The entire fleet
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The prime missions of the 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, long-range surface attack, and ballistic missile defense roles. As such, the DDG-1000 is also envisioned as a “hidden ace card” that can use its overall stealth to create uncertainty for enemy forces.

At over $3 billion per ship for construction alone, and just 2-8 ships to be built in the class, the program faces significant obstacles as it tries to avoid either “technology demonstrator” status, or the fulfillment of Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter’s fears for the fleet. A follow-on CG (X) cruiser is currently contemplated, and the success of the DDG-1000 Program will have a significant influence on whether and how it comes to fruition.

This is DID’s FOCUS Article for the DDG-1000 program; it covers the new ships’ capabilities, key controversies, related contracts, 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 2 ships. A recent Congressional Hearing provides in-depth background information re: the DDG-1000 and DDG-51 programs, the decisions that were made, and shipbuilding options between now and the CG (X) cruiser’s debut in 2015 or so. That’s relevant, because the Navy has now reversed course and plans to ask for a 3rd Zumwalt class ship. The question is, will they get it?...

• Zumwalt Class: Program and Participants (i.e. “Continue reading…”)
• DDG-1000 Key Technologies and Features
• DDG-1000 Issues and Controversies
• Zumwalt Class: Contracts and Key Events
  • FY 2008 [updated]
  • FY 2007
  • FY 2006
  • FY 2005
  • FY 1998 through 2004 [new]
• Additional Readings & Sources
  
  Continue Reading… »

M777: dragon’s breath
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The M777 ultra-lightweight towed 155mm howitzer has an integrated digital fire control system, and can fire all existing 155mm projectiles. Nothing new there. What is new is the fact that this 9,700 pound howitzer saves over 6,000 pounds of weight by making extensive use of titanium and advanced aluminum alloys, allowing it to be carried by Marine Corps MV-22 tilt-rotor aircraft or medium helicopters, and/or airdropped by C-130 aircraft. The new gun is a joint program between the US Army and Marine Corps to replace existing 155mm M198s, and will perform fire support for U.S. Marine Air Ground Task Forces and U.S. Army Stryker Brigade Combat Teams.

Britain is also an M777 LWH development partner, but Canada became the first country to field it in combat via an emergency buy before their 2006 “Operation Archer” deployment to Afghanistan. This is is DID’s new FOCUS article covering the M777 program. The latest news is a request from Australia, and more orders from the US military…

• M777: Capabilities and Upgrades
• M777: Program
• M777: Contracts and Key Events [updated]
• Additional Readings & Sources
  
  Continue Reading… »

General Dynamics Team
Trimaran LCS Design
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The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) is the U.S. Navy’s newest surface combatant class. Optimized for shallow seas and operations within 100 miles of shore, but deployable across the ocean, LCS ships are a centerpiece of the USA’s new focus on littoral warfare. They will help to counter growing “asymmetric” threats like coastal mines, quiet diesel submarines, global piracy, and terrorists on small fast attack boats. They will also perform intelligence gathering and scouting using helicopters and UAVs, offer some ground combat support capabilities, and share tactical information with other Navy aircraft, ships, submarines, and joint units. Swappable “mission modules,” UAV robot aircraft, and robotic UUV and USV vehicles will give these small ships the specialized capabilities they require for each of these roles – and the quick-replace adaptability they need to keep up.

At present, 2 teams are competing for the final LCS design. The General Dynamics team is offering a futuristic but practical high-speed trimaran based on Austal designs and experience. The Lockheed Martin team offers a high-speed semi-planing monohull based on Fincantieri designs that have set trans-Atlantic speed records. Team Lockheed’s efforts have run into serious trouble, including cancellation of the contract for their second ship. The General Dynamics/Austal team hit the same rocks soon afterward, in part because of the US Navy’s unusual proposal for future business arrangements.

DID places recent developments in context by explaining a bit more about the US Navy’s new surface combatant; detailing the teams, key time line events, and contract awards under the program to date; and providing additional resources and links to complete our in-depth coverage. New material appears in green type. The latest updates involve mission module integration, a report on program status and costs from the Congresional Budget Office, and an article by Naval Technology that looks at the LCS program’s issues to date…

• LCS = Standard Equipment + Mission Modules
• LCS: Budgets and Program Structure [updated]
• LCS: Designs & Teams
• LCS Controversies
• LCS: Contracts & Key Events [updated]
• LCS Ancillaries: Mission Module & Weapon Contracts & Key Events
• Additional Readings & Sources
  
  Continue Reading… »

F100 visits Sydney
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The Royal Australian Navy took a pair of giant steps toward its future force in June 2007, when it selected winning designs for 2 new Canberra Class LHD amphibious operations vessels, and 3 new Hobart Class air warfare destroyers.

Australia’s ANZAC Class (Meko 200 derivative) and Adelaide Class (FFG-7 Adelaide Class) frigates have limited air defense capabilities. They would be hard-pressed to survive against modern anti-ship missiles, and even planned ANZAC upgrades would not make them suitable for protecting a task force. Under the SEA 4000 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.

After a long campaign that supported the creation and detailed evaluation of 2 fleshed out designs, the A$ 8 billion program has a winner. To the surprise of some observers, Australia’s 3 new “air warfare destroyers” will be… ‘Australianized’ F100 AEGIS frigates. Spain’s Navantia made an A$ 11 billion clean sweep, winning both the Canberra Class LHD and the 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.

This DID FOCUS Article explains the details of the SEA 4000 program, offers some details re: the winning design plus the losing “Evolved DDG-51” option, and covers the contracts and key events to date. Recent events include an update on AEGIS prouction, and a winner for the ships’ sonar system…

• SEA 4000: The Design Competition
• SEA 4000: The Program
• SEA 4000: Contracts & Key Events [updated]
• Appendix A: SEA 4000 Program Phase Organization
• Appendix B: Additional Readings & Sources
  
  Continue Reading… »

Stryker APC in
Mosul traffic jam
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General Dynamics Land Systems recently announced that the U.S. Army TACOM Lifecycle Management Command has awarded them a contract for 615 Stryker wheeled armored personnel carriers (APCs). Initial funding in the amount of $599 million was provided with the award, and GDLS says that the contract has a total potential value of $1.2 billion. Work will be performed in Anniston, AL; Sterling Heights, MI; Lima, OH; and London, Ontario, Canada. Work is expected to be complete by May 2011.

The Stryker program’s production contracts began in 2000; to date, 2,550 vehicles have been fielded. The base vehicle is also known as the LAV-III (Canada) and Piranha-III (GD MOWAG Switzerland), but American Stryker family APCs are outfitted with a set of communications and electronics equipment that makes them a unique variant. That uniqueness will increase, as a set of modifications including a slightly-sloped v-hull add on, possible addition of Javelin anti-tank missiles, and other changes are currently being studied and proposed as part of a “LAV-H” variant.

Strykers in the field have received mixed reviews. Their mobility on roads and advanced communications has often worked well in Iraq, though heavier IEDs began to take their toll later in the war. It also makes them very attractive to National Guard units for internal and disaster use, but the Army has fielded most of its Strykers with the active-duty Army instead. In Afghanistan’s rough terrain, on the other hand, Canada found that the LAV-III’s mobility limitations created unacceptable difficulties; they responded by fielding M113 tracked APCs and Leopard tanks as supplements, and canceling a planned buy of the M1128 Stryker AGS assault gun for their forces.

M1A2 SEP
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America’s M1 Abrams tanks come in a number of versions. In addition to the M1A1 that is now standard, the US Army is beginning to field its M1 TUSK for urban warfare. It also operates the M1A2 System Enhancement Program (SEP), currently the most advanced standard variant.

The M1A2 SEP is builds on the digitized M1A2 platform with an improved armor package of third generation steel-encased depleted uranium armor, a new command and control system, second-generation FLIR thermal sights that include a Commander’s Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV) for “hunter-killer” operation, the Under Armor Auxiliary Power Unit (UAAPU) that lets crews run key electronics without running the engine, and a Thermal Management System (TMS – i.e. air conditioning for crew & electronics). The M1A2 SEP also features enhanced electronics like color maps and displays, improved networked communications, high-density computer memory and increased microprocessing speed, a more user friendly “Soldier Machine Interface (SMI)”, and an open operating computing system that will make future upgrades and additions easier.

This DID article covers the M1A2 Abrams SEP upgrade program, and will be updated and backfilled as new contracts are issued and key events take place. New materials will be noted in green. The most recent addition is a $600+ million contract to begin the final set of SEP upgrades for the active-duty army…

• M1A2 SEP: Additional Background
• M1A2 SEP: Related Contracts, 1996 – Present
• Additional Readings & Sources
  
  Continue Reading… »

US M1A1s, Tal Afar
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On July 31/08, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced [PDF] Iraq’s formal request to buy M1 Abrams tanks, well as the associated vehicles, equipment and services required to keep these tanks in the field. It is likely that the tanks themselves will be transferred from US stocks, but this has not been verified. With this purchase, Iraq will become the 4th M1 Abrams operator in the region, joining Egypt (M1A1s), Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia (M1A2-SEP variant).

Defense-related order requests from Iraq over the last 2 weeks now total over $10.9 billion, and include tanks, wheeled LAV APCs ($3.0b), wheeled M1117 armored cars ($0.26b), armed reconnaissance helicopters ($2.4b), C-130J transport aircraft ($1.5b), and major infrastructure build-outs ($1.6b). Once a DSCA request is made, the rule is that Congress has 30 days to pass a blockage of the sale, or contracts may be negotiated and the sale can go through.

This particular Iraqi request could be worth up to $2.16 billion, and includes…

Continue Reading… »

USMC LAV-25
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July 30/08: The US DSCA announced [PDF] Iraq’s formal request for LAV the same kind of amphibious wheeled armored personnel carriers used by the US Marines, as well as associated services and some replacement equipment. When coupled with the recent M1117 armored car, helicopter, and infrastructure requests, the DSCA has announced over $7 billion in contract requests from Iraq’s military over the past week. The volume of these announcements, and their content, strongly suggests an Iraqi military that is making significant strides in organization and responsibilities, and is beginning to order the equipment to match. Time will tell.

The estimated cost, if contracts are concluded for all items, is up to $3 billion. The principal contractors will include General Dynamics in Warren, MI; Armatec in London, Ontario, Canada; BAE Systems in London, United Kingdom; Force Protection in Ladson, SC; Oshkosh Trucks in Oshkosh, WI; and Raytheon in Waltham, MA. Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of 24 contractor representatives to Iraq for a period of 2 years.

The exact request involves:

Continue Reading… »

Convoy lead, Tikrit
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Textron Marine and Land Systems’ M1117 Guardian Armored Security Vehicle (ASV) provide better mine and ballistics protection than the Hummer, coupled with with an armored turret that offers both mounts for advanced sensors, and firepower overmatch via a .50 cal machine gun and 40mm grenade machine gun combination in its turret. It’s a classic revival of the armored car segment, which had fallen into disuse but has begun to attract interest again.

The vehicle has traveled a lot of difficult roads, both inside and outside of combat. The US military was backing away from the project, until Iraq came along and military police adopted the 3-man vehicle. Textron had to undo production line shutdowns and rehire skilled talent, and they were just hitting their stride when Hurricane Katrina flooded their only factory in New Orleans. Heroic efforts were required to get it up and running again. When the US military finally got serious and began buying MRAP vehicles, however, the stretched M1117 ICV failed the tests and was removed. This was actually the vehicle’s second competition loss, following Iraq’s selection of the Cougar-based ILAV Badger as its mine-resistant vehicle. American MPs continued to order the vehicle, however, and an artillery-spotting variant known as the M707 Armored Knight also picked up a few contracts. A small order came in from the Bulgaria, but the USA remains the vehicle’s sole customer of note.

That may be about to change, however, due to a formal request from… Iraq.

Continue Reading… »

USMC RG-31,
IEDed in Iraq
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BAE OMC’s RG-31 was the first mine-resistant vehicle fielded by US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, where it was used by the 101st Airborne (and reportedly by SOCOM) as a patrol vehicle. Since hostilities began, a series of orders have been placed by US forces through an odd triumverate: General Dynamics Land Systems Canada was partnered with BAE OMC of South Africa and its GDLS parent in the USA. All contracts are signed through the Canadian Commercial Corporation, a Crown Agency of the Canadian Government (who also use RG-31s).

According to General Dynamics, as of August 2007, U.S. forces had ordered 492 RG-31 vehicles, including 309 of the improved RG-31 Mk5 variant for the U.S. Army and Special Operations Command (SOCOM). Almost none of these orders had come through the MRAP program, however – just 20 vehicles as of July 2007, even as competitors like Navistar and Force Protection had seen order book totals approaching 2,000.

General Dynamics does reap 50% of every Cougar MRAP order to Force Protection, via the Force Dynamics partnership, but the RG-31 had been MIA. An August 2007 order for 600 more vehicles put General Dynamics back in the game as a distant 4th place producer; hopefully, US forces will be able to avoid the initial maintenance issues that have given Canadian RG-31s problems in Afghanistan.

The latest developments involve a $500+ million MRAP order that has been driven by requests from Afghanistan… and the usual orders for spare parts.

• GD’s Other MRAP Entries: The RG-31 Family
• RG-31 MRAP Contracts [updated]
  
  Continue Reading… »