Computer-generated image of flight deck operations on the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth [Picture Aircraft Carrier Alliance]
3 February 2014 Ministry of Defence and Defence Equipment and Support
Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers will get helicopter-borne early warning systems 18 months earlier than planned, saving £22 million.
Following renegotiation of the aircraft carrier contract to deliver savings to the taxpayer, the Defence Secretary has accelerated the Crowsnest airborne surveillance and control programme to ensure it is operational by 2019.
Using high-power radar to provide long-range air, maritime and land tracking capabilities, Crowsnest will be an integral part of future carrier operations. It will be fitted to the Royal Navy’s fleet of upgraded Merlin Mk2 helicopters, including those to be embarked on the Queen Elizabeth Class carriers.
The decision to bring forward the Crowsnest programme has been made as part of the annual review of MOD’s 10-year equipment plan. The plan, worth £160 billion, includes unallocated funding to support equipment requirements that may arise as threats emerge or priorities change.
The shorter delivery time for Crowsnest will lead to a significant reduction in costs, as specialist industry personnel will be required for a shorter period of time.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said:
Crowsnest will provide vital surveillance and intelligence to protect the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers.
The introduction of Crowsnest 18 months early will ensure HMS Queen Elizabeth has the full range of capabilities when it enters service.
Lockheed Martin UK, which designs the Merlin helicopters, has been awarded a £24 million contract to run a competition to design, develop and demonstrate Crowsnest.
Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan sails into Portsmouth for the first time [Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Ben Sutton, Crown copyright]
30 December 2013 Ministry of Defence
HMS Duncan, the Royal Navy's sixth Type 45 destroyer, has entered into service 4 months ahead of schedule.
The ship was scheduled to enter service in early 2014, but thanks to the hard work of both the ship’s company and industry since her arrival in Portsmouth, HMS Duncan is ready to take up duties now.
The 7,500-tonne vessel will now embark on a programme of trials to prepare the ship and her crew for operational deployment.
HMS Duncan is the final Type 45 to enter service with the Royal Navy. Her handover to the fleet marks the end of a 13-year build programme with BAE Systems to deliver the 6 ships – Daring, Dauntless, Diamond, Dragon, Defender and Duncan.
Armed with the world-leading Sea Viper missile defence system which can neutralise threats up to 70 miles away, the Type 45s are the most powerful air defence destroyers ever used by the Royal Navy.
Measuring 152 metres in length, HMS Duncan and her sister ships are longer than 16 double-decker buses laid end-to-end and as tall as an electricity pylon. And her onboard power plant can supply enough electricity to light a town of 80,000 people.
Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology Philip Dunne said:
Thanks to the skill and hard work of the commanding officer, the ship’s company and their MOD and industry partners, HMS Duncan has entered service 4 months early. It is testament to the improving control of projects across the armed forces and significant dedication across defence that all 6 ships of the Type 45 class are now in the hands of the Royal Navy.
The Type 45 programme has provided the Royal Navy with one of the most sophisticated and effective air defence ships available anywhere in the world. We expect these vessels to see decades of service protecting the UK’s interests around the world, including providing humanitarian aid as we saw recently with HMS Daring’s efforts in the Philippines.
photo UK MoD
December 18, 2013 By: John Ingham - express.co.uk
The Royal Navy [Dec. 17, 2013] launched its first drone in an operational theatre as it stepped up its campaign against Somali pirates.
The Scaneagle unmanned aerial system (UAS) was launched from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Cardigan Bay in the Gulf and flew to a height of up to 19,500ft.
The UAS was then brought back by a pilot on the ship using remote controls after it had acted as an eye in the sky over the horizon.
The Scaneagle is one of two in a £30million deal with Boeing and each UAS will fly up to 300 hours a month.
The UAS is catapulted off the back of ships and then recovered by flying them back to be caught by a wire extended over the side. It is expected to be used shortly to spot pirates threatening shipping in the Indian Ocean.
Details emerged as Defence Secretary Philip Hammond threw open the RAF’s secret base for controversial drones – RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire.
RAF crews here and at the USAF base in Creech, Nevada, fly the Reaper on surveillance and attack missions over Afghanistan.
The 35ft long remotely piloted air system can unleash weapons on insurgents with the trigger being pulled thousands of miles away.
In 54,000 hours of flying over Afghanistan it has fired 459 weapons, usually Hellfire missiles in support of Coalition troops under attack from insurgents.
The drones are controversial and have been branded robot killers.
But Mr Hammond insisted that their crews are subject to the same rules of engagement and legal controls as the pilots of fighter bombers such as Tornados and Typhoons.
He said: “In well over 400 lethal strikes by British UAS’s we know of just one strike where sadly there were civilian casualties.
“But civilian casualties also result from strikes by manned aircraft. Our challenge is not to guarantee that they never happen but to minimise that risk to as low as possible.”
He added: “UAS’s are certainly part of the future. We expect they will be part of the British posture alongside manned aircraft. No-one knows what the balance will be between manned and unmanned systems.”
Mr Hammond also said there are moves to open up European air space to UAS’s with one expert predicting that the market in the UK alone could be worth up to £20billion within six years.
Mr Hammond, who said possible civilian uses include maritime search and rescue and border protection, said he expected progress in UAS’s being licensed to use European air space.
At RAF Waddington the full range of UAS’s used by the military was on display from the Army’s tiny Black Hornet mini helicopter to Watchkeeper which has a 33ft wing span.
The Black Hornet weighs just 16grammes, fits in the palm of a man’s hand and can be put up by soldiers to see what the enemy is up to in their immediate area.
Watchkeeper, which will enter service with the Royal Artillery next year, can stay airborne for 16 hours and relay information to troops on the ground day and night.
Meanwhile the Royal Navy revealed that its Scaneagle has had its first trial in an operational theatre.
Drones will help the Navy carry out more raids on pirates like this one by marines from HMS Cornwall [PA]
Commander Bow Wheaton, 46, from Dorking, said: “It was flown for the first time in theatre today and is due to enter service next month.
“Skippers get an unprecedented situation report from this eye in the sky.
“It lets us look for the enemy before they see us. It could be used to look for pirates, to spot a threat to your ship or to look ahead to a choke point where the enemy may have assembled small craft loaded with explosives. This would let you do something about it or avoid it.
“And at night it would help the skipper decide which lights out there are friendly – otherwise he is just looking at dots on a radar screen.”
The drones provide live video footage of incredible detail to commander son the ground, even letting them see what weapons the enemy are carrying.
One RAF Intelligence Analyst, who would only give his name as Corporal Billy, said: “There have been occasions when we have spotted disturbed earth which has turned out to be where insurgents have planted an improvised explosive device. Finding that is very fulfilling.
“Every time we have fired a missile we have been supporting our guys on the ground who more often than not were under fire. We are helping to save their lives which is just as fulfilling as spotting an IED.”
LONDON, Dec. 18 (UPI)
British engineering company Babcock says it is beginning a maintenance and upgrade program on the Royal Navy's HMS Bangor mine hunter.
HMS Bangor is a Sandown class vessel and work on it will be conducted at the company's Rosyth dockyard in Scotland.
"The work package for HMS Bangor's support period has been defined to reflect the ship's needs and minimize the level of emergent work, based on knowledge of the ship's material state and our experience of previous Sandown class refits, to optimize efficiency and value for money," said Babcock Warships Managing Director Mike Whalley. "We look forward to delivering Bangor on-time and in-budget."
Babcock said upgrades include enhancements to the ship's galley and laundry, installation of modernized communication systems, and an updated fire detection system.
The ship's existing diesel generators will be replaced environmentally friendlier and supportable machines, it said.
Maintenance work to be undertaken on the vessel will include a large package of paint coating and deck covering renewal, a full structural survey, habitability improvements, slow speed drive alignment checks, renewal of all propulsion unit blade seals, shaft line overhaul, essential underwater work, and complete overhaul of the ship's boat crane.
Upgrade and maintenance work is expected to take six months.
A soldier with a Desert Hawk unmanned aerial system (library image) [Picture: Sergeant Brian Gamble, Crown copyright]
18 December 2013 Ministry of Defence and Defence Equipment and Support
The Ministry of Defence has, for the first time, opened the doors to its unmanned aerial systems (UAS) control centre, based in the UK.
Pictures and footage released today, Wednesday 18 December, show the high-tech operations room at RAF Waddington, where members of 13 Squadron remotely operate the RAF’s Reaper aircraft in Afghanistan.
Reaper is just one of a range of UAS, including remotely-piloted air systems, operated by UK armed forces, providing vital, lifesaving intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance on operations.
Showing this work is a key way to dispel some common myths about the role of the equipment, which UK forces use predominantly in Afghanistan.
During a visit to RAF Waddington, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond viewed the full range of current and future equipment, including:
Desert Hawk (Army)
Black Hornet Nano (Army)
Tarantula Hawk (Army)
Watchkeeper (Army)
ScanEagle (Royal Navy)
Mr Hammond also spoke to a Royal Artillery fire support team commander recently returned from Afghanistan who spoke of the benefits the ‘eyes in the sky’ can provide for troops on the ground.
Mr Hammond said:
Vital to our efforts to protect our forces and the people of Afghanistan, this battle-winning technology allows us to understand the situation on the ground more clearly, develop better intelligence, and precisely strike, within our rules of engagement, those who threaten or hurt the people we are protecting.
Much of the criticism of unmanned aerial systems is based on misunderstanding. This event provides a great opportunity to better inform people about these lifesaving assets and their variety of purposes.
Speaking at the event, Air Vice-Marshal Philip Osborn, Joint Forces Command Capability Director, praised unmanned aerial systems’ ability to provide ‘persistent surveillance of enemy positions without putting our servicemen and women at unnecessary risk’. He said:
In today’s operational environment, unmanned and remotely-piloted air systems are increasingly vital to keep one step ahead of the enemy, and to save military and civilian lives.
Highly trained and experienced personnel are at the heart of the capability, and human oversight and control is always paramount. This is a capability just like every other across defence; it has skilled and motivated people at its core, people who are in charge of technology and use it in strict accordance with the law.
Viewing the inside of a Reaper control cabin, the Defence Secretary was able to see how it is guided and controlled at all times by a team of highly trained and skilled people. Pilots, sensor operators and analysts all make decisions in real-time, exactly like the crew of a traditional aircraft.
In over 54,000 hours of operations, the UK’s Reaper, the only armed system used by British armed forces, has fired just 459 precision weapons.
When a precision strike capability is required from RAF Reaper aircraft by ground commanders this is always in accordance with international humanitarian law and the law of armed conflict, and is governed by strict rules of engagement; exactly the same as manned aircraft.
A computer-generated image of a Successor Class submarine [Picture: BAE Systems]
16 December 2013 Ministry of Defence
The Defence Secretary has announced £79 million of investment in the next generation of Royal Navy submarines.
The Successor submarines, which will carry the UK’s strategic nuclear deterrent, will be the largest and most advanced boats operated by the Navy, and their design and construction will be the most technologically complex in the history of the UK.
Two contracts worth £47 million and £32 million have been awarded to BAE Systems Maritime-Submarines who are leading on the design of the vessels.
The investment will allow BAE Systems, who currently have more than a thousand people working on the Successor programme, to begin work on some initial items for the submarines that are due to replace the Vanguard Class from 2028. It is essential these items, which include structural fittings, electrical equipment, castings and forgings are ordered now to ensure the submarines are able to meet their in-service date.
MOD has also released a picture today which shows for the first time how the early designs of Successor are taking shape. The image forms part of an update on the Successor programme that has been presented to Parliament.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said:
This £79 million investment is another important milestone in our preparations to build these world-leading submarines. The current Vanguard Class of deterrent submarines perform a vital role in the defence of the UK and the replacement for this capability is of national importance.
The Successor programme is supporting around 2,000 jobs, and up to 850 British businesses could benefit from the supply chain as we exploit the most modern technologies and employ a significant portion of the UK’s engineers, project managers and technicians over the coming years.
First Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Zambellas said:
The Royal Navy has been operating continuous at-sea deterrent patrols for more than 40 years and the Successor submarines will allow us to do so with cutting-edge equipment well into the future.
The submarines are being designed to be some of the stealthiest in the world and are expected to see operational service from the late 2020s right up to the 2060s.
The Successor design and build programme is amongst the most complex ever undertaken by British industry. The total number of MOD and industrial staff currently working on the Successor programme is around 2,000, with more than half working as engineers and designers.
Over 850 potential UK suppliers have so far been identified as benefiting from investment in the programme and as many as 6,000 people will be involved by the time that the construction reaches a peak
LONDON, Dec. 11 (UPI)
Babcock is to deliver four Phalanx 1B kit modifications and conduct two conversions of the land Phalanx Weapons System to its original marinized configuration.
The work comes under a contract to the U.K. company from Britain's Ministry of Defense. The value of the work, however, was not disclosed.
The Phalanx is a close-in, computer-controlled weapon system of 20mm Gatling guns to defend a ship against missile attack. The guns fire 4,500 rounds per minute.
The 1B configuration allows for its use against small surface vessels and for crew to visually identify and target threats. It also features forward looking infra-red camera technology to defend the ship against surface targets and slow air targets.
Raytheon is the manufacturer of the system, which is used on U.S. and Royal Navy ships. Babcock is the in-service support provider in Britain for the system.
Under the new award -- delivered under an amendment to the existing support and upgrade contract -- Babcock will obtain Phalanx 1B systems equipment from Raytheon and covert the two land-based Phalanx weapon systems using their own weapons support engineers.
The systems are due to be delivered by March 2014.
"We are delighted to be applying our expertise and working with Raytheon to help the MOD and Royal Navy build the Phalanx ... capability it needs," said Babcock Weapons Business Development Manager Martin Laity. "Babcock is already known for our weapon support work for the UK MOD and our expertise in the assembly, test and setting to work of naval weapon systems.
10/12/2013 armée de l'air
Le 7 décembre 2013, le commando parachutiste de l’air n°30 de Bordeaux-Mérignac a participé à la célébration du 71e anniversaire de l’opération Frankton à Blanquefort (33), sa ville marraine.
Le « 30 » rend les honneurs depuis 1995 aux valeureux commandos anglais qui, par leur ténacité et leur courage, ont au péril de leur vie accompli une des plus périlleuses missions de la Seconde Guerre mondiale.
Le 7 décembre 1942, des dix hommes, aidés par la Résistance française, qui ont remonté la Gironde dans de petits canots pour placer des bâtons d’explosifs aimantés sur les navires allemands amarrés dans le port de Bordeaux, seuls le major H.G. "Blondie" Hasler et le caporal William Sparks ont survécu. Quant aux huit autres, deux sont morts noyés et six ont été capturés et fusillés.
Cette cérémonie présidée par Madame Ferreira, maire de Blanquefort et le colonel Olivier Celo, commandant la base aérienne 106 de Bordeaux-Mérignac, a été marquée par les témoignages poignants de jeunes collégiens de la ville et la présence d’une délégation anglaise emmenée par le consul du Royaume-Uni à Bordeaux, Monsieur Alastair Roberts.
![Independent report praises [UK] MOD reform](http://img.over-blog-kiwi.com/0/54/74/56/201312/ob_f31bd3_defence-reform-an-independent-report-into-the-str.jpg)
5 December 2013 Ministry of Defence
Significant progress has been made to transform MOD into a more professional and responsible organisation, an independent report has said.
In a follow-up to his major independent review of MOD 2 years ago, Lord Levene has praised the department for embracing complex and radical change to improve both efficiency and financial management.
Lord Levene’s 2011 Defence Reform report made 53 recommendations on how to transform MOD into a leaner and more effective organisation that could better support the needs of the Armed Forces.
Since then, he has monitored the changes that have been made and, in his second stocktake, has praised the successful reforms that have taken place right across the department.
Lord Levene describes the elimination of the £38 billion budget deficit as a remarkable achievement and says there is now clear evidence that MOD is more business-like and finance-focused.
His report welcomes the imaginative ways in which the department has increased accountability and reduced bureaucracy by delegating responsibility to the heads of the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force.
The report acknowledges that better leadership, direction and prioritisation have led to a more strategic approach in MOD.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said:
We have rightly focused our efforts on reshaping our Armed Forces to meet future threats and delivering better value for money for taxpayers. Lord Levene’s report is a welcome endorsement of the progress we have made in reforming Defence.
We are streamlining MOD, with a reduction of 33,000 civilian posts in total, to make it leaner and more strategic, better able to support the Armed Forces of the future.
Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Nicholas Houghton, said:
Defence Reform has required some innovative changes to the structure and management of Defence. But the results of these changes will lead to a more agile force structure with capabilities better suited to the security challenges of the age.
The advent of Joint Forces Command and the greater delegation of authority to the 3 single services is fundamental to this change.
Jonathan Slater, Director General Transformation, said:
I am encouraged that Lord Levene recognises a real change of mindset within the department. We remain committed to continuing with this programme of reform to achieve real and sustained behavioural change.
HMS Queen Elizabeth being fitted with main radar. Photo Aircraft Carrier Alliance
29 November 2013 naval-technology.com
The UK Royal Navy's new Queen Elizabeth-class (QE) aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, has been fitted with large long range radar.
With the installation of main radar antenna onto the forward island, the aircraft carrier's main structure blocks are now in place.
Designed to provide a three dimensional and long-range picture, the radar can track up to 1,000 contacts up to a range of 400km away from the vessel.
Recently, HMS Queen Elizabeth has been fitted with final ramp section of the flight deck, at the Rosyth shipyard, Scotland.
The 64m-long and 13m-wide ramp section, which will allow jet aircraft to take off from the ship, is the final exterior piece of the aircraft carrier to be integrated.
Queen Elizabeth-class carriers will have a full-load displacement capacity of 65,000t, an operational range of 10,000nm and can carry up to 40 aircraft.
"The radar can track up to 1,000 contacts up to a range of 400km away."
Aircraft Carrier Alliance (ACA), a joint venture between Babcock Thales, BAE Systems and the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), is constructing these two new aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince Of Wales.
Powered by two Rolls-Royce Marine 36MW MT30 gas turbine alternators, the carriers can accommodate a crew of 1,200, including an aircrew of 600.
Expected to be structurally complete next year, HMS Queen Elizabeth is scheduled to commence sea trials in 2017, followed by Lightning II aircraft flight trials in 2018.
HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince Of Wales are expected to be operational with the Royal Navy in 2016 and 2018 respectively, replacing the Invincible-class vessels.
photo Royal Navy
28 November 2013 Ministry of Defence
HMS Bulwark has visited the Libyan port of Tripoli in support of a ministerial visit from the UK.
The ship, which is part of the Royal Navy’s Response Force Task Group (RFTG) and has been taking part in the Cougar 13 deployment, called in to Tripoli to support a visit by UK Minister for the Armed Forces Mark Francois and provided the platform for a UK Trade and Industry event.
Twelve British firms presented a range of services – including border security systems, explosive ordnance disposal, legal advice and services and specialist advice on education – to visitors from the Libyan Prime Minister’s office as well as representatives from the Libyan Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defence.
Talking about his visit to the defence security and industry event hosted on HMS Bulwark, Mr Francois said:
I would like to reiterate the British government’s support for the Libyan authorities in rebuilding its security structures. Well-equipped and well-trained personnel are vital to deal with today’s security challenges.
Co-operation between Libya and the UK in this field is a growing element of our increasingly close bilateral relationship.
While in Libya, Commodore Paddy McAlpine, Commander United Kingdom Task Group, and Captain Andrew Burns, commanding officer of HMS Bulwark, took the opportunity to visit the Chief of Staff of the Libyan Navy and the commanding officer of Tripoli Naval Base.
Commodore McAlpine said:
We have been very warmly welcomed during this important visit to Tripoli in support of the Minister for the Armed Forces. Our presence here reaffirmed the Royal Navy’s commitment to Libya’s transition to a stable and lasting democracy.
Our connection with the Libyan Navy stretches back to the 1960s and I am confident we will continue to be trusted and close maritime partners.
Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Libya, His Excellency Mr Michael Aron, hosted a reception on board HMS Bulwark for a number of senior government and military leaders including the Minister for Defence, Chief of Joint Operations of the Libyan Armed Forces, Chief of Staff of the Libyan Navy and Chief of Staff of the Libyan Army.
HMS Bulwark has been deployed since August and has conducted maritime and amphibious exercises with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, and recently visited Karachi in Pakistan.
The Cougar 13 deployment has been operating in the Mediterranean, the Red Sea and the Gulf, and around the Horn of Africa.
It involves exercising with partner nations and shows the UK Armed Forces’ capacity to project an effective maritime component anywhere in the world as part of the RFTG.
The RFTG is the UK’s high readiness maritime force, comprising ships, submarines, aircraft and a landing force of Royal Marines held at short notice to act in response to any contingency tasking if required.
3 lynxs anglais de la Royal Navy arrivent sur la base de l'aéronautique Navale de Lanvéoc
22/11/2013 Marine nationale
Du lundi 18 novembre au vendredi 22 novembre 2013, un détachement d’hélicoptères Britanniques du 702 squadron de la RNAS YEOVILTON a opéré sur la base de l’aéronautique navale de Lanvéoc-Poulmic. Composé de trois Lynx MK 8, de quatre équipages et d’un échelon de soutien technique, le détachement de la Royal Navy a effectué des vols de navigation, sur terre et sur mer, ainsi que des missions d’entraînement élémentaire de lutte anti-surface. Avant son départ en patrouille avec l’un des Lynx, un AW 159 WILDCAT de l’escadron d’expérimentation 700W squadron a atterri sur la plateforme de la base de l’aéronautique navale de Lanvéoc-Poulmic le vendredi 22 novembre. Il y a effectué un ravitaillement rotor tournant. Cette manipulation est très technique, puisque l’aéronef reste avec ses moteurs et équipements allumés pendant toute l’opération.
Ce «landaway», déploiement extérieur de la force, concourt à la formation initiale de 3 équipages avant l’obtention de leur qualification opérationnelle pour de potentiels déploiements.
L'unité était composée de trois Lynx MK 8, de quatre équipages et d’un échelon de soutien technique
Cet entrainement opérationnel permet de former les jeunes pilotes de la Navy
Un détachement britannique sur la BAN de Lanvéoc-Poulmic
Entraînement CUTAWAY, préparation d'un plongeur scaphandre pour inertvention sur fût chimique
22/11/2013 Marine nationale
La rade de Brest vient d’accueillir, du 18 au 22 novembre 2013, la deuxième édition de l’exercice de guerre des mines « Cut Away ». Principale nouveauté de cette édition, la présence d’équipes américaines et britanniques aux côtés des acteurs français de la guerre des mines.
Cet entraînement multilatéral avait pour scénario la sécurisation d’un port de commerce majeur et le rétablissement du trafic maritime d’un pays ami en période post-conflit. A la mer, le bâtiment de base des plongeurs démineurs Styx a notamment mis en oeuvre à plusieurs reprises des robots d’intervention anti-sous-marine (Véhicule sous marin autonome ou AUV). Ainsi les sonars du Remus britannique ont quadrillé pendant plusieurs heures de vastes zones, balayant les fonds sous-marins à la recherche de dangers potentiels. Ces appareils sans fil sont programmés pour effectuer un parcours donné et enregistrer tout au long de ce quadrillage les données recueillies par leur sonar. Ils permettent de couvrir une plus grande surface que les plongeurs, garantissent un gain de temps substantiel et offrent une moindre exposition du personnel à la menace. Les hommes du groupement des plongeurs démineurs de l’Atlantique ont ainsi découvert, investigué et neutralisé la mine et des fûts chimiques fictifs mouillés pour les besoins de l’exercice. A terre, un état-major opérationnel était également déployé sur l’enceinte de l’école navale pour coordonner l’ensemble des activités terrestres et côtières. Les équipes cynophiles et les binômes de plongeurs se sont mobilisés pour détecter toute forme de menace sur la bande littorale, sécuriser les quais et les bassins comme les coques des bâtiments de la force. Les équipes de neutralisation d’explosifs ont également été hélitreuillées ou envoyées à bord de semi-rigides pour effectuer diverses interventions : libération d’otage, neutralisation de véhicules piégés…
Entraînement CUTAWAY, plongeurs britaniques
« L’objectif d’un entraînement de ce type est de proposer des situations réalistes, très proches de ce que rencontrent ces équipes sur les théâtres d’opérations dans lesquels nous opérons. Le fait de travailler avec nos alliés américains et britanniques nous permet de confronter nos méthodes et nos savoirs faires pour être encore plus facilement intéropérables en cas d’intervention conjointe. La maîtrise de ce domaine de lutte est incontournable, notamment dans les opérations amphibie qui exigent la sécurisation des zones d’intervention », commente le capitaine de vaisseau Jean-Christophe Olieric, commandant l’état-major de la guerre des mines, qui coordonne l’exercice.
« La barrière de la langue n’est pas un problème », estime pour sa part le lieutenant de vaisseau Nathan Isaacs, commandant la Fleet diving unit 3, unité spécialisée dans la récupération de mines inconnues. « Quel que soit le lieu où nous devons intervenir dans le monde, nous sommes confrontés aux mêmes menaces et disposons de méthodes d’intervention et de procédures assez proches. C’est motivant de nous entraîner ensemble, de partager nos retours d’expérience et de trouver conjointement des solutions aux situations que l’exercice nous propose ».
Entraînement CUTAWAY, inspection d'une plage
The UK Royal Navy's type 23 frigate HMS Richmond during an exercise. Photo Gaz Weatherston.
21 November 2013 naval-technology.com
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded a contract to Babcock for delivery of an off-the-shelf communications electronic support measures (CESM) system for installation on the Royal Navy's Type 23 Duke-class ships.
Working in collaboration with principal subcontractor Argon, the company will supply a high technology readiness level (TRL) system for rapid replacement of the ships' existing obsolete Lighthouse CESM system.
The system, delivered under the seven-year contract, will provide the vessels with an enhanced electronic surveillance capability.
Babcock Integrated System and Support Group director, Charles John, said the high-technology readiness, low-risk solution will provide MoD the maximum value for money.
''We will also be delivering through-life supportability and upgradeability through the planned project life to 2021 and beyond,'' John said.
''This programme will enable the MoD to drive coherency across the capability and derive significant benefit.''
Also called as Hammerhead, Babcock's Type 23 CESM system is designed to offer a low risk, mature solution tailored to Type 23 requirements and surveillance capability, which supports both tactical indicators and warnings, as well as other tasked requirements.
The system exhibits commonality with Lighthouse CESMs, which provide the opportunity for common spares, training and operator flexibility, enabling the MoD to address current requirements within the specified budget.
In addition, the system's modular design block approach provides potential for enhancement or life extension in future, if funding is available, to help the ministry also address changes in operational requirements.
Manufactured by Yarrow Shipbuilders and Swan Hunter, the Type 23 frigates were originally designed for anti-submarine warfare, but have proven their versatility in warfighting, peace-keeping and maritime security missions worldwide.
LONDRES, 20 nov 2013 marine-oceans.com (AFP)
Le chef du gouvernement de Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, a appelé mercredi la marine britannique à déployer des moyens supplémentaires au large du rocher pour dissuader l'incursion de bateaux espagnols dans ses eaux territoriales.
"Je suis favorable à tout ce qui peut avoir un effet dissuasif", a affirmé M. Picardo à la BBC, évoquant la "mise à disposition par la Royal Navy de moyens supplémentaires pour le commandant des forces britanniques à Gibraltar".
M. Picardo a prévenu que des bateaux espagnols pourraient être pris pour des cibles "terroristes" s'il n'était pas possible de les identifier immédiatement comme appartenant à une "nation amie".
Ces déclarations interviennent au lendemain d'un nouvel incident ayant ravivé les tensions entre Londres et Madrid lorsque un navire océanographique espagnol a été accusé d'avoir pénétré "les eaux territoriales britanniques" au large de Gibraltar.
Selon la version de Londres, le Ramon Margalef, a procédé pendant plus de 20 heures, les 18 et 19 novembre, à des relevés dans les eaux de Gibraltar, territoire britannique depuis 1713 et revendiqué en vain par l'Espagne depuis des décennies.
Un porte-parole du ministère de la défense a dénoncé "une violation de la convention des Nations unies sur le droit de la mer" et l'ambassadeur de l'Espagne au Royaume-Uni, Federico Trillon, a été convoqué au Foreign Office.
"Convoquer un ambassadeur est un acte grave, surtout lorsqu'il concerne l'ambassadeur d'un partenaire européen et allié de l'OTAN, et l'Espagne doit en avoir conscience", a souligné M. Picardo, à la tête de ce petit territoire de 6,7 km2.
Le différend bilatéral vieux de trois siècles entre les deux États membres de l'Union européenne a été à l'origine de frictions diplomatiques tout l'été.
La corvette Steregouchtchi Photo Chantiers navals du Nord
MOSCOU, 14 novembre - RIA Novosti
La Grande-Bretagne a invité la flotte russe du Nord à participer aux exercices internationaux FRUKUS 2014, a annoncé jeudi Vadim Serga, porte-parole de la région militaire russe de l'Ouest à l'issue d'une visite de l'attaché naval britannique David Fields à Mourmansk.
"M.Fields a proposé au commandement de la flotte du Nord d'étudier la possibilité qu'un navire de la flotte participe aux exercices internationaux FRUKUS qui se tiendront à la mi-2014", a indiqué le porte-parole.
Cette année, la corvette Steregouchtchi de la flotte de la Baltique a représenté la Russie aux exercices FRUKUS qui engagent tous les ans des navires de France, de Russie, du Royaume-Uni et des USA).
Une délégation diplomatique britannique a effectué une visite à la base de la flotte du Nord les 13 et 14 novembre. L'attaché naval David Fields et le chef d'état-major de la flotte du Nord, l'amiral Nikolaï Evmenov ont discuté de la coopération entre la flotte du Nord et la Marine britannique lors d'opérations de sauvetage en mer, de gestion des catastrophes naturelles et technique et de lutte contre le terrorisme international.
La première édition des manœuvres FRUKUS s'est déroulée en 1988, à l'époque de l'URSS. Ils se sont poursuivis en 1993, dans le cadre d'un accord tripartite entre la Russie, la Grande-Bretagne et les Etats-Unis. Avant l'adhésion de la France à ce programme en 2003, ils s'appelaient RUKUS.
The 300-tonne section of ramp is lifted onto the Queen Elizabeth [Picture: Aircraft Carrier Alliance]
11 November 2013 Ministry of Defence and Defence Equipment and Support
The final section of the flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth has been fitted onto the Royal Navy's new aircraft carrier.
Pictures released by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance today show the ramp section, which will allow jet aircraft to take off from the ship, being lowered into place at the shipyard in Rosyth, Scotland, where the Queen Elizabeth Class carriers are being constructed.
The 300-tonne section of ramp, which is 64 metres long and 13 metres wide, is the final exterior piece of the aircraft carrier to be fitted. At its highest point, the take-off ramp is 6 metres above the flight deck, which will allow aircraft to be propelled into the air.
The pictures come on the same day as MOD announces that a fourth Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft has been ordered from Lockheed Martin. The UK has already taken delivery of 3 Lightning II jets and Royal Navy and RAF pilots are training on the aircraft in the USA.
This fourth jet, which is specially designed to be a test aircraft, will help boost the ongoing training available.
Earlier this year, the first take-off at sea by a UK pilot in a Lightning II took place during a week of trials aboard the United States Marine Corps’ amphibious assault ship USS Wasp.
Philip Dunne, Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, said:
We are on track to ensuring carrier strike capability by 2020. Both the completion of the take-off ramp and the announcement of the contract for the fourth jet show the tremendous progress being made to ensure that the Royal Navy will have a modern carrier force.
Not only are these jets the most advanced ever operated by our armed forces, but the programme is worth over £1 billion to UK industry each year and will support around 25,000 British jobs over the next 25 years.
MOD’s Chief of Materiel (Air), Air Marshal Simon Bollom, said:
The latest contract for the fourth Lightning II means we are a step closer to realising the ambition of having the most advanced fast jets available for the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy to defend our nation’s interests.
Our strong participation in the test and development of the aircraft has shown the potent capability that this fifth-generation fighter delivers.
It represents the cutting-edge of combat aircraft design and will be a tremendous asset for the UK, so we are delighted with the progress the programme is making.
HMS Queen Elizabeth is due to be structurally complete next year. She will begin her sea trials in 2017 before flight trials with the Lightning II jets get underway in 2018.
As well as operating from the Queen Elizabeth Class carriers, Lightning II will be jointly operated by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy from RAF Marham in Norfolk
The forward ramp section in place on the Queen Elizabeth at the shipyard in Rosyth (Photo: Aircraft Carrier Alliance)
November 12, 2013 defense-update.com
Pictures released by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance yesterday show the ramp section, which will allow jet aircraft to take off from the ship, being lowered into place at the shipyard in Rosyth, Scotland, where the Queen Elizabeth Class carriers are being constructed.
The 300-tonne section of ramp, which is 64 metres long and 13 metres wide, is the final exterior piece of the aircraft carrier to be fitted. At its highest point, the take-off ramp is 6 metres above the flight deck, which will allow aircraft to be propelled into the air.
The pictures come on the same day as MOD announces that a fourth Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft has been ordered from Lockheed Martin. The UK has already taken delivery of 3 Lightning II jets and Royal Navy and RAF pilots are training on the aircraft in the USA.
This fourth jet, which is specially designed to be a test aircraft, will help boost the ongoing training available.
Earlier this year, the first take-off at sea by a UK pilot in a Lightning II took place during a week of trials aboard the United States Marine Corps’ amphibious assault ship USS Wasp.
“We are on track to ensuring carrier strike capability by 2020. Both the completion of the take-off ramp and the announcement of the contract for the fourth jet show the tremendous progress being made to ensure that the Royal Navy will have a modern carrier force.” Philip Dunne, Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology confirmed.
Royal Navy River Class offshore patrol vessels HMS Tyne, HMS Severn and HMS Mersey (library image) [Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Al Macleod, Crown copyright]
6 November 2013 Ministry of Defence and Defence Equipment and Support
MOD plans to commission 3 new ocean-going offshore patrol vessels for the Royal Navy.
The new ships will be built by BAE Systems at their shipyards on the Clyde in a deal that will sustain jobs in the UK’s warship-building industry, and will play a key role in counter-terrorism, counter-piracy and anti-smuggling operations.
The agreement with BAE Systems provides work for the company between the completion of the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers and the Type 26 Global Combat Ship, securing the vital skills needed to build the UK’s future warships.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond is also announcing today that more than £100 million will be invested in Her Majesty’s (HM) Naval Base Portsmouth, which will be home to both HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. The money will expand the dockyard to ensure it is ready for the arrival of the Royal Navy’s biggest ever warships as well as for the Type 45 destroyers which are based in Portsmouth.
Under the terms of a business agreement signed with BAE Systems in 2009, MOD would have been liable to pay for any periods when no shipbuilding was taking place at UK yards.
Building offshore patrol vessels means not only are staff at BAE Systems able to continue to work and maintain their skills, but also the Royal Navy benefits from 3 new ships and the taxpayer gets much better value for money.
The cost of building the ships is funded from money that would have been used to pay for idle capacity, finance redundancies and meet the cost of industrial restructuring.
Portsmouth will maintain its proud maritime heritage as the home of much of the Royal Navy’s surface fleet and the centre of BAE Systems’ ship support and maintenance business.
Mr Hammond said:
This deal will provide the Royal Navy with 3 brand new maritime patrol vessels with a wide range of capabilities which will support our national interests and those of our overseas territories.
This is an investment not only in 3 ships but also in this country’s warship-building industry. It prevents workers standing idle and sustains the vital skills needed to build the planned Type 26 frigate in the future.
I am also pleased to announce additional investment in Portsmouth Naval Base to prepare for the significant increase in tonnage as the home port for the Royal Navy’s aircraft carriers and destroyers.
Work on the new offshore patrol vessels is due to begin next year, with the first ship being delivered to the Royal Navy in 2017. The ships are expected to replace the current, smaller River Class vessels, HM Ships Tyne, Severn and Mersey, which have been policing the UK’s waters since 2003, but a final decision will be taken in the next strategic defence and security review.
Admiral Sir George Zambellas, the First Sea Lord, said:
These new patrol vessels will build on the proven performance of the River Class by adding a flight deck to take the Navy’s Merlin helicopters and by adding operational flexibility through extra storage capacity and accommodation. They are very welcome.
29/10/2013 Sources : EMA
Du 19au 22 octobre 2013, la frégate HMS Lancaster de la marine royale britannique a fait escale à Fort-de-France, dans le cadre de son déploiement de plusieurs mois en Atlantique Nord et en mer des Caraïbes.
Avec le soutien du remorqueur Maïto, la frégate HMS Lancaster a accosté au quai des Tourelles, accueilli par une quarantaine de militaires des Forces armées aux Antilles (FAA) appartenant à la base navale de Fort-de-France et à la 1ère compagnie du détachement Terre-Antilles-33ème RIMa (DTA-33e RIMa).
Une fois la coupée en place, le capitaine de frégate Steve Moorhouse, commandant du HMS Lancaster, a reçu à son bord Madame Alison Ernoult, consul honoraire du Royaume-Uni en Martinique, le capitaine de frégate Thierry Ruffier, commandant de la base navale de Fort-de-France et le lieutenant-colonel Isabelle Vinciguerra, attaché de défense non résident.
Au cours de la dernière journée d’escale, le capitaine de frégate Steve Moorhouseet Madame Alison Ernoult ont été reçus par le contre-amiral Georges Bosselut, commandant supérieur des forces armées aux Antilles (COMSUP FAA).
Au cours de cette escale, deux rencontres sportives amicales se sont déroulées entre les marins britanniques et les militaires des FAA, et la frégate HMS Lancaster a ouvert ses portes au public.
L’équipage de la frégate a repris la mer le 22 octobre en début de matinée afin de poursuivre sa mission de surveillance maritime en mer des Caraïbes. Elle participe activement à la lutte contre le narcotrafic et se tient prête à secourir les populations en cas de catastrophe naturelle.
Les FAA constituent, avec les forces armées en Guyane (FAG), les forces de souveraineté françaises sur le « théâtre » Antilles-Guyane. Dans une logique de complémentarité et de mutualisation, les FAA mettent ainsi en œuvre un dispositif interarmées à dominante maritime, tandis que les FAG mettent en œuvre un dispositif interarmées à dominante aéroterrestre.
HMS Westminster, a Type 23 Frigate
October 16, 2013 idrw.org (IANS)
An Indian Navy destroyer and a Royal Navy frigate Tuesday began the ninth edition of annual Konkan-13 exercise off India’s western coast, with the focus on asymmetric operations, anti-air warfare and boarding, search and seizure of ships.
The Konkan series of bilateral exercises commenced in 2004 and eight such exercises have been conducted till now, an Indian Navy statement said.
“These exercises provide an opportunity to both the navies to work together at sea and in harbour to build interoperability, and to share best practices among the crew,” it said.
The harbour phase of the exercise would involve professional discussions, interactions and social functions, while the sea phase will have exercises in various surface and air dimensions of naval operations.
INS Delhi (D61)
Indian Navy will be represented by INS Delhi, an indigenously built destroyer hosting a Chetak helicopter and accompanied by shore-based aircraft. It is commanded by Capt. Sandeep Mehta.
The Royal Navy would be represented by HMS Westminster, a Type 23 Frigate, commanded by Capt. Hugh Beard.
The thrust of the exercise this year would be on asymmetric operations, anti-air warfare and Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) exercises.
“The cooperation between the two navies is a positive and tangible symbol of commitment in ensuring a positive climate for maritime security and economic development,” the statement said.
“Such exercise between the two navies manifest growing friendship between the two nations, with an aim to maintain peace and stability in the Indian Ocean Region,” it further adds.
15 October 2013 Ministry of Defence and Defence Equipment and Support
The closing date for returning the industry day application form to the Disposal Services Authority is Tuesday 10 December 4:00pm GMT
Documents
PDF, 129KB, 2 pages
MS Word Document, 261KB
Detail
HMS Illustrious is due to retire from service with the Royal Navy in 2014 and it is the Disposal Services Authority’s (DSA) intention to host an Industry Day in January 2014 to establish the level of interest in purchasing the vessel for ‘further use’ only, ensuring bidders are aware of the following:
All interested parties wishing to attend the viewing day will need to complete an industry day application form.
The closing date for returning the industry day application form to the DSA is Tuesday 10 December 4:00pm GMT.
HMS Illustrious approaches Glen Mallan (library image) [Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Keith Morgan, Crown copyright]
15 October 2013 Ministry of Defence
MOD is looking for ideas on how best to preserve the legacy of the Royal Navy's Invincible Class aircraft carriers.
The last of the ships, HMS Illustrious, is due to retire in late 2014 after 32 years of distinguished service that has seen her involved in operations around the world.
Following the announcement last year that the 22,000-tonne ship will be preserved in some form, MOD is now inviting private companies, charities and trusts who are interested in buying her to come forward with ideas for her future use.
HMS Illustrious is currently the UK’s high readiness helicopter and commando carrier, able to deploy Merlin, Chinook, Sea King, Lynx or Apache helicopters. She is currently in the Mediterranean as part of the Royal Navy’s Cougar 13 deployment of the UK’s Response Force Task Group.
The ship, which is 210 metres long, the equivalent of 18 double-decker buses, was involved in the First Gulf War and the conflict in Afghanistan in 2001, and supported evacuations from Sierra Leone in 2000 and Lebanon in 2006.
MOD wants HMS Illustrious to remain in the UK and bids for her future use must be viable and include plans for part or all of the ship to be developed for heritage purposes.
The Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Philip Dunne, said:
HMS Illustrious, like her 2 sister ships Invincible and Ark Royal, has provided an invaluable service to this country over more than 3 decades. This competition will provide the opportunity for organisations to put forward innovative and viable proposals to honour the role and history of this iconic class of ship and all those who served on board them.
Once proposals are received, an industry day will be held next year to discuss the ideas further. It is expected a final decision will be made after the ship is decommissioned and handed over to the Disposal Services Authority.
The UK’s new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, which will replace the Invincible Class ships, are currently under construction. HMS Queen Elizabeth, which is almost complete, will begin sea trials in 2017 before undertaking flight trials with the F-35 Lightning II aircraft in 2018.
The Goliath crane lifts one of the flight deck sections into place on the Queen Elizabeth [Picture: Crown copyright]
3 October 2013 Ministry of Defence and Defence Equipment and Support
The flight deck of the first of the Navy's new aircraft carriers is now finished, with the last 2 sections added to HMS Queen Elizabeth.
The sponsons, each weighing just under 500 tonnes, roughly the same as a Sandown Class minehunter, have been carefully inched into place in Rosyth in Scotland.
The mighty Goliath crane lifted the sponsons – the sections protruding from the hull which give an aircraft carrier its unique shape – to join the remainder of the ship in her dry dock.
By the standards of the Queen Elizabeth, the segments are relatively small; the larger sections weighed in at more than 10,000 tonnes (heavier than a Type 45 destroyer).
Now physically complete the flight deck is the size of 60 tennis courts or just a bit smaller than 3 football pitches.
To accommodate the F-35 Lightning II jets, which will land and take off from the ship, a ski ramp will be installed next month – mirroring the feature which propelled the Harrier skywards on the Invincible Class of carriers.
The Queen Elizabeth Class project is probably at the peak of effort, with around 10,000 people involved in building the 2 leviathans, or providing equipment and systems to be installed on them.
While almost all the media attention is focused on the future flagship, there’s also an all-out effort across the land to build her younger sister, the Prince of Wales, which is around 2 years behind Queen Elizabeth.
Sections of 3-quarters of the Prince of Wales’s hull are under construction in Portsmouth, Govan, Merseyside and Tyneside.
The 65,000-tonne Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers will be based in Portsmouth and will be the centrepiece of the UK’s military capability.
HMS Queen Elizabeth is due to begin sea trials in 2017 and flight trials from her deck using Lightning II fast jets in 2018.
Members of HMS Duncan's ship's company line up on the dockside at the ship's commissioning ceremony (Picture: Leading Airman Maxine Davies, UK MoD)
27 September 2013 Ministry of Defence and Defence Equipment and Support
HMS Duncan, the sixth and last of the Royal Navy's new-generation Type 45 destroyers, has been formally commissioned into the fleet.
Hundreds of guests, including families of the 190-strong ship’s company, attended a ‘christening’ ceremony yesterday, 26 September, at Portsmouth Naval Base to mark the ship’s transition into front line service.
The event marks a significant milestone for the fleet of Portsmouth-based Type 45s – the most powerful ships ever built for the Royal Navy.
The first Type 45, HMS Daring, was commissioned in July 2009 and has been followed by her sister ships Dauntless, Diamond, Dragon, Defender and now Duncan.
Principal guests at the commissioning ceremony included Lady Marie Ibbotson – the ship’s sponsor who launched the vessel at BAE Systems’ Govan shipyard on the River Clyde in October 2010 – and First Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Zambellas. Dignitaries from the ship’s affiliated cities of Belfast and Dundee and veterans from the last HMS Duncan – a Type 14 frigate in service between 1957 and 1985 – were also present.
Commander James Stride, Duncan’s Commanding Officer, said the event was a proud moment for all personnel serving on the ship:
The commissioning ceremony marks a major milestone in the life of HMS Duncan. We are delighted that it can be shared with so many distinguished guests, friends, family, affiliates and former Duncanites.
The hour-long ceremony was rounded off in traditional Royal Navy fashion with the cutting of a commissioning cake. Performing the honour was the commanding officer’s wife, Emma, along with the youngest member of the ship’s company, Logistician (Steward) Clancey Welford, aged 18.
The first 4 Type 45s have already experienced life on operational deployments and the fifth, HMS Defender, is due to deploy for the first time next year.
Now commissioned, HMS Duncan will continue an intense period of trials and training around the UK lasting well into next year before being ready to undertake operational tasking along with her sister ships around the globe.
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