Naval and Defense News

[mikmykWS]

We've got it on our list.

Was reported some time ago here

http://china-defense.blogspot.gr/2014/1 ... 155mm.html

Note *Color picture that not murky or drawn on.

[Dysta]

Yeah, just saying PLA is confirmed to fielding it.

ORIGINAL: Gunner98

The article states:

The AH-4 is purportedly very similar to the U.S.-made BAE Systems M777 155 mm/39 caliber ultra lightweight towed howitzers

Based on the photo, it looks like a strait up rip off of the M777

http://media.defenceindustrydaily.com/i ... -47_lg.jpg

With removable wheels and half a ton heavier (total 4 tons, hence the name). Also it is rumored be compatible to use NATO standard 155mm artillery rounds too. And it was tested to be lifted with Mi-17

[xavierv]

Video: USS Coronado (LCS 4) Launches Harpoon Anti-ship Missile for the 1st Time

USS Coronado (LCS 4), an Independence-class littoral combat ship, launched a Harpoon Block 1C anti-ship missile during RIMPAC 2016, the world's largest international maritime exercise current taking place off Hawai.

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=4223

[xavierv]

French Navy Aircraft Carrier Charles de Gaulle to be Deployed Against ISIS in October

The French Navy (Marine Nationale) aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R 91) will be deployed again to conduct strikes against the Islamic State (ISIS also called Daech) in October. French President Francois Hollande gave a "Fall" time frame, the Defense minister Jean-Yves Le Drian later said the deployment would take place in October. This will be the third time in two years that the flagship of the French Navy is deployed to the Persian Gulf as part of operation "Chammal".

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=4227

Lockheed Martin Demonstrates LRASM’s Surface Launch Capabilities

Lockheed Martin recently conducted a successful controlled flight test of the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) surface-launch variant from the Self Defense Test Ship at Pt. Mugu Sea Range, California.

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=4228

[xavierv]

US Navy entrusting their MN allies with a lot of responsibilities lately. BZ!

French Navy Horizon-class DDG leads combined anti-terrorism mission with 2 US Navy Destroyers

In another example of the high interoperability between the French Navy (Marine Nationale) and the US Navy, the Horizon-class AAW Destroyer Forbin (classified as "Frigate" in the French Navy) is currently at the head of a combined mission with US Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) and USS Mason (DDG 87) with the occasional presence of Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG-61) as well.

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=4233

PLAN Conducted Major Naval Drills Involving close to 100 Vessels & Units in South China Sea

Our colleagues from Eastpendulum are reporting that the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or Chinese Navy) conducted large scale naval drills in the South China Sea. The naval exercise involved close to 100 vessels, submarine, aircraft from the PLAN air force and coastal defense (land based) units during 4 days (between July 7 and 11, 2016).

Based on the pictures and videos of the exercise released by the PLAN, several vessels and systems can be identified:
» Destroyers: Type 052C Lanzhou (hull number 170), Type 052D Hefei (174), Type 052B Guangzhou (168) Type 051C Shenyang (115) and Sovremenyy-class destroyers Ningbo (139).
» Type 054A Frigates Hengyang (568), Huangshan (570), Yuncheng (571), Sanya (574) and Yueyang (575)
» Type 056 Corvettes Luzhou (592), Chaozhou (595) and Huizhou (596) and Type 056A Corvette Suqian (504)
» Type 039 and Kilo-class diesel-electric submarines (SSK)
» J-10AH, J-11BH, JH-7A and Su-30MKK fighters as well as H-6G bombers
» HQ-9 medium-to-long range air defense missile system
» YJ-62 coastal defence units
» The new YJ-12 supersonic anti-ship cruise missile launched from an H-6G
[...]
According to an official PLAN statement, the objective of this large scale exercise was to evaluate the integrated capability of the various units of the Chinese navy in case of a local conflict. The presence of the Commander of the Chinese navy, Admiral Wu Shengli, and officials of the General Staff throughout the maneuvers demonstrates the importance of this naval exercise.

With video at link: http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=4222

[AlGrant]

Chinese AG600 - worlds largest amphibious aircraft.
http://defence-blog.com/news/china-is-rolling-out-ag600-amphibious-aircraft-makes-its-official-debut-in-zhuhai.html

...So let's just imagine you need to get some troops ... err sorry visitors .... to a remote little island in a bit of a hurry!

[Dysta]

ORIGINAL: AlGrant

Chinese AG600 - worlds largest amphibious aircraft.
http://defence-blog.com/news/china-is-rolling-out-ag600-amphibious-aircraft-makes-its-official-debut-in-zhuhai.html

...So let's just imagine you need to get some troops ... err sorry visitors .... to a remote little island in a bit of a hurry!

12 tons of 'visitors' you mean. (Water, fire retardant, modular cabin, cargo pallet, RFIB, and ultimately, maritime sensors).

And besides, the news I saw they got at least 14 orders for this aircraft, and unlikely will be used for military purpose before it reached its maturity for the basic operations for waterplane. Besides, do not forget that China can co-opt some airliners for 'even faster transportation for visitors'.

[Broncepulido]

AG600 is of the High New Y-8/Y-9 series of transports and specialized aircrafts, the recently presented AG600 is a close derivative of Y-9, with the same wingspan (40 m.) and same engines (4xWJ-6, six-bladed propellers and not four as stated in the old Wikipedia entry, is a derivative of the old Soviet AI-20). 60 planes to be delivered the next 15 years. Cruise speed estimated in 500 Km/h and range in 4500 Km in some videos:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaanxi_Y-9
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AVIC_TA-600

Roll-out video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJEjr8LwTH0

General characteristics video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDjgKUpFCp8

Old speculative profile of AG600:
http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft ... ft_id=1252

[Dysta]

It is hardly resemble to Y-8/Y-9 from the looks of it. Those engines might be the same, but the entire fuselage is different (definitely not as easy as design the lower half with An-12'a top), and using Y-20's raised wingbox configuration for taller cargo height. See these pictures below:

Also the rear landing gears for AG600 are externally installed, and so far there's no STOL capability like Y-9 yet.

[Hongjian]

http://www.weibo.com/p/23044462d953be9d ... 9324347fcb
Alternative link for the video, when the 1st one didnt work:
http://tv.sohu.com/20160724/n460781247.shtml

For the first time, the Chinese state media is showing footages of a mid-course ABM test. The footages are from 2010 and 2013. At 00:20 they show a blurry shape of a missile that is identical to the images of the speculated HQ-19 ABM we have seen before.

screengrabs here:
http://tuku.military.china.com/military ... 765102.htm

The HQ-19 would be China's equivalent to the THAAD, although evidently capable of performing mid-course interception - and rumored to be useable as ASAT for LEO satellites.

[Dysta]

A deliberate reaction against US's THHAD will be deployed at SK. ABM arm race might be a good thing for the humanity, I think?

[xavierv]

An update for the DB in the near future...


Newly Built PLAN Type 052D Destroyers Getting Fitted with Larger H/PJ-11 CIWS

Based on pictures that have been just released by Chinese spotters, it appears that the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or Chinese Navy) next in-line Type 052D Destroyers (NATO reporting name Luyang III class) will be fitted with the H/PJ-11 close-in weapon system (CIWS) instead of the smaller H/PJ-12 currently fitted on existing vessels of the class.

read more: http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=4239

[Hongjian]

Ah, the long awaited 052D Flight II!

[StellarRat]

Does it work yet? Nope!

http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/25/politics/ ... index.html

[Hongjian]

New 052D with Type 1130 CIWS Launched!

9th Type 052D Luyang-II DDG built by Shanghai Jiangnan Shipyard, and the 13th 052D overall. Previously, it was assumed that only 12 052Ds were ordered. Now, the new rumor is that this run will see at least 18 ships in total.



Maybe we should name it "Type 052D+ (2016)"

[Hongjian]

http://www.janes.com/article/62599/chin ... hq-19-test

EDIT: New link with a longer article available:

http://www.janes.com/article/62658/chin ... hq-19-test

Chinese media show footage of possible HQ-19 test

Richard D Fisher Jr, Washington, DC - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
27 July 2016

In a television report about China's development of anti-ballistic missile (ABM) capabilities, Chinese state media revealed for the first time details of a test the People's Liberation Army (PLA) conducted of what appears to be an HQ-19 anti-missile system.

The release of the video footage by China Central Television on 24 July comes just a few days after Beijing failed to convince Seoul and Washington not to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) air defence system in South Korea. While the exact date and location of the test is unknown, Chinese newspaper People's Daily Online reported the following day that the PLA had tested the HQ-19 system in 2010.

Chinese media show footage of possible HQ-19 test

In a television report about China's development of anti-ballistic missile (ABM) capabilities, Chinese state media revealed for the first time details of a test the People's Liberation Army (PLA) conducted of what appears to be an HQ-19 anti-missile system.

The release of the video footage by China Central Television on 24 July comes just a few days after Beijing failed to convince Seoul and Washington not to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea. While the exact date and location of the test is unknown, Chinese media outlet People's Daily Online reported the following day that the PLA had tested the HQ-19 system in 2010.

The report contained a vague profile of what may be the HQ-19. It shows over-exposed footage of an ABM system similar to that described on Chinese online forums as the HQ-19. The first such image emerged in January 2014, and a subsequent graphic featured in a 2015 academic article by PLA analyst Henri Kenhmann.

If credible, this graphic indicates that the HQ-19 is a two- or possibly three-stage ABM. Chinese sources also suggest that development of the HQ-19 began in the early 1990s under the aegis of the 863 Programme and that it may have been tested for the first time in 2003.

The HQ-19 is reported to have a performance comparable with that of the US Army's THAAD system, but there had been no open-source reports indicating that it had been deployed.

The TV footage was part of a report on Chinese missile defence pioneer Brigadier General Chen Deming. The report focused on Chen's role in ABM development in the former General Armaments Department, which is now part of the Strategic Support Force. It mentioned his ABM work early in the past decade, his participation in the 11 January 2007 anti-satellite test, the 11 January 2010 mid-course ABM test, as well as a subsequent 27 January 2013 ABM test.

The HQ-19 is a mysterious system. Most sources say that the HQ-19 is China's KKV-equipped THAAD equivalent, this test here shows a mid-course interception test: Maybe not something a THAAD-like missile is known for being capable of. So, the Chinese BBS actually think that the HQ-19 might be China's GBI equivalent (which would be pretty large one indeed), or at least some SM-3 class mid-course ABM system that is capable against every missile except ICBMs.

Here are some older and recently leaked pictures that are said to show the HQ-19:

[jun5896]

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/20 ... 00315.html
http://themess.net/forum/military-discu ... s-on-order
http://themess.net/forum/military-discu ... rder/page2

PKX-B(PKG-B) is a smaller variant of the Gumdoksuri missile patrol boat with up to 16 hulls to be built by 2020. The 200-ton class PKG-B boats are intended as the replacement for the Chamsuri class patrol vessels.

Displacement: 200 tons (load displacement: 250 tons)
Length: 44m
Beam: 7m
Speed: 40 knots
Propulsion: CODAG, 2 x General Electric LM500 gas turbine, 2 x MTU 12V 595 TE90; Water jet propulsion
Armament: Hyundai Wia 76mm gun(OTO Melara 76mm), 2 x 12.7mm RWS integration, LIG Nex1 130mm anti-ship LOGIR
Sensors : LIG Nex1 SPS-540K surveillance radar or Hanwha Thales SPG-540K tracking radar, Hanwha Thales EOTS, Kongsberg SS2030 sonars




LIG Nex1 130mm anti-ship LOGIR


This ship name is Chamsuri (PKMR 211) it launched today.

[ColonelMolerat]

Spotted this on Reddit - looks like the Daily Star misunerstood one the Ministry of Defence's latest' contracts...

(Corrected article here... It's not very good, but how could I miss the opportunity to share?

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest- ... ve-weapons

£183m for three guns - the "Maritime Indirect Fire System (MIFS) will sit on the Type 26 Global Combat ships".

[jtoatoktoe]

The United States Air Force has issued 2 Request for Proposals for new nuclear weapons systems.
First one for a new ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile)
https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=e7b03a665fdef89b84d74e88191cbbf6&tab=core&_cview=1

The second for ALCM (Air Launch Cruise Missile) and that programs RFP is classified.
http://www.defenseone.com/threats/2016/07/despite-objections-pentagon-takes-step-toward-buying-new-nuclear-weapons/130355/

[Dysta]

Looks like the hypersonic warfare will make another Cold War mindset struck into the globe again.

Meanwhile, the midnight anomaly at US sky appears again few days ago, some said its an omen of peace or ET activity, but many Chinese warmongers in military forums believed its's a delicate experiment to test the orbiting and re-entry weapon system with debris of CZ-7 boosting stage, Something like Orbital Missile experiments that prohibited to be used in space (Chinese did attempt to develop it called DF-6 orbital missile, but discarded due to the technological difficulty at 80s, rather than the treaty restricted them).

Those are indeed CZ-7 2nd stage debris, but it reach to US after a month so accurately does not sounds like a normal re-entry event:

https://youtu.be/fFpL36n68eY (Warning: profanity)