AUGUST 2018 news

Naval Forces, Defense Industry, Navy Technology, Maritime Security


Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson presided over a ceremony establishing U.S. 2nd Fleet and naming Vice Adm. Andrew “Woody” Lewis as the commander during a ceremony aboard the nuclear aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), Aug. 24, at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia.

Alion Canada, a wholly owned subsidiary of Alion Science and Technology, headquartered in McLean, Va., is pleased to announce that they have submitted their final bid and compliance forms to the Canadian government for the Canadian Surface Combatant Program. This is a major milestone in the Canadian Surface Combatant procurement.

The Russian Navy will receive the Admiral Nakhimov heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser in 2022, Mikhail Budnichenko, director-general of the Sevmash Shipbuilding Company, has said. Budnichenko told TASS on the sidelines of the Army-2018 International Military-Technical Forum that the Admiral Nakhimov was undergoing a major overhaul at the Sevmash shipyard with subsequent modernization.

Retired submarine experts from Japan have been invited to Taiwan in September, to train the necessary personnel and present a report on Taiwan’s domestic submarine program. The information comes from English-language daily newspaper Taiwan News, citing reports.

Four test pilots are getting in last-minute training ready to take their specially-modified stealth fighters aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth next month. They’ll conduct around 500 landings and take-offs on the 900ft deck of the future flagship – the first time the Portsmouth-based warship has hosted fast jets. She’s about to strike out across the Atlantic – another first – after final preparations in the South Coast exercise areas.

The State Armaments Program for 2018-2027 envisages resumption of construction of Zubr type of small air-cushioned landing craft and Murena type of air-cushioned landing ships. Russian vice-premier Yuri Borisov stated that tens of such ships would be built at the Khabarovsk shipyard, the Independent Military Review newspaper reports.

Thales UK’s most advanced new mine countermeasures (MCM) sonar has been accepted for use by the Royal Navy after the successful completion of intensive sea trials. The 2093 variable depth sonar has been in worldwide operational service with naval forces since it was developed in the 1980s. The system is the mainstay of the Royal Navy’s MCM capability and is fitted in its Sandown class minehunters.

Leonardo announced that it has made effective the contract, signed on March 14, 2018, for the supply of 28 NH90 medium twin-engine multirole military helicopters to the Ministry of Defense of Qatar. The Qatari Emiri Navy is set to take delivery of 12 NH90 NFH, the maritime variant of the helicopters, from 2022.

Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, and the Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, announced the handover of the P-8A Poseidon simulator and training systems at RAAF Base Edinburgh. Minister Payne said the advanced P-8A Training System would better prepare Australian Defence Force pilots and maintenance crews for their demanding roles.

Birkenhead-based shipbuilder Cammell Laird has announced it has built a network of more than 2,000 suppliers as it steps up its bid to build a cutting-edge warship. The shipyard and engineering services company says it is registering more than five new suppliers every week as it builds its Leander Frigate supply chain.

Forpost UAVs can efficiently guide Kalibr cruise missiles and Yakhont anti-ship missiles onto sea targets. On an exercise at the Baltic Sea such UAVs supplied target designation in real time to groups of missile boats for delivering strikes. These are the first such maneuvers of the Russian Navy. Previously, UAVs were used exclusively for reconnaissance and artillery fire correction. According to experts, the use of UAVs considerably enhances the fleet’s combat capabilities, the Izvestia newspaper writes.

The Canadian department of national defence announced that the Royal Canadian Navy’s Halifax-class frigates will be getting two upgrades related to electronic warfare (EW) and countermeasures. The Halifax-class frigates possess a number of systems and platforms that respond to various types of threats. The frigates also employ a number of counter-measures to protect themselves. As armament continues to evolve, so must these defense systems.

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