Sep 25, 2013 ASDNews Source : Babcock International

Babcock has been awarded a £4.8 million contract by BAE Systems to supply actuators and positioning sensing arrays for the fifth, sixth and seventh Astute class submarines.  The contract represents optimum value to the MoD by combining the requirements for all three submarines in a single contract, enabling cost reductions to be generated.

Babcock will supply three sets of control surface hydraulic actuators (five per submarine); two for the aft hydroplane, one for the forward hydroplane and two for the rudder, plus five positioning sensing arrays per boat set.  Under the two and a half year programme of works, Babcock will procure the components, and assemble and functionally test the units, which will then be delivered to BAE Systems in line with the submarine build programme.  Babcock has also supplied this equipment for Astute submarines one to four, under previous contracts.

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23 September 2013 Thales UK

HMS Artful, the third of the 7,400-tonne Astute-class nuclear powered attack submarines, has been unveiled and officially named at the Barrow-in-Furness shipyard.

Jeremy Standen, Vice President of Maritime Mission Systems for Thales UK, who attended the naming ceremony, said: “We welcome this latest and significant milestone in the Royal Navy’s Astute-class programme. From across a number of our UK facilities, we have collectively provided the platform with a world-class set of sensor systems that provide the essential ‘eyes and ears’ of the submarine.

“The Artful’s official naming ceremony underlines Thales UK’s strong relationship with the Ministry of Defence and BAE Systems, and we look forward to further co-operation as the remaining submarine builds continue to progress.”

The first submarine, HMS Astute, was officially commissioned into the Royal Navy in August 2010. The Astute-class boats are the UK’s biggest hunter-killer submarines, and one of the most capable military assets in the service.

The Astute-class platform is fitted with a significant number of Thales sensors and systems, including Sonar 2076, the world’s most advanced, fully integrated, passive/active search and attack submarine sonar suite. The class is also fitted with two Thales non-hull penetrating CM010 optronic masts that, together with Sonar 2076, effectively provide the submarine with its mission-critical ‘eyes and ears’.

Thales also supplies the electronic support measures (ESM) system, which has two multi-function antenna arrays mounted on the masts. Other Thales equipment includes the ECB680 communications and SEEPIRB emergency beacon buoys and an Ultra High Frequency (UHF) satellite communications antenna.

As prime contractor, BAE Systems is building a total of seven Astute-class submarines. BAE Systems Maritime – Submarines Combat Systems Director, Ian Hawkes, said: “BAE Systems Maritime – Submarines acknowledges the importance of establishing excellent working relationships with key suppliers. The relationship established with Thales UK during the programme for the first two Astute class submarines has continued to strengthen throughout the build and commissioning of Artful.”

“The Thales UK team has made a significant contribution to activities leading to the naming ceremony of Artful, which is the first UK submarine to be fitted with the Common Combat System, using COTS equipment, which will result in significant through-life cost reductions. Most notably the Thales UK team has played a major role in successful integration of the submarine’s primary sonar and key above water systems.”

– Ends –

About Thales and Thales UK

Thales is a global technology leader for the Defence & Security and the Aerospace & Transport markets. In 2012, the company generated revenues of €14.2bn (equivalent of £11.5bn) with 67,000 employees in 56 countries. With its 25,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements. Thales has an exceptional international footprint, with operations around the world working with customers and local partners.

Thales UK employs 7,500 staff based at 35 locations. In 2012 Thales UK’s revenues were around £1.3bn.

Artful, the latest Royal Navy Astute Class submarine, is unveiled in Barrow-in-Furness (Picture Andrew Linnett, UK MoD)

20 September 2013 Ministry of Defence and Defence Equipment and Support

The Royal Navy's third Astute Class attack submarine has been formally named.

The new submarine was named Artful in a traditional ceremony at the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness.

Marking this milestone in the vessel’s construction, Lady Amanda Zambellas, the wife of First Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Zambellas, named the submarine in the classic tradition of breaking a bottle on her bow; in this instance a bottle of beer from a local Cumbrian brewery.

The naming ceremony comes just 2 months after MOD announced that the first 2 of the 7 Astute Class submarines, HMS Astute and HMS Ambush, were nearing completion of their extensive sea trials and have been handed over to the Royal Navy to begin to prepare for operations.

Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology Philip Dunne said:

HMS Artful is the third in our fleet of Astute Class submarines, the largest and most advanced attack submarines ordered by the Ministry of Defence; providing unprecedented levels of stealth and attack capability for the Royal Navy.

Mr Dunne added that the Astute submarine building programme represents a significant investment by the government and is set to sustain more than 5,000 jobs in the UK.

Admiral Zambellas said:

Today’s naming ceremony in Barrow for Artful adds another capable nuclear submarine to the gathering momentum in the Astute Class. Ahead of her, HMS Astute and HMS Ambush are already being pressed hard towards operational use, contributing to the wider renaissance in the UK’s naval equipment programme and adding to the Royal Navy’s operational authority.

The Astute class submarines will replace the older Trafalgar Class boats, and possess greater firepower, the latest communications equipment and advanced stealth technology, making them quieter than their predecessors and harder to detect.

Artful is expected to be rolled out of the shipyard construction hall early next year and is due to start sea trials in early 2015. She is the second Royal Navy submarine to hold the name. The first HMS Artful was constructed by Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering in Greenock in 1947.

HMS Artful, built by BAE Systems, is the the third of the Royal Navy's seven Astute-class submarines

20 September 2013 theguardian.com

Britain's latest nuclear-powered submarine has been unveiled.

HMS Artful, a 7,400-tonne, 97-metre-long attack submarine, was officially named in front of thousands of guests in an event to mark its completion at the Devonshire Dock Hall in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.

Artful, the third of seven Astute-class submarines, has now moved a step closer to joining her sister vessels HMS Astute and HMS Ambush.

The other submarines in the class in various stages of design or build are Audacious, Anson, Agamemnon and Ajax.

The Astute class of vessels, while nuclear powered but not nuclear armed, have greater conventional missile firepower, state-of-the-art communications equipment and advanced stealth technology, making them quiet and harder to detect, according to the Ministry of Defence.

Royal Navy submarines patrol the seas for months at a time, providing a key part of the UK's armed defence.

Built by BAE Systems, the Barrow yard has been working on the Astute programme since 2001.

Friday's ceremony was performed by Amanda Lady Zambellas, wife of the Royal Navy's First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir George Zambellas, inside BAE Systems' giant submarine construction facility.

John Hudson, managing director of BAE Systems Maritime - Submarines, said: "The design and build of a nuclear-powered submarine is as challenging as it is complex, so today represents a significant milestone in Artful's programme.

"It requires real skill and innovation to deliver submarines as sophisticated as Artful and this would not have been possible without the valued contribution of our employees and the collaborative efforts of the whole submarine enterprise.

Sir George Zambellas said: "Today's naming ceremony in Barrow for Artful adds another capable nuclear submarine to the gathering momentum in the Astute class.

"Ahead of her, HMS Astute and HMS Ambush are already being pressed hard towards operational use, contributing to the wider renaissance in the UK's naval equipment programme and adding to the Royal Navy's operational authority."

Artful will remain in the Barrow yard to complete a series of commissioning activities, before being launched in early 2014 for further tests and commissioning.

Sep 18, 2013 ASDNews Source : Babcock International

Babcock has been contracted by the UK Ministry of Defence to design and develop the first stage of an obsolescence update to the Communications Coherency for Submarines (CCSM) system on Trafalgar class submarines.

CCSM, developed by Babcock, was first installed on T-class submarines in 2005, providing the submarines with increased capacity and capability to handle existing and future levels of message traffic and information, including the ability to use and share information efficiently as part of joint or coalition task force.  The system consolidated previously independent autonomous systems into a single Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) based system architecture, covering communications across the frequency spectrum from VLF to EHF.  It also provided improved processes to enable rapid technology insertion for maximum efficiency and cost benefits, and to overcome inherent space constraints.

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Sep 12, 2013 ASDNews Source : Selex ES

Selex ES, a Finmeccanica company, has been awarded a €14.1M (£12.2M) contract by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to provide in-service support for the Royal Navy’s GSA8/GPEOD gunfire control system used on Type 23 frigates. The contract, which will last for 10 years, will see Selex ES providing a managed support arrangement for the GSA8/GPEOD which includes background support activities, a number of repairs and the administration of obsolescence issues.

“Over the past few years, the team here at Selex ES in Basildon has been successful in delivering difficult repairs and innovative system improvements for the GSA8/GPEOD” said Norman Bone, UK Managing Director at Selex ES. “We’re pleased that the MoD has recognised our team’s dedication and chosen Selex ES to support this equipment going forward”.

The GSA8/GPEOD is the gunfire control system for the 4.5” Mk8 Gun fitted to the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigates. The system calculates a ballistic solution (where a shell will land) and moves the gun to the appropriate angle for an accurate shot. The General Purpose Electro-Optics Director (GPEOD) is the main optical sensor for naval gunfire support and anti-surface warfare and also provides a general surveillance capability for the frigates.

The Royal Navy destroyer Daring pulls alongside the US destroyer Chafee in the Pacific Ocean in July. The head of the UK Royal Navy said Daring is conducting tests in the Pacific to see what role British vessels might play in ballistic-missile defense. (MC2 Sean Furey/Navy)

Sep. 11, 2013 - By ANDREW CHUTER – Defense news

LONDON — One of the UK Royal Navy’s new Type 45 destroyers is conducting tests to establish whether the warships could provide British forces with theater ballistic-missile defense (TBMD) capabilities for the first time, according to the head of the Royal Navy.

First Sea Lord Adm. Sir George Zambellas, said during a speech to industry executives and military personnel on the opening day of the DSEi defense exhibition on Tuesday that “The type is on trials in the Pacific to explore the ballistic-missile defense capabilities that are ready to be exploited, bringing strategic opportunities to the vessel.”

The Type 45 destroyer Daring, one of six Type 45s built by BAE for the Royal Navy, has been in the Pacific for several weeks, having departed its Portsmouth base this summer for a wide-ranging nine-month deployment, which the Royal Navy said in May would include science and technology trials.

The work is being done as part of a US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) research and development test.

In March, the UK Missile Defence Centre (MDC) revealed it was collaborating with industry and the MDA to “explore the potential of the Royal Navy’s destroyers to conduct TBMD missions.”

The MDC said at the time that the new BAE Systems Sampson radar fitted to the Type 45s would be used in detecting and tracking ballistic targets during the MDA tests.

The radar is part of the Sea Viper anti-air missile system, which includes the MBDA-developed Aster 30 weapon.

Successful satellite tracking experiments involving Sampson have already been conducted.

In May, the UK Defence Ministry confirmed it was talking to Aster 30 partners France and Italy about developing an extended-range version of a missile already used by the French and Italian armies to intercept incoming missiles

While there is no program to adapt the Type 45 to include TBMD capability, the trials support the possibility of such a move once a decision whether to go down that route is made by the British government.

NATO is already moving to strengthen its TBMD capabilities, including on the maritime front. Raytheon has been doing preparatory technology work as part of an effort to interest European navies, such as the Dutch and Germans in its Standard Missile-3.

While Zambellas pointed to tests that could see the Royal Navy adding capabilities to allow it to work alongside the US Navy’s Aegis-equipped ballistic-missile defense warships, Britain’s Defence Secretary Philip Hammond also boosted the Royal Navy’s air defenses with a contract announcement on the Sea Ceptor missile.

Speaking at DSEi, Hammond said the MoD had signed a £250 million (US $392 million) production contract to provide the anti-air missile defenses for the Type 23 frigate starting 2016 and future Type 26 frigate sometime in the early 2020s.

The UK government and MBDA signed a £483 million development contract in late 2011.

Overall, naval matters dominated the opening day of DSEi.

BAE announced a £22 million contract to support and maintain the Royal Navy’s River-class offshore patrol vessels.

Rolls-Royce unveiled the design for a new family of maritime patrol craft starting with a 500-ton, 55-meter vessel, while first time DSEi exhibitor CTruk launched an 11-meter, twin-hulled, fast-attack raider capable of speeds in excess of 40 knots.

The marine side of the British engine maker set up a naval ship design team last year, and the patrol craft, complete with Rolls-Royce systems ranging from propellers to steering gear, is the first product of that effort.

A 90-meter design is set to follow by the end of the year and a 75-meter variant sometime in 2014.

The Rolls-Royce marine business is expected to be named the gas turbine supplier for the Type 26 on Wednesday, as BAE announces a first wave of equipment selections for the upcoming frigate program.

CTruk is a small, British-based boat designer best known for building offshore wind-support vessels, although it is moving into the defense sector.

10/09/2013 DCNS

DCNS vient de signer un contrat avec BAE Systems pour la fourniture de 4 échangeurs, équipements destinés aux sous-marins nucléaires n°6 et 7, derniers de série de la classe Astute pour la Royal Navy.

Partenaire privilégié de BAE sur la gamme Astute depuis 2001, DCNS se voit confier avec cette commande, la totalité des échangeurs qui équiperont la dernière génération des sous-marins nucléaires de la Grande Bretagne.  La Royal Navy a réceptionné en début d’année son second sous-marin nucléaire d’attaque du type Astute.

La conception et la réalisation des échangeurs font appel à un savoir-faire technologique très particulier. DCNS a acquis ces compétences au travers de la réalisation de différents programmes de sous-marins conventionnels ou nucléaires. Avec plus de 500 échangeurs, dont 170 équipant des sous-marins conventionnels et nucléaires de 10 marines dans le monde, DCNS a en effet développé une expertise en conception thermique et mécanique.

Les équipes du site DCNS de Nantes-Indret finalisent actuellement la fabrication des 2 échangeurs du 5è sous-marin Astute et poursuivront avec les 4 derniers échangeurs dont les clés de réception s’échelonneront jusqu’à mi 2016.

Un équipement sur mesure

DCNS apporte son expérience des équipements haute pression en proposant un système sur mesure répondant aux performances d’endurance, de rendement avec un haut degré de discrétion acoustique. Ce système, équipement stratégique assurant le refroidissement de l’ensemble du sous-marin,  a été dimensionné pour une plus grande compacité et une intégration facilitée.

Optimiser la fourniture d’équipements 

DCNS est un important fournisseur d’équipements pour la Royal Navy : groupes turbo-alternateurs frégates T45, échangeurs pour SNA, lanceurs verticaux de missiles Sylver. La force de DCNS repose sur sa capacité d’adaptation et d’innovation : dimensionner au plus juste pour répondre aux exigences des futures générations de navires armés.

Sea Ceptor missile trial in Sweden [Picture MBDA UK Ltd]

10 September 2013 Ministry of Defence and Defence Equipment and Support

A new naval air defence system that can intercept and destroy enemy missiles is to be manufactured in the UK under a £250 million contract.

Sea Ceptor, which will be fitted to the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigates and, in future, the Type 26 Global Combat Ship, is a cutting-edge missile designed and built by MBDA.

Capable of travelling at speeds of more than 2,000 miles per hour, it will be able to intercept multiple targets and protect an area out to a range of 25 kilometres.

It will complement the longer range Sea Viper system on the Type 45 destroyers, providing the Royal Navy with a full range of missile systems to defeat current and future threats.

Speaking at the Defence and Security Equipment International exhibition at London’s ExCeL Centre, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said the contract to manufacture Sea Ceptor will sustain around 250 jobs at MBDA sites in Stevenage, Filton and Lostock.

It is also estimated that a further 250 jobs will be secured in companies in the supply chain.

MOD has also extended an agreement made with MBDA in 2010 to manage the UK’s complex weapons portfolio. Under this agreement, MOD and MBDA are working together to deliver savings of around £1 billion over the next decade.

Mr Hammond said:

The production of Sea Ceptor will be a huge boost to the UK’s world-leading missile industry, providing hundreds of jobs, and once again proves our commitment to providing battle-winning technology to our Armed Forces. Having balanced the defence budget we continue to order new equipment for our forces with confidence.

First Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Zambellas said:

I am delighted by this announcement which marks an important milestone in the Sea Ceptor project. This state-of-the-art missile system is part of an exciting renaissance in our naval equipment programme – and when fitted to Royal Navy frigates it will further enhance our global authority as a leading maritime power.

Although Sea Ceptor will initially be used by the Royal Navy, its flexible design means that in future it could also be adapted for use by the Army and RAF.

SNA du type Astute. crédits : ROYAL NAVY

10/09/2013 Mer et Marine

On le sait peu, mais le groupe français est, désormais, un fournisseur régulier de l’industrie navale britannique dans le cadre des grands programmes de la Royal Navy. DCNS a, ainsi, travaillé pour les six nouveaux destroyers lance-missiles du type 45, dont la tête de série (HMS Daring) est en service depuis juillet 2009 et le dernier exemplaire (HMS Duncan) sera prochainement livré par BAE Systems. Agissant pour le compte du groupe britannique, DCNS a réalisé sur son site de Nantes-Indret les groupes turbo-alternateurs des T45, ainsi que les lanceurs verticaux Sylver (destinés à accueillir les missiles surface-air Aster), fournis par son établissement charentais de Ruelle.

Dans le même temps, le groupe français a discrètement remporté, en 2001, un contrat pour la livraison d’équipements destinés aux nouveaux sous-marins nucléaires d’attaque du type Astute. Il s’agit, dans ce cas, de la conception et de la réalisation des échangeurs embarqués sur ces bâtiments. Ces échangeurs, chargés d’assurer les fonctions de refroidissement à bord des sous-marins, sont réalisés à raison de deux exemplaires par SNA. Les quatre derniers équipements, destinés aux sixième et septième Astute, dernières unités de la série, viennent d’être commandés par BAE Systems.  Livrables d’ici la mi-2016, ils sont produits par Indret. Le centre ligérien de DCNS, spécialisé dans les systèmes propulsifs, s’appuie sur un long savoir-faire, ayant conçu et réalisé plus de 500 échangeurs, dont 170 équipant des sous-marins conventionnels et nucléaires de 10 marines dans le monde. « La conception et la réalisation des échangeurs font appel à un savoir-faire technologique très particulier. DCNS a acquis ces compétences au travers de la réalisation de différents programmes de sous-marins conventionnels ou nucléaires, (et) apporte son expérience des équipements haute pression en proposant un système sur mesure répondant aux performances d’endurance, de rendement avec un haut degré de discrétion acoustique », précise le groupe naval.

Sep 9, 2013 ASDNews Source : BAE Systems PLC

A new 3D radar capable of cutting through interference equal to 10,000 mobile phone signals, has successfully commenced integration trials at a secret electromagnetic radar testing facility on the Isle of Wight.

The testing of ARTISAN 3D radar is in advance of installation on the new Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers (QEC) which are being assembled in Rosyth, Scotland.

The ARTISAN trials will test a series of integrated systems which include the provision of 3D air surveillance, target identification and air traffic management services for the ships,   The ARTISAN 3D Radar will provide extensive air traffic control and medium range tactical picture capability with ground breaking features such as tracking more than 900 targets at one time and has the ability to spot objects as small as a tennis ball travelling up to three times the speed of sound.

The BAE Systems radar testing facility on the island occupies the site of the old Somerton Aerodrome which began as an airfield in 1916. As well as being equipped for the manufacture and test of aircraft components, the aerodrome operated flights between London and the Isle of Wight in the 1930s. The site was taken over by the Decca gramophone company in 1959 which had contributed to the war effort resulting in a number of ventures into marine radar and navigation. This heritage continues today through BAE Systems’ expert radar testing at the site.

ARTISAN 3D is successfully providing 'real world' tracks and radar video to the QEC Combat Management System - which is also produced by BAE Systems - whilst receiving simulated 'own-ship' data in the QEC Mission System Test Facility.  ARTISAN 3D is being successfully controlled from CMS consoles to provide operators with both a medium range tactical picture and the essential air traffic control picture the ships will rely on.

In addition to the strong integration results, the system is operating successfully with the QEC Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system, which can identify aircraft as friendly and track its range from a potential threat.

The aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales are being delivered by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, a unique partnering relationship between BAE Systems, Thales UK, Babcock and the UK Ministry of Defence. The first ship will begin sea trials in 2017.

Les Gregory, Product and Training services Director, BAE Systems said, "I am delighted that the ARTISAN 3D Radar is producing excellent results as predicted for the QEC, it is an exciting milestone not only in the development of BAE Systems radar programme but for the future of Royal Navy warships."

The medium-range radar system, which has a reach of up to 200km completed its factory testing in December 2012 and was installed at the Aircraft Carrier Alliance Electromagnetic Environment Assessment facility at BAE Systems, Cowes, earlier this year.

Sep 4, 2013 (UPI)

London - The British navy still doesn't have a grip on spiraling costs for an ambitious aircraft carrier expansion program, House of Commons lawmakers asserted this week.

A report issued Tuesday by the Commons Public Accounts Committee criticized the Ministry of Defense for continuing cost overruns in the program to build two new aircraft carriers and equip them with U.S.-built F-35B "jump-jet" joint strike fighters.

Committee members said the soaring costs have cast doubt on the government's ability to deliver the long-planned upgrades and puts it at serious risk.

The cross-party panel said it was "still not convinced that the Ministry of Defense has this program under control," adding the costly effort "remains subject to huge technical and commercial risks, with the potential for further uncontrolled growth in costs."

Margaret Hodge, the Labor Party member of Parliament who chairs the committee, pointed to a Defense Ministry decision in February 2012 to scrap plans to use F-35C fighters and instead revert to the original F-35Bs as an example of out-of-control spending.

"This U-turn, which will cost the taxpayer at least ($115 million), is the latest in an ongoing saga that has seen billions of pounds of taxpayers' money down the drain," she wrote.

"When this program got the green light in 2007, we were supposed to get two aircraft carriers, available from 2016 and 2018, at a cost to the taxpayer of ($5.7 billion).

"We are now on course to spend ($8.5 billion) and have no aircraft carrier capability for nearly a decade."

Because of the situation, the lawmakers declared the 2007 contract signed by the previous Labor government for the carriers was no longer "fit for purpose" because there are not enough incentives for contractors to cut costs.

Ministers, meanwhile, said they are trying to juggle the need for state-of the-art technology with controlling costs, the BBC reported.

British Defense Secretary Philip Hammond told the broadcaster the Defense Ministry was negotiating with contractors to bring costs under control and praised the recognition the original contract was no longer sufficient to do so.

Under the massive program, Britain is constructing two carriers -- the Queen Elizabeth and the Prince of Wales. The biggest bone of contention has been the production costs of the aircraft that are due to fly from them, which could rise much further, the Financial Times reported.

Britain's National Audit Office determined this year the cost of the vertical-landing fighters has more than doubled since their development began 2001, with higher costs possible if orders don't reach expectations.

The Commons report also renewed fears delays in the development of the Crowsnest early warning radar system for the carriers means the vessels won't be equipped with the radar until two years after the first one is deployed in 2020.

But defense officials denied that, telling the newspaper the Crowsnest program will provide "an initial operating capability by the time the first carrier is in operational service."

16.08.2013 Photographer: PO(Phot) Ray Jones - UK MoD

HMS Illustrious met up with the FS Somme today, a tanker from the French Navy, to conduct a Replenishment At Sea (RAS). This is where two ships sail at extremely close quarters, pass lines between the two of them, and then pump fuel across. Even though Lusty only sailed a few days ago, it is always prudent to take the opportunity to top up the tanks when possible. This was also a useful training evolution for both ships companies, and once again demonstrated interoperability between the Royal Navy and the French Navy.

HMS Illustrious is currently deployed on Cougar 13. Cougar is the annual deployment of the UK Armed Forces Maritime Response Force Task Group to the Mediterranean and East of Suez. The deployment serves to protect the free, safe and lawful use of the sea and to promote UK interests by developing international partnerships. Cougar allows the UK’s maritime assets to exercise with multinational forces in the Gulf region, enhancing our interoperability.