Naval and Defense News

[Hongjian]

Seriously maddening speed of the Type 055 construction:

Google Earth update of Dalian Shipyard, China, taken on December 1st 2016 shows what could only be the 4th hull of the Type 055 Heavy Destroyer/Cruiser.
From a GE picture from November 20th 2016, the 3rd Type 055 hull was spotted, and it showed a considerably higher grade of completion (most hull modules already welded together, one module of deck-plating already mounted, prow to be added etc.) compared to the 11 days newer shot, which shows seperate Type 055 modules still not welded together. If Dalian Shipyard didnt disassemble the 1st hull again, which would be pretty dumb, this new satellite image shows the 2nd hull. And that only 11 days after the last satellite image.

December 1st:

November 20th


What does this mean? That Dalian seemingly has finished up the 1st hull at a certain stage of completion and moved it into a different place, only to immediately start with another hull. Eleven. Days.

And recent heavily censored images indeed show the seperate modules of the 4th Type 055, with a major leaker (who has posted these shots) claiming that the 1st batch will have more than 8 ships, contrary to earlier estimates.

https://picload.org/image/roprdgar/0148 ... wlaf9n.jpg

I can only guess, but it seems that China wants to make the Type 055 basically China's Ticonderoga, both in displacement/weaponry and numbers. The years old estimate that China would probably build 24 of these 12.000 ton Destroyers/Cruisers might be true, after all.

[KungPao]

ORIGINAL: Dysta

ORIGINAL: kevinkin

In the news this morning.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/u-china-mili ... 15624.html

The usual China-US aircraft escalations keep reminds me: what if there's no 9/11, and US decided to launch the attack against China because of her belligerence?

Maybe US fares better chance to fight in 2001 than 2017, as well as avoided the Afghanistan deathtrap? Wish there's a grand scenario of US-China WW3 in 2001 to find out. Back in the day, the 'Raptor killer' J-10 and 'Carrier killer' DF-21D aren't in service yet.

Hey, who needs a J-20? We have the "RAPTOR KILLER" J-8. Just joking, just joking.
I don't think 911 is a game changer for Sino-US relationship.Joining WTO is, and President Bush did cleared most of the obstacles in early of 2001.

[Dysta]

ORIGINAL: KungPao

Hey, who needs a J-10? We have the "RAPTOR KILLER" J-8. Just joking, just joking.
I don't think 911 is a game changer for Sino-US relationship.Joining WTO is, and President Bush did cleared most of the obstacles in early of 2001.

Fixed for you. China did said J-10 can stop F-22 before 2009, when still in rumors.

What I said is technological difference:

Could 1950 US best 1950 China? -- Could be, since USSR doesn't help NK, then China is expectable to be alone too.
Could 1962 US best 1962 China? -- Also could be, right at Sino-USSR conflict, and China need one more year to make nukes.
Could 1983 US best 1983 China? -- Still likely, Tomahawks will turn mainland upside down, while China still don't have good SAM systems.
Could 1996 US best 1996 China? -- Possible as well. Because US Navy have more than 4 Nimitzs, all fully loaded with Hornets and Tomcats.
Could 2001 US best 2001 China? -- WTO cannot make China instantly rich in a year, so no advance weapons yet, same fate as 1996.
Could 2012 US best 2012 China? -- It gets way more challenging, and becomes a mere possibility. Chinese stealth fighter & carrier just having trials.
Could 2017 US best 2017 China? -- internet still says yes, but US think-tanks said no. What happens?

There are numerous opportunity to make US victorious by stopping the 'Biggest threat of the East' before letting them stronger while being weakened by other affairs.

Did I mention nuclear holocaust will destroy both countries? Not before 1963, of course.

[Dysta]

DRDO's PDV ABM test succeeded.

http://www.dnaindia.com/scitech/report- ... le-2319579

India successfully test-fired its interceptor missile off the Odisha coast on Saturday, achieving a significant milestone in the direction of developing a two-layered Ballistic Missile Defence system.

The interceptor was launched from Abdul Kalam Island (Wheeler Island) of ITR at about 7.45 am. This mission, termed as "PDV mission is for engaging the targets in the exo-atmosphere region at an altitude above 50 km of earth's atmosphere", said a Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) official. "Both, the PDV interceptor and the two stage target missile, were successfully engaged," he said.

The target was developed for mimicking a hostile Ballistic Missile approaching from more than 2000 km away was launched from a ship anchored in the Bay of Bengal. In an automated operation, radar based detection and tracking system detected and tracked the enemy's ballistic missile. The computer network with the help of data received from radars predicted the trajectory of the incoming Ballistic Missile.

PDV that was kept fully ready, took-off once the computer system gave the necessary command for lift-off. The Interceptor guided by high accuracy Inertial Navigation System (INS) supported by a Redundant Micro Navigation System moved towards the estimated point of the interception.

Once the missile crossed the atmosphere, the Heat Shield ejected and the IR Seeker dome opened to look at the Target location as designated by the Mission Computer. With the help of Inertial Guidance and IR Seeker the missile moved for interception. All events were monitored in real-time by the Telemetry/Range Stations, at various other locations.

[Dysta]

ORIGINAL: SASR

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

What about 1000?

(I know, these are civilian toys, but they did in flight formation as Guinness recorded it)

https://www.rt.com/in-motion/377133-lan ... ss-record/ (Video)
https://qz.com/908927/watch-a-guinness- ... -new-year/

Previous world record is 500 drones in Australia, by Intel developers.

[Tailhook]

ORIGINAL: Dysta

ORIGINAL: SASR

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

What about 1000?

(I know, these are civilian toys, but they did in flight formation as Guinness recorded it)

Do you have any setting besides "China does everything better 110% of the time"? This isn't even remotely comparable.

[hellfish6]

Some interesting articles about a potential future for the USN and USMC. Lots of unmanned stuff, light carriers, distributed ops, etc. Some task force organizations for scenarios. Slides and/or PDF format.

Restoring American Seapower: A New Fleet Architecture for the United States Navy:
http://csbaonline.org/research/publicat ... ed-states-

Will the U.S. Navy Build ‘Light’ Aircraft Carriers (Armed with Stealth Fighters)?
http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-bu ... alth-19413

[Dysta]

ORIGINAL: Tailhook

Do you have any setting besides "China does everything better 110% of the time"? This isn't even remotely comparable.

Exactly what I've meant. What else could do besides showing off by adding numbers?

[Dysta]

Scenario opportunity: Kim-directed decap-strike overseas.

Numerous countries wants Kim's head to ends his regime, but he have one from his closest 'rivals' first.

http://www.teletrader.com/reports-kim-j ... ture=hu-HU

[Hongjian]

Remember that rumor about the Air-Launched ASBM carried by a modified H-6K posted by me several month ago?



It seems like the H-6K launched ASBM project was real, after all, and a new IFR-capable variant specifically made for carrying an air-launched ASBM has conducted its maiden flight in December 2016.



So far, no real pictures exist. But the leaker has proven to be pretty reliable in the past.

Stay tuned for more leaks in the following weeks. Maybe we will even have a grainy photo this time

[xavierv]

French Navy Rafale M Fighter Launched ASMPA Missile During Simulated Nuclear Strike Mission

The French Ministry of Defence announced that a French Navy (Marine Nationale) Rafale M carrier-borne multirole fighter successfully launched an ASMPA missile during a simulated nuclear strike mission.
During the test which took place on Tuesday, February 14, 2017, a Rafale M took off from the Avord Air Force Base and completed a flight of more than four hours. The flight involved all the phases of an airborne deterrent mission: transit flight, successive refuelings, low-altitude penetration, very low altitude phase with terrain following radar and precision launch of the ASMPA missile on a test area at the DGA missile test center of Biscarrosse (South West of France).

This assessment and evaluation of the Rafale / ASMPA missile combo is representative of a real mission of the French airborne nuclear component.

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ssion.html

French Navy Aircraft Carrier Charles de Gaulle in Dry Dock for Mid-Life Refit & Upgrade

Charles de Gaulle, the French Navy's (Marine Nationale) sole nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, entered a dry dock this week at Toulon naval base following 15 years of operational deployments during which it was involved in most of the international conflicts in which France took part (Afghanistan, Libya, Levant) and in particular three times since January 2015.

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... grade.html

[Hongjian]

https://www.iiss.org/en/militarybalance ... pment-4aa5

IISS on the new very long range anti air missile.

[Dysta]

A 360-footage of Kuznetsov deck operation. Use your mouse or wear VR goggle to look around:

https://youtu.be/S3P3wTLb3AE

[AlGrant]

Seen on Twitter:
Brazil abandons modernisation plans and decides to decommission its aircraft carrier.
Not seen another source for this yet, but if true then no great surprise.

https://twitter.com/jrvianney/status/831652917635596290

[xavierv]

More details:

Brazil Gives Up Modernization Plans for Aircraft Carrier Sao Paulo, Prepares for Decommissioning

According to Brazilian daily newspaper Estado, the Brazilian Navy (Marinha do Brasil) has just decided to decommission its sole aircraft carrier Sao Paulo (hull number A12) acquired from France in 2000. Brazil has long been considering a modernization plan for the aircraft carrier with French naval shipbuilding group DCNS, but according to Estado, "modernization costs were considered excessive by the admiralty".

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... oning.html

[Dysta]

Retooled old military vehicles, especially tanks, could possibly very cost-saving and efficient to develop engineering machines.

Like this snowdragon, for example:

[BradOrbital]

Brilliant! Would certainly repaint it a brighter colour if used in civilian zones.

[DeSade]

Soon no more force feeding ice cream and apple pie:

http://www.defensenews.com/articles/air ... y-as-april

[wild_Willie2]

MARTE ER missile to be integrated on the Typhoon (Its already in service with the Italians but not in the database yet).

MARTE ER represents the 3rd generation within the MARTE family of missile systems and is derived from MARTE MK2/S which is already in service with the Italian Navy on its NFH90 and AW101 helicopters. The main difference between the two lies in the introduction of a turbo engine in place of the rocket motor. MARTE ER missile is going to be integrated on Eurofighter TYPHOON and other fast jets. MARTE ER’s design takes into account that MARTE MK2/S is already qualified and installed on these two platforms. This offers the following advantages:

Same mechanical, functional & electrical helicopter interfaces
No platform hardware changes required to manage the MARTE ER missile, only software changes to the Store Management System (SMS) are required to manage longer range performance
The helicopter, with the new version of SMS software, is able to operate both MARTE MK2/S and MARTE ER missiles
Same logistic support, in terms of benches, trolley and most handling & maintenance tools and schedule

http://www.mbda-systems.com/product/marte-er/

CHARACTERISTICS

Weight : 315 kg
Length : 3.60 m
Diameter : Max body diameter : 316 mm
Range : Well beyond 100 km
Speed : High subsonic

[Dysta]

A wide spreading news in both China and Taiwan, that Wendell suggested to sell 150 F-35A and 60 F-35B to Taiwan for replace the old F-5 and Mirage 2000, as well as to equalize the Chinese expanding stealth assets. This article however ended up into major debate because of steep price and potential technology espionage:

https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defe ... relations/

Though these ten recommendations might enrage Beijing, there are other more upsetting items on the horizon that would drive China over the edge.

One is the prospect that Taiwan will request procurement of the F-35 fighter. Taiwanese military sources indicate that the air force will soon have a requirement to procure 60 F-35B short take-off/vertical landing fighters and 150 F-35A conventional fighters to replace ageing Mirage 2000s, Indigenous Defence Fighters and F-5 Tigers.

The US released a $3.4 billion upgrade programme for Taiwan’s 144 remaining F-16A/B Block 20 fighters, but withheld its request for 66 new F-16C/D Block 50/52 fighters, citing Beijing’s threats that the sale would be a red line.