Internationale ontwikkelingen maritiem

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

UK Royal Navy Seeks Info On Long Range ASW Weapon

Zonder enige twijfel is dit een zoektocht waar Nederland zich bij aan moet sluiten.

[Harald]

UK Royal Navy Seeks Info On Long Range ASW Weapon

The UK Royal Navy has outlined a potential requirement for a vertically-launched anti-submarine warfare (ASW) weapon designed to deliver a lightweight or very lightweight torpedo against submarine contacts at extended range.

The Long Range ASW Weapon (LRAW) effector solution will be a 'missile/rocket' delivered system that can be launched from surface ship combatants fitted with the Strike-length Mk41 Vertical Launcher System (VLS). Both of the RN's new frigate classes –  the Type 26 and the Type 31 – are receiving Strike-length MK 41 VLS modules.

Publishing a Long Range ASW Weapon request for information (RFI) on 13 June, the Royal Navy's Develop directorate said it was asking the industry to provide details on suitable components, sub-systems or end-to-end system solutions, including concepts involving or repurposing existing booster designs. Respondents have until 1 September to submit white papers: interested parties have been notified that there will be an opportunity to present potential solutions at the Navy League Sea-Air-Space conference in April next year.

The Royal Navy says it has issued the RFI to serve three purposes. Firstly, to inform and align the LRAW requirement with industry capability and processes in iterating the developing requirement ahead of future approaches to market. Second, to inform an acquisition strategy that enables the implementation of an enduring long-term solution. Third, to receive very rough order of magnitude (VROM) costings for end-to-end and partial LRAW solutions.

According to the RFI, the LRAW solution requires an interchangeable, stand-off, quick-reaction, all-weather ASW weapon delivery capability that enables a UK lightweight torpedo to reach a water-entry point for a targeted submarine from any Mk41 VLS-fitted platform. Cued by organic or third-party sensor detection, LRAW will also need to integrate with Royal Navy combat or sonar systems and must be 'secure by design'. Engagement range should "comfortably overmatch those of current and forecast threat heavyweight torpedoes".

Alongside technical and performance data, the RFI also requests the industry to provide a schedule for the expected fielding of a minimum deployable capability provide, and VROM costings for a stockpile of 500 weapons. These costings are to specifically exclude the torpedo effector.

Interested parties may wish to note that there is an opportunity for the industry to present potential solutions at the Sea Air Space Conference (6-9 Apr 25, Virginia, USA) which will be advertised at a later date.

The Lockheed Martin RUM-139 Vertical Launch ASROC (VLA) missile represents one candidate solution for LRAW. In US Navy service since 1993, VLA is a rocket-propelled, three-stage weapon which, following launch and turnover, follows a guided ballistic path to the target area before deploying a lightweight torpedo. Both the MK 46 Mod 5 and MK 54 torpedoes have been integrated with VLA.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/07/uk-royal-navy-seeks-info-on-long-range-asw-weapon/

[Harald]

Sweden Orders New CB90 Combat Boats From Saab  ( Ik hoop dat NL ook deze ontwikkeling in het oog houdt )

Swedish defence company Saab has announced that Sweden's Defence Materiel Administration FMV has placed an order for ten new CB90 combat boats for the Royal Swedish Navy.

Saab press release

Saab has received an order from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) for ten combat boats. The order value is approximately SEK 400 million (~$37.7 million). The contract period begins in 2024 and deliveries will be made continuously over the coming years.

The boats are based on the CB90 Next Generation design and are manufactured by Saab's shipyard in Docksta.

"Combat boats are advanced platforms that can be used for many different types of missions. We are proud that Saab's naval capabilities continue to contribute to Sweden's defence."
Mats Wicksell, head of Saab's Business Area Kockums

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/06/sweden-orders-new-cb90-combat-boats-from-saab/




Swedish FMV orders 10 more CB90 NGs from Saab
https://euro-sd.com/2024/07/major-news/39081/fmv-orders-more-cb90-ngs/

[schipper.b]

Dit is precies wat er in ons klote landje fout gaat.
Wij kunnen zelf heel veel , maar het mag niets kosten wat stel je voor dat je er mee kan schieten.
En dat niet alleen op defensie gebied ook op vele andere vlakken.
Nederland als je kapot wil ga dan zo door want alle andere europese landen kiezen eerst voor zichzelf dus waarom wij niet?

[Harald]

U.S. Navy Readies New Compact Agile Interceptor For Flight Tests

Focused on high-density missile defense, the Compact Agile Interceptor will allow more packed missiles per ship with a specific focus on hypersonic missile defense.


USS Farragut (DDG-99) shooting a PAC-3 MSE. Artist impression

Amid growing concerns of missile inventory size and VLS cell count, the U.S. Navy is set to test a new surface-launched missile interceptor designed to maximize capacity in their Mark 41 VLS cells. The effort comes as production of SM-6 ramps up into the late 2020s to match inventory requirements, alongside increased production of RIM-162 ESSM Block II.

The Compact Agile Interceptor aims to pack multiple small diameter missiles into one Mark 41 VLS cell while keeping high-end performance capability to intercept 'complex raids' of hypersonic threats. The addition of a compact interceptor would add a third missile to the U.S. Navy's inventory capable of dealing with hypersonic threats, coming in behind the 13.5 inch (0.34 m) SM-6 Dual I/II and 21-inch (0.53 m) SM-6 Block IB.


https://www.navalnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/US-Navy-Increased-Lethality.jpg-1024x769.png.webp

A leading contender for the CAI program–and a missile that has already been tested in a virtualized Aegis environment–is Lockheed Martin's Patriot Advanced Capability 3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE). It has seen action in Ukraine against hypersonic aeroballistic missiles (the Kh-47M2 'Kinzhal' or AS-24 Killjoy air-launched ballistic missile) and reportedly against hypersonic air-breathing missiles (the 3M22 'Zircon' or 'SS-N-33' hypersonic cruise missile).

PAC-3 MSE's diameter is roughly 11.4 inches (29 cm), a little over half the diameter of a common missile canister used in Mark 41 VLS cells. Despite the smaller diameter, Lockheed Martin told Naval News at Sea Air Space 2023 (SAS) that the intention was to leave the missile largely unchanged for integration work, ending the possibility of dual-packing missiles for the time being.

"I think there's a lot of studies of what you can do. Our big thing is to keep the missile the way it is. So you have to get into things like folding things and other stuff if you wanted to try to increase the capacity within one cell. What we want to do is work and partner together. So one missile comes off the line and can go to the Army, the Navy and it's not unique to that to that it's just one way to go."
Lockheed Martin at SAS 2023

.../...

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/06/u-s-navy-readies-new-compact-agile-interceptor-for-flight-tests/

[Harald]

Voor mijn gevoel ziet het er nog niet zo rooskleurig uit voor Nederland .. 

Na Nederland hopen Duitsland en Noorwegen met Canada samen te werken

Canada, Duitsland en Noorwegen overwegen een defensie- en veiligheidssamenwerking voor de Noord-Atlantische en arctische gebieden. De drie landen willen breder en diepgaander samenwerken dan eerder gedacht. Dat meldt de Canadese publieke omroep CBC. De samenwerkingsplannen zijn ook voor Nederland interessant, omdat zowel Canada als Duitsland hun toekomstige schepen willen uitrusten met het Amerikaanse AEGIS.

.../...

https://marineschepen.nl/nieuws/Canada-Duitsland-Noorwegen-in-gesprek-over-samenwerking-250624.html

[Parera]

  totaal andere benadering   als MCM mothership.
Meer een Offshore schip met een groot plat multifunctioneel achterdek.

Dat is wat men hier gebruikt heeft als afbeelding. In werkelijkheid zal het een ontwerp worden dat in oorlogsomstandigheden kan worden ingezet en eventuele aanvallen kan afslaan/overleven. Iets wat bij het aanpassen van een civiel schip niet haalbaar zou zijn.

Als we kijken naar onze nieuwe MCMV's kan dat wel eens dicht in de buurt komen van wat ook de Britten zoeken. En gezien hun samenwerking met de Franse op toolbox, zou het nog wel eens de basis kunnen vormen voor het Britse idee.

[Harald]

The Royal Navy wants three new-build mine hunting motherships


https://www.navylookout.com/royal-navy-wants-three-new-build-mine-hunting-motherships/

   totaal andere benadering   als MCM mothership.
Meer een Offshore schip met een groot plat multifunctioneel achterdek.

[Parera]

The Royal Navy wants three new-build mine hunting motherships


https://www.navylookout.com/royal-navy-wants-three-new-build-mine-hunting-motherships/

[Harald]

Marines Corps' landing ship taking longer, costing more than planned

A key vessel Marines need to move around in a potential island shootout with China is two years behind schedule, could cost nearly triple its original estimate and the short-term fix isn't cheap.

The Navy's landing ship medium program expects to award its design and construction contract in fiscal year 2025, two years later than originally planned, according to the Government Accountability Office's Annual Weapons Systems Assessment, released Monday.

The concept, formerly called the light amphibious warship, was launched in 2020 to procure 35 such stern landing vessels.

The ship would hew closely to commercial designs to lower its signature and provide the recently formed Marine littoral regiments with options for maneuvering in areas close to shore and within island chains, especially in the Pacific.

The current ship being used for testing is the stern landing vessel, a modified commercial watercraft that allows users to offload and onload directly from the beach.

"It is a shore-to-shore logistics connect to get heavy things that we can't put on airplanes or don't want to have a big ship coming in to bring, get it from Point A to Point B to move; maneuver it from Point B to a more advantageous position at Point C; and then sustain that position," Assistant Commandant Gen. Christopher Mahoney said in March.

Original design features for the landing ship medium concept include:

- A length of 200 to 400 feet.
- A draft, or depth of the vessel beneath the waterline, of 12 feet.
- A crew of about 70 sailors.
- The capacity for carrying 50 Marines and 648 short tons of equipment.
- 8,000 square feet of deck cargo space
- Transit speed of 14 knots and a cruising range of 3,500 nautical miles.
- Roll-on/roll-off beaching capability for beaches with a 1:40 grade.
- A helicopter landing pad.
- Two 30 mm guns and six .50-caliber guns for self-defense.
- A 20-year service life.
Source: Congressional Research Services

The first of three planned regiments became operational in 2023. The Navy is developing a bridging strategy, according to the report. Marine Corps Times has reported on ongoing experimentation with commercial vessels modified to meet the service's landing needs throughout the past two years.

But those solutions require "significant modifications," according to the report, costing upward of $115 million per modified vessel.

A 2020 report by Congressional Research Services that was updated in April noted that Congress could consider adapting the existing fleet of Army logistics support vessels for at least some of the Marines' requirements.

The Army has more than 100 such vessels in its fleet, according to that report. Dozens of those vessels have similar capabilities to the landing ships the Corps is seeking.

At the time the Army had sought to divest some of its watercraft fleet. But since then, the service has shifted its logistics needs to the Pacific and now wants to expand the fleet, Defense News reported.

Under the current timeline, the Navy expects to award the construction contract for the ships in March 2025 and have the first ship delivered by January 2029. On that schedule, the Navy expects to conclude operational testing by July 2030 and hit initial capability by December 2034, according to the Government Accountability Office report.

Another report released in April shows a much higher overall cost for the program than officials originally planned.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated the initial 18-ship program could cost between $6.2 billion and $7.8 billion in 2024 inflation-adjusted dollars, Marine Corps Times' sister publication Defense News reported in April.

That translates to $340 million to $430 million per hull.

That's three times more than the original estimate of $2.6 billion for the program ― or $150 million per ship.

If the Navy gets the green light to buy the full fleet of 35 landing ships, as the Marine Corps has requested, the program will cost between $11.9 billion and $15 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office report.

https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-marine-corps/2024/06/18/marines-corps-landing-ship-taking-longer-costing-more-than-planned/

[Harald]

Enorme OPV...   

KV Hopen Joins Norway's Fleet: Final Jan Mayen Class Coast Guard Vessel Named.

According to information published by the Vard on June 12, 2024, Minister of Climate and Environment Andreas Bjelland Eriksen presided over the naming ceremony for KV Hopen, the latest addition to Norway's Coast Guard fleet, at Vard Langsten in Norway. This vessel is the final one in the Jan Mayen class.



KV Hopen, along with its sister ships, KV Jan Mayen and KV Bjørnøya, is set to play a role in safeguarding Norway's interests in the Norwegian Economic Zone (NØS) and the protective zone around Svalbard. The addition of KV Hopen enhances the Coast Guard's operational readiness, capacity, and endurance across Norway's extensive maritime areas.

These three vessels represent a significant investment, with a total cost of NOK 8 billion. With these vessels, Norway now possesses a fleet capable of operating in the challenging conditions of the High North.

The contract to build the Jan Mayen class vessels was awarded to VARD on June 25, 2018, by the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency. The first two ships were delivered in 2023.

KV Hopen and its sister ships are notable for their advanced features, including CBRN (chemical, biological, radioactive, and nuclear) protection, ice reinforcement, modern sensor and communication systems, and accommodations for up to 100 personnel. They are designed to operate independently for up to eight weeks at sea, with a helicopter deck and hangar to support extended missions.

Technical data
The coast guard vessel KV Hopen has a standard displacement of 9,800 tons. It measures 136.4 meters (447 feet 6 inches) in length and has a beam of 22 meters (72 feet 2 inches). The vessel's draught is 6.2 meters (20 feet 4 inches). Propulsion is provided by two MTU 20V 8000 M91L diesel engines, each generating 10,000 kW. This setup allows KV Hopen to achieve a maximum speed of 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph). The vessel can accommodate up to 100 personnel.

https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/navy-news/2024/kv-hopen-joins-norways-fleet-final-jan-mayen-class-coast-guard-vessel-named

Jan Mayen-class offshore patrol vessel
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Mayen-class_offshore_patrol_vessel
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/11/vard-group-hands-over-jan-mayen-class-opv-kv-bjornoya-to-norwegian-coast-guard/

[Harald]

Sweden To Get New RBS 18 Coastal Defence Missile For CB 90 Combat Boats

The Swedish modernization of their coastal troops is continuing, with the formal call for tenders for a new surface-to-surface anti-ship missile. The new weapon will receive the formal designation RBS 18, and unlike the current man-portable Hellfire-missile system used in the short-range anti-ship role by the Swedish marines will be mounted aboard the CB 90 combat boat.

This will be a key demand, as the boats are small and narrow, coming in at just under 16 meters in length and 4 meters in width. This could prove too restrictive for dedicated anti-ship missiles marketed towards the lightcraft segment. As an example, MBDA's MARTE MK2/N which is described by the manufacturer as a "medium-range lightweight anti-ship missile system" gives the minimum boundary for suitable vessels as 25 meters in length.

However, when it comes to the mass of the system, a twin-launcher would seem to fit within the 1,750 kg limit (of which 1,400 kg on deck), which might indicate that the Navy is in fact looking for a 'real' anti-ship weapon, and not a converted non-line of sight anti-tank missile.

Amfbat 2030 program
The anti-ship missile procurement is part of the larger Amfbat 2030 program, which aims to increase the capabilities of the marine battalions by providing them with increased lethality and mobility for the littoral units. Amfbat 2030 includes the ability to fight from their organic vessels, without the need to disembark as is the current case, and as such will demand both new sensors, vessels, and weapons.

The contract for an indirect fire-support capability in the form of shipboard mortars has already been placed, while the anti-air capability is also underway in the form of tenders for both short/very-short-ranged air defense missiles as well as a total of eight anti-aircraft guns for mounting on CB 90, reportedly in caliber 30 × 173 mm which has proved rather popular on vehicle mounts recently.



The size of the tenders is significant, with the anti-ship missile deal being valued at 268 million Euro, and the air defense guns at approximately 166 million Euro. The decision to model the tenders based on the current CB 90 is somewhat surprising. The CB 90 is starting to show its age, and the latest proposals for the long-term development of the force have seen the original CB 90H as one of the platforms slated for replacement. Two somewhat modified versions, CB 90HS and CB 90HSM, are also in service, of which the 90HSM is the most modern development of the vessel.

Still, the CB 90HSM continues to rely on the original hull, which being small and narrow might run into issues of space and stability when mounting larger weapons – a key driver behind the decision to acquire a new vessel for the mortar turrets acquired. It remains to be seen whether the eventual procurement will see the systems currently described actually mounted on a CB 90 version, or whether it is simply used as a placeholder to provide the approximate size of the vessels.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/06/sweden-to-get-new-rbs-18-coastal-defence-missile-for-cb-90-combat-boats/

[Parera]

Leuk filmpje, ik begrijp alleen niet waarom ze de een ontwerp hebben op de thumbnail dat niks met het FSS te maken heeft en dat 75% van de beelden in de video dat van de Franse tanker Jacques Chevallier.

En verder een gigantisch schip, maar weinig indrukwekkend qua capaciteit. Het is een droge ladings schip voor het ondersteunen van de carrier en haar taakgroep zoals de meeste landen met carriers die hebben.

[Umbert]

Lijkt me wel heel erg op onze JSS

[silvester herc]