27 August 2013 by nayeem sheikh

India is all set to acquire a second nuclear submarine on lease from Russia. The two sides have had preliminary discussions and a serious push is expected when Indian Defence Secretary RK Mathur meets his Russian counterparts during his visit to Moscow next week.

The idea had germinated in the Indian strategic establishment long before the Russian-built electric-powered submarine INS Sindhurakshak got sunk at its moorings in Mumbai naval dockyard on August 14.

Now with the Sindhurakshak practically gone forever and the Indian submarine fleet having been constricted to just 13 – of which only 7 or 8 can be operational at a given time – the Indian idea has acquired a greater steam.  The loss of INS Sindhurakshak seems to have catalysed the Indian defence establishment to come up with ideas that would ensure that India’s undersea warfare capabilities are actually bolstered, and not dented.

Indian Defence Secretary RK Mathur is all set to lead an Indian tri-service delegation to Moscow for the next round of High Level Monitoring Group on Defence. Mathur will be reaching Russia on September 1 for these crucial talks and the issue of taking on lease a second Russian nuclear submarine for the Indian defence forces will be very high on his agenda.

Sources say the Indian defence secretary will be negotiating with his Russian counterparts on many other agendas but his foremost talking point would inevitably veer around the subject of India acquiring the nuclear submarine on lease as it would provide New Delhi an immediate solution to deal with maritime threats in the neighbourhood.

The Russians are positively inclined to the idea of leasing a second nuclear submarine to India, according to sources. Actually, if this idea were to translate into reality, it would be the third nuclear submarine that the Russia would be leasing to India.

The first time it was then Soviet Union which had leased a nuclear submarine (named INS Chakra by the Indian Navy) way back in 1988. The lease at that time was only for three years and the Indians duly returned the vessel after the lease expired.

The second time India got on lease a nuclear submarine from Russia was a couple of years ago when India and Russia finalised the contract for it in 2011 and the Russian Nerpa class submarine was inducted into the Indian Navy last year as INS Chakra. The lease cost a billion dollars to India for a period of ten years.

The third lease, if it transpires (which it should given the political will from both the sides), should also be for a minimum of ten years. However, the lease values may be a bone of contention for the two sides. While the Indians are willing to shell out a billion dollars for taking on lease another nuclear submarine for a period of ten years, the Russians have jacked up the monetary value.

Moreover, the Russians have already conveyed to their Indian interlocutors that India cannot hope to get a nuclear submarine on lease from any other country. From India’s point of view, though the Russian logic seems to be well in place but then other countries like France and the UK may be persuaded to lease a nuclear submarine given India’s standing in the comity of nations currently.

The Indian strategic establishment seems quite upbeat on the idea of acquiring another nuclear submarine. The Indians have even named their probably acquisition as INS Chakra III.

26 August 2013 by Pacific Sentinel

Aug 26, 2013 ASDNews Source : AFPS

After concluding an ambitious counterpiracy exercise yesterday with the Chinese navy, members of the U.S. 5th Fleet expressed hope it will lay groundwork for closer future cooperation in ensuring freedom of movement in the Gulf of Aden, other regional waters, and beyond.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Mason joined the Chinese destroyer Harbin and Chinese auxiliary replenishment oiler Weishanhu for the two-day exercise in the Gulf of Aden, Navy Capt. Joseph Naman, commander of Destroyer Squadron 50 and Task Force 55, said during a phone interview from Bahrain.

The Chinese oiler played the role of a pirated vessel, as crew members from the Mason and Harbin conducted a combined visit, board, search and seizure drill that included a night boarding, reported Navy Cmdr. D. Wilson Marks, Mason’s commanding officer.

Simulated medical emergencies and hostage scenarios required the sailors to work together to provide a coordinated response.

In addition, the crews demonstrated synchronized maneuver techniques during a live-fire proficiency exercise, engaging an inflatable target with the 5-inch MK-45 lightweight gun and 3.9-inch ENG deck guns, Marks said.

Another “significant milestone,” Naman said, was the landing of a helicopter from each country aboard the deck of each other’s ship.

The exercise represented a big step beyond the first counterpiracy exercise between 5th Fleet and the Chinese navy, conducted in September near the Horn of Africa, Naman said. The 2012 exercise, which involved the USS Winston S. Churchill and the Chinese frigate Yi Yang, lasted only about six hours and was limited to a basic visit, board, search and secure exercise, follow-on discussion and crew lunch.

Throughout this week’s mission, Marks said, he was struck by how similarly the two navies operate.

“What my crew found out is they are sailors like we are,” practicing many of the same techniques as they confronted the same challenges, he said.

Both the United States and China recognize the importance of freedom of access and movement in the maritime environment, uninhibited by piracy or other illicit activity, Naman noted.

“I think both China and the U.S. share the common goal to make that happen,” he said.

Both navies, for example, regularly conduct counterpiracy operations in the Gulf region.

The United States is part of a multinational coalition task force that works collaboratively in and around the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. China, in contrast, operates independently. Naman said he would like to see that change, and that he hopes exercises like the one conducted over the weekend will encourage China to consider joining the coalition.

International cooperation and measures taken by the civilian shipping industry to discourage pirates have brought a dramatic drop in piracy compared to just three to four years ago, he reported.

“The sum of the parts is greater than the one, which is what the coalition brings in,” Marks said. “You can share best practices, build on each other’s strengths [and] capitalize on those strengths. … We are all working toward that shared goal of freedom of movement in the maritime [domain]. So if we all share the same goal, we ought to be working together, and that is what we are really trying to do.”

In the meantime, he said, exercising together helps to increase interoperability between the U.S. and Chinese navies that they can draw on in the future, anywhere in the world.

“As we have learned in the past, military-to-military engagement pays big dividends, because we operate in the same environment and … share the same common goals for that maritime environment,” Naman said.

Marks, who called the exercise “one of those once-in-a-career experiences,” said he and his crew hope for more opportunities to work with the Chinese navy.

For one of the participants, Navy Seaman Yi An, the exercise was particularly memorable. A naturalized U.S. citizen, the culinary specialist was born in China’s Quingdao province -- which the Harbin’s crew calls home.

Yi served as an interpreter during the exercise, generating a lot of excitement among the Chinese sailors as he shared hometown stories, Marks said. He was treated as an honored guest aboard the Harbin during a luncheon yesterday that concluded the exercise.

But exercising with their Chinese counterparts gave the entire Mason crew new insights, Marks said.

“Watching U.S. and Chinese sailors working side by side was amazing,” he said. “We may come from different places and speak a different language, but at the end of the day, we all share a common interest in protecting the maritime environment.”

30/07/2013 Sources : EMA

Le 23 juillet 2013, lors de son escale en Tanzanie, à Dar-es-Salaam, le commandant de la frégate Guépratte a effectué des rencontres avec des autorités locales et européennes dans le cadre de l’opération européenne de lutte contre la piraterie Atalante.

Il a dans un premier temps rencontré le général de brigade Abdullah Mwemjudi, commandant les opérations et l’entraînement de la Marine tanzanienne, ainsi que son état-major, à la base navale de Dar-es-Salaam dans le cadre du programme LMCB, Local Maritime Capability Building, de l’opération Atalante. Lors d’une précédente escale, le général Mwemjudi s’était rendu à bord du Guépratte suite à une action de coopération dans le cadre du LMCB.

Dans un deuxième temps, le commandant a accueilli à bord monsieur Marcel Escure, ambassadeur de France en Tanzanie et madame Marie Keller, première conseillère de l’ambassade de France. En présence du capitaine de frégate François Marescaux, officier de liaison de l’état-major de l’opération, les enjeux de l’opération Atalante leur ont été présentés et ils ont pu mesurer l’importance de la présence européenne en océan Indien dans le cadre de la lutte contre la piraterie.

Le 26 juillet, une délégation de marins tanzaniens a été accueillie à bord pour un échange d’expérience sur le thème de la plongée, suivie d’une visite du bâtiment.

Ce type d’interactions et de rencontres contribue au développement des capacités d’intervention des marines régionales engagées contre la piraterie et au service de la sécurité maritime dans la région.

La frégate Guépratte est déployée depuis le 14 mai au sein de l’opération Atalante. Cette opération a pour mission d’escorter les navires du Programme alimentaire mondial (PAM), de participer à la sécurité du trafic maritime et de contribuer à la dissuasion, à la prévention et à la répression des actes de piraterie au large des côtes somaliennes.

La France participe à l’opération Atalante avec le déploiement permanent d’au moins une frégate de la marine nationale. Le dispositif peut être renforcé ponctuellement par un avion de patrouille maritime Atlantique 2 (ATL 2), de surveillance maritime Falcon 50, ou par un avion de commandement et de détection E3F.

23 août 2013 Par Rédacteur en chef. PORTAIL DES SOUS-MARINS

Sans écarter la thèse qu’un “sabotage” puisse être à l’origine des explosions qui ont secoué le sous-marin indien INS Sindhurakshak, le ministre de la défense A K Antony, a souligné jeudi que l’incident jetait une ombre sur les capacités de la marine à protéger les intérêts maritimes du pays.

Le ministre a indiqué que la marine avait ordonné une étude pour évaluer l’état des armes à bord du sous-marin touché, par crainte d’une nouvelle explosion pendant les opérations de sauvetage.

« La marine a chargé une commission d’enquête de trouver les causes de l’accident et elle a commencé ses travaux avec tout le sérieux nécessaire. Sa mission est de d’étudier tous les aspects pouvant être à l’origine de l’incident. Rien n’est écarté, Toutes les causes possibles seront examinées par la commission, » a précisé M. Antony.

Plusieurs parlementaires ont cherché à savoir si un sabotage était une des raisons de l’accident. Le ministre a répondu que « à ce stade, nous ne pouvons pas déterminer les causes de l’incident. Nos forces armées travaillent sur cet incident et ils sont attentifs à cette éventualité. »

Le ministre a aussi annoncé que le corps d’une 8è victime avait été retrouvé.

Les plongeurs ont découvert des morceaux de métal et des éléments de couleur jaune, partiellement brulés, près du quai où était amarré le sous-marin. Ils ont été envoyés à un laboratoire pour analyse de leur composition.

Des échantillons d’eau de la salle des torpilles ont été analysés en laboratoire et ne montrent pas la présence de TNT ou dans les éléments de couleur jaune. Des analyses complémentaires sont en cours.

Référence : The Hindu (Inde)

Aug. 22, 2013 By BARBARA OPALL-ROME  - DefenseNews

The Israeli Navy plans to buy new Super Dvora Mk-III fast patrol craft, such as the one seen here, for counter-terror and interdiction missions in coastal waters along its northern border with Lebanon.

TEL AVIV — The Israeli Navy plans to buy new Super Dvora Mk-III fast patrol craft for counter-terror and interdiction missions in coastal waters along its northern border with Lebanon.

Built by the Ramta division of state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI), the Mk-III craft will join at least six Mk-III boats purchased in late 2004 and deployed primarily in Israel’s southern Mediterranean waters near the Gaza Strip. Once inducted into the Israeli Navy inventory, the newer-model patrol craft will replace or supplement Mk-I and Mk-II patrol craft now deployed in Israel’s northern theater.

An item posted Aug. 21 on the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) website noted that the pending procurement is one of the efficiency measures undertaken by the Israeli Navy through retirement of older Sa’ar 4 warships in exchange for smaller and more operationally cost-effective patrol craft.

A commander identified only by his rank — lieutenant colonel — and first initial was quoted by the IDF website as saying Super Dvora operators are charged with patrolling coastal waters, identifying all irregular events and arriving at suspected sites “within mere minutes.” He described the new patrol craft planned for deployment along the Israel-Lebanon sea border as “a force multiplier.”

According to IAI, the Super Dvora Mk-III measures 27.4 meters long, some 5.74 meters across with displacements ranging from 58 to 72 tons. Powered by two US-built diesel engines, the patrol craft are designed to operate in very shallow waters for breaching operations by naval commandos, to offload medical or humanitarian supplies and to evacuate injured persons.

22 August 2013 naval-technology.com

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) navy ships have set sail from the port of Qingdao, Shandong Province, off Hawaii waters to participate in search and rescue (SAR) exercises with the US Navy.

The PLA Navy's fleet, including a Hudong Shipyard-built Luhu-class guided-missile vessel Qingdao (DDG 113), missile frigate Linyi and supply ship Hongzehu, will take part in the rare show of US-China military cooperation, according to China Daily.

Following completion of the joint-exercise with the US Navy, the ships will travel on to Australia and New Zealand to conduct similar exercises.

PLA Navy deputy commander, Xu Hongmeng, was quoted by the news agency as saying that the trip is an important mission of the nation's military diplomacy and will boost the Chinese Navy's ability to conduct a range of missions while strengthening friendships with the US, Australia and New Zealand.

"The trip will serve to build consensus between China and the US as well as help outline relations between the two countries."

PLA Navy north China sea fleet commander of the fleet and chief of staff, Wei Gang, said the trip will also serve to build consensus between China and the US as well as help outline relations between the two countries.

Earlier this week, Chinese Defence Minister Chang Wanquan visited the US counterpart, Chuck Hagel in Washington, and agreed to increase bilateral military ties as well as to boost cooperation by performing further joint exercises and enhance personnel exchanges.

Xinhua cited Hagel as saying that the trip is aimed "to further increase mutual understanding, to enhance mutual trust, to promote mutual cooperation and to push forward the sound and stable development of our national and military relations."

For the first time, China will take part in next year's Rim of the Pacific exercise (RIMPAC), the largest multilateral maritime exercise in the world.

NEW DELHI, 20 août - RIA Novosti

La Marine indienne emploie des ouvriers sous-qualifiés au port militaire de Mumbai (Bombay), où le sous-marin militaire Sindhurakshak a sombré le 14 août faisant 18 morts, a rapporté mardi le journal India Today se référant à une source au sein de l'administration du port.

"Pourquoi tous ces incidents arrivent-ils? Je ne doute pas qu'ils s'expliquent par le fait que des ouvriers mal qualifiés ont accès à des armes sophistiquées, à des systèmes de navigation, etc. Cela présente un danger pour la sécurité de nos navires", a indiqué un ancien responsable des chantiers navals de Mumbai, SK Gorhe, commentant la deuxième grande perte de la Marine indienne en trois ans.

Le sous-marin INS Sindhurakshak a coulé dans le port de Bombay dans la nuit du 13 au 14 août 2013, suite à trois explosions et un incendie à son bord. Dix-huit membres d'équipage se trouvaient à bord du submersible. Les corps de sept sous-mariniers ont été retrouvés. D'après le journal Mumbai Mirror, les explosions à bord du sous-marin seraient dues à un court-circuit provoqué par une erreur humaine lors du chargement de missiles.

Le 30 janvier 2011, la frégate indienne Vindhyagiri a coulé dans le port de Bombay suite à une collision avec le porte-conteneurs chypriote MV Nordlake, qui avait provoqué un incendie. Tous les occupants du Vindhyagiri ont pu être évacués.

26 juillet 2013,Portail des Sous-Marins

La campagne d’instruction a vu la participation de 89 élèves officiers, dont 29 femmes, en 2e année à l’Ecole supérieure navale de Tamentfoust (est d’Alger).

Référence : Algérie Soir

25 juillet 2013 Portail des Sous-Marins

La marine chinoise pourrait commencer à conduire en 2014 de premières patrouilles de dissuasion nucléaire avec une nouvelle classe de sous-marins nucléaires lanceurs d’engins. Pour les responsables américains, cette nouvelle, si elle est confirmée, met en lumière une nouvelle et grandissante menace pour la sécurité des Etats-Unis.

« Nous estimons que des patrouilles opérationnelles de sous-marins équipés du nouveau missile nucléaire balistique JL-2 commenceront l’an prochain, » a expliqué un responsable ayant connaissance des plus récentes évaluations de la force sous-marine chinoise par les services de renseignement.

La force nucléaire stratégique chinoise comprend actuellement 3 SNLE Type 094, chacun équipé de 12 tubes lance-missiles. Les sous-marins sont aussi appelés classe Jin par le Pentagone.

Si les patrouilles de dissuasion avaient effectivement lieu en 2014, ce serait la toute première fois que la Chine mènerait des opérations sous-marines avec des missiles à tête nucléaire, aussi loin des côtes chinoises. La Chine a pourtant mis son premier SNLE en service à la fin des années 80.

Référence : The Washington Free Beacon (Etats-Unis)

Jul 25, 2013 ASDNews Source : Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been awarded contracts totaling $14.4 million by prime contractors General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (NYSE:GD) and Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) to supply the steering gear system for three new DDG 51 Class Arleigh Burke destroyers.

The steering gear system is vital for the control and maneuverability of the ship and is directly linked to the integrated bridge, as well as the navigation and inertial navigation systems that Northrop Grumman is supplying under separate contracts for the DDG 51 Class destroyers.

Northrop Grumman has been the sole provider of the steering gear system for the DDG 51 Class since production began during the 1980s. This contract award brings the program's total to 69 steering systems.

"These latest awards for the DDG 51 Class steering gear system demonstrates Northrop Grumman's continued excellence in delivering quality mission-critical systems for U.S. Navy ships and submarines," said Bill Hannon, vice president of Northrop Grumman's Maritime Systems business unit. "Our expertise in producing steering, integrated bridge, inertial navigation, machinery controls and other systems makes Northrop Grumman a world leader in shipboard navigation, sensors and ship controls."

The work will be performed chiefly in Charlottesville and the steering systems will be installed on the DDGs at the Bath Iron Works shipyard in Maine and the Huntington Ingalls shipyard in Mississippi before the destroyers are delivered to the Navy. Equipment deliveries are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2015 and continue into the third quarter of 2017.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems, cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

24/07/2013 Marine nationale

La frégate allemande Augsburg, engagée dans la mission européenne de lutte contre la piraterie Atalante, est entrée dans les eaux mahoraises le 17 juillet 2013 pour une visite de courtoisie. L’équipage allemand a ainsi découvert Mayotte.

Une première dans l’histoire de l’île, puisqu’aucun navire étranger n’avait fait escale dans ses eaux. Cette première laisse entrevoir la possibilité pour Mayotte de devenir une zone de relâche privilégiée pour les bâtiments militaires opérant dans la zone, notamment dans le cadre de la mission Atalante.