Friday, 24 October 2014

US Navy awards LCS construction contract modification to Lockheed

I personally love to read how their navy have a say in equipment selection, how the system should put in place to compliment USNAVY operational requirement.
And how latest of art  system technology should integrate to do what at their best.

Really hope our Royal Malaysian Navy will come to this stage , free to select their ships and have all the guts to tell the politician to fuck off.


11 March 2014 - Naval Technology.com

The US Navy has awarded a $698.9m contract modification to a Lockheed Martin-led industry team for construction of the seventh and eighth littoral combat ships (LCS).
Under the contract modification, the Lockheed Martin-led team will construct a Freedom variant of the LCS ships including Indianapolis (LCS 17) and LCS 19, yet to be named.
For each ship, the three contract line items cover basic seaframe construction, selected ship systems integration and test, and selected ship systems equipment.
"USS Little Rock (LCS 9), USS Sioux City (LCS 11) and USS Wichita (LCS 13) are all in various stages of construction, whereas USS Billings (LCS 15) will start construction this year."
USS Milwaukee (LCS 5), the first ship on the 2010 contract, is undergoing trials and will be delivered to the US Navy in 2015, while the future USS Detroit (LCS 7) is expected to be launched later this year.
USS Little Rock (LCS 9), USS Sioux City (LCS 11) and USS Wichita (LCS 13) are all in various stages of construction, whereas USS Billings (LCS 15) will start construction this year.
Lockheed Martin mission systems and training business littoral ship systems vice-president Joe North said: "We'll continue to build best-in-class, cost-effective ships for the Navy, supporting its need to defeat littoral threats and provide maritime access in critical waterways."
Scheduled for completion by August 2018, work under the contract will be carried out in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Washington, Florida, New Jersey, Minnesota and various other locations.

Image: The US Navy's second Freedom-class LCS operates off the coast of San Diego. Photo: courtesy of US Navy.

Freedom-class LCS

Thursday, 23 October 2014

US Navy’s LCS 4 completes combat systems light off test

The US Navy's second Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Coronado has completed combat systems light off test, marking a significant milestone in the operational readiness of the ship's advanced computer, weapons and sensor systems.
During the off test, Austal demonstrated the 57mm gun's ability to target another ship from the bridge of the LCS, paving its entry into the formal combat systems test and certification process cycle.

The navy awarded a $3.5bn contract to Austal to build and deliver an additional ten LCSs to join USS Independence (LCS 2), which was commissioned in January 2010.
Designated as LCS 4, the automated and networked surface combatant vessel is currently undergoing final outfitting and activation at Austal's facility before preparing to perform sea trials.
The 127m-long, high-speed, highly manoeuvrable combat ship has a full-load displacement of 2,637t, an operational range of 4,300nm and can cruise at a speed of 40knots.
The LCS programme aims to fill the critical, urgent operational combat requirements gaps currently in the navy for defeating littoral threats and provide access and dominance in coastal waters.
“The automated and networked surface combatant vessel is currently undergoing final outfitting and activation at Austal's facility before preparing to perform sea trials."
Designed to support launch and recovery operations of manned and unmanned vehicles, the ships can execute mine warfare, anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare missions and also support countering piracy and drug-trafficking in shallow coastal waters and providing humanitarian relief.
The US Navy intends to procure a total of 55 LCSs for multi-mission support to establish and maintain its dominance in the littorals and sea lanes of communication choke points around the world.
Austal is building the Independence-class aluminum trimaran LCSs, while Lockheed Martin is constructing the Freedom-class semi-planing monohull ships.
General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems has teamed up with Austal to serve as the ship systems integrator for the LCS programme and is responsible for the design, integration and testing of the ship's electronic systems including the combat system, networks, and seaframe control.

CoronadoLCS 4_USNavy
Image: The second Independence variant of the Littoral Combat Ship, Coronado. 
Photo: courtesy of Austal.


US NAVY LCS : Integration with Gun SYstem not succesful

The Navy adopted a concurrent design-build strategy for the first two LCS seaframes, which has proven unsuccessful. Contributing challenges included the implementation of new design guidelines, delays in major equipment deliveries, and an unwavering focus on achieving schedule and performance goals. These events drove low levels of outfitting, out-of-sequence work, and rework-all of which increased construction costs. Also, incomplete designs during construction led to weight increases for both seaframes. According to the Navy, this weight growth contributed to a higher than desired center of gravity on LCS 1 that degraded the stability of the seaframe. In fact, an inclining experiment performed during acceptance trials showed LCS 1 may not meet Navy stability requirements for the damaged ship condition. The Navy is taking steps to remove weight and implement stability improvements for LCS 1, while also incorporating design changes for future seaframes.
In March 2009 the Government Accountability Office found that Fifteen of 19 critical technologies for the two seaframe designs were fully mature, and 2 technologies are approaching maturity. The overhead launch and retrieval system in the LCS 1 design and the aluminum structure in the LCS 2 design are immature. The Navy identified the watercraft launch and recovery concept as a major risk to both seaframe designs. This capability is essential to complete the LCS anti-submarine warfare and mine countermeasures missions. According to the Navy, industry watercraft launch and recovery designs are unproven.
To mitigate risk, the Navy is conducting launch and recovery modeling and simulation, model basin testing, and experimentation and is encouraging the seaframe industry teams to adopt similar approaches. Final integration of mission package vehicles with each seaframe will not occur until post-delivery test and trials-planned first for LCS 1 in 2010 using the mine countermeasures mission package. Any problems detected could require redesign and costly rework, which could delay the introduction of LCS to the fleet.
The Navy assesses LCS design stability by monitoring changes to requirements documents, execution of engineering change proposals, and the completion of contract deliverables related to drawings, ship specifications, and independent certification of the design. Construction is monitored using earned value management and through evaluation of manufacturing hours spent on rework, deficiencies detected and corrected, and the number of test procedures performed.
As part of LCS 1 acceptance trials, the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) identified 21 critical "starred" deficiencies and recommended the Chief of Naval Operations authorize delivery of LCS 1 after correction or waiver of these deficiencies. According to Navy officials, only 9 of these deficiencies were corrected prior to delivery. Navy officials report that transiting the ship away from Marinette, Wisconsin, prior to the winter freeze was a higher priority than timely correction of starred deficiencies. The Navy intends to correct remaining deficiencies during planned post-delivery maintenance availabilities. The Navy plans to hold an INSURV review of LCS 2 upon completion of construction and builder's trials for that seaframe. Navy officials report that the earned value management systems in each of the LCS shipyards do not meet Defense Contract Management Agency requirements for validation. Thus, the cost and schedule data reported by the prime contractors cannot be considered fully reliable by the Navy when evaluating contractor cost proposals or negotiating for construction of follow-on ships.
The Navy stated the LCS program is delivering vital capabilities to the fleet and will be a critical component of the Navy. It noted that LCS 1 was delivered September 18, 2008-6 years and 1 day after the LCS program was established. In fiscal year 2009, the program will deliver a second ship of a completely different design. According to the Navy, while the initial cost and schedule objectives were overaggressive - and necessitated a concurrent design and construction plan - they provided the tension and urgency for these achievements, and lessons learned will be applied to future shipbuilding programs. In August 2008, INSURV evaluated LCS 1 and found it to be "capable, well-built, and inspection-ready." The Navy stated it is leveraging lessons learned from LCS 1 and LCS 2 to ensure future ship awards provide the right mix of capability and affordability.
Operation of the MCM, SUW, and ASW packages on the LCS requires a total of 25 critical technologies, including 13 sensors, 5 weapons, and 7 vehicles. Of these technologies, 17 are currently mature and 8 are nearing maturity.
The first of 24 MCM packages was delivered in September 2007 and included 7 of 10 planned mission systems. Four systems are not yet mature; two of these are struggling to reach full maturity. Officials note the Organic Airborne and Surface Influence Sweep is being redesigned to address corrosion issues and the Rapid Airborne Mine Clearance System requires design changes to perform in all environmental conditions. An airborne mine countermeasures system was decertified and its tow cable is being redesigned following the results of testing with the helicopter. The Navy also decertified the Remote Minehunting System during testing in 2007 due to reliability issues, and, according to officials, results of a recent operational assessment are pending. The Navy now plans to deliver the third and fourth mission packages in fiscal year 2011 and has delayed delivery of the baseline package until fiscal year 2012.
The first of 24 SUW packages was delivered in July 2008 and included 1 of 2 planned mission systems. The SUW package includes the fully mature 30mm gun and a variant of the Army's Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) system (missile and launcher), which is nearing maturity. The first package consisted of two gun engineering development models, without the NLOS launcher or missiles. The NLOS design for LCS has not yet been validated. Integration of the gun with LCS is not complete. A design review for the gun module is scheduled for October 2009. Delivery of a baseline package has been delayed to fiscal year 2013.
The first of 16 ASW packages was delivered in September 2008 and included 4 of 10 planned mission systems. Three systems remain immature including the Unmanned Surface Vehicle's Dipping Sonar, the Remotely Towed Array and the Remotely Towed Array Source. Failure to develop these technologies as expected could increase reliance on the MH-60R helicopter. The Navy has delayed delivery of a second ASW package until fiscal year 2011, and delayed baseline capability from fiscal year 2011 to 2013.
The development cost of the LCS packages has increased by more than $300 million, or 64 percent since last year. Procurement costs have decreased for MCM, in part because the delivery of the more expensive baseline capability has been delayed. Reductions in fiscal year 2008 and 2009 budget requests have slowed mission package procurement to account for continuing delays in seaframe acquisition. The explanatory statement accompanying DOD Appropriation Act for Fiscal Year 2009 Congress asked the Navy to develop a plan for fielding the MCM capability independent of LCS.
The program office indicates all packages are currently scheduled to undergo operational assessments with both LCS seaframe designs, beginning in June 2010. According to program officials, in September 2008, the Navy conducted a shore based integration exercise using simulated seaframe mission bays. Officials note this activity accelerated MCM mission package integration with both seaframes and reinforced previous crew training.
Program officials noted that changes to the program between the 2008 and 2009 president's budgets resulted in an apparent increased development cost. Costs for the SUW package bought in fiscal year 2009 were realigned from procurement to development to support technical and operational evaluations. In addition, data provided to GAO for last year's assessment did not include costs of common equipment that was subsequently distributed among the MCM and ASW packages. The program office acknowledges technical maturity challenges for some mission systems and is working closely with mission system program offices to resolve any issues. The program office is leading a coordinated test approach to prove mission package capabilities and suitability for fleet delivery. The program office also provided technical comments that were incorporated as appropriate.

by globalsecurity.org

LCS US NAVY: Littoral Combat Ship Mission Package Integration Contract Awarded to Northrop Grumman

Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS060109-07
Release Date: 1/9/2006 3:31:00 PM
From Program Executive Office, Littoral and Mine Warfare
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy has awarded a 10-year, cost plus award fee/award term contract with a potential dollar figure of $159 million to Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Bethpage, N.Y. Jan. 4, for the mission package integrator (MPI) for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Mission Modules program, strengthening the production team that will deliver the first mission packages in Fiscal Year (FY) '07. The FY '06 portion of the contract award is $4,477,824.

The integrator's role is to work closely with the government's Mission Package Integration Laboratory at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City, Fla., to produce and deliver capabilities according to the technical architectures developed by the LCS Mission Modules Program Office (PMS 420).

"The MPI contract is a significant step forward in our effort to deliver modular, plug-and-fight capability for the fleet," said Capt. Walt Wright, Mission Modules Program manager. "Together with industry we will produce integrated packages of mission systems-for Mine Warfare (MIW), Anti-submarine Warfare (ASW) and Surface Warfare (SUW)-that will go to sea aboard LCS."

The Navy has defined the role of the mission package integrator as a system-engineering partner responsible for bringing the systems and technologies of the mission modules together under the integration and interface requirements established by PMS 420 and the LCS program office. The integrator also will act as a conduit for technology to be harnessed and incorporated into the LCS's seaframe and mission module architectures.

PMS 420 packages a variety of technologies, many of which are produced by other program offices and delivered as elements of a particular mission module.

"We are bringing together the best available technologies from a variety of programs to meet the focused mission requirements of the LCS program," Wright noted.

For example, the MIW module brings together several systems developed by the Mine Warfare program office (PMS 495). The MIW module includes the AN/WLD-1 Remote Minehunting System; the AN/AQS-20A Sonar Mine Detecting Set; the Organic Airborne Surface Influence Sweep; the Airborne Laser Mine Detection System; and the Airborne Mine Neutralization System, among other systems.

At the heart of the ASW module is the Advanced Deployable System (ADS), which is developed by the Maritime Surveillance Systems program office (PMS 485). The ADS is a bottom array that may be deployed from LCS at high speed, providing high-quality acoustic surveillance data. Additionally, the ASW module includes acoustic sensors such as a multifunction towed array, and a remote towed active source, along with other detection systems and weapons designed for use aboard the MH-60R helicopter and unmanned surface vessels.

The SUW module includes weapons such as a 30mm cannon (the same as is used in the Mine Warfare program offices Rapid Airborne Mine Clearance System, and the U.S. Marine Corps' Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle), and a version of the U.S. Army's Non-Line of Sight - Precision Attack Munition missile system

How They did it 2 : Sea Fighter (FSF 1) Fast Sea Frame Littoral Surface Craft-Experimental LSC(X)

Sea Fighter (FSF 1) is a test platform for concepts and technologies planned for use in the Littoral Combat Ship and is manned with a joint Navy and Coast Guard crew of only 26 personnel. The Littoral Surface Craft-Experimental LSC(X) was developed by the Office of Naval Research and christened Sea Fighter (FSF 1) on 5 February 2005. This high speed aluminum catamaran will test a variety of technologies that will allow the Navy to operate in littoral waters. Following approximately two months of trials, Sea Fighter was delivered at the end of April 2005. Operational control then was assumed by the Navy's Third Fleet with the ship operating out of its homeport of San Diego, CA.
Sea Fighter is a multi-mission test vessel designed as a proof-of-concept for numerous warfighting capabilities. Sea Fighter might prove useful enough to be the model for a new class of coastal combat ships. It is able to operate in both blue and littoral waters using either dual gas turbine engines for speed or dual diesel engines for efficient cruising. The vessel is extremely fast, with a top speed of 50-plus knots an hour. Even in rough seas (with up to 7-foot waves), the ship can do about 40-plus knots an hour. The ship has a number of capabilities such as a boat dock and a flight deck large enough for two helicopters. The ship can be easily reconfigured using interchangeable mission modules. As such, helicopters can land and launch on its deck and smaller water craft can be carried and launched from its stern
Sea Fighter is being used to evaluate the hydrodynamic performance, structural behavior, mission flexibility, and propulsion system efficiency of high speed vessels. Sea Fighter's mission flexibility will be demonstrated through interchangeable "mission modules" (standard twenty foot containers) housed in Sea Fighter's large Mission Bay. The Mission Bay is capable of housing twelve containers, permitting the vessel to be quickly reconfigured to support a variety of potential missions, including battle force protection, mine counter-measures, anti-submarine warfare, amphibious assault support and humanitarian support. A multi-purpose Stern Ramp allows Sea Fighter to launch and recover manned and unmanned surface and sub-surface vehicles up to the size of an 11 meter Rigid-Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB). Sea Fighter will be able to simultaneously operate two MH-60S helicopters from its flight deck.
Sea Fighter will also provide a platform for the evaluation of minimum manning concepts on future naval surface ships. A base crew of 26 (Navy and U.S. Coast Guard) personnel will be responsible for all operations and basic maintenance, requiring a significant shift in the normal levels of manning currently used to accomplish various missions and tasks. Sea Fighter also will be among the first U.S. Navy ships to employ "paperless" navigation through the use of the Sperry Marine Electronic Charting and Display Information System (ECDIS) and Voyage Management System (VMS). Typically, the ship will operate with just three watchstanders and one roving patrol to monitor and configure engineering systems. This reduced manning will be supported by a level of automation and sophisticated monitoring of systems and equipment previously absent on U.S. Navy ships.
After completion of the contract design, shipyard competition, and design review in March 2003, the keel for the 262 foot-long Sea Fighter was laid in June 2003 and the 950 ton (light ship displacement) ship was launched in launched in February of 2005. After a brief period of operational evaluation and crew certification, Sea Fighter will conduct exercises in support of risk reduction for the Navy's Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) as an "LCS surrogate." Following the exercises, Sea Fighter may be upgraded with weapons and additional electronic equipment. Ultimately, Sea Fighter may be commissioned as an operational Navy ship.
The development of computational tools used for high-speed sealift, HSSL, ships requires specific data for validation. These HSSL design tools specifically address the vessel's performance and loading, including the ships behavior during wave slam events. Because very little, if any, full-scale data of this type exists, research work was obtained full-scale qualitative and quantitative wave slamming data of the Sea Fighter (FSF-1), a high-speed multihull vessel developed by the Office of Naval Research. This data included measurement of the ambient environmental conditions, the incident waves impacting the ship, ship motions, and visual documentation of the free-surface/wave field surrounding the ship during slamming events. The rough water trial took place April 18-21, 2006 and several wave slams were documented.
The Sea Fighter was built as an experiment by Nichols Bros. Boat Builders in Freeland, Washington, under contract to Titan Corporation, a subsidiary of L-3 Communications. It was ordered in 2003 and launched in 2005, 29 months from concept to a ship in the water. In 2008, the Sea Fighter was renamed the FSF-1 and commissioned for Navy duty for a total cost between $180 and $220 million.
The success of this effort can be attributed to a lack of hard requirements. The ship was intended as a research project to test design limits; it included an innovative seaframe, communications systems, and weapons configurations. The requirements document "fit on less than one page" and the designers utilized full commercial practices. The ship was commissioned under commercial American Bureau of Shipbuilding classification rules; military certification was not a factor until the ship was deployed.
The purpose of this program was to provide incentives and guidance for subsequent procurements-specifically, the LCS program. The effort demonstrated a wide range of innovative capabilities, including the previously unexplored feasibility of the aluminum hull trimaran design of the LCS2.
Solicitation N61331-10-R-0001 was for a contractor to provide the crew required to operate and maintain the FSF-1 during systems test and experimentation and during transit between ports. The Government anticipated an approximate award date of March 2010. The initial period of performance shall be from award through 12 MONTHS, thereafter, with four award terms. Each award term period, which, if awarded, extends the period of performance by 12 months. The contractor shall provide all operations, maintenance, engineering, and programmatic support required to operate and maintain the SEA FIGHTER as an experimental vessel in support of advanced technology demonstrations and Research Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) efforts. The contractor shall provide project-specific engineering, technical services, fabrication, and material procurement support as required based on specific RDT&E and advanced technology demonstration requirements taking place aboard the SEA FIGHTER.
This effort shall include, but is not limited to the following: provide engineering, maritime, and technical services to support the installation, test, inspection, checkout, maintenance, and repair of propulsion, navigation, communication, and auxiliary equipment (hereafter "equipment") for the High Speed Naval Craft SEA FIGHTER (FSF 1) Class ship. Operate the ship pier-side, at-anchor, and at-sea under its own power. Provide crew services for the Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) and life boat. Haul the RHIB, life boat and/other craft in and out of the water as required to support operations and maintenance. Install, checkout, test, maintain and un-install equipment/components for ship operations. Prepare, document, and conduct shipboard operations and safety training for engineering, planning, installation, and test and evaluation (T&E) personnel. Coordinate and document SEA FIGHTER specific, NSWC PCD operations processes, such as, Hurricane Evacuation Plans. Maintain configuration management plans for required SEA FIGHTER documentation. Provide food and beverage service functions for at-sea operations and special requirements, as required. Provide galley services for at-sea operations, as required.
Ship Typewave-piercing catamaran.
NameSEA FIGHTER (FSF 1)
PropulsionTwo GE LM2500 Gas Turbine Engines;
  • two MTU 16V 595 TE 90 Propulsion Diesels;
  • four Rolls-Royce 125SII Waterjets.
  • Length262 feet (79.9 meters) overall
    240 feet (73 meters) at waterline
    Beam72 feet (22 meters)
    Draft11.5 feet (3.5 meters)
    Full Displacement1600 tons
    Light Displacement940-950 tons
    Dead Weight640 tons
    Hull MaterialAll aluminum hull
    Speed50+ knots
    Rangein excess of 4,000 nm @ 20+ knots
    Crew26 (Navy and Coast Guard)
    HomeportSan Diego, CA
    Award Date02/25/2003
    Keel Date06/05/2003
    Launch Date02/05/2005
    Delivery Date05/31/2005
    Commission Datenot in commission
    Build NumberS-144
    BuilderTitan Corporation, San Diego, CA at building yard of Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, Freeland, WA.
    BuildersNichols Brothers Boat Builders, 5400 South Cameron Rd, Freeland, WA 98249, USA
    DesignersBMT Nigel Gee and Associates Ltd, Shamrock Quay, Southampton, SO14 5QL, UK
    ClassAmerican Bureau of Shipping (ABS)
    ClassificationA1 HSC Naval Craft OE AMS ACCU R2-S
    Call SignWDC4562
    MMSI No367026670
    EPIRBADCE 0217D142401
    Flag AdministrationNAVSEA 05D4
    Anchoring & Mooring Equipment Number633
    Equipment NumeralU17
    Regulatory BodyIMO HSC 2000 Cargo Vessel
      

    by globalsecurity.org

    How they do thing: Focused-Mission High Speed Ship Concept Studies [FMHSS]

    Focused-Mission High Speed Ship Concept Studies [FMHSS]

    The Navy went out with a recent Request for Proposal to obtain industry concepts for a High Speed Ship. The Navy would review the concepts for possible applicability to the Littoral Combat Ship. With this in mind, the contract was not for LCS, rather studies that would further refine the Navy's requirements and knowledge of technology options for the proposed Littoral Combat Ship and other future ship classes.
    On 8 November 2002, six companies were each awarded a firm-fixed-price contract worth $500,000 for the performance of focused-mission ship concept studies intended to explore a range of approaches in an overall effort to define future ship requirements. These studies would further refine the Navy's requirements and knowledge of technology options for the proposed Littoral Combat Ship and other future ship classes. This was a part of the Naval services tranformation into the 21st Century and a part of the foundation for future warships. The focused-mission ship to be studied was envisioned to be a networked, agile, stealthy surface combatant capable of defeating anti-access and asymmetric threats in the littorals. Its primary missions would be prosecution of small boats, mine-countermeasures, and littoral anti-submarine warfare.
    The companies, Bath Iron Works Corp, Bath, Maine, Gibbs & Cox, Inc, Arlington, Virginia, John J. McMullen Associates, Inc, Alexandria, Virginia, Lockheed Martin, Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems - Marine System, Baltimore, Maryland, Northrop Grumman - Ship Systems, Pascagoula, Mississippi, and Textron Systems, Marine & Land Operations, New Orleans, Louisiana, each performed a 90-day ship concept study to research innovative concepts for a focused-mission, high-speed ship. These contracts were awarded following a full and open competition, during which eighteen offers were received.
    The General Dynamics team was led by Bath Iron Works, and included leading US and international defense contractors. Team members are The Boeing Company, Austal, USA, of Mobile, Alabama, British Aerospace Corporation (BAE), Maritime Applied Physics Corporation, CAE Marine Systems and five other General Dynamics business units. The team developed an integrated system that delivered significantly enhanced capabilities to naval, joint and coalition forces operating within the littorals. In defining system design characteristics, the team addressed FMHSS integration with FORCEnet, the information network into which the Navy planned integrate sensors, decision aids and weapons, as well as other joint and coalition information networks. The spectrum of technologies to be evaluated by the team would include all forms of remotely deployed and operated vehicles, distributed sensors, modular payloads, weapons, communications, command and control and automation systems as well as advanced propulsion technologies and hull construction materials.
    The team had chosen to base its FMHSS hull design on advanced Trimaran hull form technology. Results of recent Office of Naval Research sponsored high-speed Trimaran studies completed by Bath Iron Works would be coupled with an existing Trimaran design available through Austal, USA, to create a highly automated ship capable of speeds in excess of 50 knots. This ship would have significantly lighter displacement than the Navy's FFG-7 Oliver Hazard Perry Class of frigates designed and built at Bath Iron Works and would be capable of extended independent operations with a crew of just 25-30. The advanced Trimaran design offers outstanding efficiency and performance in all sea conditions, endurance and reliability for sustained independent operations and a high degree of flexibility/adaptability to meet evolving military requirements through open architecture and modular configuration. The system was expected to enable advanced operational concepts such as those employing high speed, enhanced maneuver, distributed forces and reduced signatures as well as the ability to efficiently embark from a broad array of aircraft, amphibious, land and marine vehicles.
    On 22 October 2002, the Northrop Grumman Corporation announced that it had signed a cooperative agreement with Kockums AB and its parent company, Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft AG (HDW), under which Kockums would join a team assembled by Northrop Grumman's Ship Systems sector to compete for the US Navy's Focused Mission Vessel Study. This study was expected to result in the development and construction of a Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), one element of the DD(X) family of surface combatants planned for construction by the Navy during the next quarter century.
    The cooperative agreement between Northrop Grumman, Kockums and HDW covers business opportunities for the design, development, construction and sale of Visby-class ships and/or derivative technology to the US government for the LCS and other US programs, and for sales to friendly international governments through the Foreign Military Sales program. Northrop Grumman plans to use the Visby as the baseline for development of Ship Systems' proposal for the Navy's LCS program. Combining the proven hull and composite technology developed by Kockums with Northrop Grumman's composite and overall ship integration experience would allow the Navy to rely upon a proven, full-service shipbuilder, with access to state-of-the-art fielded technology, for the LCS program.
    In April 2003, at the US Navy League's Sea Air Space Exposition Team LCS, the Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems and John J. Mullen Associates Inc. partnership, unveiled their Littoral Combat Ship design based on Norway's Skjold class patrol boat. Raytheon was the prime contractor and was responsible for the systems architecture and ships systems integration. JJMA was heading up the naval engineering and ship design competencies. UMOE was working on the hull design and manufacturing processes. Goodrich heads up the composite design and fabrication and Atlantic Marine, Inc. was the shipyard.
    Also at Sea Air Space Exposition 2003, Lockheed Martin LCS Team unveiled Sea Blade, an Advanced Semi-Planing Seaframe, for the Navy's Littoral Combat Ship program.
    Textron Systems and EDO Combat Systems (also at the Navy League's Expo) submitted a ship design, the Hybrid Catamaran Air Cushion (HCAC), that uses Textron Marine & Lands considerable experience with air-supported craft, such as the LCAC. The ship design also had the ability to operate as a catamaran, in which mode it was able to sustain a cruise speed of 18-20 knots.

    Preliminary Design

    On 10 February 2003 the Navy announced that it would soon issue a formal request for proposals to build the LCS. The Navy said that it would award 3 contracts worth $10 million each, some time in July 2003, for a preliminary design concept. The US Navy plans included a first flight of two ships to be begin construction in 2005 and 2006 and for the follow-on flights to begin construction by 2008.
    On 17 July 2003 the Navy announced that General Dynamics (including Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, and Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems), Surface Systems, Washington, DC, and Raytheon Company, Integrated Defense Systems, Portsmouth, Rhode Island, were each being awarded a contract for the performance of Flight 0 littoral combat ship (LCS) preliminary design. Each contractor was to perform a seven-month preliminary design effort to refine its proposed littoral combat ship concept.
    2003 analysis by David D. Rudko noted that the Navy has stated the Littoral Combat Ship must incorporate endurance, speed, payload capacity, sea-keeping, shallow-draft and mission reconfigurability into a small ship design. However, constraints in current ship design technology make this desired combination of design characteristics in small ships difficult to realize at any cost. Speed, displacement, and significant wave height all result in considerable increases in fuel consumption, and as a result, severely limit Littoral Combat Ship endurance. When operating in a significant wave height of six feet, regardless of the amount of fuel carried, the maximum endurance achieved for a wave-piercing catamaran Littoral Combat Ship outfitted with all modular mission packages is less than seven days. Especially noteworthy is that when restricted to a fuel reserve of 50% and a fuel carrying capacity of Day tanks, the maximum achieved endurance is only 4.8 hours when operating at a maximum speed of 48 knots. The Littoral Combat Ship can achieve high speeds; however, this can only be accomplished at the expense of range and payload capacity. The requirement for the Littoral Combat Ship to go fast (forty-eight knots) requires a seaframe with heavy propulsion systems. The weight of the seaframe, required shipboard systems (weapons, sensors, command and control, and self-defense) and modular mission packages accounts for 84% of the full displacement, and as a result, substantially limits total fuel carrying capacity. Since initial mission profiles required the high-speed capability at most five percent of the time, the end result is a Littoral Combat Ship that has very little endurance and a high-speed capability it will rarely use. Refueling, and potentially rearming, will require the Littoral Combat Ship to leave littoral waters and transit to Combat Logistics Force ships operating outside the littorals for replenishment. Given the low endurance of the Littoral Combat Ship, its time on station is seriously compromised.

    Wednesday, 8 October 2014

    An assessment of maritime security and piracy in Asia

    According to statistic below the threat of piracy is not being dealt with adequately enough, with 24% indicating that preparation, investment and
    implementation is poor in this area. While one fifth of respondents do think a good job is being done, it’s clear that this is not enough.
     24% -Poor
    54% - OK
    21% - Good
    1% - Excellent

    Threats to maritime safety
    What is the key threat to maritime safety globally?

    The piracy threat is the most significant threat facing global navies, border security patrols and commercial sea traffic according to 71% of respondents.

    Not one Navy, Coast Guard or Air Force in Asia is content with their maritime security and anti-piracy capabilities. Each one is considering bolstering their fleets by acquiring new platforms and equipment to counter the rising threat of piracy and other illicit activities in Asian waters.
    The Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) – a body established to promote and enhance government-to-government cooperation against piracy and armed robbery in Asia – released a report detailing 73 incidents of piracy and armed robbery in Asian waters during the first half of 2014. The majority (55) of these incidents were classified as armed robbery against ships while the rest (18) were incidents of piracy. It has led Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines) to circulate a warning to its partners in the region to remain vigilant about the rising maritime security threats in the region, and particularly in Southeast Asia.
    Unlike piracy off the Somali coast and in the Gulf of Guinea – where hostages are held for ransom – pirates in Asia typically steal cargo and often target oil tankers. The International Maritime Bureau’s (IBM) Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC) noted in its July report that small tanker hijackings in Southeast Asia where petroleum and diesel were targeted by pirates was on the increase.
    The PRC in fact said the data was “sparking fears of a new trend in pirate attacks in the area.”
    Pottengal Mukundan, IMB Director, said that the “recent increase in the number of successful hijackings is a cause for concern.” He called them “serious attacks” but said they have so far only targeted small coastal tankers.
    “We advise these vessels to maintain strict anti-piracy measures in these waters, and to report all attacks and suspicious approaches by small craft,” said Mukundan.
    In June the Malaysian Navy fought off a piracy attempt on a tanker in the South China Sea with support from the Indonesian and Singaporean navies.
    “The Malaysian Navy quickly dispatched a patrol boat and managed to intercept the tanker. Pirates managed to escape before the arrival of the naval boat,” the International Maritime Bureau said in a report.
    Following the close collaboration between Indonesian, Malaysian and Singaporean forces during this counter-piracy operation, it’s clear this model needs to be expanded on a wider basis. A similar level of transnational, inter-agency and government-to-government cooperation is now needed to understand and mitigate the growing threat of piracy in Asia. Earlier this year the United Nations identified Southeast Asia as the world’s new hub for piracy after international efforts off the coast of Somalia have resulted in a dramatic decline in incidents. As seen with the recent success in Africa, Asian navies, coast guards and other maritime agencies must take advantage of all opportunities that allow for greater collaboration and understanding on common threats.
    Navies and coastguards all over Asia are now looking to bolster their defence capabilities as a result of many factors, only one of which is piracy.
    APAC acquisition plans in the maritime domain 
    In 2014, the Singapore Armed Forces will focus on RPV procurement and four E-2C Hawkeyes are currently transitioning to G550 CAEWs. Over the next decade the SAF will purchase tactical UAVs, A330 Multi Role tanker transport aircrafts, littoral mission vessels and Type 2158G submarines. In addition, the Singapore Navy is procuring UAVs to support maritime operations and the Singapore Air Force recently confirmed the fleet expansion to at least 32 F-15SGs.
    The Indonesian Navy has confirmed that its Klewang-class stealth patrol ship programme has resumed after being suspended following a fire during sea trials in 2012. Problems with the hull are believed to have been addressed and Indonesia is now looking at a fleet of at least four of the Klewang-class stealth patrol ships. Armed with a Bofors 40 Mk4 naval gun and Saab’s electronic support measure (ESM) system, the new vessels are designed for counter-piracy operations and other maritime threats.
    Following the disappearance of flight MH370, the Royal Malaysian Navy is prioritising procurement for land and aerial assets and phase 2 of Malaysia’s $2.8 billion second generation patrol vessels project (SGVP) is currently underway. Work has also begun on the littoral combat vessels (LCS) programme. The plan to acquire 6-12 maritime patrol aircraft is at a cost of up to $300 million is in the pipeline while the RMN is also setting aside up to $750 million for new early warning aircraft with powerful radar.
    The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) is buying mid-range radars in 2014 and looking at various air assets and platforms including fixed-wing and rotary wing unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
    Further afield, in an interview with Defence IQ last year, Rear Admiral Cecil R Chen, Vice Commandant for Administration of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), said that “improving maritime patrol capability is a priority for the PCG agenda because it tends to have strategic contribution to the current economic and security priority initiatives of the Government and marine resource management to all three operations.” As a result, the PCG is actively acquiring Multi Role Response Vessels, fast patrol boats, an offshore patrol vessel as well as platforms for use during disaster relief and emergency response operations such as rubber boats, rigid hulled inflatable boats and aluminium-hulled rescue boats.
    Signalling further tensions in the Asia-Pacific region, Japan’s Ministry of Defence has requested a 2.4% increase in its annual budget. The 2015 budget will total ¥4.9 trillion ($47.25 billion) following the approval of Japan’s new national security strategy, which above all calls for better air and maritime surveillance.
    In a budget request document, Japan’s MoD stated that the regional security environment has recently become more tense, citing China’s increasing activities in Japan’s vicinity as well as North Korea’s missile launches.
    With Japan’s decision to bolster its defence forces, many Western defence and private maritime security companies (PMSCs) are seeing revived fortunes in the Far East and its nascent market for anti-piracy solutions. In August, Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin held a joint press conference in Tokyo to champion the RQ-4 Global Hawk and E-2D Advanced Hawkeye surveillance planes as potential additions to the Japanese Air Self Defence Force.
    Japan has stated that its main priority is to increase its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities following threats against its sovereign territory from China and North Korea. “China’s lack of transparency in its broad and rapid military modernisation as well as rapid expansion and intensification of maritime activities,” as it is put in the budget request document.
    Japan is seeking to acquire four P-1 fixed-wing patrol aircraft at a cost of ¥ 77.3 billion ($12.6 billion) to improve its detection/discrimination capabilities, information processing capabilities, and attack capabilities compared to its existing P-3C fixed-wing patrol aircraft.
    The MoD said it was also considering introducing HALE-UAVs that would contribute to strengthening its wide-area persistent ISR capability.

    Contributor:  Andrew Elwell 
    Posted:  08/29/2014  12:00:00 AM EDT in defence IQ






    The technology revolutionising the maritime and coastal surveillance market



    The technology used in maritime reconnaissance operations and coastal surveillance such as radar, communications and monitoring systems, RF equipment, datalinks and electro-optical sensors, is widely available but world events have recently made the acquisition of such equipment a necessity. Demand is finally catching up to supply.
    MH370: Surveillance and intelligence
    Following the search for MH370, and considering rising demand for surveillance systems for security and anti-piracy applications, Defence IQ takes a look a closer look at the technology available to Armed Forces and government agencies.
    The strongest evidence of MH370’s location was drawn from data exchanges with an Inmarsat satellite, which indicated it landed in the Indian Ocean off Western Australia. The company has been at the forefront of airborne surveillance and intelligence innovations for decades. As an example, the global satellite heavyweight released Global Xpress this year, which is the first global Ka-band network that delivers secure, end-to-end wideband connectivity for seamless airborne, naval and land operations for governments and military end users. The technology represents a step-change in airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities and the company has already signed a Memorandum of Arrangement with the French military to use the network.
    In August, Inmarsat demonstrated its intent to expand in Asia after opening its first office in China to capitalise on the telecoms and satellite opportunities that abound in the APAC region.
    AGI, a US developer of commercial modelling and analysis software for the space, defence and intelligence communities, used its Systems Tool Kit (STK) software in the aftermath of MH370’s disappearance. The company said that the, “benefit of using modelling, simulation and analysis tools are to either turn up useful data on the aircraft’s position and/or help eliminate certain paths and areas.” The technology modelled the known radar and communications facilities along the planned path of the aircraft and analysed who could have seen the flight and when. It also plotted all ships in the area and created coverage grids of the search areas and performed coverage analysis using aircraft and ships.
    Wider global demand for surveillance tech
    Kelvin Hughes’ has a long history of developing surveillance and navigation radars, notably the Royal Navy standard KH1007 navigation radars, which have since been adopted by thirty of the world’s navies. In 2008 the company unveiled “the world’s first affordable fully coherent pulse Doppler surface search radar sensor,” called SharpEye X-Band Pulse Doppler radar.
    Using Doppler techniques, SharpEye can detect periscopes, small glass-fibre boats and other targets in the clutter that normal radars cannot see and can also see them at greater distances. For armed forces and border agencies looking to track pirates, smugglers or drug-runners, this technology allows them to do so covertly, reducing the risk of being rumbled or put in harm’s way.
    The company recently unveiled its new SMS port security system which incorporates a new lightweight version of SharpEye – known as the SharpEye SCV (Small Craft Variant) – and is intended for multiple applications in areas of ports and harbours that would benefit from autonomous 360 degree surveillance. The system is integrated with day/night and thermal cameras.
    Terma, a Danish systems integrator, has a number of products for military and government coastal surveillance operations including the SCANTER 4000. The radar system provides simultaneous sea surface coverage and medium-range air surveillance. It has one common transmitter for surface and air and two independent receivers - one for signal processing and surface targets and one for signal processing and air targets.
    Spain-based Indra recently collaborated with the Civil Guard to launch sea tests for the Perseus Project (Protection of European BoRders and Seas through the IntElligent Use of Surveillance). The programme began in 2011 and aims to develop new maritime surveillance capabilities for Europe. The trial operation involved the detection, tracking and subsequent detention of a vessel in the Strait of Gibraltar and was designed to test the interoperability of various maritime surveillance technologies.
    Now forming part of the complete operational picture, demand for maritime unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is also soaring as governments identify an enduring need to invest in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems. The rapid advancement of unmanned aircraft technology in the last four years has significantly reduced the costs of maritime surveillance and could be a significant growth area for the market. Maritime surveillance UAVs have seen remarkable attention from Armed Forces as the maritime domain continues to dominate economic self-interest and national security concerns. Securing shipping lanes, offshore resources, environmental surveillance and access-and-denial are just a few of the major concerns that most feel will continue to benefit from a more consistent unmanned surveillance effort, particularly as costs for these platforms decrease over time.
    The emergence of al-Qaeda braches in South Asia is accelerating this requirement. Last week the group claimed responsibility for hijacking a Pakistani naval ship, intending to fire the vessel’s rockets at US ships in the Arabian Sea. Navies and surveillance agencies in the region are now actively acquiring new platforms and equipment to counter the rising threat of piracy and other illicit activities in Asian waters.
    Looking specifically at the maritime UAV component, India has a growing fleet with Gemini-2 systems now being successfully tested in exercises coordinated with naval patrol boats and coastal police. Meanwhile, its ground-based Search MK II TUAV and Heron MALE comprise a comprehensive maritime observation network, with integration across other surface and air assets, as well as with civilian fishermen and digital cameras installed across 90 light houses along the nation’s coast.
    Australia is also pushing for a $3 billion investment in the MQ-4C Triton to provide a network of broad area maritime surveillance. Triton is still in development but will cruise for 30 hours up to a height of 60,000 feet and offer a sensor suite that includes infrared and optical lenses.
    The need for maritime surveillance capabilities in the APAC region will be discussed further at the Coastal Surveillance 2014 conference in Singapore in November. Considering recent events and regional market demand, the conference will provide a comprehensive outlook on current and future requirements including speakers from Thailand, Australia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines among others. Find out more by clicking the box below.

    Contributor:  Defence IQ Press
    Posted:  09/24/2014  12:00:00 AM EDT


    Tuesday, 7 October 2014

    How the Royal Malaysian Navy plans to combat trans-border maritime threats in the Sabah region

    In the context of rising piracy incidents in Southeast Asia – it’s the world’s “new hub” for piracy according to a United Nations report – and continued territorial disputes between China and its neighbours, Defence IQ wanted to understand more about the key threats Malaysia was facing in terms of its maritime security. What are they?

    “Trans-border activity such as illegal immigrants, the smuggling of goods, humans and weapons, trafficking of contrabands, criminal activities such as kidnapping for ransom, terrorist, sea robberies, and illegal fishing activity due to existing maritime border disputes,” according to Captain Mohd Fadzli Kamal Bin Mohd Mohaldin.
    Captain Fadzli is the Chief of Staff, Naval Region 2 for the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) and he recently sat down with Defence IQ to discuss the contemporary regional threats Malaysia is facing in its maritime domain.
    Trans-border criminal activities are the most challenging of these threats due to “unfavourable geographical features” and the nation’s limited asset availability and capability to combat the maritime threat, Fadzli said.
    He suggested that pursuing coordinated national and bi-lateral maritime patrol arrangements between coastal states would be central to overcoming some of these challenges in the future.
    “Definitely, [regional cooperation and inter-agency collaboration] is very important,” said Fadzli.
    “RMN has either annual or bi-annual bi-lateral and multi-lateral exercises with all neighbouring country navies. Occasionally, the RMN participates in exercises or training conducted by other maritime enforcement agencies, locally and abroad.
    “There are a number of organisations established within Southeast Asia to combat illegal maritime activity such as the International Fusion Centre (IFC) and the South East Asia Centre for Countering Terrorist (SEACAT), which is based in Singapore and the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) office in Kuala Lumpur.”
    Malaysia is also planning to establish a Coast Guard in order to achieve better enforcement to complement the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM), which will consolidate and synchronise all efforts within the maritime domain of the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone).
    Furthermore, Fadzli said that the Navy would be procuring a “coastal radar network” and “more suitable crafts to operate within the unfavourable geographical surrounding.”
    The ESSZone is a secure region in the Malaysian state of Sabah that was established last year following the Lahad Datu standoff where 235 militants sailed into Lahad Datu, Sabah from islands in the Southern Philippines. One of the biggest challenges for the RMN is achieving maritime domain awareness in the Sabah region. Defence IQ asked how the Navy would approach this challenge.
    “[First of all we will ensure] close cooperation between existing maritime enforcement agencies, the Armed Forces and other government organisations with regard to information and intelligent sharing, synchronisation of efforts, sharing of common facilities and exchange of personnel between agencies,” said Fadzli.
    In addition to conducting maritime security surveys, the RMN will look to better engage with the maritime community such as local fishery associations, resort operators, merchant shipping and peoples living on off-lying islands.
    There has been a great deal of reportage about a growing number of piracy incidents in the region recently but Captain Fadzli indicated that it depends which region we’re talking about. The Asia-Pacific region covers an enormous body of water, some of which has robust maritime defences and good surveillance coverage, some doesn’t. While piracy is on the rise in some quarters of Asian waters, Fadzli insists that, “generally, piracy attacks in Asia have been decreasing greatly.”
    “There has not been any piracy incident in the Straits of Malacca for the past few years due to the continuous patrolling by enforcement agencies of the coastal states through the Malacca Straits Sea Patrol (MSSP) and Eyes-in-the Skies (EIS) initiatives,” said Fadzli.
    “However, trans-border illegal activities [such as piracy] continue to take place especially in the Southeast Asia region due to close proximity of coastal states.
    “Moreover, kidnapping for ransom especially by the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group in Southern Philippines has become the focal point.”
    Piracy remains a regional security threat, but it is only one of a number of challenges within the wider maritime domain according to Fadzli.



     Captain Fadzli will be presenting at the forthcoming Coastal Surveillance conference in Singapore where he said he will be “sharing my knowledge and experience working on maritime issues…the challenges that we faced [along with] the initiatives currently in place and perhaps some [of our] future plans, especially along the Eastern coast of Sabah.” To find out more, follow the link below for further details on Captain Fadzli’s presentation and other speakers on the agenda.





    Contributor:  Defence IQ Press