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ORIGINAL: NakedWeasel

Here’s The First Shot Of The F-15C Pod That Will Change How The Air Force Fights

http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/here-s-the-first-shot-of-the-f-15c-pod-that-will-change-1750314539

F-15C/D with IRST is a even more scary platform than it already is.

ORIGINAL: jtoatoktoe

F-15C/D with IRST is a even more scary platform than it already is.

But it isn't entirely integrated into the airframe, an external pod will cost a pylon and extra friction in flight.

LMAO -- of course Rogoway fails to mention the considerably more advanced F-35 EO-DAS & EOTS

On this topic, I have a quibble about the EODAS and F-35 Infrared Pod implementation. There is no sign that they are fully functional IRSTs, including automatic long range search for fighters. In fact, it seems like the EODAS and the F-35 pod can do some IRST missions, but they are no way comparable to state-of-the-art IRST telescopes in foreign service. The evidence for that is that Lockheed is selling refurbished F-14(!) IRST pods to the USAF for inclusion into F-15 modifications.

The ones used for the F-15 are probably modified from the ones used years ago on the F-14. For reference.

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/dam/lockheed/data/mfc/pc/irst/mfc-irst-pc.pdf

As a passive, long-range sensor system, IRST21 uses infrared search and
track technology to detect and track airborne threats with weapon-quality accuracy.
Even in electronic attack environments, IRST21 provides autonomous, accurate
tracking data that increases pilot reaction time and improves survivability.
Beyond the detection of airborne threats, IRST21significantly enhances multiple
target resolution compared to radar, providing greater discrimination of threat
formation at longer ranges. Data from the IRST21 sensor system can stand alone
or be fused with other on-board sensor data to provide maximum situational
awareness to the warfighter.
A compact design enables IRST21 to be integrated in a variety of ways. On the
F/A-18E/F, IRST21 is mounted on the nose section of the centerline fuel tank. A
podded sensor system with IRST21 is also in development and will be transportable
across a wide range of platforms, including the F-15C and F-16.
Features
• Long-range infrared scan and detection of airborne threats
• Passive detection and ranging
• Large field of regard
• Immune to electronic deception
• Programmable scan modes
• Low false-alarm rate
• Automatic target detection algorithms
• Multiple mounting options

The problem is that the F-35 is a far more integrated and complex system requiring 6 separate IR sensors to give full 360 coverage.

http://www.northropgrumman.com/capabilities/anaaq37f35/pages/default.aspx

Designated the AN/AAQ-37 and comprising six electro-optical sensors, the full EO DAS will enhance the F-35's survivability and operational effectiveness by warning the pilot of incoming aircraft and missile threats, providing day/night vision and supporting the navigation function of the F-35 Lightning II's forward-looking infrared sensor.

The DAS provides:

Missile detection and tracking
Launch point detection
Situational awareness IRST & cueing
Weapons support
Day/night navigation

Furthing reading of DAS's capabilities here: http://aviationintel.com/f-35s-distributed-aperature-system-go-to-sea-as-silent-watch/

Both systems are implying automatic search function with automatic target detection algorithms, and launch point detection and situational awareness IRST and cueing, missile detection and tracking etc.



Further reading: The histroy of IRST sensors in aircraft and their pros and cons. https://defenseissues.wordpress.com/2015/06/16/airborne-irst-properties-and-performance/

http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/infrared-search-and-track-systems-and-the-future-of-the-1691441747

A fairly dated footage that is giving one clues of the maneuverbility of the J-10A fighter jet:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7592t-E6-1s

Beginning from 1:06 one can see that the J-10A apparently took only 5-6 seconds to perform a very tight turn of 180 degrees during an air-show back in 2010.
The performance seems consistent with other modern delta-canards, but still interesting to see footages that could give us some information about the possible clean-state turn-rate of the J-10 series jet.

AlmightyTallest - I didn't say that EODAS / F-35 IR targeting 'pod' couldn't do IRST, but they are not as good as a dedicated system. In particular, a dedicated IRST appears to include an infrared telescope with rapid scanning ability, to allow higher resolution search at distance. EODAS doesn't have that telescopic ability, so it seems to be limited to short ranged air breathing targets and long range rocket exhausts (which, as a huge heat source, are very visible in the infrared).

This perhaps requires differentiating between systems that are:
- incidentally do IRST missions, but are designed either for 360 situational awareness (EODAS) or are ground attack pods (Sniper, F-35 'pod,' etc.)
- dedicated IRST systems with the telescope and with the scanning motors and algorithm for long range search

The Impressive Commissioning Pace of the Chinese Navy (PLAN) in 2015

2015 was a record year for the the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or Chinese Navy) in terms of new vessels procurement. No less than 3 destroyers, 4 frigates and 5 corvettes were commissioned into the Chinese fleet. Let's take a look back at the impressive number of units that joined the PLAN's fleet last year.

more at: http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=3433

That is an impressive pace of production.

ORIGINAL: navyrecognition

The Impressive Commissioning Pace of the Chinese Navy (PLAN) in 2015

2015 was a record year for the the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or Chinese Navy) in terms of new vessels procurement. No less than 3 destroyers, 4 frigates and 5 corvettes were commissioned into the Chinese fleet. Let's take a look back at the impressive number of units that joined the PLAN's fleet last year.

more at: http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=3433

An incomplete list of all PLAN commissionings since 2013 here:


(Chinese, but the designations are still the same)

According to this, the PLAN commissioned 51 surface ships between 2013 to 2015, excluding the submarines (which are darn hard for amateurs to track, because they all look same, have no apparent penant numbers and literally noone sees them being constructed until we spot them out in the open).

Actually, this list is still incomplete:

Also commissioned are:

2 x Type 926 sub support ships (865 Liugong Dao and 867 Chang Dao)
2 x Zubr ACVs (3325, 3326)
2 x catamaran survey ships (Nance 430, Dongce 232)
1 x Type 909A test ship (894 Li Siguang)
1 x Type 815A spy ship (854 Tianlang Xing)
1 x deep sea cable laying ship (Donglang 885)

So, the PLAN has commissioned 60 ships in 3 years.

Not bad for the start, but not yet Cold-War US level (especially in terms of tonnage).

This could change in the next 3 years, when the PLAN is launching/commissioning bigger surface combattants.

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has ordered Gulfstream G550 Special Missions aircraft, although very few details have been released and it only became public knowledge after the following appeared on a US DOD website without any explanation by the Australian government.

"L-3 Communications Mission Integration, Greenville, Texas, has been awarded a $93,632,287 firm-fixed price undefinitized contract action task order (1648) for Australia Government G550 aircraft procurement and maintenance. Work will be performed at Greenville, Texas, and is expected to be complete by Nov. 30, 2017. This contract is 100-percent foreign military sales to Australia. The 645th Aeronautical Systems Group, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. (FA8620-11-G-4025)"

I am guessing they will be fitted with ELINT or SIGINT equipment as the RAAF already operates the E-7 Wedgetail in the AEW role and it's long been rumoured or reported without any official confirmation that a few of the soon to be retired RAAF AP-3C Orions were modified similar to the EP-3 Aries.

http://australianaviation.com.au/2016/01/special-missions-gulfstream-550s-for-the-raaf/
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-06/raaf-to-spend-more-than-2490m-converting-luxury-corporate-jets/7071902
http://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/639406

A photo of a weird looking Type 093 Shang-class SSN.
This submarine appears to be different from the Shang-classes seen before: This one appears to have some device running straight from one end to another and bending towards the tail and propulsion-area of the sub. This looks like the TASS-housing on the LA-class boats and was speculated to be serving similiar function.


^the newly spotted "improved" Shang-class SSN



^LA-class SSN "Salt Lake City" and its Towed Array Sonar housing, in a similiar fashion.

The prospect of this being Han-class like continuous drainage hole doesnt seem plausible, due to the line extending far towards the end of the submarine, whereas on the basic Shang, the "interrupted" drainage holes werent extending all the way back (since the rear balast tank wasnt in that position).


^basic Shang-class (2 in service since 2006, as per rumor)

All in all, the watcher community more or less agreed that this might be the Type 093A "improved Shang-class" SSN equipped with an LA-class styled TASS-housing. This SSN would be the predecessor to the Type 093B/G VLS-equipped SSGN which was spotted in 2013/14 at the earliest. Whatever it is, whether it is just a new drainage hole design or a LA-class like TASS-housing, this photo might be the evidence of a previously unknown Shang-class variant.

The fact that we only now have a photo of a class that is already superseded by a new class based on its basic design shows how hard it is for amateurs to get a glimpse on the PLAN's nuclear submarine force, which are arguably the most secretive branch of all Chinese armed forces (seriously, we know more about China's nukes than about their SSN/SSBN numbers and development/capabilities).

It's definitely a TASS. The longitudinal bulge has been a feature on US SSNs since the late 70's when they added retractable arrays to the Permit-Class. (In what I find hilarious, the third picture you posted is not an LA-Class, but is actually the USS Gato, a Permit-Class).

What does it imply? 093 have no TASS from the initial design? What kind of difficulty do they encounters?

China Commissioned the First Type 272 Icebreaker Haibing With PLAN North Sea Fleet

Haibing (hull number 722), the first ship of the new Type 272 class of icebreakers for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or Chinese Navy), has started its military service following a ceremony marking its commission held at a naval port in Huludao, northeast China's Liaoning province a few days ago.

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=3439

China Commissioned the 21st Type 054A Frigate Jingzhou with PLAN East Sea Fleet

The guided missile frigate Jingzhou (Hull Number 532) officially joined the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or Chinese Navy) on Tuesday. A naming and flag-presenting ceremony was held to mark the commissioning of the Type 054A Frigate to the East China Sea Fleet of the PLAN at a naval port in Zhoushan city of east China's Zhejiang province on January 5, 2016. Jingzhou is the 21st Type 054A Frigate and is assigned to the PLAN's South Sea Fleet.

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=3436

US SECNAV Names 1st Ship of T-AO(X) Next Gen Fleet Replenishment Oilers USNS John Lewis

The U.S. Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus announced that the first ship of the T-AO(X) next generation of fleet replenishment oilers (T-AO 205) will be named USNS John Lewis after the civil rights movement hero and current U.S. representative of Georgia's Fifth Congressional District.
...
The future USNS John Lewis will be operated by Military Sealift Command and provide underway replenishment of fuel and stores to U.S. Navy ships at sea and jet fuel for aircraft assigned to aircraft carriers. A contract will be awarded for the ship in summer 2016 and construction is expected to begin in 2018.

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=3438

ORIGINAL: Dysta

What does it imply? 093 have no TASS from the initial design? What kind of difficulty do they encounters?

Hard to say. The 093 in the DB is definitely not modeled with TASS, since there are no real-life picture evidence of that. At least no overt ones like in that recent photo. On the other hand, submarine TASS isnt always as obviously visible as in that picture of the LA-class/Permit-class (thanks, ExNusquam) or even the Pr. 971 Akula's famous teardrop housing on its tail.

Sometimes, TASS are hidden inside the hull as well, like in the case of this Type 212 SSK:



So, if China's SSK have some form of TASS IRL, they would also be stored in a similiarily 'hidden' fashion. But this "old-new" Shang might be the evidence that at least Chinese SSNs of that generation would have their TASS stored in the LA/Permit-class fashion.

US Navy's CNO Adm. John Richardson Released 'A Design for Maintaining Maritime Superiority'

The U.S. Navy's Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson released 'A Design for Maintaining Maritime Superiority,' Jan. 5, a document that addresses how the U.S. Navy will adapt to changes in the security environment and continue to fulfill its mission.

The four lines of effort are the following:
- Strengthen Naval Power at and from Sea
- Achieve High Velocity Learning at Every Level
- Strengthen our Navy Team for the Future
- Expand and Strengthen our Network of Partners

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=3443

Interesting USS Zumwalt iso pic found on the web

http://china-defense.blogspot.com/2016/ ... china.html



China's 10-12.000 ton coast guard ship patrols the East China Sea. Soon probably even around the disputed islands.

And the second 12.000 ton ship was commissioned:

http://china-defense.blogspot.com/2016/ ... f-day.html

It still lacks the PJ-26 (AK-176) gun, though.

http://www.andrewerickson.com/2015/07/p ... sea-floor/

Citing the People's Daily, it is claimed that this 12k ton ship is built to military standards and is capable of slamming into a 20.000 tonne ship (and a 9000 tonne ship - subtle hint at the Japanese Shikishima-class coast guard cutter) without incurring major damages to itself. A 5000 tonne ship can be sunk 'to the ocean floor'.

So, basically, China plans to use her 12.000 tonne ships as bumpers in the maritime disputes that are dominated by lightly armed white hulls. The PJ-26 gun on this ship is basically a reassurance, ontop the PLAN vessels keeping close watch behind them.

ORIGINAL: Hongjian

It still lacks the PJ-26 (AK-176) gun, though.

You sure? I see it hiding behind the green tarp. Might not be open until the proper commission, or under "code orange" situation for counter-intimidation when armed foreign vessels is nearby.

Besides, it's far too slow for ramming (only 23 kts at Flank), might be useful for intercepting heavy but slow vessels like barge carrier, cruise or commercial supply ships. But for putting it into the cost guard demolition derby, the fastest cutter will do the final talking.