Internationale ontwikkelingen maritiem

[Harald]

USMC Taps Birdon Group To Develop Heavy Landing Craft

Australian maritime engineering company Birdon has been selected by the USMC for "test and evaluation" of its H260 Heavy Landing Craft. The H260 design features some striking similarities with the Landing Ship Medium (LSM) project.

../..

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/01/usmc-taps-birdon-group-to-develop-heavy-landing-craft/#prettyPhoto

[Harald]

New French Navy OPV To Feature Integrated C-UAS System ( interessant, goede toevoeging ! )

The design of a new class of French offshore patrol vessels recently broke cover. The ship appear to be fitted with new sensors placed right below the bridge. Naval News can now confirm these are part of an integrated counter-uncrewed aerial system (C-UAS) suite designed to counter the threat posed by mini and micro drones.

The recent surge in unmanned aerial systems (UAS) attacks on both civilian and military ships in the Red Sea, one of the world's crucial maritime routes with substantial implications for the global economy, underscores the critical importance of incorporating on naval vessels means capable of safely disabling, disrupting, or seizing control of an unmanned aircraft system. That is what C-UAS systems are designed to do.

In November 2023, Naval Group released a rendering of the new 2,400-ton offshore patrol vessel (OPV) class (7+3 vessels) to be in service by 2035 as part of the "Patrouilleurs Hauturiers" program (formerly known as Patrouilleurs Océaniques) for the French Navy (Marine Nationale). The new ships will replace the venerable D'Estienne d'Orves class (A69) and the Flamant class.

The design showcases a kind of integrated round antennas distributed along the ship's superstructure, with one antenna positioned on each side. Many observers questioned the specific purpose of this suite of antennas.



https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/01/new-french-navy-opv-to-feature-integrated-c-uas-system/


HYDRA 300 C-UAS by CERBAIR



The representative of French company CERBAIR unveiled some very interesting images in his presentation featuring the conceptual design of the new French OPV class with the distinctive circular antennas under discussion in circles and a C-UAS product named HYDRA 300. Therefore, we conclude that the antennas on the OPV design, will be C-UAV antennas and for the first time, the system will be integrated from built with the ship in order to protect it against drone threats.

HYDRA is a full coverage detection solution for high performing drone and pilot detection by RF analysis. The system relies on a number of sensors installed at the top of masts and working together thanks to radio frequency signal processing algorithms. HYDRA 300 can cover all current and future frequency bands (RF ranges 433MHZ to 6GHz), including "non-civilian" UAVs, at a range of 3 Km and at a 90° elevation. The system has a very low rate of false alarms while it can be integrated in a multilayer Command and Control (C2) system.

Naval News contacted CERBAIR but, unfortunately, they didn't want to comment on the topic. Nevertheless, the presentation revealed the identity of the mysterious antennas on board the new OPV class. We may assume that it will be a naval derivative of HYDRA 300 with increased capabilities.

[Harald]

Portuguese Navy Orders Six New Viana Do Castelo-Class OPVs



On December 29, 2023, the Portuguese Navy inked a contract for the procurement of six new units of its Viana do Castelo Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) with the Portuguese shipbuilding company West Sea – Estaleiros Navais. The vessels are set to be built in the shipyard at Viana do Castelo. The project will have a total value of around 300€ million.

Among the attendees to the signing ceremony were the Secretary of State for National Defense, Carlos Lopes Pires; the Navy Chief of Staff, Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo; and the President of the National Defense Commission, Marcos Perestello. In his remarks, Admiral Gouveia e Melo highlighted: "today is another remarkable day for the Portuguese Navy", as it "materializes the vision of a comprehensive Navy, with the capacity to protect and promote Portuguese national interests in and from the sea."

The new OPVs will have a length of 83 m, a beam of 12.95 m, and a draft of 3,8 m, with a maximum top speed of 21 knots. They will complement the existing four units of the Viana do Castelo-class operated by the Portuguese Navy. These vessels were built at the Viana do Castelo shipyards, and are designed for long-range maritime surveillance and patrol missions, and SAR operations. The first two vessels, NRP Viana do Castelo and NRP Figueira da Foz, entered service in 2011 and 2013, respectively. The other two units, NRP Sines and NRP Setúbal, followed in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

It has been announced that the following two units will be named NRP Funchal and NRP Aveiro. The six upcoming third-generation units, expected to be delivered between 2027 and 2030, will have a modular and adaptive design with both patrol and combat functions.

According to Jane's, they will also have: "a new mast and electric propulsion with azimuth thrusters, a multisensor gyro-stabilized electro-optical imager, a surface and air surveillance radar, a Mode 5 identification friend-or-foe (IFF) suite, automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) technology, an electronic support measures (ESM) system, towed array sonar,Link 16/22 data link capability, military satellite communications (satcom) terminal, additional armament, and a diving bay."

They will be armed with a 30 or 40mm Oto Melara Marlin canon (instead of the 40mm L/60 turreted gun that the third and fourth units have) and two 12.7mm remote weapon stations, two launching systems for Mk55 Mod 2 mines, a Sagem SA Vigy 10 Mk III naval surveillance and observation platforms, and will be able to accommodate a Super Lynx Mk95 light helicopter.

Aside from the traditional surveillance and maritime patrol functions, Admiral Gouveia e Melo said the vessels will also be fitted to perform anti-submarine and mine warfare, and could eventually be used as auxiliary ships for combating maritime pollution.

"With the signing of the contract for the construction of Oceanic Patrol Vessels, the country takes a very important step towards strengthening the capacity of the Armed Forces to fulfill their missions." According to Costa, the construction of the vessels represents an important step in the modernization of the Portuguese Navy, and will also help strengthen its naval industry."
Antonio Costa, Portuguese Prime Minister on X (ex-Twitter)

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/01/portuguese-navy-orders-six-new-viana-do-castelo-class-opvs/

[Harald]

Canberra... we have a probem !!

Hunter-Class Frigate Procurement Flawed: Review

A review into Australia's procurement of the Hunter-class frigate has found serious issues with the procurement process that led to the BAE Systems Type 26 design being selected for the Royal Australian Navy's future frigates.

While the review criticizes the Hunter-class Frigate procurement process, it also makes clear that BAE Systems' proposal best fulfilled the Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) requirements of the program as they were set out at the time.

According to the review the Type 26 was the only design out of the shortlisted three that met both ASW and mission system requirements. The two competing bids, from Navantia with a modified F100 and Fincantieri with modified Bergamini FREMM, each only met one of the two requirements.

One of the non-BAE designs, the identity of which has not been disclosed, had its ASW capabilities judged as "marginal" with the caveat that it was closer to the "not meeting requirements" end of the spectrum.

Naval News understands that this was likely Navantia's proposal, based on the F100, which utilized Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion arrangement where the engines directly power the propeller shaft. In comparison, both the Bergamini-type FREMM and Type 26 used variants of a Combined Diesel Electric and Gas (CODLAG) system, wherein the shaft can be driven by an electric motor isolated from the hull.

All three designs were described as carrying "medium risk" in relation to their mission and ASW systems, with the exception of the Type 26, which had its ASW capabilities described as "low risk" and mission systems as "medium risk". 

A Flawed Procurement Process

While the review supports BAE Systems' claim that the Hunter-class frigate is one of the most advanced ASW-combatants in the world, it doesn't pull any punches with respect to the procurement and evaluation process that led to it being selected. The BAE proposal, according to the review, carried a "medium" level of contract and compliance risk, compared to ratings of "low" for the other tenderers.

None of the proposals fit within the originally allocated budget and all were assessed as being at a "high risk" of deviating from the planned pricing and payment arrangements. The BAE proposal, however, "did not meet" the basic pricing and payment requirements laid out in the tender.

According to the review though, this information was not accurately conveyed to the National Security Committee of Cabinet (NSC), which is responsible for signing off all major Defence procurement decisions. While the details aren't clear, due to redactions in the version of the review released publicly, it appears that the Defence submission to the NSC effectively argued that the Hunter was the best technical choice out of a field of over-budget contenders.

What the submission failed to do, according to the review, was to take a "holistic view" of the "compliance and risks of each tender" especially in regard to their relative merit in terms of affordability and schedule. In particular, the review notes, the submission to cabinet didn't consider how each design measured up against the requirement to build nine ships commencing construction in 2022.

" Key documented outcomes of the tender process reflecting the evaluation of tenders under a documented process by designated personnel were not included in the second pass cabinet submission. These included compliance and risk assessments with respect to project objectives including delivering nine ASW frigates based on a MOTS design with minimum change, commencing prototyping in 2020 and construction in 2022, and affordability."

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/01/hunter-class-frigate-procurement-flawed-review/

Het gehele review rapport over de Hunter class :
https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Tabled_Documents/4366

[Harald]

Londen we have a problem !!

https://marineschepen.nl/nieuws/Gevolgen-personeelstekort-Britse-marine-groot-schepen-tegen-de-kant-150124.html

[Harald]

US Navy reports successful tests of newest shipboard radar

The U.S. Navy's newest shipboard radar has spotted targets older radars cannot during two recent tests, according to the Program Executive Officer for Integrated Warfare Systems.

Rear Adm. Seiko Okano told Defense News in a December interview the Navy learned a lot from these major test events — the first-ever at-sea live fire test in September and an air raid test event in December — aboard the Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Jack H. Lucas.

The Raytheon-made AN/SPY-6 radar "performed as we expected, which is great," she said, repeatedly calling its performance "fantastic."

The new air and missile defense radar previously was used in a range of land-based tests and had some at-sea run time during Jack Lucas' earlier sea trials. That work culminated in the event in September, where the destroyer tracked a target with the SPY-6 and then shot it down with a Standard Missile-2.

Mike Mills, Raytheon's senior director of naval radar programs, said Jack Lucas will in the coming weeks sail to Hawaii, where it will continue testing its new radar ahead of a planned August declaration of initial operational capability.

Okano noted the radar had only seen about 30 days of at-sea testing at the time of the interview. The Navy and Raytheon will continue learning about what the radar is capable of detecting during the upcoming developmental testing period.

"Whenever you put a radar out to sea, it's just putting her through its paces [and] tuning the radar. You're tuning it for the environments: a whole bunch of clutter or atmospherics or whatever that is — you're adjusting the sensitivity of the radar because you've got a really sensitive instrument" that may be picking up more than the sailors aboard need to see, she added.

.../...

In 2022 and 2023, the Navy awarded Raytheon hardware production and sustainment contract options — essentially a full-rate production contract, but not formally called that until the radar reaches initial operational capability, Mills said. He said he expects the next in the coming months and then a final option in March 2025, ahead of an early 2026 full-rate production contract to allow for continuous production.

https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2024/01/12/us-navy-reports-successful-tests-of-newest-shipboard-radar/

[Harald]

SecNav Pushes Towards TRAM Trials In 2024

The US Navy (USN) is preparing for at-sea trials in 2024 of a capability to enable missiles to be re-loaded onboard surface ships deployed at sea. This capability will change the game in surface warfare operations, and would provide capability with relevance for current operations including those being conducted by USN destroyers in the Red Sea, according to the Secretary of the Navy (SecNav).

https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/sna-2024/2024/01/sna-24-secnav-pushes-towards-tram-trials-in-2024/

[Harald]

Italian Navy To Ramp Up Indo-Pacific Engagement In 2024

Alongside other European countries, Italy plans to deploy its Navy and potentially a carrier strike group to the Indo-Pacific to display commitment to the region.

Italy is looking to increase its Indo-Pacific engagement this year with plans to participate in the region's largest naval exercise and through the deployment of a carrier strike group.

While these plans are still pending approval from Rome, Italian Naval Attaché Captain Marco Bagni highlighted them as one of the ways European powers are engaging with the Indo-Pacific region at the Surface Navy Association's (SNA) annual symposium on Tuesday.

Alongside other European naval attachés, including those from France, the United Kingdom and Norway, Marco highlighted the Italian Navy's increasing focus outside the Mediterranean, its traditional area of responsibility. With around 2% of Italy's economy coming from the sea, the attache emphasized the importance of keeping sea lines of communication open and free under the rules-based international order.

In 2023, the Italian Navy deployed the Thaon di Revel-class PPA Francesco Morosini to the Indo-Pacific for a six-month deployment. Aside from showing Rome's increased commitment to the region, the offshore patrol vessel also offered a glimpse at Italian naval products to Asian countries during its deployment. Last year, Naval News had the opportunity to board the Francesco Morosini in Singapore during IMDEX. The training ship Amerigo Vespucci also departed for a 20-month-long worldwide deployment last year and is slated to visit several ports in the Pacific and Indian oceans in 2024.

At SNA, Bagni confirmed that the Italian Navy will participate in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024. Hosted by the U.S. Navy, RIMPAC occurs biannually between June and July and is the world's largest naval exercise. While the exercise mostly caters to Indo-Pacific countries, with 2014's RIMPAC even including China, European states such as France and Germany have attended. While this year will be the first to include Rome's direct participation, Italian Navy observers have been present during the last few iterations of the drill.

Bagni also added that, pending "political approval" from Rome, the Italian Navy plans to deploy the Cavour Carrier Strike Group for the first time to the Indo-Pacific this year. While these plans are still pending, he stated that the deployment was "likely."

"Starting from June 2024, I guess (the) Cavour Carrier Strike Group will be deployed to the Indo-Pacific region for six months. And by the end of the year, she will achieve the F-35 Bravo initial operational capability. Formatively, the deployment in the Indo-Pacific, according to the European Carrier Group Interoperability Initiative Doctrine, could be joined by EU and or partner navies."

In this planned deployment, the Italian Navy looks to engage with Japan, Australia and the United States, particularly through aviation-based activities such as Australia's exercise Pitch Black and exchanges with Japan's new carrier aviation component. This latter cooperation on F-35B operations was mentioned last year by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Similarly to the JMSDF Chief of Staff's comments, Marco stated that this interaction with the Japanese carrier strike group could "share the Italian Navy's experience in the F-35B's fitting on ITS Cavour."

"Multiple opportunities of interaction and exercise" with the United States Navy and Marine Corps were also mentioned, but not specified.

As the carrier deployment is still under deliberation by Rome, Bagni could not provide further details when asked by Naval News.

https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/sna-2024/2024/01/italian-navy-to-ramp-up-indo-pacific-engagement-in-2024/

[Harald]

Worden de twee landingsvaartuigen die de Duiters hebben ook vervangen?

Ze hebben er nog maar 1, namelijk Landungsboot L762 "Lachs", deze wordt dit jaar (2024) uit dienst gesteld.
Geen directe vervanging ! 

Seebataillon van de Duitsers is nu afhankelijk van Nederland, er gaat gerucht dat samenwerking met NL niet wordt doorgezet. Voor mijn gevoel, gaat het optreden van het "Seebatallon" niet zozeer de nadruk naar Amfibisch optreden. Er werd wel eens gesteld dat er CB90 achtige vaartuigen gekocht zouden moeten worden, maar tot op heden nog niks concreets.

[Ace1]

Het grootste ''probleem'' daarvoor is de Duitse wens voor RAS capaciteit. En dat moeten wij op de LPX niet willen. Maar misschien is het wel vanuit Duitsland het idee om bij het LPX aan te haken, nadeel is dan wel dat Duitsland niet zomaar zal accepteren om het Brits/ Nederlandse ontwerp te kopen. De Duitse industrie moet er aan deelnemen en het liefste mee ontwerpen.


De MUsE moet een klasse worden ter vervanging van de Elbe klasse tankers, dit betekend dat er op basis van de Force Structure 2035 een zestal schepen gebouwd gaan worden. Daarnaast is het ontwerp volgens mij al volledig afgerond. Het ontwerp is afkomstig van NVL, dit is overigens de Duitse partner van Damen voor het F-126 project. Het moet een schip worden van 135 x 20 m (7600 t).






https://marineforum.online/mehr-als-nur-tender/

Dit ziet er toch anders eruit dan de afbeeldingen die Harald geplaatst heeft. Worden de twee landingsvaartuigen die de Duiters hebben ook vervangen?

[silvester herc]

[Parera]

Welke schepen zijn afgestoten om p problemen?

Inderdaad niet af gestoten maar wel tegen de kant gelegd voor een jaar of langer. Verder niet meer over discussiëren want zo belangrijk is het ook niet.

Ik heb zo mijn twijfels over de RN in de toekomst, haar amfibische tak kan wel eens flink ingekrompen worden met het besluit de LPD's tegen de kant te leggen en de maatregel uit 2018 door HMS Ocean af te stoten.

Het zou zomaar kunnen dat de Royal Marines straks beperkt zijn tot de MRSS schepen & de 2 carriers voor heli operaties.

[Huzaar1]

In post 2727 heb je het anders alleen over na de kant halen 

Maar laat het maar varen want dit is mierenneuken

Nee, ik bedoelde zoals de RN, actief uit dienst halen. Dat doen we niet.

[Benji87]

Ik heb het over buiten diens stellen  bewust afstoten. Dat is nooit gebeurt. Ik vraag het niet omdat ik het antwoord niet al weet :p

Ik heb het over buiten diens stellen  bewust afstoten. Dat is nooit gebeurt. Ik vraag het niet omdat ik het antwoord niet al weet :p

Ik heb het over buiten diens stellen  bewust afstoten. Dat is nooit gebeurt. Ik vraag het niet omdat ik het antwoord niet al weet :p

In post 2727 heb je het anders alleen over na de kant halen 

Maar laat het maar varen want dit is mierenneuken

[Huzaar1]

Niet afgestoten maar er zijn toen wel schelen langs de kant gelegd ivm personeelstekort.

https://nos.nl/artikel/2377750-marineschip-voortijdig-aan-de-kant-wegens-ernstig-personeelstekort

https://marineschepen.nl/nieuws/Personeelstekort-nekte-Zr-Ms-Johan-de-Witt-260421.html

Ik meende ook ooit gelezen te hebben dat de onderzeedienst kampte met een tekort aan personeel en daardoor een duikboot langs de kant moest. Maar die kan ik niet meer terugvinden.

Volgens mij gaat het met de Royal Navy ook om een vervroegd pensioen van schepen ivm het personeelstekort. Deze klasse wordt al langere tijd geschrapt

Ik heb het over buiten diens stellen  bewust afstoten. Dat is nooit gebeurt. Ik vraag het niet omdat ik het antwoord niet al weet :p