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Results for "phalanx"
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 |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, BAE, Boeing, Budgets, Coastal & Littoral, Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Modifications, Design Innovations, EADS, Eng. Control Systems, Expeditionary Warfare, FOCUS Articles, Force Structure, Forces - Naval, General Dynamics, IT - Software & Integration, Interoperability, Issues - Political, L3 Communications, Lobbying, Lockheed Martin, Materials Innovations, New Systems Tech, Northrop-Grumman, Other Corporation, Partnerships & Consortia, Policy - Doctrine, Power Projection, Procurement Innovations, Project Methodologies, Protective Systems - Naval, R&D - Contracted, Raytheon, Rolls Royce, Sensors - Aquatic, Surface Ships - Combat, Testing & Evaluation, Training & Exercises, Transformation, UUVs & USVs, Warfare - Trends
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…
US Military Adds Heavy Trucks Under FHTV-III
22-Oct-2009 12:12 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Contracts - Awards, Delivery & Task Orders, New Systems Tech, Other Corporation, Trucks & Transport
THAAD on HEMTT
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With its bridge buy of FMTV medium trucks in place and the re-compete proceeding, and initial awards for the potential JLTV Hummer replacement designs underway, the next order of business on the US Army’s agenda was a new Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles multi-year contract: FHTV-III.
Oshkosh has provided the core of this capability for over 20 yeas now. Its Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks (HEMTT) and their 13-ton payloads are the mainstay of the FHTV fleet, serving in variants that include M977/985 Cargo, M978 Fueler, M982/983 Tractors, and M984 Wrecker; they also serve as heavy transporters for Patriot and THAAD air defense systems. M1074/75 Palletized Load Systems (PLS) and PLS trailers (PLST) are best known for their automated container/pallet loading arms, and for their Universal Power Interface Kit (UPIK) that can add modules for firefighting, construction, cranes, et. al. The M1000/1070 Heavy Equipment Transporters (HET) are flatbeds that can transport a 70-ton Abrams tank – or anything less – in order to save wear and tear on expensive armored vehicles and on the roads. A specialized FHTV truck called the M1977 CBT can even lay bridges.
Now the multi-billion dollar FHTV-III contract has been awarded – not as a re-compete like FMTV, but as a single solicitation. The new LTAS armoring kits are also attracting contracts. The latest awards include trucks for the National Guard…
- FHTV: Upgrades, LTAS, and RECAP
- Contracts and Key Events [updated]
- Additional Readings
Continue reading…
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…
Phalanx CIWS: The Last Defense, On Ship and Ashore
24-Sep-2009 15:50 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Asia - Central, Australia & S. Pacific, Contracts - Awards, Guns - 20-59 mm direct, Middle East - Israel, New Systems Tech, Northrop-Grumman, Other Corporation, Protective Systems - Naval, Raytheon, Spotlight articles, Support & Maintenance, Warfare - Trends
Phalanx, firing
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The radar-guided, rapid-firing Mk. 15 Phalanx Close-In Weapons System (CIWS, pron. “see-whiz”) can fire between 3,000-4,500 20mm cannon rounds per minute, either autonomously or under manual command, as a last-ditch defense against incoming missiles and other targets. Phalanx uses closed-loop spotting with advanced radar and computer technology to locate, identify and direct a stream of armor piercing projectiles toward the target (see video: MPEG | AVI, with hat tips to the good folks at Digg.com).
These capabilities have made the Phalanx CIWS a critical bolt-on sub-system for naval vessels around the world. The latest fielded development is C-RAM/Centurion, a land-based system designed to defend against incoming artillery and mortars. This DID Spotlight article offers updated, in-depth coverage that describes ongoing deployment and research projects within the Phalanx family of weapons, the new land-based system’s new technologies and roles, and international contracts from FY 2005 onward. As of Feb 28/07, More than 895 Phalanx systems had been built and deployed in the navies of 22 nations.
The latest additions include a program to upgrade Canada’s weapons, and a technical services contract…
Australia’s Hazard(ous) Frigate Upgrade
21-Sep-2009 10:54 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Australia & S. Pacific, C4ISR, Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Modifications, ECM, Force Structure, IT - Software & Integration, Issues - Political, Lockheed Martin, Missiles - Surface-Air, Official Reports, Other Corporation, Partnerships & Consortia, Policy - Procurement, Projects, Protective Systems - Naval, Radars, Raytheon, Scandals & Investigations, Sensors - Aquatic, Signals Radio & Wireless, Support Functions - Other, Surface Ships - Combat, Testing & Evaluation, Thales
HMAS Adelaide
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The FFG-7 Oliver Hazard Perry Class frigates make for a fascinating defense procurement case study. To this day, the ships are widely touted as a successful example of cost containment and avoidance of requirements creep – both of which have been major weaknesses in US Navy acquisition. On the other hand, compromises made to meet short-term cost targets resulted in short service lives and decisions to retire, sell, or downgrade the ships instead of upgrading them.
Australia’s 6 ships of this class have served alongside the RAN’s more modern ANZAC Class frigates, which are undergoing upgrades of their own to help them handle the reality of modern anti-ship missiles. With the SEA 4000 Hobart Class air warfare frigates still just a gleam in an admiral’s eye, the government looked for a way to upgrade their FFG-7 “Adelaide Class” to keep them in service until 2020 or so. The A$ 1.46 billion SEA 1390 project has not gone very well… but the new Labor government has just officially accepted the last frigate.
- Australia’s Adelaide Class & Its Upgrade Program
- SEA 1390: The Issues
- Updates and Developments [updated]
- Additional Readings & Sources
Continue reading…
DDG Type 45: Britain’s Shrinking Air Defense Fleet
17-Sep-2009 19:38 EDT |
Related Stories: BAE, Britain/U.K., Events, FOCUS Articles, Force Structure, Issues - Political, MBDA, Missiles - Surface-Air, New Systems Tech, Northrop-Grumman, Official Reports, Other Corporation, Protective Systems - Naval, Radars, Rolls Royce, Surface Ships - Combat, Transformation
Daring Class
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The 5,200t Type 42 Sheffield Class destroyers were designed in the late 1960s to provide fleet area air-defence for Britain’s Royal Navy, after the proposed the Type 82 air defence cruisers were canceled by the Labour Government of 1966. Britain built 14 of the Type 42s, but these old ships are reaching the limits of their operational lives and effectiveness.
To replace them, the Royal Navy planned to induct 12 Type 45 Daring Class destroyers. The Daring class would be built to deal with a new age of threats: from saturation attacks with supersonic ship-killing missiles that fly from the ship’s radar horizon to impact in 45 seconds or less, to the reality of future threats from ballistic missiles and WMD proliferation. Overall, the Type 45s promise to be one of the world’s most capable air defense ships.
This feature will become a DID FOCUS article in due course. Meanwhile, a reduced 6-ship program continues to move forward. Several ships have been built, but full capability is still several years away. The latest development is a half billion dollar maintenance contract for the fleet…
- The Type 45 Destroyer Program [updated]
- The Daring Class
- Contracts and Key Events [updated]
- Additional Readings
Continue reading…
Modernizing Canada’s Halifax Class Frigates
04-Aug-2009 12:33 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - Other, Americas - USA, BAE, Boeing, Contracts - Awards, EADS, Europe - Other, Events, Finmeccanica, General Dynamics, IT - Software & Integration, L3 Communications, Lockheed Martin, Middle East - Israel, Missiles - Anti-Ship, Other Corporation, Protective Systems - Naval, Radars, Raytheon, Sensors & Guidance, Simulation & Training, Spotlight articles, Support & Maintenance, Surface Ships - Combat, Thales
HMCS Montreal & sub:
HMCS Windsor
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Launched between 1988-1995, and commissioned between 1992-1996, Canada’s 12 City Class (now Halifax Class) frigates currently form the high end of its naval capabilities. The Canadian Navy has declined drastically from its post-WWII status as the world’s 4th largest navy, and the Halifax Class itself is finding that its open-ocean design is not suited to cope with modern littoral threats and improving anti-ship missiles. Replacement vessels are still many years away, which means that the 4,750t frigates will need to be modernized within the limits of their design if they are to remain effective.
Canada’s government has decided to fund that modernization, much as Australia and New Zealand are modernizing the Halifax Class’ ANZAC Frigate contemporaries. Refits are scheduled to begin with HMCS Halifax in 2010, and that ship is scheduled to re-enter service about 18 months later in 2012. By 2017, all 12 frigates are scheduled to be upgraded as part of a C$ 3.1 billion (about $2.9 billion) program.
This DII Spotlight article explains the scope of the upgrades, notes the current systems, and covers the contracts and developments involved. The latest addition is a contract for Indentification Friend-or-Foe systems, and the opening of a key program facility in Nova Scotia…
- Upgrading The Halifax Class
- Contracts and Key Events [updated]
- Additional Readings
Continue reading…
Australia’s Canberra Class LHDs
20-Jul-2009 06:42 EDT |
Related Stories: Australia & S. Pacific, BAE, Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Intent, Electronics - General, Europe - France, Europe - Other, FOCUS Articles, Guns - 20-59 mm direct, L3 Communications, Mergers & Acquisitions, Northrop-Grumman, Other Corporation, Policy - Procurement, R&D - Contracted, Remote Weapons Systems, Support & Maintenance, Surface Ships - Combat, Thales, Transformation
Canberra concept
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In May of 2006, “Australia Issues Official Tender for A$ 2.0B Large Amphibious Ships Program” covered the RAN’s decision to expand its naval expeditionary capabilities. HMAS Manoora and Kanimbla would be replaced with substantially larger and more capable modern designs, featuring strong air support. Navantia and Tenix offered a 27,000t LHD design that resembled the Strategic Projection Ship (Buque de Proyeccion Estrategica) under construction for the Spanish Navy. The DCNS-Thales Australia team, meanwhile, proposed a variation of the 21,300t Mistral Class that is serving successfully with the French Navy.
Navantia’s larger design eventually won, giving the Spanish firm an A$11 billion clean sweep of Australia’s “Air Warfare Destroyer” and LHD programs. These 5 ships will be the core of Australia’s future surface navy. The LHDs will be able to serve as amphibious landing ships, helicopter carriers, floating HQs and medical facilities for humanitarian assistance, and launching pads for UAVs or even short/vertical takeoff fighters.
The latest inclusion involves a successful early-stage design review…
