Internationale ontwikkelingen maritiem

[Benji87]

The Irish ship will likely be similar to the Dutch HNLMS Karel Doorman. Alamy Stock Photo

State moves closer to purchase of €200m multi-role ship that will be largest in navy's history

The multi-role vessel will have medical facilities, a helicopter landing area as well as other facilities to manage large-scale incidents.

THE PURCHASE OF the Irish Navy's biggest ship in its history which will respond to humanitarian crises is set to move a step forward as information documents are to be issued across an EU platform.

The project has been in planning in the Department of Defence for many years but stepped up a gear with the recent Commission on the Defence Forces.

Sources have said the ship is anticipated to have a helicopter landing area on board as well as other possible facilities such as a roll-on-roll-off facility for vehicles like the Defence Forces armoured personnel carriers.

The ship would be capable of responding to major disasters and humanitarian crises – similar vessels have also been involved in the rescue of civilians from warzones.

It is also anticipated that there will be a large medical facility onboard and specialist command and control systems for large-scale incidents.

The project will cost an estimated €200m however it is understood that the exact cost will not be decided on until the completion of the tender process.

The Department of Defence was contacted for a statement.

A Government source has confirmed that there will be a release of documents in regard to the tender process for the project in the coming days. Known as a Prior Information Notice it will be examined by prospective builders.

Minister for Defence and Foreign Affairs, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said in the Dáil last year that the ship would replace the LÉ Eithne, which was the former flagship of the Irish Naval Service.

He said "it is a priority" for the Government and that it is "an important element of the Defence Equipment Development Plan".

Funding for the project, he said, would be drawn from major capital projects budget.

"It is the Government's intention that this new vessel will provide a flexible and adaptive capability for a wide range of maritime tasks," he said.

Sources, with a knowledge of the planning process, said that officials had spoken to several shipbuilding firms across Europe and wider afield either formally or informally.

It is understood that a number of those firms are likely to make their interest in construction known. With a potential date of completion hoped for 2025.

A source also stated that there will likely be an effort to award the build of the ship to a European firm with a dockyard in Poland the most likely location if the State opts for one of the EU companies.

It is understood that British ship builder, Babcock which previously built a number of patrol ships for the Irish Naval Service would be a potential builder. Their offering would likely be their Arrowhead MRV.

In November of last year Janes, a defence industry news website, reported Dutch firm Damen was awarded a contract to build an identical MRV-style ship for the Portuguese navy.

The contract would see that ship, the D Joao II, enter service in the second half of 2026.

Dutch officials had met their Irish counterparts on board the HNLMS Karel Doorman which visited Cork Harbour in November 2022. This included the landing of an Irish Air Corps helicopter on the huge vessel.

There are other options for the state including a Danish ship building firm and a South Korean yard which has built tide-class resupply vessels for the British navy.

A security source said news of the tender process beginning would be welcomed but that the Government would have to be consider more vessels to ensure the ship is available at all times.

This would be in keeping with the Commission on the Defence Forces recommendation of a enlarged naval service which is currently struggling with a staffing and retention crisis which has enabled just two ships to go to sea.

A source said: "With the changing sea conditions in the North Atlantic due to climate change and the growing need for sealift capabilities in both humanitarian operations like those under way in Gaza and Sudan, next years updated-White Paper on Defence could well establish the need for additional multi-role vessels.

"A minimum of two vessels would be required to ensure that at least one is available to the State for most of the year."

That is slowly changing with the Government's funding for greater pay for sailors. 

Bron: https://www.thejournal.ie/irish-defence-forces-irish-naval-service-multi-role-vessel-6274245-Jan2024/

[bergd]

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.

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

Volgens mij doet de LST-100 van Damen er niet voor onder

[Parera]

Helaas...     zal dat nog wel ff duren, denk ik. Maar idd ik ben ook erg benieuwd.
Ik hoop eigenlijk ook dat er een "Omega" look saus er overheen gegoten wordt.

Het kan twee kanten op gaan voor het AWWF:
- Een opgeschaalde ASWF romp/ontwerp
- Een variant op het F-126 / Omega ontwerp

Zo nu en dan hoor ik wel eens een gerucht voorbij komen maar echt 100% bevestiging heb ik op dit moment nog niet qua ontwerp. Bij de geplande samenwerking met Duitsland was het voor de hand liggend dat we kozen voor het F-126 als basis, maar nu is dat misschien wel helemaal van tafel.

[Harald]

Ik ben dan ook zeer benieuwd naar het eerste concept ontwerp we het publieke domein haalt... Ik ga nog steeds uit van een vergroot ASWF van 7000 ton+ en
rond de 160 meter met 2 eilanden en 2 VLS posities (minimaal 64 maar vermoedelijk meer).

Helaas...     zal dat nog wel ff duren, denk ik. Maar idd ik ben ook erg benieuwd.
Ik hoop eigenlijk ook dat er een "Omega" look saus er overheen gegoten wordt.

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

Zo goed bewapend zijn deze KDDX'en niet hoor, slechts 32 VLS cellen + 16 grotere cellen voor ballistische raketten.

Laat COMMIT & Damen maar rustig haar gang gaan met het AWWF en dan weet ik zeker dat er een prachtig ontwerp komt 

Mee eens!

Daarnaast, we hebben een reputatie hoog te houden immers zowel de GW's als haar opvolgers waren/zijn vooruitstrevende ontwerpen en voor haar klasse is het huidige LCF goed bewapend.

Ik ben dan ook zeer benieuwd naar het eerste concept ontwerp we het publieke domein haalt... Ik ga nog steeds uit van een vergroot ASWF van 7000 ton+ en rond de 160 meter met 2 eilanden en 2 VLS posities (minimaal 64 maar vermoedelijk meer).

[Parera]

Misschien Damen deze Destroyers in licentie laten bouwen als vervanger voor het LCF dan hebben we meteen de GK 2.0 erbij.

Zo goed bewapend zijn deze KDDX'en niet hoor, slechts 32 VLS cellen + 16 grotere cellen voor ballistische raketten.

Laat COMMIT & Damen maar rustig haar gang gaan met het AWWF en dan weet ik zeker dat er een prachtig ontwerp komt 

[Master Mack]

Misschien Damen deze Destroyers in licentie laten bouwen als vervanger voor het LCF dan hebben we meteen de GK 2.0 erbij.

[Harald]

HHI Completes Basic Design Of The Korean Next Gen Destroyer KDDX (    met 2x CIWS GK opvolger)

On December 27, 2023, South Korea's HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) announced the completion of the basic design for Korea's next-generation destroyer KDDX.



HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) recently held a ceremony to mark the completion of the basic design for the KDDX at its Ulsan headquarters. The basic design contract for the KDDX was awarded to HHI by South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) in 2020, which took 3 years to complete. The KDDX, a cutting-edge naval vessel of the Republic of Korea's Navy, features indigenous detection and combat systems.

According to HD HHI, its capabilities are on par with the ROK Navy's most advanced destroyer equipped with the Aegis Combat System, the 'King Jeong-jo the Great' (KDX-III Batch-II). Launched in 2022, the 'King Jeong-jo the Great' is currently undergoing trials and is expected to be delivered by the end of the year. Marking a significant milestone, the KDDX is the first destroyer built entirely using domestic technology. This encompasses everything from its hull structure to the combat system, including state-of-the-art multi-function radars and a range of armaments. Its construction represents the pinnacle of the Republic of Korea's naval combat vessel technology.



During MADEX 2023 HHI showcased a mock design of the KDDX stating system integration and technological advancement as the main keywords of the design. As the first warship to utilize a full electric propulsion system powered by two gas turbine generators and three diesel generators, it is equipped with a 25MW extra-large propulsion electric motor. The powerful propulsion system along with an abundant number of generators is to allow the KDDX to sufficiently utilize the surplus energies across the various systems of the ship as well as leave possibilities to accommodate future directed-energy weapon systems such as lasers.

The KDDX is equipped with Hanwha Systems' integrated mast (I-MAST), which features a "Dual-Band Multi-Function Radar." This radar system consists of two radars operating simultaneously. The S-band radar is utilized for long-range air defense targets and ballistic missile detection and tracking, while the X-band radar is employed for short-range air defense targets and surface target detection and tracking. With the inclusion of the I-MAST and electric propulsion system, the KDDX aims to achieve reduced RCS (Radar Cross Section) and decreased underwater radiated noise, thereby enhancing its survivability against enemy submarines and radar detection.

In terms of weapon systems, the KDDX will be equipped with a Mk 45 5-inch main gun, two CIWS-II systems, eight anti-ship missiles (potentially the C-Star by LIG NEX 1), as well as KVLS-I and KVLS-II to accommodate the new naval version of the L-SAM (함대공유도탄-II). L-SAM will provide greater air defense and cruise missile interception capabilities to the fleet. For anti-submarine warfare, KDDX incorporated an integrated sonar system composed of Hull-Mounted Sonar (HMS) at the vessel's bow and Multi-Function Towed Array (MFTA), and a Low-Frequency Projector Array (LFPA) at the rear.

The recent update to the KDDX's basic design, as reported by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), includes the implementation of a 'manpower-reduction platform.' This development responds to the Republic of Korea's growing concerns over a shortage of military service-age population. To address this, advanced automation technologies have been incorporated. These include automated ammunition handling systems, a smart bridge, and a state-of-the-art navigational assistance system based on autonomous navigation technology.

Furthermore, HD HHI's efforts to automate parts of the vessel continue, as evidenced by the completion of the concept design for the ROK Navy's future Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) last year which will greatly reduce the number of crews required through AI. Park Yong-Yeol, Senior Managing Director of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' Naval & Special Ships Business Division, said, "HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has been dedicatedly working, based on over 50 years of experience in leading the development of naval ships for the Navy and a strong sense of mission to complete the development of Korean-type naval vessels." He added, "Based on this basic design, the KDDX will become the flagship of the K-ship, writing a new chapter in the history of the Republic of Korea's naval shipbuilding industry."

The total cost of the program is estimated at 5.8 billion USD, with plans for the acquisition of six vessels by the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy by 2036. These vessels are intended to reinforce the Maritime Task Flotilla Seven, which serves as the main fleet of the ROK Navy. This year, the KDDX is scheduled to undergo detailed design, followed by the signing of the lead ship construction contract

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/01/hhi-completes-basic-design-of-the-korean-next-gen-destroyer-kddx/

[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/