Internationale ontwikkelingen op onderzeebootgebied.

[Harald]

All submarine projects overdue, Over budget

http://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2022/01/all-submarine-projects-overdue-over.html

[Harald]

Italië begonnen aan bouw nieuwe onderzeeboten

De bouw van de U212 NFS-onderzeeboten voor de Itanliaanse marine is op de scheepswerf van Fincantieri in La Spezia van start gegaan. De onderzeeboten zijn gebaseerd op de Type 212A boten die Italië samen met Duitsland ontwikkelde, maar de U212 NFS wordt door Italië zelf ontworpen en gebouwd. De eerste onderzeeboot moet eind 2027 klaar zijn.

...../.....

https://marineschepen.nl/nieuws/Italie-Begonnen-Aan-Bouw-Nieuwe-Onderzeeboten-130122.html

[Harald]

HENSOLDT To Provide Optronics Suite For Type 212CD Submarines

Sensor solutions provider HENSOLDT is equipping the German-Norwegian submarine project U212 CD with a fully digital sensor suite. The optronics division of HENSOLDT has now received a corresponding order worth over 50 million euros from kta naval systems, a consortium of Kongsberg, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systeme and Atlas Elektronik.

Norwegian and German submarines to benefit from technological leap to fully digital sensor equipment

HENSOLDT press release

The order comprises six optronic systems, consisting of an OMS 150 optronic mast system, an OMS 300 and an i360°OS panoramic surveillance system for each of the six submarines of the Norwegian and German navies. With the twin optronic mast solution, the clients opted for the technological leap from the conventional, traditional direct view of a periscope system to a completely hull-penetrating digital system solution.

HENSOLDT Optronics Managing Director Andreas Hülle says: "This combination provides the new submarines with sensor equipment that combines the highest detection capabilities even in poor visibility with a high degree of automation, thus significantly improving the boats' ability to act and survive."

The combination of OMS 150 and OMS 300 is being commissioned for the first time for the U212 CD class. The OMS 150, in its multispectral version, will be used as a search and surveillance optronic mast. The OMS 300 stealth optronic mast takes over the so-called "attack" function. With the OMS 300, the developers at HENSOLDT have created an optronic mast that is difficult to detect visually and via radar, which significantly increases the safety of the crews. This multispectral optronic equipment provides the crew with the best visibility in all light and weather conditions, as well as a very wide range of operations. With this order from kta, HENSOLDT Optronics is further expanding its research and development in the field of optronic masts at the Oberkochen site.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/01/hensoldt-to-provide-optronics-suite-for-type-212cd-submarines/

[Harald]

Japan Building 'Deadly' Next-Gen Submarine To Take On China: Report
https://www.ibtimes.com/japan-building-deadly-next-gen-submarine-take-china-report-3373257

.......the 29SS will have an inclined bow and its "tall sail squashed downwards and blended into the hull." These modifications will improve aqua dynamics. It will improve acoustic stealth by cutting down drag, which facilitates speed and range.

..../...

Een aangepaste schuinoplopende sail, waar hebben we dit eerder gezien !  ...

[Harald]

Kongsberg to Provide Sonar and Navigation Systems for Type 212CD Submarines

Active sonar suite and bottom navigation technology from Kongsberg Maritime (KONGSBERG) has been selected for installation on Type 212CD class submarines for both the Norwegian and German navies.

Kongsberg press release

The contract was awarded through a comparative and thorough process governed by Kongsberg Thyssen Atlas JV (kta naval systems) and tkMS (thyssenKrupp marine systems) with other vendor(s).

The KONGSBERG technology package consists of SA9510S MKII Mine Avoidance and Navigation Sonars (MANS) plus a Bottom Navigation System (BNS) containing EM2040 MIL multibeam echo sounders and an EA640 echo sounder suite. These sensors provide valuable input to kta naval systems' ORCCA™ Navigation system to enable safe, indigenous submerged operation of the submarines.

ORCCA, the most modern combat system for non-nuclear submarines on the market, is the first of its kind in combining maximum adaptability with the highest level of IT security. It enables operators to conduct an integrated data analysis from a wide range of systems on board via one multifunctional console – and this in results in rapid, well-informed decision-making processes.

Thomas Hostvedt Dahle, Director of Sales for Naval Sonars, KONSGBERG, said:

"This contract is an important confirmation that KONGSBERG's knowledge, experience and past performance in underwater acoustics have made this Norwegian-made underwater technology a world-leading development for both the commercial and defence segments. As a former submariner I'm proud to take part in this program, and will look forward to supporting submarine operations for many years to come."

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/12/kongsberg-to-provide-sonar-and-navigation-systems-for-type-212cd-submarines/?nowprocket=1

[Harald]

Brazil progresses nuclear submarine project

French shipbuilder Naval Group is providing technical assistance across all aspects of the future SSN except for the nuclear reactor.

On 25 November, Brazil signed a licence agreement to start building the hull of its future nuclear-powered submarine. Issuing the licence meets one of the programme prerequisites, allowing for a contract to be let and the start of hull production.

The nuclear submarine is part of Brazil's ambitious PROSUB project to develop and domestically build four diesel-electric powered Riachuelo-class submarines and the country's first nuclear-powered boat.

According to Shephard Defence Insight, the future SSN, Álvaro Alberto, is expected to be commissioned in 2034 and will likely cost $2.4 billion to produce.

In November 2020, the Brazilian Navy approved the basic design for the future SSN. The nominal timeline could see the country field a nuclear-powered submarine before Australia commissions its first planned SSNs under development following the signing of the AUKUS agreement.

In December 2020, Brazil launched its second Riachuelo-class submarine, Humaitá, at a ceremony attended by President Jair Bolsonaro.

https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/brazil-progresses-nuclear-submarine-project/

[Harald]

Next Generation SSN(X) Attack Sub 'Is Going to Carry a Lot of Torpedoes,' Says Admiral

The next U.S. nuclear attack submarine must require less maintenance, be fast, quiet and packed with torpedoes, the service's director of undersea warfare said on Thursday.

The SSN(X) nuclear attack boat will be more focused on the war in blue water than the multi-mission Virginia-class submarines, which are designed to operate closer to shore for missions like signals intelligence and special operation missions.

"Virginia remains the most capable multi-mission submarine in the world – bar none," Rear Adm. Doug Perry, the director of the undersea warfare division on the chief of naval operations staff (OPNAV N97), said last week. "But we must maintain our undersea advantage by investing for future capabilities. And we know we need to start that work today to make sure we can deliver SSN(X) in time of need, and without lots of technical or schedule risk."

In 2019, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the SSN(X) boats could cost up to $5.5 billion per hull. The current Virginia-class boats cost about $2.8 billion per hull, while the Block Vs with the 80-foot Virginia Payload Module will cost about $3.2 billion.

"The Navy indicates that the next-generation attack submarine should be faster, stealthier, and able to carry more torpedoes than the Virginia class—similar to the Seawolf-class submarine. CBO therefore assumed that the SSN(X) would be a Seawolf-sized SSN, which displaces about 9,100 tons when submerged, and would have an all-new design in keeping with the Navy's description of it as a fast, lethal next-generation attack submarine," the CBO wrote.

Before Virginia, the Navy developed the Sea Wolf-class to be a deep-diving submarine with a weapons room that can field about 50 torpedoes.

Perry said, in broad strokes, SSN(X) would take the heavily-armed Seawolf template, combine the stealthy technology developed for Virginia and keep the time in maintenance to a minimum.

Outside of a classified initial draft capabilities document, "we don't know the specific characteristics that will be in SSNs. But we do believe that the next submarine will have a large horizontal payload capacity. You can read that as it's going to carry a lot of torpedoes. And we know how to do that. It'll be fast. And it'll have acoustic superiority. That's both sensors to hear the other ships out there as well as stealth – staying quiet," Perry said.
"We know how to do all of these things, but we have to integrate them into one platform.
Speed and large payload? We did that on Seawolf, and we need to pull that forward to a modular construction submarine."

"The heavyweight torpedo will remain the weapon of choice for the submarine for this for the foreseeable future, primarily due to its inherent stealth, its destructive effects in the battlespace, and [it's] pretty difficult to defend against and it also [preserves] the stealth of launch platform," Perry said.

The development of the Navy's Acoustic Superiority Program began on Virginia-class USS South Dakota (SSN-790), which commissioned in 2019, Perry said. The package includes a large vertical array mounted on the hull just aft of the sail, a special exterior coating and machinery quieting improvements inside the boat.

Based on the timing of the construction of the Columbia-class, the new class would come just as the construction of the class of 12 nuclear ballistic missile submarines is ending in the 2040s and in the short term design work should begin soon.

"With Columbia 95 percent design complete, now is the time to begin transitioning that experienced design workforce," Perry said.
"Fielding any new class submarine is challenging, but we got to strike while the iron is hot."

The Virginia boats now – and the Columbia boats in the future – are built in a teaming arrangement between Huntington Ingalls Industries and General Dynamic Electric Boat. Each yard builds part of a boat and the components are barged to each yard for final assembly, with EB being the lead yard for the design of each class. Perry said that the workforce would be key to making SSN(X) affordable.

"This maintains a steady demand signal for the shipyard workforce, which is a key element of developing and sustaining a resilient submarine industrial base," Perry said.

The Navy is also considering how it will leverage unmanned undersea vehicles with its new class.

"We know the ability to influence the battlespace and leverage the seafloor is to get to the bottom of the ocean you will need UUVs," Perry said.
"That requires a submarine interface that will drive what SSN(X) has to be in terms of a dimension for an interface that will launch and recover [UUVs]. It may be a torpedo tube it may be something different."

On the other end of construction, the Navy is working to increase the amount of time the submarines can operate by reducing time in maintenance.

"SSN(X) has to have high operational availability, [we've] got to be able to keep that ship at sea. And that gets to sort of the class maintenance plan. We've learned a lot from operating [the Los Angeles class], then Seawolf and Virginia. We are analyzing those class maintenance plans with PEO Subs and making sure that the class maintenance plan we've come up with gives us the highest operational building availability possible," Perry said.
"That'll be really part of our calculus as we define the work through the capability development document and [requirements] process and defining what SSN(X) needs to be."

https://news.usni.org/2021/11/22/next-generation-ssnx-attack-sub-is-going-to-carry-a-lot-of-torpedoes-says-admiral?mc_cid=89a2944908&mc_eid=7a401a782b

[Parera]

AUKUS: Australia Signs Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information Sharing Agreement
The Australian government today signed with British and American diplomats the agreement paving the way to the procurement of nuclear-powered submarines (SSN) for the Royal Australian Navy, in the frame of AUKUS.


https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/11/aukus-australia-signs-naval-nuclear-propulsion-information-sharing-agreement/

[Harald]

Keel laying of future Taiwan's Indigenous Defense Submarine to be laid down in November

According to information published by Taiwan News on November 2, 2021, a military official said that the keel of Taiwan's first domestic submarine, called Indigenous Defense Submarine will be laid down in mid-November, "a new milestone" for the nation's submarine project.

https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-news-archive/2021/november/10941-keel-laying-of-future-taiwan-s-indigenous-defense-submarine-to-be-laid-down-in-november.html

[Harald]

Wat mij opviel aan het "plaatje" van de Dreadnought klasse is de Sail, de vorm ervan !
Het schuinoplopende voorzijde is ook al bij meerdere onderzeeboten te zien, maar is duidelijk een voordeel , minder "drag" en sonarreflectie.

Zo'n schuinoplopende voorzijde van de sail hebben we eerder gezien in het plaatje van Saab/Damen, dus daar zal ook wel enige kern van waarheid in zitten.

[Huzaar1]

Toch double hull dus.

[Harald]

First Submarine To Use New Stealth Technology

The Royal Navy's new Dreadnought Class submarine promises to be the stealthiest yet. The first two boats, HMS Dreadnought and HMS Valiant, are already under construction. They are destined to take over Britain's nuclear deterrent from the 2030s. They incorporate significant changes in the design compared to other types.



The adage that stealth is a submarine's main defense is true today and tomorrow. Speed, depth and countermeasures can all help a submarine escape, but not being seen in the first place is the best way to survive. So it is no surprise that the submarines being built today are going to be stealthier than the ones already in service. Certainly in leading 'nuclear navies' like the U.S. Navy, French Navy and Russian Navy.

And naturally Britain's Royal Navy. Their new Dreadnought Class, currently under construction, includes innovative features which promise to take stealth to a new level.

Four Dreadnought Class submarines are being built to replace the current fleet of Vanguard Class boats. They will be armed with Trident D5 missiles to continue the United Kingdom's continuous at-sea deterrent. The new class will be slightly larger, mainly to incorporate a number of new stealth features. In the underwater arena, being stealthy principally means being quiet, so we can expect the new boats to be the quietest yet.

The Quiet Game: Royal Navy Stealth

The Royal Navy's emphasis on stealth is already visible in the external appearance of their submarines. Since the 1980s submarines have been fitted sound reducing 'anechoic' tiles. And the current generation Astute Class has the anechoic coating designed in. This leads to a better fit and optimal performance compared to adding the tiles after it is built.

The Astute's hull is completely covered in anechoic tiles. You can see several types of tiles placed on the hull, sometimes in layers, to optimally reduce the target echo strength. Added to this there is a distinct chine running around the bow and the upper hull and sail (fin) are angled to reduce sonar reflections.

Radical New Hull Design

The Dreadnought Class takes this even further. The official graphics used by the builder, BAE Systems, shows the chine running all the way along the hull. This is a strong hint to a completely new style of submarine design. A thin outer hull, like an extended casing, entirely covers the regular cylindrical inner hull. This allows the sloping sides to extend right down the hull instead of being limited to the upper hull.

Dreadnought's outer hull will be much lighter than the true 'double hull' construction typical of Russian submarines. And its purpose is different. We know from the common missile compartment, which will be the same as is used on the U.S. Navy's Columbia Class, that the submarine hull remains the single-hull type. This means that it has its strengthening rings (called frames) on the inside. Russian boats have these frames on the outside, between the two hulls, and use the outer hull as part of their structure. On Dreadnought the outer hull is about stealth.

As well as being angled to deflect incoming active sonar, it will be coated with anechoic tiles. And it is a safe bet that the anechoic coatings will extend to the inside, in the flooded area between the inner and outer hulls.

Some other submarines are also adopting this new take on a double-hull submarine. The German designed Type-212CD will include an even more visible angled outer hull. There is no suggestion that the British design is borrowing from the German boat however. And the complex multi-layer anechoic treatment is likely unique.

The outer hull will also present some advantages, creating more space under the casing. We can speculate that this could accommodate future sensors, uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs) and countermeasures. It also seems likely that the boat's flank array sonars will be mounted flush with the outer hull. This will be a cleaner set0up to the current British and American boats which have them added as patches.

'Built with pride in Barrow'- the latest piece of Dreadnought makes a move. Four Dreadnought-Class submarines will be built in Barrow to replace the Vanguard-Class that are currently in service with the Royal Navy. #Submarines #Cumbria @RoyalNavy @SamPlum4 @cumbrialep pic.twitter.com/I1pWxNQ5aB
— BAE Systems Maritime (@BAES_Maritime) July 6, 2020

And There Is More...

Other improvements to stealth will be internal. For many years, and still in some other leading navies, the main focus for making the submarine stealthy was in make the propulsion quieter. Royal Navy boats are already considered very quiet in this regard. But the Dreadnought will incorporate new Turbo-Electric drive.

Turbo-electric drives use the nuclear reactor to generate electricity. This powers an electric motor which drives the propulsor. This should be quieter than driving the propeller shaft directly. While turbo-electric drives have been used aboard nuclear submarines before, this (together with the U.S. Navy's Columbia Class) will be the first time it has been used on serial production boats. And on the Dreadnought it will be driving an improved, quieter, pumpjet propulsor.

Like the stealthiest existing submarines Dreadnought will feature ways to protect against electromagnetic detection and tracking. And we can speculate that it's outer surface will be a different color to previous versions. Possibly blue, to improve visual stealth when near the surface. Although that is less of a concern in the SSBN's natural habitat in deep waters of the North Atlantic region.

Dreadnought is a massive undertaking for UK industry. But research and investment in submarine technologies, over many years, should pay off. Of course a lot of this will not be confirmed until the submarines are rolled out of the shed. There is a natural tendency to secrecy surrounding submarine design. And often features are added or subtracted during construction, often for cost reasons. However, based on what we know currently, expect the Dreadnought Class to take stealth to the next level.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/11/first-submarine-to-use-new-stealth-technology/?nowprocket=1

[Harald]

Aussies To Pick 'Mature' Nuke Sub Design; Is UK's Astute Class Frontrunner?

Analyst Tim Walton thinks it'd be wise for Australia to field other, complementary undersea warfare capabilities such as "the Transformational Reliable Acoustic Path System and mobile sensors such as Wave Gliders with towed arrays to inexpensively monitor straits and ocean areas."

In light of remarks by the top Australian admiral in charge of the plan to buy nuclear powered attack submarines, the British Astute design looks like it may be the frontrunner over an American capability.

The head of Australia's nuclear submarine taskforce, Vice Adm. Jonathan Mead, told a Senate committee last week that his country intends to select a "mature design" for its nuclear submarine, to be built under the AUKUS security partnership, as reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

"It is our intention that when we start the build program, the design will be mature and there will be a production run already in existence," Mead told a hearing in Canberra about what Australia calls "estimates," which is basically their term for the budget.

..../....

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/11/aussies-to-pick-mature-nuke-sub-design-is-uks-astute-class-frontrunner/

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

Wellicht is samen met canada optrekken het beste plan maar die lui maken overal een potje van.

Het is idd bizar hoe men in Canada met haar defensie(industrie) omgaat. Ik zie ze dan op dist dossier (als NL zou kiezen voor Saab-Damen) als onderaannemer.

[Huzaar1]

Wellicht is samen met canada optrekken het beste plan maar die lui maken overal een potje van.