Internationale ontwikkelingen maritiem

[Harald]

'Europeans don't have a choice': Naval Group boss pushes for shipyard consolidation

Europe's naval sector has no choice but to consolidate if it is to remain competitive with new entrants on the international market such as China, Russia and South Korea, according to the outgoing CEO of France's Naval Group.

At his last news conference before retiring on March 24, Hervé Guillou said that "over the past 15 years we've seen one Chinese, one Russian, two Koreans, the Japanese, Singaporeans, Indians — and I could go on — arriving on the naval defense market. They are posing a considerable challenge and that's why Europe must consolidate."

Guillou said that between 2009 and 2018 — small ships such as offshore patrol vessels and offshore supply vessels excluded — China produced 136 military ships, of which 11 were exported; Russia produced 68, of which 14 were exported; South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries and Daewoo (now consolidated into one business) produced 40 ships, of which 13 were exported; and Japan's shipyards made 19, all for its domestic market. Two of the United States' shipbuilders made 78 ships, of which six were exported; Europe's 12 shipyards produced 80 ships, of which 49 were for the export market.

The figures given by Naval Group are estimates supplied by the European economic group Euroyards, which uses sources such as the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute and IHS Markit.

"What more need I say?" Guillou remarked at the Friday briefing. "We are the only ones in the world who have to export over half our production in order to survive."

..../...

https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2020/02/21/europeans-dont-have-a-choice-naval-group-boss-pushes-for-shipyard-consolidation/

[Harald]

US Navy Deploys First Destroyer with Counter-Drone Laser

https://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/209831/us-navy-deploys-first-destroyer-with-counter_drone-laser.html

[Sparkplug]

Navy Researching New Class of Medium Amphibious Ship, New Logistics Ships

https://news.usni.org/2020/02/20/navy-researching-new-class-of-medium-amphibious-ship-new-logistics-ships

[Harald]

Naval Group announces plan to support Greek FDI frigate programme

The Naval Group revealed a long-term cooperation strategy which will support the acquisition of two Belhara-class FDI frigates by the Hellenic Navy.

The announcement was made by the company at the French embassy in Athens on 13 February.

Alain Guillou, Naval Group Executive VP Development said: 'This cooperation plan will support the Hellenic Navy in achieving regional superiority at sea, but also the ability of the Hellenic industry to actively prepare the future of naval warfare.'

Eight Greek companies have signed letters of intent to join the Naval Group supply chain in the country.

The plan includes the creation of a Digital Support Centre, providing follow-on support and training to frigate crews and maintenance teams using Naval Group simulation technology.

France will also be operating five Belhara-class frigates, with first deliveries expected in 2023 and entry into active service from 2025.

https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/naval-group-announces-plan-support-greek-fdi-friga/

[Poleme]

Spain seen joining Greece, France, Italy on European Patrol Corvette program

https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2020/02/07/spain-seen-joining-greece-france-italy-on-european-patrol-corvette-program/

3000 tons korvetten voor de 4 landen. Totaal een 20 tal schepen uit eenzelfde serie klinkt interessant maar eerdere projecten zoals deze zijn nooit heel succesvol geweest (NFR-90 o.a.).

  Citaten uit bovenstaand artikel: "The two firms Fincantieri and Naval Group are hoping to match Italian and French navy requirements with a jointly built, modular vessel that can handle patrol and surveillance missions as well as taking second-tier roles in anti-submarine and anti-surface missions.

On its PESCO listing for the corvette, the EU states "the objective is to design and develop a prototype for a new class of military ship, named "European Patrol Corvette" (EPC), which can host several systems and payloads, in order to accomplish, with a modular and flexible approach, a large number of tasks and missions."

Adding new partners to the roster of Italy and France is key to winning EU funding. PESCO programs are possible candidates for cash from the European Defence Fund, but only if they have more than two partners on board.
The source said that if the corvette program gets EU part-funding, it would help sustain the development of the ship's modularity, allowing it to serve different functions for different navies. "It would have a very open architecture, as well as having a basic and enhanced version," he said."

Research & Development kosten vormen tussen de 25 - 50 % van de totale aanschafkosten.  De uiteindelijke hoogte van dit percentage is afhankelijk van het totale productie volume gedurende de gehele levensduur cyclus.   Het opzetten van een internationaal of interservice (Joint meerdere OPCO's) gezamenlijk materieel project zorgt voor een aanzienlijk vergroot productie-volume.  En in theorie kunnen de totale R&D kosten per land, per OPCO en per stuk dan ook flink dalen.
Maar ... een hele hoop landen willen maar al te graag op deze manier hun MinDef begroting beperkingen of problemen te lijf gaan.  Helaas wil niemand afstand doen van: strategische (industriële) autonomie, kennis en ervaring, omzet en werkgelegenheid.

De "commonality" in het FREMM fregat programma bedraagt uiteindelijk slechts 25 %.  In een ander Joint en Internationaal materieel-project, JSF, is de commonality tussen
F-35A, F-35B en F-35C terug gelopen van een geplande 80 %, naar tussen de 20 - 25 %.  De hoofd stakeholders van dit project in het Pentagon trokken daarom de conclusie: eens, maar nooit weer dat Joint gedoe.  Onderzoek toont aan dat als de 3 krijgsmachtdelen van het begin af aan.  Elk hun eigen jachtvliegtuig type hadden kunnen ontwerpen, dan was men nu goedkoper uit geweest. 

Van de 'geweldige' NATO Helicopter-90 helikopter bestaan maar liefst 26 verschillende varianten.   Vier partnerlanden, 2 Rijnland naties en 2 'knoflook loving' landen, waarvan er niet een de "leading nation" werd, gingen ontwerpen met onderling flink afwijkende visies en eisen.  Niet-NH90 Partner landen werd een vette wordt voorgehouden, met eigen productie/ assemblage-lijnen en ook weer (flink) afwijkende varianten.  Zodat de nationale competenties en werkgelegenheid zo maximaal mogelijk behouden konden worden.  Hierdoor ontstond nooit een "scale of economies" en bouwtijd en bouwkosten besparende "leer-curve".

Het Eurofighter Typhoon programma zag door onderling afwijkende specificaties de R&D kosten exploderen.  Op een gegeven moment waren er 16 varianten waaruit de 4 Eurofighter partner-landen moesten kiezen.  Het tijdschema ging ook aan diggelen, want er werd heel veel tijd verspilt aan politiek gesteggel, wie welke componenten en hoeveel ging bouwen.  Er kwam niet 1 centrale assemblage-lijn, nee elk Partner land eiste zijn eigen assemblage-lijn.  Een Britse studie concludeerde in 2008 dan ook, dat de Typhoon geschat 196 % meer had gekost, vergeleken met een alternatief puur Brits jachtvliegtuig project.

Research & Development kosten vormen tussen de 25 - 50 % van de totale aanschafkosten.  De uiteindelijke hoogte van dit percentage is afhankelijk van het totale productie volume gedurende de gehele levensduur cyclus.   Het opzetten van een internationaal of interservice (Joint meerdere OPCO's) gezamenlijk materieel project zorgt voor een aanzienlijk vergroot productie-volume.  En in theorie kunnen de totale R&D kosten per land, per OPCO en per stuk dan ook flink dalen.
Maar ... een hele hoop landen willen maar al te graag op deze manier hun MinDef begroting beperkingen of problemen te lijf gaan.  Helaas wil niemand afstand doen van: strategische (industriële) autonomie, kennis en ervaring, omzet en werkgelegenheid.  Dit is dan ook de reden dat bijna alle Joint / gezamenlijke materieel projecten een teleurstellend eind-resultaat opleveren.
Maar goed, het is natuurlijk altijd lekker om een vinger in een (PESCO) honingpot te dopen, die grotendeels door anderen verzamelt is.

[Ace1]

Spain seen joining Greece, France, Italy on European Patrol Corvette program

https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2020/02/07/spain-seen-joining-greece-france-italy-on-european-patrol-corvette-program/

3000 tons korvetten voor de 4 landen. Totaal een 20 tal schepen uit eenzelfde serie klinkt interessant maar eerdere projecten zoals deze zijn nooit heel succesvol geweest (NFR-90 o.a.).

Klopt maar nu heb je 4 knoflook landen die zullen het wel met elkaar eens worden.

[Parera]

Spain seen joining Greece, France, Italy on European Patrol Corvette program

https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2020/02/07/spain-seen-joining-greece-france-italy-on-european-patrol-corvette-program/

3000 tons korvetten voor de 4 landen. Totaal een 20 tal schepen uit eenzelfde serie klinkt interessant maar eerdere projecten zoals deze zijn nooit heel succesvol geweest (NFR-90 o.a.).

[Harald]

Turkey reveals more details for Barbaros frigate MLU

The Turkish Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) has published further details of the mid-life upgrade (MLU) being undertaken for the country's MEKO 200 (Track IIA/IIB) Barbaros-class frigates.

The four frigates have already completed an initial round of modernisation, under which the Thales Smart-S Mk 2 air/surface surveillance radar has replaced the BAE Systems AWS-9 radar in all four ships, and the MK 29 Sea Sparrow launchers have been replaced with Mk 41 vertical launch systems (VLSs) in the two Track IIA frigates.

The second phase of the MLU is more extensive, however. Under contracts awarded to Havelsan and Aselsan in 2018, all existing radar (with the exception of the Smart-S), the electronic warfare and sonar suites, and self-defence systems will be replaced.

According to a graphic depiction of a Barbaros-class frigate following the completion of its MLU, published by the SSB in January, the most obvious change to the topside layout is the new masts. A closed solid mast similar to the main mast on the Turkish Navy's Ada-class corvettes will replace the old lattice mast and be fitted with the SMART-S Mk 2 radar (relocated from its current position on the second mast), with the antennas of the ARES-2NC electronic support measures system just below. The receiving and transmitting antennas of the AREAS-2NC electronic countermeasure and electronic attack system are located on both sides of the mast.

The MAR-D solid-state active electronically scanned array air search radar developed by Aselsan will be located at the top of a new second mast. The MAR-D has a reported range of 100 km.

Under the MLU the Turkish Navy is planning to remove the Oerlikon-Contravers Sea Zenith gun mounts and Contraves Sea Guard fire control radar.

https://www.janes.com/article/93995/turkey-reveals-more-details-for-barbaros-frigate-mlu

[Poleme]

Mid-Life modernization for Turkish Navy's MEKO 200 frigate  ( .. ... Turkse copy and paste... van bestaande buitenlandse systemen )

On January 10th, 2020, the Savunma Sanayii Başkanlığı (SSB) (Presidency of Defence Industries) released an official image of how the Barbaros class frigates would look like after the planned upgrade. More specifically, this is a concept of how the ship could look like if the Turkish Navy will order a heavy modernization of the ships.

https://www.navyrecognition.com/images/stories/news/2020/January/Mid-Life_modernization_for_Turkish_Navys_MEKO_200_frigate_925_001.png

The image features the modernized ship, including 16 anti-ship missiles, a Korkut-D (naval version Gökdeniz) twin 35mm CIWS installed on B-position replacing a Sea Zenith system and a Phalanx Block1B Baseline 2 atop the hangar.

According to Naval Analyses, the main mast has been reconstructed and includes a MAR-D AESA radar while behind the Phalanx there is possibly a dual-band FCS AKR-D Block-B2 for the ESSM if the STIR radar behind the main mast has been removed. The forward mast has been replaced by a new integrated mast that includes the SMART-S Mk 2 radar, new ARES-2NC ESM and AREAS-2NC Naval Electronic Attack (EA) Systems, new navigation/LPI radars, PIRI-IRST suite, and others.

The Barbaros-class frigates are among the most modern frigates in the Turkish Navy. They were designed in Germany and are part of the MEKO group of modular warships, in this case, the MEKO 200 design. Two ships were built in Germany and two in Turkey with German assistance. They are larger than the previous Yavuz-class frigates and are also faster due to using CODOG machinery rather than pure diesels.   If this massive and ambitious plan takes place, then the Turkish variant will be the heaviest armed MEKO 200 variant in the whole world. The modernization of the first ship is planned to be completed on February 2022.
https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2020/january/7916-mid-life-modernization-for-turkish-navy-s-meko-200-frigate.html

Nou en, wij krijgen onze MFF vervangers pas in 2025 in de vaart.  Maar bedoelen ze hiermee een te water lating of werkelijk al in dienst nemen ?
De Grieken hebben hun MEKO-200 varianten, de Hydra klasse maar een heel beperkte modernisering gegeven, door de RIM-7 Sea Sparrow te vervangen door ESSM's.  IN combinatie met een beperkte opwaardering van de bestaande radars.
De Portugezen gebruiken op hun Vasco da Gama klasse, ook een MEKO-200, nog steeds de Mk.29 8-cellige launchers, zoals op de voormalige S-fregatten, met nog steeds verouderde RIM-7's.
Australie heeft al wel haar ANZAC klasse, MEKO-200 variant, stevig gemoderniseerd met X-, en S-band AESA radars, een vernieuwd CMS, nieuwe commando-centrale en de RIM-7's vervangen door ESSM's.  Nieuw-Zeeland heeft de RIM-7's ook vaarwel gezegd en daar komen nu Britse CAMMS/ Sea Ceptor luchtafweer raketten op.

Algerije vaart ook met MEKO-200's en die zijn ook voorzien van 16 anti schip raketten (ASM's).  Idem dito voor de nieuwe Israelische Sa 'ar 6 korvetten, deze krijgen joekels van Gabriel V ASM's aan boord, die bijna even groot en bijna even zwaar (1.250 kg = 14 % lichter) zijn als een Tomahawk 'kruisraket'.  De Franse Aquitaine FREMM klasse vaart standaard met zowel 8x MM-40 Exocet Block 3's bedoelt voor zowel ASM als Land Attack rol, als wel 16x SCALP kruisvluchtwapens.  De Russische marine heeft niet alleen kruisvluchtwapens op onderzeeboten en fregatten.   Maar ook op lichte korvetten. zoals de 949 tons Buyan-M klasse
Waarom deze trend in een dubbele zo zware ASuW en Land Attack bewapening ?  Deze marines gaan veel meer "joint" samenwerken met land-, en luchtstrijdkrachten. 
En moeten ook in staat zijn, om duidelijke effecten te kunnen creëren op het land.

[Sparkplug]

Future of U.S. Carrier Fleet Key Issue as New Force Structure Moves Through Pentagon

https://news.usni.org/2020/01/29/future-of-u-s-carrier-fleet-key-issue-as-new-force-structure-moves-through-pentagon

[Sparkplug]

Report to Congress on Navy Force Structure

https://news.usni.org/2020/01/29/report-to-congress-on-navy-force-structure-6

Rapport (24-01-2020)

https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/6704909/Navy-Force-Structure-and-Shipbuilding-Plans.pdf

[Harald]

Mid-Life modernization for Turkish Navy's MEKO 200 frigate  ( .. ... Turkse copy and paste... van bestaande buitenlandse systemen )

On January 10th, 2020, the Savunma Sanayii Başkanlığı (SSB) (Presidency of Defence Industries) released an official image of how the Barbaros class frigates would look like after the planned upgrade. More specifically, this is a concept of how the ship could look like if the Turkish Navy will order a heavy modernization of the ships.


https://www.navyrecognition.com/images/stories/news/2020/January/Mid-Life_modernization_for_Turkish_Navys_MEKO_200_frigate_925_001.png

The image features the modernized ship, including 16 anti-ship missiles, a Korkut-D (naval version Gökdeniz) twin 35mm CIWS installed on B-position replacing a Sea Zenith system and a Phalanx Block1B Baseline 2 atop the hangar.

According to Naval Analyses, the main mast has been reconstructed and includes a MAR-D AESA radar while behind the Phalanx there is possibly a dual-band FCS AKR-D Block-B2 for the ESSM if the STIR radar behind the main mast has been removed. The forward mast has been replaced by a new integrated mast that includes the SMART-S Mk 2 radar, new ARES-2NC ESM and AREAS-2NC Naval Electronic Attack (EA) Systems, new navigation/LPI radars, PIRI-IRST suite, and others.

The Barbaros-class frigates are among the most modern frigates in the Turkish Navy. They were designed in Germany and are part of the MEKO group of modular warships, in this case, the MEKO 200 design. Two ships were built in Germany and two in Turkey with German assistance. They are larger than the previous Yavuz-class frigates and are also faster due to using CODOG machinery rather than pure diesels.

If this massive and ambitious plan takes place, then the Turkish variant will be the heaviest armed MEKO 200 variant in the whole world. The modernization of the first ship is planned to be completed on February 2022.

https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2020/january/7916-mid-life-modernization-for-turkish-navy-s-meko-200-frigate.html

[Sparkplug]

'No plans' to decommission HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark early

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/no-plans-to-decommission-hms-albion-and-hms-bulwark-early/

[Sparkplug]

From Sea Dart to Sea Viper – area air defence for the Royal Navy

https://www.savetheroyalnavy.org/from-sea-dart-to-sea-viper-area-air-defence-for-the-royal-navy/

[Ace1]

Daarom er is altijd wel iets te regelen. Al lijkt het op de impressies van de vMFF en het CSS dat we kiezen voor een ander systeem ( rheinmetall of leonardo).

Terma heeft ook nog een ander decoy systeem.

https://www.terma.com/media/463848/terma_chemring_two_pager_-_step_change_-_a4_final.pdf