During Bold Alligator 2012, the BAC1-11 is being configured with the F-35's AN/APG-81 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and the AN/AAQ-37 infrared distributed aperture system (DAS). Systems will operate with future software blocks undergoing test as well as those delivered in current F-35 jets.

Bold Alligator is a large-scale, multinational Navy-Marine Corps amphibious exercise conducted by U.S. Fleet Forces and Marine Forces Command. It will be the Atlantic Fleet's largest amphibious exercise in 10 years.

The 2012 exercise is centralizing planning and execution of a brigade-sized amphibious assault from a seabase in a medium threat environment. Following a decade of ground war, this event is intended to revitalize, refine and strengthen core amphibious competencies of the Navy and Marine Corps.

"With JSF being delivered to training commands in 2012, the Navy-Marine Corps team is poised to start using our radar and DAS in an operational context, much like U.S. Pacific Command did during Northern Edge 2011. Northrop Grumman's commitment to deliver new capabilities to the war fighter remains a priority. This exercise is another opportunity to demonstrate operational utility to the fleet," said Jeff Leavitt, Northrop Grumman's vice president of Combat Avionics Systems.

"F-35 sensor capabilities are unprecedented. Their performance continues to meet or exceed expectations."

Building upon successful F-35 sensor deployments during Exercise Northern Edge in 2009 and 2011 in Alaska, Northrop Grumman's BAC1-11 test aircraft is flying air-to-air and air-to-ground reconnaissance missions during Bold Alligator's large naval and ground force maneuvers on the Atlantic coast. Participating naval forces include an aircraft carrier strike group, amphibious ready group, NATO alliance ships from eight partner nations, and Marine landing forces.

The F-35 AN/APG-81 AESA radar and AN/AAQ-37 DAS have demonstrated exceptional maturity well in advance of formal operational testing timelines. Participation in Bold Alligator is integrating these advanced capabilities in the maritime domain.

The AN/APG-81 AESA radar is a multifunction aperture capable of the full range of air-to-air and air-to-surface functions complemented by significant electronic warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

The AN/AAQ-37 DAS provides passive spherical awareness for the F-35, simultaneously detecting and tracking aircraft and missiles in every direction, and providing visual imagery for day/night navigation and targeting purposes. The F-35 JSF's role as an invaluable future component of the Navy, Marine Corps and international defense team is being demonstrated in all phases of amphibious operations as exercised in Bold Alligator.

Russia and India signed a $1.6 billion contract on construction of three modified Krivak III class (also known as Talwar class) guided missile frigates for India in 2006. The first frigate, the Teg, was scheduled for delivery in April 2011, but funding shortfalls have delayed the work.

Two other Talwar class frigates, the Tarkash and the Trikand, are at various stages of construction and testing at the Yantar shipyard, and their delivery dates are unknown.

The new frigates are each armed with eight BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.

They are also equipped with a 100-mm gun, a Shtil surface-to-air missile system, two Kashtan air-defense gun/missile systems, two twin 533-mm torpedo launchers, and an antisubmarine warfare (ASW) helicopter.

Russia has previously built three Talwar class frigates for India - INS Talwar (Sword), INS Trishul (Trident), and INS Tabar (Axe).

"Equipping unmanned surface vessels with non-lethal weapons will further expand the capabilities of our Naval forces to confront an increasingly complex set of threats," Rear Adm. Scott Craig, USFF Deputy Chief of Staff for Fleet Policy, Capabilities Requirements, Concepts, and Experimentation said. "Results from this experiment will be relevant not only to the U.S. Navy, but also to other Services, coalition partners and allies."

Operating in autonomous and semi-autonomous modes, the small militarized boats are equipped to employ a directional acoustic hailer, eye dazzling laser and flash-bang munitions; each non-lethal weapon was carefully-orchestrated to respond to a set of threatening behaviors from intruder vessels.

During Trident Warrior 2011, held in July, the USVs' ability to autonomously react to vessels traveling in protected waterways were previously tested and validated.

Cmdr. Mike Frantz, USFF's Director for Fleet Experimentation, explained the importance of experimenting with real assets in an operational environment.

"The Fleet Experimentation program allows the Navy to partner with commercial and government organizations to address and obtain solutions where critical maritime capability gaps exist," said Frantz. "We each have a different piece of the solution and while laboratory experiments form the foundation of the technology development, the ability to experiment with that technology, at sea, in realistic scenarios, is crucial if you want the end result to be relevant to the Fleet Commander's need."

More than 100 successful runs were completed over the course of the week. Experiment control collected geo-positional data from the boats, surveys from fleet users and observer logs from subject matter experts. The results are expected to drive recommendations to Navy decision makers.

"No one is firing at us here in Virginia, nor are they trying to detonate any explosives near our ships, but these types of malicious scenarios drive our requirement to be prepared for the next time they do," Frantz said. "Getting this defensive capability into the hands of warfighters to counter that aggression will be a game-changer for our forces when they are operating in dangerous waterways."

Participants for this event include USFF, the Navy acquisition community, several components of Naval Sea Systems Command, commercial industries and academia. The Fleet Experimentation plan continues in June with the start of the annual Trident Warrior experimentation series. This year's Trident Warrior is multi-phased and will be integrated with several large joint and multinational exercises in the West Coast operating areas.

There is only one submarine, the Alrosa, a Kilo class vessel, currently in service with the Black Sea Fleet. The Alrosa joined the Russian Navy in 1990.

Russia is planning to add six Varshavyanka class (Project 636.3) submarines to the fleet. All six are in different stages of construction at the Admiralty Shipyard in St. Petersburg.

“We will receive the first three subs in 2014, one more – in 2015, and the last two – in 2016 to form a full-size submarine brigade in the Black Sea Fleet,” Fedotenkov said.

The vessels, crewed by 52 submariners, have an underwater speed of 20 knots, a cruising range of 400 miles (electric propulsion) with the ability to patrol for 45 days. They are armed with 18 torpedoes and eight surface-to-air missiles.

The improved Varshavyanka class submarines feature advanced “stealth” technology, extended combat range and ability to strike land, surface and underwater targets.

Fedotenkov also said that the Black Sea Fleet would receive Krivak IV class frigates during the same period.

"ALMDS will enable the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force to cover significant distances at the speed of flight using its MCH-101 aircraft. This technology dramatically compresses the time between mine detection and neutralization," said Donna Carson-Jelley, ALMDS program manager for the U.S. Navy. "ALMDS keeps mine countermeasures ahead of the threats."

The mine detection system is laser-based and utilizes streak tube imaging light detection and ranging (LIDAR) to detect, classify and localize near-surface moored sea mines. With high area coverage rate capability, the system transmits a fan-shaped beam of laser light to establish its swath width, and then relies on the forward motion of the helicopter to sweep the light over the water in a "push broom" manner.

Four cameras are arranged to cover the same swath illuminated by the laser fan beam. As images are received by the system, an automatic target recognition algorithm picks out potential mine-like objects and stores their images for classification by shipboard Fleet operators, using computer-aided post-mission analysis tools.

"The addition of ALMDS to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force mine countermeasures suite of solutions provides them with significantly enhanced mine detection capability—first developed for the United States Navy," said Pat McMahon, sector vice president and general manager, Military Aircraft Systems of Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. "The installation of this capability will also improve the exchange of information between the U.S. Navy and JMSDF during allied operations."

Northrop Grumman is working closely with its industry partners Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., and Fujitsu Limited on the delivery and installation of ALMDS.

"The addition of our mine countermeasures systems broadens the strong relationship we have with the Japan Ministry of Defense and we are very proud of that partnership. It goes back to the early 1960s," said McMahon. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force has flown the Northrop Grumman-built E-2C Hawkeye airborne early warning command and control system since 1982.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide.

"The JSOW C-1 is a network-enabled weapon which will be capable of receiving third party target updates in-flight and strike a precise point on a moving ship using its autonomous terminal seeker," said Cmdr. Samuel Hanaki of the U.S. Navy's Precision Strike Weapons program office. "In addition to marking the completion of DT, this test keeps the program on track for reaching initial operational capability in 2013."

During the test, which met all objectives, the JSOW C-1 was released from an F/A-18F Super Hornet and guided to a small, fast moving ship target located 25 nautical miles (approximately 29 statute miles) from the launch point. The JSOW C-1 provided weapon in-flight track and bomb hit indication status messages via the Link-16 network. The weapon also incorporated in-flight target updates provided by a second Super Hornet's Raytheon APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array radar that was 10 nautical miles behind the Super Hornet that launched the weapon.

"The 280 Raytheon employees in Tucson, Ariz., and hundreds of supplier employees across the U.S. worked hard to make this test a success and demonstrate JSOW C-1's ability to operate on the Link-16 network," said Phyllis McEnroe, JSOW program director for Raytheon Missile Systems.

JSOW is a family of low-cost, air-to-ground weapons that employs an integrated GPS- inertial navigation system and terminal imaging infrared seeker. JSOW C-1 adds moving maritime target capability and the two-way Strike Common Weapon Datalink to the combat-proven weapon.

• JSOW C-1 is the world's first networked weapon, and has a range of more than 100 kilometers (more than 60 nautical miles).
• The U.S. Navy completed the first free-flight test of JSOW C-1 on July 26, 2011, and the second test on Nov. 30, 2011.
• Raytheon is using company funding to develop a powered version of the JSOW that has the potential to fly more than 300 nautical miles.

Raytheon Company, with 2011 sales of $25 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 71,000 people worldwide.

Through its Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP) Block 3 upgrade, the Navy seeks to cost effectively enhance the electronic attack (EA) capability of its AN/SLQ-32 V(3) and V(4) electronic warfare (EW) systems to counter threat technology advances. All U.S. aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers and other warships use the AN/SLQ-32 EW system.

SEWIP Block 3 is the latest upgrade in an evolutionary succession the Navy is pursuing for its EW system. Each upgrade incrementally adds new defensive technologies and functional capabilities. The Lockheed Martin-Raytheon team intends to offer a SEWIP Block 3 solution derived from more than 80 years of combined, proven experience in developing systems to defend the fleet. A formal Navy request for proposals is anticipated later this year.

Under a $167 million contract awarded by the Navy in November 2009, Lockheed Martin is developing SEWIP Block 2, which includes passive detection capabilities for advanced threats and establishes a framework to easily integrate future upgrades. The Navy approved the Block 2 solution during a Critical Design Review in February 2011, and two engineering development models are undergoing integration and testing at Lockheed Martin's new EW systems test facility in Syracuse, N.Y.

"Technology is rapidly advancing around the world and we understand the threats our Navy faces are not simplified by today's fiscal challenges," said Carl Bannar, vice president of Lockheed Martin's Integrated Warfare and Surveillance Systems business. "By teaming with Raytheon, the original developer of the legacy AN/SLQ-32 program, we will provide the Navy with a solution for SEWIP Block 3 that addresses today's and tomorrow's evolving threats."

Developed by Raytheon in the 1970s, the original AN/SLQ-32 systems employed passive radar technology for early warning, identification and tracking of enemy threats. Subsequent upgrades provided an additional active capability for simultaneous jamming of multiple threats.

"Lockheed Martin's experience on the current SEWIP Block 2 system combined with Raytheon's expertise in shipboard EW will give U.S. Navy fleet commanders a critical advantage on the seas," said Mark Kula, vice president, Tactical Airborne Systems, for Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems. "The Lockheed Martin-Raytheon partnership provides the low-cost, high-reliability solution the Navy needs to meet current and future sea-surface threat environment."

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 123,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's net sales for 2011 were $46.5 billion.

Raytheon Company, with 2011 sales of $25 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 90 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 71,000 people worldwide.

The DCNS stand showcases:

Submarines

• DCNS is drawing on 100 years’ experience as a designer and builder of diesel-powered submarines, over 50 years’ experience in nuclear powered subs, combining the latest advances in acoustic discretion and propulsion.
• The Scorpene medium-size submarines, already chosen by the Chilean, Royal Malaysian, Indian and Brazilian Navies, represent the state-of-the-art in submarine design and construction and benefits from the latest technologies developed for nuclear-powered classes operated by the French Navy, particularly as regards acoustic discretion and combat system performance. At PACIFIC, the Scorpene is presented with the MESMA AIP (Autonomous Submarine Energy Module). This is an electrical energy production module designed specifically for conventional submarines. As well as supplying electricity to the vessel and to the propulsion system, it can also be used to recharge the batteries without the need to surface. Together with a MESMA section, a Scorpene will be able to carry out extended missions with an over 3 weeks submerged endurance. The 10 metres MESMA module can be considered as a new-build option or installed during a refit.
• The Barracuda, a state of the art submarine for the French Navy dedicated to deal with an ever-growing array of challenges. DCNS is drawing on 50 years’ experience as a designer and builder of nuclear and diesel-powered submarines to develop this new-generation, combining the latest advances in acoustic discretion and propulsion. The Barracuda is designed to undertake blue-water missions anywhere in the world; and to do so either alone or as part of a naval force. In a word, it will be the centrepiece of the military means: an attack submarine capable of massive deep strike operations, which can also control vast maritime domains or deploy as part of a coalition force. Highly versatile, Barracuda will be assigned strategic defence missions, including the protection of LHDs and aircrafts carriers. The first-of-class SSN Le Suffren is scheduled start sea trials early 2016 and to enter service in 2017. Between 2017 and 2027 six Barracudas will replace the six Rubis/Améthyste-class boats currently in service.

Surface combatants

• The FREMM multimission frigates programme combines the latest technologies developed by the DCNS group. These technological and engineering advances make the FREMM frigates world leaders in their class. France’s total order is 11 vessels and the delivery is scheduled from 2012 to 2022. In addition, one FREMM frigate is currently under construction for Morocco.
• The innovative Gowind vessels, a new family of ocean-capable vessels designed by DCNS for all littoral and sea operations, are exceptional tools able to fulfil missions ranging from anti-piracy up to sea control and denial. The Gowind Combat is a multi-mission corvette (100 metres, 2,000 tonnes), has a comprehensive Mission Management System for full-scale multi-threat missions, including a complete ASW suite with towed array sonar and improved stealth and survivability.

DCNS is a world leader in naval defence and an innovative player in energy. The Group's success as an advanced technology company with global reach is built on meeting customer needs by deploying exceptional know-how and unique industrial resources. DCNS designs, builds and supports surface combatants, submarines and mission-critical systems and equipment incorporating the most advanced technologies. It also proposes services for naval shipyards and bases. The Group employs 12,500 people and generates annual revenues of around EUR 2.5 billion.

"The National Security Cutter is a ship with tremendous capability and a demonstrated operational performance at sea," said Mike Duthu, Ingalls Shipbuilding's Coast Guard program manager. "There is a large market for patrol frigates internationally. By combining a stable design baseline with an experienced workforce and active construction line, we have developed a product that could meet the mission needs of several foreign navies."

Ingalls Shipbuilding has delivered three National Security Cutters to the Coast Guard, and two more ships are currently under construction. The Coast Guard plans to purchase a total of at least eight NSCs.

There are two Patrol Frigate variants: Patrol Frigate 4501 and Patrol Frigate 4921.

Patrol Frigate 4501 is closely aligned with the basic National Security Cutter hull with limited design changes. The ships are 418 feet long with a 54-foot beam and displace 4,600 tons with a full load. The ship has a 12,000-nautical mile range and can operate in speeds up through 28-plus knots. They have an endurance of 60 days and accommodations for 148.

The ship includes an aft launch and recovery area for two rigid hull inflatable boats and a flight deck to accommodate a range of aircraft, with twin hangars for storage of one H-60 class helicopter and two rotary-wing unmanned aircraft. The ships are equipped with various sensors and surveillance systems as well as a 57-mm gun, a 20-mm close-in weapon system and six 50-caliber machine guns.

Patrol Frigate 4921 has additional mission capabilities for anti-aircraft, anti-submarine, anti-surface and mine-warfare provided by a 76-mm gun, a 12-cell vertical launch system, an anti-ship missile launcher and torpedo launcher, sonar dome and remote-controlled and manned 50-caliber machine guns.

Both frigates retain the NSC's propulsion system of one LM2500 gas turbine and two MTU20V 1163 diesels in combined diesel and gas configuration. All variants incorporate the current quality-of-life features on the NSC, including modern berthing compartments, entertainment facilities and workout facilities.

HII representatives Capt. Rocco Tomanelli (U.S. Navy, Ret.) and Capt. Patrick Stadt (U.S. Coast Guard, Ret.), who was the first commanding officer on the National Security Cutter Bertholf, will display NSC and patrol frigate models at booth 4U9 in the U.S. Pavilion throughout the show.

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) designs, builds and maintains nuclear and non-nuclear ships for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard and provides after-market services for military ships around the globe. For more than a century, HII has built more ships in more ship classes than any other U.S. naval shipbuilder. Employing nearly 38,000 in Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana and California, its primary business divisions are Newport News Shipbuilding and Ingalls Shipbuilding.

The Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) Submarine Combat Systems Group have joined contractors Babcock in successfully delivering major packages of work during the Revalidation and Assisted Maintenance Periods (RAMPs) for HMS Trenchant and HMS Talent, the last of which completed last month. The result is a significant uplift in the operational capabilities of both submarines.

The size of the combat system work packages for each RAMP was a step up from those undertaken previously which meant that the Combat Systems Group, Babcock and the Project Contract Manager Team at Devonport needed to work even more closely together and carefully review all processes to get the job done in time.

The nature and complexity of the system upgrades meant that some new equipment was immature when accepted into the package, while still having to achieve the qualifications required to be fitted on a submarine. Guidance information needed to be fully developed, and contractual and financial elements finalised.

Interdependencies between each of the individual upgrades meant all the individual parts of the work had to be delivered for the whole to be achieved.

Failure by an individual project to deliver was not an option. To delay the upgrades until the next appropriate fit opportunity would deny the Royal Navy's fleet a capability advantage.

This approach was met with scepticism by some who did not fully understand how quickly combat system equipment has to evolve to stay current in the face of new technology and obsolescence. The front line demands the very latest capability it can get.

Along with the normal maintenance and defect rectification that takes place during a RAMP, 14 interdependent combat system alterations and additions were completed on Trenchant, and 14 on Talent, together with a sizeable package of work on legacy combat system equipment.

The volume of work required a large number of independent project teams at Abbey Wood to deliver their element of the project on time.

Sound co-ordination and proficient programme management by the Submarine Combat Systems Group was vital in ensuring they delivered on their promises and therefore built on the confidence and rapport that developed as the projects evolved.

Project staff admitted that things did not always run smoothly. But thanks to the pragmatic and flexible approach of Babcock and the project managers, and with a high level of trust being built between them, problems were overcome.

The expertise and unique capability of Babcock in delivering submarine support and offering solutions to emergent problems without doubt ensured that success was achieved in partnership with the DE&S Submarine Combat Systems Group.

Submarine Combat Systems Group team leader, Captain Pat O'Neill, said:

"While I was always confident in the delivery of these extensive work packages, others were less certain of the outcome. I am therefore very pleased that through excellent teamworking and professionalism the MOD and industry team has succeeded.

"It is vitally important that with fewer submarines than we once had, but with many operational commitments still to be met, we are able to deliver combat system updates at any scale within the normal maintenance cycles, and we have demonstrated this on these platforms.

"They now sail with systems that deliver the latest capability requirements and at the same time embody new technology which will dramatically decrease future support costs and enhance system reliability."