Naval and Defense News

[AlGrant]

BAE Systems Type 26 Global Combat Ship design has been selected as the preferred solution for the Royal Australian Navy’s Project SEA5000 Future Frigate requirement.

http://adbr.com.au/breaking-bae-type-26 ... -sea-5000/

[kevinkins]

Article from 2 days ago about a recent nuclear bomber exercise including plane spotter reports:

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/21 ... last-night

[AlGrant]

Oops!

If this official RIMPAC 2018 infographic is to be believed then the Russians have sent a Typhoon to join in the fun! [:D]
https://www.dvidshub.net/image/4522692/rimpac-2018-infographic


Defence Visual Information Distribution Service.

[ultradave]

House budget does not include up front money for 2 extra VIRGINIA class submarines. This was requested by the 2 Congressman representing the districts containing EB and HI-NNS. The money would have come from other programs (like Arleigh Burke). The Navy was against the proposal.

This doesn't change the existing Block V proposal. Basically it keeps things the way they were.

https://www.theday.com/military-news/20 ... extra-subs

[Dysta]

So far I only sees AB3 construction is supplemental, there are lots of AB2 waiting for MLU and new missiles. If Virginia is good at decimate a whole fleet of adversary ships, then it's reasonable to expand the submersible force with new subs.

[ultradave]

"So far I only sees AB3 construction is supplemental, there are lots of AB2 waiting for MLU and new missiles."

Sorry I'm not following this part.

[Dysta]

ORIGINAL: ultradave

Sorry I'm not following this part.

It's just my observations. Why building AB3 when there are several dozens of AB2 will get the mid-life upgrade (MLU for short, usually after 10-20 years of service)? I understand AB3 will have more power for new AESA sensors, but that is more crucial to AA and ABM.

[ultradave]

My question was I don't know what you mean by AB3 and AB2. Those designations don't mean anything to me, if you are applying them to VIRGINIA, so I'm not sure we are talking about the same things.

The next block to be ordered is Block V. Block V will include the VIRGINIA Payload Module (VPM), which will go a long way to replace the capability of the 3 SSGN's will be retired around the same time they go into service. The Congressman's proposal was to add 2 more to that order, however the Navy didn't want to divert money from elsewhere to pay for it.

[kevinkins]

Update your OOB:

https://www.news.com.au/technology/inno ... bf3aa212b0

[Dysta]

Handheld laser has turned from pointer pen to lethal weapon, like toy quadcopters converted to bombers. We're (almost) living in future already:

http://m.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy- ... d-set-fire

[Dysta]

ORIGINAL: jtoatoktoe

Having a missile that mimics ICBM/SLBM is a good way to get nuked on accident. There is a reason the U.S.has stayed away from non nuclear ordinance.

Even without nuclear warhead or ICBM-height, just the speed itself would guarantee a nuclear response, Pentagon won't laugh it off.

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-06- ... nic-attack

Hyten suggested the U.S. is powerless against hypersonic weapon threats and has to rely on deterrence against these so-called weapons.

What is that deterrence you might ask?

“So our response would be our deterrent force which would be the triad and the nuclear capabilities that we have to respond to such a threat,” Hyten warned.

In other words, if Russia or China launches a hypersonic missile attack on the U.S., the Pentagon will respond with nuclear war.

That sounds like both Russia and China are heavily miscalculated the consequences of the use of hypersonic missile, but does it matter when US is involved in WW3? Nukes will fly regardless the speed or altitude.

[ultradave]

Similar reasoning has been used to deny development of the "prompt global strike" weapon based on a submarine launched conventional warhead ballistic missile. Too many chances for miscalculation.

Now there is talk of resurrecting a new version of a nuclear warhead submarine launched cruise missile. These weapons were eliminated along with IRBMs mostly because of their destabilizing nature. No one really believes that if a "small" nuclear weapon is used in combat that the conflict could remain contained. Eliminating these weapons IMO was a good idea.

[Hongjian]

Today, those two Type 055 (3rd and 4th ship of the class) finally got launched simultanously.

The censored part suppossedly covers modules for the next batch of two more 055s that be assembled once the drydock is vacant.

It is to be expected that Dalian Shipyard will continue to build pairs of 055s in parallel.

[kevinkins]

An interesting article on KC-135 capabilities and tactics:

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/21 ... rt-tankers

[Hongjian]

ORIGINAL: Dysta

Handheld laser has turned from pointer pen to lethal weapon, like toy quadcopters converted to bombers. We're (almost) living in future already:

http://m.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy- ... d-set-fire

Video released for the handheld laser gun smoking pork skin and car tyres.

http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomac ... ics-videos

ZKZM says that they want to upgrade this weapon further. I can imagine a more powerful and more ergonomic variant being used for the PLA somewhen in the future.

This really gives me hope that a naval laser gun system is in the works as well.

[kevinkins]

https://www.defensenews.com/industry/20 ... -42b-deal/

Remember the teething pains this program started out with?

Kevin

[Triode]

Forpost-M2 UAV (russian evolution from "Searcher II") with missile from KAVB family



glide bombs (INS/GLONASS) from KAVB family 15,25,50,100 kg , range 12-20 km


missiles (INS/GLONASS, optical + laser) from KAVB family 50,100 kg , range up to 100 km



for 50,100 kg KAVB warheads unified with MLRS


optionally piloted UAV DA-42B

with 4 9M120 "Ataka"

[kevinkins]

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news ... rd%20Brief

Interestingly, the article mentions the Tethered Aerostat Radar System which is in the Database. Does anyone recall a scenario that uses that balloon based radar?

Kevin

[Hongjian]

Quite rare, it's an official statement about the endurance of PLAN AIP submarines:

China’s first AIP submarine unit breaks records
(People's Daily Online) 17:32, July 04, 2018
http://en.people.cn/n3/2018/0704/c90000-9477744.html
China’s first submarine unit using air-independent propulsion (AIP) technology recently broke a number of records set by the Chinese navy, Science and Technology Daily recently reported.

Records such as the longest sailing distance, maximum submergence depth and sinking target ships under boundary conditions were all broken by the unit.

Military commentator Zhang Haixiong disclosed that submarines equipped with AIP technology prolong operation duration underwater to about two or three weeks, indicating the increasing stealth of the submarines.

The time a conventionally powered submarine can spend underwater ranges from 10 to 100 hours, as they need to surface regularly to charge. However, submarines can be charged underwater if they are equipped with the AIP system.

Zhang noted that AIP submarines, with higher combat effectiveness, are second only to nuclear submarines, adding that although AIP submarines are more expensive right now, in the future they will become the conventional option.

[De Savage]

Finnish Defence Force (FDF) is upgrading several platforms in coming years.

Hamina class missile boats are getting their Mid-Life-Upgrades. All four ships are fully updated by 2021, work has been started FNS Tornio. This is major overhaul of the class. Sametime older Rauma class will be retired and replaced by new 3000 ton multi-role corvette Pohjanmaa class.

Squadron 2020



Hamina class and also new Pohjanmaa will have brand new Isral Gabriel anti-ship missile system. Same Gabriel missiles will be used by Finnish coastal defence forces.
More info about Gabriel: https://defense-update.com/20180706_ssm2020.html

New Hamina and Pohjanmaa will have Swedish Torpedo 47, but until new version is ready Finnish Navy will lease current 45 version. This is the first time after WW2 that Finnish navy will have torpedo armed ships.

Finnish Air Force is also replacing her F/A-18 Hornet fleet. Will there be F-35, JAS Gripen NG, Typhoon or Rafael has not been decided.

Interesting time indeed.