NeWS
development by Israeli Aircraft Industries (IAI) Decommissioning
and Lockheed Martin’s SPY-1F radar. The team will
examine the performance of these two radar options
Farewell to
using the COMBATSS-21 combat management
Ospreys
system integrated with the Israeli Navy Command
and Control (IC2) system and develop the technical The US Navy has paid off its last four Osprey (MHC
architecture, high level specifications, and estimated 51) class coastal minehunters. USS Kingfisher (MHC
costs to integrate COMBATSS-21 with IC2 and 56), Cormorant (MHC 57), Blackhawk (MHC 58),
multiple Israeli and US sensor and weapon systems and Shrike (MHC 62) were decommissioned on 1
including the MK 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS), December 2007 during a ceremony at the Naval
Typhoon gun, and Barak missile. Lockheed Martin is Station Ingleside, Texas.
currently partnered with Rafael Armament Systems, At 844tonnes, the 12-strong Osprey class were said
Elbit Systems, and Ness on LCS-I. to be world’s largest GRP ships as well as being the
Lockheed Martin received an initial contract first US Navy ships designed solely for minehunting.
from the Israeli Navy in February 2006 to perform a Their departure leaves the US Navy with just 14
feasibility study for a multi-mission LCS variant. The Avenger (MCM 1) class mine countermeasures vessels
study, successfully completed in April 2007, resulted in which are to be augmented or replaced by the Littoral
the Israeli Defence Forces’ (IDF) decision to approve Combat Ship, two of which are currently on order.
initial funding for two multi-mission ships currently As Naval Spyglass reported recently, the Avengers
based on an LCS-I design that would include anti-air, may receive an expendable mine neutralisation
anti-submarine, anti-surface, and anti-missile warfare system, and the US Navy has awarded Lockheed
missions, as well as special operations. Martin an US$11 million system development and
The first LCS for the US Navy, Freedom, continues demonstration contract for such a system, based upon
outfitting and testing at Marinette Marine Corp. the BAE Systems’ Archerfish vehicle. If successful, the
Scheduled for delivery in 2008, Freedom will be system will replace the AN/SLQ-48 system currently
home ported in San Diego, California. The Lockheed used by the Avenger class.
Martin team design – a semi-planing steel monohull
– is intended to provide outstanding manoeuvrability Delivery
with proven sea-keeping characteristics to support
launch and recovery operations, mission execution,
OceanWorks
and optimum crew comfort.
delivers PRMS
Order OceanWorks International has delivered the US
Thai sub plans
Navy’s next-generation submarine rescue system - the
Pressurized Rescue Module System (PRMS) - to its
surface again
home base at the US Navy’s Deep Submergence Unit
in San Diego, California.
Thailand’s submarine programme has again surfaced The PRMS replaces the existing US submarine
- for the third time in 12 years - as part of a US$9.3 rescue asset, the Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel
billion recapitalisation of the Thai armed forces. (DSRV) Mystic. The delivery is the culmination of
Naval Spyglass reports that the Navy’s commander, several years of development by OceanWorks as the
Admiral Sathiraphan Keyanon, confirmed the US Navy’s prime contractor and system integrator for
submarine requirement, which last appeared in 2005 the US Navy’s SRS-RCS programme.
and a proposed 10-year naval re-capitalisation plan Having completed several weeks of sea trials and
that called for two submarines to be procured by successful demonstration of all system performance
2017. requirements, the PRMS will now undergo
These plans were thwarted by a lack of funds, but operational and technical evaluation by the US Navy
if funding is approved now, then the new submarine before entering service.
programme will begin soon and will have top
priority. Partnership
The new requirement would be incorporated into
a 10-year funding programme beginning in 2009,
New Naval Ship
with the issuing of requirements possible in 2012.
Assurance Service
However, much still depends on the outcome of
general election in Thailand, which was due to take BMT Defence Services Ltd has announced that it
place at the end of December 2007. has formed an alliance with Lloyd’s Register EMEA
Contenders to supply the submarines are likely to provide a Naval Ship Assurance Support Service
to be the China State Shipbuilding Corp, DCNS, (NSASS). The NSASS will support the development,
Fincantieri, Navantia, the Rubin Design Bureau, and implementation, and enhancement of the Naval Ship
ThyssenKrupp Marine (HDW). Assurance (NSA) Framework – a structured approach
Warship Technology January 2008
WT Jan - p4+5+6+7+8+9+
10.indd 6 08/01/2008 15:36:22
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