ANTI-SHIP MISSILE DEFENCE TRIALS HEAD TO SEA

With little fanfare but great expectations, HMAS Perth (Captain Malcolm Wise) proceeded into the sea-phase of her Anzac Class Anti-Ship Missile Defence (ASMD) trials program.

Perth has undertaken major modifications as part of the ASMD upgrade project, SEA 1448 Phase 2, being undertaken by the Defence Materiel Organisation.

Perth completed her initial phase of the upgrade on 14 October last year, with a cold move from the Australian Marine Complex at Henderson to Fleet Base West (FBW).

She underwent her second phase of system set to work and harbour acceptance trials alongside FBW and has since successfully completed Combat Systems Certification and Mariner Skills Evaluation, allowing her to start sea trials on 21 February.

The extensive sea-trials are intended to verify and validate the ASMD capability changes in addition to other modifications that were made to enhance FFHstability, including enclosing the quarterdeck and adding ballast.

ASMD project modifications centre around the Australian designed and built (by CEA Technologies at Fyshwick, ACT) fourth generation leading edge technology active Phased Array Radar, housed in the distinctive cupola that sits atop the aft mast.

Russian Air Force to receive strike aircraft from Navy

MOSCOW (BNS): Russian Navy is planning to relocate some of its naval strike aircraft to the Air Force by the end of 2011, according to a media report.

Russian Air Force will receive Tu-22M3 Backfire long-range bombers, MiG-31 Foxhound interceptors, Su-27 Flanker fighter jets and Su-24 Fencer attack aircraft from the Navy.

According to RIA Novosti, the strike component of naval aviation will be transferred under the control of the Russian Air Force by the end of the year.

The Russian Naval aviation will be left with the Su-33 Flanker D and Su-25UTG Frogfoot carrier-based aircraft, Il-38 May and Be-12 anti-submarine warfare aircraft.

The Black Sea Fleet's Su-24 attack aircraft based in the Crimea under a treaty with Ukraine will also remain under the control of the Navy, it said.

Raytheon Missiles Used in Libya Won’t Need Replacement Purchases

The Navy won’t buy specific replacements from Raytheon Co. (RTN) for 162 Tomahawk cruise missiles that were fired at Libyan air defenses in the opening days of the U.S.-led coalition’s campaign to set up a no-fly zone.

“The Tomahawks that were shot are part of our current inventory; there are more than ample replacements for those, more than ample,” Admiral Gary Roughead, the chief of naval operations, told reporters in Washington. The Navy has more than 3,000 Tomahawks, he said.

The opening rounds of the coalition action, named Operation Odyssey Dawn, followed the script of major operations since 1991 with the launch of Raytheon Tomahawk missiles to destroy air defenses and clear a path for manned aircraft.

The first strikes on March 19 involved 124 missiles against more than 20 targets, and thirty-eight additional missiles were fired later. By contrast, 288 Tomahawks were fired in the 1991Gulf War.

The Navy’s current five-year budget plan through 2016 projects buying 980 of the newest Tactical Tomahawks. Each missile costs about $1.4 million in today’s dollars, according to the Navy. Raytheon’s Tucson, Arizona-based missile unit makes the weapon. The Tactical Tomahawk is guided by global positioning system coordinates and is capable of loitering over a target and receiving new targeting information in flight.

Indian defence majors to participate in IMDEX Asia 2011

NEW DELHI (PTI): Premier Indian defence companies BrahMos Aerospace and Pipavav Shipyard may showcase their products at IMDEX 2011, the international maritime defence show to be held in Singapore in May, in which many global defence majors will participate.

"Indian companies that have expressed interest in participating in the exhibition include BrahMos Aerospace and Pipavav Shipyard. As a thriving defence hub, we look forward to India's valuable contributions at activities and conferences organised at IMDEX Asia 2011," Jimmy Lau, Managing Director of Experia Events, organiser of the show, told reporters here.

IMDEX Asia will see participation from more than 150 companies and global defence majors like DCNS, Lockheed Martin, MBDA, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and ThyssenKrupp Marine.

The four-day event from May 18 to 20 will take place at the Changi Exhibition Centre (CEC) and will also host around 20 warships from various navies.

Russia ready to equip Borey class sub with Bulava missiles

A missile production plant in southern Siberia has produced enough Bulava ballistic missiles to complete its tests and arm the first Borey class strategic submarine, Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said on Monday.

"A batch of missiles sufficient to finish the tests and equip one submarine has been produced already. Larger production would cause the missiles to stock up," Ivanov said after a meeting of defense industry officials in the southern Siberian republic of Udmurtia.

The Bulava (SS-NX-30) submarine-launched ballistic missile carries up to 10 MIRV warheads and has a range of over 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles).

Missiles target Libyan air defences

BRITISH submariners have pinpointed key air defence installations in two nights of cruise missile strikes against Libya.

The launches from the Trafalgar-class boat – the first since the 2003 war against Saddam Hussein – are the Navy’s contribution to a rain of fire and steel which has landed on Colonel Gaddafi’s forces as Allied nations enforce UN Security Council Resolution 1973.

Aside from the Tomahawk strikes from the submarine – its identity is classified for security reasons – frigates HMS Westminster and Cumberland are on patrol off Libya enforcing an arms embargo under Operation Ellamy, the UK’s military action in support of the UN resolution.

Targets from Zuwara in western Libya to the rebel-held port of Benghazi in the east, plus a military command centre in the city’s capital of Tripoli have been attacked in the concerted Allied series of air and missile strikes.

In addition to the RN’s role in the operation, RAF Tornados have fired bunker-busting Storm Shadow missiles after conducting the longest strike missions since the Falklands conflict.

Major General Jon Lorimer, the Chief of Defence Staff’s spokesman, said the targets had been “carefully selected to avoid civilian casualties and to strike at key military installations in Libya”.

He added: “The campaign Colonel Gaddafi has been waging against his own people is brutal and wrong. The international community has a duty to stop the violence against the Libyan people.”

Rear Admiral Ian Corder, Commander Operations, is directing the RN’s operations from the joint military headquarters in Northwood. At present, Westminster is off Benghazi while Cumberland and the T-boat remain in the area.

Russia to lease nuclear submarine to India

Russia will lease a nuclear powered submarine to India before October, a Russian Navy Staff admiral said on Wednesday.

Previous media reports said that the K-152 Nerpa attack submarine had already been transferred to India on a 10-year lease.

"The submarine is completely ready for transfer. An Indian crew is currently training aboard with Russian instructors," the admiral - who requested anonymity - said.

The training course includes the launching of cruise missiles, he added.

"This should be completed before October: We're running late as it is," the admiral said.

Twenty sailors were killed onboard the submarine as the K-152 Nerpa was undergoing sea trials in the Sea of Japan in November 2008. A fire extinguishing system malfunctioned leading to the discharge of a toxic gas.

The boat is now fully operational after repairs.

The $900-million lease contract was drawn up after Moscow and New Delhi struck a deal in January 2004 where India agreed to fund part of the Nerpa's construction.

The Nerpa was originally scheduled to be inducted into the Indian Navy as INS Chakra by mid-2008.

Radiation Forces US 7th Fleet to Reposition Ships

The U.S. 7th Fleet has temporarily repositioned its ships and aircraft away from Japan’s Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Plant after detecting low-level contamination in the air and on its aircraft operating in the area.

The source of this airborne radioactivity is a radioactive plume released from the power plant, officials said.

In a statement announcing the decision, officials emphasized that the maximum potential radiation dose received by anyone aboard a ship that passed through the area was less than the radiation exposure received from about a month of exposure to natural background radiation from sources such as rocks, soil and the sun.

The USS Ronald Reagan was operating about 100 miles northeast of the power plant at the time. Using sensitive instruments, precautionary measurements of three helicopter aircrews returning to the ship after conducting disaster relief missions near Sendai identified low levels of radioactivity on 17 air crew members.

The low-level radioactivity was easily removed from affected personnel by washing with soap and water, officials said, and no further contamination was detected afterward.

But as a precautionary measure, officials said, USS Ronald Reagan and other U.S. 7th Fleet ships conducting disaster response operations in the area have moved out of the downwind direction from the site to assess the situation and determine what appropriate mitigating actions are necessary.

“We remain committed to our mission of providing assistance to the people of Japan,” the 7th Fleet statement said.

First Scorpene submarine delivery in 2015: Antony

NEW DELHI (PTI): The delivery of the first Scorpene submarine under Project-75 to the Indian Navy has been put off till second half of 2015, Parliament was informed Monday.

In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Defence Minister A K Antony said, "The first submarine is now scheduled to be delivered in the second half of 2015. There has been delay due to initial teething problems, absorption of complex technology, augmentation of MDL Infrastructure and procurement of purchased material."

A programme for construction of six submarine is currently underway at Mazagaon Dock Limited (MDL), Mumbai under Project-75.

"As per the contract, first submarine was scheduled to be delivered in December 2012 and thereafter, one each every year till December 2017," Antony said.

Informing the House on increase in the project cost, he said, "Government has accorded approval for revision in the cost of Project-75 on account of increase in cost of items purchased by the MDL, related subheads and additional infrastructure."

He said that the Defence Procurement Procedure 2011 has envisaged monitoring of all acquisitions to rule out slippages.

"To ensure that no such slippages occur in future, DPP-2011 envisages close monitoring of acquisitions cases at appropriate level," Antony said.

BRAHMOS underwater test-firing by year-end

NEW DELHI (PTI): India will testfire the submarine-launched version of the 290km range BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile by the end of this year.

"We will testfire the underwater version of the missile by the end of this year after we get the pontoon for the purpose," BrahMos Aerospace chief A Sivathanu Pillai told reporters here.

Underwater weapon-delivery platforms are considered to be the most potent second strike capability of countries' defence strength.

India has developed significant underwater weapon delivery platforms in the recent past including an indigenously-built nuclear submarine INS Arihant and successfully test-fired the nuclear capable 700km range K-15 Shaurya missile.

Pak plans to acquire six submarines from China

ISLAMABAD (PTI): After inducting advance fighter jets from China, Pakistan plans to buy six state-of-the-art submarines from the neighbouring country in a bid to boost its under-sea warfare capabilities.

Islamabad is planning to buy six submarines outright with options of joint development of conventional submarines with China, The Express Tribune reported.

The newspaper did not mention the class of submarines being sought by Pakistan saying merely that Islamabad wanted advanced under-sea vessels with air independent propulsion (AIP) system, which would give them capabilities to stay submerged longer and operate noiselessly.

The Defence Ministry has asked the federal Cabinet to approve the purchase of Chinese submarines to counter “emerging threats” faced by Pakistan, the paper said.

Marines Declare AH-1Z Cobra Operational

The Marine Corps' newest attack helicopter, the AH-1Z Cobra, achieved Initial Operating Capability ahead of schedule in February.

"Getting the AH-1Z to IOC has been a huge achievement for the entire team," said Col. Harry Hewson, program manager for U.S. Marine Corps Light and Attack Helicopters. "Now we get to put the Zulu in the hands of the Marines and prove that it is indeed the most capable marinized attack helicopter in the world."

As part of the H-1 Upgrades Program, the AH-1Z replaces the currently fielded AH-1W. The AH-1Z will serve a primary role in assault support, offensive air support and air reconnaissance. Cobras will play a supporting role in anti-air warfare, electronic warfare, and control of aircraft and missiles.

The new Cobras feature 10,000 flight-hour airframes, a new four-bladed rotor system with semi-automatic blade fold of the new composite rotor blades, new performance matched transmissions, a new four-bladed tail rotor and drive system, upgraded landing gear, and pylon structural modifications. The Cobra also incorporates modernized, fully integrated cockpits/avionics that will reduce operator work load while improving situational awarenessand safety.

Philippine Navy to buy Hamilton class patrol craft from the US

Philippine Navy holds negotiations with US military authorities with a view to acquire the first of written-off Hamilton class USCG patrol crafts, reports Jane's Navy International. 

US Coast Guard (USCG) is about to decommission four Hamilton class ships in 2011: USCGC Hamilton, USCGC Chase, USCGC Rush, and USCGC Jarvis. In prospect, those ships will be replaced with eight newLegend class patrol crafts; two of them have already been commissioned into US Coast Guard. 

Hamilton class cutters were offered for sale and Philippine Navy sent a request, confirmed USCG. Officially, the delivery under Foreign Military Sales program will be formally declared in the nearest months. In case of positive decision, the 115-meter long ship will be the most powerful in Philippine Navy. 

Philippines expect the ship to arrive at Manila in the first half of 2011. Supposedly, the ship will replace the flagship Rajah Humabon (American Cannon class patrol craft built in 1943). 

P-3 trainer completes US Navy final fleet evaluation

PATUXENT RIVER (BNS): The P-3 Aircrew Tactical Team Trainer (PACT 3) has completed its fleet evaluation to showcase the capabilities of its training system, which emulates a tactical aircrew station, at Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, Florida.

The crew has completed the final four demonstrations to ensure that all performance requirements required by the US Navy are met, according to NAVAIR.

The demos Members of the Naval Aviation Training Systems programme office (PMA-205), along with representatives from the fleet, looked on as the Patrol Squadron THIRTY (VP-30) fleet project team tested the device using various anti-submarine warfare (ASW) scenarios.

New attack aircrafts Su-24M to join Black Sea Fleet

New attack aircrafts Su-24M will be soon commissioned into Black Sea Fleet (BSF); however, the fleet lacks experienced pilots because they have been dismissed in result of the military "reform". BSF has no simulators either. 

First-class pilots were "dismissed due to age limits and staff reductions", said BSF Naval Aviation Commander Alexander Otroschenko in the interview to the fleet's newspaper Flag Rodiny. Even 2 years ago BSF naval aviation had "large number" of pilots, underlined the newspaper. 

"At present, 80% pilots of attack aviation are not higher than third-class specialists", said the general having added that young pilots were being retrained. 

"After retraining course they will start mastering new upgraded attack aircrafts Su-24M which soon will come to airbase Gvardeiskoe", assured Otroschenko. 

Meanwhile, BSF has no simulators for aircrew training, writes the newspaper. The general hopes that an advanced simulator recently designed in Russia "will be put into service soon". 

Having assumed the office in Oct 2010, Alexander Otroschenko noted imperfect qualification of BSF naval pilots and rapid aging of aircraft park, reports New Region. 

"Currently, BSF naval aviation has no experienced pilots, navigators and snipers", stated the general.

US Navy’s aircraft carrier to take part in military drills with South Korea

SEOUL (BNS): US Navy's Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier USS Ronald Reagan will take part in the ongoing annual military drill in South Korea.

The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group arrived in the US 7th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) Wednesday. The AOR spans 48 million square miles, from the International Date Line to the Western Indian Ocean.

The carrier strike group (CSG) is comprised of USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7, which includes USS Preble (DDG 88).

While in the 7th Fleet, the group will conduct exercises and port visits to enhance maritime partnerships and promote peace and stability in the region, the Navy said.

It will participate in the Foal Eagle military exercise with South Korea.

The annual field training exercise which began on February 28 “highlights the longstanding military partnership and enduring friendship between the United States and Republic of Korea,” the US Navy statement said.

INS Vikramaditya started mooring trials

Aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya which is retrofitted for Indian Navy started mooring trials on March 1. Sevmash shipyard's director general Nikolai Kalistratov signed an order to begin the trials. 

This is an essential milestone in the carrier's modernization particularly marked in the general schedule. Outfitting works have reached the final stage. The ship has been gradually filled with equipment, mechanisms, pipelines, cables; and now all those systems must be tested in different modes. 

The trials will be conducted in accordance with special programs and techniques. Tests of main propulsion plant are considered the most complicated and important. The second large-scale goal is testing of radioelectronics, including Indian-made systems, and air-technical facilities. The main purpose of mooring trials is preparation of shipborne systems for further important stage – shipyard's sea trials. The aircraft carrier is planned to take the sea late in 2011.

Aircraft Launch Bulletins Move into Digital Age with Cutting Edge Calculator

Flight crews responsible for launching aircraft from the decks of carriers are transitioning into the computer age, with the aid of an Office of Naval Research (ONR) TechSolutions effort to move paper tables onto handheld devices.

The Catapult Capacity Selector Valve (CSV) Calculator, which is being developed at Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Lakehurst, NJ with New Jersey-based contractor Specialty Systems, could eventually eliminate the need for paper-bound launch bulletins. The device underwent final test and evaluation at the end of January aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Eleven members of the Truman's flight deck crew recently underwent three days oftraining with the Catapult CSV Calculator.

The capacity selector valve is used to set the energy level needed for a launch on an aircraft carrier. Calculations are based on aircraft type, weight and wind speed, among other variables.