Naval and Defense News

[Broncepulido]

More concrete data in the Voronezh radar and similar types, good for modelling installations (I did read this a few weeks ago, but only remembered now): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voronezh_radar

[Hongjian]

http://www.janes.com/article/60388/chin ... advantages?

China proposes 'Underwater Great Wall' that could erode US, Russian submarine advantages

The China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) has proposed the construction of a network of ship and subsurface sensors that could significantly erode the undersea warfare advantage held by US and Russian submarines and contribute greatly to future Chinese ability to control the South China Sea (SCS).

Details of the network of sensors, called the 'Underwater Great Wall Project', were revealed in a CSSC booth at a public exhibition in China in late 2015. A translated copy of the descriptions was obtained by IHS Jane's from a government official. The text was confirmed by a source from a second government on condition of anonymity.

While some elements of this network have been known for some time, CSSC is now in effect proposing an improved Chinese version of the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) that for a time gave the US a significant advantage in countering Soviet submarines during the Cold War. The system proposed by CSSC is likely being obtained by China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) but may also be offered for export.

CSSC says that, among other things, its objective is to provide customers with "a package solution in terms of underwater environment monitoring and collection, real-time location, tracing of surface and underwater targets, warning of seaquakes, tsunamis, and other disasters as well as marine scientific research".

The corporation says in the document that its "R&D and production bases in Beijing and Wuxi [have] the ability to support the whole industry chain covering fundamental research, key technology development, solution design, overall system integration, core equipment development, production, and operation service support".

The shipbuilding conglomerate says it has 10 series of products on offer that include systems relating to marine observation, oceanographic instrumentation, underwater robotics, and ship support.

Specific components of CSSC's surveillance system include surface ships, sonar systems, underwater security equipment, marine oil and gas exploration equipment, underwater unmanned equipment, and marine instrument electronic equipment.

More or less expected that the Sino-SOSUS that has been under construction since the late 2000s now will evolve into an actual undersea battle network.
Shore based ASW missile launchers have been presented as well during the last Zhuhai Airshows, and the artificial islands would be perfect for command and control of the Underwater Great Wall.

[Dysta]

ORIGINAL: Hongjian

http://www.janes.com/article/60388/chin ... advantages?

Kinda creepy how they adopted the Hollywood style console interface, with some seriously detailed monitoring informations (in English as well, that means they are looking for foreign customers too).

If China is really mature with datalinks and system integrations, then the only limit with be users themselves -- If we ever have a chance to see how they work their whole system rather than vague advertisements.

[Primarchx]

ORIGINAL: Hongjian

http://www.janes.com/article/60388/chin ... advantages?

I've seen this coming for a while. The SCS is not a great place for SSN ops to begin with.

[thewood1]

ORIGINAL: Dysta

ORIGINAL: Hongjian

http://www.janes.com/article/60388/chin ... advantages?

Kinda creepy how they adopted the Hollywood style console interface, with some seriously detailed monitoring informations (in English as well, that means they are looking for foreign customers too).

If China is really mature with datalinks and system integrations, then the only limit with be users themselves -- If we ever have a chance to see how they work their whole system rather than vague advertisements.

And I hope the Chinese spelling is better than the English spelling..."suspecious"

That screenshot looks more like one you would see in the movie Spaceballs on one of the fake displays. It looks like someone who works in a corporate IT environment would think a military display would work. A little disappointed that Jane's wouldn't call BS on something like this.

[mikmykWS]

Yeah my take is its a little over the top.

Look at a map and where Chinese bases, territory and friendly ports are and you can see the problems with replicating the NATO SOSUS system. AKA. Their problem isn't technical but geographical one with the exception of the Bay of Bohai and few points around Hainan. You need to be able to wire up chokepoints and access points but the Chinese don't really have many places they can do that.

My guess is they're developing very good UUV, local array systems etc. which would make more sense for them.

Mike

[Hongjian]

Well, I wouldnt fixate too much on the graphical advertizing. Chinese military products are usually advertized in very very cringeworthy way, which reflects the general lack of Chinese media savvy in all things, as well as the secretive nature of their MIC. Remember the top-gun footages in the PLAAF recruitment ads, meant to show PLAAF life-fire excercises against 'plane-like' target drones? That's so typical of China for you. But all this does not mean that the PLAAF doesnt do life-fire excercises against drones and drone-fied planes at all. It just means that the PLAAF propaganda bureau are pretty incompetent and not media savvy enough.


There are indications that a sino-SOSUS is already established in parts since the late 2000s, and in previous weapon shows, there are some key components presented individually. Each of them would fit into this "underwater great wall" plan.

Some key components would be the fiber-optic hydrophones presented in 2014, the WS-3 based shore-launched ASROC MLRS, the UUVs and surface drones etc, among things.

[Dysta]

As mik mentioned, logistic issue for SOSUS can still render it expensive and difficult to deploy. Even they can bypass all the geopolitical issues to deploy it, the maintenance and counter-sabotage operations only cause more trouble than it's worth.

Mobile UW monitoring is developing as they understand the static sensors can be avoided or sabotaged, and SOSUS should be just a supplemental measure to control the sea.

[orca]

AeroVironment to Supply Blackwing Mini UAVs for Navy Attack, Guided Missile Submarines

https://news.usni.org/2016/05/16/aerovi ... submarines

[Broncepulido]

No technical mystery in sub-launched UAV-submarine communications. For some time thinking on this issue, but it's not a new advanced communications system breakthrough.
At last is only a simple radio link with a submarine surface-piercing mast antenna, increasing the submarine exposure and vulnerability (very probably employed submerged in the VLF/LF receiving-only function):

https://news.usni.org/2016/05/16/aerovi ... submarines

OE-538/BRC:
http://www.sippican.com/stuff/contentmg ... oe_538.pdf

More generic concepts here: http://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/docs/voices.htm

[Hongjian]

After the two type 053H2G Jiangwei-Is were converted to coast-guard cutters, it seems that the PLAN is now ready to upgrade their ten Type 053H3 Jiangwei-II FFGs.

What can be discerned is that the HHQ-7 Crotale SAM has been replaced by what appears to be an 18-cell HHQ-10 Point Defense Missile System (Sino-RAM) and at least two of the four Type 76A 37mm AAAs on the bow-deck removed as well. It is said that all four of these obsolete AAAs are to be removed and replaced by two Type 730 CIWS ontop the hangar - just like it was done with the Type 052 Luhu and Type 051B Luhai MLUs. AShM wise, the YJ-82s/C-802 are likely replaced by the common standard YJ-83/C-803, as all other YJ-8-series armed ships in the PLAN since the early 2000s.




Pre-upgrade Type 053H3 Jiangwei-II, still sporting the HHQ-7 Short Range SAM and the four Type 76A 37mm AAAs.



All in all, if all 10 of the Jiangwei-II FFGs in service receive this upgrade, they would have the basic anti-seaskimmer defensive capabilities to serve as 2nd line ASW and patrol frigates, together with the more modern but lighter and worse armed Type 056 Jiangdao-class corvettes. Especially since the Jiangwei-IIs all have hangars, they would add the much needed ASW helo support to the Type 056 flotillas. And their eight YJ-83s would still make them useful ASuW assets.

[Dysta]

If they develop the refitted frigates that way, I think this could be the 'shield' of both PLAN and civilian vessels at war-time. Some sort of fleet that willing to take some damage upfront than just merely controlling the sea.

[Hongjian]

@Dysta
I believe that the Jiangwei-IIs are still valued assets, mainly due to their hangar and the fact that the youngest of them is merely from 2004/5. So, I dont think that the PLAN would want to waste them as meat-shields in any way. There are still some really old and crappy Jianghu FF and Luda DD around that can do that job, especially when remote controled.

Jiangwei-IIs deserve that upgrade, since their hulls will still serve at least 20 more years. And having a modern close-in air-defense is always a good thing. As said, I believe that they will mainly be used to conduct ASW - their HHQ-10 and Type 730s would be useful to defend against the odd Soryu/Oyashio that cant wait and launches their SSM-1Bs outside their torpedo range.

Anyway; it looks like the first module of the Type 055 Heavy DDG/Cruiser was spotted in Shanghai Jiangnan Shipyard!



It appears that it is the hangar module, as a member of Sinodefenceforums have discerned.



A large hangar such as this might really be able to house two Z-18FQs as rumoured before. Let's wait and see.

[Hongjian]

It seems today is PLAN-day again. Lots of news in the Chinese forums about the PLAN:

Now, the Type 901 AOE: The defensive armaments (or at least parts of them) are revealed:

http://s32.postimg.org/4g3l354qd/Type_9 ... eapons.jpg

Posting as link, as the picture is really big.

4x AK-630M (only 2 visible, but usually they are equipped on each corner one) and a HHQ-10 launcher, possibly 18-cell variant as equipped on the Liaoning carrier and the Jiangwei-IIs.

There is also a suspiciously raised platform infront of the deck superstructure, which looks like the same platform existing on the 071 LPDs, mounting the H/PJ-26 76mm naval gun. But this has yet to be confirmed.

Anyway, this 45,000 tonne AOE seems to have good self-defense capabilities now.

[Dysta]

Torpedo: Hello wings, can I fly with you?

http://www.defensenews.com/story/defens ... /84562780/

WASHINGTON — Boeing showed off its newest sub-killing torpedo this week at the annual Sea-Air-Space conference, a flying torpedo that will enable the Navy’s P-8 Poseidon to hunt enemy submarines from great heights.

[xavierv]

South Korea's DAPA Selects DSME for KSS-III Batch II Heavy Submarine Design & Construction

South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced today that Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) was selected as contractor for “KSS-III Batch-II Design and construction of the first hull”.

The North Korean SLBM launch last month led South Korea's Ministry of National Defense to disclose some details on the KSS-III Batch-II plan ahead of contract announcement.

On April 25, there was a Congressional Hearing session held immediately after North Korea's SLBM launch, which raised some important questions about the ROK Navy's submarine capabilities to counter this threat.

In response to questions whether ROK Navy was currently developing capabilities to counter SLBM threat, the ministry confirmed that KSS-III Batch-II will undergo redesign process before construction (lasting until December 30, 2018) to accommodate some important capability upgrades. These upgrades will give the Batch-II Submarines better capabilities at both attacking strategic land-based facilities and performing anti-submarine warfare.

Expected changes of Batch-II compared to Batch-I:
» Lengthened hull (bringing displacement approx. from 3000t to 4000t)
» Increase of VLS cells from 6 to 10
» Indigenous combat system and sensors
» LiB and, potentially, High-Temperature Superconductor (HTS) motor for integrated full electric propulsion system

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=4025

[xavierv]

Our Sea Air Space coverage:

Videos:
Day 1 - Distributed Lethality https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MuaaFhSoZc
Day 2 - Platforms https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k9xEDysK-c
Day 3 - New Technologies and International Presence https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34PNckSM_vs


Link to our news coverage: http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... -2016.html
Link to our pic gallery: http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=3962

Many interesting stuff such as:
SAS 2016: Bell unveils V-280 Valor naval variant
SAS 2016: SHARC Autonomous Craft Tested and Integrated with P-8A Poseidon MPA
SAS 2016: AAC Offering an Alternative for LCS Mine Hunting Mission with T-SAS
SAS 2016: AeroVironment's Blackwing UAS to be launched from US Navy submarines
SAS 2016: NASSCO Second Expeditionary Base Mobile ESB Ship to be Fully V-22 Compatible

etc...

[Dysta]

Any gunnery professionals can explain how does it EVEN works?!

Double-confirmed that M109, M777 and their munitions in CMANO doesn't marked air unit as valid, even missiles.

http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-bu ... -sea-16292
--------------

The U.S. Army’s Big Guns go to the South China Sea

Senior Army and Pentagon strategists and planners are considering ways to fire existing weapons platforms in new ways around the globe – including the possible placement of mobile artillery units in areas of the South China Sea to, if necessary, function as air-defense weapons to knock incoming rockets and cruise missiles out of the sky.

Alongside the South China Sea, more mobile artillery weapons used for air defense could also prove useful in areas such as the Middle East and Eastern Europe, officials said. Having mobile counter-air weapons such as the M109 Paladin, able to fire 155m precision rounds on-the-move, could prove to be an effective air-defense deterrent against Russian missiles, aircraft and rockets in Eastern Europe, a senior Army official told Scout Warrior.

...

Mobile air defenses such as an Army M777 or Paladin Howitzer weapon could use precision rounds and advancing fire-control technology to destroy threatening air assets such as enemy aircraft, drones or incoming artillery fire.

[xavierv]

^ Because for M777 or Paladin to intercept air targets and missiles you need special ammunition such as SGP or HVP which are not yet fielded, I guess.

[Dysta]

ORIGINAL: navyrecognition

^ Because for M777 or Paladin to intercept air targets and missiles you need special ammunition such as SGP or HVP which are not yet fielded, I guess.

Even they got smart munition for AA, how do they aim? Indeed, some SPAAG does have coaxial radar for measuring nuzzle velocity prior its launch for microadjustment, but definitely too weak to seek anything further as a precision guidance.