Mercredi 18 mars, le chantier naval cherbourgeois CMN a mis à l'eau son premier intercepteur de 32 m pour le Mozambique.
Le HSI des CMN est un intercepteur de 32 mètres. Il s'agit du premier navire d'une série de trois commandés par le Mozambique. Ce navire à coque composite peut atteindre une vitesse de 43 noeuds, soit près de 80 km/h, ce qui est remarquable.
Le HSI a été mis à l'eau à Cherbourg mercredi 18 mars dans l'après-midi. Les deux autres navires seront achevés à un mois et demi d'intervalle. Dans trois mois, ils seront tous les trois livrés au Mozambique.
The Navy of Brazil and the Itaguaí Marine Construction (ICN) - a company formed by the Brazilian company Odebrecht Defense and the French shipyard DCNS - agreed a change in the construction schedule of the first Brazilian submarine Scorpene class (S-BR), the "Riachuelo" (S40).
According to this adjustment, the vessel shall open sea trials around the month of July 2017, which will delay its delivery to the Navy's operating sector for the second quarter 2018.
In the final half of 2009, the General Directorate of the forecast of the Navy Material (DGMM) was that the SBR-1 was ready in 2015 (see story "Schedule of supplies of submarines and EC725 helicopters" , published by the Naval Power in September 3, 2009). Later, the Submarine Development Program (PROSUB) Navy had its modified deployment. The new forecast, the "Riachuelo", first of the four conventional submarines to be built, would be ready in 2016 and, after completion of dock tests and sea, would be delivered to MB in mid 2017.
According to the Naval Power can determine at that time the ICN and the Navy examine the development of an amendment to the construction contract of the submarines that specify the new manufacturing schedule SBR-1, because it involves several changes in deadlines, both for technical targets to be achieved, as the result of financial disbursements.
The expectation on the operation of the ship is, however, a very positive level.
One of the points that draws the attention of Brazilian concerns remedies adopted by designers and French manufacturers, to ensure a standard of quiet operation of the ship.
It must be said that were found technical resources capable of reducing vibration and sound produced naturally by the submarine in its displacement. A set of devices that extends from the work of special shims of pipes attached to the inner walls of the boat, suitable to eject fatty flows.
Greek government has sold air-cushioned landing craft Zubr-class to China. The Zubr-class (Project 1232.2 class, NATO reporting name Pomornik) is a class of air-cushioned landing craft of Soviet design. This class of military hovercraft is, as of 2012, the world’s largest hovercraft. It is designed to sealift landing assault units (such as marines or tanks) from equipped/non-equipped vessels to non-equipped shore, as well as transport and plant mines.
There are currently nine ships in active service in the world. The Zubr is used by the Russian, Ukrainian, and Greek navies. The transfer of the Kefalonia (L- 180), the first of two Zubr hovercraft purchased by Greece, to the Hellenic Navy marked the first time that a Russian-made ship was purchased by the navy of a NATO member.
Hellenic Navy, which operates four ships. Three vessels were commissioned in 2001: the Kefalonia (L180) was purchased used from the Russian Navy and upgraded, the Ithaki (L181) which was completed in Ukraine, and the Zakynthos (L183) which was built in Russia. A fourth vessel, the Kerkyra (L182), was launched in June 2004 at St. Petersburg yard and was commissioned in January 2005.
HS Kefalonia (L180) – ex Russian Navy 717, commissioned 2001 HS Ithaki (L181) – hull launched in Ukraine 1992, commissioned 2001 HS Kerkyra (L182) HS Zakynthos (L183)
Series vehicles ” bison ” are made only in Feodosia in the Bureau ” Almaz ” (St. Petersburg), they are designed for landing on unequipped coast and its fire support. The ship can carry 3 main tank weighing up to 150 tons or 10 armored personnel carriers and 140 troopers.
1st large amphibious Ship project ” bison ” bison ” in the Ukrainian classification) built in 2013 by order of China in Feodosia shipbuilding shipyard Sea in the Ukrainian part of order 4 is similar to the hovercraft. The ship was …read more
On peut rappeler que la Chine en a également commandé 2 exemplaires neufs à l'Ukraine et qu'elle en construit également à présent sur ses propres chantiers avec soutien ukrainien :
(Infodefensa.com) NF, Madrid - The Secretary of State for Defence, Pedro Argüelles, has confirmed that the first submarine S-80 manufactured by Navantia will be delivered to the Spanish Armada in 2018.
During the press presentation of the defense budgets for 2015, Arguelles said the problem of overweight submarine forcing redefine the design are done you can say that is already "a useful submarine".
The SEDEF also referred to delays in system development Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) that had hindered progress in submersible technology training, and said that in this area and "begin to see that milestones are being met."
When asked by the media for the current contractual relationship with the company Abengoa , responsible for developing the AIP, Argüelles said Abengoa remains the supplier of the system and hope that it can be integrated into the submarine. However, he confirmed that the Ministry held "conversations" with the company Technical Gathered to have a "plan B".
Despite the difficulties and delays in production of the new S-80, the Secretary of State wanted to convey a "comfort" that was two years ago.
The draft Law on State Budget ( PGE ) 2015 included in the section " Support for technological innovation in the field of defense " of the Ministry of Industry a game of 205 million euros for the S-80 program.
L'industriel constructeur Navantia avait récemment déclaré avoir résolu les problèmes d'excès de poids dans la conception de ce nouveau type de sous-marin :
Japan’s largest warship since World War II has left for its first set of sea trials last week ahead of entering the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF)fleet next year.
JS Izumo (DDH-183) departed Tokyo Bay on Sept. 23, as seen as in a video on YouTube, for the first round of what will be about six months of sea trials ahead of the ship’s commissioning next year, a JMSDF official told Jane’s Defence Weekly on Monday.
The 24,000-ton helicopter carrier is the first of two planned ships. Izumo will enter the JMSDF force next year. DDH-184 will enter the fleet in 2017, according to the Naval Institute’s Combat Fleet’s of the World.
The development pair of ships have fomented regional controversy since the formal start of the program, in part because of their strong resemblance to aircraft carriers
“It is an aircraft carrier, and Japan just called it a helicopter destroyer to downplay its aggressive nature,” Zhang Junshe with the People’s Liberation Army Naval Military Studies Research Institute told China Daily last year.
To Japan’s neighbors, even the name Izumo is a loaded word.
“There is little doubt all parties, particularly the Chinese, are aware of the lineage.”
Though billed by Japan as primarily an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and humanitarian and disaster relief (HADR) platform, its character is more in line with the U.S. Navy’s America-class of amphibious warships.
Izumo is large enough to field 14 helicopters and has the capacity to carry 400 troops. Japan could also field V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft from the ship. Ospreys are used by U.S. Marines to deploy troops from the sea and were successfully test onboard Japan’s Hyuga-class DDHs in 2013.
It’s conceivable the helicopter carrier could also accommodate the short takeoff/ vertical landing (STOVL) variants of the F-35 Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) but Japan has said publically it has no intentions of fielding JSFs from the ships.
But — like the aviation centric America — the ship is not equipped with a well deck to deploy troops via landing craft.
Following World War II, the Imperial Japanese Navy was largely sunk and its pacifist constitution only allowed for military force in a direct threat to the country.
However in the last year, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has led a push to expand the scope of Japan’s military cooperation and its ability to develop its military export industry.
Promising destroyer type "Lider" will be created in Russia, roughly, by 2018, the ITAR-TASS referring to the deputy chairman of the Military-Industrial Commission Oleg Bochkareva. "In iron" the first prototype will be in three years, "- he said.
Bochkarev said that currently work on the project "is at all." Create a draft of a new craft specialists Northern Design Bureau (St. Petersburg).
As previously reported, the development work on advanced destroyers were made to the state defense order in 2014 This is a multi-purpose ship large displacement, equipped with shock weapons and increased autonomy. New destroyer to replace the ships projects 956 and 1155 - the main Russian surface ships of the oceanic zone.
Angola's Naval Power Development Programme (PRONAVAL) took a significant step forward on 5 September, when Minister of Defence João Manuel Lourenço and his Brazilian counterpart, Celso Amorim, signed a technical memorandum of understanding (MoU) covering the construction of seven Macaé-class patrol boats.
The MoU specifies that four vessels will be built in Brazil, with the other three to be constructed in Angola. The two governments will now begin contractual negotiations to establish the technical configuration of the ships.
The project will be run by Brazil's state-owned Naval Projects Management Company (EMGEPRON), which will also oversee the building of a shipyard in Angola and the training of the associated industrial and naval personnel.
Already in service with the Brazilian Navy, the Macaé class is a local modification of French company CMN's Vigilante 400 CL54 design.
Vessels in the class have a displacement of about 500 tonnes, a length of 54.2 m, a beam of 8 m, a top speed of 21 kt, a range of 2,500 n miles at a cruising speed of 15 kt, an endurance of 10 days, and a complement of 35.
The vessels currently in service in Brazil have two MTU Friedrichshafen 16V 4000 M90 diesel engines coupled to controllable pitch propellers; Ares Aerospacial e Defesa electro-optical sensors; IPqM's TTI 2900 tactical control system; and the Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine VisionMaster FT 250 integrated bridge system, which includes X-band and Y-band navigation radars.
They can carry rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) and are armed with an Allied Ordnance of Singapore L70 NADM 40 mm gun and two 20 mm Oerlikon GAM-B01 guns.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron has announced that the UK plans to bring both of its new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers into operational service to ensure that one ship is available at high readiness at all times.
His move effectively pre-empts what had been expected to be one of the key issues for the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR).
Speaking at the conclusion of the NATO summit in Wales on 5 September, Cameron confirmed that second ship HMS Prince of Wales would now be brought into service. "This will ensure that we will always have one carrier available, 100% of the time.
(Reuters) - Germany's Economy Ministry said on Wednesday that Germany's security council, which examines arms exports to non-NATO states, had approved the export of a submarine to Israel.
Israel already operates German-built submarines, manufactured by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. The vessels are considered by Israel to be a vanguard against foes like Iran.
Il s'agit en fait d'un feu vert de M. Sigmar Gabriel pour le 3ème et dernier sous-marin de la série Dolphin 2 AIP. Plus de précision dans un article du journal allemand "Der Spiegel" :
Colombia and Brazil signed an agreement earlier this month to begin joint development of a river patrol vessel specifically designed for the Amazon.
The Amazon Patrol Vessel (Buque Patrullero Amazónico - BPA) will be jointly designed and developed by Brazil's EMGEPRON and Colombia's COTECMAR, with the latter stating that the design would capitalise on previous work with the 373-ton PAF-series river patrol vessel - a fully armoured gunboat capable of embarking a medium-size helicopter.
The agreement marks the second phase in the Colombian-Brazilian bilateral defence co-operation agreement signed in July 2008, which began to be implemented in late 2012 with a USD6.4 million order of four COTECMAR LPR-40 river patrol boats, two each for the Brazilian Army and Navy.
China-Defense Forum members were somewhat astounded today when pictures were released on Chinese internet forums of what is certainly a model of the first Chinese nuclear-powered aircraft carrier (CVN) on display at an official event in Zhongshan. While it being just a model might not seem that significant to many, there are telltales about the model in these pics that indicate it's genuine. In fact, it represents a final design for the new CVN has been approved by PLAN for production.
The design clarifies some previous questions: four catapults (presumably EMALS), no ski-jump, three elevators. It also appears to be a very large carrier in the NIMITZ/FORD Class displacement range.
The hull number 18 falls in line with previous expectations that the first "all-indigenous" Chinese carrier design would be nuclear-powered and is expected to be the "002 Class". As the currently in-service CV LIAONING is hull number 16, this seems to imply hull number 17 will be the 001A class, a Chinese-built KUZNETSOV-class CV.
India’s largest warship, aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, is “operationally deployed” along with its fleet of MiG 29K combat aircraft, Navy chief Admiral Robin Dhowan said in Kochi on Wednesday
“The Navy has inducted aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya which is now operationally deployed with MiG— 29K aircraft embarked and being flown by Indian naval pilots,” he told reporters.
The 44,500—tonne Admiral Robin Dhowan procured from Russia at a cost of USD 2.33 billion had arrived in India in January this year and is stationed at its home—base in Karwar in Karnataka.
Navy sources said the aircraft carrier has already taken part in one of the war games conducted recently by the Western Navy.
The aircraft carrier, which does not have air defence guns, is expected to get its weaponry for protection against aerial attacks at its scheduled first refit, they said.
Highlighting the list of capabilities and platforms to be acquired by the Navy in the near future, Dhowan said the first indigeneously built aircraft carrier christened INS Vikrant being built at the Cochin shipyard, will be ready for trials in 2017 and for delivery by 2018—end.
He said the force has already inducted nuclear attack submarine INS Chakra, the P—8I long range reconnaissance and anti—submarine warfare aircraft along with the Shivalik class frigates among others, he said.
Ils ont été réceptionnés le 15 avril dernier par le ministre de la Défense, après 18 mois de fabrication par l’entreprise publique chinoise « Polytechnologies »Le ministre de la Défense, Edgar Alain Mebe Ngo’o, est allé réceptionner, le 15 avril 2014, sur le site du chantier naval de Tsingtao, à l’est de la Chine, deux nouveaux bâtiments de la marine camerounaise. Il s’agit de deux navires de combat, un P 108 et un P 109, présentées comme des patrouilleurs de « dernière génération » pouvant accueillir un effectif près de 40 personnes chacun et qui s’ajouteront à la logistique du Cameroun pour l’aider à mieux surveiller les côtes.
La construction des deux patrouilleurs a été supervisée par des officiels et des ingénieurs de la marine camerounaise tout au long des travaux. Elle a été possible grâce à un financement d’Exim Bank China. Le crédit-acheteur entre le ministère de la Défense et l’entreprise publique chinoise Polytechnologies qui a exécuté le marché, a été signé en octobre 2013 mois de deux ans après la visite du président Paul Biya en Chine en juillet 2011.
DCNS a signé lundi un contrat avec le ministère égyptien de la Défense pour la fourniture d’une frégate multimissions FREMM, dans le cadre d’un accord global d’un montant estimé à 5,2 milliards d’euros, comprenant également 24 Rafale ainsi que des missiles de MBDA. La livraison rapide de la FREMM ne permettant pas la mise en chantier d’un nouveau bâtiment, celui-ci sera prélevé sur la chaîne actuelle. C’est donc la FREMM Normandie, initialement destinée à la Marine nationale, qui sera livrée « mi-2015 », selon DCNS, le temps d’effectuer « quelques travaux d’aménagement et la première phase du programme de formation ». La division Navfco de DCI devrait par ailleurs être sollicitée pour la partie opérationnelle de la formation des marins égyptiens. Plusieurs mesures vont devoir être mises en place pour ne pas perturber la capacité opérationnelle de la Marine, qui devait bientôt prendre livraison de la Normandie : DCNS s’engage de son côté à accélérer les cadences de production des FREMM suivantes, tandis que la Marine nationale parle elle d’une « réorganisation complète de l’activité des équipages d’armement » des FREMM Normandie et Provence, en phase d’achever leurs périodes d’essai. Ainsi, l’équipage de la Normandie sera transféré sur la Provence, qui devrait donc rejoindre Brest (au lieu de Toulon comme prévu initialement), afin « d’assurer la remontée en puissance des capacités de lutte anti-sous-marine sur la façade Atlantique ». Quant à l’équipage de la Provence, il sera transféré sur le Languedoc, en phase finale de construction. Les FASM Montcalm et Jean de Vienne vont quant à elles rester en service un peu plus longtemps que prévu pour assurer le contrat opérationnel et ne seront respectivement mises à la retraite qu’en 2017 et 2018. Ces conditions avaient été évoquées par l’amiral Bernard Rogel la semaine dernière, lorsqu’il évoquait l’éventualité d’une cession de la FREMM Normandie à l’Égypte. Il avait alors précisé que tant qu’elle n’impacterait pas « l’état général de la marine », elle ne poserait pas de problèmes particuliers. La Marine nationale attend la livraison de quatre FREMM avant 2016, six avant 2018. D’une longueur de 142 mètres et d’un déplacement de 6 000 tonnes, la FREMM est destinée aux missions de lutte anti-sous-marine et peut notamment embarquer un hélicoptère de type NH-90 NFH.
The former United States Coast Guard cutter USCGS Gallatin, now called NNS Okpabana, has arrived in Nigeria, after being handed over to the Nigerian Navy in May 2014. The vessel arrived in Nigerian waters on January 2, joining its sister ship NNS Thunder, another Hamilton class cutter donated to Nigeria by the United States. The Nigerian Navy spent $8.5 million refurbishing the 45 year old ship, according to the News Agency of Nigeria. At its reception in Lagos, Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin said that “it was the successes recorded by NNS Thunder in curtailing threats in our maritime domain and the larger Gulf of Guinea region, with the confidence reposed in our country by the USA, that made it possible to acquire NNS Okpabana. The addition of this ship into the NN [Nigerian Navy] fleet will certainly bolster our zeal to end the menace in our maritime domain and the region, as well as support the regional and global effort to eliminate transnational maritime threats. This nation has always requested the navy to do more and with this, the government recognises that there must be needed platform for the navy to do its job well.”
Jibrin said the NNS Okpabana would be used to combat maritime crimes such as piracy, oil theft, smuggling, illegal fishing and arms smuggling.
Jibrin also noted that President Goodluck Jonathan’s government has invested a large amount of money in recapitalising the Navy fleet, such as through the acquisition of two offshore patrol vessels from China. Jibrin said that China is also assisting with the upgrade of the Port Harcourt shipyard, with a Chinese team expected in Nigeria by the first quarter of this year. The 115 metre long 3 250 ton Gallatin is a member of the Hamilton class. Gallatin, introduced into US Coast Guard service in 1968, is equipped with a helicopter flight deck, retractable hangar and a fast boat. The High Endurance Cutter has four main engines and can be driven by either twin diesel engines or twin gas turbines via two controllable-pitch propellers.
The Nigerian Navy is due to take delivery of another ex-US vessel, the US Navy Survey Ship John McDonnell. This vessel was deactivated on August 25, 2010, as the US Navy streamlined survey operations. The 63 metre, 2 054 ton oceanographic survey vessel can launch two 34 foot launches. Other vessels received from the United States include the NNS Obula, Nwamba, Kyanwa and Ologbo.
Au terme d'environ 24 000 heures de travail, le premier OPV 45 développé par Raidco marine et construit chez STX Lorient a été mis à l'eau le 10 octobre dans le port du Rohu à Lanester. Livrable à la marine sénégalaise d'ici la fin de l'année, le Kédougou possède une coque en acier avec une carène en V profond, avec des superstructures en aluminium réalisées au chantier quimpérois Ufast.
Offrant une autonomie de 2 000 milles, il dispose d'une passerelle panoramique ainsi que d'un double radier pour la mise à l'eau d'intercepteurs semi-rigides. Manœuvré par un équipage d'une quinzaine de marins, il peut accueillir jusqu'à huit passagers pour des missions aussi variées que le secours en mer, le contrôle des pêches, la prévention des pollutions, mais aussi la lutte contre la piraterie et les trafics illicites.
Toujours en manque de visibilité sur leur plan de charge, où il ne reste plus que de la sous-traitance pour les paquebots réalisés à Saint-Nazaire, les quelque 90 salariés de STX Lorient prévoient, à l'appel de la CGT, un débrayage ce lundi 13 octobre dans la matinée pour réclamer un véritable projet industriel.
(Infodefensa.com) Madrid - The Commonwealth of Australia Friday signed acceptance of ALHD Canberra , first of two ships LHD the Spanish shipbuilding company Navantia has built for that country, based on the LHD Juan Carlos I of the Spanish Armada .
The contract, signed in 2007, included the construction of 85% in the Navantia shipyard in Ferrol and completion in Australia by BAE Systems .
The ship was transferred to Australia in August 2012 and will be definitely delivered to the Australian Navy on 28 November.
The construction of these ships has led to Navantia, according to the company, the entry in the niche market of this type of vessel, which has been consolidated with the choice of design LHD Spanish by the Turkish Navy .
Based on the Juan Carlos I
Making amphibious assault ship ALHD Canberra began in 2008 in the shipyard of Navantia in Ferrol-Fene . She was launched in 2011 and in October 2012 came to Australia after two months at sea. It can carry up to 1,000 soldiers, 100 combat vehicles, 12 helicopters and four landing craft.
Both the ship Canberra and the Adelaide -which came to Australia last February-are based on the Strategic Projection Ship ( BPE ) Juan Carlos I of the Spanish Armada, also designed and built by Navantia.
French shipbuilder DCNS is offering a smaller variant of the Mistral amphibious assault ship at the AAD exhibition in Pretoria, South Africa.
Despite a model of the Mistral 140 being prominently displayed on the DCNS stand, company representatives refused to speak to the media.
This version of the Mistral displaces 14,000t compared to the 21,500t of the full-sized BPC (Bâtiments de Projection et de Commandement) version built for France and, until recently, Russia. The variant is known as BPC 210.
Details were sparse, but the model shows five helicopter spots and a length of 170m – the full-size Mistral has six spots and a length of 199m. There are naval guns positioned on the left of the stern and at the right end of the bow with heavy machine gun posts on either side.
There is a floating dock at the stern for LCM and LMU landing craft and there are four alcoves (two on either side) for the launch of rigid inflatable boats. A crane is positioned amidships behind the superstructure and looks slightly different to earlier images of the 140 that show additional smaller superstructure elements behind the main tower. Other specifications may have changed too.
The model has medical containers added on the deck in place of two helicopter spots adjacent to the tower. Propulsion is provided by two azimuth pods and a bow thruster and is likely to have an all- electric propulsion system like its larger sister.
Mistral 140 is 30m-wide and has a range of 6,000nm at 15kt. There is space for ten helicopters in total and it has a 400m2 joint operations centre for a command staff. It has accommodation for about 500 troops and can hold over 30 vehicles and a 30-bed hospital.
DCNS calls the Mistral 140 ‘a political tool for civilian and military action’ and lists the roles of the vessel as being used for humanitarian and peacekeeping operations; crisis management; force protection; a joint HQ command ship; medical and logistics support; and the transport of military forces.
There are requirements for helicopter-capable support ships, particularly in South Africa, but the cost of the standard Mistral BPC 210 is too expensive. Countries less likely to engage in combat operations need something more like a multi-role support or logistics ship.
To tap into this market, the 140 appears to be a downsized, less warlike option that can meet these requirements whilst remaining affordable. DCNS also has a Mistral160 variant on offer.
The first of the three hulls that H2X will deliver to CMN for the contract with Mozambique left the workshops on Monday, September 8. The hull will leave La Ciotat, France, on Friday, September 12 to reach Cherbourg aboard the cargo Spirit. It will then be motorized and equipped in CMN shipyard.
CMN confirmed in September 2013 the signing of a major export contract with Mozambique. The contract includes the delivery of three OCEAN EAGLE 43 trimaran patrol vessels, three HSI 32 interceptors and eighteen fishing vessels for a total of twenty-four ships.
OCEAN EAGLE 43
The OCEAN EAGLE 43 is a revolutionary concept with exceptional performance designed to meet the needs of maritime surveillance and security. The OCEAN EAGLE 43 is the result of a fruitful collaboration between CMN, naval architect Nigel Irens, ProLarge and SeaTeam Aviation companies, two small businesses specialized in logistics and operational projects at sea.
The OCEAN EAGLE 43 is a compact high-performance multifunction vessel that is suited to protect coastal areas, strategic offshore infrastructures. It can also conduct electronic warfare and intelligence missions through the use of 300 Kg class VTOL UAV (such as the SCHIEBEL S100 Camcopter).
The OCEAN EAGLE 43 offers an unmatched cost to performance ratio: » 3,000 nautical miles autonomy at 20 knots » Top speed of 30 knots sustainable over a distance of 1,000 nautical miles » Limited crew of 7 sailors » Accomodations for 8 additional Special Forces
TAIPEI — New details have emerged on the aircraft lineup for the new carrier Liaoning, which analysts say is a “plausible” mix of foreign-designed fighter jets and various helicopters, yet limited due to its lack of other necessary aircraft.
According to the Aug. 28 edition of the Chinese-language Shanghai Morning Post, the carrier will house 36 aircraft, including:
■ 4 Changhe Z-18J airborne early warning helicopters.
■ 2 Harbin Z-9C rescue helicopters.
The article was based on quotes from Cao Dongwei, senior colonel and researcher at the People’s Liberation Army Naval Research Institute. The Liaoning is a refurbished Soviet-era Varyag aircraft carrier procured in 1998 by China and commissioned in 2012.
“The overall lineup certainly looks plausible, as the mix of helicopters and fighters is similar to how the Russians outfit their example of this carrier,” said Roger Cliff, senior fellow with the Asia Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council. “The striking thing about this carrier and aircraft lineup is that every single item is based on a foreign system. The Liaoning is a Russian-built ship fitted out with Chinese systems. The helicopters are based on Eurocopter designs. And the J-15 fighters are based on the Russian Su-33 design.”
China’s first carrier air wing reflects a balance between combat and support aircraft seen in the Liaoning’s Russian counterpart, said Richard Fisher, a senior fellow with the International Assessment and Strategy Center.
“The Soviets intended their carrier to provide a defensive extension for their pro-nuclear ballistic missile submarine ‘anti-access’ missile forces carried by their nuclear submarines, large surface combatants and land-based strike bombers. The Liaoning can perform that mission for the Chinese Navy as well as form the centerpiece for a carrier battle group that could overwhelm most Asian navies, but would still require extensive land-based support to oppose a US Navy carrier battle group.”
According to Chinese defense industry brochures acquired at air shows around Asia, the Z-9 and Z-18 helicopters have numerous configurations for both civilian and military use in China....
Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, a wholly owned subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC, the largest shipbuilding group in China) launched the first C28A Corvette on order for the Algerian Navy on August 16 2014. Algeria signed a contract with China Shipbuilding Trading Co (CSTC) for construction of three C28A corvettes in March 2012.
CSTC representatives at DSA 2014 explained to Navy Recognition that the ship would be about 120 meters in length, a breadth of 14.4 meters and a draft of 3.87 meters for a displacement of about 2880 tons. The three corvettes currently being built at a shipyard located near Shanghai will receive a mix of Chinese and Western systems. The hull mounted sonar will be of Chinese origin, but Algeria has selected Thales Smart-S Mk2 3D air and surface surveillance radar and Kelvin Hughes for the navigation radar.
According to the CSTC representatives, the weapons fit will be of Chinese origin exclusively and will consist in: - A single barreled 76mm main gun - 8x C802 anti-ship missiles - 1x FM90N launcher with 8x surface to air missiles - 2x Type 730 CIWS located on top of the helicopter hangar The corvette has some stealth attributes, such as the exhaust gases funnels located right on the water line on the sides of the hull in order to reduce its IR signature.
Delivery of the first C28A Corvette to the Algerian Navy is expected for May 2015.
Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera has said that Tokyo is to consider the purchase of at least one amphibious assault ship.
"We are intending to acquire a transport ship capable of promptly sending out Self-Defense Force (SDF) units on missions to defend Japan's remote islands," Onodera told reporters after inspecting the Wasp-class assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) at the US Navy's San Diego base on 7 July.
"It's a multifunctional transport ship capable of providing assistance in a timely manner when a major disaster breaks out," he said.
The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) already operates three Osumi-class tank landing ships (LST), JS Osumi , JS Shimokita and JS Kunisaki , which all have a well deck embarking two Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) hovercraft and a parking deck that can embark land vehicles.
Access is via lifts to the main deck or a ramp on the starboard side. The main deck is split between space for more land vehicles and a large helicopter landing pad aft the superstructure.
The Japanese Ministry of Defence confirmed to IHS Jane's in January that the Osumi class will be upgraded to allow them to embark BAE Systems AAV7A1 amphibious assault vehicles and Bell-Boeing MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, both of which Japan intends to buy from the United States.
Asked about the difference with the existing Japanese ships, Onodera pointed to the fact that the Wasp class can carry many more LCACs below deck, and that the upper deck can carry many aircraft including MV-22s. He also said the ship is also fully compatible with operations using AAV7s.
COMMENT
Onodera's comments are in line with the Mid-Term Defense Programme (FY2014-18), which was adopted in December 2013 and stated that "the SDF will consider what the role should be of a multipurpose vessel with capabilities for command and control, large-scale transportation, and aircraft operations, which can be utilised in various operations such as amphibious operations, and reach a conclusion regarding its acquisition" by FY2018.
The Osumi-class upgrade can be seen as one element of this but the move to purchase a new platform is a longer term aim. Osumi was Japan's first flattop in the post-war period and so had its capabilities limited by defence planners to avoid any suggestion that it could have an offensive amphibious role.
This sensitivity has been trumped by the perceived threat from China to Japan's offshore islands, which has dominated MoD strategic planning discussions in recent years due to the escalation of the Senkaku/Diaoyu island dispute in the East China Sea.
In addition to platform procurements and upgrades, Japan is also setting up a marine corps-style force from Western Army troops based in Nagasaki, and has undertaken an increasing number of amphibious drills with the US Marine Corps and other countries.
Nonetheless, in San Diego Onodera was keen to stress the disaster relief capabilities of Makin Island and another Wasp-class ship USS Essex , which he said "played a crucial role" in the response to the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.
He also failed to mention one key element of the Wasp class' capabilities: that it embarks fighter aircraft in the form of BAe-McDonnell Douglas AV8B Harrier IIs, which are to be replaced by the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II.
A patrol boat renaissance of sorts is underway in the United States Navy. In the video below, the Coastal Command Boat, a one-off predecessor of the MK VI PBs coming online next year, goes through its paces in FIFTH Fleet. The CCB complements the Patrol Coastals (a much larger offshore patrol craft) and the Riverine Command Boats (RCB) which have operated quite successfully in the Arabian Gulf for some time now.
Dating back to the days of Jefferson’s gunboat navy, smaller craft (and we’re talking less than 100 feet in length here) have faced a number of operational constraints. Relatively short legs, limited-ranged weaponry, marginal sea-keeping, and most importantly, crew endurance, have confined most boats to inland waters and relatively calm coastal seas. These physical limitations will not change with the Navy’s new patrol boats, but what has evolved is the breadth and depth of missions combat craft can now accomplish. A shrinking fleet drives us to creativity with fewer ships. The Littoral Combat Ship has been sold as a replacement for a whole series of ships – FFGs, PCs, and MCMs; however LCS has still not successfully deployed forward with fully-operational mission packages to validate that vision. The reality is that PBs may be capable of supporting these missions too, and in some cases do a better job than a larger ship for a significantly lower investment. Equipped with some impressive remotely operated weapons and capable of carrying a VBSS team, the MK VI will conduct traditional force protection, coastal patrol, and interdiction missions. And with talk of arming the boats with missiles such as the Spike or Griffin, they could also support some low-end ASUW tasks. The boat's solid C4I package, combined with sensors and unmanned air vehicles, will quickly make them a preferred ISR platform, getting into areas where larger combatants might be constrained by draft or simply too visible. Arguably most unique is the boat’s ability to contribute to mine counter-measures operations using embarked unmanned undersea vehicles (and old-fashioned EOD divers). The MK VI can operate from a coastal base, a well deck, such as those on the LPD-17 class, or be craned aboard other ships. There are pros and cons with each option, but the key is versatility. Embarking on mother ships, as the RCBs have done in the Gulf, provides combatant craft the strategic mobility and logistics support required to operate in forward deployed patrol areas near critical choke points, surveillance targets, and notionally, mine fields. Perhaps what’s most interesting about this small boat renaissance was that the requirements for new and more heavily armed PBs in C5F was, at least by my estimate, driven by the former C5F commander, VADM Fox, an aviator, not a Surface Warfare Officer. Combatant craft are not a panacea for the surface warfare community's surface warfare deficiencies (though this and this might be). Nevertheless, now is the time for SWOs to get onboard and adequately fund, support, and recognize the unique capabilities of combatant craft as force multipliers. The importance of small US Navy combatant craft in both peacetime and future wartime distributed maritime operations will be proven out as it has been time and time again over the past two centuries.
Suddenly and silently the construction of the first of the two new LST class ships has started.
The first steel was cut on 14 May 2014 at ADİK Shipyard. The first ship will be called as TCG Bayraktar; the name proves that the old TCG Bayraktar, an old LST-511 class landing ship is out of commission.
The contract for the construction of two new LST class landing ships was signed between ADIK shipyard and SSM in 16 June 2011. It took almost two years for the shipyard to find the 370 million Euro credit to cover the project as required by the contract.
The shipyard expect to hand the ship to Turkish Navy in 34 months on 17 February 2017.
Characteristics: Displacement: 7125 tons full load Dimensions: 138,7 x 19 x 3 meters Speed, Range: 18 knots, 6000 miles at 15 knots Crew: 129
Weapons: Guns: 2 x 40mm; 2 x 20mm (twin) 2 x Mk 15 Phalanx. 2-12.7 mm MG Helicopters: Platform for one large
Comments: The contract for the construction of a new LST’s was signed between Ministry of Defence and ADIK_Furtrans shipyard on 11 May 2011. The value of the contract 370 million Euros. The first ship will be delivered in February 2017. The ships will carry 350 persons, 20 MBT and between 24 – 60 vehicles. The closed parking area is 1100 square meters and the open deck parking area is 690 square meters. The armament consists of 2 single barreled 40mm Oto Melara guns, 2 Mk15 Phalanx CIWS, 2 machine guns on a stabilized remote-controlled chassis. The ships will have a Smart Mk2 3D air/surface search radar (which not common for an amphibious ship) 2 AselFLIR 300D EO director, torpedo counter measures systems, laser warning receiver and Link 16/22 system. All these sensors and weapons will be controlled by a 5 consoles of GENESIS CMS.
ROSYTH, SCOTLAND — Within sight of one of the crowning engineering achievements of Queen Victoria’s reign, Britain’s naval shipbuilding industry is counting down to the launch of a new aircraft carrier for the Royal Navy named after the current monarch, Queen Elizabeth.
The warship will be floated for the first time on July 4 in the Babcock-operated dock here as part of an official naming ceremony attended by the queenThe yard is almost within the shadow of the 1890s-built Forth railway bridge.
With three F-35 fighter jets due in Britain for the Royal International Air Tattoo and Farnborough air show later in July, there has even been speculation the aircraft could put in an appearance July 4.
A BAE Systems spokeswoman played down that suggestion during a visit by reporters here on April 29, saying the only F-35 likely to be seen would be a full-size mock-up on the deck of the new carrier.
The two 65,000-ton aircraft carriers under construction will likely never achieve the iconic status of the Forth bridge, but they are the largest warships ever built here. In defense terms, they’re probably second only in terms of complexity to the Astute-class nuclear submarines being built by BAE Systems at Barrow in northern England.
For many in the Royal Navy — and the Aircraft Carrier Alliance partnership of BAE Systems, Babcock, Thales UK and the Defence Ministry — there will be a huge sigh of relief come July 4 that the program has reached such a key milestone.
Between them, the then-Labour Party administration and the current Conservative-led coalition government have delayed the program by two years, which increased cost, tried to cancel it entirely, and changed their minds twice over the type of F-35 they wanted to operate.
Industry has played its part in the program’s problems, too.
Costs have spiraled, leading last year to a renegotiation of the contract’s value to £6.2 billion (US $10.4 billion) from the starting figure of roughly £3.8 billion.
The warships are being built in modules weighing up to 11,000 tons at yards around the UK, and then floated here for welding together and completion of fitting out.
The first module for the Prince of Wales, the second ship, has already been delivered here, and more of the huge blocks will start arriving within days of the first carrier exiting the dock.
The current plan is for the Prince of Wales to be structurally complete by July 2016, sea trials to begin in January 2019 and acceptance in August that year....
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