Moderator: MOD_Command
China to Likely Induct New Aircraft Carrier Ahead of Schedule
China’s first home-grown carrier could be delivered to the navy as early as the end of 2018.
Construction of China's 2nd Aircraft Carrier for PLAN Progressing Faster than Expected
Black smoke at the chimneys was spotted for the first time on 18 May 2017, less than a month after the second Chinese aircraft carrier was launched (Photo: 西北狼 216)
CCTV reported the UUV network deployment on SCS:ORIGINAL: kevinkin
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/12/china-u ... a-sea.html
"The ability of UUVs to detect and hunt submarines, thereby rendering oceans transparent, potentially changes the way of warfare," Sylvia Mishra, junior fellow at New Delhi-based think tank Observer Research Foundation, said in a note earlier this month. "It is precisely why Beijing has been investing in a burgeoning underwater drones industry, which enjoys considerable national-level funding and support.
UUVs may be presently used for scientific research, but they could be upgraded for underwater combat, patrol, mine-sweeping and submarine detection operations, Mishra continued. "It is likely that the People's Liberation Army will utilize UUVs for military purposes."
ORIGINAL: Sharana
Joke of the day
ORIGINAL: CrazyIvan101
When is this from? They using them for new UCLASS trials or something?
So you are saying it's not a proper unmanned tanker, but an ex-UCAV loaded with buddy pods?ORIGINAL: Sharana
So you end up with expensive stealth UAV that isn't even stealth with those drop tanks and use it as tanker. Because ... why not
ORIGINAL: Dysta
So you are saying it's not a proper unmanned tanker, but an ex-UCAV loaded with buddy pods?
I don't doubt they can't do this, KQ-X experiment is indeed a tanker from the very existence, but not a carrier borne:
ORIGINAL: Tailhook
Look at it another way: Northrop Grumann already had a fully functional design that was easily modified for presumably very cheap. Other contenders have to start from essentially the ground up. It also gives the Navy the option of realizing "Hey we have this stealthy tanker onboard, let's just slap some sensors on it so we can use it for more roles" rather than having to go all in on a new project. I think it's a great idea for saving money.
ORIGINAL: Primarchx
ORIGINAL: Tailhook
Look at it another way: Northrop Grumann already had a fully functional design that was easily modified for presumably very cheap. Other contenders have to start from essentially the ground up. It also gives the Navy the option of realizing "Hey we have this stealthy tanker onboard, let's just slap some sensors on it so we can use it for more roles" rather than having to go all in on a new project. I think it's a great idea for saving money.
It really depends on how much you want to pay for that stealthy tanker that might someday be a strike or ISR platform, too. In this case we'll wind up paying for a product that jumped from a high capability requirement (with a corresponding price tag) to one much less so.
Of course, this might turn out to be window dressing for the Navy getting the stealthy UCAVs they originally wanted in the guise of unmanned tankers to squeak through Congress, too.
ORIGINAL: Sharana
ORIGINAL: CrazyIvan101
When is this from? They using them for new UCLASS trials or something?
The photo surfaced 2 days ago, so it's recent. If you didn't follow the Pentagon in all it's wisdom changed the focus from Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) program into Carrier-Based Aerial-Refueling System (CBARS).
That's first photo of the result. The flights were scheduled for 2017. There are 4 competing designs with the winner to be chosen in 2018.
I called it joke of the day for the simple reason that it looks like this: You invest tons of money to design UCLASS that is stealth (ISR+strike), but then the Pentagon say nah, let's focus on CBARS instead. So you end up with expensive stealth UAV that isn't even stealth with those drop tanks and use it as tanker. Because ... why not
https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.p ... japan.htmlThe French Navy Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) vessel Dupuy de Lôme (A 759) was spotted last week in Yokosuka naval base, HQ of the JMSDF Self Defense Fleet and of the US Navy's 7th fleet. Based on pictures from a different spotter, the vessel was still in Yokosuka on August 12th.
Navy Recognition contacted the French Military Central Command (EMA - État-major des armées) to ask if the presence of this SIGINT vessel is linked to recent events in North Korea. Here is the press service's answer:
To answer your question, the presence of this French vessel in this zone is not related to recent events. The French armed forces regularly deploy units in all theaters of interest, particularly in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Regular deployments in strategically important areas allow us to maintain our knowledge of the area and respect the freedom of navigation. As the vessels of other oceanic navies, French ships, during this deployment, navigate and conduct cooperation that develop their knowledge of the Indo-Pacific zone in particular. This deployment thus maintains our autonomous capacity of appreciation under the "knowledge and anticipation" strategic function.
It has to be noted that the Dupuy de Lôme already visited Yokosuka in 2012, during North Korean ballistic missile tests.
The Dupuy de Lôme is designed for the collection of signals, communications and electronic emission beyond enemy lines. It is fitted with an impressive array of sensors, most of them developed by Thales. The vessel has an endurance of 70 days at sea and is available 350 days a year for the French Direction du renseignement militaire (DRM) (English:Directorate of Military Intelligence). DRM is an intelligence agency that has the task of collecting and centralizing military intelligence information for the French Armed Forces. Created in 1992, its role is similar to that of the DIA (United States), the DI (United Kingdom) or the GRU (Russian Federation).
It may be unrelated but our colleagues from Air Recognition also pointed to us that a French Air Force C-130H belonging to the GAM 56 unit was spotted landing the same week in Seoul, South Korea. GAM 56 (Groupe Aérien Mixte 00.056 "Vaucluse") is in charge of supporting France's external intelligence agency (French: Direction générale de la sécurité extérieure, DGSE).
