Internationale ontwikkelingen maritiem

[Parera]

In focus: CETUS the Royal Navy's next XLUUV



https://www.navylookout.com/in-focus-cetus-the-royal-navys-next-xluuv/


Laat de Nederlandse marine maar eens gaan samenwerken met het VK op dit gebied. Een zeer belangrijke toekomstige capaciteit wat mij betreft. Niet als vervanging van de bemande OZB maar juist als toevoeging op de 4 nieuw te bouwen boten.

[ARM-WAP]

Alles wat ik er tzv van heb gezien, vele malen meer geluid. Dat is vooral omdat cavitation heel moeilijk geluid is en juist dat neemt enorm toe.

Dank je!
Voor mij was het al een teken aan de wand wanneer de Deutsche Marine dat systeem niet overneemt voor haar schepen.

[Master Mack]

En ik zie nog altijd het Amerikaanse model CIWS er op staan. Toch jammer dat wij niet hebben meegedaan aan de Koreaanse Goalkeeper 2.0. Vind de GK nog altijd het (betere) mooiere systeem.

[ARM-WAP]

TKMS Unveils New MEKO A210 Frigate

Mooi model.
Mooi ontwerp... die boeg vind ik er niet uitzien.

32 VLS-cellen, loont alvast de moeite.

Iemand enig idee wat die water-jet doet qua "noise", voor ASW?
Die schroeven/-assen maken zowiezo veel lawaai tijdens hogere snelheden.

[Harald]

TKMS Unveils New MEKO A210 Frigate

During Indo Pacific 2023 ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) unveiled their third generation MEKO frigate design, called the MEKO A210. The company also confirmed their intent to offer the design to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) as part of any requirement for "Tier 2" combatants.

Rear Admiral (retired) Jonathan Kamerman, a Senior Naval Advisor at TKMS, told Naval News that the MEKO A210 was a natural evolution of the MEKO A200, which was itself an evolution of the MEKO 200. The MEKO 200 was also the reference design for the RANs Anzac class frigates which were originally acquired as a lower-end capability to supplement "Tier 1" warships, he pointed out.

The new design retains its predecessors Combined Diesel and Gas Water jet and Refined Propeller (CODAG WARP) propulsion system. CODAG WARP pairs up two diesel engines with two propellers, and the single gas turbine with a centerline-mounted water jet. This, Kamerman said, allows the MEKO A210 design to achieve high speeds when needed while retaining substantial redundancy.

What it does not retain, however, is its size. Whereas the A200 tops out at around 3,600 tonnes, the A210 displaces more than 4,700 as currently designed. It is also slightly longer than the A200, which allows it to accommodate 32 strike length Mk.41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) cells forward of the bridge.

Designed With The Future in Mind



In addition to the MK.41 VLS the design is also armed with 16 Naval Strike Missiles (NSM), a 127mm Vulcano main gun, multiple remote weapon stations, a conventional Close in Weapons System (CIWS), as well as a Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) in this case the MBDA-Rheinmetall 20kw Laserwaffendemonstrator (LWD).

To feed the LWD DEW the design has substantial power generation and storage capabilities. These, Kamerman said, exceed the demands of the 20kw system and are intended to keep the ship relevant into the future as more powerful DEWs come online.

As part of TKMS future proofing efforts the design incorporates a large mission bay, which can be used for uncrewed vessels, underneath the NSM launchers. It also has space allocated for ISO containerised payloads on top of the hanger, behind the CIWS. At Indo Pacific 2023, this space was used by two containers containing missile launchers associated with the Rheinmetall Skyshield short range air defence system (SHORAD). Naval News regular contributor Alex Luck believes these would be capable of deploying Iris T SLS or ESSM Block 2 missiles.






The design was also shown with a CEA CEAFAR radar, something which is nearly ubiquitous across the Tier 2 combatant competitors, as well as a towed array sonar. Kamerman told Naval News that the design, which has been in the works for "many months," had progressed as far through the design phase as any design does before securing a firm order.

While the company wouldn't be drawn on details of cost, schedule, and Australian industry involvement, it did confirm that it is in discussions with an undisclosed local partner around supporting a possible build.

https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/indo-pacific-2023/2023/11/tkms-unveils-new-meko-a210-frigate/#prettyPhoto

[Harald]

Rheinmetall Shows New Mine Rail Deployment System




Touted as world first, Rheinmetall's Mine Rail Deployment System (MRDS) is platform-agnostic and can be containerised.

Rheinmetall Defence Australia in cooperation with Adelaide-based Supashock has shown a concept for a seaborne platform-agnostic smart sea mine delivery system dubbed the Mine Rail Deployment System (MRDS) at Indopacific 2023. In a related press release the company announced the intention to design, test and manufacture the new system at Supashock's Holden Hill-facility in Adelaide.

.../...

https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/indo-pacific-2023/2023/11/rheinmetall-shows-smart-sea-mine-delivery-system-aimed-at-ran/#prettyPhoto

[Harald]

Gibbs And Cox Unveil Australian Light Frigate

Gibbs and Cox, a Leidos Company, unveiled their Australian Light Frigate (AUSLF) design for the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN) rumoured Tier 2 requirement during Indo Pacific 2023.

The Australian Light Frigate is based on the design of the Taiwanese Navy's two new light frigates, the design of which Gibbs and Cox are involved in. Naval News understands that both the AUSLF and Taiwanese designs draw heavily on the design heritage of the U.S Navy (USN) Constellation class, featuring a similar Combined Diesel-Electric and Gas (CODLAG) power and propulsion system.



The roughly 3,500 tonne frigate has been optimised for strike missions which comes with some tradeoffs in other areas. Unlike the reference Taiwanese design, which has 16 Mk. 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) cells and a main gun, the AUSLF omits the gun and instead uses the space to house 16 additional VLS cells for a total of 32 cells. These are split fifty/fifty between tactical and strike length cells for a total of 16 of each type.

Strike length cells are unique in their ability to handle the largest missiles compatible with the Mk. 41 VLS, including the BGM-109 Tomahawk long-range cruise missile, which Australia is also aquiring. 

In addition to its hefty VLS payload, the AUSLF is also equipped with 24 Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) mounted amidships in box launchers. Above the hangar, which is able to handle a single MH-60R Romeo helicopter, there is space for either a Phalanx Close in Weapon Systems (CIWS) or SeaRam.



While not shown on the model displayed at Indo Pacific 2023, Naval News also understands that any production design would feature several remotely operated 30mm cannons, spread around the ship.


The Australian Light Frigate (foreground) and Constellation class (background) on the Gibbs and Cox stand during Indo Pacific 2023.

At this stage in the process, Naval News understands, the design hasn't progressed to the point of deciding on a Combat Management System (CMS). However, should the design be selected by the RAN, it's highly likely that it would be fitted with some combination of Saab 9LV and the Aegis combat system.

Update:

A Gibbs and Cox spokesperson told Naval News that the strength of their bid was it's ability to deliver "provides serious combat power" in an "affordable ANZAC sized hull".

"AUSLF is a true general-purpose frigate with strong performance across air, surface, and underwater domains. Our CODELAG GE LM2500+ propulsion solution offers 30+ knot performance combined with electric drive for quiet state ASW patrol and cruise efficiency."

https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/indo-pacific-2023/2023/11/gibbs-and-cox-unveil-australian-light-frigate/#prettyPhoto

[Harald]

Navantia Unveils Three New Warships Including Tier-2 Corvette
https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/indo-pacific-2023/2023/11/navantia-shows-tasman-corvette-and-destroyer-aimed-at-ran/#prettyPhoto


Alpha 5000 Combatant (left) and Tasman-class corvette (right)

Tasman-class corvette to be offered to RAN for Tier 2-requirement in cooperation with Austal.

The corvette, dubbed "Tasman-class" is aiming for the Tier 2-requirement formulated to supplement the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) surface fleet with an affordable design still featuring substantial firepower. A larger proposal named "Alpha 5000 Combatant" offers frigate-sized capacity in armament and sensor capability. The third design, called "Flight III Combatant" aims to fill the perceived need for a Tier 1-design with substantial missile capacity and reserves to integrate future technologies including laser weapons and drones.

In a related announcement Navantia also revealed their intention to propose building six or more Tasman-class corvettes in cooperation with Austal for the RAN's "urgent need for increased strike capability". According to a Navantia-spokesperson both companies started collaborating on a detailed proposal in November 2022, in anticipation of the Defence Strategic Review released in April 2023. The Tasman-class corvette represents the final configuration now proposed for the RAN Tier 2-requirement and would be built at Austal's shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia. Underscoring this decision, Austal CEO Paddy Gregg, Navantia Australia Managing Director Israel Lozano and Jim Fitzgerald, Executive Chairman of Henderson-based construction and engineering company Civmec also signed a cooperation agreement at the Navantia-booth on Tuesday.

Tasman-class corvette



The Tasman-class corvette is a combatant measuring 109.6 metres in length, 15.35 metres beam and a displacement up to 3,600 tons depending on exact configuration. According to Navantia it is an Australianised version of the Alpha 3000-design built for Saudi-Arabia as the Avante-class, and as such promoted as a proven design. As armament and defensive equipment suite the ship features 16 configurable VLS-cells, four quadruple antiship-missile-launchers in slanted racks, a main gun in the 57 mm-category, two triple torpedo launchers, a lighter 30 mm or less Close In Weapon System (CIWS), two remote weapon stations (RWS) accommodating heavy machine guns, and dual decoy launchers. The corvette carries a version of CEA's CEAFAR phased array radar and SEAMOUNT missile illuminator system. Finally the ship offers two RHIBs and features a hangar and helipad for a Seahawk-class helicopter, in addition to a mission bay below the landing pad accommodation RHIBs or USVs.


Alpha 5000 Combatant



The larger Alpha 5000 Combatant is a frigate-sized concept coming in at 4,550 tons displacement., a length of 121 metres and beam of 16 metres. It distinguishes itself from the Tasman-class corvette by featuring an additional 16 VLS-cells amidships for a total count of 32 cells, reducing the antiship-missile count to 8 instead. Alpha 5000 also maintains the CIWS and torpedo launchers, but features a larger main gun of 76 mm calibre, and a more capable configuration of CEAFAR. Similar to the Tasman-class the frigate-design also includes a mission bay below the helicopter pad. Alpha 5000 can accommodate flexible mission-configurations including for ASW and mine-warfare, but also considering humanitarian roles.


Flight III Destroyer



The final proposal is aimed at the RAN-requirement for a large displacement combatant with deep magazine capacity, covering air warfare and strike-requirements dubbed "Flight III Destroyer". The name is a reference to evolving the original Hobart-class design and following a separate design dubbed "Flight II", effectively an Australianised F110 as built for the Spanish Navy, this concept proposes an effectively cruiser-sized vessel of 10,200 tons displacement at 165 metres length and a beam of 21 metres. Primary armament includes 128 VLS cells in two 64 cell-segments on the bow and amidships. As such it is a fully new design despite the "Flight"-reference. The ship also features a 127 mm-main gun and two gun-based CIWS of the Phalanx-type. Aside from the substantial missile armament a notable feature is a propulsion of the CODAG (combined diesel and gas turbine) electric-variety also supporting future integration of directed energy weapons. CEAFAR is featured again as radar suite.

Distinct characteristics are "drone swarm" and "anti drone swarm"-launchers port and starboard of the helicopter landing pad complementing a "UUV zone" below the helo pad. Flight deck and hangar support a Seahawk-class helicopter similar to the other two Navantia-proposals.

A decision by the Australian government following the recommendations of the Surface Combatant Review regarding the future force mix for RAN will be revealed in 2024.

[Parera]

Duitsland heeft gekozen maar Damen wordt niet de leverancier, ook geen Duitse.
Wordt voor mijn gevoel een 2de batch aangeschaft in een eerdere Tender.
Finse bedrijf Boomeranger Boats is de gelukkige leverancier
https://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:672840-2023:TEXT:DE:HTML&src=0&tabId=0

Einsatzboote für Spezialkräfte der Marine dürfen bestellt werden
https://esut.de/2022/07/meldungen/35346/einsatzboote-fuer-spezialkraefte-der-marine-duerfen-bestellt-werden/

( vertaling via Google Translate)

Deze frisc's horen bij het project F126. Daarom levert Damen er 12 uit mn hoofd. De sternbay van F126 is gebaseerd op die van de OPV's.

[Harald]

Volgens mij zijn dit Frisc's aangepast aan Duitse eisen. Geleverd via Damen.

Ja, maar ik weet dat men in zee gegaan is met MST LTD en gekozen heeft voor 12 stuks van de FRISC zoals wij die hebben met enkele BW aanpassingen.

Zie hieronder een mockup van de Duitse Frisc bij proeven.

Duitsland heeft gekozen maar Damen wordt niet de leverancier, ook geen Duitse.
Wordt voor mijn gevoel een 2de batch aangeschaft in een eerdere Tender.
Finse bedrijf Boomeranger Boats is de gelukkige leverancier

Titel: RHIB H 1010 Ersatzbeschaffung

Beschreibung: Für das Kommando Spezialkräfte der Marine sind über einen\nRahmenvertrag bis zu 26 Einsatzboote mit mittlerer Reichweite nebst Ausrüstung und weiteren den Booten dienenden Leistungen zu beschaffen.
Beschreibung: Die Lieferung umfasst:
bis zu 26 Einsatzboote mit mittlerer Reichweite nebst Ausrüstung
bis zu 15 St. modularer Beschussschutz
bis zu 21 Trailer
bis zu 14 Transport- und Lagergestelle
bis zu 4 Hebegeschirre oder Traversen
bis zu 5-mal Ausbildung des Bediener- und lnstandhaltungspersonals
Dokumentationen

https://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:672840-2023:TEXT:DE:HTML&src=0&tabId=0

Einsatzboote für Spezialkräfte der Marine dürfen bestellt werden
https://esut.de/2022/07/meldungen/35346/einsatzboote-fuer-spezialkraefte-der-marine-duerfen-bestellt-werden/

( vertaling via Google Translate)

Nadat de Begrotingscommissie van de Bundestag (HHA) het overeenkomstige voorstel van 25 miljoen euro had goedgekeurd, is de weg nu vrij voor de aanschaf van "operationele boten voor de middellange afstand voor het Naval Special Forces Command".

Ter vervanging van de verouderde RHIB H1010 wil de Bundeswehr in eerste instantie negen en optioneel maximaal twaalf extra hulpverleningsboten en accessoires aanschaffen in een raamovereenkomst. De nieuwe boten moeten leiden tot een toename van de capaciteiten op het gebied van verkenning, bereik, snelheid en zelfbescherming. De HHA heeft bijna 35 miljoen euro vrijgemaakt voor de eerste negen boten. Voor de overige twaalf verwacht de BMVg een financiële behoefte van 47 miljoen euro. Het project moet in 2023 worden overgedragen aan het speciale fonds van de Bundeswehr.

Volgens plannen zal de eerste batch in de periode 2024/2025 worden ontvangen. Het is de bedoeling dat een mogelijk tweede perceel uiterlijk in 2032 wordt gesloten.

De BAAINBw heeft het Finse bedrijf Boomeranger Boats als aannemer geselecteerd, dat vijf onderaannemers uit Duitsland (JK Defense, Rheinmetall Technical Publication, Rheinmetall Protection Systems, Texcon en Wildhagen Marien Service) wil betrekken naast twee andere Finse, een Amerikaanse en een Nieuw-Zeelandse bedrijven.

[Harald]

Australische defence strategic review

To corvette or to not corvette: the defence strategic review and the Tier 2 surface combatant
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/to-corvette-or-to-not-corvette-the-defence-strategic-review-and-the-tier-2-surface-combatant/

Als ze wel voor een Tier 1 en Tier 2 verdeling kiezen, waarbij Tier 1 de Hunter klasse is, maar wel in een kleiner aantal en Tier 2 een Korvet/licht Fregat klasse.
Navantia en Luersen worden al genoemd.

Tier 1 Hunter klasse => 10.000 ton
Tier 2 => 4000 ton klasse, vergelijkbaar met ANZAC klasse. (maar schepen worden groter en zwaarder)

Helaas zou dan een Damen ASWF fregat als Tier 2 optie, te groot, te zwaar zijn.     

A$6.2 miljard (2023) acquisition budget voor de eerste 3 schepen, dus dat is ca. € 1,95 miljard Euro per stuk voor een Hunter klasse schip. Met dit bedrag kun je 2 stuks Damen ASWF fregatten bouwen.

[Harald]

   Deze upgrade komt voor mijn gevoel meer weg bij BAE Systems Australia, de bouwer voor de Hunter klasse schepen, dan vanuit de RAN.

Er gingen/gaan ook geruchten de ronde om de roep naar meer schepen, maar kleiner om meer bereik en "presents"

Misschien wil BAE Systems Australia een tegenvoorstel doen om te voorkomen dat hun order kleiner wordt en met deze upgrade dan een voorstel op tafel te brengen van gelijk aantal schepen maar met meer "firepower" Maar ja .. dat kost ook meer.

En daarbij .. naar mijn weten loopt ook dit project kostentechnisch niet in de pas met de begroting.

Aussie Hunter-class Frigate Program Facing Cuts?
https://www.navalreview.ca/2023/09/aussie-hunter-class-frigate-program-facing-cuts/

Australian Navy Force Structure Decisions Delayed Again
https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/indo-pacific-2023/2023/10/australian-navy-force-structure-decisions-delayed-again/

[Parera]

Ik zag dit artikel vanmorgen vroeg en ja dat geeft toch wel een positief beeld over dit ontwerp.
Met een totaal van 96 VLS cellen + 16 NSM's pakken de Ausies een flinke vuist in op deze schepen. Het voorstel met 128 cellen door het 5'' kanon te verwijderen vind ik nergens op slaan.

op onderstaande foto is het 2e VLS systeem en de extra NSM duidelijk zichtbaar.



Ik ga er dan ook vanuit dat men de batch 2 en/of batch 3 van de Hunter klasse zal gaan bestellen in deze vernieuwde uitvoering.  Of men gaat de batches opnieuw indelen en koopt nog 1 ''batch 1'' FFG bij gevolgd door 4 Batch 2 FFG's. Dit zou een totaal geven van 8 Hunter klasse schepen i.p.v. de 9 originele maar wel veel meer vuurkracht. Ook voor de Britten geeft dit natuurlijk mogelijkheden, je offert je missionbay en ASW specifieke systemen wel op voor meer vuurkracht maar dat is keuzes maken. De RN kan exact dezelfde keuze maken van 2 batches van 4 schepen, de Canadezen zouden 15 schepen bouwen dus daar kan nog veel geschoven worden.

In theorie zou dit dus ook kunnen gebeuren met onze ASWF's bij een eventuele bij bestelling van 2 of meer extra schepen. Het ontwerp aanpassen waardoor de missionbay slechts een RHIB bay word en het uitbreiden met 32 tot 48 extra VLS cellen. En het geeft ook ruimte voor het AWWF / FUAD ontwerp om deze te baseren op de ASWF indien dit haalbaar is qua gewichten.

[Harald]

BAE Offers Evolved, Up-Armed Hunter For Australia 
( in de basis een Britse Type 26 fregat, 10.000 ton, ca. 151 meter lengte => Hunter klasse voor Australie, nu met een voorgestelde upgrade gaan de VLS-en van 32 naar 96 stuks !! )
 
The proposal adds 64 additional VLS cells and eight more anti-ship missiles to the design.

BAE Systems Australia is offering an up-armed, evolved version of the Hunter class frigate to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) as a way of rapidly increasing the firepower of the surface fleet. BAE argues that their proposal, which effectively replaces the Hunter class mission bay with additional missile tubes, offers an evolutionary, rather than revolutionary, approach to delivering additional capability to the RAN.

Craig Lockhart, Managing Director at BAE Systems Australia, described the proposal as the "closest thing to off the shelf" available to Australia.

The concept, which BAE is proposing for Batch II of the class, uses the space allocated for the mission bay on the Hunter class to insert 64 Mk41 Vertical Launching Systems (VLS) and 16 Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) into the ship for a total of 96 VLS cells.

If the RAN elected to remove the 5 inch Mk 45 gun, Lockhart said, it would enable the VLS count to grow even more to 128 cells – which surpasses even the United States Navy's (USN) Ticonderoga class Guided Missile Cruisers.   


Scale model of Hunter-class frigate exhibited at Indo Pacific 2022

According to BAE the up-armed, Batch II Hunter, maintains 85% commonality with the existing ships that are under construction at Osborne, South Australia. The most significant difference is the removal  of the Thales Sonar 2087 towed array and various other unspecified Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) systems.

It would also involve "minor" changes to the ship's propulsion and power systems to accommodate for the increased top weight of the high-mounted VLS cells.

The proposed modifications would have a "minimal" impact on cost and a "negligible" impact on schedule so long as build of the modified design commenced with Batch II, rather than Batch I ships, Lockhart said.


A rendering of a Batch I Hunter with 32 VLS cells .

BAE is also exploring alternative ways to up-arm the frigates through the use of containerised air-defence and surface-to-surface missiles.   

Right now, however, a decision has not been made and BAE is simply "offering options" to its  customer which is the Australian Department of Defence and RAN. The original Hunter class contract, signed in 2018, always included scope for redesigns between each batch of three ships.

BAE Systems Australia Hits Back
The BAE proposal comes amid criticism of the Hunter class program in Australian media, think tank and industry circles.

Last month BAE System Australia's Craig Lockhart hit back at the criticism, much of which has focused on the ship's lack of VLS cells and delays in delivery, arguing that the frigate program offers the only timely path towards achieving new capability for the RAN.

The Batch II design effectively addresses both of those criticisms, by promising both more VLS, and the quicker delivery of capability than most competitors.

https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/indo-pacific-2023/2023/11/bae-offers-evolved-up-armed-hunter-for-australia/#prettyPhoto

[Harald]

Norway Coast Guard receives Jan Mayen class OPV KV Bjørnøya

According to information published by the Norwegian Navy on November 1, 2023, the Norwegian Coast Guard has officially received the Jan Mayen class OPV KV Bjørnøya. Fisheries and Ocean Minister Cecilie Myrseth officiated the christening at the Vard Langsten shipyard.



https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-news-archive/2023/november/13741-norway-coast-guard-receives-jan-mayen-class-opv-kv-bjornoya.html