23 Jul 19. This year’s Three Counties Defence and Security Expo(3CDSE) has been hailed a huge success by industry leaders, large and small, and military personnel who attended. The two-day event, at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern was an opportunity to showcase the latest Innovations for the Special Forces Defence Sector. The first day saw the Ministry of Defence hold its own Special Projects Industry Day at the event for the first time. It included Classified briefings to business developers regarding future and current threats, present requirements of the military and how business relationships develop throughout the procurement process. The evening was spent at Eastnor Castle, where a networking Innovation Dinner was enjoyed in the picturesque setting. The main Expo event was the biggest to date, and saw more than 100 Exhibitors demonstrating the latest technologies being used by the Armed Forces, Special Forces, Intelligence Agencies and Disaster Relief professionals across the world. With more than 120 MoD personnel amongst the 1500 delegates in attendance, it was an opportunity for those developing cutting-edge technologies to speak directly to end-users. Displays included the latest developments in Drones, Protective Clothing, Cyber Security, Frontline Medical Kits and Mind Control Technology and workshops and presentations took place throughout the day in two designated theatres.
25 Jul 19. Naval Show is Going well but Future is Unclear. 353 exhibitors, including 28 foreign companies from 19 countries, displayed their products at the exposition that occupied three halls of Lenexpo Exhibition Complex with over 15,000 square metres total indoors area plus outdoor space, a water area of the Finland Gulf and near the quays of the Sea Terminal. 50 official foreign delegations from 36 countries visited the Show. Among them, 23 delegations were invited by Rosoboronexport the order-book of which for naval hardware, as claimed by company’s CEO Alexander Mikheev, exceeds $5 billion. High-ranking naval delegations had the opportunity to board Russian-built naval ships – which are popular on the world market – to become familiar with the equipment and, moreover, visit companies involved in their construction. The demonstration part of the exhibition at the quays of the Sea Terminal and water area presented 16 ships, boats and craft belonging to the Russian Navy and the Border Guard of the Russian Federal Security Service such as: ADMIRAL KASATONOV frigate Project 22350; STOYKIY corvette Project 20380; MYTISCHI small missile ship Project 22800; SERPUKHOV small missile ship Project 21631 etc. Our report draws up attention to the novelties on display at the show.
Project 22350 Frigate
IMDS 2019 showed debut of the ADMIRAL KASATONOV frigate – the second of the series and the first serial ship of the Project 22350. The Severnoye Design Bureau ship will be adopted by the Navy by the end of 2019. The first ship of the project, ADMIRAL GORSHKOV, has been in service with the Russian Navy since last summer. In April, 2019, she crossed three oceans and arrived to the Chinese port of Qingdao to take part in the 70th Anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army Navy. Two more frigates – ADMIRAL GOLOVKO and ADMIRAL ISAKOV – are under construction at the Severnaya shipyard in St.Petersburg. Project 22350 multifunctional frigates are the first surface warships to be completely designed and built from scratch in Russia not relying on previous Soviet designs. They displace about 5,000 tons, can reach a speed up to 29 knots. They adopt the newest weapon systems and equipment, including Kalibr missiles and Poliment-Redut ship-borne AD system, and can be used efficiently in various missions in any part of the world.
Project 22800 Corvette
Much attention of experts and official delegations was also focused on a lead ship of the Project 22800 KARAKURT class corvette MYTISCHI. The corvette was designed by the Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau and was manufactured by the Pella shipyard. Project 22800 is the most numerous series of ships being simultaneously built at Russian shipyards. Lead ship MYTISCHI has been in service with the Russian Navy since late 2018. Another 10 corvettes are being tested or constructed at the moment. In total the Russian Navy signed orders for 18 ships of the KARAKURT class.
The KARAKURT ships are equipped with versatile launchers of the UKSK 3С14 type. These launchers can be used to launch Kalibr and Onix family of cruise missiles and their equivalents (Yakhont, Brahmos), as well as Zircon hypersonic missiles, as soon as they will enter into service. In addition, the ship is equipped with an improved gun mount (GM) of the АК-176МА type with higher shooting accuracy due to the use of electric actuators. The first pair of the KARAKURT class corvettes is armed with АК-630М rapid firing GM. Starting from the second serial-produced corvette SHKVAL, the ships will be equipped with the Pantsir-M air defence missile systems— a seaborne version of the landbased Pantsir-S1 air defence system proven effective throughout the course of the Syria Campaign. An export version of the ship — Project 22800E — has already attracted attention of several foreign customers at international naval shows. According to the experts’ estimation, the corvette can be interesting to Russia’s traditional partners like India and Vietnam, as well as other countries from Southeast Asia, Africa, and Middle East.
SERPUKHOV Small Missile Ship
One of the naval show’s highlights was the latest SERPUKHOV small missile ship of the Project 21631. The vessel has been de- signed by the Zelenodolsk Bureau and was built at the neighbouring Gorky Shipyard. The ship has 949 t displacement, 25 knots speed and operational range up to 1,500 nautic miles. The ship’s main weaponry comprises 8 missiles of the Kalibr class, as well as the A-190 100 mm artillery unit. Air defence protection is provided by 2×4 Gibka launchers with Igla-type missiles and Duet artillery turret with 2 AK-630 six-barrel 30-mm guns. Close defence employs 2 x14,5-mm and 3 x 7,62-mm machine guns. On August 15, 2016, SERPUKHOV along- side her ZELENYI DOL sister ship successfully participated in an anti-terror operation in Syria launching 3 Kalibr missiles against the terrorists’ bases which were completely destroyed. The UAE and Saudi Arabia Navy Commanders as well as high ranking delegations from Nigeria, Thailand and Vietnam showed special interest in AK Bars’ products including the GEPARD 3.9 frigate, the Project 21631 small missile ship, the Project 21980 special-purpose boat and the Project 22160 patrol vessel, according to the AK Bars Holding representative.
Rubezh-ME
A new lightweight version of the Bal-E coastal defence system was unveiled at IMDS 2019. The Rubezh-ME is dedicated to the export market and focuses on coastal states with modest budgets. The developer is reportedly the JSC Research and Production Enterprise Kaluga Instrument-Making Plant Typhoon. Typhoon joined efforts with Tactical Missiles Corporation to create a shore-based missile platform which inherited the best features of its predecessors. The Rubezh-ME provides over-the-horizon detection, tracking and engagement of individual surface targets, groups of ships, as well as ground targets. Unlike the Bal system which is based on three vehicles, the Ru- bezh-ME is based on a single Kamaz 8×8 off-road chassis but deploys the same Kh-35UE family of anti-ship missiles. The Rubezh-ME complex includes a self-propelled command and control and communications centre (SKPUS) equipped with the Monolith-B radar and autonomous self-propelled launchers (SPU). Centralised fire control is implemented by using self-propelled command and control and communications command center (SK PUS), which provides target designation and optimal target distribution between launchers, depending on their combat readiness and location in a combat position. The presence of high-precision active and passive radar detection channels allows for a flexible detection strategy. The Rubez-ME can be deployed in less than 15 min. The vehicle operates efficiently at an altitude up to 1 km above sea level and 10 km from the coast line. The Monolith-B radar allows the Rubezh-ME to engage targets up to 250 km in active mode and covert detection of the radiation emitted opposing radars up to 450 km in passive mode. There is an option to combine up to 8 SP vehicles into a task force for joint detection and engagement of targets with a volley of 32 anti-ship missiles. The Rubezh-E can be deployed either independently or in combination with already in-service Bal-E and Bastion-P (when equipped with the Monolit-B radar) with all data-exchange processes carried out automatically. Typhoon has also arranged the first public appearance of the Monolit-B shore-based reconnaissance system of sea-surface/aerial situation in the module configuration. The Monolit-B system is designed for the long-range over-the-horizon detection and tracking of sea surface and aerial targets. It is easily transported, fits for any chassis, quickly deployed, and can operate as a self-propelled or a stationary version. The active radar of the system is capable to detect targets at a distance of up to 500 km, the passive one – up to 750 km. The crew of the self-propelled version consists of 5 men, the mobile and the stationary versions – of 4 men.
LAMANTIN
Nevskoe Design Bureau distributed information on the possible aircraft carrier Project 11430E codenamed LAMANTIN. The ship’s model was displayed at the bureau’s booth within the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) pavilion. According to the available data, the LAMANTIN is designed for various aircraft capable of engaging air, sea and ground targets in oceans, seas and coastal waters and to ensure combat sustainability of warship formations and defend amphibious assault from an air attack. The LAMANTIN can be equipped with several types of accelerators for ship-borne aircraft, including one ski jump, two electromagnetic catapults, and four arresters. The LAMANTIN class carrier displaces 80-90,000 tons. It is 350-metre long and 41-metre wide. The draft is about 12 metres. Full speed is close to 30 knots and the cruising capacity is 120 days. The crew comprises 2,800 men plus 800 airborne personnel. The aircraft carrier will accommodate up to 60 aircraft (planes and helicopters) and 6-10 unmanned aerial vehicles. The ammunition onboard can reach 1,6002,000 tons. The equipment includes an automatic control system of the operational and tactical level, an integrated communications and data exchange set, an automatic ship control system, a complex system to control technical means, and an auxiliary power plant. “The conceptual project of the LAMANTIN carrier is based on the legacy of the Project 1143.7 heavy nuclear-powered aircraftcarrying cruiser ULYANOVSK. So, we and the Russian Navy offer to consider the option of a nuke power-plant,” Aleksey Yukhnin, deputy director for shipbuilding and military cooperation at Nevskoe Design Bureau told Mil.Press Today.
CAYMAN
Nevskoe Design Bureau also unveiled the model and distributed information on the export version of the new Russian large- size landing ship CAYMAN. Its basic characteristics are close to those introduced in landing ships of Project 11711. Two ships of the second series of this project – named VLADIMIR ANDREEV and VASILY TRUSHIN – were keel-laid at Yantar Shipyard in April 2019 to join the Russian Navy in 2023 and 2024, respectively. According to Yukhnin CAYMAN is intended for sea transportation and landing of troops and equipment on an unprepared coast during amphibious campaigns. Full displacement of the CAYMAN ships is 8,000 tons, length is 150 metres, beam is 19.5 metres, draft is 4.5 metres. The ship reaches a top speed of 18 knots with a crew of 120 men. CAYMAN’s air group will consist of ten assault transport helicopters and two search and rescue ones. In addition, the ship will accommodate up to six landing boats lifting at least 45 tons each.
AIP for Submarines
During IMDS Russia’s Naval Commander in Chief Nikolai Evmenov confirmed that decision on the choice for the air-independent power-plant for Russian submarines can be taken by the Navy after a comparative test of projects offered by the Rubin and Malachite design bureaus. At IMDS-2019 the St. Petersburg-based Malachite design bureau unveiled the P-750B submarine with common submerged/surface power-plant. The project contemplates using of the closed-cycle anaerobic plant with gas turbine engine. In his interview to Mil.Press Today, representative of Malachite spoke about the powerplant. When surfaced the boat uses atmosphere air. Under water, oxidizer goes from the Dewar’s vessel where the liquid oxygen is stored. The gas mixture generated by the turbine is purified and frozen, without exhaling anything to the outside. Thus, the speed submerged without batteries (only powered by the anaerobic plant) exceeds 10 knots.
Rubin Design Bureau
Rubin Design Bureau demonstrated a mock-up of a training system designed to provide the full scope of training and drilling for submarine crews for rescue, damage control and diving activities. In cooperation with the leading companies of the Russian shipbuilding industry Rubin has designed the first Russian operational system for submarine personnel training and drilling of rescue and damage control activities including training stands for firefighting, stands for training escape from a sunken submarine, stand for training emergency parties intended for advanced investigation and conduct of emergency works. Rubin has already developed and tested simulated modules of a fire-fighting compartment of a submarine. The simulator provides damage control training in an emergency situation such as fire or dangerous concentrations of harmful substances.
Solar-Powered Boat
The Granit-Electron Concern (part of the Tactical Missile Corporation) displayed an unmanned universal solar-powered boat. The development of the boat is a joint project with Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. The boat has an autonomous control system and is designed for a wide range of applications, including search-and-rescue missions, oceanic research, ecology and fish stock monitoring, planning sea bottom maps, as well as for military purposes – reconnaissance and delivery of weapons (torpedoes and bombs). This product combines concern and university competences in shipbuilding, radio-electronic engineering, intellectual guidance systems, IT, optics and acoustics. The unmanned universal boat has become the point of interest for R&D institutes, dealing with civilian marine equipment, environmental services not only from the Russian Federation, but from South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Iran etc.
UEC-Saturn
In the forefront of IMDS Alexander Mikheev, Director General of Rosoboronexport, pointed to the success of UEC-Saturn, which started production of marine gas turbine engines, also included for naval export. At the Show UEC-Saturn displayed four marine exhibits, including the SGTG-8 marine dual-fuel gas turbine electric generator mockup featuring state-of-the-art performance, two marine gas turbine engines (M70FRU and M90FR) mockups which are baseline fourth-generation GTE (gas turbine engines) of the domestic marine power engineering, as well as a model of the F.Ushakov assembly and testing facility for marine gas turbine units and engines. The commissioning of the latter became the most important element of the programme to build up entirely import-independent Russian production of ship gas turbine power plants.
Palma and Pantsir
The High Precision Weapons Holding Company arranged demonstration of the Pantsir-ME shipborne air defence missile and artillery system developed and produced by the Instrument Design Bureau JSC KBP named after Academician A Shipunov. Pantsir-ME can be installed on most of the Russian warships and is very well fitted for ships manufactured by other countries. According to Rosoboronexport’s Director General Alexander Mikheev, Pantsir has very good export prospects in the Arab countries, South-East Asia and Latin America. The Pantsir-ME air defence missile and artillery system can be set up on ships with a displacement of over 300 tons. The system provides a reliable protection of vessels against existing and prospective air assault weapons in the whole spectrum of their combat capabilities with an unconditional probability of kill, which is practically equivalent to one, including low-flying anti-ship missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. The high effectiveness in intercepting anti-ship missiles is explained by high performance tactical and technical characteristics of the Pantsir-ME air defence missile and artillery system. The system is capable of simultaneous firing at four targets attacking the ship while the kill zone for guided anti-aircraft missiles reaches 20 kilometres in distance and up to 15 kilometres in height. Besides, Pantsir-ME can first utilise its missile weapons, and then, in case of a miss, the target will be hit by the artillery fire with a 100 percent guarantee. High precision weapons also reported on completion of deliveries include several Palma naval anti-aircraft gun-missile (AAGM) systems to the Russian Navy and foreign customers.
The Palma system was certified and tested with 12 of the newest classes of Russian naval ships with displacements ranging from 250 tons to 5,400 tons. Ten AAGM systems are now in operation. The system is installed not only on warships for the Russian Navy but also on the GEPARD Project 11661 frigate for a foreign customer. The armament set of Palma combines two upgraded six-barrel 30-mm automatic guns AO-18KD and eight anti-aircraft guided missiles Sosna-R. The artillery weaponry engages targets at a range up to 4 km, while missiles operate in the firing range between 1.3 and 10 km. According to the Holding company’s booklet, Palma fires new armour-piercing reduced calibre (APCR) 30 mm rounds with a W-Ni-Fe penetrator. Palma can be supplied in a stationary configuration to protect offshore installations, naval bases, and other sensitive shore-based objects.
BrahMos Aerospace
The Russian-Indian joint venture displayed a variety of its supersonic cruise missiles for the Army, Navy and Air Force application. The latest version of the BrahMos-A missile has been successfully tested with the IAF Su-30MKI multipurpose aircraft. The Russian Vice Prime Minister Yury Borisov paid a visit to BrahMos to confirm a full support for the enterprise.
Outlook
The 10th IMDS’ dates and exact location have not been determined yet. There are rumors about LenExpo grounds sale for commercial development to shift the well-established show to Kronshtadt – the Baltic Fleet naval base on the island of Kotlin which has been connected to St.-Petersburg main land with a recently built highway. At the moment there are no facilities to accommodate a huge show and a large number of visitors in Kronshtadt. So, the nearest future will determine one of the best world naval show’s destiny. (Source: ESD Spotlight)