May 2018 news

Naval Forces, Defense Industry, Navy Technology, Maritime Security


FarSounder's flagship forward-looking sonar, the FarSounder-1000, is the latest cutting-edge gear slated to equip the Royal New Zealand Navy's (RNZN) future fleet replenishment tanker, HMNZS Aotearoa (A12). The company's longest range sonar will provide real-time 3D data on what is ahead as the tanker navigates the seas giving the vessel's crew an elevated level of safety and security.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. is currently demonstrating its MQ-9 Guardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) in Japan. The demonstration flights, which started a week ago on Iki island, intend to promote the civil and scientific applications of the RPA. For this demonstration, the Guardian features long-range maritime surface-search radar with stabilized optical and infrared video cameras which is particularly adapted for maritime surveillance missions.

The Russian Defense Ministry decided to make Kh-22 missiles operational again. They have been the main weapon for supersonic Tu-22M3 bombers for a long time, but were decommissioned in early 2000s. It has been now decided to accept the remaining missiles back into service. Experts said an upgrade will match them with the latest Kh-32 cruise missiles which are considered invulnerable for air defense and fighter jets, the Izvestia daily writes.

The United States Navy plans to purchase up to 20 new FFG(X) frigates that are more lethal than the present Littoral Combat Ships (LCS). GE’s LM2500 family of proven marine gas turbines includes the base LM2500 (25 MW*), the LM2500+ (30 MW) and the LM2500+G4 (35 MW). This family meets the U.S. Navy’s top requirements for the FFG(X) frigate by having a best-in-class power density, having the only gas turbines grade A shock-tested, and each can meet the ship’s speed and power needs.

Russia’s Navy will receive Poseidon (Status-6) nuclear-powered unmanned underwater vehicles under the current state armament program for 2018-2027, a source in Russia’s defense industry told TASS. They will be carried by a new nuclear-powered submarine currently under construction at the Sevmash Shipyard, the source added.

BAE Systems has been awarded a £1.5bn contract for delivery of the seventh Astute class submarine and a further £900m for the next phase of the Dreadnought submarine programme. The Secretary of State for Defence, The Right Honourable Gavin Williamson, announced these contracts during a visit to the Company's submarine site in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.

Russian Project 22160 corvettes will be fitted with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for searching for submarines, and surveillance of surface vessels and shoreline. Also, UAVs will provide target designation to ship-based armament systems and, in the future, may be used for strike missions, the newspaper Izvestia reports.

The South Korean defense procurement agency (DAPA), Republic of Korea Navy (ROK Navy) and local shipyard Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction (HHIC) in Busan celebrated the launch of the Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH) amphibious assault ship Marado (LPH-6112). When delivered in 2020, Marado will be the second amphibious assault ship in the ROK Navy fleet.

China's first home-built aircraft carrier, known as the Type 002, set out from a dock of Dalian Shipyard, northeast China's Liaoning Province, for sea trials this morning (May 13, 2018). When commissioned, the yet to be named aircraft carrier will be the second one in the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN's) fleet.

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