March 21, 2015 by asian-defence.net

Russia is very likely to start construction on the world's third nuclear-powered destroyer with the assistance of China, according to the Sputnik News based in Moscow.

Admiral Igor Kasatonov, retired deputy commander of the Russian Navy, said the construction of the 10,000-ton Leader-class guided-missile destroyer would begin in 2017. Vasily Kashin, a military expert from the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies based in Moscow, said the project provides a new opportunity for China and Russia to deepen defense cooperation.

The Leader-class destroyer would be the world's third nuclear-powered destroyer after the USS Truxtun (DLGN-35) and USS Bainbridge (DLGN-25) of the United States. Since both American vessels were later redesignated cruisers, the Leader-class would in fact be the only nuclear-powered destroyer in the world. Kashin said that the Leader-class is larger than the two American ships.

Unlike the US Navy, Russia does not have overseas naval bases around the world, the piece said, and it makes sense for Russia and China to build nuclear-powered destroyers or cruisers that can remain at sea for longer. Kashin also said China is working hard on the design of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. The participation of China in the construction of the Leader-class destroyer may give China the experience it needs, he said.

Hi-tech ... the Hobart Class Air Warfare destroyer. (image: News Corp Australia)

11.03.2014 Defense Studies

AN $8.5 billion taxpayer-funded “alliance’’ to build three hi-tech navy warships was a multi-tiered debacle, government auditors have found.

The Air Warfare Destroyer Alliance is running two years late, is $302 million over budget and is bleeding money at the rate of $1 million a week, according to well placed sources.

The auditors also revealed that the original premium for building the three ships in Australia rather than purchasing “off-the-shelf’’ overseas was $1 billion.

That is a 30 per cent taxpayer subsidy to the ship builders.

“The cost increase is likely to be significantly greater (than $302 million),’’ the document said.

The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) report could spell the end for government ownership of the ASC shipyard in Adelaide and, according to government sources, it draws a line in the sand for the whole Australian naval shipbuilding industry.

“Defence and its industry advisers underestimated the risks associated with incorporating the design changes to Navantia’s F-104 design, exporting that design to Australia ... built at shipyards that lacked recent experience in warship building,’’ the audit report said.

The 320-page document slams the government’s defence purchasing agency, the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO), and its management of an alliance that includes the government-owned Adelaide shipbuilder ASC and American defence giant Raytheon.

Under the alliance the DMO is both buyer and supplier.

“It was costing ASC, the lead ship builder, $1.60 to produce work that was originally estimated to cost $1,’’ the report said.

“It was not until 2013 that the Alliance put in place extensive key performance measures.’’

The Adelaide-based alliance began in 2007 and was the brainchild of the head of DMO Warren King.

The first ship, HMAS Hobart, was due for delivery to the navy this year but has been delayed until at least 2016.

The ships’ designer and hull-maker Spanish shipbuilder Navantia, the Melbourne-based block builder BAE Systems and the Newcastle-based Forgacs shipyard are all strongly criticised for a long list of failings, including dodgy block build practices and poor drawings.

The substandard drawings meant that many already installed watertight doors had to be moved 150mm so they could meet Australian safety standards.

One of the most damaging findings of the report appears on page 232 where the auditors reveal that 570 of 2,000 Chinese-made pipes were removed from the first ship, HMAS Hobart, because they were substandard and potentially dangerous.

“A supply chain failure led to the installation of defective pipes into the ship,’’ the report said.

The pipes were purchased by ASC — the company that wants to build the navy’s next generation submarine for more than $30 billion.

“They (ASC) haven’t done themselves any favours in justifying why they should build the new submarine,’’ a high-level source said.

The key lesson from the report is that Australian industry did not have the capability to undertake such a complex project.

This raises serious questions about whether or not governments should continue to prop-up Australian naval shipbuilders at high taxpayer premiums or buy off-the-shelf from more efficient overseas yards.

It is understood that the Abbott Government favours an Australian naval shipbuilding industry — but not at any cost.

The report was welcomed by Defence Minister David Johnston who agreed with its three recommendations to appoint a high-level project overseer and implement a new design review process and better performance monitoring.

KEY POINTS
* Air Warfare Destroyer two years late and $300 million over budget
* $1 billion premium for Australian build
* Risks under estimated
* ASC likely to be sold
* Naval shipbuilding under a cloud

(News)

TEWKSBURY, Mass., Dec. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire

Delivering critical capabilities, bringing the next-generation destroyers to life

Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has been awarded $75 million to complete remaining hardware and electronics for DDG 1000 and 1001, the first two ships of the Zumwalt-class of multimission destroyers. The award reflects exercised options under a previously awarded U.S. Navy contract.

Raytheon's progress on the program continues, remaining on-cost and schedule, meeting all program milestones and shipyard need dates. Under this contract, Raytheon will complete outstanding hardware and electronics production and assembly for the first two ships of the class, including electronics for the multi-function towed array for the sonar suite; canister electronics and uptake kits for the MK 57 Vertical Launching System; and the advanced procurement of Electronic Modular Enclosure shelters for the third ship, DDG 1002.

"The collaboration of this government-industry team has been outstanding, a high-performing team of experts working together to bring the Navy's vision to reality," said Raytheon's Kevin Peppe, vice president of Integrated Defense Systems' Seapower Capability Systems business area. "As systems and deliveries complete, and integration and testing continue, we are advancing closer to demonstrating the capabilities of the most technologically advanced surface combatant in naval history."

As the prime mission systems integrator for DDG 1000, Raytheon provides all electronic and combat systems for the program.

To date, the company has:

    Delivered more than 3,500 hardware items, completing mission systems equipment production for DDG 1000. Production is more than 95 percent complete for DDG 1001.

    Delivered 35 fully populated, integrated and tested Electronic Modular Enclosures, completing the first two ship sets as well as an additional 3 EMEs for the Self-Defense Test Ship.

    Completed more than 6.7 million lines of code for the Total Ship Computing Environment, the integrated mission system for the ship class, achieving all testing and readiness milestones on schedule. Currently 96 percent complete, TSCE software is approaching next level certification, Technology Readiness Level 7.

    Completed advanced ship activation pilot for DDG 1000, demonstrating control of pumps and valves; first use of shipboard software connecting distributed control workstation, TSCE infrastructure network and engineering control system.

    Tested 5,000 hull, mechanical and engineering (HM&E) signals to engineering control system and validated 12,000 additional hardware signals, at the Land-based Test Site.

    Completed more than 1.3 million lines of code for SPY-3/Dual Band Radar for DDG 1000, DDG 1001, CVN 78 and the Self Defense Test Ship and delivered complete radar suite equipment for all ship sets.

    Dedicated a team of experts onsite at the shipyard, supporting installation, integration and test in-line with construction progress to meet HM&E milestones and prepare for ship activation.

    Remained on cost and schedule throughout execution of the program – a testament to the design and development approaches employed, mitigating risks and maturing technologies through phased and incremental testing.

Additionally, the first MK 57 Vertical Launch System and the first Integrated Undersea Warfare suite, with dual-frequency, hull-mounted sonars, have been installed on DDG 1000.

DDG 1000 entered the water Oct. 28, 2013, at Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine. Construction will continue dockside, supported by Raytheon's Ship Integration and Test team onsite for ongoing system integration and testing.

About Raytheon

Raytheon Company, with 2012 sales of $24 billion and 68,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, security and civil markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 91 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems; as well as a broad range of mission support services. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. For more about Raytheon, visit us at www.raytheon.com and follow us on Twitter @Raytheon.

October 01, 2013 by Navantia - naval-technology.com

Navantia has signed a service contract with the US Navy for four destroyers, which will be deployed during 2014 and 2015 in the Naval Base of Rota, as part of the BMDl, according to the agreement reached between both governments in 2011 and signed in 2012. The contract includes the maintenance of these units in the periods of immobilization in Rota, and has a duration of one year, plus six optional years.

Navantia's experience in the design, construction and maintenance of the ships, as well as its excellent infrastructure and workforce skill capacity, have been decisive for the adjudication of this contract.

Likewise, the attainment of this contract with the US Navy, with the highest level of requirements, gives Navantia substantial international prestige, guaranteeing its leading position in naval military construction.