LONDON — Sweden-based Special operations mini-submarine maker Defence Consulting Europe (DCE) has been acquired by Britain’s James Fisher Defence (JFD).
Under the deal, initially worth £3.7 million (US $6.1 million), DCE will become the Swedish arm of James Fisher Defence, a company best known for its submarine rescue technology.
The two companies have been working under a marketing partnership and last year launched a range of swimmer delivery vehicles aimed at the special operations forces market.
Based largely on DCE products, the two companies used the DSEi defense exhibition in London in September to unveil their Seal Pod range of vehicles.
The largest, Seal Carrier, can carry eight passengers and crew more than 150 nautical miles at a depth of three to 12 meters. On the surface the craft has a top speed of more than 30 knots.
The vessels can be launched by submarines, surface warships or aircraft.
“We are seeing significant interest in navies looking to develop specific maritime skills for special forces, counter terrorism and other areas of covert operations,” said JFD Managing Director Ben Sharples.
“The acquisition will allow customers to benefit from our combined subsea engineering experience, safety pedigree and global support network,” he said.
HELSINKI — Sweden — three years after selling its national submarine-maker Kockums to Germany’s ThyssenKrupp — is now fighting to wrest control of its indigenous sub-building capability from the German giant.
The clearest sign of deteriorating relations between Sweden and ThyssenKrupp emerged on Feb. 27, when Sweden’s defense procurement agency FMV announced that it had allocated $3.84 million to investigate Saab’s ability to design and produce Sweden’s next generation submarine.
The move drove speculation that Sweden might support a bid by Saab to take over Kockums, now called ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), which would put ownership back in Sweden.
Swedish Defense Ministry officials expressed disappointment and concern over the lack of guarantees provided by ThyssenKrupp covering commitments to maintain TKMS as a large-vessel producer. More specifically, Swedish officials claim that ThyssenKrupp has still not provided a fixed price for the delivery of two new A26 generation subs and mid-life upgrades to the Navy’s Gotland-class submarines.
The emergence of Saab as a potential builder of the A26 submarine has cast doubt over TKMS’ role in the Navy’s submarine modernization project. TKMS secured the contract to design the A26 in 2010, and provisional costs were included in Sweden’s defense budget for that year.
Management and unions at TKMS’ Malmo-based shipyard warn that the prevailing uncertainty could result in the closure of the country’s only submarine construction facility should the company fail to obtain the A26 and Gotland-class construction and modernization contracts.
Fears relating to the possible loss of contracts has extended to the Malmo shipyard’s 1,000 unionized workers, who are also facing a reorganization of operations, with ThyssenKrupp reported to be planning to designate Malmo as its industrial hub for small-sized subs and surface vessels up to 1,000 tons, a prospect that has also further hurt relations with Swedish authorities given that the A26 and Gotland-class subs have a displacement of around 1,900 tons.
The lack of a fixed price from ThyssenKrupp regarding the A26 and the Gotland-class submarine programs means that to proceed to the build stage would be neither practical, sustainable or the best use of funds in respect of the armed forces or taxpayer’s money, said FMV spokesperson Louise Wileen Bjarke.
Saab, which maintains that it could quickly create the capacity needed to build and modernize submarines, has declined to comment on market reports that it is engaged in exploratory talks that could see it takeover TKMS’ operations from ThyssenKrupp.
Sweden’s MoD, the FMV and ThyssenKrupp also declined to comment on a possible state-support acquisition push.
ThyssenKrupp, through its subsidiary Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW), acquired the then-Kockums Naval Systems business from Swedish industrial Celsius AB in 1999. HDW later became part of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.
The divestment placed Sweden’s submarine production capability under foreign ownership.
Along with Saab’s fighter production capability, submarine warfare represented the two biggest strands of Sweden’s indigenous defense industry.
The three SDL-SS systems installed in vessels Karlstad, Nyköping and Visby have been fully accepted by FMV.
The year 2014 started very successfully for SDL-SS program that SAES develops for the Royal Swedish Navy (FM), with final acceptance of anti-submarine warfare systems SDL-SS (Sensor Data Link – Surface Segment) # 2 & # 3, that have undergone sea trials (SAT-Sea Acceptance test) in Karlskrona with the participation of FM and Defence Material Administration (FMV) during 2013.
The program, started in 2010, will culminate with the delivery and acceptance of the 5 SDL-SS systems that FMV has acquired to improve the ASW capacity of Visby class corvettes.
The SDL-SS system is part of Sensor Data Link (SDL) system. The SDL system defines a new operational ASW solution through the coordinated use of two platforms, one of them installed on remote and elevated platforms (SDL-AS) installed on manned/unmanned air vehicles , and the other one is installed on surface platform (SDL-SS) like the Visby corvettes.
The SDL system enables small combat ships (500 to 2000 ton) to actively participate in ASW missions, adding operational advantages due to the increased speed and easy manoeuvrability of these type of ships. On the other hand, the SDL system collaborates in Network Centric Warfare (NCW) implementing different modes of communication:
- Line Of Sight (LOS), to exchange tactical and intelligence data either with a Surface Platform SDL-SS (Surface-To-Surface communication – S2S mode) or with a distanced platform SDL-AS (Surface-To-Air communication – S2A mode).
- Satellite (Surface-To-Satellite communication – SATCOM mode), to exchange tactical and intelligence data with distanced platforms beyond Line of Sight.
The SDL-SS system is complemented by the Airborne Segment Sensor Data Link system (SDL-AS). It should be noted that the HKP-15 helicopters of the Visby corvettes are equipped with the SDL-AS (Sensor Data Link – Airborne Segment) since 2008. Consequently, the FM has a complete SDL system.
Le constructeur suédois Saab a annoncé ce 15 novembre que la marine espagnole avait déployé le drone Skeldar V-200 en opérations. Le drone VTOL se trouve à présent à bord du patrouilleur BAM Meteoro et y effectue des missions de surveillance et de renseignement en « binôme » avec un hélicoptère, dans le cadre de l’opération anti-piraterie européenne Atalante, au large du Golfe d’Aden.
Le communiqué diffusé confirme une rumeur des médias espagnols de juillet dernier, alors que Saab avait annoncé la vente à l’export du Skeldar, sans toutefois avoir dévoilé le nom du client.
The ASW system SDL- SS (Sensor Data Link – Surface Segment) developed by SAES has been successfully tested and accepted by the Royal Swedish Navy and the Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV) during the “Sea Acceptance Test – SAT“ conducted in Karlskrona. SDL system is being installed in the Visby class corvettes improving the ASW capabilities.
Thanks to SDL system, platforms with minor capability of detection increase the sensors beyond the limits of Line Of Sight (LOS). In addition, tracking and classification of underwater and surface contacts are improved.
SAES has achieved that the SDL system can be installed and integrated in small combat ships like corvettes, OPVs and patrol thanks to the small footprint, less weight, low maintenance (LRU level) and high functionality.
SDL-SS is the best solution for the new needs of ASW missions, since among other attributes, the system implements and collaborates in a Network Centric Warfare (NCW):
- Exchange tactical and intelligence data with other Surface Platform SDL-SS (Surface-To-Surface communication).
- Control an air vehicle (manned or unmanned) with SDL-AS system installed (Surface-To-Air communication).
- SDL-SS system receives from SDL-AS tactical and intelligence information both acoustic and non-acoustic sensor (RADAR and FLIR) by data link (STANAG 7085).
- Extend SDL capabilities beyond Line of Sight (LOS) capability through a satellite network (Surface-To-Satellite communication).
It should be noted that the HKP-15 helicopters of the type Visby corvettes are equipped with SDL- AS (Sensor Data Link – Air Segment) since 2008. Consequently, the Swedish Navy already has the complete SDL system.
The small footprint, less weight, low maintenance (LRU level) and high functionality makes it especially attractive for installation in small combat ships and aerial platforms” project managers say.
“It’s a satisfaction that the Ministry of Defence and the Swedish Navy trust in SAES since a decade to improve the capabilities of its fleet,” direction of the company declares. “We will continue providing all our technology and commitment to achieve its complete satisfaction,” they guarantee.
Following links show a descriptive video of SDL functionality and performances.
Defence and security company Saab has signed a contract with Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Korea, for development and integration of combat management and radar systems on a new frigate for the Royal Thai Navy. The order amounts to MSEK 850.
The contract comprises of combat management system and radar system.
Saab is the combat system integrator. In addition to the supply of its own systems, Saab is also responsible for procurement and integrations of third-party systems.
Deliveries of ship equipment are scheduled to commence in 2016 and production will take place in Sweden, Denmark,Thailand and Australia.
Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions ranging from military defence to civil security. Saab has operations and employees on all continents and constantly develops, adopts and improves new technology to meet customers’ changing needs.
Patrick H. 's insight:
La Thaïlande a décidé cette construction en juillet dernier après une longue réflexion :
(Infodefensa.com) Madrid - The Spanish Navy has acquired its first unmanned aerial system shipped to the Swedish company Saab AB for 2.5 million euros with a contract negotiated without advertising, as has been told Infodefensa.com . Apparently this is the model Skeldar V-200, 200 kilos of weight.
The Supply and Transport Directorate of the Navy awarded the employment program embarked unmanned aerial system (Pesante) on June 26 through a common processing and a negotiated procedure without advertisement.
The only award resolution states that the total amount was 2.5 million euros, but not specific model or delivery times (File 34/13).
Swiss Design
The Skeldar V-200 is a medium range UAV vertical deployment can be launched from the deck of any vessel and is able to provide any kind of intelligence with the appropriate sensors. Its development began in 2004 and the first prototype flew two years later. The V-200 version was available in 2008 with the idea of equipping class destroyers Burke of the U.S. Navy .
It measures four meters long, 1.2 meters wide and 1.3 high. The rotor has a diameter of 4.7 meters and can carry a maximum load of 40 kilos.
You can value to a maximum altitude of 4500 meters, has a top speed of 130 mph and a range of five hours of flight. Its maximum range greater than 100 kilometers and takes less than 15 minutes of preparation before being available for service.
It is operated by two or four players and can be controlled by the crew of a ship, which avoids having to rely on a specific computer.
Many candidates
Since mid-2010, the General Staff of the Navy identified the need to acquire drones shipped to the operational needs arising from their deployment in Operation Atalanta in the European Union off the coast of Somalia to eradicate piracy.
At first he studied all options from outright purchase to rental-purchase (leasing), but with this decision of the Navy commanders have favored the first, after an extensive evaluation process.
Several Spanish and foreign companies have been presented since then a variety of candidates, some developed in Spain. These have highlighted the Camcopter S-100 of the Austrian Schiebel by the Spanish Sener , the Scan Eagle of American Boeing and the Pelicano of Indra , among others.
Patrick H. 's insight:
les caractéristiques techniques du Skeldar V-200 :
Swedish Ocean Patrol Vessel (OPV) HSwMS Carlskrona joined the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia – Operation Atalanta on 6 April 2013, in Djibouti.
HMS Carlskrona is a 106 meter long OPV with a crew of 139, including the boarding team and helicopter crew. She is a former flagship of EU NAVFOR (2010) and has re-joined the EU’s counter-piracy operation off the coast of Somalia.
Speaking about the preparations for joining the Operation, the Commanding Officer of HSwMS Carlskrona, Commander Mathias Jansson, said: “We started training back in January in Sweden with the different parts of the ship coming together, including the helicopter wing and the Swedish Marines boarding team. We then started the journey to the Area of Operations, conducting further training on the way. We then received our helicopter when we arrived in the Gulf of Aden, followed by additional training this week for 2 days with the helicopter. We are now prepared for the next step, which is beginning Operation Atalanta for the next four months. Piracy has declined, which is good, but the weather associated with the intra-monsoon period will, I am sure, give new opportunity for the pirates. Both me and the crew are prepared and we are very pleased to start the mission.”
HSwMS Carlskrona also contributes an extensive medical facility with both an operating theatre and intensive care unit.
In support of the Carlskrona in the operation 12 military personnel are based ashore in Djibouti, bringing the total Swedish contribution to Operation Atalanta, in the Horn of Africa, to 152 personnel. 24 of those personnel (16%) are women.
The Saab group has signed a framework agreement with Italian Piaggio Aero Industries for the integration of surveillance systems in the Multirole Patrol Aircraft – a new surveillance aircraft based on Piaggio Aero’s business plane. The order is valued at Euro 15.5 million. Within the framework agreement Saab receives an initial order for the delivery and integration of the surveillance system MPA Mission System. The order comprises two MPA aircraft and requires Saab to integrate a package of advanced surveillance equipment comprising of sensors, radar, infra-red cameras and a mission system. Deliveries are scheduled for the period 2012 to 2015.
The aircraft will be able to perform surveillance of broad areas for more than 6 hours at low altitude in coastal or offshore waters. The aircraft offers large, stand up cabin allowing spacious installation of mission equipment while providing maximum crew comfort for enhanced missions. It will be able to fly up to 41,000 feet, with endurance of 10 plus flight hours, cruise at a speed of 350 knots and fly at a maximum range of 3,300 nautical miles.
The MPA is an evolution of the Piaggio Aero P.180 Avanti II platform, modified to meet land, coastal, maritime and offshore security requirements. The MPA’s main features are an enhanced airframe, increased maximum take-off weight, additional fuel tanks and a new aerodynamic configuration with a reinforced wing providing an increased surface and higher aspect ratio.
An evolution of the P.180 Avanti’s patented Three-Lifting-Surface Configuration (3LSC), the modified aerodynamic configuration designed for special mission applications underwent extensive Reynolds low speed/high speed wind tunnel testing at ONERA, to validate design and performance. ‘During testing it demonstrated an 30% reduction of required power, in comparison to its nearest competitor’ – Piaggio communique said.
Piaggio Aero launched the Piaggio Aero MPA at the Farnborough 2012 airshow, with the signature of a contract with Abu Dhabi Autonomous System Investments (ADASI). The contract covered the complete development of the MPA aircraft, including the roll out of two prototypes with first flight scheduled for 2014. ”The newly designed Piaggio Aero MPA aircraft will allow us to enter the surveillance sector and diversify our business profile with the development of this new state of the art multirole platform” said Alberto Galassi, Piaggio Aero CEO.
Defence and security company Saab have received two new contracts from the Swedish Defence Material Administration with a total value of MSEK 194. The contracts comprise upgrade of the heavyweight torpedo Torpedo 62 and support for underwater weapon systems. The upgrade of Torpedo 62 comprises of new and improved functions for communication and warhead initiation, providing an important capability enhancement for the system. The Torpedo 62 is an advanced heavy weight torpedo for combating surface targets. The Torpedo 62 is equipped with an advanced propulsion system capable of high speed and long endurance together with a state of the art homing system. Deliveries according to these contracts will take place during the period 2013 to 2016.
This is a presentation of the Swedish Navy of today.
The Swedish Navy educate and train naval forces and contribute to peace and security participating in joint operations with the swedish ground- and airforces and/or in combined operations with other navies.
HELSINKI — Sweden’s government is examining a proposal to boost military spending to defend its own territories and the strategic Baltic Sea area in the face of renewed Russian aggression in Ukraine. There is also a movement among high government officials to re-examine the long-running issue of joining NATO.
The Swedish Cabinet will discuss, in coming weeks, a cross-party coalition proposal to significantly increase capital spending on the Navy’s submarine fleet.
In a direct response to Russia’s military actions in the Crimean Peninsula, Jan Björklund, the Liberal Peoples’ Party leader and Sweden’s deputy prime minister, is pushing for a “comprehensive strategic military re-think on capability.” Björklund also wants Sweden to “set the wheels in motion” to join NATO.
“What the crisis in the Ukraine shows is that we need to return to our original defense doctrine of having the capability to defend our borders,” Björklund said at a March 12 news conference. “The crisis highlights our vulnerability in the Baltic Sea. We need to strengthen our presence and capability here. NATO membership is the best long-term option.
“How many people thought that Russia would go into the Crimea? The same argument could hold true for the Baltic states. The crisis in the Ukraine should be met with action by Western powers to offer it fast-track membership to the European Union,” Björklund said.
Sweden’s defense capability has been seriously weakened by more than 10 years of low spending by governments on defense, Björklund said. The armed forces’ budget for 2014 amounts to $6.2 billion, equivalent to 1.05 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and down from 1.5 percent of GDP in 2006.
Russia’s expansionist actions in Ukraine pose a real threat for Sweden, and one that could be repeated in the Baltic states, said Peter Hultqvist, chairman of the Parliamentary Defense Committee (PDC).
“We need to build a stronger and better resourced defense. Having a robust air and naval presence in the Baltic Sea and a strengthened military base on Götland Island is fundamental to defending future threats,” Hultqvist said in an interview.
The Swedish Cabinet will examine in coming weeks a proposal by Foreign Minister Carl Bildt to expand the Navy’s submarine modernization program to cover the acquisition of five rather than two next-generation subs at an additional cost of $1.6 billion.
Saab’s Skeldar VTOL UAV has returned from deployed operations with the Spanish Navy, although the company is hopeful that further contracts will come to fruition.
One system consisting of two aircraft was deployed to the Gulf of Aden as part of the EU Atalanta operation on-board the BAM Meteoro offshore patrol vessel with the Spanish Navy, and the deployment finished in November with equipment back in Sweden by December.
The three month operation was cut short, as permitted under the terms of the contract, due to the navy having completed its mission ahead of schedule. The deployment followed integration trials on-board the BAM Relámpago in the waters outside the Canary Islands.
‘This was a limited three month contract, but we hope to get a new contract for that,’ Hans Burgland, director of marketing for UAS and future products, told Shephard during the Singapore Airshow.
Burgland said that feedback from the operation was that the wrong sensor system was chosen, and the company and navy would reassess the payload choice for any potential future contracts. The sensor used during the operations was a Goodrich Tase 400.
‘For the new contract we’d offer a different sensor,’ he noted. ‘We had some technological issues at the beginning so didn’t start at the planned time.
‘The performance was pretty good,’ he affirmed. ‘It was a very good experience for us to fly off the ship.’
He said that there are programmes coming up in the Asia-Pacific region that Saab is targeting: ‘We have been bidding in Malaysia for example, and that has just not been decided on yet.’
Burgland adhered to contract signings that are expected to happen ‘this month’ although he could not offer further details.
Meanwhile progress is being made with pitching the Skeldar to a domestic customer Sweden: ‘We hope to see a tender coming out in April,’ he noted.
Saab is looking to test the Skeldar off the Swedish Navy’s Visby-class corvettes, although budget issues in Sweden have prevented a contract signing so far.
‘We would like to see Skeldar with the Swedish Navy when they go to Somalia,’ he said.
On 11 February it was announced that the Schiebel S-100 Camcopter was due to be used by the Italian Navy in anti-piracy missions, which Burgland said is a test programme that Saab also hopes to carry out with the Italian Navy.
‘We know what’s going on there any we’re talking to Italy,’ he said.
Patrick H. 's insight:
Schiebel vient d'annoncer un contrat pour le S-100 Camcopter avec la Marine italienne :
LINKÖPING, Sweden--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Defence and security company Saab has signed a contract with ASC Pty Ltd (Australian Submarine Corporation) to update and modernise the Integrated Ship Control Management and Monitoring System (ISCMMS) on the Royal Australian Navy’s Collins Class Submarines. The contract has a total value SEK 180 million.
“ISCMMS has been a very successful part of the Collins Class Submarine and is critical to its on-going operations.”
The ISCMMS system provides the submarine manoeuvring control and integrated platform systems management. Originally developed by Saab it has proven to be a very reliable system of the Australian Collins Class Submarine. The modernisation program involves updating electronic components and systems to alleviate upcoming obsolescence issues and porting the ISCMMS software to ensure the ISCMMS continues operating dependably into the future. “ISCMMS has been a very successful part of the Collins Class Submarine and is critical to its on-going operations.
With this contract, ASC and the Australian Navy continue to show faith in Saab’s high-tech solutions,” says Gunilla Fransson, head of Saab’s business area Security and Defence Solutions. Steve Ludlam, ASC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, said ASC was extremely pleased to have Saab on board for this important project. The contract will run between 2013 and 2016 and will involve the Security and Defence Solutions operations in Adelaide, Australia. Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions ranging from military defence to civil security. Saab has operations and employees on all continents and constantly develops, adopts and improves new technology to meet customers’ changing needs.
Patrick H. 's insight:
Un aperçu de l'ensemble des fonctions de ce système ISCMMS :
L'appel d'offres de Singapour pour l'acquisition de deux sous-marins (plus deux en option) a révélé de très fortes dissensions entre TKMS et sa filiale Kockums.
En lui interdisant de présenter une offre à Singapour, le groupe allemand veut torpiller son concurrent suédois.
Une relation ancienne entre Kockums et Singapour
Depuis de longues années, le chantier naval suédois entretient une relation commerciale, opérationnelle et industrielle étroite avec Singapour et sa marine. Elle lui a notamment vendu dans les années 1990 quatre sous-marins de la marine suédoise de la classe Sjöormen (mis en service en 1968 et 1969 en Suède), sous le nom de Challenger, qui ont été livrés entre 2000 et 2004.
Puis, Singapour commande en 2005 pour 128 millions de dollars deux sous-marins suédois de la classe Västergötland (A17), qui ont succédé chez Kockums aux Sjöormen. Ces deux sous-marins ont été livrés entre 2011 et 2013 à la marine de Singapour sous le nom d'Archer. Parallèlement, Kockums conclut des accords industriels avec le groupe singapourien ST Engineering. Enfin, la marine suédoise fournit l'entrainement des équipages à Singapour. Ce que ne fait pas la marine allemande.
Le diktat allemand
Malgré cette longue coopération opérationnelle et industrielle, Kockums, qui souhaitait à l'origine proposer son futur sous-marin de nouvelle génération l'A26 à Singapour, est brutalement écarté de la compétition par son actionnaire TKMS....
Lire l'intégralité de l'article de Michel Cabirol sur le site de "La Tribune" :
Cet article éclaire d'un nouveau jour l'information récente selon laquelle TKMS chercherait à couler sa filiale suédoise Kockums, entreprise acquise en 2005 :
German industrial conglomerate ThyssenKrupp bought Kockums in 2005 to form part of what is known as ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), a firm which also owns German submarine maker HDW, a direct competitor of Kockums. A source told The Local that the purchase was aimed at getting rid of Germany’s Swedish submarine rival and that TKMS was jeopardizing Swedish export deals for submarines with the Australian and Singaporean governments. "The purchase of Kockums wasn't aimed at consolidating the naval industry and creating synergies, but at getting rid of a competitor," a source in Germany with direct knowledge of the situation told The Local. Kockums and its predecessors have been building ships for the Swedish navy for centuries at the Karlskrona shipyard in southern Sweden that now serves as the base of the company's Swedish operations. But according to a German naval manufacturing consultant with ties to TKMS, ThyssenKrupp is actively trying to sabotage Kockums export operations to the advantage of Germany’s HDW, a strategy he dubbed "TKMS über alles" and slammed as "suicide". The Germans' efforts to sink Sweden's submarine industry have been ongoing since at least 2011, according to the source, when TKMS CEO Hans Christoph Atzpodien denied Kockums the opportunity to bid on a project in Singapore for the construction of new submarines, despite the Swedish firm's long-standing relationship in the country. Earlier this year, the German firm decreed that the Swedish shipbuilder officially change its corporate name to ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, scrapping the Kockums brand name that has been a part of Swedish industry since the early 1800s.
'A raging war is taking place'
In August, during a meeting in Bonn, Germany with officials from Singapore defence agency DSTA held, Atzpodien claimed that Kockums "would no longer be capable of designing and building submarines", according to the source. "A raging war is taking place between Kockums and TKMS," he said, explaining that the Singapore deal has brought the situation into sharp relief. Among other things, Atzpodien disparaged Kockums plans for a new A26 class of submarine, claiming the Swedish firm didn't have enough engineers to complete the project, and that it was sure to be plagued with cost overruns and delays. "Atzpodien has systematically ejected Kockums from the discussions and has barred Kockums from Singapore," the source explained. TKMS has also complicated Kockums' chances for new contracts in Australia, another country where the Swedish shipbuilder has a strong presence, having designed and built six Collins-class submarines in the 1990s in what was one of the largest export deals ever at the time. But Kockums found itself left out of a 2012 initial call for proposals from Australia to replace the aging subs with an off the shelf solution, while its German-based competitor and sister company HDW was one of three European firms asked to participate. Earlier this year, however, Australia and Sweden did ink a deal allowing for Kockums to take part in the project, dubbed SEA 1000, which calls for the building of 12 new submarines. But in the meantime, TKMS purchased an Australian naval defence firm, Australian Marine Technologies, that "could do the same job as Kockums could have done on its own," the source said. "TKMS has here again torpedoed all the efforts of Kockums to run this future competition because it has already created its own footprint," the source told The Local.
Thales UK revealed at the AUVSI 2013 exhibition in Washington, DC, details of an innovative military/commercial technology demonstrator for unmanned mine countermeasures (MCM) operations.
Thales served as systems integrator on the project, combining the Halcyon unmanned surface vehicle (USV) designed by Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV) with a Saab Seaeye remotely operated vehicle (ROV), aiming to prove the potential to develop a multi-shot mine-disposal system using a commercial off-the-shelf ROV.
Halcyon is an optionally manned 11.5 m craft capable of 30 kt, based on the ASV C-Sweep USV, which is modified to meet Thales' requirements. This includes an ASV-designed launch and recovery system (LARS) to deploy the Seaeye for inspection of mine-like objects identified by towed sonar or other offboard sensors, and a Thales command and control system. The concept also includes a Saab HYDRA multi-shot mine neutralisation system.
The complete system will be publicly revealed at London's DSEi defence exhibition in September 2013, followed by demonstration trials for the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) in October.
The development leverages Thales' work on ASV, which has been under way since 2011, looking to produce a USV to meet the MoD's MCM, Hydrography, and Patrol Capability (MHPC) programme requirements. The MHPC programme envisions a USV able to conduct mine-sweeping operations and integrate with the UK Royal Navy's Hunt-class MCM vessels.
However, no further progress is expected on MHPC until after the UK's next Strategic Defence and Security Review, scheduled for 2015.
Canberra, May 16 (IANS) Australia and Sweden have achieved a "significant milestone agreement" relating to Intellectual Property rights for submarine design and technology, Defence Minister Stephen Smith said Thursday.
The agreement followed extensive negotiations between Australia's Defence Materiel Organisation and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, Smith said in a statement issued jointly with Sweden's Minister for Defence Karin Enstrom, reported Xinhua.
"This agreement gives effect to Australia's rights to use and disclose Swedish Intellectual Property rights for complex submarine design and technology," Smith said.
"Defence materiel cooperation has been a key feature of the Sweden-Australia relationship, most notably in the area of submarine technology where our collaboration over the construction and support of the Collins submarines has spanned two decades, and more recently, with the vital 'sense and warn' capability provided to protect our troops in Afghanistan," he added.
In 1987, Australia ordered six submarines of the Collins Class designed by Swedish firm Kockums AB. The submarines were built in Adelaide and will be in service for another 20 years.
Australia is now planning for their replacement with 12 new boats with the recent 2013 Defence White Paper settling on two options - an evolution of Collins or a completely new design.
Smith said the government announced last year it would engage Kockums to undertake initial design studies for the evolved Collins. But before that could occur, Australia needed to reach an agreement with Sweden on use of Collins and other Swedish technology for the Future Submarine Program.
LINKÖPING, Sweden--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Defence and security company Saab have signed a contract on delivery of autonomous underwater vehicles systems, AUV62, in training configuration.
“We are very proud of the confidence our customers place in the AUV62 system and are satisfied to have been able to secure this order for the system.”
The order has a total value of MSEK 269 and comprises supply and long term maintenance and support of AUV62, the latest version of the advanced training target for Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) training.
“We are very proud of the confidence our customers place in the AUV62 system and are satisfied to have been able to secure this order for the system.” says Görgen Johansson, Senior Vice President and Head of Business Area Dynamics.
The industry’s nature is such that depending on circumstances concerning the product and customer, information regarding the customer will not be announced.
The AUV62 is an advanced and highly modern and capable system for cost-efficient training of a navy’s ASW forces. The AUV62 is an artificial acoustic target that mimics a submarine in a way that is compatible with any torpedo- and sonar system on the market today. The AUV62 system fully replaces the use of a submarine in the role as a manoeuvring training target. With the AUV62 Saab offers a state-of-the-art training capability for demanding customers investing in the future.
System deliveries will take place during 2014 and 2015, followed by long term maintenance and support of the systems.
Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions ranging from military defence to civil security. Saab has operations and employees on all continents and constantly develops, adopts and improves new technology to meet customers’ changing needs.
Les spécialistes de la flotte de la Baltique accompliront un exercice de recherche et de sauvetage d'un sous-marin accidenté en coopération avec des marins suédois en mer Baltique, informe le service de presse de la Flotte de la Baltique.
Le scénario des exercices « Recherche de sous-marin accidenté » comprend la reconnaissance de son emplacement, l’inspection de la coque et l’organisation de la remontée de l’équipage avec utilisation des équipements de sauvetage.
Defence and security company Saab has received an order from its German partner DBD for the Surface-to-Surface Missile RBS15 Mk3. The order value is SEK 615 million. Deliveries will take place during the period 2014 to 2016.... ...The RBS15 Mk3, jointly produced and marketed by Saab and DBD, is a heavy weight Surface-to-Surface Missile system with a range of more than 200 km and the added capability to combat land targets. The system has previously been sold to Germany, Poland and Sweden....
The Swedish Maritime Administration has placed orders with AgustaWestland for seven AW139 intermediate twin-engine helicopters, configured to support the administration's search-and-rescue (SAR) missions.
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