Numerous Program Changes For U.K. Joint Harrier Force
By ANTONY PRESTON
Antony Preston, a London-based naval analyst and broadcaster, is cofounder of the international newsletter NAVINT.
The U.K. Armed Forces Minister has announced that the Royal Navy-Air Force Joint Force Harrier will be rationalized by withdrawing the F/A.2 Sea Harriers in 2004-2006. To replace them, the Royal Air Force (RAF) GR.7 ground-attack Harriers will be upgraded to GR.9 standard.
The GR.9 conversion program has already started and by April 2007 is expected to consist of two Fleet Air Arm (FAA) squadrons and two RAF squad-rons, all of which will be based at RAF bases Cottesmore and Wittering; a joint GR.9 training unit also will be based at Wittering. Joint Force Harrier is scheduled to convert to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter starting in 2012.
One reason for the restructuring is that the concept of a totally integrated FAA-RAF force proved to be unworkable. The F/A.2 and GR.7 have only a 20 percent commonality in airframes and avionics, and are assigned widely divergent roles. One was developed from the basic Harrier and the other is no more than a variant of the U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B. Both types are "challenged" in high temperatures such as those encountered in the Arabian Gulf. The solution recommended is to fit a more powerful version of the Pegasus engine in the GR.9. The GR.7 airframe has proved to be big enough to accommodate the uprated Pegasus without difficulty, but a similar upgrade for the F/A.2 poses an unacceptable technical risk. The shortcomings of the original Pegasus were identified many years ago, but nothing was done; as usual, cost was the official excuse for the inaction.
Chilean Frigate Program Now in Free-Fall Mode
Following the unexpected postponement of Chile's two-year-old Tridente frigate program, frantic efforts are being made by both the German and Spanish shipbuilding industries to salvage something from the aborted proposal to build four modified versions of the MEKO 200 at a projected cost of $1.2 billion.
The indefinite postponement of the Tridente program was announced at the same time that Chilean officials confirmed the controversial decision to buy ten basic versions of the U.S.-built F-16 fighter at a reported unit cost of $60 million, or at least half as much again as that of the more highly specified French Mirage 2000 or the Anglo-Swedish Gripen, both of which also were on the short list for Chile's "Fighter 2000" program.
The desperate attempts to salvage something from the Tridente program included an unscheduled visit to Chile by Herbert von Nitzsch, President of Blohm+Voss, within a week of the postponement announcement, as well as some high-level diplomatic lobbying.
Among several possibilities being explored are a reduction of the Tridente program to two ships, the possible purchase by Chile of a modified version of the frigates currently under construction by Spain's IZAR (ex-Bazán) for Norway, and the purchase of second-hand ships, probably from the U.K. Royal Navy.
Rolls-Royce Support For Indian Navy, Coast Guard
The long-planned opening by Rolls-Royce Marine of a new Naval Marine Support Service in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) is expected to lead to a major role for the company in the Indian Navy and Coast Guard new-construction and support programs that could be worth up to $2.86 billion over the next 10 to 15 years.
"India has a far-reaching program for both its Navy and Coast Guard, and Rolls-Royce sees it as a key market," said Dr. Saul Lanyado, president of Rolls-Royce Marine. "Our role extends much further than equipment supply. Our expertise spans the entire platform and propulsion system, which will be key skills in creating and managing a new fleet." Customers increasingly demand comprehensive service packages that improve efficiency, maintain capabilities, and drive down costs, he added.
Among the company's products currently used by the two Indian services are diesels, waterjets, propellers, stabilizers, and steering gear. The Indian Coast Guard took delivery of a second fast interceptor craft from the Agarwal Business Group at Sarewa in early February that is powered by KaMeWa waterjets, a Rolls-Royce Marine product.
Vosper Agrees with BAE On Destroyer Workshare
Vosper Thornycroft (U.K.) Ltd. plans to proceed with its work in the construction of the U.K. Royal Navy's new Daring-class Type 45 anti-air warfare (AAW) destroyers, thanks to signing a firm agreement with prime contractor BAE Systems.
The value of the VT work on six hulls may reach $400 million or more, and will involve the company in the design, production, and support stages of the program. VT will build blocks for each of the six hulls comprising the bow section, funnel, and plated masts. Each block will weigh about 700 tons and will be pre-outfitted before leaving Vosper's new Portsmouth facility. Production of the first modules for the Daring is expected to start in the middle of next year; production will continue until at least 2008 (another six ships are projected). Vosper's involvement in the Type 45 program will provide work for about 800 people.
The agreement also signaled the go-ahead for Vosper's move from Woolston, in Southampton, to a site at the Portsmouth Naval Base. In addition to the capital investment, there will be certain one-time reorganization costs of an estimated $15 million over the next 18 months. Work on the new Portsmouth facility will start immediately, but the corporate headquarters and engineering services will remain in Southampton.
Russians Stop Blaming West For Loss of Submarine Kursk
The head of the Russian Navy, Adm. Vladimir Kureyedov, has virtually admitted that the Project 649A Antey-class nuclear-powered missile-armed submarine (SSGN) Kursk was sunk in August 2000 by a faulty torpedo. He told a press conference that torpedoes such as those carried by the Kursk are to be taken off the Navy's other submarines. He confirmed, in addition, that the torpedoes are propelled by high-test peroxide (HTP), which had been in service since 1957. "The confidence placed in them by designers and military officials who took them on board submarines ... was misplaced," he said.
Kureyedov nonetheless repeated the official Russian view that there were three possible causes of the catastrophe: a torpedo explosion, a collision with a mine dating from the Second World War, or a collision with an unspecified "underwater object." He acknowledged, though, that a torpedo explosion is now seen as the most likely cause. Western analysts repeatedly cited HTP as the probable cause of the two explosions (the first was the detonation of a torpedo in its launch tube; the second and much bigger explosion seemed to be evidence that the reloads in the forward torpedo room either had been set on fire or had detonated en masse).
In a separate statement, Prosecutor General Vladimir Ustinov said that Russian investigators had found no evidence that any other submarines, or surface ships, were near enough to the exercise area to have been involved in the sinking of the Kursk. He said that the investigation, which began last October is now over, although the definitive cause of the disaster has yet to be established. All but three of the 94 bodies recovered since October of last year have been identified, he said.
Related Note: Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov has been demoted; he is now minister of industry, science, and technology. Klebanov had been the chief advocate of the theory of a collision with a U.S. Navy or Royal Navy SSN.
BAE Systems Seeks to Expand Share of STN Atlas Elektronik
The U.K. defense company BAE Systems is hoping to buy a controlling share in the German defense group STN Atlas Elektronik from the Rheinmetall Group, the defense conglomerate. Lloyd's List of February 28 quoted Rheinmetall spokesman Oliver Hoffman as saying that BAE Systems and Rheinmetall have started discussions on a possible deal.
The German company holds a 51 percent share in STN Atlas--partly because the Defense Ministry did not want such a valuable center of excellence to be sold to a foreign company. The reason for the current talks, according to Hoffman, is that BAE Systems wants to expand its share of the global naval electronics market, while Rheinmetall wants to concentrate on army equipment. A decision on STN Atlas Elektronik's ownership structure will be announced in the near future, Hoffman said.
The German Defense Ministry declined to comment on the discussions. It seems unlikely, however, that Germany's senior military officials will be any happier than they were about the original BAE Systems share-purchase.
"Technical Problems" Beset Canadian SSK Program
The Canadian Navy has encountered several technical problems with its four Victoria-class diesel-electric submarines (SSKs). As a result, none of them are expected to be fully operational until spring of next year, at the earliest.
The problems developed during the installation and setting to work of Canadian-specified equipment, including fire control and communications systems. Three Loral Librascope SFCS fire control systems have been transferred from the decommissioned Ojibwa-class SSKs, replacing the U.K. Royal Navy's DCC systems. Presumably a fourth SFCS set had to be bought from the manufacturers. Another change is the replacement, by a Canadian product, of the 2046 towed sonar array; the SFCS is already capable of handling the U.S. Navy pattern Mk48 Mod 4 torpedo. The Victorias will not be armed with UGM-84C Sub Harpoon antiship missiles.
Inevitably, these changes generated a number of problems. It is never easy to install equipment in a warship designed around other systems, and submarines are even more complex, if only because of the restricted space available. Some earlier problems had arisen when the four Upholder-class ships were being refurbished at the BAE Systems Barrow in Furness shipyard after being laid up for some time. Faults in high-pressure welds in three boats, a leak in the hull of one boat, and a leaky fuel tank in another had to be repaired at Barrow in Furness during their refurbishment.
To reduce training delays, the Canadian Navy has decided to send the second SSK in the class, HMCS Windsor, to sea for crew training, even though she is still equipped with the DCC fire control system and her original communications system. The remaining pair, the Chicoutimi and Cornerbrook, will become operational in 2004 and 2005 respectively.
The Navy has long-term plans to upgrade the four Victoria-class boats with an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system. A fuel cell system is the likeliest choice, and $250 million has been earmarked for its development. Rolls-Royce Marine proposed a plant for the Victoria class based on the company's high-energy-density Zebra battery and an unspecified fuel-cell AIP system. The Zebra sodium/nickel chloride Na/NiCl battery weighs 55 percent less than a standard lead acid battery, but has the same energy storage capacity; another option offers 35 percent more energy storage and a weight reduction of 40 percent. Zebra has a typical operating temperature of 270 degrees C, but uses safe-to-touch vacuum insulated modules. In a submarine the only effects would be the provision of appropriate mountings and temperature management.
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