service in 2020 with the second, HMS Prince of Wales, expected to be kept in a state of "extended readiness".

[JKM Mk2]

An 'historic day' -for what? The RN is being systematically gutted. Pretty soon everything will be in a state of 'extended readiness' -and then there will be nothing to worry about -will there!!

JKM

[Unicorn]

I wrote an article a few months back regarding the decline of the RN.

This sort of sums it up.

***

in the 1960s and 70s, the RN described itself as having “about 50 frigates and destroyers”. In the 80s and 90s it was “about 35 frigates and destroyers”.

At the end of July this year, the RN will operate a total of 19 frigates and destroyers; two Type 45 and four Type 42 destroyers and 13 Type 23 frigates.

Another way of looking at it is to look at what has been lost and gained since the year 2000.

Since then the RN has paid off:

• Two Illustrious carriers
• One Trafalgar class SSN
• Six Swiftsure class SSNs
• One Type 82 Destroyer
• Ten Type 42 Destroyers
• Three Type 23 Frigates
• 12 Type 22 Frigates with the remaining two going in the next few months
• Four Sandown Class Minehunters
• Five Hunt Class Minehunters
• Seven Island Class OPV
• Two Fearless Class Landing Platform Dock
• One Sir Galahad Class Landing Ship Tank
• Five Round Table Class Landing Ship Tanks
• Four Bulldog Class Survey Vessels
• One O Class Replenishment Tanker
• Two Leaf Class Tankers
• One Rover Class Tanker

On the plus side of the ledger, the RN has commissioned

• One Astute Class SSN
• Two Type 45 Destroyers
• Three Type 23 frigates
• Three River Class OPV
• Two Albion Class Landing Platform Dock
• Four Bay Class Landing Platform Dock (one has since been sold to the RAN)
• Three Sandown Class Minehunters
• Two Echo Class Survey Vessels
• Two Wave Class Tankers

It’s always sad to see the death of something admirable, the decline of the Royal Navy as we know it is both tragic and something that could have been avoided.

Unfortunately, for an island nation dependent on seaborne trade for their existence, the people of the United Kingdom, and their elected leaders, seem woefully ignorant of their history.

.

[ADMk2]

The UK’s ‘joint strike frigate’

By Philip Ewing Wednesday, June 8th, 2011 11:32 am



Excuse my ignorance, but why would anyone deliberately restrict the field of fire of the CIWS by mounting it on the starboard side like that? I understand top weight, but isn't this a clean sheet design and couldn't they allow for the relatively small overall weight of a Phalanx?

Or is the port side just not considered as much at risk, or something???

:smile185

[Gubler, A.]

Excuse my ignorance, but why would anyone deliberately restrict the field of fire of the CIWS by mounting it on the starboard side like that? I understand top weight, but isn't this a clean sheet design and couldn't they allow for the relatively small overall weight of a Phalanx?

Or is the port side just not considered as much at risk, or something???

:smile185

There is meant to be another Mk 15 forward that has a clear arc to port, but... My pet theory on this was the ship was designed with two CIWS aft, one on each side of the hangar that provided 360 degree coverage and two arcs of fire to the rear for chopping up swarm boats. But then someone insisted they add a fixed UAV catapult for the promo pictures so as to make sure everyone knew they would operate UAVs (in the real world they can just wheel out this catapult from a storage space when it is needed both saving space and exposure to damage for the catapult). So this meant they had to delete the port Mk 15 and its space from the picture.

[ADMk2]

There is meant to be another Mk 15 forward that has a clear arc to port, but... My pet theory on this was the ship was designed with two CIWS aft, one on each side of the hangar that provided 360 degree coverage and two arcs of fire to the rear for chopping up swarm boats. But then someone insisted they add a fixed UAV catapult for the promo pictures so as to make sure everyone knew they would operate UAVs (in the real world they can just wheel out this catapult from a storage space when it is needed both saving space and exposure to damage for the catapult). So this meant they had to delete the port Mk 15 and its space from the picture.

Fair enough that sounds reasonable, so long as they remember to add the Phalanx back in when they build it, or mount it on top of the hangar at least to open up it's arcs...

[buglerbilly]

Latest Astute class weapons systems ordered


Astute-class new generation nuclear powered attack (SSN) submarine. (Photo: Royal Navy)

17:58 GMT, June 20, 2011 Babcock has recently received the full contract to deliver its weapon handling and launch system (WHLS) for the fifth Astute class submarine new generation nuclear powered attack (SSN) submarine. The system is the first on a UK Royal Navy submarine to use Babcock’s advanced air turbine pump and programmable firing valve technology, with a number of important advantages.

Babcock has designed and supplied the WHLS for the first four Astute class boats (Astute, Ambush, Artful and Audacious) under earlier contracts. The latest contract for WHLS equipment for boat 5 follows an earlier contract for the long-lead items, and is accompanied by a long-lead items contract for boat 6.

The Astute class WHLS comprises more than 20,000 components, it is capable of carrying more torpedoes and tube-launched missiles than any previous class of RN submarine, and is smaller, quieter, and more flexible, optimising firing profiles for the range of weapon types that the system can carry.

The handling system comprises equipment to embark, store, reposition and load weapons into the torpedo tubes. Configuration of the weapons within the Weapon Stowage Compartment (WSC) has been carefully developed, resulting in the highest packing density of weapons in the stowage compartment. Weapons are protected in the WSC using a unique method of shock mounting, which provides adaptable protection according to the number of weapons stored on each stowage tier. This improves crew safety and maximises potential for the system to continue to function following a shock event.

The launch system uses an air turbine pump (ATP) to achieve a positive launch firing mechanism. The ATP is an air driven rotary pump that displaces a volume of water to launch a weapon from a torpedo tube. Uniquely, Babcock uses a programmable firing valve (PFV) to control the ATP firing air profile, allowing the system to match the launch requirements precisely to a range of variables including weapon type, boat speed and depth.

The ATP and PFV system on Astute offers significant performance advantages over previous systems, including the water ram systems currently in service with the Royal Navy. As well as being smaller, with space saving benefits, it is more efficient (using substantially less firing air), and has acoustic advantages (lower noise signature), and an extended operational lifecycle. The installation of two ATP/PFV systems per boat, giving independent port and starboard operation, provides operational and reliability benefits.

In weapons trials of the first WHLS on Astute, weapon shapes have been successfully launched from all six tubes as part of ongoing design proving activities.

“All the ATPs were first tested at our launch test facility, including performing water shots and firing weapon shapes to confirm each pump’s characteristics, which enabled us to optimise the pumps’ performance before fitting to the boat,” Babcock Project Director Gavin Borland explained. “This can yield considerable programme and cost advantages to the customer. Further test-firings at sea have also been successfully completed, testing the full functionality of the installed ATPs to launch a range of weapons at a variety of depths and speeds. Astute’s WHLS is an advanced, highly capable, and reliable system for a submarine that is said to be the most potent and technologically advanced SSN ever to serve with the Royal Navy.”

BAE Systems Head of Supply Chain - Complex Systems, George Teasdale, said: “The signing of the Performance Partnering Agreement (PPA) for the placement of the Boat 5 contract and the Boat 6 long lead opportunity demonstrates the long term commitment between BAE Systems and Babcock. Collectively we are striving for continuous improvements in performance as measured through BAE Systems Supplier Performance Review (SPR) process. Through various relationships management initiatives both BAE and Babcock have adopted a one team approach to meeting the enormous challenges both commercially and technically of supplying such a complex scope of supply as the Weapons Handling and Launch System. The dedication and excellent support provided to the Astute submarine programme by Babcock have enabled the signing of the PPA.”

[buglerbilly]

BAE Systems awarded Type 45 Sampson radar contract

June 27, 2011



BAE Systems has been awarded a six year, £46m contract to support the Sampson multi-function radars (MFR) on board the fleet of six Royal Navy Type 45 Destroyers. This support contract, awarded by MBDA, is designed as a forerunner to a full ‘contract for availability' arrangement and will generate data on the radar's performance which will enable a long-term support solution to be delivered to the Royal Navy.

The radars act as the ships' eye in the sky, enabling them to detect and view objects on land, sea and in the air, as well as combining the roles of surveillance, dedicated tracking and weapon communication functions. This latest contract reinforces BAE Systems' ability to effectively deliver support and services to armed forces customers across the land, sea and air sectors.

The new contract covers all of the Sampson radars, both in-service and on Type 45s that are yet to enter service. The contract provides technical support, a spares and repairs service as well as maintenance through the joint MBDA/BAE Systems waterfront team at the Type 45's home port of Portsmouth Naval Base. This will ensure that the BAE Systems' team continues to work with MBDA and the Royal Navy as the design authority and technical helpdesk support for Sampson. The team will also provide ongoing support at the Maritime Integration and Support Centre (MISC) in Portsmouth and an MFR test facility at BAE Systems' Cowes site on the Isle of Wight during the service life of each radar.

Sampson works as part of the Sea Viper air defence system, the Type 45's principal anti-missile system and can deal with multiple targets including stealthy and sea skimming objects simultaneously, making Sea Viper the most advanced weapon system of its kind in the world. Sampson's effectiveness has already proved hugely successful during the recent Sea Viper firing trials from onboard HMS Daring and HMS Dauntless, the first Type 45 Destroyers to enter service with the Royal Navy.

The contract follows a £6m,18 month contract awarded to BAE Systems in September 2010 to support the Long Range Radar (LRR) on the same ships, including those yet to enter service, and the MISC. The scope of this contract includes technical helpdesk support, corrective and preventative maintenance, repairs, design authority support and waterfront engineering capability in HM Portsmouth Naval Base, Portsmouth.

Richard Murray, Team Leader for the Ministry of Defence's Medium Range Air Defence Project Team commented, "The radars on the Type 45 are fundamental to the ships' ability to deliver the defence from airborne threats that our naval forces require. Both Sampson and the LRR have proved themselves more than capable of meeting the demands made of them and this support regime will maintain that capability as the Class comes into service."

Les Gregory, Torpedoes, Radar and Manufacturing Director, BAE Systems Mission Systems, said, "These support contracts are designed to maintain high availability within tight cost constraints. As the Type 45s progressively enter service we look forward to supporting the Royal Navy with its surveillance and weapon control requirements for many decades."

In addition to the radar support contracts BAE Systems was awarded the Joint Support Solution (JSS) contract worth £86m to provide a common support framework for the Combat Management System (CMS) on the Type 45 destroyers, Type 23 frigates and RFA Argus, all of which are supplied by BAE Systems. The JSS extends efficiencies to new CMS deployments on future naval ships including the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers providing the Royal Navy with a cost effective long term support solution.

Source: BAE Systems

[buglerbilly]

Reduction in UK nuclear warheads begins

A Defence Policy and Business news article

29 Jun 11

The programme for implementing the reductions in the number of UK nuclear warheads, as announced in the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), has commenced, Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox announced today.


HMS Vanguard launches a Trident II D5 missile during a demonstration and shakedown operation in 2005 (stock image)
[Picture: LA(Phot) Ray Jones, Crown Copyright/MOD 2005]

As part of his statement on the SDSR on 19 October 2010 Prime Minister David Cameron said that the Government had reviewed the UK's deterrence requirements and concluded that the requirement could be met for an effective and credible deterrent with a smaller nuclear weapons capability.

Mr Cameron said that over the next few years the current deployed capability would be reduced in scale and this reduction would be incorporated into plans for the successor submarine.

Therefore the number of warheads on board each submarine would be reduced from a maximum of 48 to a maximum of 40, the number of operational missiles on the Vanguard Class submarines would be reduced to no more than eight, and the number of operational warheads reduced from fewer than 160 to no more than 120.

Dr Fox in a written ministerial statement said today:

"I wish to inform the House that the programme for implementing the SDSR warhead reductions has commenced: at least one of the Vanguard Class ballistic missile submarines [SSBN] now carries a maximum of 40 nuclear warheads.


Nuclear submarine HMS Vanguard arriving back at HM Naval Base Clyde (stock image)
[Picture: CPOA(Phot) Tam McDonald, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

"The programme of work to complete these changes across the Vanguard SSBN fleet will be completed within the constraints of the deterrent's operational programme. We currently expect completion to be made within this Parliament.

"The Government does not comment upon the operational programme and therefore ongoing updates on this implementation programme will not be given.

"I will update the House further once the changes have been completed across the current SSBN fleet and the SDSR commitment to reducing our stock of operationally deployed warheads has been fulfilled.

"On current plans our expectation is that the subsequent reduction in our total stockpile to no more than 180 warheads will complete by the mid-2020s.

"The early commencement of the programme for these reductions in warheads is a significant step and further demonstrates the Government's commitment to fulfilling the UK's disarmament obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

"The Government remains committed to maintaining the minimum credible deterrent necessary to achieve our deterrence objectives of guaranteeing national security."

[buglerbilly]

Carrier Construction Powers Ahead at Portsmouth

(Source: BAE Systems; issued June 29, 2011)

PORTSMOUTH, United Kingdom --- Construction of the first Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier took a significant step forward today, as the final rings of the forward hull section came together for the first time at BAE Systems' facility in Portsmouth Naval Base.

Two huge ring sections of Lower Block 02 were joined together in a 30 minute move involving 26 remote controlled hydraulic transporters. Workers carefully manoeuvred a 3,700 tonne slice of the block over 25 metres across the company's production hall, where it was carefully lined up to join the rest of the hull. The hull block is made up of five rings in total, with the first rings joined in April, today's move marks the end of the three month process.

Steven Carroll, Queen Elizabeth Class Project Director at BAE Systems' Surface Ships division, said:

"Bringing together Lower Block 02 marks the beginning of an exciting stage in the block's life. The team will now begin the task of connecting the pipes, cabling, ventilation and machinery which runs throughout the block, before she is transported to Rosyth in April next year.

"As the block takes shape, the sheer size and scale of this engineering project becomes even more apparent."

Housing machinery spaces, stores, and switchboards, Lower Block 02 will weigh over 6,000 tonnes on completion, with over 8,500 metres of pipes and 260,000 metres of cable installed - the equivalent distance from Portsmouth to Bristol and back. Standing over 70 metres long and 18 metres tall, the block will house 85 cabins, sleeping over 500 junior crew members on board the HMS Queen Elizabeth.

Today's move comes only four weeks after production commenced on the second aircraft carrier, the Prince of Wales, at the company's Govan shipyard on the Clyde. Additionally, workers in Portsmouth are gearing up to begin work on the forward island, which will house the ship's bridge and control vessel navigation, in the coming weeks.

BAE Systems is a member of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, working in partnership with Babcock, Thales and the Ministry of Defence to deliver the biggest and most powerful surface warships ever constructed in the UK. The company provides overall leadership and programme management to the QE Class programme and plays a central role in the design and build of the ships. Additionally, BAE Systems is responsible for the design, manufacture and integration of the complex mission systems for the aircraft carriers, with work underway at the company's Maritime Integration and Support Centre on Portsdown Hill.

Each 65,000 tonne aircraft carrier will provide the armed forces with a four acre military operating base which can be deployed worldwide. The vessels will be versatile enough to be used for operations ranging from supporting war efforts to providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief. The QE Class will be the centre piece of Britain's military capability and will operate at least 12 of the carrier variant Joint Strike Fighter jets, allowing for unparalleled interoperability with allied forces.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

U.K. Carrier Effort Could Be In for More Changes

By ANDREW CHUTER

Published: 6 Jul 2011 19:00

LONDON - The Royal Navy's aircraft carrier program could fall victim to further changes if the Ministry of Defence fails to balance its books in the near term, according to a new report by the National Audit Office (NAO).


A conceptualization of the Queen Elizabeth-class carrier. (U.K. Ministry of Defence)

"We are worried that the continuing difficulties the MoD is facing in balancing its budget leave carrier strike vulnerable to further changes in strategic direction as a result of broader corporate decisions taken to address this generic problem," the government financial watchdog said in a report to be released July 7.

The MoD is concluding a three-month review aimed at balancing military capabilities against priorities. The review, which follows last year's strategic defense and security review, is expected to lead to announcements of new cuts.

The carrier project has been subject to numerous reviews, first by the Labour and now the coalition government, which has added time and cost to a project first mooted by the strategic defense review of 1998.

In last year's review, the government looked at canceling the carrier program, the NAO report said. Canceling both vessels would have saved 1.2 billion pounds ($1.9 billion) even after it had paid out 2.4 billion pounds to shipbuilder BAE Systems under business agreements signed by the previous Labour administration.

Yet canceling the program without replacing it with other work would have triggered the collapse of the British warship building industry.

Although the "Department considered cancellation, which was feasible and offered significant medium-term savings, it concluded that this would be unaffordable in the short-term," the report said.

One option looked at by the National Security Council, the high-level body which made the final decisions on the defense review, was to provide BAE with alternative work by building two additional Type 45 destroyers, the report shows.

Instead, the government decided to continue building both carriers. But only one will be fitted with the catapults and arrestor wires required to launch the F-35C version of the Joint Strike Fighter. The British were previously on track to buy the F-35 B STOVL version.

Redesign work and complicated new gear will add up to 1.2 billion pounds to the cost of the operational carrier, which is now estimated at 6.2 billion pounds. In 2007, total cost per carrier was estimated at 3.65 billion pounds.

'Secondary Priority'

The carrier program was reckoned by military chiefs to be a "secondary priority" to retaining amphibious capabilities or making significant further inroads in destroyer and frigate numbers, said the report.

All three naval capabilities suffered cutbacks as the government opted for a 7.5 percent cut in defense spending over four years, as well as moving to address a 38 billion-pound black hole in unfunded liabilities over the next decade left by the previous Labour administration.

The NAO said that equates to about a 20 percent reduction in defense spending in the period to March 2015. If funding is not increased in real terms after 2015, as government ministers have said is their intention, the "department will have to make difficult judgments about which capabilities it will need to scale back or forgo completely," the report said.

The carrier's susceptibility to the MoD's deep budgetary problems was just one of the risks highlighted by the NAO report into whether the warship program is value for money.

In particular, the report said it was "deeply concerned" that changes to the program as a result of the government's strategic defense and security review had introduced more technical, cost and schedule uncertainty.

Previously, the Queen Elizabeth-class warship program had been a relatively mature project with understood risks and funded mitigation plans, said the NAO.

The report went on to raise doubts about the way the British intend to operate the 65,000-ton aircraft carrier and said there are "major risks" in reconstituting capabilities around 2020 because naval air strike operations were axed as part of the defense review.

Michael Whitehouse, the NAO's chief operating officer, said the defense review had radically changed the Royal Navy's carrier strike concept.

"It generated 3.4 billion pounds in savings but introduced significant levels of operational, technical, cost and schedule uncertainty. It will take two years for the MoD to reach a mature understanding of the consequences of the decision," he said.

Those savings include ditching the Harrier and the associated Invincible-class carrier force, which will save 999 million pounds over four years; changes to the timing of F-35C aircraft will save a further 624 million pounds in the same period.

"The risks to the delivery of the new carriers are compounded by more generic problems with defense acquisition - notably the MoD's continuing difficulties in balancing its budgets," said Whitehouse.

What happens to the other carrier will be decided after the next defense review in 2015.

Defence Secretary Liam Fox defended the decision to put one warship into extended readiness and operate the other.

"We inherited a massive defense deficit, which included a carrier project that was already 1.6 billion pounds over budget. The defense review put this program back on track and delivered 3.4 billion pounds of overall savings to carrier strike," Fox said. "The NAO has noted that our decision to build the second new aircraft carrier makes financial sense, supports U.K. industry and the significant cost and capability advantages of the aircraft we now plan to fly from it."

Other key points revealed by the NAO report include:

■ Switching to the F-35C will allow the government to use the aircraft to fill the gap left by a July 2010 decision to delete 1 billion pounds in funding from its program to provide a deep and persistent offensive capability in the post Tornado era.

■ Only 12 F-35Cs will be deployed initially, reducing the daily sortie rate to 20 compared with the original requirement for 36 aircraft to generate 72 sorties.

■ Having only one carrier will reduce time at sea to five years in seven, or about 150 to 200 days compared with 435 days with two carriers.

■ The carrier strike capability will not be operational until late 2020. The first of class, which will not be equipped with the equipment to launch and recover aircraft, could be used to derisk technology.

■ Britain has opted to investigate the U.S. electromagnetic aircraft launch system rather than steam and will make a final investment decision next year.

■ Construction by a BAE-led alliance is progressing well and achieved 48 of 53 milestones in 2010-11 on time.

■ The F-35C was consistently the more capable and cheaper to operate aircraft. The STOVL variant was selected for wider political, military and industrial reasons.

■ MoD is planning to use the carrier to deploy aircraft and a broad range of operations, including a Royal Marine Commando Group or Special Forces squadron in what it calls Carrier Enabled Power Projection. The NAO says the carrier doesn't have the full range of capabilities to do this without assistance from other vessels.

[buglerbilly]

National Audit Office challenges £6bn project to build aircraft carriers

Watchdog's highly critical report questions decision-making process and how MoD can be sure of providing value for money

Nick Hopkins and Richard Norton-Taylor

The Guardian, Thursday 7 July 2011


A computer-generated image of one of the planned aircraft carriers. Photograph: MoD/PA

Controversial plans to build two new aircraft carriers – the biggest ships ever built for the Royal Navy – will be challenged on Thursday in a highly critical report which questions the costs and capabilities underpinning the £6bn programme.

The National Audit Office says it has "deep concern" about the project and does not understand how the Ministry of Defence reached decisions to press ahead, or how the department can be sure it will provide value for money.

In a 40-page study, the NAO reports discovering MoD papers which stated that cancelling the programme would save more than £1bn – contradicting remarks made last year by the defence secretary, Liam Fox, who said it would cost more to cancel than to build them.

The report also says the military regarded the carriers as a secondary priority for the Royal Navy.

After reading the findings, the chair of the public accounts committee, Margaret Hodge, said it was clear the NAO had been denied access to certain Cabinet Office papers about the carrier programme – a claim that was supported privately by NAO officials.

"This lack of transparency over such a crucial and costly decision is not acceptable," said Hodge.

"They were not given access to particular papers which they needed to understand … the cost, affordability, military capability and industrial implications" of the decisions made by the MoD.

The NAO report sets out how the carrier programme has fundamentally changed over the past five years and notes that the department "is delivering a lower scale of carrier capability, later than planned and at significantly higher cost" than had been originally envisaged.

Last year's Strategic Defence and Security Review set out how one of the two ordered carriers will be mothballed as soon as it is built, and the second – HMS Prince of Wales – will not come into service before 2020.

The delay will allow the carrier to be modified to take a different version of the Joint Strike Fighter than the one originally commissioned.

However, the NAO notes that even when the carrier is ready, it may still only have a small number of the fighters – possibly as few as 12 – and expects the overall cost of delivering one carrier equipped with aircraft to "significantly exceed £10bn".

Separate studies have shown the cost of the JSFs is rising, with latest estimates put at $100m (£62.5m) each.

Under the proposals set out in last year's SDSR, the UK will be without a carrier for almost a decade – the longest such period for the armed forces since 1918.

The NAO report says that when the HMS Prince of Wales is in service it will "give approximately 150-200 days at sea each year", meaning that for almost half the year the UK will be without any carrier, and will have to rely on help from the American and French fleets.

It also says that the government's overall plans for defence, and the aim to have revamped armed forces by 2020, will be "unaffordable unless there is a real terms increase in defence funding in the latter half of the decade".

It adds: "We are worried that the continuing difficulties the department is facing in balancing its budget leaves (the carrier programme) vulnerable to further changes … we are deeply concerned about the risks to the achievement of value for money."

The public accounts committee is also scrutinising the carrier programme and will be taking evidence from MoD officials next Monday.

Hodge said that the NAO report raised issues about cancellation, transparency and cost.

"The NAO has discovered that … cancellation was feasible and offered significant medium term savings. In addition it is clear that the military judged the carriers to be of secondary priority to other maritime capabilities."

She said she feared the "carriers may once again be a victim of the need to balance the books."

The defence secretary, Liam Fox, said the government had inherited a "massive defence deficit which included a carrier project that was already £1.6bn over budget. The SDSR put this programme back on track and delivered £3.4bn of overall savings."

The MoD's permanent under secretary, Ursula Brennan, claimed the NAO had "taken the unusual step of publishing this report without agreeing the final text with me". This was denied by the NAO.

[buglerbilly]

Helicopters resume operations from Illustrious

July 07, 2011



The flight deck of HMS Illustrious has buzzed and throbbed once more with aircraft as helicopters returned to the first time since her £40m overhaul.

LA James Batley guided the first aircraft – a Merlin of 814 Naval Air Squadron – to set down on the deck of 'Lusty' in more than 18 months, and thus the carrier to another small step in her long road back to front-line duties.

The Flying Tigers of 814 were joined aboard Illustrious by 815 NAS of Yeovilton who sent a Lynx to help the carrier’s Flyco – flying control – and deck team practise the landing and take-off procedures after such a long gap.

It wasn’t just about honing those skills, however, as once aboard the helicopters were used to refresh the skills and facilities of the 22,000-tonne warship’s air engineers.

Illustrious sailed last month for sea trials following a £40m refit in Rosyth which saw living spaces and machinery revamped, a fresh coat of sleek paint applied to the hull to make the ship cut through the seas more efficiently, new computer and comms kit fitted and, in line with last year’s defence review, saw Lusty converted to a helicopter/commando carrier for up to 20 whirlybirds and 600 Royal Marines commandos with all their kit.

Above all, an aircraft carrier needs aircraft, so Illustrious’ Commander Air – the person in charge of all operations on board the warship – Cdr Nigel May was delighted with the throb of Merlin and Lynx on the flight deck once more.

“After a long refit period, the ship’s company were keen to receive our first Royal Navy aircraft,” he said.

“The arrival of both aircraft on board was a great sight – and the first step in recreating maritime aviation capability from the ship in our regeneration process.”

From the experience of the aircrews, that regeneration has begun smoothly.

“The deck crews were slick and safe and very enthusiastic to get aircraft back on the deck,” said Lt AJ Thompson, Lynx Flight Commander.

“It’s fantastic to play a part in Illustrious’ regeneration process.”

In the coming weeks more helicopters will be helping to breathe life back into Illustrious – more Lynx and Merlin, plus Jungly Sea King Mk4 of the Commando Helicopter Force and Army Air Corps’ Apaches which are currently demonstrating the potency of a carrier-helicopter gunship combination off Libya from HMS Ocean.

Her initial period of sea trials over, Illustrious is due to return to Portsmouth for the first time since her refit at 4.50pm on Thursday. Several hundred families will be waiting for her on the jetty in the naval base.

Source: Fleet Air Arm

[buglerbilly]

Carrier Strike

(Source: UK National Audit Office; issued July 7, 2011)

The National Audit Office has expressed deep concern about risks to value for money from the changes to the aircraft carrier and associated Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft project made in the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR).

The SDSR decision, in October 2010, was for the MOD to build two carriers but operate only one, pending the next SDSR. This ship will be converted, using catapults and arrestor gear, to fly a different, more capable, version of the JSF to the one previously planned. This carrier will be available at sea only for an average of 150-200 days each year and fewer of the carrier version of the aircraft will operate from the carrier initially, reducing the number of possible daily sorties by more than two-thirds. A decision whether to convert the other carrier will be taken in the next SDSR, planned for 2015.

The decision to fit catapults and arrestor gear to the carrier means that the introduction of Carrier Strike will be delayed by two years, to 2020. Given the decision to retire the Harrier aircraft and the existing aircraft carrier immediately, there will be a decade-long gap without aircraft carrier capability. The changes will save some £3.4 billion over ten years.

Today’s report highlights the complex inter-relationship between the various cost, short-term affordability, military and industrial factors involved in the Carrier Strike decision. From the papers it saw, the National Audit Office could not understand how those factors were brought together to enable the MOD to reach a judgement on value for money.

The NAO identifies two principal risks to value for money on Carrier Strike. First, the SDSR is unaffordable unless there is a real terms increase in defence funding from 2015 onwards. The National Audit Office is worried that the continuing difficulties the MoD is facing in balancing its budget leaves Carrier Strike vulnerable to further change.

Secondly, the SDSR decision has introduced more technical, cost and schedule uncertainty. Thinking on the way the carriers will be used in operation is still evolving; and there are major risks reconstituting Carrier Strike capability after a decade without it. (Emphasis added—Ed.)

Michael Whitehouse, Chief Operating Officer of the National Audit Office, said today:

"The 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review has radically changed the Carrier Strike concept. It generated £3.4 billion of savings but introduced significant levels of operational, technical, cost and schedule uncertainty. It will take two years for the Department to reach a mature understanding of the consequences of the decision. These consequences include a decade without an operational carrier and the risks after such a time associated with reconstituting the capability.

"The risks to the delivery of the new carriers are compounded by more generic problems with defence acquisition – notably the MoD’s continuing difficulties in balancing its budget."


BACKGROUND NOTES:

1. The Carrier Strike capability comprises aircraft carriers and the aircraft that operate from them. The 1998 Strategic Defence Review committed to the replacement of the then three Invincible-Class aircraft carriers with two larger ones from 2012. In 2002, the MOD selected the Short Take-Off and Vertical landing version of the US-led Joint Strike Fighter as the preferred aircraft to replace the Harrier.

2. The original 2007 investment decision estimated the cost of both carriers as £3.65 billion. Post-SDSR that has risen to £6.24 billion for one carrier (and conversion to the carrier version of JSF). The original in-service dates for the carriers were 2014-16; and the in-service date for the one carrier and aircraft is now 2020.

3. The Comptroller and Auditor General (the head of the NAO) explained to the Committee of Public Accounts during his pre-appointment hearing that the carrier project is the only defence project where his level of engagement as a former MOD official raised the prospect of a conflict of interest. He therefore put in place arrangements to enable the NAO review of the project to be conducted without his engagement. This review has been led by Martin Sinclair, Assistant Auditor General for Defence, reporting to Michael Whitehouse, the NAO’s Chief Operating Officer. Sir Andrew Likierman, Chairman of the NAO, oversaw the arrangements to ensure that the review was fully independent.

Click here for the full report (44 pages in PDF format) on the NAO website.

http://www.nao.org.uk/idoc.ashx?docId=d144d7d9-e564-4c67-ae6c-107a24e714c7&version=-1

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

Submarine Returns to Fleet with Upgraded Thales Sonar

(Source: Thales; issued July 7, 2011)

HMS Trenchant, the Royal Navy's (RN’s) most capable and up-to-date Trafalgar-class nuclear-powered hunter-killer submarine (SSN), has been ceremonially welcomed back into the operational fleet this month with upgraded state-of-the-art sonar from Thales.

Sonar 2076 Stage 5 represents a world-class sonar capability for the Royal Navy...”

As part of a major refit programme that started in late 2009, the submarine has been fitted with Thales’s world-class Sonar 2076 Stage 5 system, and additional upgrades such as Tomahawk cruise missile capability. A ceremony at Devonport marked the boat’s return to service.

Previously fitted with 2076 Stage 4, the upgrade to the new Stage 5 system ensures that Sonar 2076 retains its reputation as the world’s most advanced, fully integrated, passive/active search and attack sonar suite.

Fleet submarines (Trafalgar and Astute class) combine qualities of stealth, endurance and flexibility. Operating on a global basis, these high-speed boats are used by the RN for high-intensity missile strikes, anti-submarine and surface unit warfare, surveillance, and inshore and beach reconnaissance.

Thales UK was awarded a contract to upgrade three additional Trafalgar-class and three Astute-class submarines with the Stage 5 system by BAE Systems in February 2010. Once all the work is completed, 2076 Stage 5 will be fully deployed across the RN’s SSN fleet.

The Stage 5 inboard replacement programme is the latest in a series of developments to improve the capability, efficiency and through-life cost of the sonar system. The upgrade also delivers an open architecture that allows a high degree of commonality with the Astute and Vanguard-class replacement (Successor) submarines, and supports the MoD’s vision for the evolution of a common sonar and combat system across the RN submarine flotilla.

Phil Naybour, head of Thales UK’s naval business, says: “We welcome the news that HMS Trenchant has re-entered operational service. Sonar 2076 Stage 5 represents a world-class sonar capability for the Royal Navy and we look forward to working closely with our partners to upgrade the remaining Trafalgar- and Astute-class submarines.”

Thales is a global technology leader for the defence & security and the aerospace & transport markets. In 2010 the company generated revenues of £11.2 billion (EUR 13.1 billion), with 68,000 employees in 50 countries. With its 22,500 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements. Thales has an exceptional international footprint, with operations around the world working with customers as local partners.

Thales UK employs 8,000 staff based at 35 locations. In 2010 Thales UK's revenues were around £1.5 billion.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

HMS Diamond enters service

An Equipment and Logistics news article

12 Jul 11

Following commissioning in May this year, HMS Diamond, one of the Royal Navy's new Type 45 advanced air defence destroyers, has entered service following extensive sea trials, the MOD announced today.


HMS Diamond (stock image)
[Picture: LA(Phot) Kyle Heller, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

The vessel's capability is based around the sophisticated Sea Viper missile defence system, which is capable of tracking and defending against multiple supersonic targets simultaneously, backed by long and short range radar and missile systems that can operate over distances in excess of 400km.

She can embark 60 troops and their equipment, supported by a modern medical facility that can deliver a surgical capability. She could also carry up to 700 people to support a civilian evacuation.

Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Peter Luff, said:

"I'm delighted to welcome the latest in this superb class of warship into the fleet, in what is another significant milestone in this hugely important project.

"These highly capable Type 45 destroyers will form an integral part of Future Force 2020 and will allow the Royal Navy to meet the demands placed on them."

The 7,000-tonne warship, launched on the Clyde in 2007, is one of six new Type 45 destroyers being built, the largest and most powerful ships of their kind ever ordered for the Royal Navy.


HMS Diamond (stock image)
[Picture: LA(Phot) Kyle Heller, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

Commander Ian Clarke, HMS Diamond's Commanding Officer, said:

"This marks HMS Diamond's formal transition to operations just nine months since leaving the builder's yard.

"The ship's company is rightly pleased to have reached this milestone and is now focused firmly on the forthcoming period of intense combat training in preparation for our first deployment.

"Itching to get onto a more operational footing, HMS Diamond will soon be at immediate notice to respond to world events and bring influence wherever it is needed."

With HMS Daring and HMS Dauntless already in service, and the other ships at various stages of completion, the handover of HMS Diamond represents the halfway point in this key naval equipment programme.

The ship will now undertake training in preparation for her first operational deployment in a few months' time.

All the Type 45s will be based in Portsmouth. The first, HMS Daring, was commissioned in July 2009, followed by HMS Dauntless in June last year.

The fourth, Dragon, is due to arrive in Portsmouth for the first time in September 2011. All six are scheduled to be in service by the middle of the decade.

[buglerbilly]

Construction on QE Carrier Forward Island Structure Begins in Portsmouth


Artist's impression of the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier island. (Illustration: UK MoD)

08:19 GMT, July 14, 2011 Portsmouth, United Kingdom | Construction on the forward island structure for the first Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier began today at BAE Systems’ facility in Portsmouth Naval Base.

Employees and guests watched as Second Sea Lord and Commander in Chief Naval Home Command, Vice Admiral Charles Montgomery CBE ADC cut the first steel, formally marking the start of production on the island structure. Housing the bridge and navigation systems for the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, the forward island is fundamental to the effective command and control of the vessel. The island also includes the vessel’s long range radar, providing wide area surveillance up to 400 kilometres.

Vice Admiral Montgomery said: “I am pleased to start official construction for HMS Queen Elizabeth’s forward island. The Queen Elizabeth Class will be joint assets for defence and, as such, will be a fundamental component of the UK’s joint capability over the coming decades.

“By routinely carrying a Joint Force Air Group they will deliver air power from the sea wherever and whenever required and in a stronger and more decisive form than ever before. They will undoubtedly prove a tremendous asset for promoting and protecting Britain’s national and global interests. Real progress is being made on this project and I look forward to seeing the next major block, Lower Block 03, arrive in Rosyth in August.”

Geoff Searle, Queen Elizabeth Class Programme Director for the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, said: ”Today's steel cut demonstrates the huge amount of momentum behind the Queen Elizabeth Class programme. With all but one section of the ship now in production, we are seeing significant progress, with thousands of people across the country working to deliver the nation’s flagships to our armed forces.”

Designed with a twin island configuration, the Queen Elizabeth Class will benefit from its flying operations being separated from the running of the vessels, resulting in maximum flexibility and greater control of flight deck operations. BAE Systems will also undertake the build of the aft island, which will be responsible for all air operations and air traffic control, with production expected to start in the autumn.

Today’s steel cut is the latest achievement in the programme and comes just two weeks after all of the rings of Lower Block 02, the forward hull section being built at Portsmouth, came together for the first time. Meanwhile, workers at the company’s Govan shipyard are gearing up for the departure of Lower Block 03 for transportation to Rosyth in August.

As a member of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, BAE Systems is working in partnership with Babcock, Thales and the Ministry of Defence to deliver the biggest and most powerful surface warships ever constructed in the UK. The company provides overall leadership and programme management to the QE Class programme, as well as playing a central role in the design and build of the ships. BAE Systems is also responsible for the design, manufacture and integration of the complex mission systems for the aircraft carriers.

Each 65,000 tonne carrier will provide a four acre military operating base that can be deployed worldwide and will be versatile enough to be used for operations ranging from supporting war efforts to providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief. The QE Class will be the centre piece of Britain’s military capability and will operate at least 12 of the carrier variant Joint Strike Fighter jets, allowing for unparalleled interoperability with allied forces.

[buglerbilly]

RN homes in on US eavesdropping system

By Richard Scott

8/2/2011

The UK is nearing a deal to buy the US Navy's latest maritime communications eavesdropping equipment to sustain the Royal Navy's (RN's) shipborne signals intelligence and surveillance capability.

In a notification to Congress dated 30 June, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) disclosed a possible Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract with the UK for the supply of the AN/SSQ-137(V) Ship Signal Exploitation Equipment (SSEE) Increment F communications-electronic support measures (CESM) system.

The SSEE Increment F system is developed and manufactured by Boeing-owned Argon ST and the deal, which includes associated equipment, logistics and training, is estimated to be worth USD90 million.

Intended to equip the RN's new Type 45 destroyers, the SSEE Increment F system is being procured to fulfill the requirements of Project Shaman. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) had, in 2005, selected BAE Systems as its preferred prime contractor for the Shaman programme, but in 2010 changed its plan in favour of an off-the-shelf FMS solution as part of a wider programme architecture known as Seaseeker.

Originally conceived as a CESM Wider Fleet Fit, Shaman was at its outset planned to equip eight (as planned) Type 45 destroyers and four Type 23 frigates. However, the programme now covers the six Type 45 destroyers only, plus a shore-based training/reference facility.

In April, the MoD outlined plans for Shaman to be procured in three parts: the CESM system itself being supplied from the US under an FMS case; platform design, modification and installation activities will be performed by BAE Systems as Type 45 Class Output Manager; and the third and final element will be a competition for a single contractor to conduct modifications and installations within UK-based training, calibration and operations centres, plus the supply of UK-specific documentation and system logistics support.

294 of 491 words

[buglerbilly]

Interesting shot of one of the UK Bay's............note the Phalanx to port and starboard opposite either side of where the gantry is usually parked.............



RFA Cardigan Bay with a Landing Craft Air Cushion during Exercise Cypriot Lion
[Picture: Luron Wright, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

[buglerbilly]

Royal Navy appoints first female warship commander

Navy breaks 500-year taboo by giving Lt Commander Sarah West command of HMS Portland

Martin Wainwright

guardian.co.uk, Monday 8 August 2011 21.50 BST


The Royal Navy has appointed the first female warship commander in its history. Lt Commander Sarah West, above, will take command of the frigate HMS Portland in 2012. Photograph: Ben Sutton/PA

For most of its five century history, the Royal Navy saw fit to allow women to serve only as carved figureheads or by lending their names to military vessels. But now the navy is set to hand command of a frontline warship to a female officer for the first time.

Lt Commander Sarah West is to graduate in time for her 40th birthday from the mine-hunting and coastal defence "minnows" of the service to a frigate more powerful than the whole of Lord Nelson's fleet.

She will take command in April of HMS Portland, whose arsenal has been used in anger against Somali pirates and cocaine smugglers in the Caribbean.

West, an expert in underwater warfare and large-scale naval planning, took a law degree on top of her university maths honours while serving in the Middle East.

She is also the first woman to achieve the rank of commander, a promotion due at the end of the year and only a step away from captain and then the various categories of admiral.

She earned the appointment by showing "leadership, confidence, moral courage, sound judgment and excellent people skills" since joining up in 1995, five years after the five centuries-old ban on women was rescinded.

Her training on HMS Battleaxe armoured her against inevitable quips at the first generation of navy women, and her previous command of four smaller vessels will help the challenge of Portland, a Type 32 frigate with 185 crew. She has earned praise for mastery of ships' weapons systems and skilled work on mine clearance off Iraq.

Earlier this year she led the 40-strong crew of minehunter HMS Shoreham through the West Sussex port of the same name to receive its official freedom. Bayonets were fixed, colours flown and drums beaten and West described her "pride at exercising this ancient right in our favourite town".

She was born and educated in Lincolnshire, like her fellow shatterer of ancient glass ceilings, Lady Thatcher, and studied maths at the University of Hertfordshire before taking a warfare officer course at Britannia Royal Naval College.

Signs of a high-flying career developed in her successful role in planning international exercises, including periods at naval headquarters co-ordinating operations in the Balkans at the time of Kosovo's declaration of independence in 2008.

This followed a major logistical role in the evacuation of 4,600 UK citizens and others from Lebanon in 2006, and a spell co-ordinating the navy's contribution to operations in Iraq.

A spokesman for the Royal Navy said that other women were achieving senior ranks in good numbers as well as joining the service at all levels.

On average, women form between 15% and 20% of ships' crews and are only barred from posts in the Royal Marine Commandos, mine clearance involving diving, and submarines. The submarine ban is currently under review and is expected to be eased.

"This appointment is good news," the spokesman said. "The Royal Navy is committed to ensuring equality of opportunity for all its personnel to enjoy challenging, fulfilling and rewarding careers."

Historic attitudes to women's place in society were reinforced at sea by superstitions about bad luck, problems of space and fears of sexual licence.

Questions about courage and skill were harder to raise, given heroic archetypes such as Grace Darling, the lifeboat pioneer, and a boatload of successful pirates from Anne Bonny to Lady Killigrew and Grace O'Malley, whose crew of 200 men was even larger than HMS Portland's.

The mercantile marine also pipped the Royal Navy last year by announcing the appointment of its first woman captain, Inger Klein Olsen, to the Cunard cruise liner Queen Victoria.

Her first job was to sail it into dry dock for a refit but she then set sail with a full complement of guests.

The Ministry of Defence said that West would be commenting nearer the time of her appointment to the frigate.

Meanwhile a contributor to the women seafarer's forum of the website gCaptain offers her experience of leading a ship: "It was like having a lot of brothers who are fun to be around but also can be really annoying at times."

http://www.gcaptain.com/

Hilarious comment!

[Chunder]

It's a good photo isn't it. As I still have to read body language a fair bit - I don't know what to make out of that look. It's Like the Mona Lisa. Is she bermused, Is she happy, has she got other stuff on her mind? lol

[Unicorn]

She is also the first woman to achieve the rank of commander, a promotion due at the end of the year and only a step away from captain and then the various categories of admiral.


Pretty fucking tragic really, given the RAN has more senior females, and they have commanded Fremantle and Armidale class patrol boats.

Unsure if we have had a major war vessel with a female CO, perhaps someone else knows?

.

[Doohan]

Yep. Commander Michele Miller on HMAS Perth In 2007

[Unicorn]

Thanks mate, thought we had but wasn't sure of the details.

.

[buglerbilly]

Defence contracts that keep British shipbuilding sector afloat

HMS Queen Elizabeth has provided a lifeline to the 147-year-old shipyard in Govan and five other yards in Britain

Dan Milmo Industrial editor in Glasgow and Severin Carrell

guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 16 August 2011 18.47 BST


Computer-generated image of new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth being built as a joint venture between BAE, Babcock, Thales UK and the MoD. Photograph: MoD/PA

As the 8,000-tonne mid-section of the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier eased into the Clyde it was not just another day for a shipbuilding industry that has seen countless vessels launched in Glasgow over the centuries.

By the government's own admission, a once-great manufacturing tradition, vastly diminished from its heyday, would be in terminal decline without the £5bn-£6bn programme to build two new carriers. The Queen Elizabeth is a lifeline to the 147-year-old BAE Systems yard in Govan and to five other yards around Britain.

"It is incredibly important [for shipbuilding in Glasgow and the UK]. It is the only show in town," says Steven Carroll, BAE's project director on the programme, an industrial alliance between BAE, Britain's biggest shipbuilder, and Babcock, Thales UK and the Ministry of Defence. This section of the Queen Elizabeth, forged in the huge industrial hives of BAE's Govan hangars, is being taken by barge around the north of Scotland to Babcock's facility in Rosyth, on the east coast, where it will be fused to sections made by other yards in the UK and launched as a completed ship in 2016.

Manufacturers are grateful for the government's strong talk on boosting their sector – it is good for confidence as much as anything else, they say. But cuts in public spending are contributing to a mood of uncertainty.

Last month a National Audit Office report revealed that military chiefs had considered cancelling the Queen Elizabeth programme, but the MoD feared that such a decision would have involved accepting "the demise of the shipbuilding industry". Up to £6.3bn of taxpayers' cash would have been saved by mothballing the industry.

The impact on jobs in Glasgow alone would have been dire. BAE's ships business employs 3,700 in the city, the largest concentration of its kind in the UK, while the Queen Elizabeth programme as a whole employs 10,000 people, including 400 apprentices, seen as essential to the industry. Without this impetus, the programme's executives argue, shipbuilding in the UK has a limited future.

"The importance to the whole industry is getting the longevity going forward, where we can plan and invest. The intake of apprentices and graduates is underpinned by this," says Carroll.

The government is striving to trim the public sector and rebalance the economy towards manufacturing while juggling the awkward reality that one of UK industry's biggest sectors, defence, needs significant state support. The carrier programme, and British shipbuilding, survived a Strategic Defence and Security Review by the MoD that will trim the department's annual £37bn budget by 8% over the next four years.

Gerald Howarth, under-secretary of state at the MoD, toured the BAE yard on Tuesday and expressed hope that technologies and skills developed under the Queen Elizabeth programme will engender a new type 26 frigate, also funded by the MoD, that will ultimately sell to navies around the world, the holy grail of George Osborne and any UK manufacturer.

"It is about time that the UK woke up to the fact that we have immense engineering skills in Britain, that the companies with these skills are world-class and that Britain's future prosperity will not be found on the back of financial services," Howarth said.

For successive UK governments, the scale of MoD spending on capital projects and major installations in Scotland has been the best proof available of the "union dividend" and the greatest weakness in the Scottish National party's prospectus for independence.

Without the UK's financial capacity to spend billions of pounds on acquiring the aircraft carriers, frigates and nuclear submarines to match its strategic ambitions, Scotland would lose tens of thousands of skilled manufacturing jobs, argue Labour, Liberal Democrat and Tory ministers.

It is an argument that will intensify as Alex Salmond, the first minister and SNP leader, presses ahead with his plans for a referendum on Scottish independence in 2014 or 2015. His opponents believe defence spending is an achilles heel for the nationalists. For the pro-UK parties, central government investment in projects such as the HMS Queen Elizabeth is a powerful political and economic weapon.

Under the last Labour government the Scotland Office, the Whitehall department responsible for overseeing UK government affairs in Scotland, produced a detailed paper on the scale and scope of defence spending north of the border. Published in March 2010, it reported that the MoD had more than 700 contracts in Scotland, directly supporting 7,000 jobs and thousands of sub-contractors' posts.

The MoD's long-term contracts with BAE guarantee a minimum spend of £230m a year until 2025. The military industrial landscape includes Selex Galileo in north Edinburgh, which makes radar for Typhoon fighters; Vector Aerospace, which sustains 300 jobs repairing military helicopters; and QinetiQ, which employs 200 people in the Western Isles on its missile testing range.

Ann McKechin, shadow Scottish secretary, says that these figures are evidence that Scotland's economy is "highly dependent" on UK defence spending. "The majority of the work is in large scale shipbuilding; if we lost that, it would be devastating," she said. "The entire defence industry is very highly tied into MoD work."

In 2008, a Scottish affairs select committee report estimated that the defence and aerospace industries generated £2.3bn in annual sales and supported almost 50,000 jobs. The SNP, McKechin believes, has been deliberately evasive about its strategy for retaining these jobs. The Holyrood government has failed to produce its promised official paper on defence options for an independent Scotland.

Angus Robertson, the SNP's defence spokesman, insists that the "union dividend" is a fraud. His reading of defence spending in Scotland maintains that, per capita, it is actually lower than it should be. There are now 10,500 fewer defence jobs than a decade ago, and between 2002 and 2008, there was an "underspend" of £5.8m on defence in Scotland, comparing tax take to spending. Since the end of the Cold War, with the expansion of the Faslane submarine base on the Clyde the only significant exception, there has been a steady shift in spending and investment to the south of England.

"With independence, Scotland can and will match the defence spending and capabilities of Norway and comparable European neighbours, providing professional, conventional forces with Scotland's current level of contribution to the MOD," he said. "On the basis of mutual interest, it is perfectly reasonable to envisage circumstances in which we share basing, procurement and training facilities with the rest of the present UK."

The question is one not just of national government spending, but of which national government will be doing the spending.

[McFriday]

"It is incredibly important [for shipbuilding in Glasgow and the UK]. It is the only show in town," says Steven Carroll, BAE's project director on the programme, an industrial alliance between BAE, Britain's biggest shipbuilder, and Babcock, Thales UK and the Ministry of Defence."

Yes it is an important project BUT if it is the ' ONLY show in town' then that is the fault of the BAE isn't it? This constant scaremongering style bleating about being singularly dependent on the UK MOD's teat or starving is an insult to any reasonable intelligence and a poor reflection on BAE.

Is there no responsibility for that shipbuilder to make sure the Scottish yards are internationally competitive?
If BAE really wants to make it's yards profitable, go find out what the market wants and what you can build 'it' for, if you're not the lowest price sell it on quality, flexibility, build efficiency and ensure same, if BAE can't do that, get out of the game or stop the blackmail.

If the yards exist only, or mainly, for national strategic purposes the Government should construct a properly budgeted, rational, long-term cycle of build and refurbishment with a vibrant, commercial efficiency to it's turnover.
Performing the long term work with commercial efficiency, not as a holiday camp with a bloated, go-slow, work force or as a political football, is an oversight responsibility shared by Govt., management and labor. The level of maturity and pragmatism required, I guess, means it won't happen but not that it shouldn't.

Maintaining and improving efficient heavy industry is a very important, I would say crucial aspect of national security. Replacement and refurbishment of military hardware is unavoidable and largely accurately predictable, so therefore can be planned and funded over an extended period [decades] with some certainty. Such consistent opportunity of employment has very wide positive effects, well paid workers produce social stability not strife.

Abraham Gubler recently posted a sensible, sustainable plan to maintain and improve an Australian shipbuilding industry based mainly on the RAN's annual needs over a 24year cycle, any external orders would be a bonus. Abraham shows clearly how it can be done here, why not also in the UK? Same problem, political will, vested interests, selfish individuals, lack of leadership etc.

That kind of long term planning is in the national interest and though committing a lot of work to a small number of facilities has it's own pitfalls, proper governance informed by the history of labor relations can avoid most of them.

The above is not really a digression from the article but a critique of it's foundation, ie '"losing the ability to build ships if the MoD doesn't fund xxx" it is an unsustainable argument by BAE [and primes across the pond] absolving themselves of any real need to protect and sustain their workforce and promoting social instability.

There has always existed an alternative, a purposeful, government driven program, as outlined by Abraham, could economically sustain such a core capability as long as there's a Navy. Removing the fear factor from industrial relations would result in a better quality of life for many more than just the yard's direct employees, this in turn would reduce civil strife etc.

This article is nothing more than a propaganda piece from BAE et al in UK politics. The figures and arguments posited are nonsensical, you can't save "6.3bn pounds" by mothballing shipyards, the rusting cranes may remain but the shipyard dies as soon as the human skillsets walk out the front gate.

One could save money by sacking them all and not spending it, but soon all your ships would spring leaks and sink. If that's not a viable option, then outsource the lot to BAE China for say 10b pounds. Sounds about right for British politics ATM, see how well the Italian hotel industry is doing out of the defence cuts, now that's saving money.

I trust the public will never wake up and stay scared and nervous.

Rant switch off

Mac

[buglerbilly]

You ignore one or two important things here, probably cos you don't know about them:

1) The UK, in particular, the UK Labour Governments have never been a friend to UK Shipbuilding full stop. Their Nationalisation and then disgraceful de-Nationalisation without thought, reason, rhyme or sheer commonsense left what could only be called a huge MESS.

2) The UK Yards that survived, so very few from what was so very many, were left with nothing but Naval work almost across-the-board being driven out by Korean and Taiwanese competitors who were/are widely supported and encouraged by their respective Governments, something that has not happened in the UK since the 1960's.

3) Even competitive elements were snuffed in the interests of EU "harmony" kow-towing to so-called Cheapo yards in Spain and Italy, all of which have now proven to be worthless.

4) UK Naval ship-building has NOT seen any Strategy since late 1970's/early 80's, and even then it was more driven by the consequences of the Falklands campaign than anything else. Look at the Type 45's - "We need 12 but we'll build 8 and think about the rest cos this new, wondrous missile system will eliminate the need for more" - what have they built? SIX...!!!! And now they are talking about SM-3/6 or whatever being added cos aster 30 MAY not be up to it and/or needs to be developed further to succeed. "ASTUTE" SSN programme late due to skills lost at the design and engineering stage due to people leaving and/or retiring due to lack of work~!!! A self-fulfilling prophecy.........:doh The Carriers are no better, start with two end up with one, which may probably work better cos the escorts they need, the Type 45's, are insufficient in numbers to suit two CV's.

BAE has a lot to answer for BUT the UK Government stands covered in blood, disgrace and the shame of the sheer crass negligence they have continuously shown, whether Labour or Conservative, it differs not a whit.

[buglerbilly]

Key section of new Navy carrier is on the move

An Equipment and Logistics news article

17 Aug 11

As an 8,000-tonne hull section of the Royal Navy's latest aircraft carrier begins a 600-mile (966km) journey around the north coast of Scotland, a team of cyclists has set off to try and 'beat the block' to its destination.


The mid-section of what will be HMS Queen Elizabeth's hull being transported down the Clyde from BAE Systems' shipyard in Govan, Glasgow
[Picture: Copyright John Linton Photography 2011]

The mid-section of hull, known as 'lower block 03', is the first part of the HMS Queen Elizabeth to go into the dry dock at Rosyth.

At 66ft (20m) high and 207ft (63m) long, it has been moved out of a hall at the BAE Systems shipyard in Govan, Glasgow, and is being taken by sea to Rosyth on the Firth of Forth where the aircraft carrier will be pieced together.

And to mark the completion of the construction of the mid-section of the hull more than 50 cyclists left Govan on a 500-mile (805km) bike ride aiming to 'beat the block' to its final destination.

The cyclists are attempting to raise more than £10,000 for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, stopping at Fort William, Elgin, Peterhead and St Andrews.

Steven Carroll, project director at BAE Systems, said there was a real sense of pride at the yard:

"Watching lower block 03 be towed down the Clyde gives us a chance to reflect on the huge achievements of the past two years since we cut the first steel on this first section," he said.

"The beat the block challenge gives everyone a fun way to get involved and it's fantastic to see so many cyclists from across the Carrier Alliance taking part, helping to raise money for a charity that supports the men and women of our Armed Forces.


The 8,000-tonne hull section is the first part of the HMS Queen Elizabeth to go into the dry dock at Rosyth
[Picture: Copyright John Linton Photography 2011]

"This is a tough challenge and I encourage members of the public to show your support when you see the team cycle past."

Gerald Howarth, Minister for International Security Strategy, said:

"Excellent progress is being made on this project and it will form the cornerstone of the Royal Navy's Future Force 2020.

"It is clear evidence that the UK shipbuilding industry has the expertise and experience to deliver a project of this size and complexity, delivering our next generation of carrier strike capability."

The block will travel around the north coast before arriving at Rosyth on 21 August 2011.

The 65,000-tonne ship, the first of two new Queen Elizabeth Class carriers, is expected to be operational by 2020.

The 919ft (280m) carrier, along with its sister vessel HMS Prince of Wales, will be converted to accommodate Joint Strike Fighter jets.

The new carriers are being built by an alliance of BAE Systems, Babcock, Thales UK and the Ministry of Defence, and will give the Royal Navy a four-acre (16,200 square metres) military operating base which can be deployed worldwide.

[McFriday]

"BAE has a lot to answer for BUT the UK Government stands covered in blood, disgrace and the shame of the sheer crass negligence they have continuously shown, whether Labour or Conservative, it differs not a whit. "

I am aware of all the points you make and agree totally with what you say. I obviously wasn't as forceful, or as colourful, as your above comments, or select specific examples of past Govts malpractice, there are too many.

If you have the time to re-read my post I hope you find that I have attempted to lay the responsibility squarely on Governments policies. At least 9 paragraphs, starting at para 4, of my post focus on government policy in a very critical manner by suggesting what was lost and more specifically what could easily be regained and why.

The last major para. also is meant to be a caustic comment on government defence policy, not any contractor, a 100m pounds for hotel accom. [not incl. food] and counting! What kind of war is that? Not a war of inconvenience I'm sure, maybe all the tents are elsewhere?

By word count alone, I am not holding the yard owners or the unions [though they've both played a part], even largely responsible for the decades old mess, that black mark goes to all 'Governments' for lack of a cohesive, committed, strategic, maritime policy as you rightly point out.

It is not that I am ignorant of, or chose to disregard the valid points you make to shift blame from what 'governments' have done. It's that I chose to place more emphasis on what they could and in my opinion, should now be doing as a matter of national interest.

My argument with BAE in this instance is not for creating this mess but for continuing it by [apparently] not doing more to break the cycle of dependance on one historically dysfunctional government customer. I actually think they must be doing more but that's not what was said.

I also suspect BAE would close, or threaten to close, those yards in a heartbeat to leverage better than equitable terms for BAE from government. Multi-national conglomerates operate to a different morality and National Interest doesn't figure in a trifecta of their priorities, it doesn't show up on a balance sheet anywhere.

Strategic industries are an employment scheme, to a point. That is no reason not to utilise them in the most cost effective manner for the national good. The work for the RN, a national responsibility, needs to be done in Britain, the facilities and the skill base exist to the national benefit. Naval work will cost less if done properly and sensibly by all sides.

A recovery can only be Government led and must be supported through changes thereof, the people involved deserve better than they've been getting and so does the Navy, indeed the country.

Cheers,
Mac

[buglerbilly]

Let's kill 'em all.............:violent2 :thumbsup

[McFriday]

That reminds of my families traditional philosophy LOL mmm! Might also explain why my kids love hockey, they 'play' that way!

I'm looking forward to visiting my nephew at Henderson, when I'm wandering around WA and spot a gun toting, knife wielding, [all Gucci kit of course] blood spattered, opinionated font all knowledge, I'll be sure to say hello...it may be you!!

LOL

Mac

[buglerbilly]

Ministers reconsider mothballing carrier


112317-462_CARRIER_SR_28/6/11 The structure of HMS Queen Elizabeth in the shipbuilding hall a Portsmouth Dockyard. Picture:Steve Reid 112317-462

By Michael Powell

Published on Monday 22 August 2011 19:05

THE government aims to reverse its controversial decision to mothball the first of the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers, The News can reveal.

Last year’s Strategic Defence and Security Review decided HMS Queen Elizabeth – the first of two new 65,000-tonne supercarriers being built for the navy – would be put into storage in Portsmouth to save cash when she arrives in 2016.

But defence minister Gerald Howarth hinted at a U-turn in the next defence review in 2015 – one year before the ship comes into service with the navy.

He told The News: ‘The SDSR concluded we needed one carrier but clearly that has its own limitations in availability and clearly the 2015 defence review gives us an opportunity to look again in the prevailing economic conditions and see where we go from there.

‘Clearly, all of us would like two aircraft carriers because that gives us the continuous at-sea capability.

‘We’ve had to take some pretty tough decisions but we’re hoping to be in a position to recover that one in 2015.’

Mr Howarth, who is the Minister for International Security Strategy, was speaking at Govan shipyard in Glasgow which – like Portsmouth – is one of six sites across the UK building the new carriers.

Paying tribute to the British shipbuilding industry, he said: ‘This carrier is stunning engineering.

‘It’s about time the UK woke up to the fact that we do have immense engineering skills in Britain and that the companies with those skills are world class – indeed they operate across the globe – and Britain’s future prosperity will not be found simply on the back of financial services.’

But the project to build the aircraft carriers has been branded ‘a shambles’ by Portsmouth MP Mike Hancock.

As previously reported, HMS Queen Elizabeth will not be kitted out to fly the navy’s latest jets when it comes into service.

Those building the carrier say it was ‘too late’ to alter the design to accommodate the type of plane the government wants for the new warships.

This means the £2.6bn ship will be left as a four-acre helicopter landing vessel when it comes into service.

The government will then have to stump up an estimated £1bn tearing the ship apart to fit catapult and arrestor gear – known as ‘cats and traps’ – to enable F-35C jets to fly from her flight deck.

Mr Hancock, who sits on the House of Commons Defence Select Committee, said: ‘If the first one does not have cats and traps then why are we building it?

‘It’s a complete shambles. Why are we spending more than £2bn for a helicopter landing ship?’

Originally, both carriers were going to have F-35B jump jets which, like the old Harrier jets they are replacing, are designed to take off and land vertically.

But the government decided in the SSDR that Britain would instead buy cheaper F-35C jets, which require electro-magnetic cats and traps to be fitted for taking off and landing.

Last year’s decision was taken without knowing how much it would cost to change the design of the ships, which is now the subject of the 18-month cats and traps study that began in June.

While work on the second ship, HMS Prince of Wales, is at an early stage, construction of HMS Queen Elizabeth is past the point when cats and traps could be installed before her in-service date in 2016.

A recent report by the National Audit Office said fitting them to one of the carriers will increase the overall cost of the £5.2bn project by £1bn. Some analysts warn it will cost more.

A MoD spokesman confirmed: ‘Our current planning assumption is to convert HMS Prince of Wales in build but no firm decisions will be taken until late 2012.’

GOVERNMENT’S STRATEGY IS TO ‘MUDDLE ALONG’

DEFENCE experts have again criticised the plan to leave one of the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers unable to launch jets.

Rear Admiral Chris Parry, from Drayton, in Portsmouth who is a respected defence analyst, said: ‘There are a lot of random decisions going on.

‘It seems to me that the current government’s strategy is to just muddle along whether it is with Libya, the new carriers or anything else.

‘This is another example of a lack of coherence in long-term planning that was introduced by the Strategic Defence and Security Review.’

Admiral Sir Jonathon Band called the current situation ‘untidy at best’.

He added: ‘It is a consequence of the government’s decision to change the type of aircraft.’

However, the former First Sea Lord argued the government’s plan has a silver lining.

He said: ‘This will allow the Queen Elizabeth to be commissioned, do all the deck trials and platform trials and make sure the design is fine.

‘Then when HMS Prince of Wales is built we can go straight in with flying trials.’

[buglerbilly]

Dragon Roars Home

(Source: BAE Systems; issued August 27, 2011)

GLASGOW, United Kingdom --- Dragon, the fourth Type 45 anti-air warfare destroyer built by BAE Systems for the Royal Navy, has set sail from the Clyde for the final time today.

Dragon set off from the company’s Scotstoun yard this morning, with a combined BAE Systems and Royal Navy crew, as she embarked on the journey to her new home port of Portsmouth. The vessel will be formally handed over to the Royal Navy at a ceremony on Wednesday 31 August. Despite the early start, around 100 employees came to watch as the ship they have worked on since in December 2005 made its final journey down the Clyde.

Angus Holt, UK Programmes Director at BAE Systems Surface Ships, said: “Watching Dragon leave the Clyde is a proud moment for everyone involved, as we reflect on our achievements in delivering these advanced warships to the Royal Navy.

“Our team on the Clyde is focused on delivering Defender and Duncan, the fifth and sixth ships in the class to the same exceptionally high standard as their predecessors. Marking a shift in the balance, our engineers in Portsmouth will now work alongside the Royal Navy in Portsmouth to deliver support services to four ships, using the knowledge developed during the design and build programme.”

Commanding Officer Darren Houston, said: “Dragon is in top condition for the rigours of the next stage of her sea trials and the challenges ahead. This has only been possible through the hard work and support we have received from BAE Systems, its sub-contractors and the local Scotstoun community.

“The Royal Navy operates as a force for good, contributing to the security of the UK, the prevention of conflict and the promotion of our national interests in the wider world. Dragon is eager to play her part and start operating the newest and most advanced warship in the world. In a continuing effort to improve the Type 45 class, the Royal Navy and BAE Systems have worked in close partnership to make Dragon the best of her class, ready to fight and win.”

BAE Systems is on track to deliver all six Type 45 destroyers to the Royal Navy by early 2013. Defender is currently undergoing final stages of outfit and will head to sea for the first time in November, while outfit and commissioning continues on Duncan, the sixth and final vessel in the class, following her launch in October 2010. Duncan will commence her first stage sea trials in the first half of 2012.

As Class Output Manager for the fleet, BAE Systems also provides in-service support to the Type 45 destroyers. Working side by side with the Royal Navy at Portsmouth Naval Base, the company’s engineers coordinate all aspects of repair, maintenance and support to improve ship availability and reduce through life support costs. The company recently supported HMS Dauntless during her warm weather trials off the US coast with the first of class, HMS Daring, receiving a capability upgrade and HMS Diamond achieving her Initial Operating Capability following extensive trials.

The Type 45s will provide the backbone of the UK’s naval air defences for the next 30 years and beyond. The destroyers will be capable of carrying out a wide range of operations, including anti-piracy and anti-smuggling activities, disaster relief work and surveillance operations as well as high intensity war fighting.

Each destroyer will be able to engage a large number of targets simultaneously, and defend aircraft carriers or groups of ships, such as an amphibious landing force, against the strongest future threats from the air. The vessels will contribute a specialist air warfare capability to worldwide maritime and joint operations until 2040.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

Some particularly nice shots of HMS DRAGON via the UK's Daily Mail.............the dragon pic on the bow is temporary, mores the pity.........I note that none of them have the amidships Phalanx CIWS installed but then again that might have more to do with the fact the Phalanx are in the beginnings of a major Upgrade programme to bring them up to the latest standard..........


The Royal Navy's latest warship HMS Dragon sails into her new home in Portsmouth. She will undergo a series of tests before being declared ready




The crew of the Royal Navy's newest warship march aboard after she is handed over from the builders BAE Systems

[buglerbilly]

Designing the Type 26 frigate

05 September 2011 | By Stuart Nathan

The Royal Navy is going through one of the most tumultuous periods in its entire illustrious, five-century existence. It’s a time of conflicting emotions as the old flagship, Ark Royal, is sent into history before its time, according to some commentators while new Type 45 destroyers take their first trip down the Clyde and into service. The submarine fleet is also being refreshed, with the new Astute-class attack boats on sea trials. And nobody could fail to notice the massive sections of the new flagship, Queen Elizabeth, arriving at the dockyard in Rosyth to be assembled, with yet another wave of controversy over its initial lack of aircraft-launching capability and, indeed, aircraft.


Multi-tasker: the ships will be used for anti-piracy missions as well as warfighting

But the activity isn’t just confined to dockyards. Yet another of the navy’s ship classes is also approaching retirement, and this time it’s the Senior Service’s workhorse, the frigate fleet. Smaller and lighter than destroyers, the frigates referred to as Type 23s or occasionally Duke-class ships have been in service since the 1980s and are due to be decommissioned towards the end of this decade; three have recently been sold to the Chilean Navy. Although steel is as yet uncut on their replacements, which will be called Type 26s, the project to design the new backbone of the 21st-century Royal Navy is well under way.

’The Type 23 frigates were designed in the late 1970s and early 1980s. They came into service from the late 1980s to 2001 and it was envisaged that they’d have an 18-year life,’ explained Brian Johnson of BAE Systems Surface Ships and director of the Type 26 project. ’That timescale was based on the fact that their primary role was antisubmarine warfare [ASW] and it was assumed that they’d spend most of their time sitting in the North Atlantic following Russian subs. But the world moved on and actually they’ve spent most of their lives in the Caribbean and the Middle East, in seas where the stresses on the hulls are much less than in the Atlantic.’

Because of this, the hulls are actually lasting about twice as long as originally envisaged. But after 35 years in service the last Type 23 came into service in 1999 and is scheduled to retire in 2034 they will reach the point where they can no longer be upgraded and new ships will be needed. ’If there isn’t a new ship coming into service if we don’t do this now then there won’t be a navy in the sense that we currently think of it, as a service that can patrol around the world.’



The project to replace the Type 23s (and their predecessors, the Type 22s, four of which are still in service) has, therefore, been in existence, in various forms, for some time. But with the absolute deadline approaching, it began in earnest last year. This is a complex procedure, as Johnson explained.

Frigates have a number of roles, with ASW at or near the top of the list. ’It’s massively important in several fronts of large-scale warfighting and it’s also needed to support the nuclear deterrent submarines you need to know where other submarines are,’ Johnson said. ’Within NATO, the Royal Navy is the undoubted ASW expert.’ However, the other roles are equally important and, in recent years, far more common. Type 23s are doing anti-piracy missions off the Horn of Africa and drug interdiction in the Caribbean; they are used for humanitarian missions and many other tasks not suited to the navy’s more specialist ships, such as minesweepers, amphibious landing ships and carriers. ’They do the bulk of the work of the day-to-day bluewater navy.’

To replace them, therefore, the first task was to figure out what the replacements would have to do. This is termed the ’requirement’ and is drawn up by a high-level group within the Ministry of Defence (MoD). ’It gets put together in broad terms of “we need a ship to do this”,’ Johnson said. ’It defines things such as how fast the ship will go with roughly what size of crew and what size the radar will be. That starts to give you an indication of the size of the ship, because radars are heavy and need to sit a certain distance above the sea.’ The requirement also sets how many ships will be needed, as the navy is sized to cope with one ’medium’ and two ’small’ conflicts at any time. The Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns are both classified as medium, which is why the navy has been overstretched for the last decade.


Pushing the boat out: a ‘mission bay’ at the aft end of the Type 26 ships will allow them to launch small boats and autonomous vehicles

For Type 26, the requirement specifies eight ships capable of ASW and five ships equipped for more general duties. ’ASW ships have to be quiet,’ Johnson explained. This isn’t to prevent them from being discovered, but to make sure that the signals from the passive sonar system can be heard over the engines and the sound the ship makes moving through the water. ’So there’s a real design conundrum here. Do you make two completely different ships with different hull forms or one common platform that can do both, with different equipment on board?’

This, he said, was the subject of some discussion with the navy, resulting in a decision to build a common hull for both types of frigate, which can then be converted from ASW to general, or vice versa, in refit as required. ’People think that the cost of a warship is in the steel, because that’s what they can see,’ Johnson said. ’But actually it typically only comprises about five per cent of the cost. So although it seems like you’re buying something you don’t need, with five ships with stealthy hulls and no need for them, for the navy it’s actually much cheaper to have a platform that can do everything in terms of the through-life cost and the flexibility of the vessel. It’s the same as car manufacturers making a basic model that can actually have all of the available options on it if the customer ticks those boxes when they order it.’

Another feature that is likely to appear on the Type 26 is a ’mission bay’ at the aft end of the ship. ’This will allow us to use the ships as a base to launch small boats and, in future, autonomous marine vehicles,’ Johnson said. The ships will also feature a flight deck and hangar, most probably to house helicopters frigates currently on drug-interdiction duty in the Caribbean use helicopter patrols extensively.

BAE Systems won the contract for the assessment phase of the Type 26 project last year and is now approaching the important halfway point of the project, known as the Capability Decision Point and scheduled for November of this year. This marks the dividing line between the strict concept and design phases of the project. Currently, the team of around 200 engineers on the project is fine-tuning issues of the ships’ capabilities in a complex trading exercise, prioritising the various systems, fittings and functions on board in order to arrive at a description that fits the requirement but also comes in line with the budget for the project assigned by the government.


Out of steam: the Type 23 ships are due to be decommissioned

’The navy, of course, would love a ship that could do anything but that’s not affordable so we trade off certain capability and equipment to balance the cost and the relative advantage for the navy. At the decision point, we’ll present what we think is the best compromise to a very senior group within the MoD called the Surface Combatant Programme Board,’ Johnson said. This compromise will pin down the exact speed capability, the precise crew numbers, the calibre of its main gun and, just as importantly, what the ship will not be able to do. ’For the second part of the programme, we’ll do detailed design work to price it up accurately and at the end of the assessment exercise we’ll have a 3D CAD drawing that will show you exactly what the ship will look like and what will be there. That gets us to what’s called the main-gate decision point. At that point, we can start the planning of the build itself, purchasing some of the major pieces of equipment, and we’d cut metal maybe nine months to a year after that.’

Heading up the assessment exercise is chief engineer Steve Lewis, a veteran of the Type 45 project, who explained how the ’trading’ system works. ’In order to be able to trade, you need to define a reference point, which is the mid-point of the design options that we have.’ Johnson described the reference case as ’our best guess at what the committee is likely to accept’.

The engineers then look at the benefits and costs of each system on board, initially in isolation and then as a whole package. In some cases, for example, a system might have a low purchase cost, but its through-life costs would be high; a more expensive initial outlay might lead to lower maintenance costs and therefore a cheaper overall solution. ’You also trade off one thing against another. For example, do you value accommodation above propulsion? Are you prepared to have a more expensive engine system if it means the crew is less comfortable?’

This programme depends on having a good idea of how much things cost and that isn’t always easy. ’Where we think there’s significant risk in the pricing, either because it’s technology that we’re not familiar with or it’s a particularly high value, we’ve gone to the supply base, at various levels, with requests for quotation or information, or we’ve placed study contracts to generate price information,’ Lewis said. ’At the moment, the challenge is to hold the cost of the reference design down. When you do more engineering studies, you uncover issues with the project that generally add to the cost, rather than deleting from it.’

However, Lewis is certain that the way the project is being tackled will lead to a true reflection of how much it will eventually cost, even with the build phase of the programme running into the next few decades. ’The information underpinning our decisions, the robustness of the cost data and the detail with which we’ve looked for all the benefits associated with each option choice are being taken much further than with previous projects I’ve worked on, such as the Type 45 destroyers.’

Another difference from the destroyer project is that Type 26 represents a continuity of service duty, rather than a step change, according to Johnson. ’The Type 45 destroyer is an amazing warship,’ he said. ’But there was an awful lot of risk getting it into service because there’s so much new equipment on a new hull. We’re doing it much more progressively in the 26.’

For the first few Type 26s entering service, much of the equipment on board will be transferred from Type 23s as they go out of service. ’This is equipment that isn’t even on the 23s yet; it’s what we’re calling “future legacy”,’ Johnson explained. ’It means that the new hull will be a smaller step change in the frigate capability still a very significant one, but the systems will be common with the older hulls, which reduces the risk of the project.’

The team working on Type 26 at the moment is composed of fairly senior staff with a great deal of experience, Lewis said. ’We try to get more blue-sky people involved in this phase, to look for more innovative solutions than we’ve tried on previous projects. We had a parallel team looking at an export solution, thinking about how we’d design the ship if we didn’t have the constraints of working for the Royal Navy; we’ve now brought the two teams together and have come up with some new ways to drive costs down.’

As the project progresses, however, the make-up of the team will change. ’Some of the blue-sky thinkers will leave the team, but most of the people will stay involved and they have the background on why we decided on this set of solutions.’

The first of the Type 26 frigates isn’t scheduled to enter service until 2021, but they will be in the water in 2014, Johnson said. Although the project is a long-term one that will define much of the Royal Navy’s capabilities for the rest of the century, the pace is accelerating and its first fruits will be visible sooner than many people might expect.

Back story exporting chance

BAE and the MoD believe that the Type 26 models hold significant potential for goods shipping One facet of the Type 26 project that both BAE Systems and the MoD are particularly keen on is its potential for exports. While BAE is no stranger to building ships for other navies, with recent customers including Trinidad and Tobago and the Sultanate of Oman, the sale of ships as large as frigates would be a major money spinner.

Speaking at the ceremony to send the first block of the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier to Rosyth last month, defence minister Gerald Howarth indicated that preliminary talks had taken place with the Brazilian government for BAE to supply its navy, with Type 26 a possible product of interest.

The technique of building ships in blocks at different locations, pioneered with the Type 45 destroyers whose bows were built in Portsmouth and continued at a much larger scale with the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers, could be extremely useful as a tool for exports, Howarth said. Countries that want to build up their shipbuilding expertise could undertake the building of small blocks with the rest of the ships being built on the Clyde or in the UK’s other shipbuilding centres.

Read more: http://www.theengineer.co.uk/in-depth/the-big-story/designing-the-type-26-frigate/1009822.article#ixzz1XGmeixWA

[buglerbilly]

DSEi 2011: Astute launches comms upgrade

September 12, 2011



The first of the UK Royal Navy’s (RN's) Astute class submarines has begun to have its communications systems upgraded with SEA’s Network Interface Unit (NIU), company bosses have revealed.

Speaking to Shephard, officials said work had started on 9 September with the ‘integration of radios and fit’. They added that work would continue for the next year or so.

The upgrade will see the replacement of the telephone patch panel with a flexible and reconfigurable architecture, which SEA said, would provide size, weight and power benefits for the submarine. It will also allow communications operators to manage and control information from any part of the submarine. The project will incorporate Aurora, Astute’s External Communications System.

More specifically, the upgrade will see the interconnection of analogue and digital information, transfer to a LAN/WAN system as well as connectivity to legacy equipment.

The integration comes on the back of a £10m contract awarded to SEA by the UK’s MoD in 2003. SEA is understood to have beaten Babcock and Lockheed Martin to a £13m integration contract some 18 months ago.

SEA executives told Shephard that Astute boats 5, 6 and 7 could also be retro-fitted with the upgrad although they were unable to comment on when this may happen.

SEA communications systems director Seamus Brogan, said: ‘Communications systems have traditionally evolved by adding or replacing independently developed stove-piped sub-systems, resulting in an incoherent overall system architecture which consists of a muddle of incompatible systems.

‘NIU is designed to overcome this problem. Openness and standardisation are key features and the use of networks at the heart of the infrastructure enables centralised control and management and allows a flexible office layout,’ he said.

Looking abroad, SEA added that it had entered a bid for an Australian upgrade programme for surface warships, adding that they had also received interest in upgrading ‘other C2 systems’.

‘But for submarines, this programme is more pressing due to SWAP issues,’ Brogan said. NIU is already operated on RN Swiftsure and Trafalgar-class submarines.

Andrew White, London

[buglerbilly]

UK carrier to receive second EMALS production shipset, Fox confirms

By Peter Felstead, Janes

9/12/2011

The second production shipset of the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) being developed by General Atomics for the US Navy's upcoming Gerald R Ford-class aircraft carriers will be fitted to Prince of Wales , the British Queen Elizabeth (QE)-class carrier that will be configured for the F-35C carrier variant (CV) Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), the UK Defence Secretary has confirmed.

Speaking to Jane's in the run-up to the Defence Security and Equipment International (DSEi) exhibition, held in London from 13-16 September, Dr Liam Fox said: "We now have a slot for the EMALS catapult system being fitted. It will be fitted first of all to the Gerald R Ford , then the next slot will be for the British carrier and the next slot will be for the American John F Kennedy carrier. So we've got that confirmed from the Americans now; the Americans have successfully tested it."

The US Navy first used EMALS to launch a manned aircraft, an F/A-18E Super Hornet strike fighter, on 18 December 2010 at the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) EMALS trials facility at Lakehurst, New Jersey.

183 of 790 words

[buglerbilly]

DATE:15/09/11

SOURCE:Flight International

DSEi: Thales outlines Sea King 7 replacement proposal

By Craig Hoyle

Thales UK hopes to secure a deal to provide the mission equipment for the Royal Navy's replacement organic airborne early warning system, with its proposal based on the re-use of Cerberus equipment installed on the service's current Westland Sea King 7s.



Being used in Afghanistan and also recently employed over Libya, the navy's operational airborne surveillance and control system (ASaC) aircraft will have to be replaced soon, as the Ministry of Defence plans to retire its last Sea Kings by around 2016.


© Crown Copyright

Under current plans, the ASaC mission should be assumed by some of the 30 navy AgustaWestland AW101 Merlins, which will be upgraded to the HM2 multi-mission standard under a deal led by prime contractor Lockheed Martin UK.

Thales UK's idea is to adapt the Sea King's current Cerberus fit, with its Searchwater 2000 radar to be installed on the Merlin and deployed using elevator rails attached to the aircraft's fuselage. Roughly one-third of the fleet could be equipped with airborne early-warning sensors at any one time, with all capable of carrying it.

"The MoD has bought the equipment, and it's doing a great job in Afghanistan," said Nick Marks, head of ASaC development for Thales UK.

"Our sensor is fully multi-role over water, air-to-air and overland. We are the only system of the kind already in operational use for the role required."

Lockheed is also understood to be pursuing the RN requirement. Material displayed on its stand at the Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEi) exhibition in London included an airborne surveillance-and-control data sheet depicting a Merlin fitted with a pod-housed active electronically scanned array radar.

This would feature synthetic aperture radar and ground moving-target indication modes and be suitable for tasks such as fighter control and maritime and battlefield surveillance.


© Lockheed Martin

Also incorporating a gimballed radar and electronic support measures and identification friend-or-foe equipment, each pylon-mounted pod would weigh roughly 280kg (617lb), with the system to provide 360° coverage.

Lockheed said the design represents "a role-fit solution which can be mounted on any fixed-wing transport/surveillance aircraft or medium-sized helicopter".

[buglerbilly]

Navy's newest Astute Class submarine named

An Equipment and Logistics news article

15 Sep 11

The name of the Royal Navy's newest, most capable Astute Class submarine has been formally announced today - HMS Anson.


Royal Navy submarine HMS Astute sails up the Clyde estuary into her home port of Faslane, Scotland (stock image)
[Picture: LA(Phot) J J Massey, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]

HMS Anson is the fifth in her class, and is being named after Admiral of the Fleet George Anson (1697-1762) who is noted for his circumnavigation of the globe and his role overseeing the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War.

The Secretary of State for Defence, Dr Liam Fox, said:

"I am pleased to announce that Astute Class Submarine Hull 5 is to be named HMS Anson. She will join HMS Astute, HMS Ambush, HMS Artful and HMS Audacious."

The Astute Class submarines, which will progressively replace the Swiftsure and Trafalgar Classes from this year, are extremely sophisticated, deep-diving, high-speed submarines.

Displacing 7,400 tonnes and measuring 97 metres from bow to propulsor, they are significantly larger than their predecessors but need fewer crew to operate them.


HMS Astute was commissioned into the Royal Navy in August 2010 (stock image)
[Picture: LA(Phot) J J Massey, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]

They are capable of fulfilling a range of maritime military tasks undreamed of by the strategists of previous generations and combine qualities of stealth, endurance and flexibility which afford the submarines unparalleled freedom to operate worldwide.

Technically they are capable of circumnavigating the globe without surfacing and with the advance of nuclear technology they never need refuelling.

Regarding their capabilities, Dr Fox said:

"The seven Astute Class boats planned for the Royal Navy are the most advanced attack submarines ordered by the Ministry of Defence, with improved firepower and communications, and the ability to operate stealthily for extended periods.

"The crew also benefit from greatly improved accommodation and facilities. The boats will undertake a wide range of tasks in support of military operations worldwide, including deploying Tomahawk cruise missiles and intelligence-gathering."

[buglerbilly]

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

Can Britannia Rule The Waves Again?

Posted by Bill Sweetman at 9/21/2011 5:41 AM CDT

The UK's new Type 26 could prove to be a radical change for Royal Navy sailors -- particularly in the way that they sleep.

Look below decks on HMS Victory, and you find hammocks hung lengthwise in the ship. The berths on the new Type 45 destroyer are the same way. Sailors believe that it's the best way to sleep on a moving ship. However, it's not conducive to providing usable space other than a narrow walkway.

The Type 26 is intended to conform to warship design rules promulgated internationally by Lloyds, rather than RN standards that have governed previous designs. The Lloyds rules are being adopted because the UK wants to enlist international partners to develop the Type 26 as the Global Combat Ship, but they are also more stringent. That could make different sleeping arrangements acceptable.

The RN is also worried about habitability -- because that affects recruiting and retention -- so the designers are considering abandoning Nelsonian tradition and adopting quadrilateral cabins with berths on four sides and a communal space in the center.



BAE Systems' business development director for surface ships, Brian Johnson, talked about more features of the now-firming-up Type 26/GCS design at the Defense & Security Systems International show in London last week. (A "main gate" go-ahead decision is due in 2013.) Low risk, avoiding the cost and numbers death spiral that afflicted the Type 45, is the key. "This program has to be done on the day we said, and for the cost we said," says Johnson.


Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless

Unlike the Type 45, Type 26 will not be an all-electric ship. In part this is because Type 45's electric full-power final drive can't be made as quiet as the customer wants, for a ship with a primary anti-submarine mission. The leading solution is diesel-electric for speeds up to 12-15 knots, with gas turbine direct-drive for higher speeds. However, an all-diesel option is a possibility, says Johnson, in view of the improved performance of modern diesels.

Air-defense armament will be based on the MBDA Common Anti-Air Modular Missile (CAMM) based on the ASRAAM airframe -- although much modified with a vertical launch ejector-alignment stage and a radar seeker. (This and other Type 26 technologies should be proven on the Type 23 Capability Sustainment Program upgrade before Type 26 enters service.)

The ship will be designed for a 5-inch/127 mm gun from the US or Oto Melara, rather than being constrained to the RN's 4.5-inch caliber. The helicopter deck will be large enough to accommodate a CH-47, with the rear ramp usable, and the ship will be designed to deploy and recover small craft in higher sea states than today's RN ships.

Brazil and India are being pitched as potential partners in the GCS side of the program. Is that a lofty goal, considering that the world warship market isn't exactly underpopulated? Johnson gives three reasons why it may not be. "We have actually got a program, and you can't sniff at the fact that the Type 45 is the world's most advanced anti-air-warfare destroyer. We have the government, the Navy and the industry aligned, for the first time in a decade -- and the Navy is offering cross-training and cooperation, not just paper. And with BAE's multi-domestic policy we understand better how to deal with partners."

[buglerbilly]

Assembly of new Royal Navy aircraft carriers gets underway in Fife

An Equipment and Logistics news article

21 Sep 11

Preparations for the assembly of the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers got off to a flying start today as Goliath, one of Europe's largest cranes, swung into action under the watchful eye of Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology Peter Luff.


Artist's impression of the Future Carrier
[Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD]

The event, held at Babcock's shipyard in Rosyth, marked the official start of the assembly of the first of the two 65,000-tonne vessels - the largest warships ever built for the Royal Navy.

It will be followed by the first major lift in the programme later this week when the first section of the two-deck-high 8,000-tonne centre block, which includes a section of flight deck, will be lifted onto the seven-deck-high 8,000-tonne lower block 03, marking a major milestone in the build of the first of class, HMS Queen Elizabeth.

After touring the dockyard and meeting the workforce, Mr Luff said:

"This is an exciting week for the carrier programme and it is a huge privilege to witness what can only be described as history in the making.


Defence Minister Peter Luff at the controls of crane Goliath as it prepares to lift the first section of one of the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers into place
[Picture: Mark Owens, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

"The job of building these truly formidable carriers is a huge challenge but we are very fortunate to have such a dedicated and skilled workforce who can rise to this challenge and provide the UK with its largest and most powerful aircraft carriers to date."

The vessels are being delivered by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance made up of the MOD, Babcock, BAE Systems and Thales, and, with advanced construction underway at six shipyards across the UK, the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier programme is sustaining thousands of skilled jobs throughout industry.

Chief of Defence Materiel, Bernard Gray, said:

"The Queen Elizabeth Class is a hugely important project for MOD and for the UK's shipbuilding industry. I'm very pleased at this impressive progress on the construction and assembly of first of class."


Defence Minister Peter Luff at the controls of crane Goliath as it prepares to lift the first section of one of the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers into place
[Picture: Mark Owens, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

The Queen Elizabeth Class carriers will be the centrepiece of Britain's military capability and will routinely operate 12 of the carrier-variant Joint Strike Fighter jets, allowing for unparalleled interoperability with allied forces.

Each carrier will have nine decks, plus a flight deck the size of three football pitches, and two propellers weighing 33 tonnes - nearly two-and-a-half times as heavy as a double-decker bus - driving the ship at a maximum speed of over 25 knots (46km/h).

The vessels will form the cornerstone of Britain's ability to project military power overseas, and will be used for operations ranging from providing air support in conflict zones to providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief.

[Milne Bay]

Is this artist's representation correct?
Now that the F-35C is the aircraft of choice, I am bemused that the QE's don't have an angled flight deck.
My apologies if this has been covered before.

[JimWH]

The image is old. It represents CVF in it's original STOVL/STO-SRVL configuration. You'll note the graphic doesn't have catapaults, or arrestor wires, or a landing sight, and does have a ski-jump. You'll also note that the JSF on deck are B not C model (non-folding wings).
There is an updated version of that image floating around if you go looking. Though even that image still doesn't have a landing sight.

[buglerbilly]

Older Image of a conventional CVF............the current selection won't be too much different...............



That image in the article was posted by the MoD..................

[buglerbilly]

Royal Navy Merlins mark ten years on the front line

An Equipment and Logistics news article

28 Sep 11


The Navy's largest and most powerful helicopter, the Merlin, is celebrating ten years in the front line.


Fleet Air Arm Merlin helicopters from 820 Naval Air Squadron, taken from the deck of RFA Argus
[Picture: Petty Officer Airman (Photographer) Gaz Armes, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

The four Merlin squadrons, all based at RNAS Culdrose, marked the milestone with their first look at the next-generation Merlin, the Mk2, which made its first appearance at the Cornish airbase.

A prototype of the Merlin Mk2 made its debut at the Cornish air station – which has been home to the first version of the £40m helicopter since it joined the Fleet Air Arm.

The anniversary allowed Merlin air and ground crew to take stock of the helicopter's achievements over the past decade, and stress its importance for the coming 20 years – it will serve the Navy until at least 2029.

The Fleet Air Arm flies 38 Merlin – looked after by a team of aircrew, engineers and technicians 650-strong across one very large training and three front line squadrons (824 and 814, 820 and 829 NAS respectively).


The pilot of a Royal Navy Merlin helicopter makes a hard right turn during an exercise at sea
[Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Stuart Hill, Crown Copyright/MOD 20101]

Right now, the Merlin fleet is heavily committed at home and abroad. The helicopters are currently:

• conducting counter-piracy/ counter-terrorism/ counter-smuggling/ counter-drugs-running duties east of Suez

• flying from the back of Type 23 frigates, including HMS Somerset and St Albans currently on patrol in the Middle East

• providing protection for the Royal Navy's ultimate weapon, the strategic missile submarines on constant patrol

• training by day and night around the Cornish coast (typically there are half a dozen buzzing around Mounts Bay and beyond).


HMS St Albans' Merlin helicopter answers a distress call from the MT Pavit, a merchant vessel that had started to take on water and become stricken, in July 2011
[Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Simmo Simpson, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

As far as the Merlin community is concerned, the helicopter is the most potent aircraft in the Fleet Air Arm's inventory:

"If you're the captain of a ship, you want something which can do anti-submarine warfare, can do counter-piracy, can drop off 11 troops. So if I was captain of a ship, I'd want a squadron of Merlins," said Commander Darran Goldsmith, Commanding Officer of 814 NAS – the Flying Tigers.

"It's a brilliant aircraft – it does exactly what it says on the tin… and it's a very big tin."

The Merlin was originally designed as a submarine hunter to replace the venerable Sea King anti-submarine squadrons.


Fleet Air Arm Merlin from 824 Naval Air Squadron
[Picture: Petty Officer Airman (Photographer) Paul A'Barrow, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

Since its introduction to the front line in the autumn of 2001, however, its mission has mushroomed as the Royal Navy has adapted to the post-9/11 world.

In short, the helicopter has seen "ten years of sustained and continuous operations," in the words of Merlin Force Commander, Cdr Kev Dodd.

"The public face of Culdrose is often the red and grey Sea Kings of Search and Rescue, but there's always a lot more going on here."

So, in the decade's service – during which time it's clocked up around 100,000 flying hours – Merlin has supported operations in Iraq in 2003, followed by lengthy patrols with Type 23 frigates protecting the country's oil platforms until that mission ended earlier this year.


HMS Westminster's Merlin helicopter transfers stores and humanitarian aid from RFA Argus off the coast of Libya
[Picture: Petty Officer Airman (Photographer) Sean Clee, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

Merlin has been used to trap drug runners in the Caribbean and pirates off the Horn of Africa, helped enforce the UN embargo off Libya earlier this year, supported amphibious exercises from Africa to the Mediterranean, as well as maintaining its original role of finding submarines with an extended deployment to the USA in the summer of 2010, and most recently working with HMS Turbulent and the US Navy in the Indian Ocean.

With the arrival of the Mk2 – the first is delivered to Culdrose for evaluation in September 2012 and will enter service the following year – which features complete new kit inside, include touch-screen computer displays for the aircrew, the coming years for the Merlin community are, says Cdr Dodd, "very exciting":

"Merlin is a key pillar of the future Navy," he continued. "It is one of the most versatile aircraft the UK has. It is here until 2029 – and maybe beyond."

[buglerbilly]

Ambush Takes the Plunge

(Source: BAE Systems; issued October 4, 2011)


HMS Ambush, the second of six Astute-class (above) nuclear attack submarines on order for the Royal Navy, has made her first dive as she works up for her sea trials. (MoD file photo)

BARROW-IN-FURNESS, UK --- Ambush, the second hunter-killer submarine in the Astute Class, has successfully completed her first dive; an important milestone in readiness for the boat’s departure on sea trials early next year.

The dive, known to engineers as ‘the Trim and Inclining Experiment’, proves the boat’s safety and stability in the water and measures the submarine’s performance at a depth of 16 metres. The maiden dive took place over two days and involved more than 70 people including BAE Systems’ engineers, Ministry of Defence personnel and Royal Navy Ship’s Staff.

Commander Peter Green, Commanding Officer of Ambush, stated: “This is a major milestone for Ambush and shows she is firmly on track to exit Barrow early next year in order to commence her sea trials. Nuclear submarines are some of the most complex machines on earth and therefore to see everything come together in order to dive the boat for the first time is very satisfying. It has been a superb team effort between BAE Systems Submarine Solutions, the Ministry of Defence Submarine Project Team and Ambush Ship’s Company”

The ‘‘Trim and Inclining Experiment’ proves the safety and stability of the submarine and sets the standards of operation for Ambush’s performance. Meticulous measurements are taken at every stage of the dive. These include ‘trim draught’ - gauging how far the boat sits underwater to achieve the correct balance, assessment of the boat’s centre of gravity and the stability of the boat intact and in the event of damage.

The experiment takes place in a dedicated deep area of the dock at Barrow-in-Furness known as the ‘basin’ or ‘dive hole’. A set sequence of preparations is made, including diving the submarine on its main ballast tanks, fine tuning the submarine using her trim and compensation tanks, ‘heeling’ or inclining the submarine and surfacing the boat recording draughts.

Prior to Ambush’s sea trials in 2012 a final major commissioning activity, known as Power Range Testing, will take place towards the end of this year. In this test the full propulsion system is put through its paces for the first time.

BACKGROUND NOTES on Astute-Class SSNs:

-- First-of-class, HMS Astute, was formally handed over to the Royal Navy in November 2010 and is undergoing sea trials.

-- Boat 3, Artful: key equipment and systems have been commissioned in the Devonshire Dock Hall (DDH), most recently the boat’s diesel generators commissioned 18 days ahead of schedule.

-- Boat 4, Audacious: all the pressure hull units are now in the DDH and unit outfit and combination is well under way.

-- Boat 5, Anson: the keel laying ceremony takes places on Thursday 13 October and will be marked by the first unit of the submarine moved out of fabrication and into full construction and outfit in the hall.

-- Boat 6: long lead procurement has begun and first steel cut is due in 2012.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

Might Britain Buy the Naval Rafale?

Posted by Christina Mackenzie at 10/13/2011 9:47 AM CDT

Sorry Monsieur, but vous is pissing in the Vin Rouge if you think you are going to sell RAFALE to the RN...............F-18 at the end of its life? Leave it out son............:violent

France's procurement chief does not consider the idea that the UK may eventually opt for the Rafale for its new aircraft carriers completely ridiculous.

The naval version of the Rafale is "the only naval aircraft [on the market], together with the F-18 which is today is at the end of its life,” remarked Laurent Collet-Billon to the National Assembly's Defense and Armed Forces Commission on Oct. 5.


Photo credit: French Navy/Benjamin VinotPrefontaine

“Were the JSF naval version to be scrapped, it might even be possible that our British partners be obliged to knit closer ties with our industrialists,” he added. What he meant, of course, was that the Royal Navy could buy the naval version of the Rafale as the second-in-class of Britain's new aircraft carriers, the HMS Prince of Wales will be fitted with an Electro-magnetic Aircraft Launch System which is compatible with the Rafale.

But whether this surprising scenario takes place or not, Collet-Billon said “no export path should be left unexplored, even if it's in the long term.”

And he added that he was “persuaded that India and Brazil will develop naval aviation. We will then be the only ones, together with the Americans, to be able to offer a naval aircraft" because, as he pointed out, there is no naval version of the Eurofighter.

[buglerbilly]

Construction begins on Navy's fifth Astute Class submarine

An Equipment and Logistics news article

13 Oct 11

The main construction phase of the Royal Navy's fifth Astute Class submarine, Anson, officially began today with a traditional keel-laying ceremony attended by Minister for International Security Strategy Gerald Howarth.


The Minister for International Security Strategy, Gerald Howarth, officially marks the start of the main construction phase of the Royal Navy's fifth Astute Class submarine at the BAE Systems Submarine Solutions shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria
[Picture: Andrew Linnett, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

The ceremony took place at the BAE Systems Submarine Solutions shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, and is a significant step towards the delivery of the latest nuclear-powered attack submarine to the Royal Navy.

The keel is a large beam around which the hull is built and is the first part of the 7,400-tonne vessel to be constructed.

Mr Howarth said:

"The keel-laying for the fifth of seven immensely powerful Astute Class boats marks another milestone in our programme to equip the Royal Navy with the most advanced nuclear submarines. It demonstrates this government's ongoing commitment to investing in the equipment that will form the basis of the Future Force 2020.


BAE workers look on as Defence Minister Gerald Howarth officially marks the start of the main construction phase of the Royal Navy's fifth Astute Class submarine, Anson
[Picture: Andrew Linnett, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

"This exciting project is helping to maintain the skills required to build such boats in the UK and sustaining thousands of jobs."

The MOD is committed to delivering a planned class of seven submarines, with Astute, Ambush, Artful, Audacious, and now Anson, under construction following the First of Class, HMS Astute.

The Astute Class are the most potent and sophisticated attack submarines ever ordered for the Royal Navy. They have improved capability for worldwide operations, much greater firepower, better communications and crew accommodation than in-service submarines.

Bernard Gray, the MOD's Chief of Defence Materiel, said:

"This latest progress on the Astute programme is fantastic news not only for the MOD and the Royal Navy but also the submarine-building industry in this country.


Defence Minister Gerald Howarth meets local schoolchildren at the BAE Systems Submarine Solutions shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria
[Picture: Andrew Linnett, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

"The close collaboration between the MOD and BAE Systems Submarine Solutions continues to achieve great results and deliver to the Royal Navy the most modern and effective equipment available."

The keel-laying ceremony took place at the Devonshire Dock Hall in Barrow before hundreds of BAE Systems employees and guests, including pupils from local schools.

The BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow remains the UK's centre of excellence for submarine design and building. Around 5,000 people are employed at the yard with as many people again employed throughout the supply chain.

[ARH v.3.1]

Not completely ridiculous, but pretty close...

[buglerbilly]

Barrow-in-Furness sits at the end of a peninsula..............the arsehole starts at Preston, the land side, and Barrow is 15-20 miles up it!

I lived and worked there for 11 months in the late 1980's, like being consigned to the Gulag Archipelego..........I was supposed to be there for 3 months!!!

I'd rather kill someone than ever be there again for ANY reason.

The people are wonderful, the town is totally the shits, every reason why a one-horse industry should never be allowed to control a town............people are treated like scum even by the local stores representing the major UK chains.

[Milne Bay]

Looks from the picture of the keel that they are going to build the submarine vertically.
That would explain why the building is so tall.

[buglerbilly]

The buildings are like that for the SSBN's they build and have built in the past, never mind the SSN's they still build.........