RM10 million lost in “sick project” to build Navy college

BY EILEEN NG
DECEMBER 02, 2013

The appointment of a contractor without going through proper procedures for a RM41.46 million Malaysian Navy college training centre has resulted in a loss of RM10.2 million, in what the Auditor General described as "projek sakit" (problematic project).

The 2012 Auditor General Report found that Syarikat Ijhraa (M) Sdn Bhd, a Class B contractor, was given "special permission" to participate in a tender project in May 2009 to construct KD Pelandok in Lumut, Perak.

Of the 43 companies who took part, nine were shortlisted. Syarikat Ijhraa was chosen despite not offering the lowest price and failing to adhere to procedures.

"Syarikat Ijhraa only submitted two of the four supporting documents that were required. The two documents that were not submitted were the audited balanced sheet and supervisor's project report.

"The audited balance sheet is required to determine the tenderer's capital capabilities.

"However, the procurement board opted for Syarikat Ijhraa because the tender committee had decided that the company can still be considered despite the absence of the two documents," the report added.

Syarikat Ijhraa was awarded the project in December 2009 but was only able to complete 55% of the project by the end of its extended deadline, which was in April last year.

The company's contract was finally terminated by the Defence Ministry and JJM Integrated was appointed to complete it at a cost of RM42.93, which was RM1.47 million more than the first tender.

This was on top of the 18 interim payments totalling RM8.73 million Putrajaya had paid to Syarikat Ijhraa, bringing the total loss to RM10.2 million.

As of September this year, JJM Integrated had completed 72.5% of the project.

In its reply on September this year to the Auditor General, the Defence ministry stated that the tendering process followed the computerised evaluation system procedures set up by the Public Works Department, which required that companies taking part in the exercise submit one of the four required supporting documents. – December 2, 2013.

Malaysian in US Navy corruption case

Malaysian Leonard Francis, nicknamed "Fat Leonard", is alleged to have used his US Navy connections to obtain military secrets by providing hookers, Lady Gaga concert tickets and other bribes to a US commander.

Francis is well-known to US Navy commanders in the Pacific, where his company has been servicing US warships for the past 25 years. CNN reported that the accusations unfolding in a Federal Court case in San Diego signalled serious national security breaches and corruption.

Navy commander Michael Vannak Khem Misiewicz has been accused of using his position as deputy operations officer of the US Seventh Fleet to pass confidential information on ship routes to Francis's Singapore-based company, Glenn Defence Marine Asia Ltd (GDMA), according to court documents CNN obtained.

GDMA provides various shipping services including tugboats, security, transportation, supplies, fuel and waste removal.

CNN reported that the 46-year-old Misiewicz and Francis moved Navy vessels around like chess pieces, diverting aircraft carriers, destroyers and other vessels to Asian ports with lax oversight, allowing the latter to inflate costs.

GDMA is alleged to have overcharged the US Navy millions for fuel, food and other services it provided. Tariffs were also invented through the use of phony port authorities, court prosecutors read out in their charges.

CNN quoted retired Rear Admiral Terry McKnight as saying a lot of people are wondering how this could have happened.

McKnight, who does not have direct knowledge of the investigation, said it was a huge scandal when one person was being influenced by a contractor and dictating where ships were going to go.

Authorities have thus far arrested Misiewicz, Francis, GDMA's general manager of global government contracts, Alex Wisidagama, and a senior Navy investigator, John Beliveau. All four have pleaded not guilty and their defence attorneys have declined to comment.

The 44-year-old Beliveau has been accused of keeping Francis abreast of developments in the probe and advising him on how to respond in exchange for luxury trips and vice services, CNN reported.

Senior Navy officials have indicated that more people are likely to be implicated in the scandal.

There have been reports that other unnamed Navy personnel are mentioned in the court documents as receiving gifts from Francis, who is reported to be legendary in the military circle in the Pacific. The Straits Times reported that Francis is famous for his extravagance.

His 70,000sq ft bungalow in an upscale Singapore neighbourhood has been drawing spectators since 2007 to its lavish, outdoor Christmas decorations. The Straits Times described Francis's bungalow decorations as rivalling the island city's main shopping street with replicas of snowmen, lighted towering trees, and Chinese and Japanese ornaments.

McKnight told The Straits Times that Francis was a larger than life figure, saying you could ask any captain on any ship that has sailed in the Pacific and everyone knew exactly who Francis was.

The probe against Francis was initiated by Navy Criminal Investigative Service agents in 2010.

That was also the year Misiewicz caught the world's attention when he made an emotional return as a U.S Navy commander to his native Cambodia. Misiewicz had been rescued as a child from the violence of the Khmer Rouge and adopted by an American woman.

His homecoming was widely covered by international media and CNN reported that Francis was also recruiting Misiewicz for his scheme, citing court documents.

Misiewicz's family allegedly went to a Lion King production in Tokyo with a GDMA employee and was offered prostitution services.

Within months, court prosecutors said, the Navy commander was providing Francis with ship movement schedules for the USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group and other ships. It was also alleged that shortly after that, the GDMA manager wrote to Francis saying "We got him!!:)".

Misiewicz referred to Francis as "Big Brother" or "Big Bro" in emails from a personal account while the latter would call him "Little Brother" or "Little Bro", according to court documents. GDMA is alleged to have bilked the Navy out of US$10 million (RM32 million) in just one year in Thailand alone.

The US has suspended its contracts with Francis who, along with the other three suspects, face up to five years in prison if convicted of conspiracy to commit bribery. – November 5, 2013.

The many faces of Leonard Glenn Francis

Fat Leonard

Born in Penang, he was nicknamed Fat Leonard, Lion King and Big Bro by those in navy circles because of his size.

He is more than 1.8m tall and weighs 158kg, according to court documents. His run-ins with the law have been just as big.

Malaysian newspaper The Star reported that he was sentenced to three years in jail and six strokes of the cane by the High Court in Penang on two counts of firearms possession in 1989.

He was only 21 when he was found with two revolvers.

Back then, Francis attended an expensive private school.

The paper reported that he was influenced by undesirable characters after he opened a pub.

That business left him in debt.

In mitigation, his mother claimed that she had neglected Francis and left him with the task of keeping an eye on his philandering father after she left home with his siblings.

Francis, who was described as an obedient son to his mother, was to make sure that his father did not bring other women home.

His differences with his father were stressful and could have resulted in Francis mixing with bad company when he was younger, according to veteran Malaysian lawyer C.V. Prabhakaran, who represented Francis years ago.

Huge case

Two admirals are under investigation and were placed on leave last Friday.

This follows the earlier arrests of two navy commanders and a senior Naval Criminal Investigative Service agent.

In addition, a captain was relieved of his ship's command last month in connection with the case.

Francis' company, Glenn Defence Marine (Asia), which provided naval logistics and "husbanding" services, has been accused of bribing these people.

He is listed as the director of Glenn Defence Marine, according to checks with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority.

Apart from the US Navy, its clients include the militaries of countries like Argentina, Germany and India, according to its website.

Fat Leonard's role

Leonard Glenn Francis, or Fat Leonard, as he is known in navy circles, allegedly bribed officials with prostitutes, expensive holidays and tickets to concerts.

In return, they passed confidential information on ship routes to Francis' Singapore-based company, Glenn Defence Marine (Asia).

This allowed him to profit from his dealings with the US Navy.

Vessels were steered to specific Asian ports, such as Phuket in Thailand and Malaysia's Port Klang, where he would overcharge the navy for services, including providing fuel, tugboats, sewage disposal and wharfside security.

Francis eluded arrest for years because he had also bribed officials for information on law enforcement probes and contract audits.

So far, two navy commanders and an agent with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) have been arrested. Two admirals were placed on leave on Friday.

The US Navy's chief spokesman, Rear Admiral John F. Kirby, told the Washington Post last week that more navy officials are expected to be implicated in the scandal.

NCIS started its probe in 2010.

Francis was arrested in San Diego in September after federal investigators lured him to the US on the pretext of a business meeting with navy officials.

Another Glenn Defence Marine executive, Alex Wisidagama, was arrested as well.

Francis is being held without bail after prosecutors argued that he posed a flight risk.

Role in bribery scandal

Arrested

Navy Commander Michael Misiewicz

• Provided classified information about where US ships would port.
• Recommended that ships visit ports preferred by Leonard Glenn Francis.
• Received kickbacks like tickets for his family to a Lion King show in Tokyo, prostitutes, free travel and tickets to a Lady Gaga concert.

Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) agent John Beliveau

• Collected information on a US probe into Glenn Defence Marine (Asia) and passed it to Francis.
• Received kickbacks such as a threeweek trip to Asia, prostitutes and a laptop for his girlfriend.

Navy Commander Jose Luis Sanchez

• Provided classified information about ship movements to Glenn Defence Marine (Asia).
• Partied with navy friends and prostitutes in hotels across Asia, all paid for by Francis.

Placed on leave

Vice-Admiral Ted "Twig" Branch, the service's top intelligence officer, and Rear Admiral Bruce Loveless, the US Navy's director of intelligence operations.

• Under investigation as part of the scandal involving Glenn Defence Marine (Asia). They no longer have access to classified material.
• The Navy said their alleged misconduct occurred before their current assignments and before they became admirals, reported the Washington Post.

Who steered ships toward 'Fat Leonard'?

A few middle managers drive lucrative ship schedules UT St Diego

By Jeanette Steele8:09 P.M.NOV. 18, 2013

While Navy officers seem to be dropping right and left in the “Fat Leonard” Asia bribery scandal, people familiar with how port calls work say only a few middle-management paper-pushers really drive ship schedules, and all the money that follows in their wake.

Leonard Francis

Malaysian businessman Leonard Francis, charged in federal court in San Diego with bribing Navy officers, appears to have targeted the Navy’s soft center: deskbound administrators.

Retired Navy officers say the scenario of a few well-placed bad apples makes more sense than widespread graft among Navy skippers docking in Asia.

“I think Leonard pushed, pushed, pushed, and he eventually found a couple of guys who were seduced into behavior that they had to know was grossly inappropriate,” said retired Capt. Kevin Eyer, a San Diego resident who commanded three Navy cruisers during his career.

“I actually do find all of this to be outrageous and surprising and it really does challenge my imagination. Do I believe it happened? I do.”

U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy alleges that Francis defrauded the Navy of millions of dollars since at least 2009 with the help of Cmdrs. Michael Misiewicz and Jose Luis Sanchez, mid-level officers on the operations and logistics staff of the U.S. Seventh Fleet in Asia.

They allegedly steered ships to ports where Francis’ company has a stronghold or gave him ship schedules and behind-the-scenes details of Navy contracting strategy. Francis — known in Navy circles in Asia as “Fat Leonard” because of his size — and Sanchez have hearings in downtown San Diego on Wednesday and Thursday.

A Naval Criminal Investigative Service agent in Virginia, John Beliveau, has also been charged. He is alleged to have leaked details of the investigation to Francis.

The scandal rocketed up the Navy chain of command Nov. 8 when a three-star and a two-star admiral were implicated, stripped of classified access and placed on leave, though not charged.

The Navy won’t say what the allegations against Vice Adm. Ted Branch and Rear Adm. Bruce Loveless are, just that they pertain to jobs held before they donned stars.

The word around Navy circles is that ship skippers who made port calls in Asia are being scrutinized, as they have advance notice of ship movements and can ask for certain port calls.

Branch commanded the San Diego-based aircraft carrier Nimitz in 2004 and 2005, back when he was a captain.

In early October, the Navy removed Capt. Daniel Dusek as skipper of the Japan-based amphibious ship Bonhomme Richard. The reason given was a U.S. Justice Department investigation that “negatively affected Dusek’s leadership ability and was a distraction.” Insiders say it was the bribery investigation.

There is some concern the case might become overblown and result in guilt by association.

“Here’s the problem that I worry could happen. Let’s say our last night in port we got invited to a dinner party. It’s somebody from the embassy and the husbanding agent (Francis’ job) was there,” said one retired three-star admiral who spoke on background because of his current job.

“I’m thinking back on this 15 years later, I didn’t pay any attention to who paid the bill. It could have been the husbanding agent who paid.”

According to federal complaints Misiewicz and Sanchez took more than just a free chicken dinner.

The two officers allegedly got cash, luxury trips, prostitutes and even Lady GaGa and Lion King tickets.

Francis and his company Glenn Defense Marine Asia apparently first targeted Misiewicz when the officer was skipper of the Mustin, a Japan-based destroyer.

But a Glenn Defense manager — the unnamed former Navy officer “EA” identified in court papers as a San Diego resident — already knew Misiewicz’s next assignment was deputy operations officer for the Seventh Fleet.

In that job, beginning in January 2011, Misiewicz had his hand on the deployment schedules of U.S. ships, subs and aircraft from Japan to Russia to Australia.

“We are changing faces, but keeping our lines of communications with C7F (commander, Seventh Fleet),” the manager wrote to Francis in an email.

Who was the prior “face” at the Navy’s headquarters in Asia?

Sanchez was deputy logistics officer there from April 2008 to April 2010, leaving one month before Glenn Defense began grooming Misiewicz.

The difference between an aircraft carrier pulling into Yokosuka, where it docks at a military base, and pulling into one of Francis’ “pearl ports” is pretty big money.

For example, in early January 2012 the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln visited Laem Chabang, Thailand, instead of Manila in the Philippines.

According to court documents, Misiewicz told Francis in an email that he was “fighting hard” to keep the carrier on course for Laem Chabang, where Glenn Defense was the big player.

Francis’ company invoiced the Navy $884,000 for services such as food, fuel and cars during that stop, of which $500,000 is alleged to be overbilled.

The calculus of port visits is fairly complicated, according to retired officers.

A ship on a six-month deployment will get roughly seven port calls. The skipper can ask for his preferred ports — Hong Kong and Phuket, Thailand, for example. Like his sailors, the ship’s commanding officer wants fun towns with lots to do during his time off.

But political considerations also come into play. U.S. interests dictate that American warships stop at ports where diplomatic ties need to be tended to, such as Vietnam. Other port calls, such as in Yokosuka and Guam, are working breaks that might include meetings and ship maintenance.

In Asia, the final itinerary is handed down from Seventh Fleet. The Navy’s local Fleet Logistics Commands oversee long-term ship services contracts with companies such as Glenn Defense.

A career supply officer, Sanchez went on from his Seventh Fleet job to work in Fleet Logistics Command units in Singapore and Yokosuka.

As of June 2011, Francis’ company had three regional contracts to provide services around Southeast and East Asia, the Pacific Isles and Australia.

Since the arrests began last month, the Navy has canceled nine Glenn Defense contracts worth $200 million and blocked future business.

Retired officers familiar with Navy operations in Asia say middle managers such as Misiewicz and Sanchez usually do the grunt work of ship scheduling. Officers above them would sign off without too much scrutiny.

However, given the political importance of some port calls, alarm bells may have gone off high up if certain locations became frequent stops without good reason.

“If all of a sudden everybody was going to one or two ports, red flags would start going off at the admiral level right and left,” the retired three-star said.

Former officers say it’s likely that the Fat Leonard scandal is now discussed almost daily at the highest levels of the Navy.

The current chief of naval operations, Adm. Jonathan Greenert, was commander of the Seventh Fleet from 2004 to 2006.

Greenert’s spokesman said on Monday that the admiral has met Francis, as he met many Navy supporters during his time in Asia.

“It was not uncommon for CNO to see Mr. Francis at official events in Southeast Asia or aboard USS Blue Ridge,” the Seventh Fleet command ship, Capt. Danny Hernandez said in an email.

But several people interviewed for this story don’t think that the bribery scenario — despite its lurid details about prostitutes being ordered for “wolf packs” of naval officers — will be as big a black eye as the Navy’s 1991 Tailhook debacle.

That scandal, when groups of drunken aviators groped women in a hotel corridor, went on to color the careers of hundreds of Navy fliers. Just admitting that you had attended the Tailhook convention was said to be problematic for advancement.

“It makes you feel bad that people in the Navy would do this kind of stuff for not a lot of money, really,” said retired Rear Adm. Terry McKnight, who commanded amphibious ships during his career. “It just makes it look bad on the service.”

But, he added, “Tailhook, there were (many) people at Tailhook. I think this is an isolated incident where a couple people went wrong. These admirals … I have no idea why they were brought down, but I think it’s just a few people.”

Updated MSS 6000 Surveillance System for Finland

The MSS 6000 is built for real-time monitoring of sea-surface activities and is in continuous development. The newest version has been taken into operation by the Finnish Border Guard (FBG) for surveillance tasks. The core of the MSS 6000 is a mission management system that links all available information together and presents a situation overview to the operator for interpretation and further action.

The new MSS 6000 configuration integrates several new types of information, which increases the situational awareness and enhances the cooperation between all crew members. The FBG configurationfeatures two operator workstations from which all sensors can be operated, an upgraded cockpit display for bringing up-to-date situation information to the pilots and an observer station that can be used, for example, by an observer from another organisation or authority.

The mission management system is based on GIS (Geographical Information System) technology, and the available information is presented against a backdrop of a digital nautical chart.

The information from onboard sensors and external inputs is presented live to the operator and also recorded digitally for later analysis.

The mission management system generates various reports, of which some can be customised to meet specific requirements. These reports can be viewed, analysed and distributed in real time or filed, compiled and distributed later.

A post-processing station, located at the mission control centre and/or at the aircraft home base will allow replay of the mission data for continued analysis and processing.

Typical missions include:

• General surveillance for protection of the Exclusive Economic Zone
• Oil spill tracking
• Border control
• Fishery surveillance
• Ship traffic control
• Search and rescue
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Sagem to support Singapore Navy’s littoral mission vessel class programme

The Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) has awarded a contract to Sagem (Safran) to develop and deliver a new gun fire-control system (GFCS) in support of the Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN) littoral mission vessel class programme.

Under the contract, Sagem will supply a new GFCS centralised system to be installed at the RSN ship's operations centre, which integrates several functions, including main and secondary guns, radar, optronics and navigation systems.

The Singapore Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) placed orders with Singapore Technologies Engineering (ST Engineering) earlier this year to develop and deliver eight new naval vessels for RSN.

As part of the littoral mission vessel class programme, the company's ST Marine unit will build and deliver the new ships to replace the existing Fearless-class patrol vessels (PV).

As the lead system integrator, ST Marine will provide platform system integration, as well as core combat systems and combat system integration solutions in support of the new vessels.

Equipped with enhanced combat systems and an integrated communications suite, the new vessels will support a range of maritime security operations for the RSN, including safeguarding the nation's vital sea lines of communications more effectively.

Designed to operate from several multifunction consoles concurrently, GFCS features open architecture to enable easy integration, while ensuring flexibility and scalability for future upgrades and enhancement.

Capable of interfacing with the combat management system, the new GFCS will be manufactured at Sagem's Massy R&D centre near Paris.

The GFCS has also been delivered by Sagem to the Singapore Navy in support of six Formidable-class multi-mission vessels and four Endurance-class landing ships tanks (LSTs).

- May 23, 12:51 AM

ST Marine unveiled its Littoral Mission Ship Vessel (LMV) design for the Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN 's) Fearless-class replacement programme at the International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (IMDEX) Asia, held in Singapore on 13 May.
The Singapore Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) announced on 30 January that ST Marine had been awarded a contract to design and build eight new vessels to replace the RSN's existing Fearless-class patrol vessels.
Deliveries are set to start in 2016, with all eight vessels to be fully operational by 2020.
ST Electronics will supply the core combat systems and integration solutions, while ST Marine will perform platform system integration as lead system integrator.
AT IMDEX ST Matine revealed an 80 m, 1,200-tonne displacement ship capable of achieving a maximum speed in excess of 27 kt. The vessel will have a core crew of up to 30, with potentially a further 30 embarked as specialised mission crew according to tasking.
A flight deck aft is designed to support the operation of a medium helicopter, while stern ramp facilities provide for the launch and recovery of two sea boats. Space under the flight deck allows embarkation of containerised payloads.
The sensor suite system includes a surveillance radar, navigation radar and electrooptical system, while the weapon fit encompasses a medium-calibre gun, small calibre guns and a point defence system. Weapons and sensors
will be integrated into an indigenously developed combat management system (CMS).

Source : JDW

Fearless Class, Singapore

Singapore Technologies Marine Ltd (ST Marine), part of Singapore Technologies Engineering, built 12 Fearless Class patrol vessels for the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). The RSN awarded the contract to ST Marine in February 1993 and the first of the Fearless Class patrol craft was commissioned in October 1996. The final vessel of the class was commissioned in August 1998.

In January 2003, the third vessel of the class, RSS Courageous, was badly damaged in a collision with a container ship in the Singapore Straits. Four crewmembers lost their lives when part of the aft section of the vessel was sheared off.

Fearless design

The first six vessels of the class: Fearless (94), Brave (95), Courageous (96), Gallant (97), Resilience (98) and Unity (99), are armed for anti-submarine warfare missions. The remaining six vessels: Resilience (82), Unity (83), Sovereignty (84), Justice (85), Freedom (86) and Independence (87) are patrol vessels.

The 55m patrol vessel has a steel monohull with a round bilge semi-displacement hull, incorporating very fine V-shaped frames in the forward sections. The superstructure is constructed in marine grade light alloy. The design of the vessel allows the layout to be reconfigured to accept a range of sensors and weapons systems to meet the evolving operational requirements of the armed forces of the customer countries.

"The first of the Fearless Class patrol craft was commissioned in October 1996."

Torpedoes

The first six vessels are armed with triple tube 324mm B515 torpedoes launchers from Whitehead Alenia. The torpedoes are the A244S also supplied by Whitehead Alenia.

Missiles

The air defence system is the Simbad twin missile launcher for the Mistral surface-to-air missile, supplied by MBDA (formerly Matra BAe Dynamics, France). The Simbad launcher is installed on the stern deck. Mistral provides short-range air defence against hostile fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft and against incoming anti-ship missiles. The target range is from 0.5 to 5km. Mistral has an infrared seeker, a speed of Mach 2.6 and is armed with a 3kg warhead.

The second six vessels are configured for anti-surface warfare. They were to be fitted with the Gabriel II short to medium range anti-ship missile supplied by IAI, but this project was abandoned. Gabriel II uses dual-mode semi-active and active radar homing and is armed with a 100kg warhead. The range is from 6km to 36km and the missile velocity is Mach 0.6.

Guns

The patrol vessel's main gun, installed on the bow deck, is the Oto Melara 76mm Super Rapide. The gun fires 6kg shells to a range of 16km and is capable of a firing rate of 120 rounds a minute. The patrol vessels are also armed with four CIS 50 12.7mm general-purpose machine guns.

Countermeasures

The Shield III decoy launchers, supplied by BAE Systems, carry three rocket modules fixed at an elevation angle of 30°. The launchers can be armed with a range of decoy rounds including P8 chaff rockets. The chaff is launched in distraction or seduction mode to ranges from 50m to 2km.

The vessel's radar warning receiver is the NS 9010C, supplied by Elisra based in Bene Beraq, Israel. The NS 9010C radar warning receiver performs rapid detection and analysis of hostile radar transmissions and features instantaneous frequency measurement (IFM), instantaneous direction finding (IDF) and threat analysis.

Sensors

The vessels are fitted with the MSIS optronic director, which provides fire control for the Super Rapide gun. MSIS is supplied by El-Op of Israel and includes long-wave thermal imager, Tv camera and laser rangefinder / designator.

The Fearless patrol vessel has a steel monohull with a round bilge semi-displacement hull."

Surface search and fire control radar is the EL/M-2228(X) radar which operates in E and F bands and is supplied by Elta Electronics Industries, based in Ashod, Israel. EL/M-2228(X) is a surveillance and gunnery radar capable of providing pulse doppler radar search and threat alert at X band. The radar provides simultaneous detection of air and surface search targets and operates in track while scan mode and in splash spotting while scanning. The vessels also have an I band navigation radar.

The first six ASW vessels are fitted with Thales Underwater Systems TSM 2362 Gudgeon hull-mounted medium frequency active sonar.

Propulsion

The patrol vessel is powered by two MTU 12V 595 TE 90 diesel engines coupled to ZF gear boxes. It is equipped with an MTU ship control monitoring and management system (SCMMS).

In a departure from traditional conventional drives, the patrol vessel is fitted with twin waterjet systems developed by KaMeWa of Sweden, offering increased manoeuvrability throughout the vessel's entire speed range and the ability to operate in shallow waters.

http://youtu.be/Btf0nuaFbo4

Ships	RSS Fearless (94)—commissioned 1996 RSS Brave (95)—commissioned 1996 RSS Courageous* (96)—commissioned 1996 RSS Gallant (97)—commissioned 1997 RSS Daring (98)—commissioned 1997 RSS Dauntless (99)—commissioned 1997 RSS Resilience (82)—commissioned 1998 RSS Unity (83)—commissioned 1998 RSS Sovereignty (84)—commissioned 1998 RSS Justice (85)—commissioned 1998 RSS Freedom (86)—commissioned 1998 RSS Independence (87)—commissioned 1998	RSS Resilience at sea Mistral surface-to-air missiles on the Simbad twin-tube launcher/mount
Length	55 metres
Beam	8.6 metres
Displacement	500 tonnes
Crew	30
Speed	20 knots (37 km/h)
Weapons	Mistral surface-to-air missiles Oto Melara 76 mm gun Eurotorp A244-S Mod 3 torpedoes (first six ships) CIS 50 12.7 mm machine guns

Singapore Technologies Marine Ltd have built twelve Fearless class 55m patrol vessels for the Singapore Navy.

The Fearless is powered by two new generation MTU 12V 595 TE 90 engines coupled to ZF gear boxes.

The first six vessels are configured for anti-submarine warfare and equipped with torpedoes; the second six are used for patrol and other missions.

The Fearless' ergonomically designed wheelhouse.

Fearless patrol vessels are fitted with waterjet propulsion for increased manoeuvrability.

The Fearless class patrol vessels are equipped with sophisticated MTU Ship Control Monitoring and Management Systems (SCMMS).

LCS - US Navy USS Independence and USS Freedom

The littoral combat ship (LCS) is the first of a new family of surface ships for the US Navy. The LCS is a fast, highly manoeuvrable, networked surface combat ship, which is a specialised variant of the family of US future surface combat ships known as DD(X). LCS is designed to satisfy the urgent requirement for shallow draft vessels to operate in the littoral (coastal waters) to counter growing potential 'asymmetric' threats of coastal mines, quiet diesel submarines and the potential to carry explosives and terrorists on small, fast, armed boats.

In May 2004, the United States Department of Defense and the US Navy announced the selection of two separate defense contracting teams led by Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics to each carry out system design and options for the detailed design and construction of two flight 0, or first-generation, LCS ships.

The numbers of LCS ships is not finalised but there has been speculation of 56 or up to 60 LCS ships, within a total US naval fleet of 375 ships.

Littoral combat ship design

USS Independence (LCS 2) of the General Dynamics Independence Class (front right) and USS Freedom (LCS 1) of the Lockheed Martin Freedom Class.

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The two designs are quite different, although both satisfy the top-level performance requirements and technical requirements of the LCS programme. Both achieve sprint speeds of over 40kt and long-range transit distances of over 3,500 miles. The Lockheed Martin Freedom Class design is a high-speed semi-planing monohull. The General Dynamics Independence Class design is a trimaran with a slender stabilised monohull.

The sea frames of both designs accommodate the equipment and crew for core LCS missions and special missions. They are both capable of the effective launch, control and recovery of vehicles for extended periods, however the strategy for launch and recovery for waterborne craft and for aircraft are different in the two designs. The two designs also use very different approaches for incorporating reconfigurable internal volume.

The design approach for the second-generation LCS, flight 1, ship acquisition is flexible and will take into consideration the experience gained in the flight 0 designs. In both designs, the sprint speed of 40kt to 50kt results in the body of the hull being lifted out of the water as much as possible. The Lockheed Martin design of the monohull lifts the body of the hull.

The General Dynamics trimaran design, with the slender stabilised monohull, uses two outriggers which move the displacement upwards and reduce the wetted surface. The shaping of the hull in both design strategies gives signature reduction. The designs of both ships continue to evolve with changes in the design proposals.

Freedom Class littoral combat ships

USS Freedom (LCS-1), the first in the Lockheed Martin Independence Class of littoral combat ships.

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"The littoral combat ship (LCS) is the first of a new family of surface ships for the US Navy."

Lockheed Martin proposed the Freedom class of littoral combat ship based on a semi-planing monohull design. Lockheed Martin received a contract for the first Freedom class ship, LCS-1, in December 2004. The keel for LCS-1, to be called USS Freedom, was laid in June 2005 at the Marinette Marine shipyard in Wisconsin. It was launched in September 2006.

Builder's sea trials began in July 2008. The LCS was delivered to the USN in September 2008 and was commissioned on 8 November 2008. It is based at San Diego. On 16 February 2010, the USS Freedom left the Naval Station Mayport for its maiden deployment, two years ahead of schedule.

USS Fort Worth (LCS-3) was delivered on 6th June and commissioned on 22nd September 2012. The keels for LCS-5 (USS Milwaukee) and LCS-7 (USS Detroit) were laid in October 2011 and November 2012 respectively. USS Milwaukee is scheduled for delivery in 2014.

The contract for two more ships, LCS-9 (USS Little Rock) and LCS-11 (USS Sioux City), was awarded in March 2012.

Lockheed Martin was to build LCS-3, initially named USS Courage, to commission in 2009. The contract was awarded in June 2006 and the vessel was to begin construction in early 2007.

However, in January 2007, the USN ordered Lockheed Martin to stop work on LCS-3. The USN wished to review the programme because of concerns over cost increases incurred in the construction of USS Freedom. In April 2007, the USN terminated the contract for LCS-3.

In the April 2009 Defense Department budget, Secretary of Defense Rober Gates affirmed the US Navy's commitment to the LCS programme. In March 2009 LCS-3 was announced as USS Fort Worth. Her keel was laid down on 11th July 2009 and she completed sea trials in October 2011.

In April 2005, the US Navy awarded a foreign military sales contract to Lockheed Martin to conduct a nine-month feasibility study to examine possible modifications to the Lockheed Martin LCS design to meet the requirements of the Israeli Navy. The study concentrated on hull, mechanical and electrical system compatibility. The Israeli Navy requirement includes the mk41 vertical-launch system for Barak missiles. The contract was extended in November 2007 to include technical specification and costs for the combat system. In July 2008, Israel requested the foreign military sale (FMS) of up to four vessels of the LCS 1 variant.

Lockheed Martin Freedom Class contractors

The contract option awarded to Lockheed Martin is managed by Lockheed Martin's maritime systems and sensors division in Moorestown, New Jersey. The Lockheed Martin team includes: Marinette Marine shipyard, Bollinger Shipyards, Gibbs and Cox naval architects, Izar of Spain and Blohm & Voss naval shipbuilders.

Independence Class littoral combat ships

USS Independence (LCS-2) the first of General Dynamics' Freedom Class littoral combat ships.

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General Dynamics and Austal proposed the Independence class of littoral combat ship, based on a trimaran hull. To date, USS Independence has been commissioned, USS Coronado is expected to be commissioned in 2013. Four more Independence class littoral combat ships have been named. These include USS Jackson (LCS-6), USS Montgomery (LCS-8), USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS-10) and USS Omaha (LCS-12).

General Dynamics was awarded the contract for USS Independence, LCS-2, in October 2005. The keel was laid in January 2006 at the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Alabama. It was launched in April 2008 and christened in October 2008. The ship completed the builder's sea trials in October 2009 and was delivered to the USN in December 2009. It was commissioned in January 2010.

USS Coronado (LCS-4) is an Independence Class littoral combat ship with trimaran hull. General Dynamics was awarded the contract to build LCS-4, in December 2006. In October 2007, the US Navy terminated the contract for this vessel.

In April 2008, the US Navy issued a request for proposals to the two companies for three LCS ships. It had previously been planned that orders would be placed for nine flight 1 (second-generation) LCS ships during 2008 and 2009, for ship commissioning during the period 2010 to 2012.

The contract for the Coronado, LCS-4, was awarded to General Dynamics in April 2009. The keel was laid in December 2009. It was christened in January 2012 and is expected to be commissioned in 2013. The keel for USS Jackson was laid in October 2012.

General Dynamics Independence Class contractors

The contract option awarded to General Dynamics is managed by Bath Iron Works at Bath, Maine.

"The LCS is a fast, highly manoeuvrable, networked surface combat ship."

The major members of General Dynamics team are: Austal USA, based in Mobile, Alabama (a subsidiary of Austal Ships of Australia); BAE Systems, Rockville, Maryland; Maritime Applied Physics Corporation, Baltimore, Maryland; CAE Marine Systems, Leesburg, Virginia; Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, Baltimore, Maryland; General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Burlington, Vermont; General Dynamics Electric Boat, Gorton, Connecticut; General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, Washington, DC; and General Dynamics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.

In January 2011, Lockheed and Austal won a fixed-price incentive contract to design and build a total of 20 LCS ships between 2011 and 2015. Construction contracts for four more ships were awarded in March 2012.

Core capabilities of the littoral combat ship

A full load displacement draft of 10ft allows the ships to access very shallow waters. The ships will have a top speed of about 50kt and the range at sprint speed is 1,500nm. At an economical speed of 20kt, the range is 4,300nm.

"Mission packages will be: mine warfare (MIW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare (SUW)."

The ships are configured with a helicopter deck and hangar. The deck is capable of the launch and recovery of the MH-60R/S helicopter and a tactical unmanned air vehicle. The ships can carry out aircraft launch and recovery in conditions up to sea state 5, i.e. in winds up to 27kt and average wave heights between 6.4ft and 9.6ft. The ships will be capable of launching and recovering watercraft, for example 40ft high-speed boats, within 15 minutes in conditions of sea state 4, i.e. waves up to 5ft and winds up to 21kt.

General Dynamics Robot Systems was awarded a US Navy contract to develop the common launch and recovery system (CLRS) of unmanned and other watercraft for the LCS in July 2008.

The ships will carry provisions for 21 days before replenishments and will also be able to replenish underway. The crew size will be between 15 and 50 and accommodation is provided for up to 75 ship and special mission crew. The operational availability will be 95%.

A core capability will be the deployment of Fire Scout unmanned air vehicle and the unmanned ribbed boat, Spartan unmanned surface vehicle, equipped with a basic payload of navigation radar, infrared camera and video camera.

Littoral combat ship mission modules

The mission modules will have the capability to be changed, tested and working within 24h. Northrop Grumman has been appointed as mission package integrator.

The mission packages will be: mine warfare (MIW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare (SUW).

The mission modules may be integrated into standard-sized containers that can be installed in the ship and other systems will be transferred onto the ship on pallets. The mission systems will be connected to the ship's network and communicate with the other ship systems and other surface ships and aircraft.

The MIW module includes: the AN/WLD-1 remote minehunting system, AN/AQS-20A sonar mine detecting set, organic airborne surface influence sweep, airborne laser mine detection system and airborne mine neutralisation system.

The ASW module includes the Sea TALON (tactical littoral ocean network) undersea surveillance system, being developed by Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems & Sensors, which integrates a range of acoustic sensors with semi-submersible vehicles and network-centric communications.

Passive sensors include the advanced deployable system (ADS), a rapidly deployable bottom array acoustic surveillance system. The semi-submersible, the AN/WLD-1 with an ASW mission system, tows a remote towed active source (RTAS), a multiband transducer with a remote towed array multi-function sonar.

"A slender stabilised trimaran monohull is the design proposed by the General Dynamics team."

The ASW module also includes systems to be deployed from the MH-60R helicopter (mk54 torpedoes, sonobuoys, Raytheon AN/AQS-22 airborne low-frequency sonar) and unmanned surface vehicles, USVs (dipping sonar, multi-static active sonar and ULITE ultra-lightweight towed array).

General Dynamics Robotics was awarded a contract for four USVs for the ASW module in October 2006.

The 11m Fleet Class USV weighs about 7.7t, has a payload of about 2,270kg, speed of 35kt and is capable of operating continuously for over 24h.

The SUW module includes a General Dynamics mk46 30mm cannon (also used in the rapid airborne mine clearance system and the US Marine Corps expeditionary fighting vehicle), which fires at up to 200 rounds a minute, and a version of the US Army's non-line of sight - precision attack munition missile system. The NLOS launch system and precision attack missile are being jointly developed by Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. The direct attack missile has a dual-mode uncooled infrared and semi-active laser seeker, multimode warhead and range up to 40km. The MH-60R is armed with guns and Hellfire missiles.

Littoral combat ship gun

Both General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin vessels are armed with BAE Systems Land and Armaments (formerly United Defense) mk110 57mm naval gun system. The mk110 fires mk295 ammunition at a rate of 220 rounds a minute to a range of 14km (nine miles).

General Dynamics trimaran

The slender stabilised trimaran monohull proposed by the General Dynamics team has an overall length of 127.8m, maximum beam of 28.4m and full load displacement of 2,637t. The seaframe is based on Austal's design for the Benchijigua Express passenger / car ferry.

A naval forward looking infrared is fitted above the bridge. The Raytheon SeaRAM anti-ship missile defencse system is installed on the hangar roof. SeaRAM combines the sensors of the Phalanx 1B close-in weapon system but replaces the 20mm gun with an 11-missile launcher for the rolling airframe missile (RAM). 50-calibre machine gun mounts are installed port and starboard on the walkway on either side of the hangar and at the stern just below the level of the stern helicopter deck.

The decoy systems include three Super RBOCs and two Nulka decoy launchers. The countermeasures suite will include ES 3601 tactical radar electronic support measures (ESM) from EDO Corp. The towed sonar and towed decoys are launched from the stern of the ship.

Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems will provide the integrated combat management system (ICMS), BAE Systems Electronic Systems will provide the radio communications system and CAE Marine Systems will supply the automated ship control system.

The main mast carries the Link 16, Link 1, CEC, and the Saab Microwave Systems (formerly Ericsson) Sea Giraffe radar.

Lockheed Martin semi-planing monohull

Lockheed Martin's advanced semi-planing seaframe is based on technologies introduced by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri on the 1,000t Destrier commercial vessel, which holds the transatlantic speed record, and the 3,000t Jupiter class.

The ship has a steel hull with aluminium superstructure and will be powered by two Rolls-Royce MT30 36MW gas turbines and two Fairbanks Morse Colt-Pielstick 16PA6B STC diesel engines driving four large, acoustically optimised Rolls-Royce waterjets.

Four Isotta Fraschini Model V1708 ship service diesel generator sets provide auxiliary power. Fincantieri Marine Systems North America Inc is supplying the ride control system.

"The Lockheed Martin design is a semi-planing monohull."

The ship's maximum speed is 45kt. The overall length is 115.5m. The maximum beam width is 13.1m and the draft is 3.7m.

The vessel has automated stern doors, stern ramp, side launch doors and overhead crane for the launch and recovery of manned and unmanned vessels.

The combat management system is the Lockheed Martin COMBATSS-21, based on open architecture. The ships will be equipped with EADS TRS-3D C-band radar for air and surface surveillance and weapon assignment and the soft-kill weapon system (SKWS) decoy launcher from Terma A/S of Denmark.

The U.S. Navy has decided to pick one Littoral Combat Ship design in fiscal 2010, instead of two, as part of a new acquisition strategy for the large shipbuilding program, two sources familiar with the Navy plan said on Wednesday.

Navy acquisition chief Sean Stackley and Vice Admiral Barry McCullough, deputy chief of naval operations, are due to announce the new acquisition plan later on Wednesday, the sources said.

Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) and General Dynamics Corp (GD.N) are building separate models of the shore-hugging ship, which the Navy plans to use in coastal areas for mine detection, anti-submarine warfare and combat against small surface craft such as pirates.

The Navy had planned to buy 55 of the new lighter, more agile warships to help the Navy expand its fleet from 283 ships to 313 over time, but those plans have been jeopardized by big cost increases on the program.

It was not immediately clear if the total number would remain the same under the new acquisition plan.

Chief of Naval Operations Gary Roughead told reporters in June that costs had nearly stabilized on a second set of LCS ships being built by Lockheed and General Dynamics.

Roughead said he was encouraged by cost trends on the two ships under construction and that the Navy would try to avoid adding any new requirements that could drive costs higher.

Costs have more than doubled from an original projection of $220 million and the program is subject to a congressional cost cap of $460 million on each new ship, beginning in fiscal 2010, which begins Oct. 1, although lawmakers have proposed various options on how to adjust the cap for inflation and other items.

Lockheed's first LCS ship successfully completed a second round of builders' trials earlier this month.

General Dynamics' first ship had been going through its builders' trials, but ran into several unexpected problems.

The decision to pick just one design in fiscal 2010 could be bad news for General Dynamics, which started later on its version of the ship program, said Loren Thompson, a defense analyst with the Virginia-based Lexington Institute.

Thompson advises many defense companies including both Lockheed and General Dynamics, but is not involved with either company on the LCS program.

"Right now, the obvious ship to downselect is the Lockheed Martin ship. They have worked through their problems and the ship is performing very well. The GD ship really isn't ready for primetime because it started so much later," he said.

The problem was that the Navy's current shipbuilding plan was not affordable, putting the service under pressure to simplify programs like LCS by "prematurely selecting one winner," Thompson said.

"The shipbuilding budget is underfunded, so they have to make cuts somewhere," he said.

Lockheed shares closed up 46 cents at $76.16, while General Dynamics shares gained 16 cents to close at $63.29. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal-Esa; editing by Carol Bishopric)

List of LCS ships[edit]

Freedom variant	Independence variant
USS Freedom (LCS-1)	USS Independence (LCS-2)
USS Fort Worth (LCS-3)	USS Coronado (LCS-4)
USS Milwaukee (LCS-5)	USS Jackson (LCS-6)
USS Detroit (LCS-7)	USS Montgomery (LCS-8)
USS Little Rock (LCS-9)	USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS-10)
USS Sioux City (LCS-11)	USS Omaha (LCS-12)
USS Wichita (LCS-13)	USS Manchester (LCS-14)
USS Billings (LCS-15)	USS Tulsa (LCS-16)
USS Indianapolis (LCS-17)