Naval and Defense News

[edsw]

the first two landing craft project 58181 of the "Centaur" laid for the Ukrainian Navy

http://bmpd.livejournal.com/2351107.html
You can add commands.[;)]

[xavierv]

French Navy finally green lighted the video report so here it is

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB-ru6bmybI

Video Report: At Sea Aboard French Navy Air Defense Destroyer Chevalier Paul
http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... -paul.html

[Primarchx]

ORIGINAL: navyrecognition

French Navy finally green lighted the video report so here it is

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB-ru6bmybI

Video Report: At Sea Aboard French Navy Air Defense Destroyer Chevalier Paul
http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... -paul.html

I really like these reports. I watched a YouTube with Chevalier Paul earlier in December which inspired me to write a Command scenario, so it's great to see such an in-depth piece.

[Dysta]

http://newatlas.com/britain-laser-weapon-funding/47244/

Britain approves funding to develop laser weapon

Following in the US military's footsteps, Britain's Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded a £30 million (US$37 million) contract to the UK Dragonfire consortium to build a Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) Capability Demonstrator. The prototype laser, which is scheduled for completion in 2019, will be used to assess the practicality and effectiveness of laser weapon technologies in the field.

Consisting of partners including MDBA, QinetiQ, Leonardo-Finmeccanica GKN, Arke, BAE Systems, and Marshall ADG, the UK Dragonfire consortium is tasked with building a laser weapon system and determining how it can operate in field conditions. A special emphasis will be on acquiring and tracking targets at various ranges in various weather conditions over land and water.

Though only a demonstrator, the LEDW will be used by the government to make decisions about future weapons programs and by the MoD's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) to work out how to build a practical laser weapon system for deployment.

In an interview with the BBC, the MoD said the demonstrator laser was not intended to counter any specific threat, but the department said previously that the system could one day be used to protect ships from missiles or ground troops from mortars.

"This is a significant demonstration program aimed at maturing our understanding of what is still an immature technology," says Dstl's Peter Cooper. "It draws on innovative research into high power lasers so as to understand the potential of the technology to provide a more effective response to the emerging threats that could be faced by UK armed forces."

The MoD says that if the project is successful, the first British laser weapons could be deployed by the middle of the next decade.

Source: MoD

[Dysta]

In a tangent, a month-old of article about military AIs in the future. Inspired by the recent news that AlphaGO nicknamed 'Master' as a disguise to defeat the Chinese's best GO player, and other 49 top-class players by internet board game platform.

http://www.slate.com/articles/technolog ... gence.html

https://www.engadget.com/2017/01/04/goo ... s-matches/

[Gunner98]

Some vid of the Barak-8 missile in Azerbaijan

http://azeridaily.com/news/25136

[Broncepulido]

Flight Global's World Air Forces 2017 inventory available now (Free registration on the web site): https://www.flightglobal.com/asset/14484

[orca]

Bell V-247 Vigilant Tilt-rotor Unmanned Aircraft System, United States of America
Bell V-247 vigiliant tilt-rotor UAS

The Bell V-247 Vigilant is a new multi-role tilt-rotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) being developed by Textron subsidiary Bell Helicopter to meet the future requirements of the US Marine Corps (USMC).

Bell Helicopter revealed the design of the V-247 Vigilant tilt-rotor UAV in September 2016. The aircraft is designed to fit the capabilities drafted in the 2016 Marine Corps Aviation Plan. The V-247 Vigilant is expected to enter production phase by 2023.

The Bell V-247 Vigilant can be deployed in a range of missions including electronic warfare, airborne early warning (AEW), an escort for V-22 / V-280 tilt-rotor aircraft, command, control, communications, and computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR), persistent fire support and tactical resupply.

Bell V-247 Vigilant design and features
Based on the high-wing aircraft design, the Bell V-247 features fuselage integrating a long-wing structure, a V-shaped tail and a retractable tricycle landing gear. The platform will deliver helicopter-like vertical lift capability along with the speed and range of a fixed-wing aircraft. It is designed to offer long-range surveillance and runway independence to conduct missions in maritime zones without runway infrastructure.

The aircraft will have a wing span of 65ft and rotor diameter of 30ft. The empty weight and maximum gross weight of the aircraft will be 7,257kg (16,000lb) and 13,380kg (29,500lb) respectively. The tilt-rotor UAV can carry up to 5,896kg (13,000lb) of cargo including fuel, armament and sensors.

The Bell V-247 Vigilant can be operated from the deck of DDG guided missile destroyers. The aircraft will offer low logistical footprint and its foldable-blade wing stow design will allow it to fit inside the C-17 aircraft and hangar space of the DDG vessels. The unmanned aircraft will deliver a footprint similar to that offered by UH-1Y when folded.

The tilt-rotor aircraft will be capable of delivering extended range while operating from land or vessels. The air-to-air refuelling capability will further provide the aircraft with higher loiter times for extended periods. The aircraft's redundant flight control system will ensure safe and reliable flight operations.

Armament and sensors
The unmanned aircraft will be equipped with a modular payload system. The open architecture of the system will allow for the integration of weapon systems according to the mission type.

capabilities drafted in the 2016 Marine Corps Aviation Plan. The V-247 Vigilant is expected to enter production phase by 2023.

"The Bell V-247 Vigilant can be deployed in a range of missions including electronic warfare, airborne early warning (AEW), an escort for V-22 / V-280 tilt-rotor aircraft, command, control, communications, and computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR), persistent fire support and tactical resupply."
The payload bays are designed to accommodate a range of weapon systems, including an MK-50 torpedo or Hellfire or JAGM missiles. The tilt-rotor UAV can carry internal mission payload of 907kg (2,000lb) and sling-load of 4,082kg (9,000lb).

The aircraft can also carry electro-optical and targeting systems, light detection and ranging (LiDAR) modules, sonar buoys and 360° surface radar modules. The V-247 Vigilant can be easily modified to meet multiple airborne mission requirements.

Engine and performance of Bell V-247 Vigilant
The V-247 will be powered by a single engine, which generates a power output of up to 4,410kW, driving two three-bladed tilt rotors.

The unmanned aircraft will have a long-range cruise speed of 250kt, endurance speed of 180kt and a maximum speed of more than 300kt at maximum continuous power. It can fly at a maximum altitude of 25,000ft and will offer a maximum time on station of more than 11 hours when carrying 600lb of mission payload at a 450 nautical mile mission radius.



http://www.naval-technology.com/project ... aft-system

[SASR]

DARPA Completes First Phase Of Underwater Fiber-optics Communications Network Program

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has completed first phase of program developing temporary underwater fiber-optics communications networks to ensure connectivity when tactical networks are unavailable.
DARPA’s Tactical Undersea Network Architecture (TUNA) program recently completed its initial phase, developing concepts and technologies aimed at restoring connectivity for US forces when traditional tactical networks are knocked offline or otherwise unavailable, the agency announced Thursday.

http://www.defenseworld.net/news/18150/ ... WHKPvfkrIu

[mikmykWS]

ORIGINAL: SASR

DARPA Completes First Phase Of Underwater Fiber-optics Communications Network Program

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has completed first phase of program developing temporary underwater fiber-optics communications networks to ensure connectivity when tactical networks are unavailable.
DARPA’s Tactical Undersea Network Architecture (TUNA) program recently completed its initial phase, developing concepts and technologies aimed at restoring connectivity for US forces when traditional tactical networks are knocked offline or otherwise unavailable, the agency announced Thursday.

http://www.defenseworld.net/news/18150/ ... WHKPvfkrIu

Brilliant. Although anybody that has worked with fiber optics will tell you the medium is fragile. Be interesting to see how this works out.

Mike

[Hongjian]

More pictures of the Type 09IVA (094A) Jin-class SSBN spotted.



A gif was also posted this time, so to prove that it isnt a PS job:


It appears that the differences are mainly following:



- Similiar conning tower as the 09IIIB (093B) SSGN, with observation windows removed, a fillet blending it with the hull and a rounded/smothered top.
- The "Turtleback" is smother and more "blended in" compared to the basic variant - and it features fewer vents.


There is some speculation that it also uses a different SLBM than the standard Jin-class, as this variant's appearance coincide with rumors from 2013 which describes that the DF-31 based JL-2 development has progressed to the DF-31A based JL-2A, featuring similiar range (8000km old vs 11.500km new). The new improved Jin-class has so far been spotted venturing into the South China Sea from its port on Hainan to conduct patrols, so there is speculation that it has to have a missile that can target CONUS from there.

[Dysta]

Right at the timing of 094A unveil and DARPA underwater comm cables news:

http://m.scmp.com/news/china/policies-p ... ne-signals

-Snip-

China had deployed hundreds of buoys, including nearly 20 deep anchor points, in the Western ­Pacific since 2014, Xinhua said.

The data can only be collected from the buoys once a year by manually retrieving hard drives as it was difficult to make radio contact with the sensors through the water, Wang Fan, deputy director of the Institute of Oceanology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Qingdao, said.

The new technology will enable the deep-sea buoys to send ­data to surface anchor points through a cable or wireless sound waves. The surface buoy will then relay the information to a communication satellite.

The civilian system works at the operational depth of most nuclear submarines, suggesting the military could already be using a similar undersea network to communicate with submarines, according to other scientists familiar with the technology.

[Hongjian]

3rd Type 055 Cruiser/Heavy Destroyer emerged in Dalian Shipyard!
Photo is dated 20th November 2016. So, by now, maybe even the 4th hull might take shape.



To recap; around the same time, the first two hulls of this large 12.5k tonne est. surface combattant emerged in Shanghai JNCX Shipyard.



The unusually fast pace of construction points to a certain level of urgency. Previously, new classes such as the 052C and 052D were first built in a small batch of two ships, and mass-production continued only after a multi-year hiatus.
A leaker connected with Chinese shipbuilding industry has unveiled on Chinese military forums that the PLAN put an order for eight Type 055s as the first batch. So, I wouldnt be surprised when we will be able to spot them either as complete hulls or modules throughout 2017. I believe that the PLAN wants to have at least four Type 055 in service by 2020. With that pace, maybe they will have all 8 in service by then.

[kevinkins]

Persian Gulf:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/u-navy-destr ... 48841.html

[SASR]

This is insane. 104 swarming drones from only 3 Super Hornets. [X(]

Crazy video of the demonstration with link: https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Relea ... onstration

In one of the most significant tests of autonomous systems under development by the Department of Defense, the Strategic Capabilities Office, partnering with Naval Air Systems Command, successfully demonstrated one of the world’s largest micro-drone swarms at China Lake, California. The test, conducted in October 2016 and documented on Sunday’s CBS News program “60 Minutes”, consisted of 103 Perdix drones launched from three F/A-18 Super Hornets. The micro-drones demonstrated advanced swarm behaviors such as collective decision-making, adaptive formation flying, and self-healing.

Perdix drone fact sheet here: https://www.defense.gov/Portals/1/Docum ... 0Sheet.pdf

Perdix  are  autonomous  micro‐drones  capable  of  low‐altitude  Intelligence,  Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and other missions. They can be air‐, sea‐  or ground‐launched and operate in both small and large swarms to perform their  missions.  

Perdix  are  not  preprogrammed,  synchronized  individuals.  They  share  a  distributed  brain  for  decision‐making  and  adapt  to  each  other,  and  the  environment, much like swarms in nature. Because every Perdix communicates  and  collaborates  with  every  other  Perdix,  the  swarm  has  no  leader  and  can  gracefully  adapt  to  changes  in  drone  numbers. This allows  this team  of  small inexpensive drones to perform missions once done by large expensive ones.     

[strykerpsg]

ORIGINAL: SASR

This is insane. 104 swarming drones from only 3 Super Hornets. [X(]

Crazy video of the demonstration with link: https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Relea ... onstration

In one of the most significant tests of autonomous systems under development by the Department of Defense, the Strategic Capabilities Office, partnering with Naval Air Systems Command, successfully demonstrated one of the world’s largest micro-drone swarms at China Lake, California. The test, conducted in October 2016 and documented on Sunday’s CBS News program “60 Minutes”, consisted of 103 Perdix drones launched from three F/A-18 Super Hornets. The micro-drones demonstrated advanced swarm behaviors such as collective decision-making, adaptive formation flying, and self-healing.

Perdix drone fact sheet here: https://www.defense.gov/Portals/1/Docum ... 0Sheet.pdf

Perdix  are  autonomous  micro‐drones  capable  of  low‐altitude  Intelligence,  Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and other missions. They can be air‐, sea‐  or ground‐launched and operate in both small and large swarms to perform their  missions.  

Perdix  are  not  preprogrammed,  synchronized  individuals.  They  share  a  distributed  brain  for  decision‐making  and  adapt  to  each  other,  and  the  environment, much like swarms in nature. Because every Perdix communicates  and  collaborates  with  every  other  Perdix,  the  swarm  has  no  leader  and  can  gracefully  adapt  to  changes  in  drone  numbers. This allows  this team  of  small inexpensive drones to perform missions once done by large expensive ones.     

Wow! That was indeed impressive! Imagine these in a variety of SEAD, attack or defense profiles for a CVBG or even an attack when dropped from a B-52 or B-1? Tons of applications.

[Hongjian]

Question of those swarming drones would be, of course, their individual range/endurance, speed and payload. Pretty much the same reason why the Harpy SEAD-UAVs arent used by the PLA anymore these days, even though they are faster and larger drones.

Would be fine if they launched via "mothership"-like cruise missile and dispersed near target area, for wide area operations. But generally, I think this here is a proof of concept only for larger and faster networked drones to come in the future.

[Dysta]

For comparison, China did this and announced swarm drone technology during Zhuhai Air Show 2016. 67 drones was a record-breaker to US's 50 swarm drones a year ago.

The air-launch swarm drone demonstration however, is come along with a doubled quantity. US Navy need this more than Chinese military do, and can be deployed on the air compare to the fixed surface launch.

https://youtu.be/p1eWmE3draU

http://www.popularmechanics.com/militar ... cial-email

[Kitchens Sink]

I gave China some Harpys in a scenario I'm working on where China is the computer-only opponent, just because I had never seen them used in a scenario before.

The Harpy is a truly annoying little gob-fly that is deceptively hard to shoot down. Puttering along at 95 mph and 5,000 ft., making you use precious ammo to get it. One launcher carries 48 of them. You can't ignore them like a decoy drone, you have to shoot them down or they will hit your radars. When you combine Harpys with other SEAD measures and a cruise-missile attack, it's rough.

I can't imagine these large-scale collective-thinking swarm drones. It's like something out of The Matrix movie.

[orca]

Thursday.

I see the 9M96 missile in the db.

I can't find the 9M100 missile in the db. Looks like it can be quad packed in redut VLS. Can it be added?

Per wiki-
9M100 guided missiles; 10–15 km (6.2–9.3 mi) range; infrared active homing; aerodynamic control surfaces and jet engines of control; maximum maneuver G 60-20 surfaces.[5]