USN Awarded Gibbs & Cox LSCF Deal | Egypt And Argentina Might Get Tejas LCA | Taiwan To Boost Military Exchanges With US

Americas

The US Navy awarded Gibbs & Cox a $39.6 million future surface combatant force (LSCF) design and engineering contract. The contract, through February 2024, supports the next-generation guided-missile destroyer (DDG(X))and other emerging ship concepts. It also includes feasibility studies in support of the broader navy fleet.

President Vladimir Putin announced Tuesday that Moscow would suspend its participation in the last remaining arms control treaty between the world’s two main nuclear powers, Russia and the United States. He spoke ahead of the first anniversary of Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine, and the announcement is expected to be seen by analysts as a major attempt to raise the stakes in Russia’s confrontation with the West.

Middle East & Africa

India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has revealed that it is now in talks with the governments of Egypt and Argentina to supply a large number of Tejas LCA Mk-1A fighter aircraft. The announcement was made by company chairman Shri Ananthakrishnan during the recently held Aero-India 2023. As part of the proposal, HAL would deliver 20 Tejas to Cairo and provide a complete transfer of technology to produce the aircraft locally.

Europe

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded BAE Systems a $1.7 billion Future Combat Air System (FCAS) concept & assessment phase contract. BAE will collaborate with international partners to undertake “concept development, technology maturation, technical demonstration planning & critical program enablers.” As part of the proposal, HAL would deliver 20 Tejas to Cairo and provide a complete transfer of technology to produce the aircraft locally.

Asia-Pacific

Twenty-one Philippine Navy personnel were congratulated by Indian Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar at a valedictory ceremony after completing the operator training for the BrahMos anti-ship missile. Philippines ordered three batteries of the BrahMos shore-base anti-ship missile system in a deal worth $375 million in January 2022. The missiles will be operated by the Philippine Marine Corps.

Taiwan will boost military exchanges with the United States to curb “authoritarian expansionism,” President Tsai Ing-wen said Tuesday after meeting with visiting US lawmakers. The five-day US Congressional visit comes after a top US defense official reportedly made a rare and highly secretive stopover to the self-ruled island as Washington-Beijing tensions flared alleged Chinese spy balloons.

Today’s Video

WATCH: DDG X Destroyer, US Navy’s Next Generation Destroyer Warship Program

The USA’s DDG-1000 Zumwalt Class Program: Dead Aim, Or Dead End?

DID’s FOCUS Article for the DDG-1000 Zumwalt Class “destroyer” program covers the new ships’ capabilities and technologies, key controversies, associated contracts and costs, and related background resources.

The ship’s prime missions are to provide naval gunfire support, and next-generation air defense, in near-shore areas where other large ships hesitate to tread. There has even been talk of using it as an anchor for action groups of stealthy Littoral Combat Ships and submarines, owing to its design for very low radar, infrared, and acoustic signatures. The estimated 14,500t (battlecruiser size) Zumwalt Class will be fully multi-role, however, with undersea warfare, anti-ship, and long-range attack roles. That makes the DDG-1000 suitable for 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. 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 truncation to just 3 ships. Meanwhile, production continues.