ST Marine Celebrates the Naming for Royal Navy of Oman Second Al Ofouq Class Patrol Vessel

Singapore Technologies Marine Ltd (ST Marine), the marine arm of Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd (ST Engineering), held the Naming Ceremony today for the second Patrol Vessel (PV), RNOV Shinas cum the interim delivery for the first vessel RNOV Al Seeb, built for Royal Navy of Oman (RNO).

The Guest-of-Honour was the Commander of the Royal Navy of Oman, Rear Admiral (RADM) Abdullah bin Khamis bin Abdullah al-Raisi.

ST Marine won the contract to design and build four PVs for the RNO in 2012.

Read more

Future USS John Finn (DDG 113) Launched

The future USS John Finn (DDG 113) was launched at the Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) shipyard March 28.

During launch the drydock was flooded allowing the 637-foot floating dock to slowly submerge until the ship was afloat.

Once the drydock was fully submerged, the ship was pulled by tugs to HII's south berth where the ship will continue outfitting in preparation for test and activation and eventual delivery to the Navy.

Read more

TOW 2A RF missiles successfully fired from helicopter

In the first of its kind launch, Raytheon Company fired tube-launched, optically-tracked, wireless-guided (TOW®) 2A radio frequency (RF) practice missiles from an AH-1W Cobra attack helicopter during a December exercise.

Raytheon, working with the Naval Air Systems Command, fired two TOW 2A RF practice missiles at ranges exceeding 2600 meters. The two tests verified the missile's capability to be fired from a hovering aircraft and from an aircraft maneuvering to a threat. Both missiles hit their targets within inches of the aimpoints.

"Wire-guided TOW missiles have been fired from helicopters for years," said Michelle Lohmeier, vice president of Raytheon's Land Warfare Systems. "These shots demonstrate RF capability to be fired off platforms used with wired TOWs without modifications."

Read more

Peleliu to Decommission After More Than 34 Years of Service

The amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) is scheduled to be decommissioned after more than 34 years of service in a ceremony on Naval Base San Diego, March 31.

The last general-purpose amphibious assault ship of the Tarawa class, Peleliu's decommissioning marks the end of a career comprising multiple deployments to U.S. 7th and 5th fleets, humanitarian efforts and peacekeeping missions.

Capable of launching a coordinated air and sea attack from one platform, Peleliu has conducted 17 deployments, 178,051 flight operations, served 57,983 personnel and steamed approximately 1,011,946 nautical miles since being commissioned on May 3, 1980, in Pascagoula, Miss.

Read more

Mysterious mini spaceplane the next Atlas 5 payload

With its new homeport in renovated NASA space shuttle hangars off in the distance, the Air Force’s X-37 mini spaceplane will be launched from Cape Canaveral on May 6 for its fourth journey into orbit.

The Orbital Test Vehicle will be the primary payload aboard the next United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, the 54th Atlas 5 and ULA’s 96th mission overall. The launch has a codename AFSPC 5 for the Air Force Space Command flight No. 5.

Liftoff is targeted some time between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. EDT (1300-1700 GMT).

Read more

India to Purchase Harpoon Missiles Worth $145 Million

The Indian MoDs Defence Acquisition Council has cleared the purchase of another 22 Harpoon anti-ship missile at a cost Rs 913 crores ($145 million).

This was in the pipeline as a foreign military sales deal with the department of defence of the USA. The missiles are manufactured by Boeing Defence, Space and Aerospace.

The missiles will be integrated with the Sihsumar class submarines – the Indian version of the HDW submarines.

Read more

New marine strike helicopter to aid assault on land and sea

Russia will continue to work on building a marine version of the attack helicopter Ka-52, despite the uncertainty about the supply of assault helicopter carriers “Mistral” to the Navy.

“First, our own helicopter carriers are under construction, and second, a helicopter such as Ka-52K will be highly demanded on the ships of our surface fleet,” - Deputy Defence Minister Yury Borisov told TASS.

Two assault helicopter carriers, called “Mistral”, have been built for Russia by France but have not been transferred yet to the Navy, after relations between Russia and the European Union have deteriorated and sanctioned imposed after the unrest in Ukraine.

Read more

Saudi Bombs 'Destroy All Yemeni Fighter Jets'

Saudi-led airstrikes have destroyed every fighter jet in Yemen and forced Houthi rebels out of government air bases, a Saudi military leader has claimed.

A coalition of 10 countries began bombing Yemen on Thursday, targeting the Shia rebels and allied troops loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Saudi Brigadier General Ahmed bin Hasan Asiri said the aerial campaign had also "devastated" all known Scud missile launching pads in the Arab state.

Read more

SAF now able to deploy new, more advanced H-450 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will now be able to deploy a more advanced Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for reconnaissance and to gather intelligence.

The Hermes 450 (H-450) is the SAF's most advanced fully operational UAV yet, and is ready to be sent out for missions. It will complement the SAF's older Searcher UAV.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark the H-450's full operational capability status at Murai Camp yesterday, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen called it a "significant milestone" in the SAF's transformation into a modern and effective fighting force.

Read more

IAI To Supply Four Super Dvora Mk3 Patrol Boats To An African Nation

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) announced today that it has won a contract to supply four Super Dvora Mk 3 Fast Patrol boats to an African military customer.

The contract is worth tens of millions of dollars and all four boats will be built in IAI Ramta’s facilities in Israel. They are scheduled to deliver the boats during 2016. IAI has not mentioned the actual worth of the contract. It has also not disclosed the name of the country. These newly ordered Super Dvoras are stated to be used for coastal defense, EEZ and HLS missions.

"With an overall length of 27 meters, a top speed in excess of 40 knots, and equipped with a full suite of advanced weapons and sensors, this powerful boat will be an important addition to our customer's maritime arsenal for securing its littoral waters", said Nitzan Shaked, IAI/Ramta's General Manager.

Read more

BAE Systems adding new pier, dry dock to San Diego shipyard

BAE Systems plans to make a $100 million investment to its San Diego shipyard, adding another dry dock and pier to expand its ship repair, maintenance and modernization services for commercial and government customers, namely the U.S. Navy.

The new dry dock, which is under construction and expected to be operational in early 2017, will accommodate cruisers, destroyers, amphibious assault ships, mine countermeasures ships and both variants of the Littoral Combat Ship.

The expanded facilities could also service non-Navy vessels under contract, including those for Military Sealift Command, the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Maritime Administration.

Read more

Ingalls awarded $604.3 million contract to build third of five DDG 51 destroyers

Ingalls Shipbuilding has received a $604.3 million contract modification to build another Arleigh Burke-class (DDG51) Aegis guided missile destroyer for the U.S. Navy.

DDG121 is the third of the five DDG51 destroyers the company was awarded in June 2013.

"The DDG 51 program has been the backbone of Ingalls Shipbuilding for the past three decades," said DDG 51 Program Manager George Nungesser.

Read more

French BPC amphibious assault ships to receive remote weapon station, infra-red search-and-track system

By the end of 2015, the French Navy is scheduled to have begun upgrade work on its three Mistral-class landing helicopter dock BPC (Bâtiment de Projection et de Commandement) amphibious assault ships Mistral (L9013), Tonnerre (L9014), and Dixmude (L9015) with the aim of reinforcing their autonomous protection capability.

Each ship will be outfitted out with two Nexter Systems NARWHAL 20B remote weapon stations and two Sagem Electro-Optical Multifunction System - New Generation (EOMS-NG) day-night, gyro-stabilised, infra-red search-and-track optronic systems.

The current two 20 mm 20F2 cannons will be withdrawn, although the ships will keep their two MBDA SIMBAD launchers armed with two ready-to-fire MISTRAL very-short range surface-to-air missiles.

Read more

Australia eyes new air search radar

A proposal to replace air search radar aboard Royal Australian Navy frigates has received First Pass approval from the government.

The approval for project SEA 1448 Phase 4B – ANZAC Air Search Radar Replacement, enables the Department of Defense to keep working with Australia's CEA Technologies on development of a new air search radar that incorporates an Identification-Friend-or-Foe capability.

"CEA is an internationally recognized Australian company that developed the successful Anti-Ship Missile Defense 'CEAFAR' radar currently being installed on the ANZAC frigates, the Department of Defense said.

Read more

U.S. to Move Stealth Destroyers to Pacific Region

The U.S. will move its latest stealth destroyers to the Pacific region to counter unease over Chinese muscle-flexing, a senior American Navy admiral said Tuesday, while urging Australia’s navy to consider deploying new warships in U.S.-led “hunter-killer” patrol groups.

Rear Admiral Christopher J. Paul, deputy commander of the U.S. Pacific surface fleet, sought to reassure Australian allies at a naval conference in Canberra that his country was determined to maintain a strong Pacific presence by moving more warships to the region, including powerful Zumwalt Class destroyers.

He also said a new generation of Australian warships, including missile destroyers and large amphibious warships capable of carrying 1,000 troops and helicopters, might fit into a more muscular naval doctrine called “distributed lethality,” recently announced by the U.S. Navy.

Read more

This Duck Drone Could Spy on Enemy Subs

But building a flying-and-swimming robot is harder than nature makes it look.

Nature, which has no need for devices that spy on enemy submarines from the air and underwater, may nevertheless have invented their form: flying fish, for example, or ducks that can zoom over the water’s surface and dive beneath to feed.

But the Navy Research Lab, or NRL, which is working on a new drone that can both fly and swim, is learning that combining robots for two different purposes is not as easy as nature makes it look.

Read more

China's nuclear-powered submarines believed to be in service

An internet photo suggests that a Chinese shipyard has completed the construction of three 093G nuclear-powered attack submarines, and that the vessels entered service in February of this year.

Military expert Yin Zhuo observed that according to the original design, 093G submarines will have a strong anti-ship capability and penetration ability.

In the future they will add ground attack capability and a strong anti-submarine capability.

Read more

German army expands its submarine fleet

The German navy put its new submarine model U35 into service last week. At a cost of €500 million, it is one of the most modern, non-nuclear submarines owned by the German navy. It is the fifth of six submarines of the class 212 A series ordered by the German army.

The submarine, produced by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, was launched in Kiel in November 2011. At the time, the navy’s web site stated that this signified “a further step in modernisation and operation planning.” Four years later, the German army is even blunter about its purpose.

In his speech at the celebrations surrounding the U35’s entry into service in Kiel on Monday, rear admiral Hans-Christian Luther, operational leader of the navy commando unit, described the new “protégé” of operation flotilla 1 as a “capacity builder,” which further increases the capabilities of the German navy.

Read more

President reiterates Taiwan's push for local submarine program

President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) on Tuesday reiterated Taiwan's determination to push ahead with its domestic submarine program to modernize its fleet and bolster the country's defense capabilities.

"We aim to acquire new-generation submarines to safeguard our costal frontier," Ma said at a ceremony at which two military vessels -- Taiwan's first home-grown stealth missile corvette and a new supply ship -- were put into service.

"Submarines are the most significant weapon for a country in building naval defense capabilities. The military absolutely needs to acquire (new) submarines," he said.

Read more

Thales to develop robot to neutralise underwater IEDs

The UK and French defence departments have jointly awarded engineering firm, Thales, with a contract to develop an autonomous system for the detection and neutralisation of sea mines and underwater improvised explosive devices (UWIEDs).

Thales will work in collaboration with BAE Systems and partners in France (ECA Group) and in the UK (ASV, Wood & Douglas, SAAB).

The Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) contract includes three stages, starting with a first phase for design and is expected to deliver an autonomous, remotely operated mine countermeasure solution.

Read more

Pakistan sends plane, frigate to evacuate citizens from Yemen

Pakistan authorities has sent a jumbo jet and a naval frigate initially to evacuate its citizens and diplomatic staff stranded in war-torn Yemen, as Saudi-led air strikes hammered Shiite Huthi rebel targets, officials said Sunday.

"The plane has landed at Al-Hudaydah and boarding has started. On seeing the plane landing, stranded Pakistanis expressed their happiness by clapping," the ambassador told state channel.

Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif was personally monitoring the evacuation and had directed the officials to ensure safe return of every citizen, a spokesman of PM office said.

Read more

NATO Sets Up Information Warfare HQ in Latvia

The Latvian capital of Riga has recently become the new home of a branch of NATOChannel, a media content provider creating, video, audio, and internet content for the alliance, Latvian media reports.

The office, its staff relocated to the country from Kabul, Afghanistan, is set to join two other NATOChannel offices in Europe, located in Belgium and Spain.

NATO Communication Coordination, Public Diplomacy Division Chief Stephen Mehringer told Latvian business newspaper BB.lv that the Riga office will contain a regular contingent of only 3-4 journalists, set to report on the alliance's activities in Eastern Europe.

Read more

South Korea picks KAI, with Lockheed, for $7.9 billion fighter jet development project

South Korea chose on Monday Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd., which expects to partner Lockheed Martin Corp., to develop a midlevel fighter jet that will cost around 8.7 trillion won ($7.88 billion).

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) also confirmed its decision to upgrade South Korea’s Patriot missile system, with Raytheon Co. chosen to upgrade the launch systems. PAC-3 missiles will be bought from the United States.

South Korea has been trying to bolster its arsenal in the face of a missile threat from North Korea.

Read more

The MU90 torpedo operational on NH90NFH

The French Navy has declared initial operational capability for the NH90 NFH Caiman helicopters operating in the anti submarine role.

The French Navy operates 13 NH90 NFH in Lanveoc Navy Base and Hyeres Navy Base.

One French NH90 NFH is currently deployed with the French aircraft Carrier on the Chevalier Paul Frigate.

Read more

ABB Azipod D — New Marine Electric Propulsion System Uses 25% Less Installed Power

An impressive new offering for the good of marine electric propulsion systems was recently unveiled by ABB — one that requires, quite impressively, up to 25% less installed power than earlier models.

ABBThis new model, known as the Azipod D, also allows for greater design flexibility, as compared to other systems — as the design precludes the need for rudders, stern transversal thrusters, and/or long shaft lines.

“We’re excited to expand the Azipod propulsion family and make the benefits of electric propulsion available to a wider range of ships. Shipowners and operators demand solutions that are reliable and improve their competitiveness in a volatile market — the Azipod D is our answer to these demands,” stated Peter Terwiesch, President of ABB’s Process Automation division.

Read more

Defence Minister prepares plan to save Australian shipbuilding industry

Australia's embattled naval shipbuilding industry will be thrown a lifeline by Defence Minister Kevin Andrews, who will present a plan for continuous construction of warships to avoid periodic job losses and shore up political support across three states.

Mr Andrews will on Tuesday reveal the Abbott government is considering "a continuous build strategy" for more than $100 billion in new warships, submarines and other naval vessels over the next 20 years.

But he will warn that the industry must lift woeful productivity on existing big ship projects, that there may not be room for as many shipbuilders in the future and that warships may have to be retired from service much earlier than is currently the case for the scheme to work.

Read more

Chinese navy evacuates Chinese nationals from war-torn Yemen

China had started evacuating its 590 citizens from war-torn Yemen, Foreign Minister Wang Yi confirmed yesterday, as Arab leaders vowed to continue Saudi-led air strikes against Shiite rebels.

"We have about 500 compatriots in Yemen, and we are concerned about every one of them," China National Radio quoted Wang as saying on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan province.

"They will soon be on their way home safe and sound."

Read more

Will India Lease Another Russian Nuclear Submarine?

In December 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled to India, traditionally a major consumer of Russia-made military equipment.

In New Delhi, Putin met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the two pledged to deepen their defense ties.

During that visit, Russia’s trade minister, Denis Manturov, hinted that Moscow would eagerly lease a nuclear submarine to India if there was interest: “If India decides to have more contracts to lease nuclear submarines, we are ready to supply,” he noted.

Read more

Viraat decommissioning will not hit operations

The proposed decommissioning of the aircraft carrier INS Viraat next year will not affect the Navy’s operational plans, readiness or capability, says Vice-Admiral S.P.S. Cheema, outgoing chief of the Southern Naval Command.

Vice-Admiral Cheema will take over the Mumbai-based Western Command, the sword arm of the Navy, early next month.

Both carriers operated by the Navy — Viraat and Vikramaditya — are part of its potent Western Fleet.

Read more

Vietnam's Submarines to Counter China?

Vietnam and China have long contested claims over the Spratly and Paracel islands, including last year's dispute over China's attempted oil drilling and clashes between Vietnamese fishermen and Chinese boats.

As Beijing presses territorial claims in the South China Sea, Vietnam is arming itself for a potential air and sea confrontation with its larger neighbor.

Despite the difference in size between the two nations, particularly in terms of military power, Vietnam is not backing down.

Read more

India interested in buying Japan’s Soryu-class submarines

Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar has expressed his readiness to consider acquiring Soryu-class diesel-electric submarines used by the Maritime Self-Defense Force.

“We are very much interested in Japan’s technologies,” Parrikar said in an exclusive interview ahead of his visit to Japan from Monday.

The issue may be taken up at his meeting with Defense Minister Gen Nakatani the same day, according to Parrikar. “Everything is on agenda. We can discuss that issue,” he said Saturday.

Read more

Take a Sneak Peak at Israel's Secret Submarine Fleet

New footage from the Israeli Navy showcases the most advanced submarine in the IDF's arsenal: the Dolphin-class INS Tanin (Crocodile).

The nuclear-capable submarine boasts an array of sophisticated weaponry, as well as the latest in intelligence-gathering technology.

It stands at a whopping 68 meters long, compared to 57.3 meters on average for other submarines.

Read more

Thales wins French-UK mine countermeasures contract

On behalf of the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) in France and UK MOD’s Defence Equipment & Support organisation, OCCAr has awarded the Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) contract to Thales, in collaboration with BAE Systems and their partners in France (ECA Group) and in the UK (ASV, Wood & Douglas, SAAB).

Initiated in 2012 under a cooperation agreement between France and the United Kingdom, the MMCM programme develops a prototype autonomous system for detection and neutralisation of sea mines and underwater improvised explosive devices (UWIEDs).

KEY POINTS

• The MMCM programme is a key milestone in the transformation of mine countermeasures capabilities and the future operational use of unmanned naval systems.
• This major French-UK programme will develop a key new industrial capability for underwater and robotic detection.
• Split equally between the two nations, the programme will rely on innovations with an advanced level of technological maturity.

Read more

Marines show off Osprey by landing on South Korean ship for the 1st time

The Marines showed off their most versatile aircraft to the South Koreans this week, landing two MV-22 Ospreys on the deck of the South Korean ship Dokdo.

The MV-22s, from the Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 Reinforced, took off from the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard to perform a series of touch-and-go landings on the South Korean vessel.

The deck crew of the Dokdo guided the hybrid aircraft to a safe landing and then tied them down, as members of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and South Korean military looked on. Minutes afterward, they were released and the Osprey took off again.

Read more

First Air National Guard theater security package deploys to Europe

The U.S. Air Force deployed 12 F-15 Eagle fighter aircraft and approximately 200 Airmen as the first Air National Guard theater security package in Europe to support Operation Atlantic Resolve this week.

The aircraft and Airmen, from the 125th Fighter Wing, Florida Air National Guard, Jacksonville, Fla., are set to be in place and fulfilling the TSP mission by mid-April.

The TSPs will augment U.S. Air Forces in Europe's existing efforts as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve by conducting flying training deployments and off-station training with NATO allies to further enhance interoperability.

Read more

Crimea will place nuclear weapons on its territory on President’s orders - official

Crimea would support the placement of nuclear weapons on its territory once such a decision is made in Moscow, said the head of the republic, Sergey Aksyonov.

“If such an order comes from our commander-in-chief, we are going to support it,” Aksyonov said in an interview with the Sputnik news agency.

He added that he personally was sure that the nuclear weapons were perfectly safe for Crimea’s environment because Russian technologies in this field were the most advanced in the world.

Read more

Missile crews complete two successful test launches in one week

The Air Force this week successfully launched two unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles over the Pacific Ocean.

At 3:53 a.m. Pacific time Friday, missileers from Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, launched a randomly selected, unarmed missile at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The rocket flew for about 40 minutes and landed in the ocean near Guam about 40 minutes after launch, according to Global Strike Command.

The test was scheduled to verify the reliability of the Minuteman III rockets and provide data on how the missiles launch. The team included the 576th Flight Test Squadron at Vandenberg and the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom.

Read more

Finally, Army to get Akash missiles from next month

The Army will finally get some desperately-needed supersonic firepower to take on enemy fighters, helicopters, drones and sub-sonic cruise missiles after years of grappling with obsolete air defence weapons. What makes it even more significant is that the new weapon system is 96% indigenous.

The 1.13-million strong force will begin getting the Akash "area defence" missile systems, which have an interception range of over 25 km in all weather conditions, from next month.

Though quite late in coming, the Akash systems pack a formidable punch by being capable of tackling multiple aerial threats attacking from several directions simultaneously.

Read more

Wildcat maritime attack helicopter takes to the seas

The first Royal Navy Wildcat maritime attack helicopter has taken to the seas onboard HMS Lancaster.

The Type 23 frigate sailed from her home in Portsmouth on Saturday, March 21 for a routine nine-month Atlantic patrol tasking, waved off by hundreds of well-wishing friends and family.

HMS Lancaster is the first ship in the Royal Navy to deploy with the new Wildcat Helicopter and her crew is wearing the newest naval uniform in 70 years. She also takes with her the first ever Royal Marine chef to ply his trade on the ocean waves rather than on dry land.

Read more

U.S. Rescues Saudi Pilots from Crashed Fighter Jet

The U.S. rescued two Saudi Arabian airmen from the Gulf of Aden after their two-seater F-15 fighter jet crashed Thursday, a U.S. defense official said Friday.

The jet appears to have been taking part in operations over Yemen, however, the defense official wouldn’t say why the airmen ejected from the F-15 or why the plane went down over international waters.

Saudi Arabia requested assistance on Thursday afternoon Washington time from the U.S. after the airmen ejected from their plane, the official said.

Read more

Lightning jets that can't fly through lightning: Fears new £100m RAF fighter's fuel tanks could explode if struck by a bolt

RAF pilots have been banned from flying the new Lightning II fighter jets in a storm over fears the £100million plane could explode if struck by lightning.

The Ministry or Defence said that the stealth F35-B, which has been plagued by design flaws and technical setbacks, could not be flown within 28 miles of a thunderstorm.

Named ‘Lightning II’, it was even at risk of its namesake while on the ground with pilots told to move it under cover if less than 11 miles away from a storm.

Read more

Women to serve in Russian Navy submarines?

Women may be able to serve on Russia Navy submarines after 2018, a source in the Ministry of Defence told InterFax News Agency earlier this month. However, the Russian Navy has denied this report raising questions, again, on the role and place of women in the Russian armed forces.

Women have served in the Russian armed forces since the Soviet era. The navy, which is discussing the future role of women in the service, insisted that discussing the role of women was not discriminatory. After all, the navy has women serving in communications units, medical units and on shore facilities.

However, in the cramped confines of a warship, and even more so, a submarine, it is extremely difficult to create conditions conducive for members of both sexes to function together professionally, a fact highlighted by scandals in the US Navy.

Read more

This Camouflage Coating Hides Submarines From Sonar

Imagine a material that wicks sound across its surface like water droplets sliding over a windowpane. For submarines, such a coating would mean an entirely new way to slip past sonar without detection as sound waves pass harmlessly around the vessel.

Physicist Baile Zhang and his colleagues at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore think they may have found a way to design such a coating, which could work for any 3D shape—sharp corners included.

In a new research paper published in the journal Physical Review Letters, he describes why this theoretical material could work and what you'd need to make it.

Read more

'Type 093T' sub design breaks cover

A computer-generated image of a Chinese nuclear-powered submarine (SSN) has recently appeared on both news and social media websites. It illustrates a variant of the Type 093/Shang-class SSN carrying a docking hangar for a special forces swimmer delivery vehicle (SDV).

The accompanying text indicates the hangar can accommodate only about 2/3 of the length of the SDV (which it compares with the US Mk VIII SDV) and so remains flooded when the vehicle is docked.

Consequently, as transfer of personnel to the SDV cannot easily be achieved with the submarine dived, the graphic shows SF personnel being transferred to the submarine by helicopter. The article refers to this as a wet-deck system and the SSN variant as a Type 093T.

Read more

Northrop Grumman Delivers Center/Aft 'Shipset' for First International EA-18G Growler

Northrop Grumman Corporation has completed and delivered to The Boeing Company a major subassembly of the first of 12 EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft ordered by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

The subassembly, also known as a chipset, comprises the Growler's center/aft fuselage section, twin vertical tails and all associated subsystems. It is the 115th Growler shipset produced by Northrop Grumman and the first to be produced for an international customer.

"We are honored to celebrate this significant milestone with the U.S. Navy and our industry partners," said RAAF Director General Capability Planning, Air Commodore Michael Kitcher. "I am confident that Growler will provide our air force with the most versatile and effective airborne electronic attack platform in the world."

Read more

UK troops to train moderate Syrian opposition

As part of a wider package to ensure a robust international response to the threat of violent extremism in the Middle East, the UK will send around 75 military trainers and headquarter staff to provide training in areas such as the use of small arms, infantry tactics and medical skills.

Expected to start in the coming weeks, the US-led programme will train and equip thousands of screened members of the opposition over the next three years to help them defend Syrian communities against ISIL’s brutal attacks before leading offensives themselves.

Alongside the substantial training contribution, the UK will also provide headquarter staff to coordinate and develop the programme. The training will take place in Turkey and in other countries in the region that are members of the anti-ISIL coalition.

Read more

Army tests missile launch demonstrator

The tube integrity and missile stack integration of a demonstrator multi-mission launch system has been successfully verified in U.S. Army testing.

The testing involved the use of three missiles and was conducted by the Army's Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2-Intercept Product Office with support from the Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center.

The Army said the three missiles launched included an Air Intercept Missile 9-X that intercepted an unmanned aerial vehicle after launch, a low-cost active seeker and a mini hit-to-kill interceptor.

Read more

Al Nusrah Front video showcases more American-made TOW missiles

The Al Nusrah Front, al Qaeda’s official branch in Syria, has released another video showing its fighters using American-made TOW missiles.

As The Long War Journal reported earlier this week, Al Nusrah released a video featuring a TOW missile attack in the early hours of the jihadists’ newly-launched offensive against Syrian regime forces in the city of Idlib.

Al Nusrah continues to use the weapons against Bashar al Assad’s forces. Earlier today, Al Nusrah released the video shown above on one of its official Twitter feeds.

Read more

Nigerian Air Force receiving additional Alpha Jets

The Nigerian Air Force has acquired at least two second hand Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet trainer and light attack aircraft as it continues to expand its aerial fleet.

One of the jets was seen passing through the United Kingdom on 25 March, having travelled from the United States via Iceland. It then continued to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, on its way to Nigeria, reports Air Forces Daily.

It was flown by Air USA Inc, which specialises in military air combat readiness training and flies Hawks, Alpha Jets, MiG-29s and L-59 Super Albatroses. The Alpha Jet seen transiting the UK was cancelled from the United States register on 19 March together with a second Alpha Jet, both originally flown by the Luftwaffe before operating in the States.

Read more

Dutch sign deal to buy eight Joint Strike Fighter jets

The Netherlands has confirmed its decision to purchase eight F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters that will arrive in the country in 2019, the Ministry of Defense announced today. The deal was signed in Washington DC last night.

“It is good that after 12 years of political debate there is now clarity about the successor of the F-16″, said Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert of Defense.

“This is the point of no return. The F-35 is the most modern fighter aircraft that can be used for various tasks. Several comparisons have shown that the device complies with the Dutch requirements. This unit is important for the entire armed forces. Men and women who are sent on mission, must have access to the best equipment. Air support is indispensable and the device’s good sensors will strongly improve the information position of troops on the ground.”

Read more