Yup, that’s the long Herc.

Portugal has no money even to complete the 2nd OPV being built in Viana do Castelo

With the purchase of the 2 type M frigates from the Dutch some years ago we can forget frigate replacements for the next 10-20 years

You might see transfer in aid from one NATO country to another (wouldn’t be the first time)

http://rusnavy.com/news/navy/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=15160

Very interesting. This is the first I heard of the option for 3 more frigates. The MoD has previously announced that the six Talwars built so far will be the last such purchases and the Navy would follow a ‘make and buy Indian’ policy from now on.

But with likely delays in the P17A class(as with the Shiwaliks) and the MOD’s reluctance to give major orders to private shipyards(Competition for the government yards?) I can see the Navy being tempted by the prospect of adding numbers more quickly…

It reads “After implementation of that contract, Indian Navy will operate six Project 1135.6 frigates.”

So, what they are talking about is Batch 2 (starting with Teg) following Batch 1 (starting with Talwar). First three frigates of that kind were built for India by Baltiysky Zavod shipyard. The second three by JSC Yantar Shipyard. This article does not INHO discuss any Batch 3.

“new contract with Indian Navy would be negotiated in case of successful delivery of the second three frigates.”

The second three frigates have not all been delivered. INS Teg has been delivered April 2012, INS Tarkash will be delivered later this year, and INS Trikand (= 6th ship of 11356, 3rd from this yard!) is scheduled in 2013. Deadlines were postponed for more than a year.

:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

I know it’s free of cost for Philippines getting those ex USCG Cutter. However do US need to strip bare those ships of weapons except for those Oto Mellara 76mm ?

Ooo well

I do not suppose there is a NEED on the part of the US(N) to remove two Mk.38 M242 Bushmaster 25 mm chain gun amidships and the Phalanx CIWS system aft. However, it may simply be a cost/logistics issue for the PN and USN.

Here’s the deal:

Removal of EquipmentThe Hamilton was formally decommissioned on late March 2011, and the US Coast Guard removed the ship’s AN/SPS-40 air surface search radar to use as spares for operational Hamilton-class cutters. Also removed was the ship’s Phalanx CIWS and 2 Mk.38 M242 Bushmaster 25 mm chain guns, which will be used on their new National Security Cutters (NSCs) and Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutters, respectively. In return, the US Coast Guard began procuring and installing the safe-to-sail navigation equipment, radar systems and additional electronics that the Philippines’ requested as part of its transfer support case.[8] The Philippine Navy plans to install a 25mm chain gun, six mounted 50-caliber guns and two 20mm cannons.[2]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRP_Gregorio_del_Pilar_(PF-15

Note: the ship is free of cost, the transfer(package) isn’t. This includes training, refurbishing. Transfer cost was paid out of civilian budget (which may also be a factor in severely limiting the armaments).

The vessel was acquired under the auspices of the country’s Mutual Defense Treaty with the US, which allows the Philippines to acquire decommissioned US defense equipment.

It was transferred to the Philippine Navy through the US Excess Defense Article program, at a transfer cost of P450 million, which was paid out of the Department of Energy’s Malampaya project funds.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/11559/navy-flagship-sheds-us-identity-videoke-onboard

Also: http://www.uscg.mil/acquisition/newsroom/pdf/CG9newsletterMay11.pdf (column 2 on page 2)

With only two ships — one from each design currently being built — are in service.

8 LCSs Could Be Based in Gulf, Says U.S. Navy Undersecretary

Puzzled:

The Navy has said it does not wish to mix both classes of LCSs [in Singapore]….LCS 1-class ships are better suited to operations in the Arabian Gulf

Logistics issues? Or: designs for tailored to specific operating areas?

I’m very wary of anything the western media/powers ( especially american) have to say about China and their interpretation of China’s policies and objectives, besides it says CIA on that map , so as far as i’m concerned it has no value.

Now is it possible to be pointed out to somewhere where there is a relatively neutral, balanced and well argumented view of this situation? Thanks.:)

http://www.japanfocus.org/-ian-storey/2734

There have been some more recent concepts of launching drones from Submarines, some kind of compact solution that will fit in a VLS silo or torpedo tube.

From the Gabler Maschinenbau TRIPLE-M (Modular Multipurpose Mast) mast system actually
Webpage: http://maschinenbau.gabler-luebeck.de/en/entwicklungen/eigenschutz/index.html
Brochure: http://maschinenbau.gabler-luebeck.de/files/triple_m.pdf

http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?t=92780