DTN News: Russian Navy To Procure 10 New Frigates Next Decade

DTN News: Russian Navy To Procure 10 New Frigates Next Decade

Source: DTN News / Ria Novosti

(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW, Russia - October 30, 2010: The Russian Navy will receive up to 10 new ocean-going frigates in the next 10 years, a Defense Ministry source said on Friday.

Later on Friday the first Admiral Gorshkov-class Project 22350 frigate will be floated out at the Severnaya Verf shipyard in St. Petersburg. The ship will be able to execute long-range strike, anti-submarine and escort missions in remote areas.

The next Gorshkov-class frigate, the Admiral Kasatonov, is under construction and expected to be launched in 2012.

"In the next 10 years the Russian Navy may receive up to 10 frigates of this project [22350]. There is no doubt that Severnaya Verf has sufficient capacity for this," the source said.

The Russian Navy needs between 20 and 30 such frigates, which will be the 21st century's main ocean-going surface ship.

The Admiral Gorshkov has a displacement of 4,500 tons, a speed of 29 knots, a range of 4000 nm at 14 knots, and endurance of 15 days.

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DTN News: U.S. To Transfer Perry-Class Frigates To Pakistan Navy

DTN News: U.S. To Transfer Perry-Class Frigates To Pakistan Navy

Source: DTN News / Int'l Media

(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - May 17, 2010: Pakistan has signed a $65 million deal with the United States for the "hot transfer" of refurbished American frigate USS McInerney by August 31. The contract for the "hot transfer" of the USS McInerney, a Perry-class guided missile frigate, was signed by senior officials of the two countries. Under the agreement, the Pakistan Navy will take over the vessel on August 31.

The sale of the frigate, which would be inducted into the Pakistan Navy as PNS Alamgir at a ceremony in the US, was approved by the United States Congress in September 2008. Commissioned in 1979, the frigate would be handed over after a refurbishment that includes anti-submarine capability that has been paid for with the foreign military aid provided by the United States to friendly countries.

On completion of the refurbishment in January next year, the vessel will sail to Pakistan to join the country's naval fleet. Pakistani officials described the deal to acquire the warship a major "milestone" towards further strengthening the wide-ranging Pakistan-US relationship.

"The successful completion of this contract will pave the way for acquisition of more vessels of the same class for the Pakistan Navy to raise a squadron of eight Perry-class frigates," a spokesman for the Pakistani embassy said.

"This will greatly enhance the operational readiness of the Pakistan Navy," he added. In the last couple of years USS McInerney has been mainly involved in successful counter-drug operations. Pakistan plans to raise a squadron of eight Perry Class Frigates.

The frigate is being transferred under the Foreign Assistance ACT and the Arms Export Control Act in which Pakistan is considered a major non-NATO ally and is able to receive older unneeded US military equipment.

DTN News: Taiwan To Buy More Perry-Class Frigates From US

DTN News: Taiwan To Buy More Perry-Class Frigates From US *Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) TAIPEI, Taiwan - January 11, 2010: Taiwan plans to buy eight second-hand Perry-class frigates from the United States despite improved ties with arch rival China, a local newspaper reported on Monday.The United States Navy has 30 Oliver Hazard Perry Class guided missile frigates remaining in service of the 50 built for the US Navy during the 1970s and 1980s. The frigates have a full load displacement of 4,100t. The maximum speed is 30kt and the range at an economical speed is 4,500nm. The frigates were built by Bath Iron Works (24) in Maine and Todd Shipyards (29) in Seattle and San Pedro, California. Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG 7) entered service in December 1977. The last USN vessel, USS Ingraham (FFG 61) was commissioned in August 1989. Four ships (FFG 17, 18, 35 and 44) were built for Australia. Australia ordered an additional two new Perry Class ships built by the Williamstown Naval Dockyard (now part of Tenix Defence) – HMAS Melbourne (FFG 05) commissioned in 1992 and HMAS Newcastle (FFG 05) commissioned in 1993.

The island hopes to arm them with a version of the advanced Aegis Combat System, which uses computers and radars to take out multiple targets, as well as sophisticated missile launch technology, the Taipei-based China Times said.

Taiwan's defence ministry was not immediately available for comment when contacted by AFP Monday.

The United States designed the Perry-class frigates in the 1970s but the majority remains in service, equipped with various forms of modern technology.

The deal would add to Taiwan's existing inventory, as it already has eight Perry-class frigates built on the island.

The China Times report came less than a week after the US Defense Department said it had approved the sale of Patriot missile equipment to Taiwan as part of a package passed by Congress more than a year ago.

When unveiled in 2008, the package triggered strong protests from Beijing, which considers Taiwan part of its territory and has vowed to take the island back, by force if necessary.

DTN News: Russia's Shipyard Launches Indian Stealth Frigates 'Teg'

DTN News: Russia's Shipyard Launches Indian Stealth Frigates 'Teg' *Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW, Russia - November 30, 2009: Russia's defence shipyard "Yantar" has launched first of the three Indian stealth frigates - INS Teg (Sabre) at a colourful ceremony in the Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad.(F44 INS Tabar) Nov 10/09: RIA Novosti reports that the Yantar shipyard in Russia’s Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad is planning to float out the first of the 3 Talwar class frigates being built for the Indian Navy at the end of November. Spokesman Sergei Mikhailov adds that “Floating out does not mean that the sea trials will start right away. We still have to carry out post-construction work. The trials will start in 2010.” The shipyard still intends to deliver all 3 vessels to India in 2011-2012. March 6/09: India’s Business Times reports that an overzealous US State Department bureaucrat appears to have created a serious delay in the related Project 17 program, after ordering GE to stop work on the program. Unlike the Krivak III Class, Shivalik Class ships use 2 American LM2500 turbines in place of Russian designs. If India is lucky, the delay will be only 2 months. If the State Department’s actions cause India to miss sea trials due to the monsoon season, the delay could be many months longer. In the end, all the State Department may succeed in doing is jeopardizing the chances of other American companies under consideration for Indian defense buys. “US State Dept. Throws A Wrench Into Exports, Allied Shipbuilding” for more. Oct 16/08: RIA Novosti quotes the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad to say that the 2nd Project 11356 frigate for India under the 2006 deal is more than 50% complete, and would be finished by March 2009. The final vessel in that deal is due to be delivered to India by 2011-12.* Under $1.6 billion contract signed in July 2006, INS Teg begins the second series of three Project 11356 Talwar Class (Krivak-III) stealth guided missile frigates to be followed by INS Tarkash (Quiver) and INS Trikand (Bow). INS Teg was launched with the recitation Vedic hymns by Indian Naval attache in Moscow Commodore S K Grewal and breaking of coconut by the Indian Consul General in St Petersburg Radhika Lal Lokesh. Russia has previously built three Talwar class frigates for India --- INS Talwar (from the Hindi language meaning Sword), INS Trishul (Trident), and INS Tabar (Axe). In accordance with the Russian tradition, a bottle of champagne was broken at its hull by its 'god mother' Raisa Romashko, who is an eminent shipbuilder of Russia. "The trials of INS Teg will start in 2010," "Yantar" shipyard Director General Igor Orlov was quoted as saying by Military TV Channel "Zvezda".

DTN News: Pakistan Navy Receives First Of Three Chinese F-22P Frigates

DTN News: Pakistan Navy Receives First Of Three Chinese F-22P Frigates

*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media

(NSI News Source Info) KARACHI, Pakistan - September 14, 2009: Pakistan Navy's surface warfare capabilities got a boost as it received first of the three missile carrying Chinese F-22P frigates.

The F-22P or Zulfiquar class frigate, an improved version of the Chinese Type 053H3 frigate, is a general purpose frigate being built by China and Pakistan for the Pakistan Navy (PN). The first ship, PNS Zulfiquar, was handed over to the PN on 30 July 2009. A second is almost complete and undergoing sea trials, while the third and fourth are under construction.

The new Frigate, christened PNS Zulfiqar, armed with ship-to-ship and ship-to-air missiles and is the first of the three ordered from China, arrived at this southern port city. Under the $750 million contract for the frigates, China will also supply four to six Harbin Z9EC anti-submarine warfare helicopters to Pakistan. The two other frigates are expected to be handed over to Pakistan by the end of 2010. Islamabad will build the fourth warship of the same class in Karachi which is expected to be commissioned by mid-2013, Naval spokesman Commander Mubeen Bajwa said here. The new frigates will enhance the Pakistan Navy's surface warfare capabilities. They will also be used to escort oil supplies from the Gulf in the event of any hostilities, Bajwa told a TV news channel. The collaboration with the Chinese for building the fourth F-22P frigate in Karachi had helped modernise Pakistan's shipbuilding capabilities, Bajwa said. The country will move from building smaller vessels to frigate-size warships, he added.

DTN News: Russian Firm Pledges To Deliver Frigates To India On Schedule

DTN News: Russian Firm Pledges To Deliver Frigates To India On Schedule *Sources: DTN News / Defense Media

(NSI News Source Info) ST. PETERSBURG, Russia - June 27, 2009: Russia will fulfill its obligations on schedule to supply three Project 11356 frigates to India by 2012, a shipbuilding industry official said on Friday. India and Russia signed a $1.6 billion contract for the construction of an additional three Project 11356 Krivak IV-class guided missile frigates for the Indian Navy in July, 2006. Russia previously built three Krivak-class frigates - INS Talwar, INS Trishul and INS Tabar - for India, and delivered them all in late 2004. The final vessel is due to be delivered to India by 2011-12. All of the frigates will be armed each with eight BrahMos supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles instead of the Club-N/3M54TE missiles, which were installed on previous frigates. The Krivak-class frigate has deadweight of 4,000 metric tons and a speed of 30 knots, and is capable of accomplishing a wide range of maritime missions, primarily hunting down and destroying large surface ships and submarines. Russia is building three Project 11356 Krivak IV class guided missile frigates for the Indian Navy at the Yantar shipyard in Russia's Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad as part of a $1.6 billion contract signed in July, 2006. "The contract's deadline is 2012. We are not expecting any delays at this point," general director of the Yantar shipyard Igor Orlov said at the 4th International Maritime Defense Show in St. Petersburg. The official said the hulls of all three vessels had been laid down at the shipyard. "The first ship will be floated out this year, the second, probably, in spring 2010, and the third - a bit later," he said, adding that the Indian government had provided sufficient and timely project financing. A delegation of Indian military officials, led by India's deputy chief of the naval staff, Vice Adm. Raman P Suthan, visited the Yantar shipyard in October last year and said it was satisfied with the pace and the construction quality. Russia previously built in 2004 three Krivak class frigates - INS Talwar, INS Trishul and INS Tabar - for India, but they all were delivered late. All of the new frigates will be armed with eight BrahMos supersonic anti-ship cruise missile systems and not the Club-N/3M54TE missile system, which was installed on previous frigates. The Krivak class frigate has deadweight of 4,000 metric tons and a speed of 30 knots, and is capable of accomplishing a wide range of maritime missions, primarily hunting down and destroying large surface ships and submarines.

DTN News: Indian Navy Seals Rs 45,000 Crore Deal For Seven Warships

DTN News: Indian Navy Seals Rs 45,000 Crore Deal For Seven Warships *Sources: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) NEW DELHI, India - June 21, 2009: India has cleared its largest ever indigenous defence contract worth Rs 45,000 crore to manufacture seven advanced stealth frigates for the Navy at shipyards in Kolkata and Mumbai. The Shivalik class frigates are a class of multi-role stealth frigates being built for the Indian Navy. Currently under construction at Mazagon Dock under Project 17 (P17), they are the first stealth warships to have been built in India. The leading ship of the class, INS Shivalik is scheduled to be commissioned into Indian Navy service in 2009. The Shivalik class will be the main frigates of the Indian Navy in the first half of the 21st century. A total of 12 ships are planned to be built in varied batches, with the second batch of four frigates being planned.* The P17A warship project, which will be India’s most advanced and stealthy frigates, has been cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on Friday. Sources said that brushing aside a request by the Navy that two of the indigenously designed frigates may be manufactured abroad, the DAC has decided that all seven warships will be manufactured in India by the Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai (MDL) and the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. The Defence Ministry has allocated a budget of Rs 45,000 crore for the project and the work will be divided between the two shipyards. The P17A frigates will be even more advanced than the P17 Shivalik class warships that are currently being inducted by the Navy.

DTN News: NH-90 Helicopter Still Too Heavy For Dutch Frigates

DTN News: NH-90 Helicopter Still Too Heavy For Dutch Frigates *Source: ANP Dutch Press Agency (NSI News Source Info) THE HAGUE - June 13, 2009: State Secretary of Defence Jack de Vries on Wednesday had “bad news” for the House of Commons, he said. The NH-90 helicopter ordered by the Ministry of Defence is still heavier than planned. The NH90 program is handled by NH Industries while production shares of the 3 Partner Companies involved are 32.00% for AgustaWestland – Italy, 62.50% for Eurocopter – France and Germany, and 5.50% for Fokker Aerospace - The Netherlands. The NH90 was intended to being developed in two variants: the Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) and the NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH), the program had some technical and funds problems at the end of the 90s, but a large production order was launched on July 2000 by the partner countries. The main serial production NH90 are born from 3 assembly lines of the NHIndustries Partner Companies community: Cascina Costa in Italy for AgustaWestland, Marignane in France and Donauwörth in Germany for Eurocopter although the Finnish and Australian contracts establish that theirs airframes w would be assembled locally. By 2005, the NH90 logbook shows a total of 357 firm orders, 86 options and 45+ selected NH90, by 13 countries and for 17 Armed Forces. [Program prime contractor] NH Industries had announced to measures to reduce the helicopter’s weight, but these have not had the desired result. The weight of the aircraft has been a problem for years. This is important because the additional weight makes them too heavy to land on the Dutch navy frigates for which they are intended. The Netherlands decided in 1991 to participate in the NH-90 program, and ordered twenty [of the NFH-90 naval variant] which should have replaced the current Lynx ship-borne helicopters beginning in 2007. However, because of the recurring weight issue, that date has been moved back several times. The latest date for their initial delivery has now been pushed back to 2011, de Vries said. It is not possible to rule out further delays, nor to say what extra costs will arise from the delays, he added.

Australia To Buy US Jets, Build Up Navy, Air Force

Australia To Buy US Jets, Build Up Navy, Air Force

(NSI News Source Info) CANBERRA, Australia - May 3, 2009: Australia plans to buy 100 state-of-the-art U.S. jet fighters and double the size of its modest submarine fleet in a bid to keep pace with an Asian military buildup. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, announcing the plan on board the HMAS Stuart in Sydney Harbour on Saturday, said Australia's military must be prepared for any situation. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, right, announces the government's defense white paper as Chief of the Defense Force Angus Houston, left, looks on, aboard HMAS Stuart at Garden Island naval base in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, May 2, 2009. Its 140-page white paper - Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030, released on Saturday - outlines defense and strategic planning and signals what the government calls a major new direction aimed at building a "heavier" naval, air combat and logistics capability in the Asia Pacific. "It's important for our own capability requirements ... for the Australian Defense Force to be prepared to meet a range of contingencies arising from military and naval buildups across our region," Rudd said. "That is prudent, long-term defense planning, and we believe we've got the balance absolutely right." The major defense update also says that global warming and shortages of fuel, food and water will likely be emerging threats to world peace as countries seek to guarantee supplies of crucial resources. The plan says world powers will jockey for naval supremacy in the Indian Ocean as it gains importance as a seaway for oil shipped from the Middle East to Asia. It does not single out any single country as posing a military threat to Australia, which is a close military ally of the United States. The plan focuses on building Australian naval and air force strength to take any fight over Australia's security far offshore. To do this, Australia's current fleet of six Collins-class submarines will be replaced by 12 longer-range Australian-manufactured submarines. The government, which bans atomic energy in Australia, has ruled out nuclear propulsion. The navy's 12 frigates will also be replaced by the same number of larger warships. Australia will remain without an aircraft carrier. The government plans to buy 100 U.S.-manufactured Lockheed F-35 Lightning Joint Strike Fighters to phase out the current Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornets over the next decade. But the opposition Liberal party argued that the report doesn't explain how the new equipment will be funded. "Nobody reading this white paper could have any confidence that the government has the capacity, the commitment, or even knows how it is going to pay for this dramatic expansion in our military hardware," opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull told reporters in Sydney. Rudd recently warned that Australia needed to reshape its military in response to an "explosion" in defense spending in Asia. Saturday's plan said the global economic downturn would slow the recent arms buildup in some Asian countries, though China will likely continue its military modernization, it said. "But the pace, scope and structure of China's military modernization have the potential to give its neighbors cause for concern if not carefully explained," the paper says. "China has begun to do this in recent years, but needs to do more." Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, center bottom, announces the government's defense white paper aboard HMAS Stuart at Garden Island naval base in Sydney, Saturday, May 2, 2009. Its 140-page white paper - Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030, released on Saturday - outlines defense and strategic planning and signals what the government calls a major new direction aimed at building a "heavier" naval, air combat and logistics capability in the Asia Pacific. The government is committed to increasing defense spending, which is 22 billion Australian dollars ($16 billion) in the current fiscal year, by 3 percent each year despite the current recession. Australia is the largest contributor to the U.S.-led coalition force in Afghanistan outside NATO. Rudd announced this week that the Australian military commitment there would be boosted from 1,100 to 1,550.

China Parades Naval Might / China Has High Naval Ambitions

China Parades Naval Might / China Has High Naval Ambitions

(NSI News Source Info) BEIJING - April 26, 2009: China paraded its warships and nuclear submarines April 23 in an unprecedented display of maritime might attended by 14 other nations to mark the 60th anniversary of its navy. Fifty-six Chinese subs, destroyers, frigates, missile boats and planes were displayed off the eastern port city of Qingdao just weeks after tensions flared after a naval stand-off with the U.S. in the South China Sea. A Chinese Navy nuclear-powered submarine sails during an international fleet review to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of People's Liberation Army Navy Thursday, April 23, 2009 off Qingdao, China's Shandong Province. China on Thursday displayed for the first time its nuclear-powered submarines, a sign of the navy's growing confidence and its aspirations to become a major sea power. The review - only the fourth to take place since 1949 and the first on such a large and international scale - was opened by two of China's nuclear-powered submarines, the first time in history they have been unveiled to the public. President Hu Jintao boarded the destroyer Shijiazhuang, after having sought to reassure the heads of foreign navy delegations that China's maritime power posed no threat to anyone. "Both now and in the future, no matter to what extent we develop, China will never seek hegemony," he said, in comments reported by Xinhua. State television showed Hu standing on the deck of the Shijiazhuang saluting and calling out to the ships that passed before him. But Jean-Pierre Cabestan, professor of political science at Hong Kong Baptist University, described the event as "a show of force, of power." "It's a public relations display with a double message - China as an integrator, showing it is keeping with the rules of the international game, but also showing it is now in the big power arena," he said. Ships from 14 countries, including the U.S., Russia and France, took part in the fleet review, which Chinese officials have said is aimed at promoting understanding about China's military development. "Suspicions about China being a 'threat' to world security are mostly because of... lack of understanding about China," Ding Yiping, deputy commander of the navy, told the official Xinhua news agency this week. China has always stressed its military build-up, watched with a wary eye by the U.S. - which accuses the Chinese of a lack of transparency - does not pose a threat to other countries. A number of recent incidents at sea have heightened tensions. In March, the U.S. complained that Chinese boats had harassed one of its ships in the South China Sea, forcing it to take action to prevent a collision. China denied the claim and accused the U.S. vessel of "illegal activities". Early this month, China's dispatch of civilian patrol vessels to waters around disputed islands in the same sea - the Spratlys - sparked concern in the Philippines, which also claims sovereignty over the archipelago. China's increasing maritime confidence was also reflected in its decision to send ships to the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Somalia, for an anti-piracy assignment in the first potential combat mission for its navy beyond its territorial waters. And the navy's commander-in-chief, Admiral Wu Shengli, said in April China would develop a new generation of warships and aircraft to give it much longer-range capabilities. But Hong Kong Baptist University's Cabestan said China's navy still lagged behind other countries, with no aircraft carriers despite plans to build some. "In terms of technology they are still far behind the Americans, the Japanese, or even the Russians, but in tonnage, they have now become the first navy in Asia," he said. The U.S., which has sent navy chief Admiral Gary Roughead and the destroyer Fitzgerald to the event, would be watching the parade very closely, according to the professor. "The United States are participating, they are playing the card of integration, of the policy of engagement," he said. "But they are also watching attentively the progress of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), all the new missions that the Chinese navy do." Sixty years ago, the PLA's navy was formed when a unit of the Kuomintang's coastal defense fleet defected to the rival communists, bringing with it nine warships and 17 other boats. Kuomintang nationalist forces had been locked in a civil war with the communists, who eventually won and came to power on Oct. 1, 1949.

Brazil Eyes Northrop International Patrol Frigate

Brazil Eyes Northrop International Patrol Frigate

(NSI News Source Info) RIO DE JANEIRO - April 15, 2009: Brazil's top naval officers were quickly drawn to the International Patrol Frigate display when they stopped by Northrop Grumman's booth at the Latin America Aerospace and Defense exhibition, which opened here April 14. The National Security Cutter (NSC) is the centerpiece of the U.S. Coast Guard fleet replacement program. With its 418-foot length and 4,300 ton full load displacement, this is the largest of the new multi-mission cutters. The program of record is eight ships of which the first ship, USCGC Bertholf (WMSL 750), has been commissioned and two additional ships, Waesche (WMSL 751) and Stratton (WMSL 752) are under construction. "It's an outstanding ship; a very interesting project," Rear Adm. Cagle Ilques said after visiting the display. Asked if the ship would have an application for the Brazilian navy, Ilques said, "of course." The proposed ship is based on the National Security Cutter now being built by Northrop for the U.S. Coast Guard. Despite its Coast Guard origins, the patrol frigate presents an interesting "mixture of a sonar, [extensive] range, a combat center and anti-submarine capability, all on less than 5,000 tons," Ilques said. Brazil's top naval officer, Adm. Alte Esq Vinicius, was also impressed. "We have a requirement for three frigates and five patrol ships," he said, "and we're looking for a ship already in production, not a prototype." The Brazilian Navy is gathering information from several proposals for its frigate and patrol ship program, Vinicius said. "Probably in June, we are sending a group of officers to the United States to visit the shipyard," he said. Northrop is hopeful the ship will become a serious contender for the Brazilians. "The International Patrol Frigate meets most, if not all, of the requirements the Brazilians laid out in their maritime strategy," said Rocco Tomanelli, Northrop's director of coastal warfare and international programs.

German Navy Orders Minehunter Protection Systems

German Navy Orders Minehunter Protection Systems

(NSI News Source Info) March 1, 2009: Rheinmetall Defence has received an order to equip two more German Navy mine-hunters with Mass naval protection systems. (Mass stands for "Multi Ammunition Softkill System".) By June 2009, one MJ 333-class vessel and one HL 352-class vessel will each be equipped with a Mass two-launcher configuration with integrated detection unit. The order is worth around EUR 8 million.

In the wake of successful sea trials, the German Ministry of Defence already contracted with Rheinmetall in 2008 to equip two German Navy mine countermeasures ships with the Mass system. This was in response to an immediate operational requirement, the Unifil operation off the coast of Lebanon. With this follow-on contract, the German Navy is now well on the way to equipping all eight vessels in this class with Mass technology, reflecting the top priority it attaches to Force Protection.

The Type 333 Kulmbach class is a class of five German Navy ships. Built as Type 343 Hameln class minesweepers, they have been upgraded to minehunters using Seefuchs expendable drones to detonate detected naval mines.

Mass means superior protection

Guided missiles pose an increasing threat to naval vessels and civilian shipping alike. Mass protects ships against advanced sensor-guided weapons on the high seas and in littoral zones, as well as from asymmetric threats. Mass works by firing decoys that divert incoming missiles from their intended targets. Fully automatic, the Mass naval countermeasures system offers substantial tactical, operational and logistical advantages, and can be installed on all types of ships. It can be integrated into existing command and control systems or serve as a stand-alone system. Programmable and omni-spectral, the Mass system's innovative ammunition provides protection in all relevant wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum (radar, infrared, laser, electro-optic and ultraviolet).

Mass with integrated detection unit

Featuring an integrated detection unit, the "Mass ISS_Integrated Sensor Suite" represents an innovative departure in naval electronic warfare. Jointly developed by Rheinmetall Defence and Saab Avitronics, this new version of Mass comes with sensors capable of detecting both radar and laser threats.

The state-of-the-art detection unit consists of an SME 100 electronic measurement support system, which will replace the existing radar warners on board the mine hunters; it also comprises the naval laser warner system NLWS. Furthermore, the Mass version deployed on German Navy mine hunters will be linked to an existing electro-optical sensor system, the MSP 500, or "Multi Sensor Platform", which is also made by Rheinmetall. As a result, Mass_ISS will make it possible not merely to detect incoming threats, but to classify them by category and type while automatically engaging them. This is the first time that Mass_ISS will be integrated into a mine hunter.

Since launching Mass onto the market in 2003, Rheinmetall has concluded contracts with eight nations for a total of 102 launcher units destined for 15 different classes of vessel, ranging from corvettes and frigates to mine hunters and patrol boats.

Mass has already been successfully introduced into the navies of Germany (K130 corvettes, F123 frigates, mine hunters), Finland (Squadron 2000), Norway (Skjold missile torpedo boats), Sweden (Visby-, Göteborg- and Malmö-class vessels), the United Arab Emirates (the Baynunah programme), Oman (Khareef-class ocean patrol vessels) as well as into two other navies in the Middle East.

Bangladesh Plans Major Defence Procurement

Bangladesh Plans Major Defence Procurement

(NSI News Source Info) February 23, 2009: PM Sheikh Hasina's new government in Bangladesh has decided to launch a massive defence procurement drive to strengthen the armed forces and to equip them with modern weapons and military hardware.

Planning Minister Air Vice Marshal (retd) AK Khondoker told parliament on Sunday that the purchases would be made during the current and next fiscals.

He said the forces would be made well equipped and trained in line with the country's financial capabilities. "For equipping the army, plans have been taken to procure helicopters, tanks, APCs (armoured personnel carrier), anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles, sniper rifles, different types of modern radio systems, explosives, night vision and related hardware, other types of weapons and vehicles in 2008-2009 and 2009-2010," he told the house. A process was now underway to procure three new frigates to earn the "three dimensional" capabilities for the navy to face the 21st centuries challenge, he said.

"A process to sign a procurement deal has been completed to buy appropriate anti-ship missiles for Bangladesh Navy's ultra modern frigate while it is now awaiting the government's final nod... Works are underway to install anti-aircraft missile in the ship (frigate)," Khondoker said. Moreover, Khondoker said, international tenders were already floated to procure helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft to intensify vigil in the sea and establish a three dimensional navy.

"The government also planned to modernise the air force for better air defence and enable it to carry out salvage and relief campaign during disasters at home and abroad, assist the military and navy with air support and intensify air vigil through procuring modern aircraft and air force hardware. "These plans will be implemented in phases," he added.

LockMartin Upgrades Ship Defense System On Turkish Navy Frigates

LockMartin Upgrades Ship Defense System On Turkish Navy Frigates

(NSI News Source Info) February 19, 2009: The U.S. Navy recently awarded Lockheed Martin a contract to upgrade the MK 92 Fire Control System on Turkey's G-class guided missile frigates. The system upgrade will support the introduction of the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM), providing enhanced self-protection capabilities for this class of surface warships. G class is one of the frigate classes of the Turkish Navy. They are heavily modernized and modified versions of ex-Oliver Hazard Perry class guided-missile frigates, mainly designed for air defense with a weapons configuration that is optimized for general warfare. A total of eight G-class frigates are currently operated by the Turkish Navy. They are named as TCG Gaziantep (F 490), TCG Giresun (F 491), TCG Gemlik (F 492), TCG Gelibolu (F 493), TCG Gökçeada (F 494), TCG Gediz (F 495), TCG Gökova (F 496) and TCG Göksu (F 497). G class frigates have undergone an indegenous (Turkish designed and manufactured)modernisation prgram named the GENESIS (Gemi Entegre Savaş İdare Sistemi) advanced combat management system, The first GENESIS upgraded ship was delivered in 2007, and the last delivery is scheduled for 2011. The GENESIS advanced combat management system includes the following characteristics and abilities:

*A modern and reliable system; *High performance; *Open architecture; *Capacity of watching more than 1,000 tactical targets; *Modern digital sensor data fusion; *Automatic threat evaluation; *Weapon engagement opportunities; *Link-16/22 system integration The modernization program also includes (but is not limited to): (1) the addition of an 8-cell Mk-41 VLS for Evolved Sea Sparrow, including the upgrade of the Mk 92 Fire control system by Lockheed Martin Inc. (2) the retrofitting of a new advanced 3D air search radar (3) The addition of a new long range sonar. The Mk-41 VLS will be fitted in front of the Mk.13 launchers, similar to the Adelaide class frigates. The "short hull" ex-Perry class frigates that are currently being operated by the Turkish Navy were modified with the ASIST landing platform system at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard, so that they can accommodate the S-70B Seahawk helicopters. The MK 92 system, originally developed by Lockheed Martin, provides integrated X-band radar surveillance, target tracking and weapon fire control capability for naval gun and missile systems. Under the new Navy contract, Lockheed Martin will design, develop and integrate modifications necessary to support the new missile capability. "The MK 92 upgrade represents the first U.S. Navy-sponsored sale of our solid-state continuous wave illumination transmitter to support ESSM deployment by navies around the world," said Stan Ozga, Lockheed Martin's director for Naval Radar Programs. "Building on our successes with systems already in use by Norway and Australia, Lockheed Martin will deliver, with this latest variant, a major improvement to the guided missile frigate anti-air warfare capability and continue more than two decades of support to the operational needs of the Turkish Navy." The upgrade, when combined with Lockheed Martin's MK41 Vertical Launching System, will allow increased self defense capacity through the MK25 Quadpack canister allowing four ESSMs to be loaded in each MK41 cell, resulting in enhanced self-protection capabilities for this class of surface warships. ESSM is a medium range quick reaction missile designed to defeat stressing anti ship cruise missiles. More than 125 shipboard MK 92 systems have been produced and deployed with nine different navies around the world. It has been installed on more than 70 guided missile frigates, as well as on a variety of other surface ships including coast guard cutters, corvettes and fast attack craft.

Belgian Frigate, Minehunter Handed Over To Bulgaria / Official Handover Of frigate F910 Wielingen And Minehunter M922 Myositis To Bulgaria

Belgian Frigate, Minehunter Handed Over To Bulgaria / Official Handover Of frigate F910 Wielingen And Minehunter M922 Myositis To Bulgaria

(NSI News Source Info) February 11, 2009: On Monday Feb. 9, F910 Wielingen and M922 Myositis were officially handed over to Bulgaria, in a ceremony attended by various authorities of both countries.

The Belgian government decided on 22 December 1970 to order four new frigates, which would be built by the Belgian shipyards. These ships would replace the old escortships of the Algerine class. These were put out of service in 1969. The studies on this project already began in 1964 with the advice of the Dutch Navy and continued in 1971 in cooperation with the two Belgian shipyards, Boelwerf (Temse) and Cockerill (Hoboken - Antwerp). The construction of the ships began in 1974. The four ships, *F910 Wielingen, F911 Westdiep, F912 Wandelaar and F913 Westhinder, were commissioned in the following years.

The Bulgarian navy has christened the ships Verni and Tsibar respectively. Wielingen is, after F912 Wandelaar and F911 Westdiep, the third frigate, and Myosotis the first minehunter, to be handed over to the Bulgarian navy.

Disposal of the Wielingen also marks the decommissioning of the final Wielingen-class frigate by the Belgian navy. These ships were named for well-known sand banks along the Belgian coast. They were designed and built by Belgian shipyards.

Myosotis is the eighth ship of the Flower class, and in recent years was used to transport ammunition. The two ships will sail to Bulgaria on Feb. 10, at about 10 a.m.

DCNS to Upgrade Colombian Frigates / Colombian Navy Chooses DCNS

DCNS to Upgrade Colombian Frigates / Colombian Navy Chooses DCNS

(NSI News Source Info) February 6, 2009: The Colombian Ministry of Defence signed a 100 million euro contract with DCNS for the modernization of the combat management systems of its Almirante Padilla-class frigates.

The Almirante Padilla Class Frigate is a group of frigates operated by the Colombian Navy. The designation of this class is Type FS 1500 and there are 4 ships in service. The ships were built by Howaldtswerke in Kiel, Germany. Two similar ships operate in the Malaysian Navy as the Kasturi class frigates.

This contract, which is covered by a government-to-government agreement between France and Colombia, will see DCNS and Thales partnering for the modernization of the sensors and the Combat Management System of four Colombian frigates.

This latest success, obtained in the face of intense competition, again illustrates the know-how of French industry in the field of mid-life modernization and upgrade of major surface combatants.

Russia May Build More Krivak Class Frigates For India

Russia May Build More Krivak Class Frigates For India

(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW - February 5, 2009: Russia and India are negotiating a new contract on the delivery of additional Project 11356 frigates for the Indian navy, the head of Russia's arms exporter said on Wednesday. The talks are being held despite disruptions in the construction of the ships. Russia is building three Project 11356 Krivak IV-class guided missile frigates for the Indian navy at the Yantar shipyard in Russia's Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad under a $1.6 billion contract signed in July, 2006. "The contract deadlines are very tough and there were indeed some disruptions in the construction," Rosoboronexport's general director Anatoly Isaikin said in an interview with Nezavisimaya Gazeta. "It took some time to deal with the problems. After additional work and testing were carried out, there were no complaints with regard to the frigate. Moreover, talks are being held for an additional order of this type of combat vessel," Isaikin said. The official said most of the problems were related to advanced weaponry and electronics installed on the frigates to meet the requirements of the Indian navy. A delegation of Indian military officials, led by India's deputy chief of the naval staff, Vice Adm. Raman P Suthan, visited the Yantar shipyard in October last year and said it was satisfied with the pace and the quality of the construction. Russia previously built three Krivak-class frigates - INS Talwar, INS Trishul and INS Tabar - for India, and delivered them all in late 2004. The final vessel of the current batch is due to be delivered to India by 2011-12. All of the frigates will be armed with eight BrahMos supersonic anti-ship cruise missile systems and not the Club-N/3M54TE missile system, which was installed on previous frigates. The Krivak-class frigate has deadweight of 4,000 metric tons and a speed of 30 knots, and is capable of accomplishing a wide range of maritime missions, primarily hunting down and destroying large surface ships and submarines. "In terms of firepower it [the Krivak IV class frigate] has no rivals in the world in its class," Isaikin said.

A New Line Of Defence: Iran's Naval Capabilities

A New Line Of Defence: Iran's Naval Capabilities

(NSI News Source Info) January 28, 2009: Iran has signalled its intention to increase its naval presence along the coast of the Gulf of Oman and up to the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most important oil conduit, at the mouth of the Persian Gulf. (Above: Photo/image:71 Alvand, Saam class (Vosper Mk5 type) frigate) The Iranian Navy has traditionally been the smallest branch of Iran's armed forces and is designed solely for securing its own ports and coast, with little in the way of striking power. Before 1971, the Iranian Navy mostly operated equipment provided by the United States and the United Kingdom. Over the following eight years, the fleet added more modern American and British-made destroyers, frigates and many smaller vessels, including powerboats and hovercraft. In the 1970s, Iran planned to extend its naval reach into the Indian Ocean; but this goal was curtailed by the Islamic Revolution (1979), the Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988), and limited funding ever since. This has left the navy with a limited ability to project power from the Persian Gulf into the Arabian Sea (Oman Sea) through submarines and larger surface ships. The last Shah of Iran ordered four modern destroyers from the United States, an order that was cancelled after the Shah fell. The ships were instead commissioned in the U.S. Navy as the Kidd class. After the Islamic Revolution, the United States levied economic, trade and military sanctions on Iran, particularly squeezing the Navy, which had several ships laid up. In the 1990s, the Navy added patrol boats, submarines, and surface-launched anti-ship missiles, and replaced Western ships with ones bought from China, North Korea, and Russia. During that time, it also engaged in naval exercises with Pakistan and India. In terms of major surface ships, Iran's three destroyers are over 50 years old and are kept in material reserve at Bushehr. The Iranian Navy does not include capital ships; their largest ships are five frigates and three corvettes, all of which are armed with modern anti-ship missiles. The main focus of the Iranian Navy seems to be developing new frigates, corvettes and medium to large fast boats capable of carrying modern precision anti-ship missiles. Three of five frigates (Vosper Mark 5), however, were commissioned over 25 years ago and these ships have been updated with Chinese C-802 missiles. Iran's three corvettes were commissioned over 30 years ago; one (the Hamzeh) was originally a government yacht but has now been equipped with Chinese C-802 missiles as well, but it is deployed at Anzali on the Caspian Sea. These eight ships are supported by three Russian SSK Kilo attack submarines and Ghadir and Nahang class mini submarines. The Russian built Kilo submarines are considered among the quietest diesel submarines in the world. The commander of the navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran Military (IRIM), Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, said: "A new line of defence has been established to the east of the Strait of Hormuz ... and if necessary we can prevent any enemy ship from entering the Persian Gulf." Adm Sayyari was speaking at the October 2008 opening ceremony of a new naval base at Jask, a small fishing port about 300 km to the east of the port city of Bandar Abbas. The high-profile deputy commander of the IRIM's navy, Brigadier General Abdolrahim Musavi, echoed these sentiments at the naval base's inauguration. "The mastery of the Islamic republic is reaching the Indian Ocean. ... Today, the enemy is watching how a country, subjected to 30 years of sanctions, is making headway in all domains. ... The time of bullying and unilateralism, encirclement and invasion has come to an end. ... The sooner they understand this the better, otherwise they will have to pay a heavy price," he said. Gen Musavi told reporters that, at one time, aircraft carriers "terrorised" countries along their route, but today they are, as with "the elements of computer games", under the gaze of Iran's armed forces. The following day, while inspecting Iran's main naval bases in Bandar Abbas, Adm Sayyari said that, in line with the new mission of the navy, which is to build an "impenetrable line" of defence along the coast of the Gulf of Oman, new naval bases will be rapidly constructed from Bandar Abbas, which occupies a strategic position on the Strait of Hormuz, to Pasa Bandar, near the Pakistani border.

Dutch Transfer of Two Frigates to Portuguese Navy / Dutch Technical Transfer of Frigates to Portuguese Navy

Dutch Transfer of Two Frigates to Portuguese Navy / Dutch Technical Transfer of Frigates to Portuguese Navy (NSI News Source Info) January 19, 2009: The documents for the transfer of the Dutch frigates to the Portuguese Navy were signed today by the General Directors for Armaments of the Ministry of National Defence of Portugal and of the Netherlands.

On the Portuguese side, the signatory was Vice Admiral Filipe Viergas. This action, an exclusively military procedure, took place in the Netherlands, and was attended by the Portuguese Navy’s Chief of Staff, Admiral Fernando Melo Gomes.

On November 1st 2006, the Portuguese Defense Minister Nuno Severiano Teixeira signed a contract for the purchase of the frigates Van Nes and Van Galen. Van Nes (renamed Bartolomeu Dias ) will be transferred to Portugal on December 1, 2008 and Van Galen (renamed Francisco de Almeida) on November 1, 2009. With the latest sale of two M-class frigates to Portugal pushing through, only two of the eight ships will remain with the Dutch Navy.

The official delivery ceremony, as part of the celebrations for Navy Day, will take place in the presence of the Minister of National Defence, Nuno Severiano Teixeira. The commissioning of the two “Bartolomeu Dias”-class frigates is a major milestone in the reinforcement of the Navy’s fleet.

These ships will replace the “Joao Belo”-class frigates that have been in service for about 40 years. The two new ships are fitted with modern technologies for systems automation, and thus require a smaller crew, but will deliver an increase in productivity and in operational availability. They can reach a top speed of 29 knots, and have a range of 5,000 nautical miles.