Turkey Launches its First Indigenous Coastal Minesweeper

By AMI INTERNATIONAL INC.

The first Turkish indigenous coastal minesweeper (MSC), Amasra (M-266), was launched May 10 at Istanbul Naval Shipyard. The follow-on units of the Aydin class, M-267 and M-268, are under construction at Istanbul with the final two units of the class, M-269 and M-270, starting in 2005.

The first unit, Alanya (M-265), built in Germany by the Abeking & Rasmussen and Lurssen Werft Consortium and launched on March 21, 2003, will be commissioned by the end of the year. All six MSCs are being built under a July 30, 1999, $625 million contract.

The contract called for the first unit to be built in Germany with the five follow-on units built in Turkey in order to expand its shipbuilding capabilities. Istanbul Naval Shipyard can now add mine warfare vessels to Turkey’s portfolio of indigenously constructed ships.

Indian MCMV Program Is Given the Green Light

In early May, the Indian Ministry of Defense approved a plan by the Indian Navy to begin its future mine countermeasures vessel (MCMV) program. The current plan is for the procurement of up to eight MCMVs to replace the 12 existing Pondicherry-class ocean minesweepers that have been in service since the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The estimated $1 billion program calls for the construction of glass reinforced plastic ships at India’s Goa Shipyard. A request for tender (RfT) for construction and/or technology assistance is currently scheduled for June. A request for proposal (RfP) for the mine-hunting and neutralization equipment will follow shortly, possibly as early as August.

The RfT would be forwarded to Intermarine of Italy, Kangnam Corp. of South Korea and IZAR of Spain, all current builders of MCMVs.

An RfP for the mine-hunting equipment will be sent to at, a minimum, Thales of France, Atlas Elektronik of Germany, FABA of Spain and ECA of France. Indigenous companies such as Bharat Electronics will provide the fire-control radar and 30mm gun with assistance from OTO Melara of Italy.

Currently, the Navy is calling for the delivery of the first unit by 2008, which coincides with the planned decommissioning of the first Pondicherry-class minesweeper.

Brazil Accelerates Reactor Work For Nuclear Submarine Program

Brazilian sources indicated in late May that a special budget of around $7.8 million was to be released immediately for the completion of a land-based nuclear reactor prototype that will be utilized in the SNAC-2 nuclear-powered submarine program.

The reactor will be completed and tested at the Armar Research Center. The reactor, identified as RENAP-11 is expected to become operational by 2005 and will be tested and made suitable for naval service for the first unit of the SNAC-2 program.

The SNAC-2 program has been under way since 1979, but has been stalled by consistent funding shortfalls. The Brazilian Navy hopes to finally move forward with this program due its high priority and prestige associated with it. Current planning calls for a contract design by 2006 and a construction contract by 2009, with the first nuclear unit of a three-ship class commissioning in 2018.

The first unit of the class will be a conventionally powered variant — under the Tikuna SNAC-1 program — in order to test the hull concept prior to installing the nuclear reactors on units two and three.

Egypt to Buy Used Ships From Serbia-Montenegro

The Egyptian Navy is reportedly planning to purchase two Koni-class corvettes and five Osa I-class fast-attack craft (FAC) from Serbia-Montenegro.

Although details of the deal are sketchy, reports indicate that one Koni unit will be overhauled prior to transfer and a second unit that has been in a decommissioned status for 10 years would be used for spare parts. The five Osa Is will reportedly receive an overhaul package in Montenegro prior to transfer.

The Serbia-Montenegro Koni corvette variant is very heavily armed, compared to most still in active service worldwide. It has four SS-N-2 surface-to-surface missiles as well as the SA-N-4 surface-to-air missile, which could provide additional capability to the Egyptian major surface combatant force. The five Osa Is would provide additional firepower and commonality, as the sea service already operates its own Osa I-class FAC.

It is possible Egypt will continue to look for used vessels since it is having a difficult time in funding replacements for its existing fleet. U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programs will only cover a small number of platforms that are needed to modernize the Navy. The Egyptian Navy submarine force, as well as the majority of its major surface combatant and FAC force, falls outside the limited funding of FMS, forcing the sea service to look for the best financial deals, which include the used market.

Indian Navy in the Market For New ASW Helicopters

By the end of June, the Indian Navy was expected to issue a request for tender (RfT) for up to 20 new helicopters to replace its aging fleet of AugustaWestland Sea King helicopters.

The Indian Navy has expressed interest in the Eurocopter AS 565 Cougar, AugustaWestland EH-101 and the NH Industries NH-90. All three companies will be primary candidates for the antisubmarine warfare (ASW) oriented helicopters. The total contract price is not to exceed $600 million.

The tender is for an ASW helicopter with the following requirements:

§ Physical weight not more than 10-12 metric tons;

§ ASW and search-and-rescue capabilities;

§ A winch;

§ Endurance of up to four hours; and

§ Ability to host state-of-the-art electronic warfare systems.

The Indian Navy also will solicit separate bids to upgrade 12 of the existing Sea King helicopters that are currently in service and will remain so over the long term. The Sea King upgrades are expected to start by the end of the year and will include upgrades to the avionics, mission computer and radar system, and include new onboard missiles. Additional work will include upgrades to the navigation system, radars, lightweight torpedoes and air-to-surface missiles.

The Indian Navy probably will make a decision on the preferred supplier for the new helicopters by mid-2005. The new helicopters will work in conjunction with the upgraded Sea Kings from the Navy’s major surface combatant force.

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