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NewS
Acquisition Although Indian sources have usually described
Sofia buys Belgian
Sagarika as a ballistic missile (SLBM), detailed
descriptions indicate it is actually a ‘cruise’ missile. It
trio
has been officially described as being powered by a
turbojet and has certainly been developed with Israeli
Bulgaria is to receive three surplus warships from the assistance. It is believed to be 8.5m long, about 1m in
Belgian Navy. A contract for the transfer of the frigates diameter, and can carry a 500kg payload.
BNS Wielingen and Westdiep, as well as the Triparite
class minehunter BNS Myosotis, was signed on 29 Indonesia
February. The Belgian Parliament was expected to have
ratified the contract by the end of April.
Indonesian sub
BNS Westdiep will be the first ship transferred, with
contract ‘this year’
a Bulgarian crew arriving in Belgium on 27 July. After
training the ship is scheduled to be commissioned Indonesia is expected to place a contract this year
into the Bulgarian Navy on 22 August and to depart for two Kilo class submarines but funding problems
Zeebrugge for Varna for formal acceptance on 5 mean most of its major modernisation programmes
September. may be delayed for several years.
The Bulgarian crew for BNS Wielingen is expected The first of four Sigma class corvettes has reached
to arrive in Zeebrugge in January with the ship Indonesian waters but it is believed that no major
being commissioned on 9 February. Training for the new surface combatants will now be built until the
minehunter will begin on 1 September, with both ships Nasional Korvet programme begins in 2012.
arriving in Varna in February next year. Naval Spyglass reports that a contract for the
first of 10 hulls is now not anticipated before 2016
Upgrade and work by PT PAL on a corvette appears to have
Kilo delay to
ended. Work is continuing on the Tanjung Dalpele
amphibious warfare/multi-role ships, with five
summer
vessels planned.
The amphibious warfare/strategic lift force is being
Re-delivery of an Indian Kilo (Project 877EM) class upgraded by replacing the diesels in the Frosch class
submarine following a Russian refit is not now expected medium landing ships with three refitted by South
until August or September. The INS Sindhuvijay began Korea’s Daewoo.
its overhaul at the Zvyozdochka yard in Severodvinsk There is also a patrol boat programme which
in late 2005 and was being upgraded with a land-attack is believed to include half-a-dozen KAL-36. It is
capability. reported that next year work will begin on eight 60m
However, the failure of the Klub-S (3M54E1 SS-N- patrol boats.
27) missile system six times between September and
November led the Indians to refuse delivery. Contract
With ice in the Barents Sea, range tests will have to
be delayed until the summer. The Indian government
Caracas set for
decided in July 2006 to upgrade six Kilos with Klub-S
Russian sub deal
for the equivalent of US$1.85 million.
Venezuela is reported to be ready to sign a
Testing US$1.4 billion contract for three Russian submarines
India claims SLBM
next month. Caracas and Moscow have been
negotiating the deal for months.
launch
Venezuela had originally sought up to nine Amur
1650 class boats but has been persuaded by the
Naval Spyglass reports that India has test-fired Russians to opt for three Kilos (Project 636) instead.
what is claimed to be a nuclear-capable submarine- Venezuelan sources say the contract was pencilled
launched missile. The test carried out on 26 February in December but was due to be signed during
off the Orissa coast was the sixth for the Sagarika or President Hugo Chavez’ visit to Russia in April. The
K15 missile. It was conducted from a specially-built deal will include leasing a Russian Kilo for training.
underwater launcher built by the Defense Research and Work on the programme is likely to begin by the
Development Organisation (DRDO) 4nm (8km) off end of the year although it is unclear which yard
the coast and 50m underwater. There are now plans to will be selected, however, the Sudomekh yard is
launch the 380nm (700km) missile from a submarine favourite. Caracas is also understood to be seeking air
later this year. independent propulsion for the submarines.
 Warship Technology May 2008
WT May 08 - p4+5+6+7+8+10+11.ind6 6 23/04/2008 16:32:41
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