The boats may be made of high grade aluminium, however thats pretty standard for high speed vessels now (the Incats for example).

It also plays to one of the core idea’s with the Armidales. They are not being built for a 20-25 year life. 10-15 is more likely, and the RAN is planning to replace them with another local design, short-life vessel.

The thinking is that major mid-life overhauls and such are wasted money on vessels such as these, when for about three – four times the cost of a major service life extension overhaul you can replace the boat.

This means the fleet age is kept down, fewer issues with fatigue life and regular work for shipyards in Australia that also have commercial work to keep them going between Navy contracts.

Probably a wise decision as patrol boats like the Armidales are not high-cost, high-technology programs, especially not by comparison to major warships or mine warfare vessels.

Unicorn

A few points.

1. It’s a safety stand down. There was an issue with water entering the fuel system, which affected the fuel pump system. This had the effect of causing seals to deteriorate, one pump’s seals did so and sprayed fuel into the engine compartment. The incident was handled according to new protocols brought into play after the Westralia incident and no damage or injuries occured. Rather than risk another such incident the RAN brought the Armidales in while the fix was applied.

2. The issue is not ‘Another Australian Defence project gone wrong!’, its a minor issue involving a pump as supplied by the engine manufacturer. It is covered under the warranty and will be replaced with a new, modified unit at the manufacturers cost.

3. The Armidale class are not too small for Australia’s needs. They are designed to operate in Australia’s 200km EEZ, for which they are well suited. They replaced the Fremantle class, which did the job for more than 20 years, and they in turn had replaced the even smaller Attack boats.

They are not designed to operate down near Heard Island in the Great Southern Ocean, they would not even be considered for that role, that’s not what their intended role is. The Australia Government is looking at an OPV-style vessel to operate down in the GSE, and Tenix has proposed a version of the Project Protector 85m OPV, but no decision has yet been made. If they are ordered, they may be operated by the Navy, Australian Customs, Australian Fisheries or the mythical Australian Coast Guard that former opposition leader Kim Beazley had the hots for.

Jesus guys, talk about an over-reaction.

Unicorn

[QUOTE=tiddles;1076566]

Looks like the loosing design for Japans DDH project, interesting. Wonder if Fincanteri obtained the details of this design (of course we know that Japan isn’t allowed to sell weapons or plans to them 😉 )
The ship is a strange looking beast & reminds me in some ways in principal of the Air Capable Spruance design.I know it is only a model but looking at it & the model helos on it, it seems too short to be 190m [623ft.] long & 20,000 tons.I suppose it does not matter now. I thought it might be the Finc.12000T concept I read about some time ago but have never seen a diagram or model of. The idea was never taken up & Italy went ahead with the NUM [Cavour]. At one point some time ago I read that it was suggested that Italy go forward with an improved Garibaldi and support the marines with several Finc. 12000T LPDs.I dont know if this is really true ir not though.

No, nothing like the air capable spruance.

That had a full length flight deck, as shown on this model.

Unicorn

Boeing offers joint prod of F-18 fighters in India

Boeing offers joint prod of F-18 fighters in India

IANS[ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 02, 2007 10:40:37 AM]

NEW DELHI: The race for an Indian Air Force (IAF) order for 126 combat jets just got hotter, with US aerospace major Boeing offering to jointly produce the frontline F-18 Super Hornet in India if it wins the contract.

“In the F-18, we have arguably the most advanced fighter in the world. If we win the contract, we offer the opportunity of entering into a joint production arrangement with an Indian defence contractor,” Said Chris Chadwik, Boeing Vice President and General Manager, Global Strike Systems.

“Clearly, there is very strong competition but we believe we are positioned very strongly,” he added.

Should the deal come through, India will be the first country outside the US where the F-18 is produced. It will also be the first time Indian companies will be able to participate in the production of a US fighter. India’s premier Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) currently produces the Sukhoi Su-30 and MiG-series of Russian jets, as also the British Jaguar.

According to Brian Nelson, who heads the international communications wing of Boeing Integrated Defence Systems (IDS) that manufactures the F-18, an IAF order would mean the first eight aircraft would be shipped off-the-shelf and the remaining jointly produced in India.

Toward this end, Boeing would be aggressively positioning the F-18 at the upcoming Aero India 2007 international air show at Bangalore Feb 7-11, with one aircraft performing aerial manoeuvres and another on static display.

This apart, the C-17 Globemaster strategic lift transport and the Chinook CH-47 helicopter troop carrier, as also a large scale model of the P8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft that has been offered to the Indian Navy, will also be on display.

Boeing plans to take aloft select dignitaries on the F-18, the C-17 and the CH-47 during the air show to enable them to experience first hand the capabilities of the aircraft and their cutting edge technologies, Nelson said.

A host of senior Boeing executives from the company’s defence and civilian wings would also be attending the show.

“We view this (Aero India) as the start of a journey to establish a real and lasting relationship with (the) Indian (defence) industry to fulfil their requirements,” Chadwik pointed out.

“We see more and more involvement in the defence sphere as India will get to see Boeing as a friend to create business opportunities. We see opportunities for long-term business relationships.

“A decade down, when we look back, we will be able to see the good opportunities that have been created,” Chadwik added.

The IAF had in 2001 projected a requirement of 126 multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA) to replace its ageing fleet of MiG-21 and MiG-23 Soviet era fighters. The new planes are expected to arrive by 2010, with the deal expected to cost in the region of $6-11 billion (Rs.265-485 billion).

In 2004, a request for information (RFI) was sent out for four jets – the US F-16, the Russian MiG-29, the French Mirage 2000-5 and the Swedish JAS-39 Gripen.

In addition, the manufacturers of the F-18, the French Rafaele and the four-nation European Typhoon also sent in their offers. And last month, Russia made known its intention to bid for the IAF order with its MiG-23, essentially a Mig-29 with a slightly different profile but with a more powerful engine.

A request for proposal (RFP) was to have been sent to the short-listed manufacturers in 2005 but this is nowhere in sight, even as the IAF’s fighter squadrons have dwindled to 30, against a sanctioned force level of 39 1/2 squadrons. This has led to reports that the IAF’s requirements have risen to the region of 200 aircraft.

The MRCA issue has acquired added importance in view of the US decision to sell 36 new F-16s to Pakistan. The Pakistan Air Force had received its first F-16 in 1982 and another 39 by 1987, after which the US Congress blocked further sales. Thirty-two of the original 40 aircraft are currently flying.

The IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi, has gone on record saying the delay in sending out the RFP is due to the government’s newly formulated defence procurement policy.

Apart from laying down that equipment purchases must incorporate a life-cycle cost element, the policy also contains an “offsets” clause under which 30 percent of all deals worth over Rs.3 billion has to be reinvested in India by way of purchases or by creating infrastructure.

Offsets, according to Nelson, were not an issue.

“We are very comfortable with offsets. We have executed $27 billion dollars of offsets in 35 countries and our partners have been more than happy with the results,” he maintained.

“Boeing is not just looking at obligations it has to fulfill but at opportunities to develop long-term partnerships with long-term benefits for Boeing and Indian companies,” Nelson contended.

and today

Border patrol ship Triton to set sail

A 98-metre trimaran, dubbed ‘prison ship’ by its critics, has taken to Australian waters for the first time in Darwin, ahead of its inaugural border patrol.

The Triton is the federal government’s latest weapon in the fight against illegal fisherman and other unlawful activities within Australian waters, including intercepting illegal immigrants before they get ashore.

Capable of detaining 30 people for up to a month and armed with twin machine guns, the Triton is one of the world’s largest trimarans.

It is being deployed in Australia’s northern waters during a 12-month trial costing $17 million.

In Darwin for the ship’s official commissioning, federal Customs Minister Chris Ellison said it was a significant day for Australia’s northern border protection.

“We see the Triton in the water and ready for action,” he told reporters.

“I think it will put the runs on the board and definitely send a very clear message that we are deadly serious about cracking down on illegal fishermen.”

When the government called for tenders to build the vessel last July, critics labelled the boat a high seas detention centre and likened it to a prison hulk.

The Triton will be manned by a civilian maritime crew of 14 along with up to 28 armed customs officers capable of boarding suspected illegal fishing boats.

The vessel was built in Britain in 2000 and can reach a top speed of 20 knots (37km/h).

Senator Ellison said the boat would act as a mothership for other naval vessels.

It would also serve as a quarantine block, monitor security risks and stop illegal entrants, as well as attempts to bring in illicit imports such as drugs.

“That is why it is important to have in place measures such as the Triton,” Senator Ellison said.

In 2005-2006, 367 foreign fishing boats were apprehended in Australian waters, up from 203 in 2004-2005, he said.

Unicorn

Greetings,

For those of us who are naturally inclined against governments who say one thing and do another, this much must be said in a Canadian context.
We have a defence minister who actually wore a ‘Canada’ shoulder badge and a government that was elected on a platform that included increased defence spending in a very public plank.
That said, the present cuts reflect national reality: a country in which defence spending has been viewed dimly; a population (and tax base) that’s 1/10th of our neighbour’s and a war in Afghanistan.

Regards,

Danmac

Australia has even worse issues (smaller population, greater distances from markets, troops on the ground in both Afghanistan and Iraq, peace-keeping ops in Timor, the Soloman’s and potentially PNG & Fiji) but seems to have decided on the way forward.

JSF, LPD’s, P-8, C-17, AWD, two new infantry battalions, M1 Abrams, new artillery, new patrol boats, a new tanker recently commissioned, Global Hawk, upgrades for the Anzac frigates…

I don’t think it’s the tax base, I think its the national and political will that’s lacking in Canada. Not an attack, just an observation.

Unicorn

It is a 25mm gyro-stabilised chain gun, more than sufficient to intimidate most illegal fishermen and Toothfish poachers.

If they don’t stop after warning shots, you put shots into their rudder.

I know the guy who makes those models, he does excellent work (as you can tell). He is building a R/C model of the OPV for his own enjoyment. It will look somewhat different from mine in details but will share hulls and overall look.

I am looking forward to both of them being out on the water together.

When that happens I will post a shot.

Unicorn