USN Plans Anti-Ship-Missiles On Amphibious Ships | Netherlands To Replace CIWS With DART | Slovenia To Buy C-27J

Americas

Teledyne Brown Engineering won a $39.2 million contract modification for the production of MK11 shallow water combat submersibles. The Shallow Water Combat Submersible (SWCS) is a manned submersible and a type of swimmer delivery vehicle (SDV). In the US Navy, SWCS, designated as Mark 11 SDV, will replace the current Mark 8 SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV). It is also requested by the Royal Navy’s Special Boat Service (SBS), which currently operates 3 SDV’s. Work will take place in Huntsville, Alabama. Expected completion will be by September 2024.

The US Navy plans to integrate anti-ship missiles aboard its amphibious ships, it announced this month, part of a larger effort to increase ship firepower. The Navy intends to experiment with installation of the Norwegian-designed Naval Strike Missile, part of the arsenal of future Constellation-class frigates, on a variety of vessels. This includes placing it aboard amphibious docking ships and Freedom- and Independence-class variants of littoral combat ships, US Marine Corps Gen. Tracey King, chief of the Expeditionary Warfare division of the Office of Naval Affairs, said.

Middle East & Africa

Kay and Associates won a $69.5 million modification, which exercises an option to procure maintenance and support services for F/A-18 aircraft and associated equipment in support of the government of Kuwait. A $2.7 billion deal for Kuwait involves Super Hornets built largely to the USN’s latest Block 3 standard. Work will be performed in Kuwait, and is expected to be completed in January 2022.

Europe

Netherlands has laid out its plan to replace the aging Goalkeeper close-in weapon system (CIWS) with a new solution that consists of the RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) with the Leonardo DART (Driven Ammunition Reduced Time of flight) 76 mm guided ammunition. According to Jane’s, the new system will allow Royal Netherlands Navy warships to react against incoming missiles as well as surface threats such as fast inshore attack craft. In March 2018, Thales Nederland announced the successful sea acceptance trials of the first upgraded system under the GOALKEEPER Upkeep (CIWS) program. The upgrade covers a new color TV and IR electro-optical set, latest generation control station, operational software, and processing power. These enhancements yield added accuracy, reduced reaction time, new prediction algorithms to improve fire-control effectiveness and enhanced multi-target engagement capabilities against the latest ASCM and asymmetric seaborne threats.

Slovenia is set to be the newest operator of the Leonardo C-27J transport aircraft as the country’s Ministry of Defense announced the purchase on January 15. The country had found that it needed a modern transport aircraft after the outbreak of COVID-19. It had found it difficult to bring back citizens from aboard and it also lacked an aircraft with suitable cargo carrying capability. Negotiations will start with the Italian government to purchase the aircraft thru inter-government sales. The contract will include training and maintenance of the aircraft.

Asia-Pacific

Canberra selected the Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopter to replace the Australian Army’s fleet of 22 Airbus Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters (ARHs), Australian Defense Minister Linda Reynolds said. The first of 29 Apaches equipped with improved sensors, communications suites, attack capabilities, and improved survivability is expected to be delivered in 2025, said the minister. While formal approval by the US State Department for the acquisition has yet to be announced by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the cost of the 29 Apaches together with spares, sensors, communications, training, and facilities is expected to be around $3.1 billion, sources said.

Today’s Video

Watch: Facts about the new Dry Combat Submersible submarine