If the rumor of China negotiating the purchase of Su-33 fighters of the type used on the Russian STOBAR carrier are true, it would appear to be the case.
Category: Naval
Oto Melara Unveils Guided Gun System
The ubiquitious, at least in Italian defense procurement, Oto Melara showed a 76mm rapid fire guided gun system at Euronavale.
It’s intended to be used for, among other things, anti-ship missile defense, using a beam riding sub munition for point defense.
Submarine Designers Start Smoking Weed
DCNS unveiled this concept, the SMX-24, at Euronavale in Paris.
It’s an all fuel cell concept, displacing about 3500 tons, which makes rather larger than the Diesel-Electric boats, but a rather smaller than most Nuke boats, it’s about the size of an Alfa class submarine.
It’s supposed to have 30 days endurance, whether surfaced or submerged, and it has a cruise motor at the rear of the ship, and sprint motors, as well as fuel tanks and weapons, mounted at the tips of stub “wings”.
This is not the first radical concept from DCNS, they also have the SMX-23, which was shown at last year’s Euronavale, and has since been dubbed, “Andrasta,” a small boat intended for littoral waters, which carries its entire weapons load outside of the pressure hull, so reloads can only be done in port.
IMHO, I think that the SMX-23 is far more likely to see service than the SMX-24.
While there are many different sorts of nastiness carried on board submarines, the idea of carrying large amounts of liquid oxygen and possibly liquid hydrogen, for fuel cell operations makes me profoundly uncomfortable.
India and Russia in Pissing Contest Over Carrier Refit
India has rejected Russian demands for an additional $1.2 billion for the refit of the Admiral Gorshkov, which the Sevmash shipyard is reconfiguring to a STOBAR configuration.
Considering the fact that the initial deal was for $1.5 billion, I’m not surprised.
DARPA Looks at Riverine Submersible
I think that what they want is extremely ambitious, and may be very difficult to achieve.
They are looking at the vehicle being able to semi-autonomously deploy in the treacherous waters of, “rivers, inlets, harbors and other shallow waters,” burrow in the mud, and conduct surveillance.
It would need to navigate its way quietly through the frequently murkey, with turbulent currents and things like sandbars to further complicate things.
Additionally they want to be able to sleep for an extended time.
I don’t think that this is going to happen, but the the pictures are wicked cool:
Indian Navy Looks to Nuke Sub Lease Deal
The Amur shipyard in Russia has started sea trials on the “kinda sorta new” Akula II boat.
It’s not completely new, construction was halted in 1991, but this is a very capable boat, and the Indians are getting for $650 million for a 10 year lease.
FWIW, I think that the cost has to be understated, even if the Russians are desparate to maintain their shipyards capabilities, this is a 10 cent sale.
Submarine News Update
There is a pretty good post over at Ares about developments in Submarines around the world.
The big news, to me anyway, was the announcement of a joint Russo-Italian diesel boat of around 1000 tons.
Pakistani Navy Looking at Deploying Nukes
This is just lovely, yet another way that India and Pakistan can destroy us all.
Navy Looks More Seriously at Adding Bang to UAVs
Or at least, they are generating PowerPoint slides with weapons loadouts:
Does the Navy Have a Clue as to What the Frack It’s Doint?
The Navy just canceled a 3rd Littoral Combat Ship in order to pay for cost overruns on the existing systems.
Seriously, our defense procurement system is completely broken.
I remember when John Lehman was shooting for a 600 ship navy, and now it looks like we may end up with a 60 ship navy.
Another Really, Really Bad Idea
It looks like Blackwater Worldwide is offering its services to fight pirates off of Somolia.
I guess, given their unqualified success in Iraq, they think that people will be eager to accept their services.
I Loved This TV Show in the 1960s
You know, Voyage to the Botom of the Sea.
It appears that someone in DARPA did too, because they are looking at the flying sub, though it does not look as cool as the original:
DARPA’s strategic technology office wants an aircraft that can reach a destination, whether it is 1,850km (1,000nm) away by air or 185km by sea or 22km travelling underwater, in less than 8h.
I want whatever it is that they are smoking.
That Being Said, the Chinese Naval Aspirations Seem More Realistic
They are not talking about building carriers, yet, but the PLN has started training naval fighter pilots, which is probably a prelude to developing a rudimentary carrier capability.
Russia Naval Delusions of Grandeur
It looks like the Russians have announced that building at least eight ballistic missile nuclear submarines.
This goes along with their stated desire to build 4-5 aircraft carriers to replace the Admiral Kuznetsov.
Yeah, sure.
DSRV Retired
The Mystic, the nuclear powered rescue sub, was retired on October 1.
It has been replaced by the ubmarine Rescue Diving and Recompression System’s (SRDRS), which is more easily transported.
Russia Has a Clue on the Ukraine
It appears that they are offering major shipbuilding contracts to the Ukraine, including the construction of their carriers, in order to better relations.
Unfortunately, it appears that Vladimir Putin is clueless on the Ukraine, or he got a severe attack of the stupids, because he just accused Ukraine of assisting Georgia in the war.
It’s reassuring to know that other nations’ foreign policy can be as f%$#ed up as ours.
Northrop Says DDG 1000 Deckhouse Hunky Dory
Northrop Grumman is denying that there are any problems with the DDG-1000 deckhouse.
It is a very large composite structure, so I would be surprised if there weren’t problems with the first one off the line…even though this line now appears to end at two ships.
OK, Me Bad. Maybe the Navy DOES Care About Piracy
At least when it involves a ship carrying $30 million worth of, “grenade launchers, piles of ammunition, even battle tanks.”
Looks like the Russians are pursuing the pirates too, in the spirit of international cooperation…or maybe just because it was their schwag that got taken.
But according to diplomats and the Russian Interfax news agency, the cargo was 33 T-72 refurbished tanks, “quite a significant amount of ammunition” and grenade launchers. The supplier was a state-owned Ukrainian company. Ukrainian and Kenyan officials emphasized that the arms deal was perfectly legal.
To be fair, three of the crewman were Russian, and I’m sure that the Russians were offended…After all, no one gets to steal and threaten the citizens and businesses of their former republics but them.
Just so You Know that the USAF Does Not Have the Monopoly in the ,”We’re To Busy to Do Our Damn Job,” Category…
The US Navy, specifically the 5th fleet, is now saying that the piracy off the coast of Somolia is not their job.
Would someone remind them just why the US Navy was built in the first place? Something about Barbary Pirates, IICR.
Updated PAC-3 Looking at 2009 Test
It looks like Lockheed-Martin Missiles and Fire Control* and the Missile Defense Agency are looking at testing an upgrade to the PAC-3 Patriot SAM in 2009. (paid subscription required)
It looks like the sensor for the hit-to-kill weapon will be much the same as its predecessor, but that range will be doubled and effective altitude increased by a larger diameter motor with a two pulse motor, giving generally improved kinematics.
To do this, they will put the missile in a PAC-2 cannister, the PAC-3 fits 4 missiles in the space of a PAC-2 now, and use folding fins for greater volumetric efficiency, and LM is hopingto be competitive in naval applications too.
*Full Disclosure, in 1999-2000 and 1996-1998, I worked as a mechanical engineer for what is now Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, and I have some claim to actually being a rocket scientist.†
†Yes, I have worked everywhere. Maybe I can’t hold down a job, but more likely this has been my role as “technical hit man”, where you are parachuted in to take care of a specific need.