StonewallUS orders GE to stop operationalising gas turbines on Shivalik Frigates
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/new-indian-stealth-warship-halted-by-us-barge/351062/these are exactly one of things which India hates while buying any US weapon system . its a gr8 start for Obama govt to build closer military relations with India.
well well well…it’s not ONLY Russia after all:rolleyes:
StonewallThanks for the clarification 😉
StonewallHER MAJESTY’S ROYAL COAST GUARD
David Axe reports:
Under current plans, the Royal Navy circa 2020 will be a very strange force. There will be just six high-end warships to protect two 65,000-ton super-carriers, plus a mixed flotilla of old Type 23s and FSCs numbering just over a dozen. It’ll be a top-heavy force with too few destroyers to escort the carriers into a shooting war, and too few frigates to perform day-to-day patrolling during peacetime. It’s a fleet optimized for nothing.
For the past few decades, Her Majesty’s Armed Forces have steered away from the preservation of empire and colonies, instead configuring themselves in such a way that they can provide a solid bulwark to the US Armed Forces, while operating independently in a single theater, Falklands style scenario.
But, the backbone of any British strategy -from the pre-Victorian age all the way up until the Labour Party victory in the mid 1990s- has always been a powerful Royal Navy. The fleet’s demise over the past several years has been one of the great tragedies in recent memory. There was a time when the Union Jack protected every major sea lane and trade route on the globe — today the British can barely protect their own coastline. That’s a terrible fall for what was once a mighty sea-faring empire.
What’s troubling about this report, to me at least, is that the Brits are shaping their fleet in such a way that it will be largely reliant on American protection. Instead of existing as a powerful, independent ally that can operate jointly or independently with its US counterpart, the Royal Navy is becoming a welfare case — where supporting it with anti-sub and anti-air protection becomes more of a drain on our own resources than a benefit.
Watching the British lose confidence in themselves, the oft-lamented “Suez Syndrome,” is terrible. But, as much as it pains me to say so, perhaps it’s time we look for new, stronger allies for our special defense relationship — perhaps in the Aussies or Japanese.
–John Noonan
HT – Goldfarb
February 27, 2009 11:41 AM
StonewallIm not sure I understand your question? This seems not to be related to the Type 214, rather that it it is more cost effective to build new Typ 209’s to the planned upgrade standard using already ordered,procured long lead time items rather than either upgrade the existing Type 209s as originally planned or procure extra Type 214s. Seems like pure economics.
I was wondering if maybe Greece will give up the 214 in favour of the 209 with AIP
or
Are both issues unrelated?
Stonewallcan it be that the U-214 will be put aside? ^^^^^^
StonewallAUSTRALIA
‘No chance’ $20bn submarine wish list
will be passed by Government
A DEFENCE wish list for a $20 billion submarine fleet has virtually no chance of making it past the Government’s razor
gang. Defence wants to buy 12 new submarines when the current fleet of six Collins boats retires after 2020. That
would value the new vessels at about $2 billion each and make them the most expensive conventional submarines in
history.
However, sources have told the Herald Sun the global financial crisis and a lack of crew numbers for the current fleet
means the plan will run aground. Just three of the six Collins boats are deployable due to the lack of qualified or
willing crew members. Navy chief Vice-Admiral Russ Crane yesterday confirmed he could man only three subs with
the navy’s 420 qualified submariners. He also revealed plans to rotate crews between boats rather than attach them to
individual vessels for a tour of duty.
According to insiders, the wish list will face major hurdles from Finance and Treasury when it goes to the Government
for final approval as part of the 2009 budget process. Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said even large financial
bonuses were not enough to attract crew. “We’ve initiated a range of bonuses – up to the $60,000 annually – in order
to keep those much-needed people,” he said. The Opposition has supported the project but questioned the magnitude
of the plan.
“The Opposition would be very willing to support a new generation of world-class, conventionally powered
submarines,” defence spokesman Senator David Johnston said. A survey of submarine crews has uncovered serious
morale problems on board subs HMAS Waller and HMAS Rankin.
It says 37 per cent of Waller’s crew believe their job is meaningless.
Source : Heraldsun
Stonewallmeanwhile
CPB Says No New Dutch Jobs from JSF Project
(Source: Radio Netherlands; issued Feb. 25, 2009)
The Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis (CPB) says taking part in the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft project will not create extra jobs in the Netherlands. The CPB says forecasts that thousands of new Dutch jobs would result from a government decision to work on the development of the new fighter jet are far too optimistic.
MPs instigated the CPB inquiry which took a critical look at an earlier report produced by the professional services giant, PricewaterhouseCoopers. That report concluded 50,000 Dutch jobs would be created by the project, but the CPB says PricewaterhouseCoopers made major errors.
In turn, Dutch companies due to take part in the production of the Joint Strike Fighter have rubbished the CPB report. (ends)
New Fighter Jet Won’t Create Jobs, Says CPB
(Source: Dutch News; issued Feb. 25, 2009)
The Netherlands participation in the US project to create a new jet fighter known as the JSF will not create many more jobs, according to the government’s macro-economic advisory body CPB.
MPs had asked the CPB to look into the effect of the jet on the the economy after PricewaterhouseCoopers claimed it would bring in EUR 16bn and produce 50,000 man years of employment.
The CPB said PWC’s forecasts were ‘perhaps considerably overstated’. The advisory firm based its calculations on there being no increase in productivity between now and 2052 and included work done by Dutch multinational companies in foreign countries, the CPB said.
But the organisation representing Dutch firms involved in developing the JSF told news agency ANP that the project had already led to Dutch firms winning orders worth up to EUR 800m.
Meanwhile, the US government’s audit office says it is too risky for the Netherlands to decide next year whether or not to order the JSF to replace the air force’s aging F16s, ANP reports.
Instead, the decision should be postponed to 2011 or 2012, the audit office told Dutch MPs in Washington on a fact-finding mission. (ends)
-ends-
Stonewallmeanwhile
CPB Says No New Dutch Jobs from JSF Project
(Source: Radio Netherlands; issued Feb. 25, 2009)
The Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis (CPB) says taking part in the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft project will not create extra jobs in the Netherlands. The CPB says forecasts that thousands of new Dutch jobs would result from a government decision to work on the development of the new fighter jet are far too optimistic.
MPs instigated the CPB inquiry which took a critical look at an earlier report produced by the professional services giant, PricewaterhouseCoopers. That report concluded 50,000 Dutch jobs would be created by the project, but the CPB says PricewaterhouseCoopers made major errors.
In turn, Dutch companies due to take part in the production of the Joint Strike Fighter have rubbished the CPB report. (ends)
New Fighter Jet Won’t Create Jobs, Says CPB
(Source: Dutch News; issued Feb. 25, 2009)
The Netherlands participation in the US project to create a new jet fighter known as the JSF will not create many more jobs, according to the government’s macro-economic advisory body CPB.
MPs had asked the CPB to look into the effect of the jet on the the economy after PricewaterhouseCoopers claimed it would bring in EUR 16bn and produce 50,000 man years of employment.
The CPB said PWC’s forecasts were ‘perhaps considerably overstated’. The advisory firm based its calculations on there being no increase in productivity between now and 2052 and included work done by Dutch multinational companies in foreign countries, the CPB said.
But the organisation representing Dutch firms involved in developing the JSF told news agency ANP that the project had already led to Dutch firms winning orders worth up to EUR 800m.
Meanwhile, the US government’s audit office says it is too risky for the Netherlands to decide next year whether or not to order the JSF to replace the air force’s aging F16s, ANP reports.
Instead, the decision should be postponed to 2011 or 2012, the audit office told Dutch MPs in Washington on a fact-finding mission. (ends)
-ends-
Stonewall“Yaroslav Mudry” has started sea trials on Tuesday morning according to Lenta.ru
The escort ship Yaroslav Mudry [Wise] leaving on her trial run
Morning of February 24. The escort ship Yaroslav Mudry [Wise] leaving the Yantar shipyard in the Kaliningrad Region, Russia’s Baltic exclave, on her trial run.
Stonewallfrom:
DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2009 – 040
US replaces commander of Navy ship in
Hawaii grounding
The commanding officer of a one-billion-dollar Navy warship which ran aground off the coast of Hawaii was relieved
of his command Monday, the military said.
Captain John Carroll was replaced as commander of the USS Port Royal pending an investigation into how the ship
ran aground about a half-mile (0.8 kilometers) south of Honolulu Airport last Thursday, authorities said.
The state-of-the-art 9,600-ton guided missile cruiser was freed from shoal waters south of Oahu early Monday after it
spent three days stuck on a rocky and sandy seabed in 22 feet (6.7 meters) of water.
The cruiser was hauled to Pearl Harbor where it will enter dry dock repairs. Navy officials did not have a cost estimate
for the salvage operation. Officials said the ship was structurally sound, but a sonar dome at the front of the ship
leaked water and the propeller blade tips were sheared off. The USS Port Royal, which is equipped with AEGIS
missile technology, was commissioned in 1994.
StonewallThales to Modernize Netherlands’ M-Frigates Radar Suite
(Source: Thales; issued February 6, 2009)
The Netherlands’ Defence Materiel Organization and Thales Nederland signed a contract for the delivery of SEASTAR and GATEKEEPER sensors that are to be installed on the two M-class frigates.
The modernization will take place in 2011 and 2012 in the scope of the M-frigates’ upkeep program. Simultaneously, a contract was signed for the delivery of a GATEKEEPER system that will be installed on the LPD Johan de Witt.
The M-Class frigates were introduced in the nineties and were intended for air defence and submarine warfare in the Atlantic. However, these ships are deployed mainly in littoral waters to counter frontier-running, pollution, drugs trafficking and piracy. The SEASTAR and GATEKEEPER sensors provide the vessels with the capability to detect the small targets encountered in such situations. The two new sensors will be matched with the tried-and-true SMART-S surveillance radar and the STIR weapon control radar that are on board of the M-frigates.
This contract includes an option for the same modernization of the two M-Frigates that have been purchased by the Belgian Navy in 2005. The Joint Support Ship that will be built for the RNLN is expected to be equipped with an Integrated Mast, similar to the Mast on the OPVs that also includes SEASTAR and GATEKEEPER.
This contract marks another step in the long-standing and very successful cooperation between the Royal Netherlands Navy and Thales Nederland and proves that Thales’s systems can be integrated in existing platform configurations.
BACKGROUND NOTES:
— SEASTAR is a non-rotating active phased array radar for naval surface surveillance. The system automatically detects and tracks asymmetric threats and very small objects such as swimmers, periscopes in all weather conditions. SEASTAR can also be used for helicopter guidance. SEASTAR has been contracted for two ship classes at present.
— GATEKEEPER is a 360° panoramic electro-optical surveillance and alerter system based on IR/TV technology. Designed to counter emerging asymmetric threats down to small boats and swimmers, GATEKEEPER increases short-range situational awareness in littoral environments. GATEKEEPER has been contracted for two ship classes at present.
— Thales is a leading international electronics and systems group, addressing defence, aerospace and security markets worldwide. Thales’s leading-edge technology is supported by 22,000 R&D engineers who offer a capability unmatched in Europe to develop and deploy field-proven mission-critical information systems. Thales employs 68,000 people in 50 countries with 2007 revenues of EUR 12.3 billion.
Thales Nederland, established in 1922, is one of the leading companies in integrated naval systems for surveillance, weapon control, combat management and system integration world-wide.
-ends-
StonewallI read on another forum it was a sunken container
Stonewall
Spain has deployed the frigate Victoria (F-82) and a fleet oiler to Djibouti, as its naval contribution to the EU’s anti-piracy initiative, Operation Atalanta. (Spanish MoD photo)
Stonewallfound this in other thread that also relates to the issue
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showpost.php?p=1359685&postcount=113
StonewallDCNS Delivers Royal Malaysian Navy’s Very First Submarine
(Source: DCNS; dated Jan. 27, issued Jan. 28, 2009)
TOULON, France — Today, DCNS delivered the Royal Malaysian Navy’s first-ever submarine. This on-time delivery follows Malaysia’s decision to set up a submarine force comprising two Scorpene-type conventional-propulsion boats.
The Royal Malaysian Navy took formal delivery of Scorpene submarine KD Tunku Abdul Rahman at today’s official handover in Toulon. The guests of honour included RMN Chief of Staff Admiral Dato’Sri Aziz Hj Jaafar.
KD Tunku Abdul Rahman is the first of two Scorpene submarines ordered by Malaysia in June 2002 and developed jointly by DCNS and Spanish naval shipbuilder Navantia. In addition to the submarines proper, the contract calls for associated logistics and training. The submariners have been training in the Naval Training Center of DCI/NAVFCO since 2005, among a total of 146 Malaysians.
This major milestone for the RMN follows the completion, in late December 2008, of KD Tunku Abdul Rahman’s final sea trials demonstrating remarkable operational and combat system capabilities. These trials included successful firings of Black Shark heavyweight torpedoes and missiles.
KD Tunku Abdul Rahman is scheduled to arrive in Malaysia early in the second half of 2009. The second of the series, KD Tun Razak, is scheduled for delivery in late 2009. Manned by Malaysian crews of just 31, the boats offer an endurance of 45 days for a displacement of 1,550 tonnes and a length overall of 67.5 metres.
Scorpene represents the state of the art in submarine design and construction and benefits from the latest technologies developed for nuclear-powered classes operated by the French Navy, particularly as regards acoustic discretion and combat system performance. Excellent endurance makes the Scorpene one of the few medium-displacement designs suitable for extended ocean patrol duties. The modular design can also be readily tailored to each customer’s specific mission profiles and other requirements.
This programme confirms DCNS’s know-how as a leading prime contractor for sophisticated warship programmes. With ten units ordered to date (two for Chile, two for Malaysia and six for India), Scorpene is truly an international benchmark in SSK design.
The DCNS Group is one of Europe’s leading players on the world market for naval defence systems. To meet customer demands for more comprehensive and integrated systems, DCNS acts as prime contractor for naval shipbuilding, integration and support by combining its own development, marketing and production capabilities with those of selected partners. To manage the complexity of such projects, the Group draws on in-house expertise in naval architecture and systems engineering, ship assembly and integration and equipment design and production, as well as through-life support. The DCNS Group employs 13,000 people and generates annual revenues of around €2.8 billion.
DCI/NAVFCO has, since its creation, trained over 13 000 officers, naval engineers, submarine officer and specialists. Its services, which are accredited by the French Navy, are adapted to the special naval and aero-naval requirements of its client countries.
-ends-
Sign In
