LOCATIONS
LAND
08 Jul 13. Lattice Incorporated has completed two new installations of its Nexus Inmate Telephone System platform in Texas and Oklahoma. Lattice installed the Nexus system for the Marion County Jail in Jefferson, Texas and the Mayes County Jail in Pryor, Oklahoma. The Company also has commitments to install the ICON system in multiple facilities in Oklahoma and Texas. (Source: Yahoo!/Marketwired)
MARITIME
10 Jul 13. Submarine Supply Chain: Short Debate. The House of Commons discussed the UK Submarine Supply Chain in a short (Westminster Hall) Debate on 10 Jul 13. In his summing-up, the Defence Equipment Minister noted that the current submarine build programme sustains over 10,000 jobs across the UK. The third Astute Class SSN (HMS ARTFUL) is about to leave Barrow while construction of the fourth, fifth and sixth boats is “underway”.
Comment: The Debate was introduced by the Member of Parliament for Barrow and Furness, the constituency in which all the UK.s submarines are built. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 13/28, 15 Jul 13)
08 Jul 13. Estonia: Naval Support. Thales UK reported (8 Jul 13) contract signature with the Estonian Defence Forces for the provision of an additional four year technical support and maintenance programme for two ex-RN mine countermeasures vessels (MCMV). The Sandown Class MCMV are the former HMS SANDOWN, re-named ENS ADMIRAL COWAN, and the former HMS INVERNESS, re-named ENS SAKALA. The contract, which includes upgrading the Sonar 2093 variable-depth sonars, extends the support programme until December 2016. The value of the contract was not disclosed.
Comment: A Letter of Intent for the sale of three ex-RN Sandown Class MCMV was signed in April 2006, with the above two vessels being handed over in April 2007 and January 2008. The third MCMV, HMS BRIDPORT re-named ENS UGANDI, was in a less sea-worthy state and is now confined to navigation/training roles following her transfer in January 2009.
(Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 13/28, 15 Jul 13)
09 Jul 13. Navantia is looking to sell its F-100 design to Turkey, while the SPS Blas de Lezo is set to call at Istanbul on 25-27 July. The Spanish Navy’s F-100 class frigate SPS Blas de Lezo will call at Istanbul on 25-27 July, a move seen as part of efforts to help potentially sell the design to Turkey for its TF-2000 air defence frigate requirement. Navantia is teaming with the US Navy and Lockheed Martin, which supplies the ship’s Aegis combat system, to propose the improved F-100 Flight 2 design to meet Turkey’s requirement for four anti-air warfare frigates. With the TF-2000 feasibility study long complete, a design phase or tender could be launched by the end of the year. The package proposed by Navantia includes Lockheed Martin’s SPY-1D(V) 3D multi-function radar system and full technology transfer for local production of the ships.
(Source: Jane’s)
10 Jul 13. DCNS pursues sea trials with FREMM frigate for Royal Moroccan Navy. The FREMM multimission frigate on order for the Royal Moroccan Navy is pursuing sea trials off the French coast in preparation for delivery later this year. In June, French naval shipbuilder DCNS successfully completed a third series of trials to test the performance of the ship’s combat system. The crew and DCNS specialists completed the latest trials off the Brittany coast. This series of tests was designed to check the performance of the combat system’s main sensors. Operational scenarios were executed to check the consistency of the data analysed and displayed by the combat system sensors with the results obtained during shore-based simulations. Specific tests included target engagement sequences using Aster anti-air missiles and MM40 anti-ship missiles, fire control tests for the 76-mm main gun and exhaustive testing of the multifunction radar. Other vessel capability tests involved helicopter approach control and the deployment of various towed devices.
10 Jul 1