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Results for "LPD-17"
Dead Aim, Or Dead End? The USA’s DDG-1000 Zumwalt Class Program
15-Nov-2009 15:31 EST |
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67% of the fleet
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The prime missions of the new DDG-1000 Zumwalt Class destroyer are to provide naval gunfire support and next-generation air defense in near-shore areas where other large ships hesitate to tread, possibly even as the anchor for an action group of stealthy Littoral Combat Ships and submarines. The estimated 14,500t (cruiser sized) Zumwalt Class will be fully multi-role, however, with undersea warfare, anti-ship, and long-range surface attack roles.
That makes the DDG-1000 suitable or another role – as a “hidden ace card,” using its overall stealth to create uncertainty for enemy forces. At over $3 billion per ship for construction alone, however, the program faced significant obstacles if it wanted to avoid fulfilling former Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter’s fears for the fleet.
True, or False?
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DID’s FOCUS Article for the DDG-1000 program covers the new ships’ capabilities and technologies, key controversies, associated contracts and costs, and related background resources. From the outset, DID has noted that the Zumwalt Class might face the same fate as the ultra-sophisticated, ultra-expensive SSN-21 Seawolf Class submarines. That appears to have come true, with news of the program’s cancellation at 3 ships. Or will it be 2?
The latest news involves more funds to finish the ship’s computing backbone, which has been identified as a concern in recent GAO reports…
Design & Preparations Continue for the USA’s New CVN-21 Super-Carrier
09-Nov-2009 17:24 EST |
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USA’s Nimitz Class &
UK’s Invincible Class
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Some nations have aircraft carriers. The USA has super-carriers. The French Charles De Gaulle Class nuclear carriers displace about 43,000t. India’s new Vikramaditya/ Admiral Gorshkov Class will have a similar displacement. The future British CVF Queen Elizabeth Class and related French PA2 Project are expected to displace about 65,000t (British) – 74,000t (French), while the British Invincible Class carriers that participated in the Falklands War weigh in at around 22,000t. Invincible actually compares well to Italy’s new Cavour Class (27,000t), and Spain’s Principe de Asturias Class (17,000t). The USA’s Nimitz Class and CVN-21 Gerald R. Ford Class, in contrast, fall in the 90,000t-105,000t range. Hence the unofficial designation “super-carriers”. Just one of these ships packs a more potent air force than many nations.
Nimitz Class cutaway
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As the successor to the 102,000 ton Nimitz Class super-carriers, the CVN-21 program aims to increase aircraft sortie generation rates by 20%, increase survivability to better handle future threats, require fewer sailors, and have depot maintenance requirements that could support an increase of up to 25% in operational availability. The combination of a new design nuclear propulsion plant and an improved electric plant are expected to provide 2-3 times the electrical generation capacity of previous carriers, which in turn enables systems like an Electromagnetic Aircraft Launching System (EMALS, replacing steam-driven catapults), Advanced Arresting Gear, and integrated combat electronics that will leverage advances in open systems architecture. Other CVN-21 features include an enhanced flight deck, improved weapons handling and aircraft servicing efficiency, and a flexible island arrangement allowing for future technology insertion. This graphic points out many of the key improvements.
DID’s CVN-21 FOCUS Article offers a detailed look at a number of the program’s key innovations, as well as a list of relevant contract awards and events. The latest news involves the imminent keel-laying for the first ship of class, FY 2010 budget figures, and contract awards and testing milestones for its revolutionary EMALS catapults and AAG arrester system…
LPD-17 San Antonio Class: The USA’s New Amphibious Ships (updated)
05-Nov-2009 15:16 EST |
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LPD-17 cutaway
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LPD-17 San Antonio class amphibious assault support vessels are a new class of ship which is just entering service with the US Navy. Much like their predecessors, their mission is to embark, transport, land, and support elements of a US Marine Corps Landing Force. What changes are the capabilities and technologies incorporated to perform that mission. This new ship class includes significant internal technology and design upgrades, and is designed to operate accompanying platforms like the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle amphibious armored personnel carrier.
Between 10-11 scheduled ships of this class are slated to assume the functional duties of up to 41 previous ships, including the USA’s older LSD-36 USS Anchorage class dock landing ships (all decommissioned as of 2004, LSD-36 and LSD-38 transferred to Taiwan) and its LPD-4 USS Austin Class ships (12 built and serving, LPD 14 Trenton now India’s INS Jalashva). The San Antonio class ships may also replace 2 classes of ships currently mothballed and held in reserve status under the Amphibious Lift Enhancement Program (ALEP): the LST-1179 Newport class tank landing ships, and LKA-113 Charleston class amphibious cargo ships.
Welcome to Norfolk…
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Replacing that many existing ships is already a very tall order. While its design incorporates notable advances, the San Antonio Class has also had its share of teething problems. So, too, has the New Orleans shipyard to which most of this contract has been assigned. The number of serious issues encountered in this ship class have been much higher than usual, and more extensive. The initial ships have been criticized for sub-standard workmanship, and it took 2 1/2 years after the initial ship of class was delivered and accepted before any ship of class was sent on an operational cruise. Whereupon the USS San Antonio promptly found itself laid up Bahrain due to oil leaks. Meanwhile, costs are almost twice the originally promised amounts at over $1.7 billion per ship – 2 to 3 times as much as many foreign LPD classes, and more than 10 times as much as Singapore’s 6,600 ton Endeavour Class LPD.
DID’s FOCUS articles offer in-depth, updated looks at significant military programs of record. This is DID’s FOCUS Article for the San Antonio Class, detailing the ships’ unique features and capabilities, its program innovations and issues, ship timelines, and related contracts throughout the program’s history. As has become DID custom, the most recent additions are highlighted in green type. The latest developments include a contract to Raytheon that could be worth over $175 million, and the imminent commissioning of the LPD 21 New York, which contains steel from the destroyed World Trade Center…
SSDS: Quicker Naval Response to Cruise Missiles
03-Nov-2009 09:38 EST |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, C4ISR, Contracts - Modifications, Electronics - General, IT - Software & Integration, Protective Systems - Naval, Raytheon, Surface Ships - Combat, Surface Ships - Other
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Right now, in many American ships beyond the top-tier AEGIS destroyers and cruisers, the detect-to-engage sequence against anti-ship missiles requires a lot of manual steps, involving different ship systems that use different displays. When a Mach 3 missile gives you 45 seconds from appearance on ship’s radar to impact, however, seconds of delay can be fatal. Seconds of unnecessary delay are unacceptable.
Hence Raytheon’s Ship Self Defense System (SSDS), which uses software and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) electronics to turn incoming data from several systems (radar, radar warning receivers, combat identification, electro-optics) into a single picture of prioritized threats. SSDS will then recommend an engagement sequence for the ship’s crew, or (in automatic mode) fire some combination of jamming transmissions, chaff or decoys, and/or weapons against the oncoming threat. The entire ship’s combat system concept, including the sensors and weapons, is known as Quick Reaction Combat Capability (QRCC) – and SSDS is the key element that ties it all together.
Recent developments involve ongoing PEA contracts…
- SSDS: Current Versions
- Contracts & Key Events, 2008 – Present [updated]
Continue reading…
The USA’s New Littoral Combat Ships (updated)
26-Oct-2009 11:36 EDT |
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General Dynamics Team
Trimaran LCS Design
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Exploit simplicity, numbers, the pace of technology development in electronics and robotics, and fast reconfiguration. That was the US Navy’s idea for the low-end backbone of its future surface combatant fleet. Inspired by successful experiments like Denmark’s Standard Flex ships, the US Navy’s $30+ billion “Littoral Combat Ship” program was intended to create a new generation of affordable surface combatants that could operate in dangerous shallow and near-shore environments, while remaining affordable and capable throughout their lifetimes.
It hasn’t worked that way. In practice, what the Navy wanted, the capabilities needed to perform primary naval missions, and what could be delivered for the sums available, have proven nearly irreconcilable. The LCS program has changed its fundamental acquisition plan several times since 2005, and canceled contracts with both competing teams, without escaping any of its fundamental issues.
The latest additions include completion of LCS-2 builder tests, and plans to deploy LCS-1 ahead of schedule…
Aussie Anti-Air Umbrella: The Hobart Class Ships
21-Oct-2009 13:39 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - Other, Americas - USA, Australia & S. Pacific, Britain/U.K., Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Intent, Contracts - Modifications, Electronics - General, Events, FOCUS Articles, General Dynamics, IT - Software & Integration, Lockheed Martin, Missiles - Surface-Air, Other Corporation, Partnerships & Consortia, Policy - Procurement, Protective Systems - Naval, Radars, Raytheon, Sensors - Aquatic, Support & Maintenance, Support Functions - Other, Surface Ships - Combat, Transformation
F100 visits Sydney
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DID’s FOCUS articles offer in-depth, updated looks at significant military programs of record. The Royal Australian Navy took a pair of giant steps in June 2007, when it selected winning designs for its keystone naval programs: Canberra Class LHD amphibious operations vessels, and Hobart Class “air warfare destroyers.” This DID’s FOCUS article offers in-depth research and coverage of the Hobart Class competition and program organization, along with the new “air warfare destroyer’s” capabilities, and associated contracts, and related developments.
Under the SEA 4000 Air Warfare Destroyer program, Australia plans to replace its retired air defense destroyers with a modern system that can provide significantly better protection from air attack, integrate with the US Navy and other Coalition partners, offer long-range air warfare defense for Royal Australian Navy task groups, and help provide a coordinated air picture for fighter and surveillance aircraft. Despite their name and focus, the ships are multi-role designs with a “sea control” mission that also includes advanced anti-submarine and surface warfare capabilities.
Spain’s Navantia made an A$ 11 billion clean sweep, winning both the A$ 3 billion Canberra Class LHD and the A$ 8 billion Hobart Class Air Warfare Destroyer contracts. The new AWD ships were scheduled to begin entering service with the Royal Australian Navy in 2013, but that date has now slipped to 2014-2015. Recent updates involve a number of smaller contracts and progress reports, as well as the resolution of A$ 450 million worth of Australian shipbuilding contracts…
RAM Missile Systems: Contracts & Events (updated)
19-Oct-2009 10:19 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Asia - Other, Contracts - Modifications, EADS, Europe - Other, FOCUS Articles, Missiles - Surface-Air, Other Corporation, Raytheon, Support Functions - Other
Mk-44 firing RAM
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The Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) MK-31 guided missile weapon system is co-developed and co-produced under a NATO cooperative program between the United States and German governments to provide a small, all-weather, low-cost self-defense system against aircraft and cruise missiles. The RIM-116 was later called RAM (Rolling Airframe Missile), because it spins during flight. To save costs, Designation Systems notes that the RAM was designed to use several existing components, including the rocket motor of the MIM-72 Chaparral, the warhead of the AIM-9 Sidewinder and the IR seeker of the FIM-92 Stinger. Cueing is provided by the ship’s ESM suite or radar.
The latest additions to this DID FOCUS Article involves a contract for Block 2 missile development…
Electric Boat Gets Repair Contracts for USS Hartford Sub (updated)
06-Aug-2009 16:10 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Contracts - Awards, Events, General Dynamics, Submarines, Support & Maintenance
USS Hartford returns
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A collision between the USS Hartford (SSN 768), an improved Los Angeles-class sub, and the amphibious ship the USS New Orleans (LPD-18) on March 20/09 in the Strait of Hormuz, slightly injured 15 sailors on board. Both vessels were able to proceed under their own power after the incident, although the New Orleans suffered a ruptured fuel tank, releasing 25,000 gallons of diesel fuel into the strait.
US Navy investigators believe the Hartford rolled approximately 85 degrees during the collision. Despite the roll, the nuclear propulsion plant of the sub was unaffected. However, the Hartford sustained damage to its sail and periscope, as well as the port bow plane, according to Navy investigators. The USS New Orleans required dry dock repairs in Bahrain for the ship’s damaged hull and ballast tanks, and a ruptured fuel tank.
The damaged USS Hartford, which was brought back to Submarine Base New London after the collision, is being repaired by General Dynamics’ Electric Boat Corp in Groton, CT, under contracts awarded by the Naval Sea Systems Command at the Washington Navy Yard, DC. The latest contract involves a hull patch and other repairs…
Continue reading…
ASDS Mini-Sub Program Sinks, As Replacement Rises
29-Jul-2009 17:05 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Britain/U.K., Budgets, Coastal & Littoral, FOCUS Articles, Forces - Special Ops, Issues - Political, New Systems Tech, Northrop-Grumman, Project Failures, R&D - Contracted, Submarines
ASDS
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In a program that began with great promise but soon spiraled out of control, Northrop Grumman has been building ASDS “Advanced SEAL delivery System” mini-subs as successors to the previous SDV (SEAL/Swimmer Delivery Vehicle) carried on US Benjamin Franklin class (SSBN-640) attack submarines.
In the end, however, technical, reliability, and 400% cost overrun issues proved insuperable. The ASDS program was canceled for all intents and purposes on April 6/06, but the existing boat was retained and improvements attempted. That has been cut short with the destruction of ASDS-1, and a less ambitious replacement program is beginning to take shape…
The USCG’s National Security Cutters
11-May-2009 11:30 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Budgets, C4ISR, Coastal & Littoral, Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Modifications, Corporate Innovations, EADS, Electronics - General, Events, FOCUS Articles, Issues - Political, Lockheed Martin, New Systems Tech, Northrop-Grumman, Official Reports, Partnerships & Consortia, Project Methodologies, Raytheon, Scandals & Investigations, Surface Ships - Combat, Transformation
NSC 1 Bertholf
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The US Coast Guard’s massive $25 billion Deepwater meta-program (really Deepwater-II given post-9/11 changes) has endured more than its share of ups and downs. Nevertheless, Congressional support remains strong, and efforts are being made to restructure the program and get it back on track. “Voted Off the Island: The USCG’s Deepwater FRC Program” offered an in-depth look into the difficulties faced by the USCG’s Island Class cutter modification program, and by the Deepwater Fast Response Cutter that was supposed to replace it. “US Coast Guard’s Deepwater Effort Hits More Rough Sailing” covers recent program developments more generally.
The Legend Class National Security Cutters are the largest ships in the Deepwater program, and represent the program’s flagship in more ways than one. The 418 foot, 4,300 ton ships will be frigate-sized vessels with a 21 foot draughts1, and are rather larger than the 379 foot, 3,250 ton Hamilton Class High Endurance Cutters (HECs) they will replace. Controversies regarding durability and potential hull fatigue, as well as significant cost overruns, have shadowed the new cutter’s construction. Nevertheless, the program appears to be moving forward.
This DID FOCUS Article covers recent developments concerning the Legend Class cutters. The latest developments involves final Coast Guard acceptance of the first ship of class…
