She launches the missile from the position of the former Volna SAM launcher.

Does she got a vertical launcher there?

circa 2008 Ranvir has been fitted with a 8 cell Brahmos VLU in place of the aft Volna-M SAM complex. First test firing of the Brahmos carried out on 08 Dec 2008. Ranvijay is being similarly upgraded.

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/Ships/Active/181-Rajput-Class.html

I get the impression these will no longer be used in destroyer role (AAW) but relegated to GP frigate roles (comparable weapons fit – if older main SAM – to Talwar class, esp when 2 of 4 AK230/630 are replaced by VL Barak for close-in protection as was done in some other ships of this class). At least 1 of this class had 2 Styx replaced by 2×2 Brahmos on inclined launcher.

About 5.63 billion dollars for a new fleet of 10 naval vessels -two Aegis and four domestically developed destroyers, two patrol ships and two submarines.

New naval fleet to defend Korean islets of Dokdo, Ieodo

Additional info here: http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4070495

Wonder how this will translate to orbat and acquisitions:

Article says: “Since the 1990s, the Korean Navy has sought to found a task fleet of two task flotillas to cope with territorial disputes and secure maritime transportation routes. But only one flotilla was set up early last year due to budget constraints”

Wiki on RoKN: “There are about 170 commissioned ships (with a total displacement of about 181,000 tons ) in the ROK Navy, including some 20 destroyers and frigates, 12 submarines, 100 corvettes and fast attack craft as of 2011
…
Numbered fleetsThe three numbered fleets, each lead by a Rear Admiral (Upper Half), are responsible for protecting the green-water around South Korea: The First Fleet is for the eastern naval sector, the Second Fleet is for the western naval sector and the Third Fleet is for the southern naval sector including Jeju Island. Each fleet mainly includes squadrons of patrol forces composed of Kwanggaeto the Great class destroyers, Ulsan class frigates, Pohang class corvettes and Chamsuri class patrol boats.

Task force (Gidong Budae)
When taking command of the Navy in 1995, Admiral An Pyongtae, then Chief of Naval Operations, proposed to build a blue-water navy for the Republic of Korea. In the year 2001, President Kim Dae-jung announced a plan for creating a task force called “strategic maneuver fleet” (전략기동함대; Jeollyak Gidong Hamdae), which will “protect national interests in the five oceans and contribute to world peace” . As part of the plan, the ROK Navy established one task group, Commander Maritime Task Flotilla Seven on February 1, 2010, which evolved from Commander ASW Squadron 51 of the Component Flotilla. The Maritime Task Flotilla is composed of two Sejong the Great class AEGIS guided missile destroyers, and six Chungmugong Yi Sunshin class destroyers. A Chungmugong Yi Sunshin class destroyer of the Task Flotilla is being deployed in response to piracy attacks in shipping lanes off the coast of Somalia.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Korea_Navy#Republic_of_Korea_Fleet
“

No, I’m not sure. But I don’t like the fuzzy look of the aircraft lined up along the island, compared to otherwise quite sharp Hi-res picture.

Yep that does look odd. But still, 2 different angle pics showing these. Plus others with comparably painted (if empty) deck.

Aircraft are PSed.

RU sure? There are 2 pics now showing the Kuz with AC, each from a different angle but the same number and location on deck. This would suggest a series of PS-jobs, if you are correct. Enlarge the small pic to similar size as the earlier hi-res pic TR1 posted a link for and compare.

DDG-1000: Back To The Future

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/dead-aim-or-dead-end-the-usas-ddg1000-zumwalt-class-program-02574/

China’s Noisy Subs Get Busier — And Easier to Track

Easier to track ?! Only because there is increased movement. I would think the new conventional Chinese boats like Song and Yuan are (significantly) quiter than their old Mings and Romeos, even if they may not be as quite as e.g. russian Kilo’s. Likewise the new SS(B)Ns.

YA-7F “CORSAIR II” maybe…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vought_YA-7F

Proposed A-7E upgrade to add Harpoon missile capability
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=11.65;wap

Discussion, see:
http://www.aviationbanter.com/showthread.php?t=34234

Can’t get into this but summary reads: “To evaluate the missile’s response to these shock and vibration loads, a number of catapult launch and arrested landing tests were performed using an A-7E aircraft carrying an instrumented HARPOON missile“
http://books.google.nl/books/about/Analysis_of_Harpoon_Missile_Structural_R.html?id=dxu5NwAACAAJ&redir_esc=y

Which suggests A7 is in principal capable to work with Harpoon and at least 1 aircraft was employed with Harpoon.

Fort George might be a tad difficult… she was in Lairds No5 dock last week being quite comprehensively stripped… 🙁

Fort George

Zeb

darn….:(