Internationale ontwikkelingen maritiem

[Harald]

UK Seeks Commercial OSV To Act As Blue-Water Mine Warfare Mothership

The UK is bolstering its mine warfare capability with the acquisition of a commercial vessel that will be used to deploy autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs).

Offshore Support Vessel (OSV) acquisition is part of the Mine-Hunting Capability (MHC) programme

Using a commercial vessel will provide an available platform to support mine-hunting operations in UK waters and further afield, Naval News understands.

The vessel will be operated by the UK Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA).

The ship, reported to be an offshore support vessel (OSV), is likely to be similar in capability to OSVs operating in the North Sea, for example having a flight deck.

According to social media reports, the OSV will function as a mine counter-measures (MCM) ?mothership?, and is planned to be available for operations from April 2023.

However, the UK?s focus on developing this mine warfare capability indicates that the OSV could be put to use as quickly as possible.

The UK?s Mine-Hunting Capability (MHC) programme, under which the acquisition is taking place, is intended to supply the UK with various MCM capabilities including next-generation deep-water mine detection capability. The use of a commercial OSV to deliver deep-water capability points to a focus on operating the vessel in regions like the North Atlantic, rather than supporting the existing and extensive UK MCM capability resident in the shallow littoral waters of the Gulf. The use of an available commercial vessel also points to the need to address the increased risk of improved deep-water mining capability in the North Atlantic.

The UK?s most recent Defence Command Paper (DCP), titled ?Defence in a Competitive Age? and published in March 2021, stated that ?the Royal Navy (RN) will continue to invest in underwater capabilities as this remains pivotal to protect our critical national infrastructure, safeguard maritime trade and maintain our underwater advantage?. The DCP defined the MHC programme as ?[The] RN?s new autonomous and remote system for hunting and destroying mines.?

Underlining the focus on pursuing next-generation capabilities in the MHC programme, the DCP noted that UK mine warfare capability will play a key role in persistent engagement and warfighting response, at home and further afield.

The UK moving to address the deep-water mine threat is an example of its response to the returning operational challenges generated by state-on-state rivalry at sea. The mine threat is something that the UK and its allies are also tackling in the context of seabed warfare. However, Naval News understands that the OSV acquisition to support deep-water AUV MCM operations is separate from the UK?s multi-role ocean surveillance ship (MROSS) programme, which is looking to acquire platforms and develop capabilities specifically to deal with seabed security challenges such as risks to cables and pipelines.

One role the OSV may play is to act as an at-sea operational experimentation testbed for deep-water AUV MCM capabilities. Here, it could trial concepts and capabilities originally developed onboard MV Patrick Blackett, the RN?s new dedicated research vessel for testing and trialing autonomous capabilities. The OSV could be used to prove such concepts and capabilities and prepare them for operational deployment across the fleet, Naval News understands. This demonstrates the RN?s emphasis on exploiting new technology to counter emerging threats, in this instance in deep water.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/12/uk-seeks-commercial-osv-to-act-as-blue-water-mine-warfare-mothership/

[Parera]

South Korea?s Hanwha Group Officially Acquires DSME

The Korea Development Bank (KDB) announced that Hanwha Group officially acquired Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) on December 16th in a deal worth 2 trillion Korean won (over $ 1.5 billion) . The move is likely to have major implications for South Korea?s defense industry.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/12/south-koreas-hanwha-group-officially-acquires-dsme/

[Harald]

HHI Wins Contract For Third KDX III Batch II Destroyer

Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has won the contract for the third Jeongjo the Great-class (KDX III Batch II) destroyer for the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy.

The shipbuilder and the Defense Acquisition and Program Administration (DAPA) signed the final contract worth 670 billion Korean won (around $ 514 million) on December 13th.

Observers had predicted that DAPA would likely award the deal to HHI, given that it is the only company to have officially entered the competition for the ship during the application period between the 15th and 23rd of last month. The final decision means that HHI will build all three Jeongjo-the Great-class vessels that are currently being planned. DAPA plans on spending 3.9 trillion Korean won (around $ 3 billion) for the vessels, with the last one set for delivery by 2028.

There are currently three vessels in service with the ROK Navy that use the Aegis combat system; ROKS Sejong the Great, ROKS Yulgok Yi I, and ROKS Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong. These ships make up the Sejong the Great-Class or KDX-III Batch II. ROKS Jeongjo the Great, the first Batch II ship, was launched earlier this year in July, but has yet to enter service.

Once the three ships of Batch II come into service by the late 2020s or early 30s the ROK Navy will have at least six vessels with the Aegis combat system.These ships will be significantly more capable than their predecessors. To begin with, Batch II vessels will be armed with the U.S-made SM-6 which provides greater defense against ballistic missiles. Moreover, at 21.4 m in width, 170 m in length, and 8200 tons, the ships are slightly longer and heavier than those of Batch I.





https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/12/hhi-wins-contract-for-third-kdx-iii-batch-ii-destroyer/#prettyPhoto

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/11/south-koreas-hhi-wins-new-kdx-iii-batch-ii-destroyer-contract/#prettyPhoto

[Harald]

BAE Systems Receives Orders For 3P Ammunition From Sweden And Finland

BAE Systems has signed two contracts worth approximately $32 million for its Bofors 57mm 3P (Pre-fragmented, Programmable, Proximity- fused) advanced ammunition in a combined procurement from both the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command (FDF LOG COM).

BAE Systems press release

Sweden is ordering a large stock of the Bofors 57mm 3P advanced ammunition, for an order value of approximately $18 million. This is a critical step for the Swedish Armed Forces as they continue their efforts to increase readiness in the face of the current security situation in Central Europe. The FMV also has a contract option for additional quantities in 2023.

Finland is also ordering a considerable stock of rounds of ammunition, valued at approximately $14 million. This is an important step in reinforcing the security of supplies as Finland, and in particular the Finnish Navy, also confirms its readiness.

?Our customers in Sweden and Finland are investing in our advanced 3P ammunition as part of their plans to increase preparedness in a more dynamic security situation. We continue to see interest from other potential customers who are looking for the flexibility and adaptability that our 3P products bring.?

Stefan L?fstr?m, director of marketing and sales at BAE Systems Bofors in Karlskoga, Sweden

The 3P ammunition is designed for the Bofors 57 Mk3 naval gun system, which is the standard naval gun in both the Swedish and Finnish navies. The company also produces a 40mm 3P which can be fired from the Bofors 40 Mk4 gun system. Both variants can be programmed in six different function modes. It is a flexible and multipurpose round, suitable to defeat targets such as drones, missiles, and helicopters, swarming boats, surface vessels, and land targets. It can also be fired from combat vehicles, such as the Swedish Army?s CV90s, which are equipped with a Bofors 40mm turret.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/12/bae-systems-receives-orders-for-3p-ammo-from-sweden-and-finland/

[silvester herc]

[Parera]

Australia?s Future XLUUV Named ?Ghost Shark?
Anduril Industries and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) announced that the Extra Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (XLUUV) will be named "Ghost Shark".

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/12/australias-future-xluuv-named-ghost-shark/

Ik kan niet begrijpen dat er nog geen Nederlands XLUUV ontwikkeld wordt/is door onze eigen industrie.  We hebben de kennis en ervaring in huis, enkele jaren terug heeft de TU Delft een bemande, mens aangedreven ''onderzeeer'' ontwikkeld de WASUB. En ook het bedrijf Ortega kan hier een grote rol spelen met onze overige maritieme defensie industrie (Damen, Thales, TNO).

De eerste modellen hoeven wat mij betreft ook niet bewapend te zijn of inzetbaar in teams met bemande onderzeeers of andere schepen maar wat men nu in Australi? heeft ontwikkeld lijkt me een prachtig concept om mee te beginnen. Een XLUUV die volledig autonoom vanaf de kust de zee op gaat en voor enkele dagen / weken of langer haar missie uitvoert met de focus op ISTAR en het beschermen van infrastructuur onderwater.

[Parera]

Naval Group?s Offer Based On Gowind Corvettes To Sustain Hundreds Of Jobs In Greece

The French team has submitted on December 1st, 2022 an offer for the corvettes program of the Hellenic Navy. Based on the sea-proven Gowind corvette and an optimised delivery schedule, it includes a Hellenic Industry Participation plan with 30% of the program value in Greece and hundreds of jobs in Greece over the next 40 years.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/12/naval-groups-offer-based-on-gowind-corvettes-to-sustain-hundreds-of-jobs-in-greece

[Parera]

Royal Navy purchases its first uncrewed submarine



MSubs Ltd has been awarded a ?15.4m contract to build the first XLUUV (Extra Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle) owned by the Royal Navy.

Project CETUS was announced by the MoD in January 2022, seeking tenders for an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle. Building on their experience with the MANTA XLUUV ? a technology demonstrator built under a MoD Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) programme, MSubs will design and construct the new bespoke vessel at their Plymouth facility. CETUS is funded as part of the RN?s Project Spearhead Anti-Submarine Warfare programme managed by the Develop Directorate and the Submarine Delivery Agency. CETUS is the next step in developing autonomous underwater warfare capability and will also be used to inform concepts for the future underwater battlespace, feeding into the design of SSN(R) which will eventually replace the Astute Class SSNs.

CETUS will be the largest and most complex uncrewed submersible operated by any European navy and is due to be delivered to the RN within two years. The 17-tonne submarine will be 12 metres long and 2.2 metres in diameter. The design features two pressure vessels separated by a central payload bay. Notably, the vessel will be able to dive deeper than any vessel in the current submarine fleet and have a range of over 1,000 miles. It is a modular design with an optional payload section that can be added to double the capacity of the vessel while range can be increased by installing additional batteries.

https://www.navylookout.com/royal-navy-purcases-its-first-uncrewed-submarine/

Een wat mij betreft erg interessant project om van zeer dichtbij te volgen voor onze KM. Naast 4 nieuwe bemande onderzeeboten zie ik graag een 8 a 12 tal van deze XLUUV's aangekocht worden om zowel naast de boten als zelfstandig missies uit te kunnen voeren. Al is het maar het in de gaten houden van bewegingen in en rondom onze Noordzee.

[Parera]

Wat laat maar alsnog interessant:

De Noorse Kustwacht heeft op 1 November het voormalige kustwacht schip KV NordKapp overgedragen aan de Noorse marine. Deze dient nu als tijdelijke oplossing om het gezonken fregat Helge Ingstad (F313) te vervangen. Mogelijk komt er toch een vervanger voor dit schip en als de Noren slim zijn bouwen ze gelijk een 2e nieuwe om het nooit gebouwde 6e fregat te compenseren. ASWF is wat mij betreft een serieuze kandidaat ook qua tijdslijn.
 
Twitter @kystvakten
KV Nordkapp ble i dag kommandooverf?rt til Marinen, og skal fortsette tjenesten for Sj?forsvaret ogs? i 2023. Kystvakten ?nsker KNM Nordkapp lykke til videre p? ferden!

https://twitter.com/kystvakten/status/1587161910197248007

[Parera]

UK drops funding of future Type 32 Frigate and Multirole Support Ships, for now   ( Geen goed nieuws voor de Royal Navy... )

Of wel goed nieuws? Misschien kunnen de Britten veel beter een batch 2 Type 31 / Type 26 bouwen dan een 3e klasse fregat introduceren. Daarnaast moeten ook de Type 45's vervangen gaan worden en dan zouden ze 4 combatant projecten tegelijk draaien.

[Harald]

UK drops funding of future Type 32 Frigate and Multirole Support Ships, for now   ( Geen goed nieuws voor de Royal Navy... )

"In July 2022 Navy Command withdrew its plans for Type 32 frigates and MRSS because of concerns about unaffordability," said the UK's National Audit Office. "The revised costing profile is likely to be significantly higher."

The UK Royal Navy command formally ?withdrew? an equipment plan to fund and develop its nascent Type 32 Frigates and Multirole Support Ships (MRSS) judging them to be ?unaffordable,? a National Audit Office report has revealed, at least for now.

The decision was made in July 2022, but only made public on Tuesday upon release of the watchdog?s ?Defence Equipment Plan 2022-2032? document. The annual report reviews the MoD?s long-term financial planning by examining procurement, infrastructure and operational costs ? in some ways similar to the US Government Accountability Office.

The report warns the Royal Navy that the decision to drop Type 32 funding will ?result in a revised costing profile? likely to be significantly higher,? than originally planned. That language suggests funding has been postponed and that the program hasn?t been scrapped altogether.

The next generation Type 32 was first mentioned by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2020 and was then described in the UK?s latest defense review as a ?new class of surface warship? designed to protect territorial waters and provide persistence when deployed overseas in the next decade.

A concept phase for the program commenced in September 2022 ahead of the MoD set to deliver an outline business case, according to a Oct. 17. parliamentary statement from Alec Shelbrooke, UK minister for defense procurement. The outline business case typically covers approvals for costs, production and delivery schedules, but how that now shakes out in light of funding being postponed is unclear.

BAE Systems has already put forward the Adaptable Strike Frigate concept as it bids to secure a Type 32 production contract. Company literature from the manufacturer notes that the concept includes a ?modular system of systems? approach that will enable the frigate to be cost effectively reconfigured for a ?wide range of operations.?

Beyond the Type 32 matters, the MRSS funding postponement will potentially force future operations to be more constrained as those ships are in line to support littoral strike campaigns from the early 2030s onward.

Support equipment from the Mine Hunting Capability Block 1 and 2 programs have also been left unfunded by the MoD, although the NAO does not offer any explanation behind the decision.

Similarly, funding for the future Type 83 destroyer, set to replace Type 45 vessels has also not been included in UK equipment plans.

The NAO does point out, however, that because the older destroyers are due to be replaced between 2035 and 2038, funding of a replacement is ?unlikely? to be required before 2032.

https://breakingdefense.com/2022/11/uk-drops-funding-of-future-type-32-frigate-and-multirole-support-ships-for-now/

[silvester herc]

Die nieuwe MRV moet de L? Eithne (P31) vervangen, dit is een schip met een tonnage van net boven de 1900 ton !.
Onze OPV's zijn nog groter, de KD is enorm veel groter (15X) met zijn 28.000 ton.
Willen de Ieren wel zo'n groot schip ?

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

Klinkt als een plan. Bestellen om het miljard op te maken. Dus doe er maar een paar doorpakken zou ik zeggen.

al bestel een maatje Ford Carrier incl.Airwing dan krijg je het niet op voor 1/1/23, tenzij je een aanbetaling doet bij het zetten van de handtekening.

[Master Mack]

Klinkt als een plan. Bestellen om het miljard op te maken. Dus doe er maar een paar doorpakken zou ik zeggen.

[Parera]

Wat te denken van een XO?

Ik denk dat het LPX concept wel eens een basis kan zijn voor de Ierse MRV. Het idee achter de MRV is dat het zowel OPV taken als amfibische, helikopter en humanitaire taken kan uitvoeren. Met een budget van 200 miljoen Euro voor 1 schip zitten de Ieren wel aan de lage kant maar misschien kan het wel een kleiner model zijn dan onze LPX maar uit dezelfde (nieuwe) familie.

Uiteraard kan de XO series van Damen weer aan de basis staan van onze LPX. Maar een kleiner model JSS is ook goed mogelijk wat mij betreft.

Damen heeft voor Maleisie haar MRSS programma een Enforcer ontwikkeld van 157 x 24,80 m en 10.000 ton. Dit kan mogelijk ook voldoen aan de Ierse wensen (met wat westerse aanpassingen).



Ik zie wel kansen voor Damen, een MRV voor de vervanging van L? Eithne (P31) + 2 OPV 1400's (zoals MNT SYPHAX P61 van Tunesie ) als vervanging van de 2 R?is?n klasse OPV's. Een alternatief voor de 2 OPV's is 2 kleinere SIGMA modellen.