Australian Naval Budget Receives Major Funding Boost

By ANTONY PRESTON

Antony Preston, a London-based naval analyst and broadcaster, is cofounder of the international newsletter NAVINT.

Taking account of its armed forces' commitments on a number of fronts, the Commonwealth of Australia's government has given its defense forces more funds in the 2002-2003 fiscal year, which runs from 1 July.

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) amphibious ships HMAS Kanimbla and HMAS Manoora will operate about 12 "navalized" trooplift helicopters under Phase 2 of Project Air 9000. The RAN also is planning to initiate studies for Phase 1 of Project Sea 4000, the design of a new class of large anti-air warfare (AAW) ships. Work will continue in parallel on a lower level to enhance the antimissile and underwater-defense capabilities of the RAN's Anzac-class frigates.

The RAN's six Adelaide-class destroyer escorts will receive an armament upgrade by replacing their SM-1 AAW missile systems with the advanced SM-2 Standard system, according to the budget statement. However, other sources say that the Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) is a more feasible alternative for these FFG-7 hulls. The Anzac-class upgrades will include the integration of RGM-84 Harpoon antiship missiles, correcting a major weakness in current capabilities.

Funds also are allocated for completion of the program to install new combat suites in all six Collins-class submarines. This is intended to bring them to the level of capability originally planned, rectifying a number of earlier problems. Replacing the original defective combat suite has required major assistance and support from the U.S. Navy and a number of U.S. defense contractors.

The long-deferred replacement of the RAN's 15 Fremantle-class patrol boats will go ahead, but procurement of a new class of patrol craft also is planned. It remains to be seen if the earlier Tenix design for an offshore patrol vessel is revived. A new design is proposed under Project Sea 1444, possibly through a commercial leasing and whole-life-support arrangement. The choice lies between the one-for-one replacement of the Fremantles and a smaller number of more capable ships. The other major procurement plan calls for the fleetwide fit of Nulka offboard decoy systems.

Indonesian Navy Fires on Dredgers In Latest Singapore Strait Incident

Two large dredgers came under fire from a pair of Indonesian patrol boats earlier this year when, according to Lloyd's List, the ships were in the eastbound lane of the traffic separation zone in the Singapore Strait.

Indonesia's Tentara Nasional reported the incident to Sing-apore's Maritime & Port Authority (MPA), but the MPA said that no explanation was offered. The dredger captains said they had assumed they were under attack from pirates, and for that reason reported the incident to the International Maritime Bureau's piracy center in Kuala Lumpur. About 50 rounds from light weapons were fired (presumably rifle-caliber machine guns) followed by about 40 rounds from larger-caliber weapons, according to the captain of the Queen of Penta-Ocean.

After being sighted, the patrol craft tried to stop the ship by crossing her bow, but the dredger escaped by altering course and steaming away at full speed. No casualties were suffered, but the bridge area took several hits. About 50 minutes later the other dredger, the Volvox Hansa, came under fire in the same area of the eastbound lane. She also took evasive action and reached Jurong without damage.

The 22,049-GRT Queen of Penta-Ocean is registered in Panama; the smaller Volvox Hansa is Dutch-registered. Both dredgers are currently working on a land-reclamation project for the multibillion dollar Jurong Island petrochemical complex.

The incident is possibly another example of Indonesian Navy personnel going into business on their own account. For many years international bodies and shipowners and operators have complained about the rising level of piracy in Southeast Asia. In many instances the boarders have been reported as wearing naval uniforms and carrying military-type weapons. The tactic of "shipjacking," when the victim is stripped of her cargo and then scuttled, would not apply to dredgers; another explanation could be an attempt to ransom these high-value vessels.

Iran-Kuwait Defense Talks Focus on Confidence-Building

Talks were held in Kuwait City from 20 May between Iran's Defense Minister Adm. Ali Shankani and Kuwait's Defense Minister Sheikh Jaber al-Hamad al-Sabah. According to official communiqués, the purpose of the meeting was to foster confidence between the two nations. Kuwait secretly funded Iraq in the bloody 1980-1988 war between Iran and Iraq, including the transfer of Western-supplied main battle tanks. The Iranians retaliated by attacking Kuwaiti oil tankers in the Gulf and launching missiles against shore targets, so there are several fences to mend.

Shankani's itinerary included a visit to the naval base at Ras al Qalayah. The sheikhdom's navy has been rebuilt with Western support since the 1991 Gulf War, when most of the ships were seized by the Iraqis and then sunk by coalition forces. Iran, in contrast, has had to rely on Chinese naval technology, and is struggling to achieve independence for its fledgling defense industry.

Sheikh Jaber welcomed the Iranian minister, saying that both countries must base their cooperation on mutual trust. "We are neighbors and Muslims with strong links," he said.

Middle East and Gulf specialists say that the most plaus-ible reason for the rapprochement is Iran's designation as one of the "Axis of Evil" triad that President Bush identified as the principal nations supporting international terrorism. Kuwait, on the other hand, remains popular with the Western powers, and Iran may therefore see a need for an ally that is not linked to Iraq or Syria. Certainly, the new warmth between Iran and Kuwait has nothing to do with the natural inclinations of either side.

Brunei Launches KDB Jerambak--Third OPV Built by BAE Systems Marine

The third offshore patrol vessel, or OPV--actually a corvette or light frigate--ordered for the Royal Brunei Armed Forces was launched on 22 June from the BAE Systems Marine Scotstoun shipyard and named KDB Jerambak. Later that same day, official guests were invited to spend time at sea in the first of class, KDB Nakhoda Ragam, which currently is running Phase 1 Engineering Sea Trials on the River Clyde; the second ship in the class, KDB Bendahara Sakam, is now fitting out.

The Royal Brunei Armed Forces first discussed the acquisition of OPVs in 1987, but talks with BAE Systems Marine did not start until November 1992. On 14 January 1994 BAE Systems Projects Ltd. was awarded a prime contract for the construction of three 95-meter ships, which are fitted with a highly effective weapons suite and feature the latest ideas in signature-reduction and survivability.

Although these ships will be the first major units of the naval arm of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, the nation has a long naval tradition. The Nakhoda Ragam is named for the "Singing Captain," a nickname for Sultan Bolkhia, the fifth Sultan of Brunei, who reigned from 1485 to 1524. Pengiran Bendahara Sakam, one of Brunei's most famous warriors, defeated and expelled the Spanish from Brunei in 1578. Awang Jerambak was the cousin of Sultan Muhammad, the first Sultan of Brunei, and a renowned warrior who defeated pirates off the coast of Brunei.

The Sultanate is today still worried about piracy in its territorial waters, despite having only 66 miles of coastline. The new ships are intended to work in cooperation with the naval units of neighboring Malaysia and Singapore.

Norway Withdraws From Trinational SSK Project

The Norwegian Parliament has voted to end the Royal Norwegian Navy's participation in the "Viking" collaborative project to build a common-design submarine with the navies of Sweden and Denmark.

The cost of the program is the most obvious cause of the Norwegian loss of interest, but there are other reasons. A recent survey of the six Ula-class diesel electric submarines (SSKs) shows that their hulls will last until 2020, so a replacement program is not urgent. The Royal Norwegian Navy's commitment to NATO operations in the North Norwegian Sea also would require major departures from the "Baltic standards" envisioned by the Royal Danish Navy and the Royal Swedish Navy. The withdrawal therefore simplifies the problems of the design authority, HDW's subsidiary Kockums, although the loss of a partner will increase the unit cost to the Danes and Swedes.

New Indian Corvette Launched

A new fast corvette for the Indian Navy has been launched by Goa Shipyard Ltd. at Panjim. Details are sparse, but she is the second unit of what is expected to be a four-ship class. These have previously been described as improved Veer-class missile corvettes, based on the Russian Project 1241RE Tarantul I design, but the Goa vessel appears to be a simpler gun-armed patrol craft. Officially optimized for the suppression of smuggling and to counter maritime terrorism, she has a light but robust hull to permit operations in rough weather.

The ship is credited with 1,500 nautical miles endurance, and is armed with a single 30mm gun forward and machine guns port and starboard. No maximum speed has been mentioned, but the propulsion installation comprises three German MTU diesel engines developing 2720 kW. Air-conditioned accommodations are provided for the ship's 35-man crew.

The official Defense Ministry announcement said that the design includes "state-of-the-art navigation and communication" equipment, with options for fitting a stabilized gun system, multisensor integrated systems, and a night-vision device. *