Naval and Defense News

[xavierv]

ORIGINAL: Filitch

The Pentagon refuses to implementation railgun, the corresponding program should be phased out as early as 2019
http://taskandpurpose.com/navy-electrom ... un-budget/

Meanwhile:

France Working on Electromagnetic Railgun for Naval Application

A French-German electromagnetic (EM) railgun project was unveiled during the 2017 "DGA Innovations" event hosted by the French defense procurement agency (DGA) yesterday. Launched by the ISL (French-German Research Institute of Saint-Louis) in 1987, the project was mostly kept under cover until now.

https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.p ... ation.html

French-German EM Railgun Project Unveiled at DGA Innovation Event

A full scale EM railgun prototype dubbed "Pegasus" was built in 1997 at ISL facility in Eastern France, close to the German border. At the 2017 DGA innovation event, ISL was showcasing for the first time a fully function, truck-mounted EM railgun and was even demonstrating the firing of 5x5mm projectiles, live during the show. The tiny projectiles have muzzle velocity of 120 meters per seconds.

The 10 MJ PEGASUS is being used to advance the launcher and armature technology towards a reliable half-scale long range artillery system. Recent results include the successful launch of in-house developed launch packages (mass range is kg) for hypervelocity (> 2500 m/s) projectile acceleration. The ISL launch technology sets worldwide accepted standards with regard to the efficiency of the conversion of electric energy into kinetic energy (> 35%). ISL’s railgun facilities are unique in Europe.

https://www.armyrecognition.com/decembe ... event.html

[Dysta]

I was thinking why railgun is need to be built on a turret, rather than horizontally hard-fixed? It is already an OTH weaponry, and for a naval vessel it can be built throughout the hull, like a catapult on an aircraft carrier. This can gives lots of momentum with its monstrous length, as well as both the ship and the projectile can steer to change targets.

[Filitch]

AFAIK, the main declared function of railgun was AA defense. It was supposed that railgun could "fire" kinda bundle of "arrows" which in flight was like a cloud with big cross-section. This "arrows" should was hit AShMs. But this task - to fire a bundle doesn't completed. All that was able to completed - to fire single projectile. But to fire single projectile to AShMs it no use. So program is refused.
About turret. AA defence supposes aiming in traverse. In case of hard-fixed you should turn a whole ship to traversing.

[thewood1]

Not so much new news as it is news to me...

Our research library at work just got in a few academic books. One of them was "Assessing China's Naval Power". Most of it is policy discussion, but had a very interesting section on development of destroyer class ships. It goes into some detail on the difficulty China has had getting its indigenous ship-based phased array radars and ship to aircraft datalinks operating. As of 2015, they had been pressuring Russia to sell both to them, but, according to the book, Russia has had issues with some of the technology as well.

The book went into how the US Navy took 30 years to iron out HW, SW, and integration issues. It's expecting that China will do it faster based on technology available, but most of the pertinent surface ships are not using Chinese-made phased array radars on a regular operational basis due to detection issues.

http://www.springer.com/us/book/9783662471265

Its $25 US$ in ebook form.

[Dysta]

I think it’s expected. China still have Sovs and Kilos, they aren’t replaced with Chinese subsystems, and we are yet to know if the refitting Sovs will change them either. S-300 and Su-27/30 are also remain their first ranks and heavily rely to Russian comms too. It will cost a lot to replace them all, which isn’t as worthy as building some newer war machines.

[thewood1]

You're missing the point. Its the new systems that are struggling. They are not talking about replacing systems, but the phased array radar and datalinks on new surface ships. Those ships are actually doing most of their operations using mechanical scan radars because the PARs are not reliable and unable to to consistently detect and track surface and air contacts.

[Hongjian]

Would be quite news to me, and an interesting revelation. Seems like the PLAN is taking great risk with the Type 055 class, as it has no mechanically scanned arrays anymore. Not even the old and trusty Type 517H and Type 364s radars...

[Dysta]

That’s why I don’t pay attention to scanning part. The Chinese datalink is more secretive to know than the radar performance. Both of them can have glitches or limits because China still have Russia-built systems that nobody tells how they integrate together. But as Hongjian said about 055 rigged with crazy amount of China-made sensors, I will say they are confident enough to find all problems out of 055 when it’s commissioned.

I am more concerned about the mid-air targeting like US F-35 did to SM-6, does China has a similar system for guiding SAM and ASM by other units? This is more crucial to the comm that tons of advance radars cannot do.

[Hongjian]

This concept makes sense, when you think about it. Why shouldnt an AOE be nuclear powered, while supplying the carrier group with fuel?

http://www.janes.com/article/76278/chin ... pport-ship

China’s CSIC unveils concept for nuclear-powered combat support ship

Richard D Fisher Jr - Jane's Defence Weekly
08 December 2017

The China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) unveiled a concept model for a large nuclear-powered combat support ship (AOE) at The All China Maritime Conference and Exhibiton (Marintec China) held between 5 and 8 December in Shanghai.

Initial images of the AOE model were posted on 6 December on the Weibo website of the China Ocean Shipping Magazine, which is sponsored by the China Ocean Shipping Group Corporation (COSCO).

Equipped with an aft helicopter landing deck but no hangar, the nuclear-powered replenishment ship shows similarities with the 45,000-tonne Type 901 gas-turbine-engine-powered AOE that has been in service with the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) since 1 September.

[Dysta]

US military vessel port at Taiwan = act of war, said by Beijing:

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/china-taiwan- ... 18846.html

---------

The PESCO agreement is welcomed by NATO, is it really true?

https://www.cnbc.com/video/2017/12/06/p ... ister.html (US)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-41971867 (England)

http://www.dw.com/en/can-pesco-provide- ... a-41362789 (Germany)

https://www.rt.com/news/409724-eu-army- ... nt-signed/ (Russia)

https://news.cgtn.com/news/35497a4d3163 ... are_p.html (China)

[xavierv]

Scorpene-class Submarine INS Kalvari Commissioned into the Indian Navy

The Honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi commissioned INS Kalvari (S-21), the first of the six Scorpene class submarines built under Project 75 (Kalvari Class) into the Indian Navy at an impressive ceremony held at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai today (14 Dec 17). The event marked the formal induction into the Navy of the first of the six submarines being constructed at Mazagon Docks Ltd., in collaboration with the French builder M/s Naval Group.

P75 Scorpene
Six submarines of the P75 project are being built by MDL through technology transfers from Naval Group for the Indian Navy. "Kalvari", the first Scorpene class diesel-electric submarine (SSK) was launched in the water on 28th October 2015 in Mumbai. It started sea trials in May last year. The sea trials campaign went well and left Indian submariners with a very good impression. "Khanderi", the second submarine in the series, was launched in January 2017 and started sea trials in June. Four other submarines will follow in the wake of Khanderi, at intervals of nine months.

INS Kalvari is manned by a team comprising 08 officers and 35 sailors with Captain SD Mehendale at the helm as her first Commanding Officer. The commissioning will augment the offensive capability of the Indian Navy, and the Western Naval Command in particular.

https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.p ... -navy.html


Russian Navy Chief: Project 22350M Frigates to become main blue and green-water warships

The Main Russian navy command and the Admiralty coordination council of navy veteran organizations held a joint meeting in St. Petersburg. Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Vladimir Korolev delivered a report on fleet buildup in 2017 and prospects up to 2030.

"The Main navy command is positive about prospects of all navy components due to scientific and technical progress. We have already planned over 10 R&D to create perspective warships. Thus, the state arms program envisages that the navy would receive new and upgraded blue (sea zone) and green-water (ocean) ships. The upgraded frigate of project 22350M with high-precision weapons will be the main one. The brown-water (close zone) warships and boats will tend to improve efficiency and combat capabilities. This force will develop mostly due to new ships armed with high-precision weapons," he said.

https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.p ... ships.html

No more "Lider-class" then ?

France Orders an Additional Light Patrol Vessel PLG for Antilles

French Ministry of the Armed Forces announced today that a third PLG (Patrouilleur Léger Guyanais or French Guyana-based Light Patrol Vessel) was ordered on December 1st from the Socarenam shipyard. On September 24 2017, French Minister Florence Parly announced that a PLG would be ordered in the coming weeks for delivery "as soon as possible" by 2019. The patrol vessel will be based in the French Antilles likely homeported in Martinique where the French Navy (Marine Nationale) has a permanent naval base.

https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.p ... illes.html

U.S. Navy Completes Dual LRASM Test Against Moving Targets

The U.S. Navy is closer to delivering its new Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) after completing another milestone test flight from an Air Force B-1B Lancer Dec. 8 over Point Mugu Sea Test Range in California. During the test, aircrew aboard the B-1B simultaneously launched two missiles against multiple moving maritime targets for the first time.

https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.p ... rgets.html

[Scar79]

ORIGINAL: navyrecognition
No more "Lider-class" then ?

IMO, seeing all these the troubles with a pr.22350, it was obvious that much more complex and sophisticated Lider-class was a distant pipe-dream, right from the start of the program.

[Dysta]

I have difficulty to see why F-22 deploy flares at Su-25, but at the same time how Su-25 can tell where the Raptor flew so Su-35 can find it? Is the Raptor chasing Su-25 for a whole time?

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/17 ... e-going-on

[jtoatoktoe]

Zumwalt's being repurposed to Anti Ship role it seems.
http://warisboring.com/the-u-s-navy-is-turning-its-stealth-destroyers-into-ship-killers/

Makes sense, does lack proper Air Defense, but with no ammo for its guns, its land attack role is no more special than any other platform. Imagine 40+ LRASM's being sent out to hunt and destroy a enemy fleet.

[Filitch]

ORIGINAL: Scar79

ORIGINAL: navyrecognition
No more "Lider-class" then ?

IMO, seeing all these the troubles with a pr.22350, it was obvious that much more complex and sophisticated Lider-class was a distant pipe-dream, right from the start of the program.

And perhaps for the best. Lider-class is much more expensive than potential 22350M. In today circumstances it is better to have two frigates than one destroyer.

[Filitch]

ORIGINAL: Dysta

I have difficulty to see why F-22 deploy flares at Su-25, but at the same time how Su-25 can tell where the Raptor flew so Su-35 can find it? Is the Raptor chasing Su-25 for a whole time?

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/17 ... e-going-on

"and that at one point, one of the Frogfoots maneuvered dangerously close to the Raptor almost causing a collision."
The pitiful F-22. It so slow and clumsy that subsonic Su-25 can easily intercept it.

[Zaslon]

Did American Missile Defense Fail in Saudi Arabia?

Interesting article from a non suspicious media although the suggestion of a Patriot Fail looks like communist propaganda.

[User2]

Would be very interesting to see how S-400 solves this real combat situation.
S-300PM and latter mods were specially designed and tested in the late 1990s to reliably destroy warheads of Scud missiles (in real tests against real warheads which Russia had in its arsenal)

Besides, it is important to take into accounts who operate the SAM. Modern SAMs are very complex systems. And Yemeni conflict showed that the level of training (proficiency) of KSA is rather low.

[Scar79]

ORIGINAL: Filitch
And perhaps for the best. Lider-class is much more expensive than potential 22350M. In today circumstances it is better to have two frigates than one destroyer.

I agree.

[xavierv]

They keep popping them out... (and their 6th LPD !!! in the picture below)

Chinese Shipyard Launched the 29th Type 054A Frigate for the PLAN

Our colleagues from East Pendulum are reporting that the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard of the Chinese naval group CSSC launched a Type 054A frigate for People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or Chinese Navy) on December 16 2017. This is the 15th frigate of this class (designated Jiangkai II-class by NATO) built in this shipyard, located in Shanghai in Eastern China, and the 29th overall in the series. The 28th Type 054A was launched less than 4 months ago, showing once again the fast pace of China's naval shipbuilding industry.
...
In total, four Type 054A were launched in 2017 by the two shipyards involved in the program. Since first ship of the class was commissioned in January 2008, the PLAN commissioned 25 Type 054A multi-mission frigates in just 9 years.

https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.p ... -plan.html