February 2014 Maritime Defense Industry and World Naval Forces News
 
 

General Dynamics BIW Awarded $21 Million Contract for Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutter Program
 
The U.S. Coast Guard has awarded General Dynamics Bath Iron Works a $21.4 million contract for the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) program. Bath Iron Works is one of three shipyards chosen from a field of eight competitors to proceed to Phase I design work on this next-generation cutter program. The Bath Iron Works team includes L-3 Communications (New York, N.Y.) and Navantia, S.A. (Spain), a shipbuilder that Bath Iron Works has collaborated with for more than 30 years.
The U.S. Coast Guard has awarded General Dynamics Bath Iron Works a $21.4 million contract for the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) program. Bath Iron Works is one of three shipyards chosen from a field of eight competitors to proceed to Phase I design work on this next-generation cutter program. The Bath Iron Works team includes L-3 Communications (New York, N.Y.) and Navantia, S.A. (Spain), a shipbuilder that Bath Iron Works has collaborated with for more than 30 years.
 

Thales wins first contract for new SCOUT Mk3 naval radar system
 
Thales and DamenSchelde Naval Shipbuidlinghavesigned a contract for the delivery and installation of a SCOUT Mk3 naval surveillance radar. The radar system is to be installed on the Karel Doorman Joint Support Ship commissioned by the Netherlands’ Defence Materiel Organization that is currently under construction by DamenSchelde Naval Shipbuilding.
Thales and DamenSchelde Naval Shipbuidlinghavesigned a contract for the delivery and installation of a SCOUT Mk3 naval surveillance radar. The radar system is to be installed on the Karel Doorman Joint Support Ship commissioned by the Netherlands’ Defence Materiel Organization that is currently under construction by DamenSchelde Naval Shipbuilding.
 

USNS John Glenn Mobile Landing Platform (MLP 2) Successfully Completes Acceptance Trials
 
The second Mobile Landing Platform (MLP), USNS John Glenn (MLP 2), successfully completed Acceptance Trials on Feb 7. The trials were conducted off the coast of the General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. (NASSCO) shipyard in San Diego, Calif. During the week of trials, the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) conducted comprehensive tests to demonstrate and evaluate the performance of all of the ship's major systems.
The second Mobile Landing Platform (MLP), USNS John Glenn (MLP 2), successfully completed Acceptance Trials on Feb 7. The trials were conducted off the coast of the General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. (NASSCO) shipyard in San Diego, Calif. During the week of trials, the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) conducted comprehensive tests to demonstrate and evaluate the performance of all of the ship's major systems.
 

U.S. Navy Coastal Command Patrol Boat (CCB) Arrives in Bahrain
 
The 65PB1101 coastal command patrol boat (CCB) departed Port Angeles, Wash., to transit to San Diego, Calif., Aug. 5-11. The boat was manned by a Fleet Integration Team consisting entirely of Navy Reservists. The CCB underwent developmental testing in the Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca from April to August 2013. During testing, the boat encountered wave heights of 4-6 feet.
The Coastal Command Boat (CCB) arrived in its homeport of Bahrain Feb. 8. The CCB, a one-of-a-kind platform, was originally built in Washington in 2011 and is assigned to Commander Task Group (CTG) 56.7 of Commander Task Force (CTF) 56.
 

Second Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout VTOL UAV takes flight
 
The second MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter conducts its first test flight Feb. 12 from Naval Base Ventura County at Point Mugu, Calif.  The first aircraft completed its initial flight in October 2013 and has flown 66 hours to date. The MQ-8C air vehicle upgrade will provide longer endurance, range and greater payload capability than the MQ-8B, which is currently deployed aboard USS Elrod (FFG 55) in the Mediterranean.
The second MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter conducts its first test flight Feb. 12 from Naval Base Ventura County at Point Mugu, Calif. The first aircraft completed its initial flight in October 2013 and has flown 66 hours to date. The MQ-8C air vehicle upgrade will provide longer endurance, range and greater payload capability than the MQ-8B, which is currently deployed aboard USS Elrod (FFG 55) in the Mediterranean.
 

Abu Dhabi Ship Building delivers Al Hili, sixth and last Baynunah class Corvette to the UAE Navy
 
The Abu Dhabi Ship Building Company (ADSB) has delivered Al Hili, the sixth and last of the Baynunah Corvette Class Programme, to the UAE Navy in a grand ceremony attended by Rear Admiral Ibrahim Al Musharrakh, Commander of the UAE Naval Forces, top navy officers and Khaled Al Maraikhi, Chief Operating Officer, ADSB, and Chief of Pakistani Naval Staff Admiral Asif Sandila.
The Abu Dhabi Ship Building Company (ADSB) has delivered Al Hili, the sixth and last of the Baynunah Corvette Class Programme, to the UAE Navy in a grand ceremony attended by Rear Admiral Ibrahim Al Musharrakh, Commander of the UAE Naval Forces, top navy officers and Khaled Al Maraikhi, Chief Operating Officer, ADSB, and Chief of Pakistani Naval Staff Admiral Asif Sandila.
 

IAI Unveils its New Advanced Unmanned Combat Marine System for Homeland Security
 
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) unveils its new Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) combat marine system - "KATANA" for Homeland Security (HLS) applications. The KATANA USV supports a wide range of applications for HLS and the protection of exclusive economic zones, including - harbor security, patrol of shallow coastal and territorial waters, surface and electronic warfare and offshore platform protection (plus oil rigs, pipelines, and more).
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) unveils its new Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) combat marine system - "KATANA" for Homeland Security (HLS) applications. The KATANA USV supports a wide range of applications for HLS and the protection of exclusive economic zones, including - harbor security, patrol of shallow coastal and territorial waters, surface and electronic warfare and offshore platform protection (plus oil rigs, pipelines, and more).
 

A European Navy orders two Oerlikon Millennium automatic cannon from Rheinmetall
 
German defense company Rheinmetall announced that a European navy has ordered two Oerlikon Millennium automatic cannon for one of its surface combatants. The contract is worth around €12 million, and also includes technical documentation, spare parts and services relating to maintenance training and system integration. Delivery is scheduled to take place in 2015.
German defense company Rheinmetall announced that a European navy has ordered two Oerlikon Millennium automatic cannon for one of its surface combatants. The contract is worth around €12 million, and also includes technical documentation, spare parts and services relating to maintenance training and system integration. Delivery is scheduled to take place in 2015.
 

USMC V22 Osprey conducted deck trials onboard French Navy's Mistral Class LHD Dixmude
 
In January 2014 a United States Marine Corps (USMC) V22 Osprey landed for the first time onboard the Dixmude, a French Navy Mistral class LHD. The success of this experiment confirmed the full interoperability of Mistral class amphibious vessels with the means implemented by American Expeditionary Strike Groups. The French LHD are indeed fully interoperable with LCAC landing crafts, with heavy helicopters (Sikorsky CH53 Sea Stallion) and now with the Bell-Boeing V22 Opsrey tilt rotor aircraft.
In January 2014 a United States Marine Corps (USMC) V22 Osprey landed for the first time onboard the Dixmude, a French Navy Mistral class LHD. The success of this experiment confirmed the full interoperability of Mistral class amphibious vessels with the means implemented by American Expeditionary Strike Groups. The French LHD are indeed fully interoperable with LCAC landing crafts, with heavy helicopters (Sikorsky CH53 Sea Stallion) and now with the Bell-Boeing V22 Opsrey tilt rotor aircraft.
 

French Navy NH90 Caiman Helicopter test fires MU90 torpedo for the first time
 
On February 6 2014, the French Navy unit in charge of testing new airborne means (CEPA - 10S) conducted the first firing tests of MU90 torpedo training rounds. The first firing took place while stationary and the second torpedo launch took place while the NH90 was in motion.
On February 6 2014, the French Navy unit in charge of testing new airborne means (CEPA - 10S) conducted the first firing tests of MU90 torpedo training rounds. The first firing took place while stationary and the second torpedo launch took place while the NH90 was in motion.
 

DCNS commissions shore integration facility for Brazil's submarine combat systems
 
DCNS has commissioned its new shore-based integration facility for the combat systems of the Brazilian Navy’s next-generation conventional-propulsion submarines (SSKs). This dedicated facility at the French defence procurement agency's Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer centre near Toulon will be used to test these sophisticated data processing systems before they are installed on board the submarines. The combat system is the submarine’s central nervous system, helping to analyse the theatre of operations and deploy the boat’s weapon systems.
DCNS has commissioned its new shore-based integration facility for the combat systems of the Brazilian Navy’s next-generation conventional-propulsion submarines (SSKs). This dedicated facility at the French defence procurement agency's Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer centre near Toulon will be used to test these sophisticated data processing systems before they are installed on board the submarines. The combat system is the submarine’s central nervous system, helping to analyse the theatre of operations and deploy the boat’s weapon systems.
 

Second Hobart Class destroyer "Brisbane" keel laid in Australia
 
Today marks an important milestone for the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) project with the laying of the keel for the second Hobart Class destroyer Brisbane at Techport Australia in Adelaide. AWD Alliance CEO Rod Equid said the event is a long-standing shipyard and naval tradition marking the start of the hull consolidation phase for Brisbane - the second of three DDG destroyers being built for the Royal Australian Navy as part of Australia’s largest approved major project with the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO).
Today marks an important milestone for the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) project with the laying of the keel for the second Hobart Class destroyer Brisbane at Techport Australia in Adelaide. AWD Alliance CEO Rod Equid said the event is a long-standing shipyard and naval tradition marking the start of the hull consolidation phase for Brisbane - the second of three DDG destroyers being built for the Royal Australian Navy as part of Australia’s largest approved major project with the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO).
 

U.S., French Navies Conclude Combined Aircraft Carriers Strike Group Operations
 
aHarry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HST CSG) and French Navy Task Force 473 concluded five weeks of combined carrier strike group operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) Feb 2. The two strike groups began conducting integrated operations Dec. 26 in the Gulf of Oman and have operated together in the northern Arabian Sea and the Arabian Gulf to enhance regional maritime security and stability.
aHarry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HST CSG) and French Navy Task Force 473 concluded five weeks of combined carrier strike group operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) Feb 2. The two strike groups began conducting integrated operations Dec. 26 in the Gulf of Oman and have operated together in the northern Arabian Sea and the Arabian Gulf to enhance regional maritime security and stability.
 

General Dynamics NASSCO Christens USNS John Glenn Mobile Landing Platform (MLP 2)
 
The US Navy's first mobile landing platform ship, USNS Montford Point (T-MLP 1), was christened at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego, March 2. Owned and operated by Military Sealift Command, Montford Point was christened by its sponsor, Alexis "Jackie" Bolden, the wife of current NASA Administrator Charles Bolden.
General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, christened on February 1st the U.S. Navy’s newest ship, USNS John Glenn (MLP-2). Named in honor of the famed Marine Corps pilot, Congressional Space Medal of Honor recipient and four-term U.S. senator, the USNS John Glenn is the second ship of three Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) vessels designed and built by NASSCO.
 

First launch of the new WASS Black Shark Advanced heavyweight torpedo
 
On January 28th the new Black Shark Advanced (BSA), produced by WASS was launched for the first time ever from the submarine SCIRE’. The torpedo launched in “Push Out” mode (water ram expulsion system, which ejects the torpedo by means high water-pressure), was equipped in a totally innovative way, thanks to the new Lithium-Polymer Battery.
On January 28th the new Black Shark Advanced (BSA), produced by WASS was launched for the first time ever from the submarine SCIRE’. The torpedo launched in “Push Out” mode (water ram expulsion system, which ejects the torpedo by means high water-pressure), was equipped in a totally innovative way, thanks to the new Lithium-Polymer Battery.
 

UK, France sign joint defense agreement, commit to ANL FASGW(H) anti-ship missile program
 
The UK and France have agreed to strengthen defence cooperation following a Summit at RAF Brize Norton today. A communiqué signed by the Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande sets out plans for closer ties between the two countries.
The UK and France have agreed to strengthen defence cooperation following a Summit at RAF Brize Norton. A communiqué signed by the Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande sets out plans for closer ties between the two countries. Among other things, the two countries have signed a Memorandum of Understanding confirming joint orders for the future FASGW(H)/ANL helicopter launched anti-ship missile made my MBDA.
 

Page 2 of 2