Naval and Defense News

[kevinkins]

USN new drone tanker to fly this year:

https://defensemaven.io/warriormaven/se ... 0D8ZZDVig/

Couple of interesting paragraphs on the effect of DF-21D near misses on carriers.

And I have not seen an article on USAF Electronic Warfare in a while:

https://breakingdefense.com/2019/04/air ... -ecct-2-0/

Kevin

[xavierv]

Bulgaria heading towards new OPV selection

The Bulgarian Ministry of Defence informed that three companies decided to make a bid in the ongoing tender for new modular patrol vessels. The preferred bidder should be announced this summer.

Among companies, which will take part in the verification and the selection process are: German Lürssen with its modified OPV 80/85/90 series vessel, Italian Fincantieri offering its Abu Dhabi class corvette and the local MTG Dolphin with a modified version of its K-90 multi-role corvette.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... selection/

--

Russia Launched its Project 09852 Special Mission Submarine ‘Belgorod’

Russia launched the highly classified Project 09852 nuclear-powered special purpose submarine "Belgorod" on April 23, 2019, during a ceremony held at the Sevmash Shipyard in Severodvinsk. This submarine, rebuilt from an unfinished Project 949A Oscar-class SSGN is reportedly the first vessel able to carry and deploy the Status-6 / "Poseidon" nuclear torpedo system.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... -belgorod/

--

Keel Laying for German Navy’s First K130 Batch II Corvette ‘Köln’

A keel laying ceremony took place today at the Peene shipyard in Wolgast for the first of five K130 Batch II Corvettes for the German Navy (Deutsche Marine). The Corvette is named "Köln".

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... ette-koln/

--

Royal New Zealand Navy’s Aotearoa auxiliary ship launched in South Korea

At a launch ceremony this week, the Royal New Zealand Navy’s (RNZN) first purpose-built ship in 10 years, the HMNZS Aotearoa, finally found herself in her natural environment only eight months after her keel was laid in a South Korean shipyard, the RNZN press office announced on April 25.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... uth-korea/

--

Poland Procures Four Leonardo AW101 Maritime Helicopters for ASW and CSAR

Four AW101s and a comprehensive integrated logistics and training package to be supplied with PZL-Świdnik acting as prime contractor. With deliveries to be completed by 2022 the fleet will perform Anti-Submarine Warfare and combat search and rescue missions

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... -and-csar/

--

Kership Starts Construction Work for Argentina’s first OPV

Construction of the first of three new Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) ordered by Argentina just started at the Piriou shipyard in Concarneau, France. A first block is already assembled while official delivery of the vessel is expected for March 2020.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... first-opv/

[Triode]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_cont ... kcvoEVgVIQ

from 23:45 Orlan-10 UAV land on Grigorovich-class

[kevinkins]

Yet another demonstration of this tactic:

https://defence-blog.com/army/u-s-army- ... stems.html

In case anyone is interested:

http://cimsec.org/cimsec-call-for-volunteers/40231

[Hongjian]

First clear shot on the new H-6J (previously known as H-6KH), the anti-shipping variant of the H-6K.

We can see that they are carrying KG-800 ECM pods on the new additional outer wing hardpoints, which appear to be a standard feature on those bombers and present on every satellite photo so far, as if these pods are fixed on the plane even if the other six hardpoints are empty... The H-6J is expected to carry up to six heavy YJ-12 air-launched supersonic AShMs (seen clearly for the first time in the second photo carried by the current mainstay anti ship bomber H-6G/H-6L)

[Dysta]

I don’t like referring ZH news because of the fear-mongering tones, but one thing for sure is Admiral Richardson from US Navy has been openly declared that every single China-made boats and ships around Asia region are PLA-controlled. Meaning he has been hypocritically warned everyone about their military activities with those vessels, as if they’re armed and capable for espionage:

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-04- ... me-militia

[kevinkins]

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/2 ... in-decades

Not the HIMARS but another example of exercising "distributed operations where forces may find themselves fighting on small islands across a broad front in the Pacific."

Solid summary of the situation and plan of action for a change based on historical examples :

https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedi ... -coin-toss

[Dysta]

Remember what Gavin said regarding to SCS situation?

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/ ... -sea-26636

Well, UK may still do it, but not with his term because he’s fired:

https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d3d414f3441 ... index.html

[c3k]

Not sure if this has been covered:

https://aviationweek.com/defense/lockhe ... e-capacity

TL;DR: It's possible to have 6 internal AMRAAMs in the F35A and C.

[kevinkins]

Some news on Lasers:

https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2 ... ty/156737/

Interesting tactic:

https://defence-blog.com/news/u-s-marin ... light.html

Why not?

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/2 ... e-missiles


“the flying Ginsu”:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/secret-u-s ... 1557403411

I think we heard about this a while back. Just a bit more detail.

Why would the Marines need to defend against an enemy shore bombardment? I think they are planning for highly distributed operations in the western Pacific etc.. where some organic self-contained protection might be needed.

https://defence-blog.com/news/u-s-marin ... -land.html

[Dysta]

ORIGINAL: kevinkins

Why would the Marines need to defend against an enemy shore bombardment? I think they are planning for highly distributed operations in the western Pacific etc.. where some organic self-contained protection might be needed.

Because that marine is not the other marine. Fishes can stay in water as long as they like, but humans can’t.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Meanwhile, CCTV4 news reported 054A SAM drill revealed a new type of missile, as people called it “HQ-16C”. Notice the radical difference compare to older HQ-16 as well as BUK designs:

https://twitter.com/jpg2t785/status/960487831608029189

[kevinkins]

More on the “the flying Ginsu”:

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/2 ... ror-leader

[xavierv]

Some of our most interesting/popular news from SAS 2019

SAS 2019: US Navy & Raytheon Continue Excalibur N5 Munition Testing

Raytheon announced during Sea Air Space 2019 that, together with the U.S. Navy, they completed a new round of successful Excalibur N5 munition test firings. The precision-guided projectiles demonstrated various short, mid and long range capabilities.

https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/sa ... n-testing/

--

SAS 2019: Surface Warfare & Expeditionary Mission Payload for CUSV

Textron Systems, In cooperation with the United States Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD), unveiled the Common Unmanned Surface Vehicle (CUSV) fitted with the surface warfare payload at this year’s Sea Air Space exhibition in Washington DC.

Textron’s armed CUSV features two weapons systems: The Battle Management System (a vertical launcher for Hellfire missiles) and a remotely-operated weapon station: The ARES Control combined with an FN Herstal SeaDeFNder. This further development is part of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) signed in January 2018 with Textron “ to develop and integrate surface warfare payloads onto the Common Unmanned Surface Vehicle (CUSV).”

https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/sa ... -for-cusv/

--

This, in addition to the ALAMO round, will make the LCS and FFG(X) quite potent despite their smaller 57mm main guns
SAS 2019: Raytheon progressing towards MAD-FIRES guided round testing

Raytheon Company successfully tested a hot fire rocket motor for DARPA's Multi-Azimuth Defense Fast Intercept Round Engagement System, or MAD-FIRES, the US defense giant stated at Sea Air Space 2019, held in Washington.

https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/sa ... d-testing/

--

SAS 2019: Austal Unveils Range of Autonomous USVs

At the Sea Air Space 2019 exposition currently held near Washington DC, Austal USA unveiled a new range of catamaran and trimaran medium to large size Unmanned Surface Vessels (USV).

According to Austal USA, these new designs reflect the company’s ability to generate forward thinking customized surface ship solutions affordable to the U.S. Navy.

https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/sa ... mous-usvs/

--

SAS 2019: NSM missile now part of US Marine Corps force structure

“A USMC NSM supports the 2018 National Defense Strategy and Commandant of the Marine Corps modernization efforts,” said Raytheon, which confirmed that the USMC NSM will be similar to the one selected last year by the US Navy.

https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/sa ... structure/

--

Fincantieri Unveils FREMM FFG(X) Design

With the Bergamini-class FREMM Frigate of the Italian Navy as its parent design, Fincanteri’s FFG(X) is 496 feet in length and 65 feet wide.

It can reach a sustained speed of 26+ knots and an economic speed of 16+ knots thanks to its CODLAG propulsion system. The design has a range of 6,000+ nautical miles at a speed of 16 knots. The vessel can accommodate up to 200 sailors.

https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/sa ... gx-design/

--

SAS 2019: Raytheon lifts veil on Coyote Block 2 suicide drone

Raytheon has for the very first time publicly introduced the Block 2 variant of its Coyote anti-UAS system at this year’s Sea Air & Space exposition. Intended to be officially proposed for any US air defense program, « the Coyote Block 2 is a game changer in the field of targeting UAV or even bigger targets », Naval News learned.

https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/sa ... ide-drone/

--

SAS 2019: Lockheed Martin’s Hypervelocity Missile for F-35C

At Sea Air Space 2019, the naval defense exposition held near Washington DC, Lockheed Martin unveiled a new conceptual hypervelocity cruise missile for the F-35C carrier-based strike fighter.

https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/sa ... for-f-35c/

--

First of a new species of VTOL UAS appears at SAS 2019

First of a new species of advanced VTOL unmanned system appeared at Sea Air Space 2019 exposition, held this week in National Harbor. Designed by the California-based Dzyne Technologies, the ROTORwing intends to optimize both hovering and forward flight.

https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/sa ... -sas-2019/

[xavierv]

And our video coverage at Sea Air Space 2019:

SAS 2019 Day 1 - Future Unmanned Systems for the US Navy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6jxGuIFt18
- Boeing MQ-25 Stingray aerial refueling drone with Rear Admiral Corey
- Future USVs and XLUUV/Orca programs with Captain Pete Small
- Austal USA new range of medium and large size USVs
- Textron Systems CUSV with surface warfare payload
- ST Engineering range of USVs


SAS 2019 Day 2 - SPY-6, NSM for USMC, PGK, Freedom LCS & FFG(X), Navantia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FADAPPKXk40
- Raytheon SPY-6 radar
- Raytheon / Kongsberg NSM for USMC
- Northrop Grumman PGK for naval 5 Inch and 155mm guns
- Lockheed Martin Freedom-class lethality and survivability upgrade
- Lockheed Martin FFG(X)
- Navantia / BIW FFG(X)


SAS 2019 Day 3 - V-247 UAV, Austal USV, FFG(X) Frigate Designs, Type 26 CSC, Hypervelocity missile: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTMdQ8QBYD8
Washington-based naval expert Chris Cavas is our guest speaker for this third and final day at Sea Air Space 2019. Cavas covers the follow topics:
- Bell V-247 Vigilant VTOL tilt-rotor UAV in U.S. Navy configuration
- Austal USA USV concepts - Austal USA FFG(X) Frigate
- Fincantieri FFG(X) Frigate
- GD Bath Iron Works FFG(X) Frigate
- Lockheed Martin Type 26 CSC
- Lockheed Martin hypervelocity missile


Fincantieri's FREMM FFG(X) Frigate for the U.S. Navy at Sea Air Space 2019: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq794xijVsg

[kevinkins]

"The story about Iranian short-range ballistic missiles loaded onto ships boils down to a change in pattern of what is in all likelihood a smuggling operation of missiles to Yemen. There are various, not necessarily mutually exclusive, explanations for this change ranging from purely internal regime dynamics to a potential change of operational requirement for missiles in the Yemeni theatre."

https://www.realcleardefense.com/articl ... 14416.html

A bit more on the “flying Ginsu”:

https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2019/0 ... rd%20Brief

[Bert Blitzkrieg]

Spain pulls back frigate from US carrier group due to Iran - US tensions: https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/05/14/inenglish/1557817315_163408.html

[Ancalagon451]

A bit more on the “flying Ginsu”

Anyone has a photo of the missile with it's "warhead" in deployed state?

Sounds like something out of techothiller or a sci-fi movie.

Ancalagon

[kevinkins]

I think the closest we have is depicted in this article:

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/2 ... ror-leader

But it's an educated guess at this point.

Kevin

[Dysta]

FCC ignores DoD’s warning as to begin the 24GHz-based 5G network auctioning. This spectrum is very close to weather satellites’s 23.8GHz and likely cause interference for weather forecasting. Some trolls in ARS suggests that China also uses that spectrum as a ‘weapon’ to jam US satellites and telecom facilities:

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/201 ... avy-warns/

EDIT: DoD surveyed and published the PDF report at April 2019. There’s a detail about FCC’s decisions in it:

https://media.defense.gov/2019/Apr/04/2 ... .04.19.PDF

[kevinkins]

https://defence-blog.com/army/russia-lo ... ystem.html