December 2016 News - Naval Forces, Defense Industry, Navy Technology, Maritime Security

US Navy Accepts Delivery of Future Independence-class LCS USS Gabrielle Giffords
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USS Gabrielle Giffords LCS 10 Completes Acceptance Trials
The U.S. Navy accepted delivery of the future USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) during a ceremony on Dec. 23. Gabrielle Giffords is the ninth littoral combat ship (LCS) to be delivered to the Navy and the fifth of the Independence variant to join the fleet. The Independence variant is noted for its unique trimaran hull, ability to operate at high speeds and large flight deck size.
 

PLAN First Type 901 Replenishment Oiler Started Sea Trials Off Shenzhen, China
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Type 901 Replenishment Oiler PLAN China 1
Chinese ship spotter pictures from December 18th show the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or Chinese Navy) first Type 901 large replenishment oiler starting its sea trials. The 240 meters long vessel displacing 48,000 tons was launched December 15th 2015 by the GSI shipyard (member of CSSC).
 

German Navy to Modernize its F124 Sachsen-class Frigates with New Radar to Join NATO BMD
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German Navy FGS HAMBURG Sachsen class frigate
The German Navy (Marine) announced that the Bundeswehr (armed forces) has taken an important decision on NATO ballistic missile defense: The three F124 Sachsen-class frigates will be upgraded with a new radar and will become a building block of the complex sea-based system for the protection of Europe against weapons of mass destruction.
 

ECA Group Sign Site Acceptance Test for Sonar Laboratory Simulator with Asian Customer
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eca group generic sonar simulator classroom
In November 2016, ECA Group has successfully conducted the SAT (Site Acceptance Test) for the SonSim Sonar Laboratory delivered to the Navy of an emergent country in Asia region. ECA Group SonSim Sonar laboratory is a PC based solution (CBT), for the training of sonar operators that allows to train the crews on ASW operations, through the principle of the internationally approved sonar theories.
 

Boeing contracted to produce RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles for Egypt, South Korea and Brazil
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RGM 84 Harpoon
Boeing has received a $207 million contract to produce Lot 90 Harpoon weapon systems and spares for the governments of Egypt, Korea, and Brazil. The contract, which combines U.S. Navy purchases with foreign military sales, also includes components for the governments of Japan, Australia, Thailand, India, Oman, Taiwan, and the United Arab Emirates. Foreign military sales funds totaling $99.6 million were obligated at the time of the contract award.
 

Babcock Completes Refurbishment Programme on Sandown-class MCM Vessel HMS Shoreham
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HMS Shoreham hull after
Babcock has completed an extensive refurbishment and maintenance programme on HMS Shoreham, one of the Royal Navy’s fleet of Sandown class minehunters, improving the ship’s operational capability as well as carrying out innovative restoration work on the Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) hull.
 

US approves a $1.75 bn FMS from Norway for five P-8A Poseidon MPA
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US approves 1 75 bn FMS from Norway for five P 8A Poseidon MPA 640 001
The US State Department has approved a $1.75 bn Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Norway for five P-8A Aircraft and associated support, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on December 21, 2016.
 

South Korea Orders Two Daegu-class FFX-II Frigates Ahead of Schedule to Support Shipbuilder
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Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) launched the lead ship of the new Daegu-class FFX-II frigate for the Republic of Korea Navy (ROK Navy) on June 2, 2016. Key updates of the Batch II over the ASW-focused Batch I include VLS and full electric propulsion system, as well as a larger hangar that can accomodate a 10-ton helicopter (Batch-I has hangar for lighter helicopters like AW159).
South Korea's defense procurement agency Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) placed an order with Hyundai Heavy & Industries on Tuesday to build two Daegu-class FFX-II frigates ahead of schedule to support the ailing local shipbuilding industry.
 

ATLAS ELEKTRONIK wins order for the modernization of minehunting vessels of the German Navy
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MJ332 SeaFox NATO Atlas Elektronik
ATLAS ELEKTRONIK has received an order from the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) for the modernization of three minehunting vessels of the Frankenthal class (Type 332) in service with the German Navy. The corresponding contract, with a volume of about 78.5 million Euros, was signed by the parties today at the BAAINBw in Koblenz.
 

US Navy Orders 12 Infrared Search & Track (IRST) Systems for its F/A-18 Super Hornet
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The IRST system consists of Lockheed Martin’s IRST21 sensor that can detect targets over long distances and operates in environments where radar isn’t an option. (Photo by Lockheed Martin)
The U.S. Navy recently placed an order with Boeing for the procurement of 12 low-rate initial production Infrared Search and Track (IRST) systems. Intended for the F/A-18 Super Hornet, the IRST system provides "see first, strike first" capability. It was developed and integrated by Boeing and Lockheed Martin and initally received approval from the U.S. Navy to enter low-rate initial production in January 2015.
 

Raytheon SM-6 intercepts ballistic missile target at sea from USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53)
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USS John Paul Jones MRBM intercept test SM 6 Aegis 9.C1 1
The U.S. Navy fired two Standard Missile-6 Dual I guided missiles, developed by Raytheon Missile Systems, from the USS JOHN PAUL JONES (DDG-53) during a recent test event, intercepting a medium-range ballistic missile target at sea in its final seconds of flight. The SM-6 is the new Sea-Based Terminal variant of the company's versatile missile portfolio.
 

PLAN Z-18F Helicopter in ASW Configuration With Two Torpedoes Spotted for the 1st Time in China
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PLAN Z 18F Helicopter ASW Yu 7K China 1
Based on pictures that have just been released by Chinese spotters, it appears that the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or Chinese Navy) or Changhe Aircraft Industry Group (CAIG) was test flying a Z-18F Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) helicopter with two torpedoes for the first time.
 

Kongsberg Joint Strike Missile completes long range flight test
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JSM Test F 16 Kongsberg
The Joint Strike Missile (JSM) has successfully completed a flight test in the United States. The missile was launched from an Edwards Air Force-based F-16 over the Utah Test and Training Range west of Salt Lake City.
 

Founding Ceremony of DCNS Australia’s Adelaide Future Submarine Facility
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DCNS Australia Adelaide Future Submarine Office
DCNS Australia today celebrated the founding of their Australian headquarters in Keswick, Adelaide, which will be dedicated to delivering the Future Submarine Program. The ceremony was attended by the Hon. Malcolm Turnbull, Prime Minister of Australia, Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, Mr Jean-Yves Le Drian, French Minister for Defence and a number of parliamentarians and defence sector figures.
 

U.S. Marine F-35Bs Will Operate From Royal Navy Queen Elizabeth Carrier in 2021
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Su 30SM 70 blue Russian Navy Black Sea Fleet
UK Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon and his US counterpart, Defense Secretary Ash Carter, officially confirmed plans for the US Marine Corps F-35B to be detached aboard the Royal Navy's new Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier during its maiden operational deployment set for 2021. This announcement was made December 15th during a ministerial meeting in London.
 

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