Royal Navy Combatant Decommissioning Plans Confirmed

By AMI International

Early in December 2003, British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon confirmed that the Royal Navy would decommission a number of major surface combatants from its fleet to overcome a $2.04 million deficit in operational costs for 2004.

The ships that are candidates for decommissioning include two Type 23 Duke-class frigates, HMS Norfolk and HMS Iron Duke, and the three Type 42 (Batch I)-class destroyers, HMS Cardiff, HMS Glasgow, and HMS Newcastle.

Possible new homes for the decommissioned vessels include Argentina, Bangladesh, Thailand, Brazil, Ecuador, Portugal, and Chile. Chile would have to be considered the leading candidate for the two Type 23s, as Britain attempts to entice the Chilean Navy to select BAE Systems for the South American nation’s ongoing Proyecto Fragata Program.

Australia’s Air Defense\ Destroyer May Include Missile Defense Capability

In early December 2003, Australian Defense Minister Robert M. Hill announced that his government had decided to participate in the United States’ missile defense program. Hill cited his government’s concern that Australia might one day face a long-range missile threat.

Additionally, during a November 2003 visit to the United States, Hill commented on the possible procurement of the Lockheed Martin Aegis shipboard air-defense system. The Aegis system forms the basis for current U.S. Navy and U.S. Missile Defense Agency sea-based missile-defense programs. The addition of theater ballistic-missile defense capability to Australia’s air warfare defense destroyer program could satisfy its desire for a system for ship-based early warning and destruction of ballistic missiles, as well as increasing fleet air-defense capability.

Indian Navy’s 15-Year Modernization Plan Progresses

The Indian Navy is continuing to move forward with its 15-year modernization plan that began in 2002.

The modernization program includes the Indian Navy’s Bangalore-class destroyer program. With the first three units of the class ordered from Mazagon Dock Ltd. by mid-2003, construction is under way. The Bangalore-class is an improved Delhi-class destroyer, of which the third and final unit was commissioned in late 2001. The Bangalore class will probably use the same hull as the Delhi class, with major differences — including the weapon systems.

The Delhi class employs the Russian Kashmir SA-7 surface-to-air missile system and the KH-35 Uran surface-to-surface missile. The Bangalore class will employ the Israeli Barak-1 for its surface-to-air missile system and the Indian-developed BrahMos for its surface attack requirement. The first unit of the Bangalore class could be commissioned as early as 2008 if the funding stream continues unabated.

The modernization program includes a new antisubmarine warfare corvette. In late December 2003, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers was developing a new corvette design that will follow the Kora-class, of which the fourth and final unit (Karmukh) is expected to be commissioned this year. The new corvette will displace about 2,400 tons, in the size-class of a modern frigate. With the design currently under development, construction could start by around 2006 and up to eight units of the class could eventually be built.

The Super Dvora-class patrol craft is also a part of the modernization program. On Nov. 27, 2003, the Indian Navy commissioned its third Super Dvora-class patrol craft, built by Israel Aircraft Industries, Ramta division. Under the terms of the program’s agreement, up to 17 hulls could be built, with half of the units being built in Israel and the remainder at the Goa Shipyard in India.

Pakistan Commissions First Indigenous Agosta Submarine

On Dec. 13, 2003, the Pakistani Navy commissioned its first indigenously built Agosta 90B submarine of the Khalid-class. Although the second unit of the class, the Saad is the first submarine constructed in Pakistan. All of the pressure hulls for the Saad were constructed in Cherbourg, France, and sent to Pakistan in April 1998 for assembly and outfitting.

The third unit of the Khalid-class, Hamza, is currently under construction in Pakistan. Unlike the Saad, only two pressure hull sections were built in France with the amidships pressure hull built in Pakistan and the remainder of construction also taking place at the Karachi Shipbuilding & Engineering Works shipyard. The commissioning of the Saad is a major milestone for the shipyard.

Indigenous construction of major surface combatants and submarines has been a long-standing goal for Pakistan’s shipbuilding industry as well for the Pakistani Navy. Pakistan views this capability as a way to insulate itself from dependence on foreign suppliers as well as developing the shipbuilding industry to strengthen the country’s economy.

Canada Issues Solicitation For Maritime Helicopter

On Dec. 17, 2003, the Canadian minister of national defense formally issued a request for proposals for the $3 billion maritime helicopter project. The contract will include 28 fully integrated maritime helicopters, a simulation and training suite, integrated logistic support, ship modifications, and a 20-year in-service support contract. The solicitation closes April 30, with an announcement of the winner expected in the summer.

To date, three industry consortia have been identified to participate in the maritime helicopter project. The first candidate is the Sikorsky Maritime Helicopter Team of Sikorsky, Bombardier, General Dynamics Canada, and L-3 MAS Canada, with their H-92 Superhawk. Second is Team Cormorant, led by Agusta-Westland, and including Bell Helicopter Textron Canada, and CAE Inc., with a variant of the EH-101. The final candidate is Lockheed Martin Canada in conjunction with NH Industries and Thales Systems Canada, with their MH-90 NATO frigate helicopter. There is no clear front-runner, as all three teams will provide Canadian industry with revenue from the project.

The history of the project goes back to 1986, when the Canadian Navy requested 50 EH-101 Cormorants to replace the existing Sea Kings at a cost of $5.8 billion. Increased pressure from the public, the end of the Cold War, and numerous budget cuts all put the program on hold. The Canadian Navy’s Sea Kings are 30 years old and require costly maintenance to keep airworthy.

Finland Orders Additional Hamina-Class Fast Attack Craft

On Dec. 3, 2003, the Finnish Navy signed a $24 million contract with Aker Finnyards for the construction of the third Hamina-class fast attack craft. Original plans called for only two units of the class to be part of the Finnish Navy’s Squadron 2000. The new contract calls for an option to build a fourth unit of the class. The contract price is for the aluminum hull only, with all engineering and combat systems being funded separately.

As an example, a $4.7 million contract also was signed recently for equipment that will be used on units three and four of the fast attack craft class, and another contract worth $3.5 million was signed for the installation of combat systems on the second boat — the Tornio — construction of which was completed in May 2003.

The Squadron 2000 effort called for up to 10 fast attack craft, with two Hamina-class ships acting as command-and-control platforms for a force of eight smaller T 2000-class fast attack craft. However, the T 2000 program was canceled late in 2002, after delivering one prototype. The Finnish Navy opted to continue with existing force modification efforts for four Rauma-class vessels, rather than continue with new fast attack craft construction.

However, following completion of the Hamina-class program in May 2003 and the Telkka-class patrol early this year, the Finnish shipbuilding industry would have had no naval work scheduled for several more years. The decision to procure additional units of the Hamina-class was intended to support industry and near-future naval requirements. Unit three of the Hamina-class is scheduled for commissioning in 2005 and may be followed by a fourth unit in 2007.

UAE Contracts For Al Baynunah Corvette

On Dec. 28, 2003, Abu Dhabi Ship Building signed a long-awaited $500 million contract with the United Arab Emirates armed forces for Project Baynunah. Under this contract, the shipyard, together with French shipbuilder Constructions Mecaniques de Normandie, are to design and build a new class of 230-foot, multipurpose missile corvettes. Under the contract, four corvettes will be developed initially, with an option for two more within the next 18 months.

Constructions Mecaniques de Normandie will design and build the first of the class at its shipyard in Cherbourg, France. The remainder will be built at Abu Dhabi Ship Building. The corvette will be equipped for anti-air warfare and antisurface warfare missions, though the UAE has not announced selection of an anti-air warfare missile system — such as Raytheon’s Evolved SeaSparrow Missile, or MBDA’s Mistral or vertically launched Mica. No undersea warfare suite is to be installed on the corvette, though provision for such capability will be made in the design. The new vessel will have four diesels powering three water jets, giving it an operational speed in excess of 30 knots.

Greek Frigate Program May Be In Jeopardy

Decisions on the Greek corvette/frigate program will be delayed until after parliamentary elections in April, but sources familiar with the program indicate it could be canceled.

The Greek ministry of defense has been reviewing bids for the program and is dissatisfied with them. The ministry’s latest proposal in October was for the firms Elefsis and Vosper Thornycroft to drop the cost of their proposed designs by $100 million to $120 million, which is a challenge given the risk associated with new design and systems integration.

The corvette/frigate program initially was planned as a vessel of less than 2,000 tons displacement, but has grown to around 3,750 tons due to the addition of capabilities and complexity as requested by the Greek military. The Hellenic Navy has a requirement for corvettes and destroyers.

The effort to combine the programs by establishing the specifications for a corvette that offers characteristics of a destroyer has caused problems. The combination of a wholly new surface combatant design, together with establishing its construction in a local shipyard has driven up the project’s costs.

AMI International Inc., Bremerton, Wash., is an international consulting and naval intelligence services company located on the Web at www.amiinter.com.