General Naval News

[Sandhi Yudha]

Some news from Bahrain.
The US 5th Fleet has officially transferred on 30 March, five Cyclone-class patrol ships it recently retired to Bahrain.

The Bahrain Defence Force identified the ships as RBNS Al-Gurairiyah, RBNS Al-Sakhir, RBNS Al-Farooq, RBNS Jenan, and RBNS Damsah.

Bahrain commissions ex-US patrol ships

The US 5th Fleet has transferred the Cyclone-class patrol ships it recently retired to Bahrain, which was revealed when they were commissioned by King Hamad bin Isa Al...

www.janes.com

Last week during a ceremony in Mina Salman at Royal Bahrain Navy Head Quarter, Leonardo delivered the last of six upgraded naval vessels, the “Al Taweelah” ship, after completing successfully all Integrated Sea Acceptance Test (ISAT). One of the improvements is the new Combat Management System. The new CMS enables the automatic coordination of weapons systems in terms of threat assessment, operation planning, and control of armaments during combat.

In 2018 Leonardo delivered the first one of the six to be upgraded vessels, it was the Al Manama, one of Bahraini Naval Forces' two Lürsen FPB-62 missile corvettes. With the delivery of the last of Bahraini four TNC-45 patrolboats, the upgrade program has come to an end.

Leonardo Delivers The Final Upgraded FAC To Bahrain - Naval News

Leonardo delivered the sixth and final fully upgraded naval unit, "Al Taweelah," equipped with Leonardo's Combat Management Systems (CMS).

www.navalnews.com

 

[John Fedup]

Short article on NG’s EJECT missile launcher. Interesting point about missile exhaust associated with future larger hypersonic missiles. Will be interesting to see how large these future missiles will be and whether this EJECT launcher will be compatible with T26 frigates.

Navy Modernizing Vertical Launch Systems to Fire Next-Gen Hypersonic Weapons - Warrior Maven: Center for Military Modernization

Northrop Grumman’s EJECT launch technology is designed to supplement VLS and support hypersonic missiles and other emerging larger ship-fired missiles and weapons

warriormaven.com

 

[ngatimozart]

PGZ Group (Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa) have released the first imagery and details of the Polish navy Arrowhead 140PL Miecznik frigate. It will be armed with four quad SSM launchers, 32 VLS cells, Sea Ceptor, RBS-15 SSM, MU-90 LWT, 76mm main gun and a 35mm gun. Construction of the first frigate is scheduled to begin in August 2023, with the three frigates due to enter service in 2028, 2029 and 2031.

First Look at Poland's new Miecznik Frigate - Naval News

 

[Redlands18]

China, Russia blocked from Sydney naval conference as military relations sour

The Chinese and Russian militaries are no longer invited to attend a major international naval conference that opens in Sydney on Tuesday, as relations between Australia and the powerful allies deteriorate.

abc.net.au

The 2022 Indo-Pacific Naval Conference opens today 10th March May in Sydney. 40 Nations are attending but both China and Russia have had there invitations revoked. Major discussion points are expected to include the.
China-Solomons Island agreement
Australia's SSN program
Delays to the RAN Frigate program

More then 700 Defence companies are expected to be represented. Hopefully Xavier from Naval Today is in town to do some reporting.

 

[spoz]

Expected by whom, I wonder? Many other things will be discussed beside those of which one might be able to make political capital in Australia. Ukraine might be for example, or maritime law and its application in the Indo Pacific.

Oh, and it's May, btw

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

China, Russia blocked from Sydney naval conference as military relations sour

The Chinese and Russian militaries are no longer invited to attend a major international naval conference that opens in Sydney on Tuesday, as relations between Australia and the powerful allies deteriorate.

abc.net.au

The 2022 Indo-Pacific Naval Conference opens today 10th March in Sydney. 40 Nations are attending but both China and Russia have had there invitations revoked. Major discussion points are expected to include the.
China-Solomons Island agreement
Australia's SSN program
Delays to the RAN Frigate program

More then 700 Defence companies are expected to be represented. Hopefully Xavier from Naval Today is in town to do some reporting.

No Navalnews reports yet, but Navantia's new SMART 8000 design looks really interesting.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1523544905297317888

Its some kind of enlarged version of the SMART 4000 frigate design, presented last year.

FEINDEF: Navantia showcases for first time Smart 4000 ship

Navantia showcases for the first time the Smart 4000 ship.

www.navyrecognition.com

And here some more Navantia products.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1523545533318852608

 

[Redlands18]

Expected by whom, I wonder? Many other things will be discussed beside those of which one might be able to make political capital in Australia. Ukraine might be for example, or maritime law and its application in the Indo Pacific.

Oh, and it's May, btw

Thanks @spoz I May March myself off to the corner for that mistake, thanks for pointing it out.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

Papua New Guinea has received a new landing craft from Australia, the new landing craft, NUSHIP Cape Gloucester, will partially replace PNG’s two Balikpapan class landing craft which were retired last year after nearly five decades of service.

Not much information is released about the new Cape Gloucester landingcraft, actually nothing, but looking to the photo it seems to be slightly larger than the Balikpapan Class.

The handover of NUSHIP Cape Gloucester came a couple of days after PNG formally inducted its third Guardian class patrol boat HMPNGS Francis Agwi into service.

Australia Supplies New Ships to Papua New Guinea - Naval News

Papua New Guinea has received a new landing craft from Australia, just days after it commissioned its third Guardian class patrol boat, highlighting the ongoing modernisation of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF).

www.navalnews.com

 

[Ananda]

Navy Could Transfer Decommissioned Littoral Combat Ships to Allies, Says CNO - USNI News

The Navy could transfer the Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ships it plans to decommission to other countries, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday told lawmakers today. Testifying before the Senate Appropriations Committee defense subcommittee, Gilday suggested the panel assess the...

news.usni.org

Put it in here, not in USN thread. Because it is talking on potential transfer those decommisioned LCS. Question right now, whose going to take interest on those LCS ?

Unlike OHP Frigate, which still shown moderate offensive capabilities as GP Frigate (on some of second hand users Navies), by the time of transfer. Will LCS can shown that on present conditions ? Or the navies that taking over them will have to invest significant amount to refurbished them.

Then it will be back to the questions on economics value compare to building new corvettes or light frigates as alternatives then taking those LCS.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

Navy Could Transfer Decommissioned Littoral Combat Ships to Allies, Says CNO - USNI News

The Navy could transfer the Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ships it plans to decommission to other countries, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday told lawmakers today. Testifying before the Senate Appropriations Committee defense subcommittee, Gilday suggested the panel assess the...

news.usni.org

Put it in here, not in USN thread. Because it is talking on potential transfer those decommisioned LCS. Question right now, whose going to take interest on those LCS ?

Unlike OHP Frigate, which still shown moderate offensive capabilities as GP Frigate (on some of second hand users Navies), by the time of transfer. Will LCS can shown that on present conditions ? Or the navies that taking over them will have to invest significant amount to refurbished them.

Then it will be back to the questions on economics value compare to building new corvettes or light frigates as alternatives then taking those LCS.

The nine Freedom Class LCS are being retired from US Navy service because not only these ships are unsuitable for use against opponents like the chinese navy, but these ships seems to be also not cost effective and it has a class-wide problem with the combining gear that marries the ship’s gas turbines to the diesel engines.

A foreign navy will probably only take these ships because of political reasons .




Like the automobile industry, shipyards are also sensitive for trends, they are often 'inspired' by new developments.
This new Warrior Class of
multi-mission inshore patrol vessels (MMIPVs) built for the South African Navy for example, although with a size of 62 x 11 meters much larger than the Austal Cape Class and Guardian Class, they have a quite similar superstructure design.

Damen launches first MMIPV vessel for South African Navy

Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT) has launched the South African Navy (SAN)’s first multi-mission inshore patrol vessel (MMIPV).

www.naval-technology.com

Damen delivers 1st Multi-Mission Inshore Patrol Vessels to S.African Navy - Naval News

In a ceremony at the Simons Town naval base, Damen handed over the first of three MMIPV to the South African Navy on May 23, 2022.

www.navalnews.com

Also the vertical straight edged bow seems to be very trendy recently, while it is actually an old design.

 

[swerve]

The nine Freedom Class LCS are being retired from US Navy service because not only these ships are unsuitable for use against opponents like the chinese navy, but these ships seems to be also not cost effective and it has a class-wide problem with the combining gear that marries the ship’s gas turbines to the diesel engines.

A foreign navy will probably only take these ships because of political reasons .

They may be offered very cheap, & recipients may decided it's worth stripping out the problem-ridden combining gear & operating them as CODOG rather than CODAG. Reduced top speed, I expect, but still fast. But the operating cost may be too high.

 

[John Fedup]

So many negatives on the Freedom Class, it would take very bold procurement staff to sign off on these naval abominations not to mention desperate naval decision makers thinking anything is better than nothing. Perhaps zero cost along with a free $50-100 million support contract per vessel could work….even then I would run away!

 

[Redlands18]

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/06/u-s-navy-announces-28th-rimpac-exercise/

The USN has officially announced RIMPAC 2022, the 28th iteration of one of the biggest most important Naval Exercises. This year will include
26 Nations
38 Surface Ships
4 Submarines
9 National Land Forces
170 Aircraft
25,000 personnel
It will run from June 29 to Aug 4 around Hawaii and Southern California.

 

[Redlands18]

Swedish Navy celebrating its 500th birthday

Throughout the entire year of 2022, the Royal Swedish Navy will celebrate its 500th anniversary.

www.navaltoday.com

A huge 500th grattis pa fodelsdagen to the Svenska Marinen
Wow 500 years old and sill going strong.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

|"The LRASM provides warfighters with a capable precision strike weapon intended for use from airborne platforms including B-1B Lancer bombers, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters, F-35 Lightning II fighters, P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, and surface vessels via the Mark 41 Vertical Launching System."|

If they make the AGM-158C LRASM suitable for usage on the F-16, much more potential customers will become interested in it.



|"Armed with a 1,000 Lbs (454 kg) penetrating blast fragmentation warhead, LRASM is low observable and likely has a range comparable with JASSM ER (around 500 nautical miles)."|

I thought there was a limit of 300 km for export missiles, or is this limit only for land based missiles? Many export land attack/ anti-ship missiles are limited to 300 km.

BAE Systems wins contract for additional LRASM seekers - Naval News

BAE Systems has received a $38 million contract from Lockheed Martin for additional guidance systems for Lockheed Martin's Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) program.

www.navalnews.com

 

[ngatimozart]

|"The LRASM provides warfighters with a capable precision strike weapon intended for use from airborne platforms including B-1B Lancer bombers, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters, F-35 Lightning II fighters, P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, and surface vessels via the Mark 41 Vertical Launching System."|

If they make the AGM-158C LRASM suitable for usage on the F-16, much more potential customers will become interested in it.



|"Armed with a 1,000 Lbs (454 kg) penetrating blast fragmentation warhead, LRASM is low observable and likely has a range comparable with JASSM ER (around 500 nautical miles)."|

I thought there was a limit of 300 km for export missiles, or is this limit only for land based missiles? Many export land attack/ anti-ship missiles are limited to 300 km.

BAE Systems wins contract for additional LRASM seekers - Naval News

BAE Systems has received a $38 million contract from Lockheed Martin for additional guidance systems for Lockheed Martin's Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) program.

www.navalnews.com

It's 500 nm from memory and applied to cruise missiles. Can't say why it can't be integrated onto the F-16 but the F-16 is certified for the AGM-158 JASSM.

 

[kato]

I thought there was a limit of 300 km for export missiles, or is this limit only for land based missiles? Many export land attack/ anti-ship missiles are limited to 300 km.

MTCR Category I sensitive missiles have a range over 300 km with a minimum 500 kg payload. This explicitly includes ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, space launchers, sounding rockets, target drones and reconnaissance drones regardless of what they are launched from or at.

MTCR Category II controlled missiles have a range over 300 km with a payload below 500 kg. Most existing "western" longer-range standoff surface attack missile systems fall in this category by virtue of limiting warhead weight to a standardized 1000 lbs (454 kg).

Exceptions factually exist wherever members of the MTCR tend to feel like granting it (and the treaty allows for that). While that's primarily the USA, there are a couple other MTCR members that tend to be fairly fast and loose in whether the above applies to a specific export. Notionally the treaty obliges a country to by default deny an export of a Category I item, but openly states that it's up to the country's government whether it allows it.

 

[FormerDirtDart]

It's 500 nm from memory and applied to cruise missiles. Can't say why it can't be integrated onto the F-16 but the F-16 is certified for the AGM-158 JASSM.

In general the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) sets a non-binding restriction on exporting systems with a payload exceeding 500 kg with a range of over 300 km. The former Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) restricted the deployment of ground-launched missiles (ballistic & cruise) with ranges between 500 km and 5,500 km

 

[spoz]

It's not a formal treaty (the parties were very careful to avoid that); and as neither China nor Russia are part of it, is more of a self denying ordinance than anything. It can basically be ignored whenever the exporter and importer agree to do so.

 

[ngatimozart]

The Portuguese Navy (Marinha Portuguesa) has unveiled a project for a drone mothership or what it calls "plataforma naval multifuncional" (multifunctional naval platform). Portuguese Navy Unveils New Drone Mothership Project - Naval News



It doesn't appear to be overly large from the image supplied and I would suggest maybe smaller than the TNI-AL (Indonesian Navy) Makassar Class LPD which is 11,300 tons standard displacement.