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UNITED KINGDOM AND NATO
12 Sep 23. Lockheed Martin UK Launches Team Black Hawk for UK’s New Medium Helicopter Requirement.
- The European-built Black Hawk helicopter. Lockheed Martin outlined its team of UK partners and the benefits of choosing the advanced, Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter to replace the UK’s aging mixed medium helicopter fleet.
Today at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition, Lockheed Martin announced its intention to participate in the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) New Medium Helicopter (NMH) requirement. It outlined its team of UK partners and the benefits of choosing the advanced, Sikorsky Black Hawk® helicopter to replace the UK’s aging mixed medium helicopter fleet. Lockheed Martin also outlined its plan to collaborate with those UK partners to create a multitude of opportunities for UK industry, including jobs and opportunities in export, manufacturing and future technology development.
Lockheed Martin estimates nearly 40% of total Black Hawk production and assembly will occur in the UK and will support, on average, 660* UK jobs a year between 2025 and 2030.
The plan also creates ~£470 m of export opportunities for UK partners manufacturing sub-systems and components over the next 10 years, equivalent to 40% of the Total Programme Value, based on the expected export market to Black Hawk customers. The company’s estimate includes ongoing fleet sustainment that will support approximately 320 jobs a year for decades to come when the UK Black Hawk fleet is in-service.
On announcing Lockheed Martin UK’s proposal, Chief Executive Paul Livingston said:
“The newest generation of the Black Hawk is proven, versatile and ready now. It’s not only the right choice for UK Defence, it’s the right choice for UK industry and it will create a generation of high-skilled jobs here in Britain.”
Furthermore, UK participation in the Black Hawk programme would open the door for UK industry to take part in the development and production of Lockheed Martin’s next generation rotorcraft solutions, creating a potential 45-year pipeline of work and exports for UK companies.
Creating Jobs in the UK
As part of today’s Team Black Hawk announcement, Lockheed Martin formally signed a teaming agreement with Gosport-based StandardAero as Team Black Hawk’s aircraft assembly, testing, delivery, maintenance and integration partner for UK-unique equipment and systems, which will bring highly skilled jobs to an economically deprived area of the UK.
StandardAero in Gosport will be the home of the Black Hawk in the UK and together with Lockheed Martin, Martin-Baker Aircraft Company in Denham, Curtiss-Wright in Christchurch, Chelton in Marlow, Inzspire in Lincoln, C3iA Solutions in Poole, Nova Systems in Filton, and Ascent Flight Training & CAE at RAF Benson will create 660 high-skilled jobs and decades of UK workshare through the UK Black Hawk’s lifecycle.
“StandardAero is delighted to be teaming with Lockheed Martin UK on this once-in-a-generation helicopter programme. For StandardAero UK it will mean upwards of 175 new, highly skilled, jobs in one of the more economically deprived local areas of the UK, with many more throughout our UK-based supply chain,” said Simon Jones, StandardAero Group Managing Director, Europe.
The Black Hawk will be assembled in the UK to meet the MOD’s specific requirements by a team of industrial partners including StandardAero. Lockheed Martin examined all potential partners for the assembly aspect of Black Hawk in the UK and concluded that StandardAero was the most experienced and capable partner.
The Black Hawk fleet will sustain UK jobs across the nation, including areas where levelling up is a critical need. In addition to providing a proven, advanced, affordable and interoperable helicopter platform that delivers unparalleled performance to the MOD, Lockheed Martin will fulfill provisions of the contract with its UK industry partners for robust training capabilities, maintenance and spares packages, component integration, as well as overall programme management.
Black Hawk is the Right Choice
The Black Hawk has earned its standing as a trusted helicopter for operators worldwide, along with its advanced digital avionics, unmatched multi-mission versatility and military-grade airworthiness. Other advantages of the aircraft include:
- The Black Hawk is designed and built to rigorous military requirements and is easily maintained during remote and deployed operations and is capable of operating in extreme weather conditions, day or night.
- Already in service with 35 nations, including NATO partners, it has flown an unprecedented 15 m flight hours, with five m of those hours in combat conditions. The UK will also benefit from the interoperability across the allied services.
- As a 100% military helicopter, its operating and support costs are considerably less than more fragile commercial aircraft pressed into military use.
- With more than 5,000 Black Hawks delivered worldwide, the global network of spare parts and services, combined with Lockheed Martin’s industry plan for sustainment in the UK, will allow the UK to take advantage of a robust supply chain.
- The Black Hawk currently delivers an average of 90% availability to its operators.
- Continuous modernisation efforts and strong U.S. Army support will see the Black Hawk sustained and in operation well into the 2070s.
Today’s announcement comes as Lockheed Martin and its competitors await the MOD’s formal issuance of the Invitation to Negotiate (ITN).
*660 gross full-time equivalent UK jobs a year between 2025 and 2030 through LMUK’s direct activities, its UK supply chain and wider induced spending in the UK economy. (Source: ASD Network)
13 Sep 23. In British helicopter race, war of words emerges over ‘military grade.’ Executives at helicopter maker Leonardo pushed back against a competitor’s assertion that the Italian company’s AW149 helicopter, in play for the British New Medium Helicopter program, isn’t military-grade enough.
Mike Morrisroe, the company’s lead for U.K. helicopter campaigns, on Wednesday disputed a claim by a Lockheed Martin executive from the previous day at the DSEI arms fair in London that the U.S.-based company’s offering of the Black Hawk was the only one developed purely for military use.
The AW149 meets relevant crashworthiness standards and is built for survivability on the battlefield, with a construction meant to “minimize” the impact of small-arms fire against the cabin and the blades, he said.
Paul Livingston, CEO of Lockheed’s U.K. subsidiary, had illustrated the Black Hawk’s military utility by saying the company’s offering is the only one offering retractable seats capable of withdrawing injured pilots to the helicopter cabin without having to exit the aircraft.
For Leonardo’s Mark Burnand, the company’s chief test pilot, the utility of such a setup is questionable if the helicopter’s self-defense features work properly.
“You’re not going to find yourself in that situation in the first place,” he said.
Leonardo presented itself as a bastion of U.K. helicopter building at the start of DSEI, boasting of £1.6bn ($2bn) in exports over the last 18 months including orders for the design, development and manufacture of new aircraft, upgrade programs and support deals.
The firm said the number added to a further £5bn in helicopters exports from the U.K. secured over the preceding nine years.
It’s the only firm with “end-to-end helicopter manufacturing capability” in the country, with more than half of the U.K. military’s frontline fleet starting life at Leonardo’s Yeovil facility in Somerset, England.
No wonder, Leonardo said, that its U.K. onshore helicopters business has recently been granted official status as the “Home of British Helicopters.”
Should its AW149 win the U.K.’s New Medium Helicopter contest, the firm will build the platform at Yeovil and has promised that 60-70% of its content and through-life support would be carried out in the country.
“Investment in skills and research generates valuable U.K. intellectual property and sustains an onshore industrial base that provides” the U.K. Ministry of Defence “with direct access to critical skills and capabilities that underpin operational independence and technological advantage,” it said. (Source: Defense News)
EUROPE
13 Sep 23. Dutch Navy improves radar, adds Tomahawk missile to fleet. The Royal Netherlands Navy is upgrading its fleet to better handle existing and anticipated threats, with air defense and command frigate De Ruyter recently completing a midlife upgrade that provides the ship with a sophisticated ballistic missile defense radar.
The frigate now sports the Thales SMART-L multi-mission radar that can spot incoming ballistic missiles, Lt. Cmdr. Alex Haasnoot, the ship’s operations officer, told a group of reporters during a tour of the vessel at the DSEI conference, which runs Sept. 12-15. De Ruyter was among a handful of military ships docked outside the ExCeL convention center on the Thames River in London.
Haasnoot said the radar would allow the ship to see and track advanced threats and then pass that targeting data off to a nearby destroyer with the right weaponry to defeat the threat.
Cmdr. Welmer Veenstra, the commanding officer of the frigate, said when the fleet was designed and built — De Ruyter was commissioned in 2004 — “we hardly had ballistic missiles as a threat. And that has increased significantly,” which led to the decision to upgrade the radar.
“Initially, we looked at big ballistic missiles affecting a really big area, like Europe. But now you also have what we call more theater ballistic missile defense, so defense of a naval task group against a [shorter-range] ballistic missile, as we’ve seen them being operated in Ukraine,” Veenstra said, adding that hypersonic missiles are the next step in “a continuous battle between the sensors and the weapon.”
Haasnoot said the previous radar had maxed out its capability and could not accommodate further modifications to address new threats, such as smaller and tougher-to-spot ballistic or hypersonic missiles. With the new Thales radar, he explained, the fleet is only beginning to understand the full capability. The service will continue experimenting with the radar, find new missions and threats for which it’s useful, and work with engineers to make modifications for these additional uses.
One early example is space domain awareness. The radar wasn’t designed to find and track satellites, but it can. Haasnoot and Veenstra said the crew continues to look at what the radar can do now as it relates to satellites, and will consider if that has any role in future missions for their class of frigate.
De Ruyter will also lead an effort to add more offensive punch to the De Zeven Provinciën class of frigates. In a year, it will conduct the Navy’s first-ever Tomahawk missile shot.
The ships already sport the MK 41 vertical launching system, which today holds the Standard Missile 2 and the Evolved SeaSparrow Missile. The Netherlands signed an agreement to buy the Tomahawk missile in April as part of its effort to bolster the fleet’s maritime strike capability. Haasnoot said the war in Ukraine has created more urgency to integrate, test and field this weapon.
In fall 2024, De Ruyter will travel to San Diego, California, where it will fire the very first technical test shot of the missile to a target at San Clemente Island. It will take several more years of tests and trials before the missile is ready for in-theater use.
Additionally, the fleet will transition from the Evolved SeaSparrow Missile to a Block II version, and from the Harpoon anti-ship missile to the longer-range Naval Strike Missile, as part of that maritime strike improvement.
Haasnoot also said De Ruyter is experimenting with drones to increase its safety and its capability.
Much like with video games, he joked, the best view to have in a fight is one from above. That’s not possible on ships, and it’s not always safe to send up a ship’s helicopters. De Ruyter has experimented with several drones, including the Dutch-made multirotor Acecore Neo that can fly in inclement weather and lift up to 9 kilograms (20 pounds).
Veenstra said it looks easy to operate drones from a ship, but the maritime environment is actually quite hostile for small drone operations since wind gusts can easily blow them away. They also need great range since the ship is inherently moving, and because the drone not only needs to keep up but get ahead of the ship. (Source: Defense News)
15 Sep 23. Typhoon is the ‘Best Response.’ Leonardo is spearheading a long-running campaign promoting Eurofighter for the Polish Air Force.
Speaking at the recent Radom Air Show Costa Panvinirosati, Leonardo Head of Marketing for Eurofighter said Poland represents a really good opportunity for future Eurofighter sales.
“Poland started the modernisation process of its air force serval years ago. With its strategically important location — on the eastern flank of NATO — Poland needs the best of the best when it comes to air capabilities.
“Of course, air superiority is one of the key elements in what is a very complex equation. For us, Eurofighter is the best response when you consider these needs. In today’s combat air market, nothing comes close in terms of air superiority.”
Leonardo is often seen as an Italian defence company but in fact has had a large presence in Poland for many years.
“For us, Eurofighter is the best response when you consider these needs. In today’s combat air market, nothing comes close in terms of air superiority,” said Costa Panvinirosati,
The company has around 3,000 employees there and this level is increasing thanks to new programmes, like the AW149 helicopter that will be produced here. Currently, Eurofighter is in service with five European and four Gulf nations. It is fully interoperable with US legacy platforms and provides modern air forces with a compelling strategic advantage in a combining multi-platform fleet.
Thanks to the long term investment in the programme by Eurofighter customers, several nations are looking at further acquisitions of the aircraft.
The partner companies in the programme, Airbus, BAE Systems, Leonardo, and the wider supply chain employs more than 100,000 skilled people across Europe. (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Eurofighter GmbH)
15 Sep 23. Norway and Germany mark production start of submarine design. The allied co-operation aims to set new standards as identical submarine production begins. In a historic moment that solidified their alliance and strengthened their naval capabilities, Norway and Germany initiated the production of identical submarines, marking a step in modern maritime technology and collaboration.
The 212CD submarine hailed as a modern conventional submarine, is a joint project with which Norway and Germany hope to reshape maritime defence. Minister of Defence Bjørn Arild Gram of Norway announced the commencement of this project.
The contracts for the U212 common design were sealed on July 8, 2021, following preparations and negotiations between the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency, German Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr (BAAINBw), and the contractor ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.
The German-Norwegian submarine program is now surging forward at pace. Two years after the signing of the largest order in ThyssenKrupp’s history, the official production of six identical 212CD submarines for the German and Norwegian navies commenced.
The Norwegian navy is cutting its submarine force from six to four, but the new Type 212CD vessels are larger, stealthier, and equipped with advanced sensors and an in-development medium-range missile, according to GlobalData’s “Norway Defense Market 2022-2027” report.
“The first of these new submarines will be delivered to Norway in 2029. The contracts cover the acquisition of six submarines, four for Norway and two for Germany,” revealed Minister Bjørn Arild Gram, emphasising the magnitude of this endeavour.
The report shows that submarines are the third-largest sector in the Norwegian defence market. Norway currently operates six Ula-class submarines. Total spending over 2022–27 for this sector is $1.7bn (Nkr18.1bn).
Beyond the construction phase, Norway and Germany plan to establish a collaborative life-cycle management office staffed by personnel from both nations. This approach will oversee the planning and execution of maintenance and upgrades for all six submarines, ensuring their longevity and operational efficiency.
A dedicated maintenance shipyard is under construction at the Haakonsvern Naval Base outside Bergen in Norway to support these efforts. Anticipated to be operational by the time the first submarine enters service in 2029, this facility will also serve as the headquarters for the joint life-cycle management office. (Source: naval-technology.com)
13 Sep 23. US, European, Israeli radar makers await Bulgaria’s order. The Bulgarian Defence Ministry is expected to select its new three-coordinate radar in the coming weeks, according to industry representatives present at this year’s DSEI show in London.
On Aug. 24, Bulgariam Deputy Defence Minister Stanimir Georgiev said the planned acquisition of seven new radars is crucial for the country’s ongoing efforts to modernize its Air Force.
According to the ministry, five companies submitted their offers: France’s Thales; Israel Aerospace Industries subsidiary Elta Systems; Italy’s Leonardo, Spain’s Indra; and U.S company Lockheed Martin.
Taschko Nikolov, the director for business development in Bulgaria for Thales, said the company is offering a radar from its Ground Master family for the Air Force, per a statement provided to Defense News by the French firm’s communications team at DSEI.
John Neilson, the director for international communications at Lockheed Martin, told Defense News the company has proposed the TPS-77 radar to Bulgaria. “We await feedback from the Bulgarian MoD on next steps in the process,” Neilson said.
The forthcoming acquisition is worth about 400 m leva ($219 m). The main criteria under consideration are price, maintenance costs, operational capacities, industrial cooperation opportunities and warranty maintenance terms, according to the ministry.
Defense News has contacted Leonardo, Elta and Indra for comment.
(Source: Defense News)
13 Sep 23. SA arms exports to Poland on hold, not denied – NCACC. South Africa’s National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) has not blocked arms exports to Poland, but placed them on hold – however, it is unclear for how long. Advocate Ezra Jele, briefing the Joint Standing Committee on Defence (JSCD) on 7 September on NCACC first and second quarter reports for 2023, was asked why export permits to certain countries, including Poland, appeared to be blocked. He told committee members that permits were not refused, but were merely on hold. He did not elaborate on when there might be a decision on whether to approve or deny them.
In 2022, Jele revealed three export permits for Saudi Arabia (R505m); three permits for the United Arab Emirates (R1.45bn); three permits for Turkey (R20m); and one permit for Poland (R893m) were on hold. Some permits had been granted to these countries, including nine export permits worth R37m to Saudi Arabia, along with 59 permits worth R2.9bn to the United Arab Emirates, and 18 permits worth R2bn to Turkey. No export permits to Poland had been approved.
In the JSCD meeting last week, Jele did not give a clear indication why the permits were on hold, as there are no United Nations Security Council embargos on Turkey or Poland, but he did mention that diversion was a concern – presumably that weapons to Poland would be sent to Ukraine.
Jele explained that the NCACC can decided to approve, deny or hold a permit application based on information from a Scrutiny Committee chaired by Acting Secretary for Defence Dr Thobekile Gamede. This committee is informed by the Department of Defence, Department of International Relations and Cooperation, SA Police Service, State Security Agency, and Defence Intelligence. When deciding to approve or deny permits, the committee takes into account United Nations Security Council arms embargos, human rights violations, regional dynamics that could contribute to destabilisation, the risk of diversion, and South Africa’s national interests.
In April, Democratic Alliance shadow defence minister Kobus Marais asked Defence Minister Thandi Modise in a written question why exports to Poland were on hold. Modise directed the question to the NCACC but exports to Poland have to meet NCACC criteria to be approved, and if approved, there may be a need for on-site inspection or an end user certificate (EUC).
Export permit approvals to Poland have been on hold for well over a year, leading to fears of stalling tactics by the NCACC. African Defence Review Director Darren Olivier believes it is against the spirit of the law to hold permits for so long and not deny or approve them, unless the applicant is provided with a clear and reasonable set of requirements to be met. “If there’s no likelihood of a permit being approved within a few months it’s better for everyone that it be denied,” he told defenceWeb. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
USA
11 Sep 23. US Air Force issues RFI for C-UAS systems with satellite navigation attack capabilities. The US Air Force has issued a request to industry to supply counter-UAS systems with satellite navigation attack capabilities.
“The acquisition of four (x4) Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (cUAS) with Satellite Navigation Attack which provides the capability to bolster and fulfill surveillance, base security requirements along with defeating air threats and unpredictable nature of today’s criminal and terrorist threats, the 55th SFS is specifically looking for new and improved detection and defeat capabilities against a rapidly growing technology-based threat.
“Having a mobile, rapidly deployable, long-range, high-power battery powered Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (cUAS) with Satellite Navigation Attack bolsters the layered security of the installation and grants the protection against drones armed with spoofing technology to fool our current systems. Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (cUAS) with Satellite Navigation Attack is the most effective measure to provide quick response for incidents both on the flightline, mass parking areas and across the installation along with our assets as they travel.
“Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (cUAS) with Satellite Navigation Attack are vital for force protection, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) drones, anti-terrorism, and installation defense needs and enhance/compliment the use of the Negation of Improvised Non-State Joint Aerial system.”
Deadline for submissions is September 22, 2023. For more information: https://sam.gov/opp/737446717f524cf288dfeb7a378d0f1e/view (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
REST OF THE WORLD
16 Sep 23. Indian Air Force chief announces plans to buy around 100 more indigenous LCA Mark 1A fighter jets.
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Indian Air Force chief announces plans to buy around 100 more indigenous LCA Mark 1A fighter jets
ET OnlineLast Updated: Sep 16, 2023, 05:43 PM IST
Synopsis
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is planning to procure around 100 additional LCA Mark 1A fighter jets, further strengthening the country’s aerospace capabilities. The move is aimed at replacing the aging MiG-series fleet and bolstering the inventory with LCA class aircraft. The proposal has been submitted to the Defence Ministry, and if approved, it would significantly expand the IAF’s LCA Tejas fleet.
In a significant move aimed at strengthening India’s aerospace capabilities, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has officially announced its intention to procure about 100 additional Made-in-India LCA Mark 1A fighter jets. During his visit to Spain, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, the Chief of the Indian Air Force, made this announcement while receiving the first C-295 transport aircraft. (Source: Google/ANI)
15 Sep 23. Northrop Grumman pledges US$100m for Taiwan projects in 2024. Northrop Grumman will allocate US$100m annually to Taiwan-related projects starting next year, an executive with the U.S.-based defense contractor said Thursday.
Stephen O’Bryan, corporate vice president and global business development officer of Northrop Grumman made the pledge during a press event at the Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Expo (TADTE), which opened at the Nangang Exhibition Center on Thursday.
In his address, O’Bryan said his company, a global giant in the aerospace and defense business, just opened an office in Taipei in August to accelerate access to strengthen partnerships with customers and local industry.
“Keeping with the last component of engagement with Taiwan’s industry, I’m happy to announce today that Northrop Grumman will be committing to US$100 m annually of opportunities for Taiwan to become part of Northrop Grumman’s global supply chain,” he said.
Over the coming months, his company will ask its newly- appointed Taiwan office chief Fisher Huang (黃思勳) to engage with Taiwan’s defense industries and to understand their capabilities, according to O’Bryan.
“And then in early 2024, we will have a team from the United States to come in with more advanced discussions and requests for proposals with our global supply chain with Taiwan,” he added.
Huang, a retired Taiwanese Air Force officer, meanwhile, told reporters in the same press event that the pledged amount of money will be spent in working with potential Taiwanese partners and help to boost the nation’s domestic defense industry.
The US$100 m annual budget could be subject to change after the first year, depending on the capabilities of Taiwanese defense industry partners and the scale of cooperation, he added.
Huang said Northrop Grumman has long been a partner of Taiwan’s Air Force by making its F-5Es that have served in the country for more than 40 years. Taiwan’s E-2K Hawkeye early-warning aircraft is also a product of the American company, he said.
His company is looking forward to potential cooperation with Taiwan in building advanced trainer jets, UAVs as well as a domestic satellite program being developed by the Taiwan Space Agency, Huang said.
Northrop Grumman is one of the prominent participants in this year’s TADTE, which runs until Saturday, after a four-year break.
Other American companies, including Lockheed Martin, L3Harris, Raytheon and BAE Systems, together with 41 small to medium-sized companies are showcasing their products at the debut USA Pavilion in the three-day show.
The last time TADTE was held was in 2019. The 2021 edition was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Source: Google/Northrop Grumman pledges US$100 m for Taiwan projects in 2024 – Taipei Times)
14 Sep 23. US State Department approves South Korea to buy 25 more F-35A jets. The U.S. State Department has approved a $5.06bn sale of 25 F-35A fighter jets for South Korea.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency on Wednesday announced the possible deal, which could change in quantity and contract value during the negotiations process.
The potential sale, which now goes to Congress for consideration, would also include 26 Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 engines for the aircraft, an upgrade to the Block 4 standard, as well as cryptographic appliques and electronic warfare support.
If approved, the sale will bring South Korea’s fleet to 65 F-35A conventional-takeoff-and-landing aircraft. The country’s Air Force is currently in the process of taking delivery of 40 F-35As it previously ordered to equip its 17th Fighter Wing at Cheongju.
South Korea is using its F-35As to replace it fleet of McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II fighter jets. It had previously considered buying the F-35B short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing variant to equip its planned aircraft carrier.
However, the Defense Ministry said earlier this year it is looking at the feasibility of building a 50,000-ton aircraft carrier, which is considerably larger than originally planned. Such a ship would enable the South Koreans to operate catapult-launched carrier aircraft instead of the F-35B. This would likely be a naval version of the locally designed Korea Aerospace Industries KF-21 Boramae fighter. South Korea’s defense acquisition agency concluded in January that developing a carrierborne KF-21 was feasible within a 10-year time frame.
South Korea is technically still at war with its nuclear-armed neighbor North Korea, as the two countries have not signed a formal peace treaty following the 1953 armistice that ended the Korean War. (Source: Defense News)
11 Sep 23. Navantia on track for Hobart Class modernisation milestones. Navantia Australia has announced on-time delivery of key milestones for the SEA 4000 Phase 6 Hobart Class Guided Missile Destroyer Combat Systems Modernisation program.
The subsidiary of Spanish state-owned company Navantia, working as platform systems designer on the program, has announced ship design and platform integration of a modernised Aegis Weapon System under Baseline 9, Tomahawk Weapon System and Saab Australian Interface into the Hobart Class Guided Missile Destroyers.
The shipbuilder is working with industry partners, including Lockheed Martin Australia and Saab Australia, to deliver a functional design for the program.
Navantia Australia managing director Israel Lozano said plans are developing to expand the Navantia team into Adelaide to support the Osborne Shipyard to facilitate the transition to production.
“This achievement is a real demonstration of Australian defence industry working collaboratively with Defence to realise Navy’s capability requirements into the future,” he said.
The company has already delivered engineering drawings for the DDG Phase 6 functional design phase to the Commonwealth in a functional Technical Data Pack in early August. These include 100 technical documents, engineering drawings, reports, analyses, and 3D models.
Work has now commenced on the construction design phase and will extend throughout 2024. (Source: Defence Connect)
11 Sep 23. New Zealand seeks new ships to replace ‘majority’ of naval fleet. New Zealand’s Defence Ministry has issued a request for information to replace nearly the entire naval fleet, which currently includes nine ships in six different classes.
The Royal New Zealand Navy’s flagship — its 568-foot replenishment vessel HMNZS Aotearoa — has been in service for three years, but the remaining eight ships — two frigates, two inshore and two offshore patrol vessels, a sealift ship, and a dive and hydrographic ship — will reach the end of their service lives in the mid-2030s.
“The majority of the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) fleet is due to reach the end of service life by the mid-2030s. The need to invest in replacement capabilities has already been signalled in the previous Defence Capability Plan (2019),” per the RFI, released Sept. 7. “Rather than taking a ‘like for like’ approach to replacement, there is a unique opportunity to consider alternative fleet configurations, alternative ways to operate, and alternative approaches to support the fleet in the upcoming Defence Capability Plan.”
The closing date for the RFI is Nov. 15, 2023.
The two Anzac-class, 387-foot frigates have been in service since 1997 and 1999 respectively, and each have received a midlife update. The two 180-foot inshore patrol vessels were commissioned in 2009, and the two 279-foot offshore patrol vessels have served since 2010.
The sealift ship, the 430-foot HMNZS Canterbury, entered service in 2007. And the 278-foot hydrographic dive and survey vessel HMNZS Manawanui has served since 2019, but was originally launched in 2003 to support oil rigs in the North Sea.
The Defence Capability Plan, which details investments in the country’s military, is scheduled for 2024. However, New Zealand will hold federal elections next month, which could impact this timeline. (Source: Defense News)
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Since 1946, Industrial Electronic Engineers, IEE, has specialized in the design, test, support and fielding of display products for use in demanding military and aerospace applications throughout the world. IEE has developed an extensive product portfolio that today includes enhanced flat panel displays, smart displays and handheld devices.
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