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February MARITIME 2021 a7.50 Security D 14974 E &Defence

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The Balance of Power in the Persian Gulf www.maritime-security-defence.com • • • European Patrol Corvette • Logistic Support Ship Programmes MITTLER • FREMM Design

February 2021 • Russia’s Baltic Fleet REPORT

Editorial

A Complex Voyage from Photo: author Vulnerability to Renewal

2020 was an unusual year. A tiny virus demonstrated the vulnerability of our global village. Governments across the globe shut down plants and traffic systems. The economic impact has been devastating for numerous sectors, resulting in losses, layoffs and cutbacks. In January 2021, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimated the global growth contraction for 2020 at -3.5 percent. The strength of the recovery is projected to vary significantly across countries depending on access to medical interventions, the effectiveness of policy support and exposure to cross-country spill-overs, not to mention the structural characteristics of economies when they entered the crisis (see Figure 1). The global shipping industry is expected to play a key role in the global economic recovery. Maritime traffic will underline its vital role as an enabler of international supply chains. However, a number of emerging considerations may act to revise the way these supply chains are structured. The pandemic revealed that the reliance on a single point of origin for goods and resources is not optimal. Hence, the sourcing of goods may trend towards diversification. As the alternative option, building up self-sufficiency may become a desirable way out of the dilemma. Put these together and we may well see some changes in trade patterns, which will inevitably be reflected with regard to global supply chain designs in the longer term. Environmental trends will be superimposed over these developments. A piece of good news from the pandemic was that air

pollution dropped; at least for a limited time span. According to Nature Research, daily global CO2 emissions (by early Apr 2020) went down by -17% compared with the mean 2019 level. In a kind of reverse thinking, one might conclude that the pandemic allowed us to attain our decarbonisation goals by a snap of the fingers – something happens if the global village pursues its ambitions decisively! Ambitions to cut greenhouse emissions certainly have the characteristics of a beauty contest. Beyond the EU’s Green Deal that aims to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, China has declared its objective to reach carbon neutrality by 2060. Denmark – the EU’s largest oil producer after Brexit – will stop the extraction of oil and gas by 2050. These moves towards global decarbonisation will leave us with significant consequences for the two largest commodities transported: crude oil and coal. In the upcoming 30-40 years, we could well see a shift in trade and shipping from fossil fuels to hydrogen and/or ammonia with effects on shipbuilding, propulsion and volumes globally traded. In any case, to meet the demands of 2050, shipping must undergo a global transition to alternative fuels and energy sources. Greenhouse gas emissions from ships were not included in the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change. However, in 2018, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the United Nations' body regulating international shipping, adopted an Initial Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Strategy for international shipping. It seeks to reduce GHG emissions from international shipping and phase them out as soon as possible. The aim is to reduce average carbon in-

tensity (CO2 per tonne-mile) by at least 40% by 2030 and by 70 % in 2050, as well as to cut total emissions by at least half by 2050 compared with 2008. Within the EU, this is recognised by the Fuel EU Maritime initiative. The geopolitical constellations are another layer in an intertwined or taxonomical assessment of the years to come. Although the new US president is expected to improve the style of US-China relations, the substance of Great Power competition is unlikely to change in its essentials. Similarly, in both the EU and NATO, European nations see in China – whilst still an economic partner – a global competitor and a systemic rival. Beyond the framework for trade and commercial affairs which will be determined by the direction of relations between China, the European nations and the US, the EU has to address the challenges to maritime security and its potential to assume a more prominent role. As the world’s second largest exporter and the third largest importer, the bloc relies heavily on maritime transport and infrastructure for its future prosperity. Thus, EU's maritime incentives have become a 'Schwerpunkt' of this issue.

Yours, aye, Hans Uwe

Quelle: IMF World Economic Outlook, January 2021 Contents Photo: Italian Navy Photo: Bundeswehr

The European naval construction sector is Page 26 The French-Italian FREMM programme is Page 32 currently experiencing significant demand among the most important multi-national for new logistic support ships. naval programmes to date.

MARITIME POLICY, STRATEGY & FORCES MARITIME OPERATIONS & DOCTRINE

8 The Balance of Power in the Persian Gulf 61 Adapting Aircraft Carriers to Bob Nugent F-35B Operations – A Progress Report Peter Donaldson 13 "Maritime security must be streamlined into all strategic policy areas." 63 AGÉNOR’s View: from a Danish Frigate’s Interview with Admiral Hervé Bléjean, Director General Bridge in the Strait of Hormuz EU Military Staff and Director Military Planning and Hans Uwe Mergener Conduct Capability 18 Russia’s Baltic Fleet COLUMNS Counterbalancing NATO’s Regional Build-Up Dr. Nikolai Novichkov 1 Editorial

SHIP DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGIES 3 The Watch Bill

22 European Patrol Corvette: 4 Periscope A True European Programme? Giulia Tilenni 40 Masthead 26 European Logistic Support Ship Programmes Conrad Waters 32 FREMM Design: A Success in Modern Naval Development Index of Advertisers Luca Peruzzi DNV GL 23 38 See but Remain Unseen: the Role of Naval Electro-Optics Expodefensa 35 Doug Richardson IDEF 53

th 44 Primer: Cables for Unmanned, Subsea Applications IDEX 4 cover Tim Guest IMDEX Asia 15 48 Counter-UAS Applications for Naval Platforms IMDS 25 Tamir Eshel Koehler 37 Lürssen 8/9 MARITIME INDUSTRY Marine Alutech 11, 55 52 Assurance – Key to Autonomy Mittler 3rd cover Christian von Oldershausen NAVDEX 2nd cover 56 The New Normality for Shipbuilding NCT Virtual 41 MSD Editorial Team Saab 29 59 Reducing Risk in Cargo Shipping UDT 43 David Fairnie

2 Maritime Security & Defence · February 2021 The Watch Bill NAVAL SYSTEMS & EQUIPMENT 

Babcock Appoints New Marine CEO Furthermore, it is of importance that Ger- tary General of the EEAS since 1 September (jh) Babcock has announced many’s role as a cooperation and alliance 2016 and EEAS Deputy Secretary General/ that Will Erith has been ap- partner in Europe within the framework Political Director since 2011. High Repre- pointed as CEO of its Marine of globalised supply chains is technologi- sentative/Vice-President Josep Borrell, said,

Photo : Babcock sector. Will was previously cally and economically secured and further “I want to express my profound gratitude Managing Director of the strengthened. to Helga Maria Schmid for the remarkable Surface Ships Business Unit Particularly noteworthy are: achievements she has accomplished as Sec- within the Sector, and be- • the company’s importance in terms of retary General and for having built the EEAS fore this held a range of industrial, security and defence policy into what it is today. Her contribution to the leadership roles at Rolls • its relevance for Germany’s technological European Union’s global action is unrivalled. Royce, including interna- and digital sovereignty I look forward to continue working with Ste- tional appointments based • its crucial importance for the perfor- fano Sannino, as new Secretary General of in the Asia Pacific region. He succeeds mance and operational readiness of the the EEAS. He brings with him a long and Derek Jones who will return to his role Bundeswehr rich European diplomatic experience from of Corporate Services Director, Marine. The continued development of the sensitive his senior service to both the European Un- Babcock Chief Executive David Lockwood activities of the Hensoldt Group and their ion institutions and the Italian government. said: “Our Marine business offers signifi- availability for the civil organisations with se- I cannot think of a better candidate to steer cant opportunities for growth both in the curity tasks and the Bundeswehr must not the EEAS into its second decade.“ Sannino UK and internationally, underpinned by be impaired by future entrepreneurial meas- took office on 01 January 2021. our close relationship with the Royal Navy. ures of Hensoldt AG or its current and future This appointment supports this ambition.” owners. Therefore, the Federal Government Boaz Levy Appointed CEO of IAI has decided to acquire 25.1 per cent of the (jr) The Board of Di- Lars Hoffmann Strengthens the shares, the so-called blocking minority, put- rectors of Israel Aer-

Mittler Report Team ting the Federal Government in a position Photo: IAI ospace Industries (jh) Lars Hoffmann joined the to ward off unwanted structural decisions. Ltd. (IAI), chaired by team at Mittler Report Ver- This means that the Federal Government Harel Locker, has ap- lag in Bonn at the beginning will have considerable influence, regardless proved the search of November. In addition of whether strategic investors directly or in- committee’s recom- to his role as Deputy Editor- directly acquire a majority of the shares and mendation to nomi-

Photo: Lars Hoffmann in-Chief of the magazine thus exert a directing influence. nate Mr. Boaz Levy "Europäische Sicherheit & An appropriate fixed price has been agreed as IAI’s Chief Execu- Technik", he has been ap- with the investor KKR for the shares in ques- tive Officer (CEO). Levy succeeds Maj. General pointed Group Editorial Di- tion. The Federal Ministry of Defence, in (ret.) Nimrod Sheffer, who stepped down as rector. In this newly created close consultation with the Federal Ministry CEO on 31 October 2020. Boaz Levy’s career function, he contributes to for Economic Affairs and Energy, the Federal at IAI spans over 30 years. In 1990, he joined the planning and control of content for the Ministry of the Interior and the Federal Min- the company as an engineer for the ARROW various publications of the publishing house istry of Finance, has created the necessary Project and in 1999 became the project’s as well as K&K Medienverlag-Hardthöhe. He preconditions for the Federal Government to Chief Engineer. From 2003 to 2006, Mr. Levy also oversees the online presence of Mittler acquire a stake in Hensoldt AG and submit- headed the induction of the ARROW-2 into Report Verlag and, as the Editor-in-Chief, ted them to Parliament. This procedure was operational service after going through nu- the new portal “hartpunkt.de”, which he approved by the Government on 17 Decem- merous successful test flights. From 2006 to brought into the publishing portfolio. ber 2020. 2010 he headed the BARAK-8 programme, which evolved into one of the world’s most Hensoldt Stake for Stefano Sannino Appointed EEAS advanced air defence systems and became German Government Secretary General one of IAI’s most significant growth engines. (jh) In order to (jr) Stefano San- In 2010, Boaz Levy was appointed as general protect the na- nino has been ap- manager of IAI’s air defence division and in tional key secu- pointed as the next 2013, he became Vice President of the Sys-

Logo: Hensoldt rity and defence Secretary General tems Missiles and Space Group, leading the industrial technologies defined in the Federal Photo: Wikipedia of European Exter- group to become IAI’s most profitable and Government’s Strategy Paper for Strength- nal Action Service successful business unit. Over the years, Levy ening the Security and Defence Industry, (EEAS). Sannino has has pursued groundbreaking technological Germany plans to acquire a 25.1 per cent worked as EEAS developments that are cornerstones of Is- stake (blocking minority) in Hensoldt AG at Deputy Secretary rael’s defence. Several of those programmes a price of €450M, subject to checks under General for Eco- have won the Israel Defence Prize, presented anti-trust and state aid law. Ensuring key se- nomic and Global Issues since February 2020 annually by the President of Israel to people curity and defence industrial technologies as having previously been Italy’s Ambassador and organisations who made significant con- defined in the above mentioned Strategy Pa- to Spain and the Italian Permanent Repre- tributions to the defence of the State of Israel. per of the Federal Government is of national sentative to the EU. Mr. Sannino also served Levy is also responsible for some of the largest interest. For this reason, the Federal Govern- as Director General for Enlargement in the defence export sales in Israel’s history, includ- ment has decided in favour of a strategic European Commission. He will be following ing the sale of the BARAK Weapon System, participation in Hensoldt AG. Helga Maria Schmid, who has been Secre- which has been worth over US$6BN.

February 2021 · Maritime Security & Defence 3 Periscope

Naval Group Delivers the Lead (AMRAAM); 16 AIM-120C8 AMRAAM guid- SUFFREN Class Submarine ance sections spares; 2,004 MK-82 500LB (cw) On 6 November 2020, Naval Group de- General Purpose (GP) Bombs; 72 MK-82 Inert Photo: Damen livered the first Barracuda type nuclear-pow- 500LB GP Bombs; 1,000 MK-84 2,000LB GP ered attack submarine, SUFFREN, to France’s Bombs; 1,002 MK-83 1,000LB GP Bombs; armament procurement agency, the Direc- and 2,500 Small Diameter Bomb Increment 1 tion Générale de l'Armement (DGA). One of (SDB-1), GBU-39/B. The principal contractors a class of six submarines intended to replace will be Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman the existing RUBIS class on a like-for-like ba- Information Systems. The proposed sale will improve the UAE’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing enhanced capabilities to various aircraft platforms in effective defence of air, land, and sea. The proposed sale of the missiles/munitions and first unit, PNS YARMOOK, entered service support will increase interoperability with the with the fleet in February this 2020. Like U.S. and align the UAE Air Force’s capabilities her sister ship, PNS TABUK is a multipur- with existing regional baselines. In yet an- pose platform, capable of performing a other proposed deal, the UAE plans to buy variety of operations in a complex mari- Picture: Marine Nationale; Axel Manzano MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft and related time environment. She is able to launch a sis, SUFFREN has a submerged displacement equipment for an estimated cost of US$2.97 helicopter and a UAV, as well as two RHIBs of c. 5,200 tonnes, a length of 99 metres billion. UAE has requested to buy up to 18 simultaneously. Damen will continue to and a hull diameter of 8.8 metres. Initially Weapons-Ready MQ-9B, Remotely Piloted provide support to PNS TABUK during her launched by the DGA in 1998, the Barracuda Aircraft; 25 Raytheon Multi-Spectral Target- service. Damen’s yard in Galati has built programme has previously been subject to a ing Systems-D (MTS-D) EO/IR Sensors; 19 more than 40 vessels for the defence and number of delays and there will undoubtedly LYNX AN/APY-8 Synthetic Aperture Radars security segment, including the last seven be relief over the apparently smooth progress (SAR) with Ground Moving Target Indicator complex naval vessels for the Royal Neth- achieved with the testing and trials phase that (GTMI); 18 RIOTM Communication Intelli- erlands Navy and the STEFAN CEL MARE has followed the boat’s technical launch on 1 gence Systems; 66 Embedded Global Posi- offshore patrol vessel, the flagship of the August 2019 (the formal ceremony was held tioning System/Inertial Navigations Systems Romanian Border Police. on 12 July 2019). The remaining members (EGI) with Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing of the class are all currently at various stages Modules (SAASMs); 515 AGM-114R Hellfire Saab Combat System of construction prior to completion of the Missiles and 12 KMU-572 Joint Direct Attack for Bulgarian MMPV programme towards the end of the decade Munitions (JDAM). The proposed sale of F- (jh) Saab is to supply the combat system and are expected to form the core of France’s 35s will provide the Government of the UAE for the Bulgarian Navy’s new Multipur- underwater forces until at least 2060. with a credible defence capability to deter pose Modular Patrol Vessels (MMPV). aggression in the region and ensure inter- Lürssen is the prime contractor and will UAE to Buy Defence Equipment operability with U.S. forces. The UAE has build the two new ships at the Bulgarian Worth About US$23 Bn from U.S demonstrated a commitment to modernising shipyard MTG Dolphin JSC with the ves- (J C Menon) According to reports in Novem- its military and will have no difficulty absorb- sels to be delivered to the customer be- ber last year, the United Arab Emirates plans ing these aircraft into their armed forces. tween 2025 and 2026. “We are proud to to buy various equipment worth about US$23 The prime contractors for the F-35 deal will continue our successful cooperation with billion. In one of the major deals, UAE will be Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, Lürssen. We look forward to contributing buy 50 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters and related and Pratt & Whitney Military Engines. There to strengthen Bulgaria’s defence and na- equipment from the U.S at an estimated cost are no known offset agreements proposed tional security for years to come with our of US$10.4 billion. The State Department has in connection with this potential sale. On proven technology and solid naval com- made a determination approving the pos- 27 January, the Washington Post reported bat system expertise”, says Anders Carp, sible Foreign Military. The F-35A fighters will that the Biden administration is scrutinis- deputy CEO of Saab and Head of Business be the Conventional Take-Off and Landing ing purchases by the United Arab Emirates Area Surveillance. Saab will carry out the (CTOL) aircraft and will be powered by Pratt as it reviews billions of dollars in weapons work at its premises in Sweden, Denmark, & Whitney F-135 Engines. A State Depart- transactions approved by former President Australia and South Africa. ment spokesman says, “This proposed sale Donald Trump. will support the foreign policy and national France Selects Nuclear security of the United States by helping to PNS TABUK for Pakistani Navy Propulsion for its Next Aircraft improve the security of an important regional Commissioned in Romania Carrier partner. The UAE has been, and continues to (jh) On 12 November, the Pakistan Navy (cw) On 8 December 2020, the Presi- be, a vital U.S. partner for political stability commissioned its new Corvette – a Da- dent of the French Republic, Emmanuel and economic progress in the Middle East.” men OPV 1900 – named PNS TABUK at Macron, announced during a visit to the The UAE will also buy Munitions, Sustain- the Port of Constanta, Romania. The ship Framatome factory at Le Creusot that ment and Support, and related equipment is part of a contract award for two ves- it had been decided to equip the coun- for an estimated cost of US$10.0 billion. sel signed by the Pakistani Ministry of try’s new porte-avions nouvelle généra- The munitions include 802 AIM-120C8 Ad- Defence in 2017. Both ships are built at tion (PANG) aircraft carrier with nuclear vanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania. The propulsion. The decision marks the con-

4 Maritime Security & Defence · February 2021 clusion of the initial study phase of the copter carrier. Over the next few months, surface missile developed to fill F-35A an- project and will be followed by separate the newly acquired CAMCOPTER® S-100 ti-surface warfare (ASuW) and land attack preliminary and detailed design phases UAVs will be integrated onto the TON- capability gaps. The JSM has superior per- prior to the launch of construction at NERRE and the MISTRAL, significantly formance against well-defended sea and Saint Nazaire. This is expected to com- enhancing the Intelligence, Surveillance land targets across long distances, while mence in 2025 to allow entry into service and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities of it can be carried inside the F-35, ensuring when the existing CHARLES DE GAULLE is the ships. Hans Georg Schiebel, Chairman the aircraft’s low-signature capabilities. retired around 2038. Naval Group, Chan- of the Schiebel Group, said: “After the tiers de l’Atlantique, TechnicAtome and successful integration on the DIXMUDE, Royal Navy Carrier Strike Group Dassault Aviation will be major industrial we are very proud of the confidence the Achieves IOC partners in the project. The new aircraft French Navy has in the proven and reliable (cw) On 4 January 2021 the United King- carrier is expected to be Europe’s largest CAMCOPTER® S-100 and we are looking dom’s Ministry of Defence announced warship, with a displacement of around forward to the integration on the TONN- that the Royal Navy’s carrier strike group 75,000 tonnes, an overall length of 300 ERRE and MISTRAL and their operational had reached initial operating capability metres and a beam of 80 metres. It will be deployment.” (IOC). Focused on the new aircraft carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapults QUEEN ELIZABETH, the achievement of and be able to embark around 30 of the Ultra Awarded Subcontract for IOC means that all elements of the group, next generation SCAF combat aircraft. Variable Depth Sonar (jh) Ultra has been awarded a contract award to deliver the Variable Depth Sonar (VDS) system for the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) programme – named the Towed Low Frequency Active Sonar

Picture: Naval Group. (TLFAS). This subcontract moves the development of CSC’s anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability from the program Picture: Crown Copyright 2020. definition phase into the full manufacture and delivery of the vessel’s suite of sonars. TLFAS is a optimised for the detection and from fighter jets through radar systems tracking of stealthy submarines. When de- to anti-ship weapons have been successfully brought together and operated. The New Schiebel CAMCOPTER UAVs group is scheduled to undertake its maid- for the French Navy en operational deployment to the Indian

(jh) The French Navy has obtained new Photo: Ultra Ocean and Far East later in 2021, during Schiebel CAMCOPTER S-100 Unmanned which time it will be complemented by US Air Vehicles (UAVs) which will be deployed Marine Corps F-35B strike fighters and the on the MISTRAL class amphibious heli- US Navy destroyer THE SULLIVANS (DDG- copter carriers (Porte- Hélicoptères Am- 68) amongst other allied units. Full operat- phibie – PHA) TONNERRE and MISTRAL. ing capability for the group is not targeted The acquisition comes after the successful livered it will provide a level of sonar ca- until December 2023, when the full po- integration of the CAMCOPTER® S-100 pability never before enjoyed by the Royal tential for the Royal Navy’s renewed strike on the French Navy MISTRAL class vessel Canadian Navy. The TLFAS system is fully carrier capability will have been achieved. DIXMUDE, which was finalised in 2019. designed and manufactured by Ultra in This was the first time in Europe that a Nova Scotia, Canada. Russian Military Plans for 2021 rotary wing UAV had been connected to Unveiled the combat system of an amphibious heli- Japan Awards Kongsberg Second (yl) The Russian Army plans to take part in JSM Contract nine international drills in 2021, eight of which will be held in Russia, the Defence Ministry said in a recent statement. Russia is expected to host six bilateral training Photo: Schiebel operations, including: • Russian-Algerian drills • INDRA 2021 Russian-Indian exercise

PICTURE: MSD ARCHIVES • FRIENDSHIP 2021 Russian-Pakistani exercise • Russian-Vietnamese tank exercises (jr) Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS • LaRos 2021 Russian-Laotian drills has entered into a second follow-on con- • Russia-Sri Lankan anti-terrorism exer- tract with Japan to supply the Joint Strike cise. Missile (JSM) for their fleet of F-35 fighter “In addition, the Peace Mission 2020 joint aircraft in a contract valued at 820 MNOK. anti-terrorist drills involving Shanghai Co- The JSM is a fifth generation stealth air-to operation Organisation (ShOS) nations

February 2021 · Maritime Security & Defence 5 Periscope

Navantia to Build a New OPV for Morocco: (cw) On 8 January 2021, Spanish shipbuilder Navantia announced that it had Photo: MoD Russia received an order for a single offshore patrol vessel from the Royal Moroccan Image: Lockheed Martin Navy. Although no details of the selected design were released, reports in the Span- ish press speculate the new ship will be derived from the Avante 1400 type currently in Venezuelan service. The order to develop two of the systems – one for marks a further recovery in the fortunes of shore testing and a second to be installed and the Unbreakable Brotherhood 2021 the group’s shipyards in the Bay of Cadiz, on a destroyer. The Navy initially planned exercise involving the peacekeeping forces for the installation in 2020 for what it is of the Collective Security Treaty Organi- calling the Surface Navy Laser Weapon sation (ODKB) are also expected to take System (SNLWS) Increment 1. HELIOS will place in Russia,” the statement claims. serve as an early test case to integrate a la-

The Ministry added that Russian troops Picture: Navantia ser system with the Aegis combat system would also participate in the Selenga of the Navy’s surface fleet. Additionally, 2021 Russian-Mongolian exercise hosted the laser system provides a new capability by Mongolia. “All exercises will be aimed as a sensor to give more precise targeting at boosting peacekeeping and counterter- data than a ship’s combat system. rorism efforts,” the MoD emphasised. The which are currently building AL JUBAIL Russian Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN) will (Avante 2200) series corvettes for Saudi GA-ASI Completes Full-Scale conduct over 200 exercises of various lev- Arabia and hope to receive a contract for Static Testing on MQ-9B Wing els in 2021, having conducted over 200 the Spanish Navy’s BAM-IS submarine res- Structure command-and-staff and tactical exercises cue vessel variant shortly. The Moroccan (jr) General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, in 2020. contract is expected to provide one mil- Inc. (GA-ASI) has recently completed Full lion hours of work for the Cadiz yards, Scale Static (FSS) testing on the MQ-9B Russian Navy Plans sustaining 250 jobs over the next three The Russian Navy also made a statement and a half years. on some of its activities being quoted by the national media. By the end of 2021, U.S Navy to Deploy HELIOS the ADMIRAL GORSHKOV frigate, part this Year Image: GA-ASI of the Northern Fleet (Project 22350) is (J C Menon) For the first time the US Navy to perform a maiden salvo launch of the will field a High-Energy Laser with Inte- TSYRCON (ZIRCON) hypersonic missiles as grated Optical dazzler and Surveillance part of state trials. A source in the Russian (HELIOS) on one of its destroyers this year. industry clarified that the missiles will be US destroyer PREBLE will be the first to be launched at intervals of several seconds equipped with HELIOS, which with high- in an environment of powerful electronic energy fibre lasers will function as a faster Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) wing af- countermeasures. The salvo fire, “is de- close-in weapon that uses light beams to ter three months of extensive trials. The signed to ensure not only missile testing, defend against enemy cruise missiles. The MQ-9B includes the SkyGuardian® and but also to test the capabilities of the 60-kilowatt HELIOS, much more powerful SeaGuardian ® RPA produced by GA-ASI. ship’s weapons control complex, in par- than the 20-kilowatt laser weapon sys- The testing included multiple load cases to ticular, when it performs tasks with a mas- tem the Navy tested aboard afloat for- 150 per cent of expected maximum flight sive missile strike simultaneously against ward staging base USS PONCE six years loads, with the wing loaded using special- sea and ground targets,” the source said. ago, is designed to counter small attack ly designed fixtures to apply a distributed According to him, ZIRCON is equipped boats and small unmanned aerial vehicles. load across the wingspan. This simulated with a homing system, unique in its char- This will be the only deployed laser system gust and manoeuvre flight conditions with acteristics of jamming immunity, and its integrated with an operational Flight IIA no failures. This particular wing design is capabilities must be confirmed during DDG, following Lockheed Martin’s and the culmination of a large development tests. ZIRCON is the world’s first hyper- the Navy’s recent demonstration of full la- effort from multiple areas within GA- sonic cruise missile capable of long-term ser power in excess of the 60 kW require- ASI and represents a major milestone in aerodynamic flight with manoeuvring in ment. The scalable laser design architec- qualifying the MQ-9B SkyGuardian and dense layers of the atmosphere, using its ture spectrally combines multiple kilowatt SeaGuardian RPA to fly in non-segregated own engine thrust throughout the route. fibre lasers to attain high beam quality airspace. The wing test success also es- The missile reaches speeds of about Mach at various power levels. Lockheed Martin tablishes the baseline wing design for the Nine, with a maximum firing range of up completed the Critical Design Review and entire MQ-9B product line. This is critical to 1000 km. It is claimed that ZIRCON has Navy Factory QualifIcation Test milestones as GA-ASI starts deliveries to the multiple an equal effectiveness against both sea in 2020. In March 2018, Lockheed Martin customers pursuing the MQ-9B including surface and ground targets. was awarded a US$150 million contract the UK, Belgium and Australia.

6 Maritime Security & Defence · February 2021 General Dynamics NASSCO next generation vessels. The VISBY corvettes ational service. The product definition phase Launches first JOHN LEWIS have been pioneers for 20 years, and after regarding MLUs aims to make the five ships (T-AO-205) Fleet Oiler: Mid-Life Upgrades they will be well equipped in the class operationally relevant beyond (cw) On January 12, General Dynamics for future assignments. The experience and 2040. In addition to modifying the ships’ NASSCO launched the future USNS JOHN knowledge that the VISBY class has gathered existing systems, an air defence missile LEWIS (T-AO-205), the first of an initial order over the years will feed into the development system will be added as a new capability. for six vessels under the JOHN LEWIS class of Visby Generation 2,” said Lars Tossman, The RBS15 anti-ship missile system will be fleet oiler programme designed to support Head of Business Area Kockums. The first upgraded to the latest version as well as and sustain US Navy combat operations, VISBY class corvette was launched on 8 June will the torpedo system with the new Saab from their San Diego yard. Construction of 2000 and five examples are currently in oper- Lightweight Torpedo. the new ship began in the autumn of 2018 and the technical launch is due to be fol- Future Fleet Oilers of the German Navy lowed by a more traditional christening cer- (hum) At the beginning of February, further details about the German Navy's future emony later in 2021. Replenishment vessels fuel tankers were disclosed. The floating replenishment stations of the class 707 stand are likely to be increasingly in demand as the out clearly from their predecessors RHÖN and SPESSART (Class 704) both visually and in US Navy progresses its distributed maritime terms of performance - and not only because of their double hull. They also meet NATO operations (DMO) concept, with acquisition requirements for NBC protection. as many as 20 of the class forming part of Core data: the fleet’s longer term plans. Class 707 Class 704 Length 160 metres 130 metres Width 23 metres 19 metres Draught 9.5 metres 8 metres Displacement 20,000 tonnes 14,200 tonnes Speed 18 knots max. 16 knots Range 8,000 nautical miles n.a. Picture: General Dynamics NASSCO Complement 42 (civilians) 42 (civilians) Saab Signs Next Generation Embarkment 23 14 Corvette Contracts Capacities: (Jack Richardson) Saab and the Swedish De- Fuel 12,000 m³ 10,400 m³ fence Materiel Administration (FMV) have signed two agreements concerning the next Lubricants 100 m³ 55 barrels generation of surface ships and corvettes. Aviation fuel 500 m³ This concerns the Mid-Life Upgrades (MLU) Container capacity 10 TEU 2 of five VISBY class corvettes, as well as a Flight deck NH90 SEA LION ./. MERLIN HM Mk2 Photo: Saab Compared with previously announced parameters, the specifications have changed significantly in two positions. The top speed of 20 knots formerly required has been reduced to 18 knots. Conversely, draught has grown to 9.5 metres. On the one hand, this enables shipyards to submit tenders on the basis of a wider range of established designs, which could have a favourable effect on pricing. On the other hand, the navy now has to deal with the stationing of the ships. The requirement so far has been that the vessels’ draught should not exceed eight metres in order to avoid dredging the Wilhelmshaven naval base.

Product Definition Phase for the next generation VISBY Generation 2 corvettes. The contracts include requirements’ analysis and are respectively the start of the modification work of the five corvettes and the acquisition of the VISBY Generation 2. Collectively, the agreement is valued at 190 MSEK. “The Image: MTG Marinetechnik / BAAINBw contract is a major step forward for Sweden’s surface combat capability, with the upgrade of current corvettes and the creation of the

February 2021 · Maritime Security & Defence 7  MARITIME POLICY, STRATEGY & FORCES The Balance of Power in the Persian Gulf

Bob Nugent

The Persian Gulf is a region of critical geopolitical importance, continuing to serve as a vital channel for energy and other trade flows in the Indian Ocean and beyond. At the same time, enduring bilateral and regional frictions, active armed conflicts such as those in Yemen, and other security challenges such as terrorism and infrastructure security also beset the region. The security issues prevalent in the Gulf region are influenced by the region’s distinctly maritime characteristics, where the Persian Gulf itself provides both opportunities and threats for strategic planners in all eight countries having sea access.

hese elements have driven substantial International to examine projected naval new ships and craft is 60% of the MENA Tinvestments in naval capabilities across acquisitions by each of the eight Gulf total, while the 184 new platforms is 70% of the region, and will continue to shape the countries. It further assesses patterns in MENA projected acquisitions by hull count. balance of naval power. This article exam- naval acquisitions by types of ships and ines that balance, focusing on data and craft, concluding with some observations Regional Balance by Country trends in naval ship acquisitions in the re- about patterns and possible disruptions in gion over the next 20 years. The article the Gulf naval balance by 2040. Looking at the region as a whole, it is marked draws on proprietary naval market fore- by a distinct split between “major” and cast data and analysis provided by AMI Overview “minor” naval forces. Historically, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman were numbered Author AMI tracks Persian Gulf naval acquisitions among the latter, based on constrained as part of the Middle East and North Af- geography, small populations, and limited Bob Nugent is a Scholar Practitioner rica (MENA) region. The summary forecast budgets. The turmoil in Iraq over the past Fellow and Instructor of the Busch in Table 1 notes that the MENA region, two decades has sharply limited that coun- School of Business at the Catholic made up of 17 countries, is a naval market try’s naval growth as well, although some University of America (Washington of some 264 ships and craft, represent- recovery is noted in the past half-decade. D.C.), as well as a PhD candidate in ing a market value (acquisition cost) of One of the more notable developments Strategy and Management at the Vir- US$39.5BN. This represents a relatively in the regional naval balance is Qatar’s ginia Polytechnic University. He con- small portion of the world naval market; emergence as a robust naval force in the tinues to work as a consultant and in the order of 4%. Gulf, dating from the original DIMDEX writer/commentator in the aerospace Within the MENA area, the eight countries naval exhibition in 2008. Table 2 reflects and defence industry, affiliated with AMI tracks in the Persian Gulf make up this change. Qatar is now second in the AMI International. Bob is a retired more than half of the region’s new naval region by tonnage of new naval ships naval officer. platform purchases. As noted in Table 2, expected to be acquired over the next the US$23.6BN in forecasted spending on two decades, surpassing both Iran and

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Lürssen – The DNA of shipbuilding

More information: or www.luerssen-defence.com MARITIME POLICY, STRATEGY & FORCES  Photo: Navantia

Saudi Arabia continues to lead the Gulf region in both new ship numbers and new ship budgets. This image shows two AL JUBAIL class corvettes under construction by Spain’s Navantia in mid-2020.

the UAE. Qatar is also nearing Iran and TABLE 1 – Middle East and North Africa (17 Countries) the UAE in terms of forecasted spending Total Number In Progress Planned Total Value Total Build on new naval platforms, with US$3.1BN of Projects 2021 to 2040 compared to US$4.8BN for Iran and US$4.0BN for the UAE. 55 26 15 39,518.60 264 As has been the case for the past two There are a further 14 projected programmes for which no formal requirement yet exists. decades, Saudi Arabia continues to lead the region in both new ship numbers and bia is also the clear leader in realising its Regional Balance by Ship Type new ship budgets. The country’s planned naval plans among Gulf countries, with acquisition of 75 new hulls represents some 92% of programmes in progress. Destroyer/Frigate: Saudi Arabia and Iran 41% of the regional forecast, while the Similarly, Qatar and Oman also show high lead in new programmes for these ship US$9.7BN in planned spending represents percentages of active programmes (80% types among Gulf countries. Iran’s 6,000 an identical 41% of the regional total. and 70% respectively), while UAE trails ton NEGIN class represents the largest de- One measure of the seriousness of a at just 40% of programmes currently sign and, should it be built, would repre- nation’s naval ambitions is how many building. Of note, Iran’s oft-announced sent the largest surface combatant among planned programmes advance to con- intentions to field more robust and capa- Gulf navies. More typical are frigate/cor- tract award and construction. AMI re- ble ships is not reflected in their progress vette designs of 2,000-4,000 tons, repre- flects this in their characterisation of pro- in actually moving programmes to con- sented by the Saudi Arabian Multi-Mission grammes as planned, programmed or struction, with only 14% of forecasted Surface Combatant, a modified Lockheed in-progress. By this measure Saudi Ara- hulls currently in the construction phase. Martin littoral combat ship design), Qatar’s

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Lürssen – The DNA of shipbuilding

More information: or www.luerssen-defence.com TABLES AND CHARTS

TABLE 1 Middle East and North Africa (17 Countries)

 MARITIME POLICY, STRATEGY & FORCES

TABLE 2 – Persian Gulf (8 countries)

Country Total Ships Total Total Average % of % of % of Forecasted Tons Programme Programme Country's Regional Regional to be Forecasted Value Value/Hull New Ships Total Total Acquired TABLE(US$M) 2 (US$M) Building Now (Hulls) (Value) 2021-2040 Persian Gulf (8 countries) Bahrain 11 452 100.1 9.10 45% 6% 0.42% Iran 21 27260 Total4775 Ships 227.38 14% 11% 20.24% Total Average % of % of Forecasted Iraq 8 6100 1200 Total150.00 Tons Program0% me Program4% me 5.09% Country's Regional % of Regional Country to be Kuwait 18 6030 285 Forecasted15.83 Value0% (US$ Value/Hull10% 1.21%New Ships Total Total (Value) Acquired Oman 20 2780 376 18.80 70%M) 11%(US$ M) 1.59%Building Now (Hulls) Qatar 19 30404 20213126-‐2040 164.53 79% 10% 13.25% Saudi Arabia 75 Bahrain62148 972911 129.72452 92%100.1 41%9.10 41.24% 45% 6% 0.42% UAE 12 Iran17000 400021 333.3327260 33%4775 7%227.38 16.96% 14% 11% 20.24%

Total 184 152174Iraq 23591.18 6100 1200 100%150.00 100% 0% 4% 5.09% Kuwait 18 6030 285 15.83 0% 10% 1.21% DOHA class (based on the FincantieriOman 107 vessels. Designs20 vary from 22780 tons to 600 noteworthy376 as being18.80 an 8,000 ton landing70% 11% 1.59% m Corvette design), and the UAE GOWIND.Qatar tons, with seven19 of 10 new patrol30404 ship pro- 3126platform dock (LPD)164.53 based on the Fincantieri79% 10% 13.25% Saudi Arabiagrammes in 75the region acquiring62148 ships of 9729Enhanced SAN GIUSTO129.72 class LPD in service92% 41% 41.24% Corvette: With many of the Gulf corvette 100 tons or larger. with the Algerian National Navy. The ad- programmes classified as frigates by AMI,UAE 12 17000 4000dition of this ship333.33 will significantly expand33% 7% 16.96% the smaller corvette type is somethingTotal of Amphibious:184 Amphibious 152174ships and craft 23591.1Qatari capabilities across the spectrum of 100% 100% an outlier. The five corvettes in Table 5 rep- serve a wide variety of missions in Gulf na- maritime lift and transport, amphibious as- resent two classes of 1,400 ton corvette vies, most related to transport and logistics. sault, sea-based helicopter and naval com- design being acquired by Iran and Iraq re- That said, the scope of future amphibious- mand and control operations. spectively. capable acquisition is currently limited to Mine Warfare: The history and preva- CHARTQatar and Oman. 3 The Qatari programme is lence of the mine threat to naval and Submarine: Previous analysis indicated a Saudi Arabian interest in submarine pro- CHART 3 curement. However, AMI International’s latest market intelligence assesses that Total Ships Forecasted to be Acquired only Iran and UAE have active submarine 2021-‐2040 acquisition plans. In Iran, the Gulf’s only navy with submarine operating experience, the 1,000 ton FATEH class is in the course UAE of construction, while the larger 1,500 ton Saudi Arabia BESAT class is expected to begin building Qatar by mid-decade. In the UAE, a smaller 1,000 Oman ton submarine is said to be in the planning Kuwait stages but not expected to advance to con- Iraq tract award for at least another 4-5 years. Iran Bahrain Fast Attack Craft (FAC): The FAC (typically 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 equipped with anti-ship missiles) remains a relevant part of many Gulf nations’ fleet structures, despite the move towards build- CHART 4 ing larger corvettes and frigates. The 18 FACs forecasted are part of programmes in CHART 4 Total Programme Value (USSM) Iran, Iraq, and Qatar. They represent 10% of regional naval acquisitions by hull count UAE and over 6% by value. Saudi Arabia Qatar Patrol: Patrol ships and craft remain a core Oman element in all Gulf navy fleets, and the prin- Kuwait cipal component of smaller navies such as Kuwait and Bahrain. Separate Coast Guard Iraq organisations in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iran Oman are in the course of executing several Bahrain new patrol boat acquisitions, while Bahrain 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 and Kuwait are also buying new patrol

10 Maritime Security & Defence · February 2021 TABLE 5 Forecast Acquisitions by Ship Type

Total Ships and Craft Average % of Ship % of Region Forecasted Total Total Value Programme % of Regional Ship Type Type Building Total -‐ to be Tons (US$ M) Value/Hull Total (Value) Now Ships Acquired (US$ M) 2021-‐2040 Destroyer 19 60000 12500 657.89 89% 10% 52.99% /Frigate Corvette 5 7060 975 195.00 60% 3% 4.13% Submarine 10 11900 3800 380.00 30% 5% 16.11% Fast Attack 18 8250 1500 83.33 11% 10% 6.36% Patrol 106 13264 2026.1 19.11 80% 58% 8.59% Mine Warfare 14 8200 1350 96.43 0% 8% 5.72% Amphibious 7 10600 480 68.57 14% 4% 2.03% Auxiliary/Support 5 32900 960 192.00 40% 3% 4.07% Total 184 152174 23591.1 100% 100%

CHART 6 MARITIME POLICY, STRATEGY & FORCES 

TABLE 5 – Forecast Acquisitions by Ship Type Ship Type Total Ships Total Total Average % of % of % of and Craft Fore- Tons Value Programme Ship Type Regional Regional casted to be (US$M) Value/Hull Building Now Total Total Acquired (US$M) Ships (Value) 2021-2040 Destroyer/ 19 60000 12500 657.89 89% 10% 52,99% Frigate Corvette 5 7060 975 195.00 60% 3% 4.13% Submarine 10 11900 3800 380.00 30% 5% 16.11% Fast Attack 18 8250 1500 83.33 11% 10% 6.36% Patrol 106 13264 2026.1 19.11 80% 58% 8.59% Mine Warfare 14 8200 1350 96.43 0% 8% 5.72% Amphibious 7 10600 480 68.57 14% 4% 2.03%

Auxiliary/ 5 32900 960 192.00 40% 3% 4.07% Support

Total 184 152174 23591.1 100% 100% Photo: Lockheed Martin Photo: US Navy The Qatari Navy’s programme for a new LPD similar to the Algerian KALAT BENI ABBES pictured here The Saudi Arabian Multi-Mission Surface Combatant is typical of the will significantly increase the coun- frigate/corvette designs being built for Gulf region navies. try’s power projection capabilities.  MARITIME POLICY, STRATEGY & FORCES

commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf ensures that almost all navies maintain

effective mine counter-measures vessels. Photo: Austal Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE all have active mine countermeasures vessel (MCMV) acquisitions planned, with contract awards expected between 2022- 2024. As a ship type, MCMVs represent about 8% of the region’s total forecasted acquisition by hull count and almost 6% by value.

Auxiliary/Support: Originating as littoral forces intended for coastal defence, most Gulf navies did not require or acquire significant logistic and support ves- Amphibious ships and craft serve a wide variety of missions in Gulf sels for most of their histories. However, navies, most related to transport and logistics. This is the Austal-built that pattern has changed over the last two AL MUBSHIR, delivered in 2016. decades. Looking ahead, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar all have large (2,000- Conclusion and Outlook of the Gulf, and a mission set focused 12,000 ton) training and logistics resup- on near shore maritime security, explains ply and transport ships in their acquisition Looking at the balance of future regional the large numbers of smaller patrol craft plans. Of these, Qatar’s two 90 m cadet naval power in the Gulf through the lens and ships in future acquisitions, account- training ships are building now in the An- of ship types depicted in Charts 6 and ing for 58% of new platforms region- adolu (ADIK) ShipyardTotal of Turkey Ships and are Forecasted 7 shows a split to in the be region similar to wide. However, since the average per expected to be delivered to Qatar by the that seen in the country-by-country look. hull acquisition cost of smaller and less end of 2022. Acquired 2021-‐2040 The littoral and constrained geography robustly equipped patrol ships and craft is US$20M, the total regional investment CHART 6 Auxiliary/ represented by patrol designs is less than Amphibious 9% of the more than US$23BN in future Total Ships Forecasted to be spending projected for new platforms Mine Warfare Acquired 2021-‐2040 across the Gulf. Patrol At the other end of the platform spectrum Auxiliary/ are the destroyer, frigate and corvette pro- Fast A\ack grammes underway or projected. Here, Amphibious Submarine some 24 new ships (13% of the regional Mine Warfare total) account for 57% of the region’s new Corve\e construction market. This reflects the large DestroyerPatrol / size and more expensive sensor, weapon, Fast A\ack command and control and hull, mechani- 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 cal and electrical systems that equip these Submarine types of ships. The same concentration is Corve\e also seen when measured by tonnage, with the 67,060 tons of new destroyers, frigates Destroyer / CHART 7 and corvettes representing 44% of all new 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 ships and craft to be acquired by Gulf nations through to 2040. The issue of new submarine acquisitions by CHART 7 Gulf countries also raises questions. AMI assesses that both Iran and the UAE (but not CHART 7 Total Programme Value (US$M) Saudi Arabia) plan to acquire new submarines in the next two decades. The scope of these future acquisitions is substantial: 10 Auxiliary/Support new hulls representing US$3.8BN in acquisi- Amphibious tion expenditure (over 16% of the Gulf total Mine Warfare Total Programme Value (US$M) and ranking second to the destroyer/frigate Patrol type). However, as indicated in Table 5, only Fast A\ack three of these 10 new boats (the 1,000 ton Iranian FATEH class) have advanced to con- Auxiliary/Support Submarine tract award and construction. This suggests Amphibious Corve\e Mine Warfare some skepticism is in order regarding the Destroyer /Frigate prospects for new submarines upsetting the Patrol 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 balance of naval power in the Gulf over the Fast A\ack coming two decades. L Submarine Corve\e 12 Maritime Security & Defence · February 2021 Destroyer /Frigate 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000

MARITIME POLICY, STRATEGY & FORCES  “Maritime security must be streamlined into all strategic policy areas.”

Interview with Admiral Hervé Bléjean, Director General EU Military Staff and Director Military Planning and Conduct Capability

to the sea. Twenty out of the 27 member The facts underline that (the) EU has both a very

Photo: European Union Military Staff, Public Information Office states are coastal states and they rely heav- open and a very maritime economy and society. Admiral Bléjean addressing land ily on the maritime sector both economic Maritime security is a shared need for the forces in Africa prosperity and for their national security. welfare and prosperity of the EU. The seas nurture growth and render key environ- • 22 out of 27 EU MS are coastal mental services. Their security is part of the ith his experience as Deputy Com- countries foundation on which our society is built. Wmander of NATO’s Maritime Com- • 50% of EU population and GDP Maritime security links internal security mand Northwood, Admiral Bléjean has a are in maritime regions matters to external ones. Threats are trans- thorough view on Europe’s maritime ca- • 400 million passengers pass national and interconnected by nature and pabilities. For MSD he provides an honest through EU ports and harbours require smart solutions: no single actor can and in-depth assessment of EU’s military • 66.000 Km coast line versus guarantee maritime security on their own. endeavours. Eying the bloc’s military opera- 14.000 Km land borders Maritime security must be streamlined into tions, he considers, that member states are (Wikipedia) all strategic policy areas. An integrated ap- to take the force generation process more • 20M km2 EEZs (world largest) proach and joint response are ideal: they seriously. In terms of capability shortfalls for • 90% of goods for and from the generate a better environment for stability the EU, Admiral Bléjean stresses the need EU in different stages of finish and development, improving both effec- for Maritime C2, maritime interdiction op- (from raw materials over semi- tiveness and efficiency. erations assets, harbour protection modules finished to finished products) It is then apparent to everybody that it is and specialised diver teams. Beyond 2032, are transported over sea realistic to call EU a “maritime union”. his focus is on strategic sea transport, but • EU (Europe) is a peninsula on the also on Ballistic Missile Defence, amphibious Eurasian landmass, bordered on MSD: How can you as DGEUMS and Direc- capabilities, and aircraft carriers. three of its majorxes (N, W and S) tor MPCC contribute to strengthen this role? He assesses the withdrawal of the UK from by the sea Adm Bléjean: The EUMS contributes to the EU exacerbated existing shortfalls but secure the maritime security interests of the did not create no ones. However, EU will have to work on high readiness capabilities after Brexit.

MSD: In a recent interview, you empha- sise that the EU is a maritime organisation. Which basic considerations are behind this conclusion? Adm Bléjean: The EU has a number of strategic maritime interests related to the military aspect, which include the overall security and peace, the rule of law and freedom of navigation, the external border control and the protection of maritime in- frastructures: ports and harbours, coastal protection, commercial facilities, under- Photo: Operation EUNAVFOR MED IRINI, Public Information Office water pipes and cables, offshore platforms and scientific equipment. The EU’s identity Operation IRINI: inspection crew preparing to board a ship as part of a is also greatly defined by its connection routine patrol

February 2021 · Maritime Security & Defence 13  MARITIME POLICY, STRATEGY & FORCES

in the EUMS. It has strategic oversight by a multidisciplinary ‘CMP Task Force’ with participation of different EU entities. At this moment the MAICC is conducting a pilot case, focused on coordinating the ac-

Photo: Office of DGEUMS tivities of EU- Member States’ military ships deployed under national flag in the Gulf of Guinea, in order to pursue EU strategic interests in the area. Regarding MPCC’s contribution, the Coun- cil in its conclusions of 6 March 2017, agreed to establish, as a short term objective, a Military Planning and Conduct Capa- bility (MPCC), which would be responsible at the strategic level for the operational planning and conduct of non-executive military missions, working under the political control and strategic direction of the Po- litical and Security Committee (PSC). In the same Council Conclusions, it was decided that the Director General of the EUMS will be the Director of the MPCC and, in that DGEUMS at headquarters in an operational planning meeting capacity, will assume the functions of missions' commander for non-executive mili- EU and its Member States against the risks already implemented and well-functioning tary missions, including the three EU train- and threats presented in the global mari- Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa ing missions (EUTMs) deployed in Somalia, time domain. It cooperates with civilian (MSCHOA), which helps protecting mer- Mali and the Central African Republic, in authorities and actors active in the domain chant shipping in the region by sharing in- line with the Terms of Reference for the Di- in a cross-sectoral way; it also acts to allow formation with registered vessels through a rector of the MPCC. The current capability for joint security contingency planning, risk web based application. within the MPCC to contribute to planning management, conflict prevention and crisis EUMS is also reinforcing its technical capa- and conducting maritime operations is lim- response and management. bilities in relation to the maritime domain ited due to insufficiency of expert person- There are two active maritime operations and maritime information sharing. We nel, connectivity and infrastructure. Based (IRINI and ATALANTA) that bring tangible are closely monitoring the development on the future MPCC’ review, the maritime results and there are also other initiatives of Common Information Sharing Environ- dimension could be more efficiently in- to which EUMS participates, as the Coordi- ment (CISE) and Maritime Surveillance cluded. nated Maritime Presences Concept (CMP), (MARSUR). which project the EU’s interests in important During last year, MARSUR – a technical so- MSD: In your eyes, what is to be done in regions. lution that allows dialog between European order to promote Europe's maritime re- We see the need for EU’s Common Secu- maritime information systems that aims to sponsibilities? rity and Defence Policy (CSDP) to evolve improve a common “Recognised Maritime Adm Bléjean: There are a number of is- from initial mandates that centred on a Picture” by facilitating exchange of mari- sues that have to be addressed to achieve specific and exclusive maritime security time information and services such as ship a desirable end state. issue (such as piracy, arms embargo or positions, tracks, identification data, chat Dialogue with the stakeholders is of utmost human trafficking) to a wider inclusive or images – has been installed in EUMS, importance as is the sharing of information. ‘Maritime Security Operations’ approach. initially on lease but soon permanently. This One of the latest initiatives that we promote With this regards, also both IRINI and ATA- will allow our team to have a clearer picture I can mention is the “Shared Awareness LANTA tasks has being adapted, to reflect of the strategic maritime environment and and Deconfliction Mediterranean” (SHADE the EU engagement in making the mari- be sure that EU policy adapt promptly and MED) conference, an event organised by time environment safer. adequately to answer the stakeholders’ IRINI Operational Headquarters (OHQ). It Just recently two executive secondary tasks (our maritime communities’) needs. took place just few weeks ago and collect- and four non-executive tasks have been Lastly, under the Coordinated Maritime ed more than 250 experts and representa- added to Operation ATALANTA, in par- Presences (CMP) implementation plan, tives from an incredibly wide spectrum of ticular respectively counter weapons and Council can establish a ‘Maritime Area of maritime domain stakeholder, from the narcotics trafficking and monitoring of il- Interest’ (MAI) in which the EU wants to armed forces to the coast guards of the legal fishing, charcoal smuggling, weapons protect its maritime interests and partner States bordering the Mediterranean, from and narcotics trafficking, making the op- with regional states as well as coordinate international institutions such as United eration widen its scope (without diverting individual Member States’ maritime ac- Nations and NATO, passing through NGOs from the primary one, which remains still tivities. To this effect, a “Maritime Area of and representatives of the governments counter-piracy). Interest Coordination Center” (MAICC) is that are most interested in the Mediterra- Similarly, IRINI is developing instruments to established within EUMS. It is centred on nean questions. SHADE MED is a ‘spinoff’ increase its cooperation with the merchant an EUMS Experts Cell and includes the of the SHADE series of meetings held in shipping community in the Central Medi- MARSUR community active for this plan the Indo-Pacific, coordinating between all terranean Sea, starting with replicating the and directed by the Director of Operations partners present in different maritime se-

14 Maritime Security & Defence · February 2021 MARITIME POLICY, STRATEGY & FORCES 

curity operations (counter piracy, counter tions and commit the necessary assets for erations. To this end, we need to find ways terrorism, counter drugs trafficking, etc…) the achievement of their mandate. to overcome the obstacles which exclude in which Operation ATALANTA plays an MSD: Given that NATO is also a maritime specific MS from NATO intelligence. Estab- important leading role. organization, how do you see the work- lishing a new administrative arrangement But to be perceived as a credible security share once the EU would engage more in between EU operation IRINI and NATO provider, the strengthening of capabilities its maritime responsibilities? operation Sea Guardian in order to share in planning and conducting operations is Adm Bléjean: When it comes to collabo- information would also be for the benefit fundamental. ration with NATO, we have to take into of both parts. Expand CMP across other areas of interest. account the availability of member states In due time, after a review of the Pilot Case capabilities. Any action will be undertaken MSD: What kind of operations could one in the Gulf of Guinea, the CMP Concept having in mind that member states have envisage for the EU? could be implemented in other areas with finite resources to contribute; often this Adm Bléjean: First, to continue, according EU interest (i.e. Eastern Mediterranean, Bal- is referred to as ‘a single set of forces’ for to their mandate, with the current CSDP tic, Indo-Pacific, Arctic). Prerequisite for this serving both organizations. Moreover, the missions and operations in three conti- is the declaration of Maritime Areas of In- tasks of the two organizations are different nents, which are aiming at a more stable terest, by the Council, which is anticipated in their nature and we have to keep in mind world and contributing to a safer Europe. to be a potentially complicated issue at the that not all EU member states are NATO Second, to utilise the experience gained political level. allies, and vice versa. so far to establish new executive or non- The deepening of the collaboration with In any case, cooperation with NATO is fun- executive CSDP operations and missions in the civilian missions and other actors in an damental, and it is covered by the EU Mari- other areas of EU interest. The transition integrated approach is also a need. time Security Strategy principle of maritime from Operation SOPHIA to Operation IRINI Another move that can be made is the multilateralism. was successful due to the lessons learned development of an EU Command and We already have frequent meetings, dis- drawn from previous naval operations. Control system oriented to the maritime cussions and exchanges at staff level with Third, to promote MS initiatives, under EU domain that will incorporate all the levels our NATO counterparts (between the two overarching coordination, like the recent of command, from the tactical to the mili- Military Committees as well as from the Pilot Case of the Coordinated Maritime tary strategic. two Directors General down to Action Presences Concept in the Gulf of Guinea. Lastly, member states are to put more ef- Officers in both Military Staffs), but there In the same spirit, in January 2020, eight fort in the force generation process of the is still the need to enhance the informa- EU Member States decided to give their IMDEX21naval - Exhibitor01_Mittlerand maritime Report missions Verlag 21_210mmx150mm.pdf and opera- tion1 7/1/2021 sharing 3:36:11 mechanism PM especially in Op- political support to the creation of a na-  MARITIME POLICY, STRATEGY & FORCES

val mission in the Strait of Hormuz called economies as well as our maritime safety needs and the degree of evolvement of the European Maritime Surveillance Mission and security are intertwined to the point supported local institution/agency. in the Strait of Hormuz (EMASOH). The where they depend on each other. A com- objective is to ensure a safe navigational prehensive trade agreement between both MSD: Given PESCO and CARD, what are environment through this strategic strait the Union and the UK is of course of ut- your expectations to enhance the EU's by providing maritime situational aware- most importance. maritime capabilities? ness, coordination, and information Adm Bléjean: PESCO and CARD are sharing among all stakeholders. Another MSD: Coming back to the envisaged op- flipsides of the coin. They are expected objective is to serve as a de-confliction erations for the EU, do you think, the EU to provide further understanding of the mechanism to help defuse tensions in the could cope with these challenges? situation while identifying cooperation area. Adm Bléjean: Yes, because… opportunities, with PESCO specifically MSD: Brexit leaves the EU with a lack of Each EU mission works in the framework of aiming at the creation of a Full Spectrum maritime capabilities. How would you see an Integrated Approach across all relevant Force Package. the link to the United Kingdom in order EU institutions, with a coherent use of all CARD is both, an information exchange to compensate raising warfighting deficits? available EU instruments to enable an ef- and effective decision-making platform. Adm Bléjean: It is safe to say that the void fective EU response. The operations and When it comes to Capability development, left by the United Kingdom particularly missions work in agreement and coordina- CARD identified six focus areas for which vis-à-vis the OHQ Northwood was grand, tion with the EU Delegations in the same member states plans could benefit from however the operation was efficiently and area and in the framework of EU regional increased cooperation. Two of them are smoothly taken over by other contributing policies, in close cooperation with EEAS linked, directly or indirectly, to maritime capabilities. First, European Patrol Class Sur- face Ship that aims at providing modular naval platforms. Enhanced Military mobility also addresses the strategic sea transport issue which is essential for future CSDP missions and operations. We know that Photo: EUNAVFORMED in these fields Member states already have plans to develop their capabilities but increased cooperation in these efforts would facilitate future cooperation on the field. On the other hand, our capability planning process, the Headline Goal Process, provided us with clear indications regarding the needs and the shortfalls faced by the EU CSDP. This is how EUMS identifies the main shortfall areas; we call them High Impact Capability Goals (HICGs). CARD allowed us to assess which of these HICGs A boarding team from ITS SAN GIORGIO in support of Operation IRINI were not sufficiently addressed by member states. CARD identified three priority areas nations such as Spain and France with the and the EU Special Representative (EUSR) in which there are not enough plans to ac- OHQ and “Maritime Security Center Horn for that particular region. quire capabilities Power Projection, Non- of Africa” (MSCHOA) respectively, and And last but not least, we address these kinetic Capabilities and Force Protection. quite a while back. challenges in close cooperation with our Two of these are linked to maritime capa- With regards to assets, Spanish, Italian regional and international partners. For the bilities. Regarding Force Protection, Ballistic and French naval assets and Spanish and CMP Gulf of Guinea, for example, this is Missile defence and its maritime platforms German maritime patrol reconnaissance done in cooperation with the coastal states will be needed to fulfil the EU CSDP Mili- aircrafts (MPRAs) where ever-present. of the Gulf, within the ‘Yaoundé Code of tary level of Ambition. The field of Power In addition, all the participating member Conduct’ Maritime Security Architecture projection includes amphibious capabilities states and partners have kept up their com- and in close cooperation with regional or- which need further cooperation among mitment to keep the high and successful ganisations such as the “Economic Com- member states but also aircraft carriers for nature of the operation. munity of Central African States” (ECCAS) which EU has very limited capabilities. The above does not mean that the opera- and the “Economic Community of West Then, considering PESCO, it is aiming at tion continued and will continue to oper- African States” (ECOWAS), while linking increasing operational involvement and ca- ate successfully, by mitigating any lack of up with the US as well as the international pability development. The last PESCO Stra- resources with negotiation, coordination maritime community and industry. tegic Review repeated the need to increase and cooperation with the key stakeholders Over the years we have proven our capa- contributions to current operations and to operating in and around the HOA. bility to provide flexible instruments sup- address the HICGs paving the path to a Full This is a decidedly political issue in which porting partners in addressing security Spectrum Force Package. we follow our political leadership. But we challenges, adapting to the specificities of PESCO will also bring more and more at- see it as essential for Europe’s (maritime) each country/case. tention to contributions to current opera- security that a close working relationship We use top-down (advising, mentoring, tions. When it comes to the enhancement of between EU’s and UK’s maritime com- monitoring) and bottom-up (capacity maritime capabilities, we must consider the munities continues to exist. Our Maritime building) approaches, depending on the current PESCO projects. These projects may

16 Maritime Security & Defence · February 2021 MARITIME POLICY, STRATEGY & FORCES  facilitate training such as the EU Network These goals define a precise path to ad- activities to prevent and disrupt maritime of diving centres or provide new platforms dress, in the short and medium term, illicit activities, where military naval op- like the European Patrol Corvette or new ca- the strategic gaps that the EU still has in erations had a key role. pabilities like the Maritime Unmanned Anti- terms of military capabilities, they inform Interoperability was promoted by coop- submarine System which will bring new C3 the Capability Development Plan, their erating with non-EU countries and with systems to underwater systems. implementation is timely assessed and NATO entities. A number of other projects are addressing discussed with MS through CARD and Naval operations in place took advantage maritime capabilities we could also men- they serve as a main benchmark for EU of developments as the "Geospatial In- tion the maritime semi-autonomous Sys- cooperation under the PESCO umbrella. formation to Support decision-Making in tems for Mine Counter Measures, Harbour The 2020 Progress Catalogue (PC) pro- Operations" project ("GISMO GeoHub"), & Maritime Surveillance and Protection, vided some new insights on the most implemented by EDA. the upgrade of maritime surveillance, or pressing capability shortfalls, the High I also have to note that the implemen- the Deployable Modular Underwater In- Impact Capability Goals. tation of the action plan has started to tervention Capability. Other projects will EUMS provides, through the PC, an anal- benefit from several EU defence initia- support or increase the maritime domain ysis on the potential implementation of tives, notably the coordinated annual re- by providing joint intelligence or bringing the HICG, connecting them with three view on defence (CARD); the permanent new C2 systems like the EU collaborative main capability development courses of structured cooperation (PESCO); the Eu- warfare project. action “Commitment”, “Procurement” ropean Defence Fund (and its precursor Many of these projects will bring new ca- and “R&D”, being considered as a key programs). pabilities before the end of the next PESCO guidance for short and medium term fu- The current report gives a more complete phase in 2025. ture MS’ capability development efforts. picture of the efforts made across the EU But in the end, examining our opportunities In the short term, focusing on the mari- to consolidate maritime security. and challenges together through CARD de- time capabilities addressing the goals set The international cooperation chapter veloping new capabilities thanks to PESCO by the Council for 2026, we could stress of the action plan benefited from the projects will not only facilitate cooperation in the need for maritime C2, maritime inter- sustained and complementary commit- the future but also contributes to further EU diction operations assets, harbour pro- ments of EU institutions, EU agencies, own strategic and military culture. tection modules and some specialised and MS on global maritime security. Lastly, PESCO is an increased cooperation diver teams. CSDP naval missions and operations on Operations. In particular, the German In the longer term, 2032, the focus would have continued to play an essential role led project “Crisis Response Operations be on strategic sea transport, naval ISR, in the EU’s external action on maritime Core” (CROC) aiming to better align our maritime patrol but, specifically, on Ballis- security. approach to and standards in Crisis Man- tic missile defence, amphibious capabili- In the area of maritime awareness, the agement Operations, could develop a mari- ties and aircraft carriers. Those last three report reflected efforts made by MS au- time focused pillar as well. capabilities are included in the priority thorities to complement their maritime- areas defined by CARD evoked before: surveillance picture by accessing informa- MSD: Where would you put the priorities Force Protection and Power Projection. tion already existing in other national and - in terms of operational capabilities and in Aircraft carriers are ambitious capabilities European surveillance systems. Among terms of armament or procurement? as they rely not only on very large and the ongoing activities aiming to improve Adm Bléjean: Within the EUMS, we focus expensive ships but this capability also re- maritime awareness, the CISE transitional on operational capabilities. Armament or quire large fleet of specialised airplanes, phase is considered as having a suitable procurement only makes sense if they are pilots, sailors and other escorting ships. approach to guarantee complementarity creating operational capabilities. When we Speaking of which, the last Progress of information exchange between dif- are trying to fulfil the EU Military Level of Catalogue also demonstrated that the ferent EU and MS maritime-surveillance Ambition, there is no value in equipment if withdrawal of the UK from the EU did systems. it is not supported by a strong organisation, not create new shortfalls but exacerbated The report shows that competent EU served by trained personnel and ready to existing ones. UK withdrew before their and MS maritime authorities are deter- be deployed overseas. new aircraft carriers were commissioned, mined to increase their risk assessment When considering the military point of thus, not changing the number of avail- and management capacity, seeking to view, the priorities among operational ca- able assets. Nonetheless, the high level ensure the resilience of critical maritime pabilities are one of the main outcomes of of readiness shown by British Forces also infrastructure, the security of the sup- the Headline Goal Process. increased our needs for high readiness ply chain and the protection of external EUMS has reshaped the military capabil- capabilities after Brexit. maritime borders. To this end, efforts ity planning process (the Head Line Goal have focused on consolidating the ca- Process) and coherently adapting it to the MSD: Please share with us some insights pacity to address cyber/hybrid threats, new EU defence initiatives as well as the into the assessment on the document climate challenges and maritime envi- corresponding NATO process (the NATO which was issued in October 2020: EU ronmental disasters. Defence Planning Process - NDPP). Maritime Security Strategy Action Plan? Finally, this report contains also a new As a result of these efforts, the EU is able Adm Bléjean: The main remark that I like dedicated section that details substantive to plan now its military capabilities with a to note is the significance the member achievements in civil-military cooperation perfectly aligned with NATO cycle in terms states that contributed to the report and across sectors and borders. of time and taxonomy and has a new pow- EU institutions, put on maritime security. erful instrument to ensure the fulfilment Moreover, the efforts to promote link- Amiral, merci beaucoup. of its military level of ambition: The High ages between maritime security and de- The Interview was conducted by Impact Capability Goals. velopment policy are noted as also the Hans Uwe Mergener

February 2021 · Maritime Security & Defence 17  MARITIME POLICY, STRATEGY & FORCES Russia’s Baltic Fleet Counterbalancing NATO’s Regional Build-Up

Dr. Nikolai Novichkov

Some ten or fifteen years ago, Russia’s Baltic Fleet was the ‘neglected offspring’ of the Soviet Baltic Fleet. A depleted formation made up of its predecessor’s remnants, it did not represent a modern force. Moreover, the formation’s structure, warships and naval component were not supported by a combat concept, let alone a clearly defined military doctrine. By early 2021 this situation had dramatically changed. The Baltic Fleet is in the course of being shored up against the background of NATO’s expanding presence in the region.

The Regional Context

The Baltic Fleet is primarily based in the Photo: Author Kaliningrad Region. This has a distinct place in the Russian Federation, having no land borders with any other part of the country and being surrounded by states which take an anti-Russian stance. Both Poland and the Baltic States form established parts of NATO’s military infrastructure and are modernising their armed forces with the acquisition of new weapons. NATO has intensified its exercises along Russia’s land borders, whilst the reconnaissance aircraft of the NATO member states and of Sweden patrol the shores of the Kaliningrad enclave almost round the clock. Facing this situation, Russia’s military command has established the country’s first combined arms task force in the re- Previously a neglected legacy of the Soviet era, Russia’s Baltic Fleet is gion. This comprises naval, land and air being augmented with new equipment in the face of NATO’s regional components, including coastal units and build-up. This is the Project 20380 corvette SOOBRAZITELNIY. an air defence network, and brings all forces under the remit of a single com- Baltic Fleet Given the Kaliningrad Region’s poten- mander. The Kaliningrad Region is also Responsibilities tial vulnerability, its protection inevitably home to Russia’s first integrated anti- forms a core part of the fleet’s responsi- access/area denial (A2/AD) network, en- The Baltic Fleet has its headquarters in Ka- bilities. Along with other elements of the compassing air defence, electronic war- liningrad, with its main base at Baltiysk. integrated defence structure, it is tasked fare and strike weapons systems. The A2/ The formation also encompasses the Len- with preventing attacks on key military AD system’s main task is to inflict unac- ingrad Naval Base, with an operational fo- targets and infrastructure across the re- ceptable damage on any aggressor, using cus on Kronstadt. Its main responsibilities gion, particularly in the vital first two or air and missile capabilities to neutralise its are to: three days of any conflict. However, the offensive potential. • Maintain Russia’s interests in the Baltic Baltic Fleet has much wider geographical region horizons. According to the Russian Navy’s Author • Protect the economic zone, as well as Commander-in-Chief (VFM) Nikolay Yev- industrial infrastructure. menov, the fleet is the leading formation Following an earlier career in engi- • Interrupt illegal activities. in Russia’s western combined arms force, neering, Dr. Nikolai Novichkov is • Provide safe navigation “The Baltic Fleet is a developing fleet which an international defence journalist • Act in collaboration with the Russian is capable of providing protection against writing about topics that include Navy’s other forces (primarily the North- sea threats in its operational area far away aircraft, missiles and naval tech- ern Fleet’s North Atlantic task force) from its main bases. Today the formation’s nologies. • Support Russia’s foreign policy goals servicemen are successfully accomplishing across the world’s oceans. the most challenging goals in interaction

BOIKIY and SOOBRAZITELNIY transiting the English Channel in 2017. The Baltic Fleet is widening its horizons in support of Russia’s foreign policy objectives. with the forces of the Russian Navy’s other DOLSK, KAZANETS, ALEKSIN, KABAR- VELIKIYE LUKI that are now being built fleets, including the military service’s task DINO-BALKARIA and KALMYKIA at the United Shipbuilding Corporation’s force in the Mediterranean Sea.” Admiralty Shipyards subsidiary in Saint Major Amphibious Ships: Petersburg. It is also understood that the Baltic Fleet Structure • 6 Project 1241 Missile Boats (Tarantul Russian Navy is discussing the construc- class) tion of additional Project 636.3 (Improved Administratively part of Russia’s Western • 4 Project 775 Large landing Ships (Ro- Kilo class) submarines armed with the Military District, the Baltic Fleet can be pucha class): MINSK, KALININGRAD, KALIBR (SS-N-27 Sizzler) missile system considered as a balanced combined arms ALEKSANDR SHABALIN and KORO- – already operated by the Black Sea and formation. It encompasses naval forces, LYOV Pacific Fleets – for Baltic Fleet service. naval aviation, an air defence network, • 2 Project 12322 air cushion landing craft coastal and territorial defence troops and (Pomornik class): EVGENIY KOCHESHK- Modernisation logistical support assets. All the forma- OV and MORDOVIA tion’s component units are maintained at Other important units include the lead According to Commander-in-Chief Yev- a high state of readiness. The Baltic Fleet Project 12700 (Alexandrite class) mine menov, the Baltic Fleet will continue to be also maintains significant facilities to sup- countermeasures vessel (MCMV) AL- bolstered by new warships as Russia at- port its important role as a major training EXANDER OBUKHOV, ten coastal and tempts to tip the balance of regional pow- base for the wider Russian Navy. inshore minesweepers, various landing er in its favour. Important arrivals are likely Most military scenarios in the Baltic region craft and fast patrol craft, as well as the to include further KALIBR missile-armed do not favour the use of large surface ships. usual array of logistic support vessels Project 22800 corvettes, the most recent Instead, the Baltic Sea is a theatre, where and tugboats. In 2020, the Baltic Fleet of which also carry the new PANTSIR-M light warships can successfully accomplish received its first Project 02510 (BK-16) combined missile and gun close-in weap- a wide range of tasks without relying on fast landing craft with several more of the ons system. the support of large naval platforms and type planned for delivery during 2021. Modernisation is not limited to warships, nuclear-powered submarines. However, air One potential area of weakness is a lack with particular attention being paid to im- support is still an essential issue. of underwater combatants, as the fleet proving the long-neglected Baltiysk Naval The Baltic Fleet currently has the following currently only operates the two Project Base. The base’s berthing facilities have major ships within its structure: 877 (Kilo class) submarines DMITROV and been repaired and extended to a total ALROSA. However, industrial sources sug- length of around 3 km, whilst new pow- Surface Combatants: gest the fleet may receive the two Project er cables and waterlines have been laid • 1 Project 956 Destroyer (NATO: SOVRE- 677 (Lada class) boats KRONSTADT and and communication networks improved. MENNY class): NASTOYCHIVIY • 2 Project 11540 Frigates (NEUS- TRASHIMYY class): NEUSTRASHIMYY and YAROSLAV MUDRIY Photo: Author • 4 Project 20380 Corvettes (STREGUSH- CHIY class): STREGUSHCHIY, SOO- BRAZITELNIY, BOIKIY and STOIKIY • 3 Project 22800 Corvettes (Karakurt class): MYTISHCHI, SOVETSK and OD- INTSOVO • 2 Project 21631 Corvettes (Buyan-M class): ZELENIY DOL and SERPUKHOV • 4 Project 1234.1 Small Missile Ships (Na- nuchka III class): ZYB, GEISER, PASSAT and LIVEN • 6 Project 1331M Small ASW Ships Growing numbers of Project 22800 corvettes are entering service with (Parchim class): URENGOY, ZELENO- Russia's Baltic Fleet. Shown here is SOVETSK, 2nd of class.

February 2021 · Maritime Security & Defence 19 a command and control unit, the system allows priority to be placed on countering the most valuable enemy combatants. For example, a minefield can be commanded to destroy only loaded landing ships whilst ignoring empty ones or to disregard MC- MVs but engage large surface combatants.

Photo: Author The system is believed to work on the basis The Baltic Fleet still relies on a number of Soviet-era designs that will re- of a software library of acoustic signatures quire replacement. This is the Project 1131M small ASW ship KAZANETS. that is accessed during the target recognition process, distinguishing between different ships with a high probability of success. The mines can be placed in groups or individually and be deployed by a wide range of assets.

Photo: Conrad Waters The Project 20380, 22800 and 21631 corvettes have also been integrated into the Russian military’s reconnaissance- and-strike networks to enhance the Baltic Fleet’s ability to provide close fire support to ground forces. Target information can, for example, be acquired by land-based FORPOST unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and then transmitted onwards via digital communications channels. By using the The Project 636.3 Improved KILO class submarine KRASNODAR was STRELETS (Shooter) command and control transferred to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet after completion but more boats and communications system a serviceman of the type could be built for Baltic Sea service. can simply mark a target on his or her personal tablet and call in an artillery or missile strike. Achieving cohesion between warship crews and FORPOST UAVs to monitor, detect, track and destroy potential targets has been a feature of Baltic Fleet exercises.

Land and Aviation Assets Photo: Crown Copyright 2017 The Baltic Fleet’s own coastal troops and aviation forces are also being modernised. According to the Baltic Fleet’s Commander, Admiral Alexander Nosatov, “Over the past three years we have adopted BAL (SSC-6 Sen- night) and BASTION (SSC-5 Stooge) mobile coastal defence missile systems, ISKANDER- M (SS-26 Stone) tactical ballistic missiles, S-400 TRIUMF (SA-21 Growler) air defence Project 20380 corvettes – this is BOIKIY – are one element of a number missiles, PANTSIR-S (SA-22 Greyhound) self- of Black Sea warships integrated into Russian reconnaissance-and-strike propelled CIWSs, FORPOST UAVs, Sukhoi networks to improve interoperability with land-based forces. Su-30SM (Flanker-H) multi-role combat aircraft, and Kamov Ka-27M (Helix-A) and Other improvements extend to the en- Another important aspect of force mod- KA-29 (Helix-B) rotorcraft amongst other hancement of repair and maintenance ernisation is the introduction of new weap- cutting-edge weapons systems”. workshops as well as upgraded logistical ons systems that have particular relevance The Baltic Fleet’s tank units form an im- support facilities. The first stage of the up- to the Baltic region. These include a new portant part of its land forces. They have grades is believed to have been completed generation of ‘smart’ sea mines that are begun receiving upgraded T-72B3M main by the end of 2020 and further work is un- capable of recognising various ship classes. battle tanks, with both the 7th Motor derway. The modernisation programme These have already been deployed in the Rife Regiment and the 79th Independent will reduce the base’s exposure to adverse Project 21631 (Buyan-M) class corvettes Brigade set to be re-equipped. 2020 saw meteorological conditions and improve during exercises, improving their A2/AD 30 T-72B3Ms delivered to the Kaliningrad overall operational safety. The expanded capabilities. The new mines are associated Region and the process is expected to be facilities also improve Moscow’s ability to with an enhanced concept of ‘intelligent’ completed before the end of 2021. base naval strike forces close to NATO’s sea minefields that will effectively change In addition to its missile-armed surface borders in a strategically important region, shape dependent on the type of threat warships, the Baltic Fleet has two ground- supporting the capabilities of the new as- faced. Operating under the umbrella of a based missile units: the 152nd Guards Mis- sets that are being acquired. networked system of sensors governed by sile Brigade equipped with the ISKANDER-

20 Maritime Security & Defence · February 2021 MARITIME POLICY, STRATEGY & FORCES 

M and the 25th Coastal Missile Brigade with the BAL and BASTION systems. These weapons are capable of engaging enemy Photo: Author ships at distances of up to 500 km. The Baltic Fleet’s artillery units have also been reinforced with battlefield weapons that include URAGAN multiple rocket launch systems, MSTA and PION artillery and the KHIRSANTEMA (AT-15 Springer) self-propelled anti-tank guided missile. The Kaliningrad enclave is home to a multi-layered air defence network focused on the 44th Air Defence Division. This comprises a regiment of S-300 and S-400 systems and a regiment with S- 300V4 missiles. According to open source information, some eight batteries of S-300 and S-400 missiles and two The ISKANDER-M (SS-26 Stone) tactical ballistic missile system is just one S-300V4 batteries are deployed in the of a range of new weapons that are bolstering the Baltic Fleet’s Kaliningrad Region, providing a level of land-based forces. air defences comparable only with the air defence areas of Moscow and Saint The region’s defences also benefit from Training & Exersises Petersburg. Tactical air defences fall un- one of Russia’s most powerful electronic der the auspices of the 22nd Air Defence warfare (EW) units in the form of the 841st The concentration of significant United Regiment that is equipped with the TOR- Independent Electronic Warfare Centre. In Shipbuilding Corporation shipbuilding fa- M2 (SA-15 Gauntlet) short-range air de- late 2018, the MURMANSK-BN jamming cilities in the Saint Petersburg and Kalinin- fence system. It is understood the ship- system was deployed to the region. Con- grad areas mean that many of the Russian based REDUT air defence system of the tained in seven heavy trucks, it is believed to Navy’s surface warships and submarines series-built Project 20380 corvettes have be capable of suppressing enemy systems run their trials in the Baltic. According to also been integrated into the region’s air at distances of up to 5,000 km, extending Commander-in-Chief Yevmenov, providing defence network. perhaps as far as 8,000 km in favourable assistance with the testing and work-up of The Baltic Fleet’s naval aviation compo- environments. The coastal troops also use a these vessels is amongst the Baltic Fleet’s nent is provided by the 132nd Aviation range of their own EW assets. According to most important duties. Division, that includes fighter, air assault the Russian Ministry of Defence, the Baltic An important part of the revitalisation of and helicopter regiments. Helicopter Fleet’s EW equipment provides a full range Baltic Fleet capabilities is the expansion types include the Ka-27 (Helix), Mil Mi- of capabilities extending from jamming of basic and operational training after 24 (Hind) and Mi-8 (Hip) series rotorcraft. through to the collection and analysis of the neglect of the immediate post-Soviet Upgraded Ka-27M helicopters were de- data received from surveillance of HF and years. The most important training exer- livered in the course of 2020 and the VHF transmissions. cise is probably the annual Ocean Shield newest Ka-52 (Hokum-B) and Mi-28N The Kaliningrad Region’s westerly geographi- serial, which takes place after the Navy (Havoc-B) types are also expected to cal location makes it a prime location for Day celebrations in July. Typically involving be inaugurated soon. The detection of surveillance radar systems, including the VO- some 30 naval vessels as well as aviation, submarines in the Baltic Sea can be dif- RONEZH-DM missile defence radar. A new coastal and air defence assets the exer- ficult due to significant variations in water KONTAINER long range over-the-horizon cise involves artillery and missile live firing depths; however, the Ka-27M’s dipping radar system, which can detect aircraft and in manoeuvres that include air defence, sonar allows detection in almost all topo- missile launches as far as the United King- surface and underwater combat and am- graphical conditions. dom, is also being constructed in the enclave. phibious operations.

Conclusion

It can be seen from this brief overview Photo: Author that much has been achieved in recent years to rebuild Russia’s Baltic Fleet capabilities as a counterbalance to the strength of NATO and allied forces in the region. As a result, the security of the Kaliningrad Region is on a much firmer footing than previously. However, this increase in capabilities remains work in progress. According to Commander-in-Chief Yevmenov, the modernisation and rear- mament of the fleet with cutting-edge The Project 12322 air cushion landing craft EVGENIY KOCHESHKOV. Amphib- weapons and equipment will continue in ious operations form a major part of the annual OCEAN SHIELD exercises. the years ahead. L

February 2021 · Maritime Security & Defence 21  SHIP DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGIES European Patrol Corvette: A True European Programme?

Giulia Tilenni

Although a part of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) project and a candidate to receive EU funds, the European Patrol Corvette programme might result in the creation of a European combat vessel. Or maybe not...

he development of a European Patrol more cost-effective, interoperable, and quently happens joint EU defence sector TClass Surface Ship (EPC2S) is among standardised. Based on these considera- programmes. the collaborative opportunities identified tions, CARD recommends member states Based on declarations made during in the first European Union Coordinated include their national approaches to EU- the virtual 2020 edition of Euronaval, Annual Review on Defence (CARD). As this wide concepts first, with pan-EU coopera- operational requirements from partici- report highlights, 20 member states cur- tive projects to follow. pants were expected to be defined be- rently operate 45 Offshore Patrol Vessels The European Patrol Corvette (EPC) fore the end of 2020, facilitating com- (OPV) and, more broadly, are expected to programme fits perfectly within these pletion of the first prototypes in 2027. invest €17 billion in surface combatants in recommendations. As part of the pro- On the same occasion, representatives the short term. grammes within the framework of Per- from Naviris (the Fincantieri and Naval Image: Fincantieri

EPC design as presented by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri

Moreover, purchasing new OPVs is an ur- manent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) Group 50/50 joint venture) and Navantia gent priority for nine member states and approved in November 2019, Italy is co- (the top-ranked partner for the project) a medium-term need for six of them, with ordinating with France, Greece and Spain speculated about how the EPC might seven already seeking some form of co- as participants. As outlined on the of- appear. The requirements should have operation in one of these programmes. ficial website, all approved projects and been presented in November as part A shared approach would maximise R&D collaborations are aimed at designing of the bid for European Defence Fund efforts and make maritime patrolling and developing a prototype for a new (EDF) assistance earmarked to cover up class of military ship that allows several to 10% of the total programme costs Author systems and payloads to be hosted. The to help sustain early common activities. aim is to accomplish a large number of However, a bid has yet to be submitted. Giulia Tilenni is an international tasks and missions through a modular Companies are expected to bid for ad- affairs analyst based in Paris, France. and flexible approach. However, results ditional funding once EDF rules are fully could fail to meet expectations, as fre- explained.

22 Maritime Security & Defence · February 2021 SHIP DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGIES  Graphic: MoD Spain

EPC milestones according to the Spanish MoD. The timetable appears more relaxed than information from some other sources.

Technical Requirements (PPA), the French Frégate de Défense et and CASSIOPEA class OPVs, while France d'Intervention (FTI), formerly known as could buy nine to 11 EPCs. The companies Fincantieri and Naval Group had already Frégate de Taille Intermédiaire (FTI), and submitted their proposals to Navantia at launched a joint concept study in 2018 for a the FREMM multi-purpose frigates oper- the end of 2019, as Spain was consider- common corvette aimed at complementing ated by France and Italy. Italy might want ing replacing five to six of its DESCUBIERTA the Italian Pattugliatiori Polivalenti d’Altura eight EPCs to replace its COMANDANTI class corvettes. Spain subsequently joined

Technical Proven navy-specific assurance standards

Project-based advisory services

Safe operations Minimization of cost

YOUR RELIABLE PARTNER FOR NAVAL VESSELS DNV GL provides naval technical assurance and engineering support for different ship types. Naval and governmental adminis- trations count on DNV GL as a reliable and independent partner during the design, construction and operation of vessels. Contact us: [email protected] Photo: Naval Group Configurations thus far presented are mainly derived from existing products, such as the GOWIND class corvettes built by Naval Group.

the EPC programme in April 2020. The national solution, resulting in the selection Design Details Greek Navy will also rely on European co- of three different CMS. Participating coun- operation to buy new vessels that are unlike tries will face a similar predicament concern- The concept of a patrol corvette suggests any present in its fleet –possibly replacing ing on-board sensors. a classic design in line with current trends some of its fast attack craft. As an OPV operates at low speeds over such as increased OPV size and a focus on According to NATO classification, the EPC time, choosing the best propulsion solu- defensive main weapons. However, the should be categorised as a “Limited War- tion is another area in which European PPA and FDI programmes demonstrate ship Unit” type with a fully-laden displace- cooperation might prove effective. EU that today’s designs might soon be obso- ment of approximately 3,500 tonnes. The funds could further boost technological lete. For example, existing EPC concepts hull would be approximately 110 meters advances in electric propulsion, resulting are intended mainly for surface opera- long, with a draft of up to 5.5 metres. in EPCs becoming the first defence vehicle tions. However, the navies interested in Each navy has specific technical require- to be fully-electric. these vessels have expressed a desire to ments for its patrol vessels; however, not The general configuration of the vessel provide each ship with ASW capabilities, all have been made public. Some common seems to escape cooperation discussions regardless of size. This will likely trans- features reflect a general trend in corvette for now. Available images show standard- form the EPC’s weapons systems and un- design, which is highlighted in the CARD. ised layouts, mainly derived from existing derwater monitoring capabilities. Taking Nowadays, ensuring surface presence at products. a prompt decision on providing EPCs with sea is based on key and highly-interopera- UAV and USV requirements could be such capabilities is crucial. The FREMM ble capabilities: long-endurance at sea en- combined with modularity to improve the experience has demonstrated that put- abled by high-end unmanned platforms, integration of these systems on the new ting modularity at the core of the design modularity, and adaptability to different vessels. A logical choice to maximise co- phase is central to achieving this flex- maritime environments. operation could be to undertake a dedi- ibility. Even though not been officially The capability to carry out long-lasting pa- cated study in the wake of the ongoing confirmed yet, it would also be logical trol missions in areas of interest is the most EU-funded OCEAN 2020 programme that to choose electric propulsion, as this per- cost-efficient way to ensure constant situa- was launched in 2018 to demonstrate en- fectly fits the EPC’s defined missions and tional awareness. France and Italy are said to hanced situational awareness by integrat- integration of unmanned vehicles. be interested in having a persistent presence ing legacy and new technologies. This pro- Weapons are not a problem, for the in the Eastern Mediterranean. The latest gramme encompasses unmanned systems, French, Italian and Spanish navies have evolutions in Combat Management System ISTAR payloads, and effectors, pulling to- many available options. In October 2020, (CMS) technology for the Italian, Spanish gether technical specialists in the maritime the French defence procurement agency and French Navies allow them to fulfil this domain covering the “observing, orienting, designated the Thales-Nexter RAPIDFire requirement. Consequently, the three coun- deciding and acting” of operational tasks. close-in weapon system as a reference tries could prefer to pick an existing system Recent Mediterranean trials demonstrated for future French vessels. This incorpo- for integration on board their EPCs rather the need to modify vessel configurations to rates the new medium calibre 40 mm than developing a new one – an option still serve the growing number and variety of gun developed by CTAI, the internation- on the table. However, it is also possible that unmanned vehicles, in particular require- al subsidiary of Nexter Systems and BAE one or more of the countries might prefer a ments with regard to on-board antennas. Systems. This choice could be combined

24 Maritime Security & Defence · February 2021 SHIP DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGIES  with MBDA MISTRAL 3 missiles in the What Is Ahead? miles and optimised for ASuW; and yet EPC. Both weapon systems provide ex- another optimised for patrol missions cellent flexibility with a combination of This year, 2021, will be crucial for the pro- in blue water environments. Again, this short-range, air-to-air and surface-to- gramme, as a decision is expected on the is unlikely to drive pan-European com- surface capabilities. Meanwhile, Spain submission for EU funds. Obtaining this monalities. will probably follow Italy in choosing a support will boost the EPC programme, To date, it is, however, possible to identify solution based on the Leonardo 76mm giving it a first push into the development some segments for meaningful European gun used by both navies, equipped with phase. However, the level of similarity cooperation. Propulsion, modularity and the DART/STRALES smart ammunition achieved with the final units will provide the unmanned vehicles are all areas in which kit. Italy might also specify the MBDA real measure of the programme’s success. participants are particularly open to coop- MARTE ER anti-ship missile, while France During the Euronaval 2020 virtual edition, eration, making them ideal candidates for could offer a solution based on Thales’ representatives of the three main compa- EU funding. More broadly, much will de- MARTLET or MBDA’s SEA VENOM and/ nies working on the programme could not pend on the success of the Naviris joint ven- or MMP. confirm if the different operational require- ture. Fincantieri’s takeover of Chantiers de No convergence is expected concern- ments expressed by each country would l’Atlantique has been a major driver for col- ing close-range defence, as France, Italy result in different versions. On this basis, laboration with Naval Group; if it fails then and Spain each produce turrets of many the EPC might ultimately mirror what hap- relationships between the two companies calibres and shapes. However, partici- pened with the FREMM programme with could be negatively impacted. This, in turn, pants might agree on integrating the a common design achieved in the develop- would affect the EPC programme given it same ASW suite on all vessels, probably ment phase but the final product turning involves the first vessel planned to be com- from the CAPTAS family (Combined Ac- out to be pan-European only in name. pleted under the Naviris joint venture. Col- tive Passive Towed Array Sonar). CAP- There is also speculation the EPC could laboration with respect to the CMS would TAS 2 would certainly meet the require- be available in three different versions: be particularly vulnerable, as Leonardo and ment due to its size and its logistical one optimised for anti-aircraft and anti- Thales could become (again) competitors compatibility with CAPTAS 4, already surface warfare (ASuW), equipped with in this segment, in turn forcing Greece and in service with the French, Italian and self-defence capabilities; another with Spain to make their own combat manage- Spanish navies. an oceanic range of 10,000 nautical ment system choices. L  SHIP DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGIES European Logistic Support Ship Programmes

Conrad Waters

The European naval construction sector is currently experiencing significant demand for new logistic support ships. Previous delays in replacing existing vessels have reached the point where further deferral is no longer an option, particularly given many do not comply with present-day environmental standards.

ost leading European navies either importantly, more stringent environmental port shipping. These are driven largely by the Mhave placed or are planning orders regulations in the commercial sector – nota- need to sustain operations by the QUEEN for new replenishment ships. Additional bly the phasing out of single-hulled tankers ELIZABETH class aircraft carriers. Plans have units have been ordered or designed for – have left many naval auxiliaries out of line evolved since they were first devised around service abroad. The new ships represent a with the new requirements. It has generally the turn of the millennium and are currently generational change over the ‘legacy’ ves- been possible for navies to seek exemption based on the operation of new classes of sels they are intended to supersede. from the new rules but this produces signifi- fleet tankers and fleet solid support ships. cant practical and moral hazards. For exam- This division between bulk (i.e. liquid) non- Market Background ple, a single-hulled naval tanker might not bulk (food, ammunition and general stores) be allowed access to a foreign port. Equally, support shipping is unusual in Europe but The availability of logistic support – particu- the political ramifications of any accidental has similarities with US Navy practice. As for larly replenishment at sea – is a prerequisite oil spill it might be responsible for would be all British seagoing replenishment vessels, for the effective performance of oceanic significant. the new ships are allocated to Royal Fleet naval operations. In spite of this truth, pro- The result is that procurement of new logis- Auxiliary (RFA) service. curement of new support vessels was a low tic support shipping now forms an impor- The overall programme for the renewal of priority for European navies in the immedi- tant part of naval construction programmes British replenishment and floating logisti- ate post-Cold War era. Many fleets expe- across Europe. A variety of projects are at cal support shipping was initially known as rienced substantial reductions both in size various stages of implementation. This the Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability and in resources. Remaining funding was activity has also attracted the interest of (MARS) project. By 2007, it had been de- typically focused towards the replacement overseas fleets in a broadly similar position, cided to proceed with the tanker element of frontline warships. driving additional export sales. This article of this programme as a discrete compe- This situation is now changing. The previous looks at the major programmes currently tition. However, it was only in 2012 that deferrals of logistic support ship replacement underway. a contract was awarded. This saw South have meant that the age of existing vessels Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine has crept steadily upwards. Many ships have United Kingdom Engineering (DSME) win out over compet- now been in service for 40 years or more, ing bids from rival Korean builder Hyundai Image: OCCAR meaning that further life extensions are no The United Kingdom has the largest and the Heavy Industries and Italy’s Fincantieri to longer an economic prospect. Equally as most advanced plans for new logistic sup- build four so-called MARS fleet tankers. Photo: Crown Copyright 2018

British logistic support ship requirements have been heavily influenced by the need to support the new QUEEN ELIZABETH class aircraft carriers. This is the lead TIDE class fleet tanker TIDESPRING conducting a replenishment at sea exercise with QUEEN ELIZABETH.

26 Maritime Security & Defence · February 2021 SHIP DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGIES  Photo: Theodor Obrestad Schei/ Norwegian Armed Forces The Norwegian logistic support vessel MAUD is derived from the same BMT AEGIR design family as the British TIDE class fleet tankers but is intended to undertake a wider variety of roles.

A key element of DSME’s bid was the use class carriers. A noteworthy feature of With the fleet tanker project now satisfac- of a design from British consultancy BMT the ships is their hybrid combined diesel- torily concluded, attention has turned to Defence Services as the basis for the new electric or diesel propulsion arrangement. acquisition of the fleet solid support ships. ships. BMT had developed a series of sup- This includes the use of hybrid machines As their name implies, these are intended port vessel concepts under the generic AE- that can either be used as electrical motors to deliver non-liquid cargo. Up to three GIR brand. All used features contained in for economical, low speed operation or as ships are planned. Tender documents sug- the Norwegian Skipskonsulent’s Baltic type generators to supplement overall electrical gest they will be required to carry up to product tankers. The thinking was that the capacity as required. The design require- 7,000m³ of stores at sustained speeds of pause in orders for support ships after the ment was based on achieving a sustained up to 18 knots and to be able to transfer Cold War had resulted in naval design prac- speed of 15 knots in adverse weather and single loads of up to five tonnes whilst on tices for such vessels falling behind develop- good endurance. A top speed approaching the move. A shortlisting process conclud- ments in the commercial shipping market. 20 knots was achieved on trials. ed in November 2018 saw a British ‘Team The evolution of a mercantile design into a Work on the lead ship, TIDESPRING, start- UK’ consortium competing with DSME, ship for military use was therefore seen as ed in 2014. She commenced sea trials Fincantieri, Japan Marine United Corpora- providing significant competitive ad- in early 2016 but a number of snags tion and Navantia for a contract said to be vantages. The DSME proposal was meant that it was nearly a year before valued at £1Bn (US$1.4BN). However, the her acceptance. On subsequent arrival competition was halted a year later after a in the United Kingdom, she number of potential bidders had dropped out on the basis that none of the proposals were able to meet the budget. A new tender is expected to be launched in the course of 2021. The new process will require the successful manufacturing team to be headed by a UK-based company fol- Image: OCCAR lowing heavy criticism of the possibility of another The Franco-Italian contract being allocated replacement logistic support ship overseas. This has already programmes are being carried out under the seen Navantia team with auspices of the OCCAR defence procurement agency. BMT and Northern Ire- This graphic is an early representation of the Italian VULCANO. Some of land shipyard Harland & her armament will be subject to ‘fitted for but not with’ arrangements. Wolff (part of InfraStrata plc) in the hope of keeping its place in the derived from the 26,000-ton deadweight was docked for ‘customisation’, including competition alive. AEGIR 26 concept but adapted to achieve the fitting of sensitive communications and In the meantime, the AEGIR concept has higher levels of survivability. other military equipment, finally entering also been adopted by another European The resulting ships have a full load dis- service with the RFA in November 2017. country in the form of the Royal Norwe- placement of 39,000 tonnes. They can The remaining TIDE class ships followed at gian Navy’s logistic support vessel MAUD. ship 20,300 tonnes of liquid stores as roughly regular intervals. TIDEFORCE com- An evolution of the AEGIR 18/18R design, well as a limited amount of solid cargo pleted the programme when she became she was also ordered from DSME under in eight TEU containers. Three replenish- operational in July 2019. Although the con- a US$140M contract announced in mid- ment at sea (RAS) stations are provided as struction programme took longer to imple- 2013. In contrast to the single-role focused well as a stern reel. Facilities for a single ment than originally anticipated, the total TIDEs, the 27,500 tonne vessel is designed medium-sized helicopter also permit verti- cost for all four ships of £550M (US$720M) as a flexible, multi-role ship. She can supply cal replenishment. The layout of the RAS was below budget and significantly cheap- liquid and solid consumables and also per- stations was driven by the corresponding er than could have been achieved by a Eu- form alternative support roles such as medi- arrangement in the QUEEN ELIZABETH ropean-based build strategy. cal and humanitarian assistance, sea basing

February 2021 · Maritime Security & Defence 27  SHIP DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGIES

programme of fleet renewal put forward in the 2014 Naval Law. The acquisition is being managed under the auspices of the

Photo: Navantia European collaborative armaments procurement agency OCCAR. It ordered the ship from a Fincantieri-led consortium in May 2015. Named VULCANO, the new support vessel has been fabricated in two sections at Fincantieri’s yards at Castel- lammare di Stabia near Naples and Mug- giano near Genoa. Final integration has taken place at Riva Trigoso in the Gulf of La Spezia. Delivery was initially scheduled in 2019. However, a serious fire during outfitting in July 2018 pushed back the start of sea trials until December 2019. Al- though the current COVID-19 pandemic has inflicted further delay, it seems likely the Italian Navy will still take possession of the ship shortly. Displacing a little over 27,000 tonnes at full Navantia has steadily evolved its logistic support ship designs. This im- load, VULCANO is designed in full compli- age shows (from left to right) the double-hulled CANTABRIA, the earlier ance with the latest international maritime single-hulled PATIÑO and the Australian SUPPLY and STALWART, which standards. She is able to stow up to 15,500 are slightly modified from the CANTABRIA design. tonnes of cargo. This includes over 11,500 tonnes of fuel and potable water as well and the provision of repair and maintenance major aircraft carrier operators. However, as ammunition, solid stores and eight TEU facilities. A major feature is the incorporation they have taken a different approach to re- containers. She has two RAS stations to of reconfigurable accommodation spaces. newing their logistic support vessel fleets, both port and starboard, two abeam-han- These can, for example, be adapted to ex- opting to acquire auxiliary replenishment dling cranes and an additional refuelling pand the core medical facility to a large, 48- oiler (AOR) type ships combining liquid and position at her stern. In similar fashion to bed hospital. Delivered in November 2018, solid stores capabilities. The resultant ships most other logistic support ships, a com- she was formally christened in May 2019 af- are more flexible than their British equiva- bined diesel-electric and diesel (CODLAD) ter arriving in Norway in March of that year. lents at the expense of lower overall stow- propulsion system is optimised for endur- age capabilities and a somewhat higher ance. However, the twin shaft arrange- Italy and France procurement cost. ment produces a respectable maximum What is now essentially a joint Franco-Ital- speed of around 20 knots. Italy and France share similar at-sea replen- ian replenishment ship programme traces In common with other recent multi-role ishment requirements to the British Royal its origins to the approval of a new Ital- support ship designs, VULCANO is able to Navy in as far as they are Europe’s other ian logistic support ship under the wider perform limited repair and maintenance work for other vessels. She is equipped with medical facilities that extend to accommodation sufficient for 13 patients. A relatively sophisticated Leonardo-supplied combat management system is scaled Photo: Bundeswehr down from that used in the PPA type multi-role patrol vessels. This provides tactical level command and control against a wide range of threats. A panoramic bridge arrangement providing 360° views also as- sists situational awareness. Although the suite of sensors and defensive systems is seemingly largely configured to handle lower threat scenarios, capacity can be expanded by provision for much ‘fitted for but not with’ equipment. In any event, it seems unlikely that the ship would operate in higher threat areas without considerable escort. VULCANO also has hangar space for two medium-sized helicopters. The German Navy operates three sophisticated Type 702 BERLIN class Replacements for Italy’s two other existing combat support ships that make significant use of containerised equip- logistic support ships are envisaged in the ment for operational flexibility. The Royal Canadian Navy has ordered Italian Navy’s latest strategic plan. It there- two modified versions of the class. fore seems likely that further members of

28 Maritime Security & Defence · February 2021 Marketing Report: Saab RÜSTUNG & TECHNOLOGIE 

Integrated Multi-Level Communication Solution – TactiCall ICS

Multinational force operations are increasing, and with them the complexity of the chain of command. Sometimes it is a matter of optimising internal procedures in the area of communication in such a way that external as well as internal and red as well as black networks can be integrated into an easy-to-use and technically secure communication platform. This supports vessels in their complex management tasks. Missions today require efficient coordination and cooperation between the individual actors, a wide range of communication channels and the interaction of different classification levels.

The fully software-based TactiCall ICS is an NATO Secret level, is based on COTS/ integrated communication solution inter- MOTS hardware and certified for multi-

connecting all communication technologies level security EAL5+. The TactiCall ICS fa- Photo: Saab regardless of radio band, frequencies or cilitates the chain of command, by giving hardware. It gives a fast access and control naval teams access to a variety of com- to test the setup prior to use, thus ensuring of all internal and external communications munication channels of different security an effective mission configuration. from a single user interface. An intuitive user levels from the same user terminal. With interface provides access to a variety of com- TactiCall users can listen to a mix of both Operational on More than munication channels at different classifica- secure and unclassified communications 40 Classes of Ships tion levels, increasing operators’ efficiency and simultaneously be able to talk either in managing operational duties. Designed to secure or unclassified. This communica- To date, more than 40 classes of ships be a COTS/MOTS-based building block sys- tion setup can even be expanded to han- worldwide are equipped with TactiCall ICS. tem, it is possible to tailor content to match dle multiple security domains with a mix of In September 2020, the French Naval Group the communication needs of every vessel unclassified, restricted, NATO secret and and Kership, part of Naval Group, also se- type – from small boat operations to frig- national secret communication channels, lected Saab's TactiCall as part of the Belgian- ates and logistic vessels, submarines or even all accessed from the same communica- Dutch MCMV programme. The partnership lager vessel such as destroyers. tion device. between Saab and Kership underlines the comprehensive cooperation with the French Fully Software-Based Centralised Management naval industry, and will strengthen Saab’s System TactiCall position for the French’s MCM pro- The TactiCall ICS is fully software-based and gramme called SLAM-F. Furthermore the is designed to provide seamless voice and The TactiCall Management system is a Bulgarian Navy's new MMPV multi-purpose data communications, incorporating all the modular user and roles-based interface al- patrol vessels will be equipped with Saab's latest technologies. Modular and scalable lowing users to easily maintain and control communication system in the future. Finland system approach ensures seamless integra- all communication equipment. Further- also decided to install TactiCall ICS on a total tion to 3rd party and legacy systems allow- more, the TactiCall Management system of four new corvettes in the context of the ing for a tailored solution to meet specific provides Emission Control Management, in Squadron 2020 programme. operational and technical requirements as order to invoke different silence levels, and well as protecting prior investments. provides optional frequency and antenna Close Collaboration management as well as military SATCOM. with Customers Certified for Multi-Level The TactiCall Management system provides Security communication plans with the overview of Close collaboration with customers supports the equipment included in each chain. It a spiral development process, in the scope of The TactiCall ICS offers certified multi- also provides an overall overview status for which the system is improved through small level secure communication for up to the communication and allows an operator and continuous evolutionary steps to meet the equally evolving needs and requirement of customers. The navies need to conduct an increased variety of missions – using

Photo: Saab multi-role ships. But at the same time, the number of crew members are actually reduced in some navies. This emphasises the importance of a system that can be integrated and operated in a wide range of vessels, with positive implications for the training of the relevant staff and also for costs.

Read more: saab.com/tacticall  SHIP DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGIES the class will be ordered for Italian service to support fixed-wing aviation opera- Germany in due course. However, in the meantime tions. However, with current require- the basic design has also been selected ments met by the existing PATIÑO and The German Navy’s expanding interna- to meet France’s requirement for four CANTABRIA, there is no immediate need tional presence means that it has expe- new vessels to replace its existing, elderly for further support vessel construction. rienced growing logistical support de- DURANCE class vessels. This programme The two ships have essentially followed mands in the post-Cold War era. These was originally intended to be a purely an evolutionary path. The single-hulled, have been met by the three multirole national project under the leadership of 1990s-era PATIÑO – acquired under a Type 702 BERLIN class combat support local champion Naval Group. However, joint project with the Netherlands – was ships, which were delivered between France decided to adopt the Italian de- subsequently developed into the double- 2001 and 2013. Sophisticated and cor- sign following Fincantieri’s acquisition hulled CANTABRIA, which was launched respondingly expensive vessels, they ben- of control of the Saint Nazaire-based in 2010. Although the latter vessel is efit from significant operational flexibility Chantiers de l’Atlantique yard and in the somewhat heavier than her predecessor, through use of a large modularised con- context of growing Franco-Italian naval the penalties inherent in environmental tainer capacity. Further production for collaboration. compliance are reflected in a reportedly German service is unlikely. However, the A €1.7BN (US$2BN) order for four ships lower liquid cargo capacity. design has been sold to Canada to meet was placed with a consortium of Chan- CANTABRIA also has somewhat lower a requirement for the licensed construc- tiers de l’Atlantique and Naval Group overall capacity than the more recent tion of two joint support ships. After con- through OCCAR in January 2019. Naval Franco-Italian logistic supply ship class. siderable delay, a ceremonial keel-laying Group’s responsibilities are for the provi- She is otherwise similarly versatile. How- ceremony for the lead vessel – PROTEC- sion of combat management and other ever, the evolutionary approach adopted TEUR – was held at Seaspan Shipyards systems. Construction work will be split in her design is reflected in characteris- in Vancouver in January 2020. Estimated between Castellammare di Stabia and tics – such as direct drive diesel propul- programme costs for the two ships are Saint Nazaire. Final assembly will be at sion and a single shaft – that have fallen a massive CAD$4.1Bn (US$3BN). This the latter site. Limited technical details out of favour in recent ships. Neverthe- partly reflects the expense of rebuilding published to date suggest the French less, a modified variant of the vessel was skills in the previously neglected Cana- ships will be broadly similar to their Ital- selected over the arguably more mod- dian shipbuilding sector. ian sister. Important differences include ern AEGIR concept to gain a US$470M Meanwhile, Germany launched a new specification of the Naval Group POLARIS contract for two Australian AORs in May programme to replace its two existing combat management system and an al- 2016. Both ships have been built at Fer- Type 704 RÖHN class replenishment oil- ternative armament arrangement. Work rol in northwest Spain. Lead ship SUPPLY ers in mid-2019. In common with other on the first unit – JACQUES CHEVALLIER commenced sea trials in August 2020 current projects, the new Type 707 fleet – commenced in May 2020 to meet a and subsequently arrived in Australia in tankers will be of double-hulled construc- planned late 2022 delivery date. Three October for final outfitting and testing. tion (see: Periscope). In similar fashion to sister ships will follow by 2029. With sister STALWART also close to physi- the British TIDEs, they will be focused on cal completion, fears of a gap in produc- liquid stores replenishment. Preliminary Spain tion at Ferrol pending commencement design requirements suggest a large fluid of work on the new F-110 class frigates stowage capacity of 15,000 tonnes as Spain is the other European country has led to calls for a second CANTABRIA well as the ability to handle 20 TEU con- whose logistic support ship capabilities to be ordered for Spanish service. This tainers. Core complement will be limited are influenced by the need to carry sig- seems unlikely in the current budgetary to the 42 crew members of the existing nificant volumes of liquid consumables environment. ships but maximum speed will increase

European Logistic Support Ship Programmes Specimen Logistic Support Ship Data Class TIDESPRING MAUD VULCANO CANTABRIA BERLIN DEN HELDER

Country (Design) UK UK Italy Spain Germany Netherlands Country (Navy) UK Norway Italy/France Spain/Australia Germany/Canada Netherlands Number 4 1 1/4 1/2 3/2 1 First Commissioned 2017 2019 [2021] 2010 2001 [2024] Role: [1] AO LSS AOR AOR AOR AOR Full Load Displacement 39,000 tonnes 27,500 tonnes 27,200 tonnes 19,500 tonnes 21,000 tonnes 20,000+ tonnes Dimensions 201m x 29m x10m 183m x 26m x 9m 193m x 24m x 8m 174m x 23m x 8m 174m x 24m x 7m Not known Propulsion Hybrid CODLOD Hybrid CODLOD CODLAD Diesel Diesel IEP Speed 15 knots 18 knots c. 20 knots c. 21 knots c. 20 knots Not known sustained sustained Endurance 8,000+ 10,000 7,000 6,000 Not known Not known nautical miles nautical miles nautical miles nautical miles Notes : 1. AO = auxiliary oiler (liquid fuel supply); AOR = auxiliary replenishment oiler (liquid fuel & solid stores supply); LSS = logistic support ship with full multi-mission performance.

30 Maritime Security & Defence · February 2021 SHIP DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGIES  from 16 to 20 knots. Although a contract Only sketchy details of the new ship have ship will be powered by a combined die- has yet to be awarded, it is anticipated been released to date. However, it ap- sel and gas turbine arrangement. GE is that both new vessels will be delivered/ pears that DEN HELDER will be a rela- providing two of its ubiquitous LM-2500 enter into service before the end of 2024. tively large, almost 200 metre-long vessel gas turbines for the ship. The choice is with a displacement in excess of 20,000 an unusual one, suggesting a desire for The Netherlands tonnes. Stowage capacity is likely to be speed found only in a handful of high similar to that provided by KAREL DOOR- end US Navy and Chinese combat sup- The Royal Netherlands Navy took some- MAN. It will include the ability to carry port ships. Turkish industry is also active thing of an idiosyncratic approach to lo- 20 containers. There will be two abeam in the international technology transfer gistic support ship procurement during the RAS positions and the ability to oper- market for logistic support shipping, pro- Cold War era, taking the delivery of the ate several helicopters. Much defensive viding licensed designs for construction joint support ship KAREL DOORMAN in equipment will be subject to ‘fitted for in both India and Pakistan. Graphic: Damen

A graphic of the new Dutch combat support ship DEN HELDER, which is scheduled for delivery in 2024.

2014. She originated from the Naval Study but not with’ arrangements due to budg- Future Trends of 2005, which reoriented the fleet to- etary constraints. The ship’s basic layout wards lower intensity stabilisation missions. owes much to Damen’s series of logistic It can be seen from this brief overview The ship combines replenishment, logistical support vessel concepts. However, many that European logistic support ship con- transportation and sea-basing capabilities of the more detailed design elements – struction programmes are currently en- in a large, 28,000-tonne hull. With the ad- including the selection of an integrated joying a healthy level of activity. The sup- dition of significant surveillance capacity electrical propulsion system – are derived ply of both ships and designs to overseas provided by a Thales integrated mast, she from KAREL DOORMAN. navies is also providing a further boost is undoubtedly a capable and flexible ship. to the market. With new projects for the The major downside of the concept is the Other Programmes United Kingdom and Germany in their higher cost – both capital and operational early stages and further requirements – of performing any one of the roles she is Elsewhere in Europe, Portugal’s 2019 identified in both Italy and Portugal, it equipped to undertake. Military Programming Law makes provi- seems likely that the sector will be sus- The Netherlands appear to have taken sion for a new replenishment tanker at tained for some time to come. note of this drawback in the new com- an estimated cost of €150M (US$180M). Looking further ahead, however, the out- bat support ship DEN HELDER. This vessel The vessel will replace the veteran ROVER look is somewhat less positive. The high was contracted with Damen early in 2020 class tanker BÉRRIO. This was first com- level of current activity has been driven and is effectively a replacement for the missioned into the British RFA as BLUE by the lengthy pause in acquisitions after single-hulled AMSTERDAM – a sister of ROVER in 1970. However, actual com- the Cold War. It will inevitably subside to the Spanish PATIÑO – that was sold to mencement of the project is likely to more normal levels once replacement of Peru in 2014. She is a more traditional be several years away given the priority life expired, non-environmentally compli- AOR type design focused on the under- allocated to offshore patrol vessel pro- ant vessels has been completed. Moreo- way replenishment of fuel, water, ammu- curement. It is likely construction will be ver, the growing strength of Asian com- nition and other solid cargo. Following a allocated to the domestic West Sea Viana petition – evidenced, for example, by the similar approach to that adopted for the Shipyard at Viana do Castelo once the allocation of TIDE class construction to construction of other recent large Dutch acquisition is implemented. DSME and Hyundai’s recent completion naval vessels, the new ship’s hull will be At Europe’s other extremity, Turkey has of the AOR AOTEAROA for New Zealand built by Damen’s Galati yard in Romania. its own ‘DIMDEG’ project for an AOR-like – will inevitably impact future export op- Final outfitting will then take place in the combat support ship. This is being imple- portunities. Europe’s shipyards and naval Netherlands prior to delivery in 2024. The mented by the Sefine Shipyard south-east architects might therefore be well-advised total budget for the programme amounts of Istanbul under a contract awarded in to make the most of current conditions to €375M (US$450M). July 2018. The 190 metre, 22,000-tonne whilst they still last. L

February 2021 · Maritime Security & Defence 31  SHIP DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGIES FREMM Design: A Success in Modern Naval Development

Luca Peruzzi

he joint French-Italian FREMM (Frégate TEuropéenne Multi-Missions or Fregate Europee Multi-Missione) programme, managed by OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Photo: Italian Navy Coopération en matière d’ARmament) on behalf of the two nations’ Ministries of De- fence (MoD), remains the most important multi-national initiative to date between European industries in the field of naval defence. The navies of both Italy and France signed the initial programme collaboration agreement in October 2002. Almost two decades later, the design and the technological solutions applied to the programme continue to demonstrate their soundness and still offer potential for growth. This has recently been demonstrated by FREMM’s selection as parent design by the US Navy The joint French/Italian OCCAR-managed FREMM programme encom- for the Guided Missile Frigate programme, passes the delivery of ten frigates for Italy including four in the Anti- also known as the FFG-62 or CONSTELLA- Submarine Warfare (ASW) and six in the General Purpose (GP) or ASuW- TION Class. oriented configurations. This is the first-of-class CARLO BERGAMINI OCCAR awarded the development and (GP-configured). initial production contract for FREMM to Armaris and Orizzonte Sistemi Navali (OSN) in November 2005. Armaris was the joint venture between DCNS (today Naval Group) and Thales whereas Orizzonte Sis- Photo: Italian Navy temi Navali was the joint venture between Fincantieri and Finmeccanica (today Leon- ardo). The selected solution was based on different platform configurations for each service. Common development was limited to specific design and combat system solutions, anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and electronic warfare (EW) suites, and also propulsion. OCCAR successfully managed the development, production and in-service support (ISS) phases. The agency will continue these activities beyond the time schedule initially foreseen for the FREMM programme, potentially managing in-service support for both navies. Moreover, it will also support the Italian The Italian Navy’s ASW configured FREMMs, including VIRGINIO FASAN de- MoD’s decision to build two new frigates picted here, are equipped with a comprehensive ASW sonar suite including to replace the two units transferred to the Thales Underwater US 4249 low-frequency variable depth sonar and Egypt in an export deal signed by Fincan- passive towed array, TUS UMS 4110 bow mounted sonar with Leonardo tieri shipbuilding group in 2020. mine-avoidance sonar and underwater telephone, and a panoramic echo sounder. Italian FREMM Design and Combat Capabilities vali, Italy’s FREMM multirole frigate design decided to replace the two (general pur- programme initially foresaw 10 platforms pose) frigates SCHERGAT and BIANCHI, Designed and developed by Italian MoD’s - six for general purpose operations and previously planned to be delivered to Ital- Directorate of Naval Armaments (NAV- four in an Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) ian Navy in 2020 and in 2021 respectively, ARM) together with Orizzonte Sistemi Na- configuration. In 2020, the Italian MoD that had been sold to Egypt. Thus, the

32 Maritime Security & Defence · February 2021 SHIP DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGIES  production programme is to be extended by two platforms in an updated configuration. According to the latest updates by OC- Photo: Italian Navy CAR, the Italian programme cost amounts to about €5,500M. This includes development, production, combat system configuration updates and initial in-service support, as well as obsolescence care and Engineering Change Proposals (ECP). For in-service support, the agency calculates a requirement of about €100M per year for all the 10 FREMM platforms. The two additional platforms come without additional costs, including changes to mitigate obsolescence issues, as explained later. Built to RINA MIL specifications, both configurations of Italy’s FREMM share a common platform with reduced radar, infrared and acoustic cross signatures. The Italian design differs from its French counterpart The FEDERICO MARTINENGO GP-configured FREMM features a stern in several aspects. It has a higher full load launch and recovery station for an 11 metre RHIB, which together with displacement of circa 6,700 tonnes influ- the embarked NFH-90 helicopters are key for anti-piracy, special forces enced by a longer hull (145 metres) and and traffic control support. a more developed superstructure, a COD- LAG propulsion system with conventional this mode also provides a degree of mar- in restricted waters and during berthing. exhaust (instead of the French hull-mount- gin in the event of displacement increas- The BERGAMINI class frigates are the ed type), increased endurance and a higher ing due to system modifications at a later first units of the Italian Navy with a rud- accommodation capacity (201 instead of stage of a ship’s life span. der roll stabilisation system. Using larger 145). With the exception of the French Autonomy amounts to 6,000 NM at 15 rudders not only for steering but also si- variant’s land strike capability offered by knots. With use of the FCPP, the frig- multaneously for roll reduction (removing MBDA’s Missile de Croisière Naval (MdCN), ates have demonstrated crash-stop dis- the need for stabilising fins), the ship has it also offers expanded combat and weap- tances well within required distances improved manoeuvrability and handling. ons systems capabilities. at top speeds. The forward propulsion Both of Fincantieri’s configurations adopt The ship's combined diesel-electric and and auxiliary compartment hosts a 1 an internal layout based on two lateral pas- gas (CODLAG) propulsion configuration MW azimuthal retractable thruster (ART) sageways with technical galleries beneath is based on a single Avio/General Electric to provide emergency propulsion for a the weather deck. Twin trunks under the 32 MW LM2500+G4 gas turbine cross- speed of up to 7 kn. More generally, the main foremast facilitate vertical movement connected to the shaft lines through ART is used for platform manoeuvring of crewmembers. Applying the concept of Fincantieri/Renk gearing and two shaft- and positioning at low speed, especially a 'logistic island' permits food storage, gal- mounted Jeumont 2.15 MW electric motors for propulsion in the loiter mode. Four 2.1 MW Fincantieri subsidiary Isotta Fraschini VL1716C2 ME common rail gen- sets provide power for both the main, Photo: Italian Navy auxiliary propulsion, and shipboard electrical systems. The Italian FREMMs are equipped with twin shaft lines driving featherable controllable pitch propellers (FCPP). In service, this configuration has demonstrated enhanced flexibility, redundancy, economy and acoustic stealth, through the provision of three alternative propulsion modes. In electric mode, which is particularly suitable for ASW operations, the ship can reach up to 15.6 knots whilst benefitting from reduced fuel consump- tion and noise emissions (as the reduction gear is disconnected). Maximum speed of The Italian Navy’s FREMMs share MBDA Italy's SAAM-ESD air defence 27 knots can be reached with the gas tur- missile suite for consort ships and local area defence based on MBDA's bine. In a combination of the gas turbine ASTER 15/30 missile family, two 8-cell Naval Group SYLVER A50 vertical with the electric motors, high speeds can launchers and C2 module together with Leonardo KRONOS GRAND NA- be maintained in rough seas. Moreover, VAL 3D multifunction radar with active phased array antenna (MFRA).

February 2021 · Maritime Security & Defence 33  SHIP DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGIES

evision, and computer/email connectivity. The crew is also provided with recreation areas and equipped gym. Beyond the standard crew of 165, additional space Photo: Italian Navy permits embarkation of a task group staff, personnel for Special Forces operations as well as other support detachments required for long-duration out-of-area missions – a requirement the Italian Navy has drawn from the EU’s counter-piracy operation Atalanta off the Horn of Africa and from deployments to the Gulf of Guinea – to accomplish all requested missions. Finally, accommodation include provision for a helicopter detachment of between 12 (one helicopter embarked) and 23 personnel (two helicopters). Utilising space which is used in the French FREMM for vertical missile launchers (16), the Italian The GP-configured FREMMs feature a Leonardo 127/64 mm LW (Light- FREMM can provide accommodation for Weight) main gun with a completely automated magazine and handling a total of 201/203. system capable to manage both conventional and the VULCANO family The general purpose frigates differ from of long-range guided ammunitions. The ASW-configured platforms have their ASW sisters as they feature a stern two 76/62 mm SUPER RAPIDO STRALES guns with DART guided ammuni- launch and recovery station for an 11 me- tions to enforce the protection against latest generation anti-ship mis- tre Cabi Cattaneo RHIB for maritime inter- sile and asymmetric threats. diction and special operations. This area is used for housing dedicated anti-subma- ley and messing areas to be provided for all damage control, the latter assisted by rine material on the ASW platforms. the crew on a single deck. an advanced firefighting system. In ad- Two additional RHIBs are housed in lateral The BERGAMINI class frigates are charac- dition to its extensive damage control launch and recovery stations. While the terised by a high level of automation. Fin- capabilities, the survivability of the Italian ASW-type uses two 7 metre RHIBs, the cantieri subsidiary Seastema’s ship man- FREMM design is ensured by the forward general purpose-type has one 11 metre agement system (SMS) supports platform auxiliary propulsion system and a design and one 7 metre RHIB. The flight deck control, ship handling and navigation and architecture that permits electric power is equipped with a Curtiss-Wright/Calzoni damage control. With 16,000 independ- generation even in case of three adjacent TC-ASSIST helicopter securing and trav- ent channels, it monitors almost every flooded compartments. erse system. The hangar design (double system onboard with the exception of Living areas are clustered beneath the avi- but separated) offers the possibility of ac- the combat system. Two independent ation facilities and amidships on the lower commodating and operating two helicop- and well-spaced ship control centres decks. The accommodation is arranged in ters. These can be either one Leonardo (SCCs) provide for the management of single, twin, four and plus-berth cabins AW-101 and one NH Industries NFH90 propulsion, the electrical system and each outfitted with internal services, tel- ASuW/ASW helicopter or two of the latter. It is worth noting that both AW-101 and NFH-90 are available in both ASuW/ ASW and amphibious configurations.

Combat System

The combat system is centred on the

Photo: NATO/ FRAN S.Dzioba federated ATHENA-family 3rd generation CMS provided by Leonardo, an evolution of the systems in use onboard the carrier CAVOUR and the Horizon class destroyers. The CMS features 17 (plus two as back up) colour triple-screen, multifunction consoles. It interacts with the Italian Navy’s Maritime Command and Control Information System (MCCIS) and manages all combat sub-systems. The Leonardo external/internal communications suite includes HF, VHF military/civil, UHF and SICRAL (SHF/UHF), NATO and The Italian Navy’s FREMM combat system is based on the federated INMARSAT SATCOMs, in addition to the ATHENA 3rd generation CMS provided by Leonardo together with most Multi-Data Link Processor (MDLP) with sensors, communication suite, decoy launchers and gun weapons. data Link 11, 16 and 22, JSAT together

34 Maritime Security & Defence · February 2021 SHIP DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGIES  Photo: Italian Navy

The Italian Navy’s FREMMs are playing a key role in out-of-area or task group operations thanks to their ability to accommodate up to circa 200 personnel and the dedicated space and C2 equipment for the embarkation of a command task group staff. with an IP message handling system and For surface-air search, tracking and weap- mented by a Thales ALTESSE CESM sys- Tetra wireless radios. on employment, Leonardo’s SASS 360° tem (also installed on French frigates) and Both configurations share the MBDA Italy bi-spectral IRST, RAN30X/I RASS, and two Leonardo SCLAR-H decoy launchers (for SAAM-ESD (Extended Self-Defence) air de- NA-25 gun fire-control systems are used. the first six vessels) and an Oto Launch- fence missile suite based on two eight-cell The radar navigation suite also includes ing Decoy System 20 (OLDS 20) for the Naval Group SYLVER A50 vertical launcher Leonardo LPI (Low Probability of Intercept) remaining four. modules, MBDA ASTER 15/30 missiles and for navigation and GEM Elettronica heli- A Leonardo 127/64 mm LW (LightWeight) a C2 module together with Leonardo KRO- copter control radars. main gun with a completely automated NOS GRAND NAVAL 3D multifunction radar The SIGEN (Elettronica/Thales) consorti- magazine and handling system capable with active phased array antenna (MFRA). um integrates a Radar Electronic Support of managing both conventional and the The air surveillance radar is complemented Measures (RESM) with a Radar Electronic VULCANO family of long-range guided by a phased array IFF-system SIR-M5 PA. Countermeasures (RECM) suite supple- munitions is unique to the general pur- CARLO BERGAMINI) in 2017 and 2019. Through upgraded processing and a specific software release, the MFRA radar was modified to both detect (autonomously or through external designation) and to track ballistic missiles. The CMS could not only manage these tracks but also integrate them into the Link 16 Joint Range Exten- sion Applications Protocol JREAP network with other assets and ashore stations. During the 2019 edition, BERGAMINI’s MFRA radar demonstrated its ability to detect and track ballistic missile surrogate targets in a mixed scenario of conventional supersonic and ballistic threats and share the data with other participating nations via a NATO-classified network. By acting as an early-warning system and supporting the engagement and neutralisation of ballistic missiles, the MFR can

Photo: NATO/ CPO FRAN Christian Valverde therefore contribute to the international Together with the French ASW FREMMs, the Italian platform-configured defence system. counterparts are equipped with a comprehensive anti-submarine suite In November 2019, two Italian Navy (sonar plus helicopters). FREMMs participated in the international OCEAN 2020 maritime demonstration, pose configuration. This is supplemented Obsolescence Management led by Leonardo on behalf of European by a 76/62 mm SUPER RAPIDO STRALES and Future Capabilities Defence Agency. Its main objective was to ILDS (inner layer defence system) with integrate unmanned systems into fleet op- DART guided ammunitions, further ex- Launched by the Naval Armaments Direc- erations. This required not only temporary panding protection against the latest torate and derived from technological de- modifications and enhancements to both generation anti-ship missile and asym- velopments funded through the “Legge units, but also electromagnetic compat- metric threats. There are also two manu- Navale" programme for the new genera- ibility studies and testing after the instal- ally-operated 25 mm guns. tion of service platforms, a roadmap to lation of the respective systems. Leonardo Long range anti-surface capability is address obsolescence has been estab- AWHero rotary-wing unmanned system provided by eight MBDA TESEO Mk2/A lished. Beginning with the seventh frigate conducted operations from the frigate missile launchers (and in the future the (FEDERICO MARTINENGO), Leonardo’s VIRGINIO FASAN’s flight deck, sending TESEAO Mk2/E). Both types offer stor- full solid-state 2D SPS-732 air-and-surface footage and real time data to the vessel. age and handling facilities for airborne surveillance radar was replaced by the She transferred the information through weapon systems, MBDA MARTE Mk2/S RAN30X/I RASS. A new generation SIR- her CMS to the demonstration station in missiles and MU90 torpedoes deployed M-CA IFF interrogator system with confor- Brussels. In another scenario FEDERICO from the NFH90 helicopter. mal array (instead of phased arrays) com- MARTINENGO received information and The ASW configured frigates differ from pliant with STANAG 4193 Edition 3 was controlled Leonardo SW-4 SOLO rotary- the GP platforms in embarking two Leon- also implemented. Furthermore, damage wing unmanned system which operated ardo 76/62 mm STRALES ILDS (one replac- control display was digitalised from ninth from ashore. The lessons learned will al- ing the 127/64 gun) and a comprehensive frigate (SPARTACO SCHERGAT), while low the Italian Navy to speed up future ASW suite. In addition to a Thales Under- The SCLAR-H and SLAT launchers were integration of unmanned systems, once water Systems UMS 4110 bow mounted replaced by Leonardo’s latest generation procurement funding becomes available. sonar, a Leonardo mine-avoidance sonar decoy launching system OLDS 20 capa- and an underwater telephone common ble of launching both anti-air warfare and Cooperation with the GP configured platforms, the anti-torpedo decoys, to be retrofitted to ASW frigates feature a TUS 4249 low-fre- previous two platforms. Representing the backbone of the Italian quency variable depth sonar with a pas- Both Italian Navy frigate configurations Navy fleet, the FREMM component has sive towed array sonar/anti-torpedo suite, have also acted as testbeds for the devel- demonstrated its capabilities in almost all and a panoramic echo sounder. opment of two capabilities key to present national and international operations in In addition to the two triple MU-90 tor- and future maritime operations. First, to and out of the Mediterranean Sea, with pedo launchers common with GP frigates, support the development of Ballistic Mis- the longest missions taking ships to the the ASW version features two ASW DLS sile Defence (BMD) capabilities with de- Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. To en- (Decoy Launching System) anti-torpedo risking activities and under the supervi- sure platforms’ availability after the initial decoy launchers and four MBDA MILAS sion of the Italian MoD’s Directorate of in-service support package concluded, a ASW weapon systems (reducing the TE- National Armaments with support from Through Life Sustainment Management SEO Mk2/A missile capability to four). Leonardo, the Italian Navy participated in (TLSM) contract has been operating since The ASW suite will be further developed two US Navy-led Integrated Air and Mis- July 2019 and it is expected to be renewed through incremental integration of the sile Defence (IAMD) multinational exercis- annually until June 2024. There is a pos- NFH90 helicopter mission package. es with a FREMM frigate (LUIGI RIZZO and sibility of extending it for the following

36 Maritime Security & Defence · February 2021 SHIP DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGIES  years (until 2034), due to the excellent re- A process for a design review has started Self Defence missile system and the com- sults achieved from the collaboration with in early 2021 in order to solve the obso- munication suite. OCCAR has not released OSN, as stated by OCCAR. The contract lescence of both platform and combat further details as the design review is in is not limited to a simple service of repair systems and define the new ships’ con- process. To maintain communality and take and checks to the ships, but is structured figuration. The “first steel cutting” of the advantage of the technical developments to guarantee the coordination of main- follow-on-ship, GP 7, is foreseen in Febru- funded by the ‘Legge Navale’ programme tenance periods, the development of an ary 2021. This is to be followed in June by that gave birth to the new generation informatics tool for all aspects concerning the Critical Design Review (CDR) in order platform, combat and weapon systems configuration management, analysis of to evaluate the most important changes, equipping the Italian Navvy’s PPA, LHD failures and costs, the studies for the up- OCCAR added. The main items of equip- and LSS classes, the new FREMMs are dates necessary to ‘contain’ the impacts of ment subject to upgrades are the ship man- also expected to benefit from these avail- obsolescence and the supply of the stocks. agement and platform systems, the diesel able technologies. In this sense the contract can be consid- generators and electrical power system, According to current plans, GP7 is foreseen ered as really innovational for the Italian and the combat systems. The latter will en- to be delivered in February 2025 to be fol- ships, the agency added. compass the Surface-Air-Missile Extended lowed by the GP8 in August 2025. L Due to commonality with the French Navy in terms of various systems installed on board both the FREMM Class Units and the Orizzonte Class destroyers, the Italian Navy Logistics Command and their French equivalent are BOOKSKoehler preparing a study for an In-Ser- ...... vice Support requirement for the ships’ common equipment. exciti ng i n s ig hts i nto mar iti m e art & h i story Exploiting the existing cooperation between Italy and France, which is already in place for the FREMM programme, OCCAR could potentially manage the possible contract for common ORDER In-Service Support. NOW!

Export Design and Industrial Success With the sale of the last two units of the FREMM programme to Egypt, the Italian MoD requested and obtained proposals from industry for their replacement with two new platforms and a sustainment in-service package for the remaining MAESTRALE class frigates until the delivery of the new built platforms. International The Italian Government has Maritime Museum given the mandate to OCCAR Walter König Hamburg (Ed.) Manfred Stein to proceed with contract mod- ...... ifications to replace the last two frigates (general purpose johannes east prisoner number 5 and general purpose holst meets of war – number 6) by 2 new platforms Seascape Artist west bone ship (general purpose number 7 Hardcover • 29,5 x 26 cm The Maritime Silk Road and general purpose num- 1.400 photographs • 456 pages during the models ber 8). As OCCAR revealed to English language edition Treasures from the age E MSD, the new ships are sched- (D) 148,00 13th – 17th Centuries of Napoleonic Wars ISBN 978-3-7822-1323-3 Paperback • 21 x 26 cm • 160 pages uled to be delivered by end Hardcover • 30 x 24 cm • 408 pages Bilingual German / English 2025 without additional costs English language edition E (D) 19,95 whilst including changes to E (D) 128,00 ISBN 978-3-7822-1295-3 mitigate obsolescence impacts ISBN 978-3-7822-1205-2 and maintain a minimum operational lifespan of 25 years. ART • CALENDAR • CARS • COOKBOOK • CRUISE • HAMBURG • HISTORY • MUSIC • PHOTOGRAPHY • SHIPPING • TECHNOLOGY • TRAVEL ......

koehler-books.de A Company of the Group  SHIP DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGIES See but Remain Unseen: the Role of Naval Electro-Optics

Doug Richardson

Electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) systems can fulfil several main roles aboard a warship.

ptronic systems can provide surveil- Olance, warn of incoming anti-ship missiles, acquire and track targets, handle the fire-control functions for individual weapons, and serve as navigation aids. They can be used either on their own, or as part of Photo: Łukasz Golowanow an integrated solution that combines them with radar and other sensors. In many cases, an EO/IR system may be used for a combination of roles, for example serving as part of the vessel's fire-control system, but also providing surveillance coverage. While they lack the all-weather performance available from radar, EO/IR systems are passive, giving the target no warning that it is under surveillance. But it is important to note that the maritime environment can degrade their performance. Rain, fog, and haze can all have undesirable effects.

Performance Increases

Increases in performance along with reductions in weight, size, and power con- sumption allow modern EO/IR systems to provide all-weather situational awareness for vessels ranging from aircraft carriers to small surface craft. The simplest method of providing all-round EO/IR coverage is to rotate the sensor. This is the solution used for HGH Infrared Systems’ SPYNEL-C panoramic infrared surveillance system. Rafael's TOPLITE EO turret can be fitted with up to four sensors. Originally known as VIGISCAN, this was installed on five LA FAYETTE class frigates image can be displayed instantaneously in At the 2018 Euronaval Exhibition in Paris to meet an urgent operational requirement full resolution. Chess Dynamics promoted the most recent (UOR) to equip these vessels for the anti- When a similar UOR was drawn up two years members of its SEA EAGLE family of fire- piracy and maritime security roles. SPYNEL- later to cover the D'ESTIENNE D'ORVES class control systems. SEA EAGLE FCRO com- C uses a cooled LWIR mercury cadmium light frigates and the DURANCE class under- bines the company's stabilised long-range telluride linear detector, which is rotated way replenishment tankers/command ships, EO tracking and ballistics system with a at 60 rpm to provide real-time 360 degree the French Navy procured nine Chess Dy- marinised Weibel doppler radar capable of surveillance. Imagery is displayed in low- namics SEA COBRA EO/IR surveillance and tracking targets at ranges greater than 35 resolution, but areas of interest within the tracking systems. Subsequently rebranded km in all weather conditions, day or night, as the SEA EAGLE EOSS, this uses a sen- while the SEA EAGLE FCEO-MK4 Electro- Author sor head that combines a Selex GALILEO Optical Fire Control Director Stabilised Sys- HAWK 640x480 pixel 3 to 5 micron mid- tem combines thermal and TV sensors with Following an earlier career in engi- wave infrared (MWIR) thermal imager with a laser rangefinder. neering, Doug Richardson is a de- continuous zoom, a PIRANHA 36 colour VAMPIR-MB (Modular Bispectral) from fence journalist specialising in topics CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) TV camera Sagem (now Safran Electronics & Defence) such as aircraft, missiles, and military with an x36 zoom lens, a Cassidian Optron- was adopted for the French Navy's aircraft electronics. ics LP17D eye-safe laser rangefinder and an carrier CHARLES DE GAULLE, and for some HPLT V.7 laser designator. of its air-defence and anti-submarine frig-

38 Maritime Security & Defence · February 2021 ates, while Italy uses it on its HORIZON sensors incorporate electronic image sta- class destroyers, and South Korea has it on bilisation, and provide 360 degree pano- its KDX-III AEGIS destroyers and LPX class ramic surveillance of the surface and any amphibious assault ships (LHD). Australia nearby coast line. Being fixed, they have selected the follow-on VAMPIR-NG (Veille data refresh rates 10 times higher than Air-Mer Panoramique InfraRouge - Nouvelle those of a scanning IRST system, so can Generation) infrared search and track (IRST) detect and classify a broad array of air- system for its ANZAC class frigates, LHDs, borne, maritime and land-based threats Photo: Safran Electronics and Defense and HOBART class destroyers. Designed to faster than was possible with earlier-gen- meet the needs of ocean and littoral operation sensors. erations, VAMPIR-NG uses third-generation Thales is currently working with DRT Tech- MWIR thermal imaging technology to pro- nologies to develop an ARTEMIS derivative vide high-definition long-range and pano- known as OMNISTARE. It is being proposed ramic coverage. It is designed to automati- for use on the planned class of fifteen new cally detect and track threats such as incom- Lockheed Martin Canada/BAE Systems Type ing anti-ship missiles. 26 frigates that is expected to replace Cana- EO systems can also play a role in role in da's IROQUOIS and HALIFAX class warships. coastal surveillance. For example, the Con- ARTEMIS is designed to automatically de- trop Precision Technologies TORNADO-ER tect, track and classify both air and surface panoramic infrared scanning system uses targets simultaneously, detecting and track- two cooled MWIR thermal imaging chan- ing manoeuvring and stealthy threats as well nels fitted with 100 mm and 400 mm focal as surface asymmetric threats. The VAMPIR NG infrared search length lenses respectively to automatically and track (IRST) system onboard detect targets ranging from large vessels to EO Fire Control Australia’s ANZAC class frigates small floating objects or even swimmers at ranges of 400 m to 12 km. One of the most basic tasks assigned to na- US Navy warships were followed by eight val EO systems is to act as part of the fire- developmental models, and in 2014 the EO/IR Fixed Arrays control system for gun and missile systems. company received a US$23.9M contract Subsystems such as thermal imager, image from the NATO SEASPARROW Project Of- In the same way that advanced naval radars intensifying camera, or a laser range-finder fice covering the manufacture, test, and are using fixed-array antennas rather than can be used singly or in combination to point deployment of production hardware. SLRE- the more traditional rotating array, EO/IR sys- the weapon system towards its target. OSS combines long-range visible-band and tems are starting to use multiple fixed arrays. Work on Ball Aerospace & Technolo- IR sensors with a laser rangefinder. Intend- Thales' GATEKEEPER EO/IR surveillance and gies Corporation's STALKER Long-Range ed to be a form/fit replacement for the Mk alerter system uses an array of four fixed sen- Electro-Optic/infrared/laser Sensor Sys- 16 low-light-level TV camera mounted on sor heads - each houses uncooled long-wave tem (SLREOSS) started in 2008 to meet the Mk 9 Tracking Illuminator System of infrared (LWIR) thermal imagers operating an urgent USN requirement for a system the Mk 57 NATO SEASPARROW Surface in the 8-12 micron region of the spectrum, to combat fast attack craft/fast inshore Missile System (NSSMS), it was designed to and high-definition (HD) colour TV cameras. attack craft. Three prototype systems de- provide multispectral target imagery and The latter can be used in daylight to help ployed and cross-decked across a variety of accurate range data. identify and classify targets detected by the LWIR sensors. Since each sensor head cov- ers 120 degrees in azimuth, they provide a useful degree of overlap. The system's video processing unit uses advanced algorithms to Photo: U.S. Navy provide automatic detection and tracking of targets. GATEKEEPER is teamed with the SEASTAR active phased-array radar in the integrated mast, which first entered service on the upgraded Dutch KAREL DOORMAN class frigate, VAN SPEIJK. As part of its recently-completed refit programme, the French aircraft carrier CHARLES DE GAULLE has been equipped with the Thales Optronique ARTEMIS (Advanced Reliable Third-generation Electro-optical Multiplexing Infrared Search-and-track) system. Already operational on board FREMM multi-mission frigates in service with the French, Mo- roccan and Egyptian navies, this uses an array of three fixed MWIR sensors to Two electro-optic/Infrared sensors placed forward and aft of USS perform surface surveillance out to the DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER’s island provide 360 degree surveillance horizon during the day and night. These capability

February 2021 · Maritime Security & Defence 39 Masthead Maritime Security & Defence Volume 1 Naval Group has selected Safran Electronics & Defense's PASEO XLR Issue 01/21 (February 2021) (eXtra Long Range) optronic fire control system for integration on the ISSN 1617-7983 French Navy’s new medium-size Frégates de Défense et d’Intervention (FDI). Each vessel will be fitted with a pair of two-axis stabilised turrets. Published by Derived from the DALAS (Dispositif díaide à I'Appontage au Laser) NG Mittler Report Verlag GmbH deck approach and landing laser system developed for the aircraft car- A company of the TAMM Media Group rier CHARLES DE GAULLE, these will house a high-definition television (HDTV) camera, a SATIS XLR infrared imager, and an eye-safe laser rangefinder. An optional short-wave infrared (SWIR) channel operat- Editors-in-Chief: Capt. (ret) Hans Uwe Mergener (hum), Conrad Waters (cw) ing in the 0.9-1.7 micron region of the spectrum could be provided to Publisher: Stephen Elliott (se) enhance performance under foggy conditions. Managing Editor: Jürgen Hensel (jh) Safran Electronics & Defense Australasia is to supply the latest ver- Regional Correspondents sion of its VIGY ENGAGE electro-optical surveillance and fire control Belgium/NATO: Joris Verbeurgt, Denmark: J. Bo Leimand, India: Suman Shar- multisensor system for installation on the 12 new ARAFURA class ma, Israel: Tamir Eshel, Italy: Luca Peruzzi, The Netherlands: Jaime Karremann, offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) due to enter service with the Royal Russian Federation: Yury Laskin, Spain: Esteban Villarejo, USA: Sidney Dean Australian Navy. VIGY ENGAGE is a full panoramic stabilised long- Layout: range sighting system that can act as the primary optronic system CREATIV.CONSULTING GmbH, Meckenheim, Germany aboard small naval craft such as fast patrol boats, or can supplement Production: the other sensors on larger vessels. The stabilised head weighs less Lehmann Offsetdruck GmbH, Norderstedt, Germany than 20 kg, but houses a 1,024x768 pixel colour video camera with Emirates Printing Press, Dubai, UAE 40, 12 and 2.4 degree fields of view, a cooled thermal imager based on a MWIR focal plane array, and an eye-safe laser rangefinder. Office Address: Mittler Report Verlag GmbH The functionality of the VIGY 105 EOD and VAMPIR MB are com- Beethovenallee 21, 53173 Bonn, Germany bined in the company's EOMS and EOMS NG systems. These use a Phone.: +49 228 35 00 870, Fax: +49 228 35 00 871 panoramic sensor head housing a SWIR or MWIR thermal imager, [email protected], www.mittler-report.de TV camera, and laser rangefinder. The main user is the French Navy, Managing Directors: Peter Tamm, Thomas Bantle which has installed the EOMS NG on its FORBIN class destroyers, FLORÉAL class and CASSARD class frigates, and MISTRAL class am- Advertising, Marketing and Business Development Stephen Barnard phibious ships. The UAE's BAYNUNA class FAC also have the EOMS Phone: +49 228 35 00 886, Mobile: +44 7984 033154 NG, while Finland and Bulgarian have the older EOMS. [email protected] Rheinmetall Defence Electronics' MSP 600 is on service on German Stephen Elliott Navy frigates, including the F124 SACHSEN class and new F125 Phone: +49 228 35 00 872, Mobile: +49 1590 173 0346 BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG class, and is also used by the Malaysian [email protected] and Finnish Navies. A development of the earlier MSP 500, it com- Waldemar Geiger bines a high-resolution LWIR thermal imager, a daylight TV camera Phone: +49 228 35 00 887 with a zoom lens, and a laser rangefinder. [email protected] The BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG class frigates are also fitted with a Jürgen Hensel Diehl Defence Ship's Infrared Monitoring Observation and Naviga- Phone: +49 228 35 00 876, Mobile: +49 176 2386 3904 tion Equipment (SIMONE) IRST system. This relies on a combination [email protected] of single-sensor and multi-sensor modules based on LWIR sensors Dr. Andreas Himmelsbach whose output is electronically combined to provide 360 degree cov- Phone: +49 228 35 00 877 erage of the sea surface out to ranges of up to several kilometres. It [email protected] is intended to automatically detect asymmetric threats approaching Advertising Representative, Russia & CIS: the ship by air or on the surface. Laguk Co., Yury Laskin, General Director Rafael's TOPLITE EO turret is based on technology from the same Krasnokholmskaya Nab., 11/15, 132, RF-109172 Moscow, Russian Federation company's aircraft-mounted LITENING EO pod. Designed for use Phone: +7-495-911-1340, Fax: +7-495-912-1260, Email: [email protected] on land, naval and air platforms, TOPLITE can be fitted with up Exhibition Management and Advertising Administration: Renate Herrmanns to four sensors. The system typically weighs 60-65 kg, and has Advertising Accounting: Sabine Rump four-axis stabilisation. As TOPLITE evolved, later models introduced higher-performance sensors. For example, while TOPLITE III Subscription/Reader Service: featured a third-generation 640x480 pixel MWIR sensor, TOPLITE PressUp GmbH, PO Box 70 13 11, MHD was fitted with a third-generation 1,289x1,024 MWIR sen- 22013 Hamburg, Germany sor, while the colour TV camera gave way to an HDTV version Phone: +49 40 38 66 66-319, Fax: +49 40 386666-299 with visual and IR (VIR) and near-IR (NIR) capability. Both versions Email: [email protected] included a laser rangefinder and a laser marker. Leonardo Land & Naval Defence Electronics offers the MEDUSA Maritime Security & Defence, © Mittler Report Verlag GmbH Mk4, the latest in a series of EO fire-control systems that included The views expressed are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher. the NA-18, PEGASO, and earlier members of the MEDUSA series. Its All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior sensors are the classic combination of thermal imager, daylight TV, written permission of the publisher in Bonn. and laser rangefinder, and the company promotes is as suitable for use as a surveillance system, as one component of a more complex Cover photo: Conrad Waters naval fire-control system, or as a stand-alone fire-control system. Annual subscription (fro 09/21, 4 issues): €25,00 incl. postage EO or EO/IR sensors can also be mounted on a weapon such as a gun or missile launcher. The Type B version of the OTO Mel-

40 Maritime Security & Defence · February 2021 ara FORTY LIGHT 40mm naval gun system Photo: Leonardo incorporates a high-resolution daylight TV camera that gives the weapon a reversion- ary autonomous mode to supplement the normal remote-control operation via the ship's combat management system. The Type C has a stand-alone fire control system based three EO sensors – daylight TV, a cooled thermal camera, and an eye-safe laser rangefinder. Even a light weapon such as FN Herstal's SEA DEFNDER remote weapon station armed with a machine gun of 12.7mm or even 5.56mm calibre can incorporate a sight module that can be fitted with a CCD camera and cooled or uncooled IR sensor as required by the customer. Leonardo’s MEDUSA Mk4 is the latest in a series of EO fire-control systems. Submarine Periscopes the fin or sail. Elimination of the direct-view ics Mast Programme (PMP) began in 1995, During 1970s the evolution of EO technol- optics and total reliance on the electronic and the resulting system had an EO IR suite ogy such as lowlight TV image intensifiers imagery allowed the creation of the op- made up of an MWIR staring-array thermal and thermal cameras reached the point tronic mast - a multi-sensor system whose imager, a low light level TV camera, a colour where these could be integrated into the output is passed to the control room or HDTV camera; and an eye-safe laser range- traditional submarine periscope. However other locations within the pressure hull via finder. It also incorporated an extensive ra- their imagery was still displayed in the in- an electronic cable. dio-frequency (RF) suite that included ESM, strument's eyepiece. The traditional peri- radar, GPS, and communications antennas. scope requires a deep penetration into the EO Masts As a result, its sensor head was 18 inches pressure hull, a deep well into which its (c.46 cm) in diameter, so had a distinctive ap- tube can be retracted, and heavy hoist Work on the Kollmorgen (later L-3 KEO, and pearance which - if sighted by an opponent mechanism located within the structure of now L3 Technologies) AN/BVS-1 Photon- - betrayed the presence of a US submarine.

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Graphic: Hensoldt Optronics in rough sea conditions. A range of thermal imaging, image intensification, and colour HDTV sensors can be selected by a customer, and the mast can also house antennas for ESM, communications, and GPS. The CM010 has also been adopted by Japan, where it is manufactured by Mit- subishi Electric Corporation (MELCO) for installation on SORYU class submarines. The Japanese Navy was not prepared to rely totally on an optronics mast, but fitted the SORYU class with both a conventional periscope and a CM010 mast. In France, Safran Electronics & Defense (formerly Sagem) developed the Series Hensoldt Optronics’ range of masts and periscopes 30 search optronics mast system (SOM). This is dual-axis stabilised, and can accommodate a high-definition MWIR thermal imager, colour HDTV camera, a low-light camera, and an eye-safe laser rangefinder, as well as EW and GPS antennas. Adopted for the French Navy's SUFFREN class SSNs, the Series 30 SOM has attracted export Graphic: Hensoldt Optronics orders from Brazil, Chile, India, South Ko- rea, Malaysia, and Sweden. It also formed the basis for Safran Electronics & Defense's low-signature Series 30 Attack Optronic Mast (AOM). While still Sagem, the company was also responsible for the Optoradar Mast Sys- tem (OMS) fitted to the French Navy's LE TRIOMPHANT class ballistic-missile submarines. This carries a dual-field of-view infrared charge-coupled device [IRCCD] thermal imaging system, an HDTV system with two magnifications, and antennas for an X-band navigation radar, ESM, and Typical system configuration of Hensoldt Optronics’ SERO periscopes GPS. Series production of the Hensoldt Optron- It also had a significant radar cross-section reconfigured as required to suit changed ics OMS 100 optronic mast system started that increased the probability of detection conditions or even individual missions, or in 1999, and the system has been adopted by enemy surface ships and aircraft. even modernised by the installation of im- by Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Italy, In 2012 contracts were awarded for the proved subsystems. The maximum diam- South Korea, Portugal, and Turkey. It can be development of a Low-Profile Photonics eter of 8.5 inches (21.6 cm) is expected to installed alongside the same company's SE- Mast (LPPM) that was intended to provide including any treatments required to meet RO 400 direct-view periscope. 2012 saw the as much of the PMP capability as could be RCS reduction requirements, but when introduction of the OMS 110 optronic mast, installed in a sensor head whose diameter of seeking potential contractors in 2016 the which features a dual-axis stabilised sensor approximately 7.5 inches (19 cm) was similar USN accepted that this target may not be package that includes a high-resolution TV to that of a traditional periscope. Developed achievable, so asked responders to indicate camera and MWIR thermal camera (both fit- by what was then L-3 KEO, the LPPM en- how the outside diameter could be mini- ted with zoom lenses), and an eye-safe laser tered service in 2015 on Virginia-class sub- mised while still meeting the performance rangefinder. The follow-on OMS 200 teams marines. requirements. a high-resolution TV camera with an SWIR Like a traditional periscope, the PMP and In the early 1990s what was then Barr & thermal camera, but an additional MWIR LPPM had to be rotated in order to pro- Stroud (now Thales UK) began develop- thermal camera can also be housed in order vide full 360 degree coverage. A follow-on ment of what would become the CM010 to provide imagery under conditions that concept called the Task-Oriented Techni- family of optronic masts. Following a suc- the SWIR camera would find difficult. cal Insertion Mast (TOTIM) is intended cessful test and evaluation installation on This article has been able to describe only to produce a mast incorporating staring board the TRAFALGAR class submarine a representative range of the many EO/IR sensors covering a full 360 degrees, and TRENCHANT, masts from the CM010 fam- systems currently on offer. But it shows the able to house interchangeable subsystem ily were selected for service on the UK's important role that these have as part of the modules that would allow the mast to be new ASTUTE class SSNs. The CM010 has equipment fit of a modern warship. L

42 Maritime Security & Defence · February 2021

 SHIP DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGIES Primer: Cables for Unmanned, Subsea Applications

Tim Guest

Navies are increasingly using Underwater Unmanned Vehicles (UUVs) and related systems in harsh, subsea applications. This places new, stringent demands on the cable industry for ruggedised, reliable, high-performance data transmission solutions.

avies are using UUVs for deeper, more Nprotracted undersea military tasks that expose equipment to the harshest condi-

tions, anywhere. While some UUVs operate Photo: Saab AB. autonomously, as Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), others are Remotely Oper- ated Vehicles (ROVs). Today’s UUVs are controlled, receive power and remain connected for data transfer by an umbilical tether cable as seen used for underwater de-mining and a number of different missions. To understand the importance of this particular type of cabling, it is important to understand the challenges of the subsea UUV in its environment. The unique type of cables required and offered to meet those challenges come from a handful of manufacturers.

Cables as Enablers

Despite physical limitations, the require- The proliferation of unmanned underwater vehicles in increasingly de- ment for umbilical cables that tether UUVs manding roles is placing greater importance on rugged, reliable under- is increasing. Their applications range from water cables. This image shows the Saab Multi-Shot Mine Neutralisation shallow-depth hull inspections to deep System (MuMNS). water explosive ordnance (EOD) and mine removal. Similarly, civilian sector use of teth- neutrally buoyant tether, or by a load-car- flexibility that is often lost when a cable con- ered ROVs/UUVs is on the rise for a growing rying umbilical cable together with a tether tains a high amount of fibre optic strands. number of roles in scenarios every bit as de- management system (TMS) under rough The civilian undersea sector benefits in manding as military operations; such as the conditions and in deeper water. A key role terms of cost and ready availability be- inspection and maintenance of vital oil & gas for the TMS is to lengthen and shorten the cause they can easily purchase commer- infrastructure. An irreversible environmental tether to minimise the effect of cable drag cial off-the-shelf systems (COTS) cables disaster could occur without the ability to from underwater currents. Umbilical cables used in sectors such as offshore, oil & gas view these structures closely and in detail to are armoured and contain a group of elec- and other undersea activities. Because determine need for repair or replacement. trical conductors and fibre optics that carry there is a higher level of price-cost sensi- electrical power, video and data signals be- tivity in the commercial sector than in the Commercial Sector Learnings tween the operator and the TMS; the TMS military sector, cables available to private relays those signals and power down the enterprises must be cost effective as well In deep water oil & gas exploration, ROVs tether cable to the ROV. as rugged, durable and infinitely capable are connected to a mothership by either a Applications for tethered ROV use increase of meeting user requirements. in proportion to demands for higher levels Undertaking missions at any depth in Author of performance from the cables. Cables and the marine environment is a challenge. associated connectors are expected to han- The depths beyond 50 metres regularly Tim Guest is a freelance defence & dle progressively larger data loads faster, de- encountered in the oil & gas sector place aerospace journalist, UK Correspond- livering RF transmissions and real-time video require that attributes such as waterproof- ent for ESD and a former officer in at the same time. This means UUV users ing, saltwater-corrosion protection and the British Forces. need the latest fibre-optic technologies to high pressure compensation must meet increase bandwidth without sacrificing the the highest standards. It is reasonable to

44 Maritime Security & Defence · February 2021 expect that cabling and connector solutions used in civilian scenarios should also be suitable for military/naval purposes.

Challenges

MSD asked experts about the challenges facing UUV operators and the capabilities expected of their cable datalinks. In the case of de-mining, is it possible to address all requirements with one umbilical solution? WireMasters’ Business Development Man- ager (EMEA) Nick Aubrey clarified: “It’s a bit of a trade-off and a matter of the end- user deciding what’s important to their application requirements. It’s then a case of striking a balance between size, weight,

speed, power and materials that will reli- Photo: Kraken Robotics ably perform, over extended periods of KATFISH is a high-speed, actively-stabilised, towed synthetic aperture time, in the harshest conditions.” He ex- sonar vehicle, deployable from manned or unmanned surface vehicles/ves- plained that the materials used in the cable sels. The vehicle relies on an armoured cable supplied in either galvanised can make a significant difference. or stainless steel versions for reliable, high speed data transmission. For example, engineered polymers offer enhanced performance levels for the ma- the application of towed UUVs. A mission Kraken’s Senior VP of Engineering David terials employed in the manufacture of wire is successful when the needed data is col- Shea specified that the KATFISH operates and cable, making it possible to use thin- lected and the UUV and its payload are de- at speeds up to 10 knots and has high- wall technology (the material separating ployed and brought aboard safely, without speed data capability that reduces operat- the various wires and fibres bundled within damage. To ensure this, Kraken’s recovery ing time and cost. This means their system the cable), without compromising the ca- system is an intelligent tentacle winch with must have an armoured, fibre-optic tow ble’s mechanical or fluid performance. advanced control features that ensure op- cable to transmit live seabed imagery and timum performance of the tether cable, es- bathymetry to the tow vessel. The data Safety First pecially in rough seas. When coupled with is then transmitted from the tow vessel KATFISH, the winch’s active terrain follow- to the command and control vessel via a Kraken Robotic Systems is a supplier of ing functionality allows the mission control wireless data radio link in real-time. The UUVs for de-mining, minesweeping and computer to adjust cable scope to assist the tow cable itself consists of two fibre-optic similar tasks. Its KATFISH is a high-speed, tow vehicle in active terrain following and and two copper conductors; this provides actively-stabilised, towed synthetic aper- obstacle avoidance. Its auto-tension func- a fully redundant “hot spare” fibre that is ture sonar vehicle. It is deployable from tion also keeps a constant specified tension automatically used in the case of a failure manned or unmanned vessels to survey a level on the tow cable, allowing the tenta- in the primary fibre. The armoured cable seafloor in ultra-high-definition at larger cle winch to hold the vehicle in the dock- is available in either a standard galvanised area coverage rates than ever before, ena- ing head during the L&R phase without an steel version, or a low-magnetic stainless- bling operators to survey for seabed and additional capture mechanism or danger to steel version, depending on customer re- tethered mines from a safe distance in real- cable or UUV. Finally, the winch’s auto-ren- quirements. Their KATFISH comes with a time. Launch and recovery (L&R) is one of der function automatically pays out cable if 1,000 metre tow cable with partial ribbon the highest risk operations undertaken in the cable load exceeds a pre-set threshold. fairing as standard equipment. Photo: Fischer Connectors

Examples of Fischer Connectors’ ULTIMATE (pictured left) and CORE series (pictured right) connectors with applications in naval communication, weapon systems and sensors, sonar, and radar systems

February 2021 · Maritime Security & Defence 45 44 wire technology and TE’s STEEL-LIGHT fibre-optic elements and pre-formed, corrosion-resistant steel armour. The company’s ROV product line comprises heavy lift umbilical cables, neutrally buoyant tether cables and heavy tether cables for a range of applications in offshore and marine environments. The cables have reduced weight and diameter, providing longer lengths on current handling equipment. All three types feature characteristics such as high voltage ratings, high temperature, and reduced diameter power conductors with flexible conductors, as well as screened twisted pairs for instrumentation, and coaxial, or data-bus for data and video transmission. The umbilical cables feature multimode or single-mode “Fibre in Steel Tube” (FIST) and their armour comprises two or three layers of torque-balanced steel wire armour packages; typical depth ratings are to 4,000 metres and tin-plated copper braid

Photo:Crown Copyright 2008 provides the cables with EMC protection. An Atlas Elektronik SeaFox ROV pictured in the course of deployment TE’s neutrally buoyant tether cables, flexi- from a Royal Navy MCMV. Communication with the SeaFox’s sensors is ble, yet mechanically robust, are available in implemented by a thin fibre optic cable. custom designs with aramid armour packages. Excursion lengths are up to 1,000 A recent Royal Navy announcement illus- The Specialists metres and the tether cables’ buoyancy can trated how much growth in the demand also be tailored in order to maximize the and use of towed unmanned systems for With the complexities of and considera- product’s excursion length or to provide a minesweeping/de-mining applications is tions surrounding UUV cables, it is worth positively buoyant material. Heavy tether on the uptake. In November 2020, the examining the expertise and benefits of- cables, on the other hand, use the small- Royal Navy made a substantial US$252m fered by the handful of specialists in this est diameter product giving the operator (GBP184m) investment in its Maritime field. This includes understanding how the the longest excursion length possible, but Mine Counter Measures programme. This cables enable UUVs and other offshore with a mechanically resistant sheath. These funds the production of an autonomous sector products with potential for naval TE cables can be customised with aramid mine-hunting system designed to replace applications. armour packages. conventional crewed mine-hunting vessels. The first equipment delivery is due in TE Connectivity DeRegt Cables late 2022, comprising three sets of mine- At the heart of US-based TE Connectivity’s The Netherlands’ DeRegt Cables has de- hunting equipment: 1) an autonomous tether and umbilical products are its Ray- veloped strengthened, lightweight ROV vessel; 2) towed sonar with umbilical ca- chem and Rochester technologies, high- umbilical and tether cables providing re- ble; and, 3) a mine neutralisation system. lighted by irradiated, cross-linked SPEC liable connection for all extreme subsea Photo: Thales

In November 2020 France and the UK signed a joint contract for Thales to launch the production of the MMCM (Maritime Mine Counter Measures) programme, Phase 2. The programme places significant reliance on unmanned vehicles, demonstrating the increasing importance of reliable cable technology.

46 Maritime Security & Defence · February 2021 SHIP DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGIES  military activities, as well as equally de- MCM systems would find appropriate. Its manding ROV operations in the oil & gas cables support the data transmission and sector. Their cables, aimed at ROV mak- energy requirements for underwater ro- ers and operators, are designed for most bots in oceanographic applications, both standard ROVs, though custom systems in fixed as well as in moving installations. for new applications can be developed to Its subsea solutions are seawater-resistant, client specifications. The company’s sub- tensile-strength cables with steel or aramid sea cable solutions for work-class ROV’s core for full loads of up to several tons. As are designed to deliver reliability and per- well as standard design cables, its subsea formance under the most extreme condi- ROV offerings are either neutrally buoyant tions. Its middle-weight, ROV-class cable, or floating cables, armoured as appropri- for example, is a fibre-optic communica- ate. tions cable protected with two layers of A variety of cabling elements can be inte- armoured, high-temperature-resistant grated into any of Leoni’s towing or under- materials and can operate at depths to water cables depending on the specific ap- 4,000 metres. plication. These elements include: selected The company combines several types power cores up to 6 kV; control cores, pairs, of high-strength components in a single triples and quads; data elements up to CAT group, resulting in maximum drag reduc- 7; bus cable elements; fibre-optic elements;

tion and tow strength. These systems are air, gas and fluid hoses; various screening Picture: Leoni ideal for operations that require swift de- elements; strength members – steel and Leoni’s NavalLine product range ployment and reliability. Its flexible and aramid – up to a load of 100 kN; and cross- includes inboard and outboard small diameter ROV tether cable for MCM linked and non-cross-linked sheathing ma- cables for all vessel types, later- operations is neutrally buoyant and in- terials. ally and longitudinally waterproof cludes electrical and optical components. cables for outboard applications Azov Cable Company on submarines, self-extinguishing BIRNS, Inc. The Ukraine’s Azov Cable Company in of- submarine cables, and trailing and A new subsea cable assembly capable of fers a range of certified cable products for underwater cables with integrat- handling data rates of more than 9Gbits/ maritime use suited to subsea data trans- ed strain relief. Sec was recently introduced by BIRNS of mission applications with a variety of cable Oxnard California, USA. The deep submer- and wire products of different types and Meeting a Growing gence cable constructed for Cat 8.2 use, for different applications; relevant here are Undersea Need and deep submergence cable assemblies its signal cables, power cables and wires, with data transfer rates of 9.4+/- 0.1 Gi- oil-filled, and fibre-optic cables, suitably ar- The use of UUVs by navies in a range of op- gabits per second proved, in performance moured for the subsea environment. erations, including in MCM applications, is testing, that data consistently transmitted growing fast. Military exercises are already at this rate over the entire range of pres- Prysmian Group focusing on the application and inter-oper- sures from 0 to 8,700 PSI/600 bar (6,000m The Military and Defence unit of the Ital- ation of unmanned surface and subsurface equivalent depth). The initial pin configu- ian Prysmian Group makes towed sonar systems at sea. ration in the 6km-rated BIRNS Millennium system cables, towed minesweeper tether Unmanned Warrior in 2016 brought to- connector series tested for the capability array cables, magnetic influence mine- gether over 40 military and civil sector is the BIRNS 3M-16, a configuration with sweeping cables incorporating control and defence and maritime industry organisa- twelve 22-AWG data contacts and four 16 instrumentation cables, data transmission tions, along with 50 unmanned systems at AWG contacts for power. Additional high and communication cables (including opti- that time. Developments since then have data-rate configurations in the series are cal fibre) or combinations of all of these, given rise to additional, new military sys- planned using BIRNS 52A-278 cable. The as required for different applications. The tems and applications for which they are company developed the new ultra-high- company’s products meet various specifi- suited. However, the civil sector has a head- speed cable assembly capability in answer cations, including national military stand- start over the military sector in UUV/ UAV/ to industry demands for true Gigabit data ards such as IEC, British Def Stan, Ger- ROV developments and deployments – this transfer for advanced subsea vehicles and man VG and US MILSPEC. The company certainly includes cabling systems suited this advance should be of interest not only designs, compounds and builds cables to such vehicle data transmission and C4 to the civil maritime sector but also for na- according to specific customer needs ena- needs. val applications. bling an exhaustive product range cover- Those UUV users working in Offshore, oil ing all operational functionalities, from the & gas, and underwater exploration all em- Leoni simplest to the most sophisticated multi- ploy tethered underwater vehicles for sig- Southern Germany-based Leoni is active in functional cables. Cable types employed to nificantly more years than military users. It civil and military maritime waters. It sup- meet a user requirement, include: standard is possible and necessary to learn and ben- plies cabling for both naval shipbuilding commercial-grade cables; LSZH (low smoke efit from their expertise in maritime security (NavalLine range), and also for oceanog- zero Halogen cables); fire resistant cables; and naval activities. Certainly, this means raphy, where its cables offer interference- hydrophone and sonar rubber cables; com- adopting and adapting any of the many free telemetry of seismic activities at the munication cables; towed, minesweeper, potentially ‘military-subsea-suitable’ COTS seabed from undersea vehicles and opera- tether, array cables; magnetic-influence, cabling and unmanned products, ready tions, providing the kinds of performance minesweeping cable; torpedo-decoy, and and waiting for naval users to consider and and capabilities that naval de-mining and towed cable. purchase. L

February 2021 · Maritime Security & Defence 47  SHIP DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGIES Counter-UAS Applications for Naval Platforms

Tamir Eshel

he fast evolution of aerial, surface, and centre via satellite links and allowing ships Some of these drones cannot be detected Tunderwater drones attracts naval offen- to remain silent. by existing air defence systems. With com- sive and defensive planners' attention with Maritime forces might also operate UAS mercial systems becoming rugged, even its spherical threat potential. Loitering weap- at sea, which include vertical takeoff and militarised, they have rapidly evolved at the ons, explosive boats, and miniature subma- landing platforms (VTOL). These are more open-source pace, creating asymmetric ad- rines pose as much of a multi-dimensional restricted in mission endurance and pay- versaries requiring newer, lower cost, and threat as missiles, guns, and torpedoes. The load capacity but become an extension of more adaptable defences. new unmanned menace is small, but but the vessel's sensor mast, and extend situ- Smaller aerial drones and loitering weapons the com,bined effect of its elements can ational awareness. deployable from submarines to conduct can disable a powerful destroyer as each of stealthy surveillance and reconnaissance a swarm’s drones can hit a specific weak Small Drones missions, collect target information and spot, degrading a ship's defensive capabili- When ships are in port, inland waterways, extend the submarine's reach far beyond ties against more potent killers. or littorals, they could encounter small the distance covered by its sensors. USMC photo by Cpl Aaron Henson/Released

L-MADIS - U.S. Marine Corps staff provide security to their Light Marine Air Defense Integrated System aboard the WASP-class amphibious assault ship USS KEARSARGE (LHD 3) as it passes the Mubarak Peace Bridge in the Suez Canal.

Unmanned Systems in the drones or multirotors (e.g. “fancopters”) Autonomous Surface Vessels (ASV) Naval Domain launched from shore or other vessels. Using ASV are becoming common, operated by commercial off the shelf (COTS) platforms, navies for security, mine countermeasures, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) multirotors are commonly used by terrorists anti-submarine, and electronic warfare. Ir- UAS are becoming a standard tool for and non-state actors as aerial improvised regular forces also use fast boats loaded maritime surveillance for their long endur- explosive devices flying autonomously or with high explosives, rigged with makeshift ance and comprehensive mission payload. remotely controlled to attack targets. Being automation or remote control to attack While UAS are operated on land, their mis- small targets that are often regarded as a slow-moving or anchored vessels. Unlike the sions support maritime domain awareness nuisance, they pose a significant threat. Pe- small drone that requires precision guidance for task forces at sea, extending coverage tite surveillance drones can obtain close-in to achieve an effect with a small explosive, beyond the range covered from a surface images of classified systems, monitor elec- a boat loaded with tens - maybe hundreds ship. UAS carry large payloads integrating tromagnetic signals, disrupt EO or elec- – of kilogrammes of explosives can cause radar, electronic support measures (ESM), tronics . These tiny drones prove to be re- significant damage anywhere it hits. and electro-optical (EO) sensors monitoring silient to most types of countermeasures, vast areas of open sea. UAS can operate particularly when flown in small groups or Underwater Unmanned Vehicles (UUV) far from the task force they support, com- swarms, requiring specific means to de- There is a growing concern for UUVSs for municating with the ships and operations feat them. reconnaissance, surveillance, underwater

48 Maritime Security & Defence · February 2021 SHIP DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGIES 

also provides verification, identification, and localisation of targets detected by radar.

Mobility Challenge Operating on the move poses a signifi- Photo: Weibel Scientific cant challenge for the radar, especially with LLS targets that are masked by sea clutter. MCTECH developed a system to overcome motion challenges in a unique way. The MC HORIZON points the radar at a specific area where the passive ESM sensor suspects the drones to be. MCTECH delivered this system to the Royal Thai Navy. Controlled from the bridge, the system is able to bounce or defeat hostile drones from anchored or Weibel's XENTA system provides coastal or at sea surveillance, moving ships. identifying and classifying unmanned threats. EO systems are often used for surveillance means, target acquisition, and as fire surveying and mapping roles with the po- Multi-Domain Sensors control systems onboard ships. Different tential to conduct kinetic attacks. These types of EO/IR systems are available for na- stealthy UUVs are extremely hard to detect Radar is most useful for detecting aerial val vessels and ashore include the SPYNEL and track. Autonomously moving under- and surface targets at sea - day or night, from HGH and the iSea Family of Mari- water and loitering for days, sometimes and under all weather conditions. How- time Surveillance System and SPEED ER operating in groups and conducting un- ever, drones are difficult to detect as they from Controp. Panoramic thermal cam- expected attacks upon an operator's com- move slower than aircraft or missiles and eras, using fast rotating cameras, provide mand, they are even harder to defeat. have a small radar signature (radar cross- 360-degree coverage and detect multiple section). Effective radar detection requires targets simultaneously, on the surface and Threat Analysis specific filtering and signal processing to in the air. Modern computer vision detects distinguish drones from other slow-moving and tracks multiple targets concurrently Like cannons, torpedoes, mines, or missiles, objects, such as birds or waves. The primary by differentiating non-combatant objects unmanned systems with loitering weapon radars on ships are not optimised for such by their profile and behaviour. A radar or derivatives are a respected threat in the operation as they focus on other tasks – ESM use EO/IR sensors to spot, track, and maritime domain. Drones - particularly surface search, missile detection, and air identify targets of interest. Provided with small drones - should be a priority target for defence. Furthermore, the primary radar a high level of stabilisation and accuracy, their part in target acquisition and commu- is not activated in ports, where ships are sensor payloads can spot small flying ob- nication and sensor denial. Smaller drones vulnerable to terror attacks. jects and target them for other weapon are expected to be close to the shore and Smaller radars optimised to detect low, systems. port while surveillance drones are often slow and small (LSS) targets are optimised Facing growing underwater challenges, na- seen at sea. Engaging these drones often for C-UAS. In 2019, when US Amphibious vies turn to acoustic sensors to detect activ- relies on electronic or EO countermeasures Assault Ship USS KEARSARGE deployed to ity. While bow-mounted and towed sonars to prevent them from success. the Arabian Gulf, it relied on an ad-hoc C- can detect large objects (submarines, fast Improvised explosive drones and loiter- UAS solution provided by a Light Marine and noisy torpedoes, etc.) they cannot ing weapons pose a direct and immedi- Air Defense Integrated System (LMADIS) handle slow, stationary or small objects ate threat reflected by their offensive system to defeat an Iranian drone that ap- like UUVs or mines, particularly on a mov- behaviour. Due to the limited endurance proached the ship. The system integrates ing ship. Sonar specialist DSIT Solutions de- and range, their threats are often in areas multiple sensors on a single vehicle, pro- veloped the MonkFish torpedo detection where vessels have limited manoeuvrability viding mobile, expeditionary C-UAS pro- and alert sonar (TDAS) for this purpose. In- – docked in port, passing through narrow tection for the US Marine Corps. L-MADIS stalled as a secondary bow-mounted sonar, straits or canals, and during port entrance. packs four RPS-42 radars from RADA, a MonkFish operates alongside the primary Future vectors of unmanned platform at- SkyView RF detection package and Modi sonar and is designed to detect UUVs, di- tacks could rely on hybrid systems, either RF jammer from Sierra Nevada, and an EO vers, and advanced torpedoes on station- sensors or weapons, comprised of an aerial payload provided by Ascent Vision. ary or moving ships. platform combined with an underwater Other electronic sensors operated onboard Monitoring large coastal areas and port vehicle launched from boats or aircraft, are Electronic Support Measures (ESM). entrances help protect vessels and off- conducting reconnaissance or attacking This passive Radio Frequency (RF) sensor shore facilities from all underwater threats. targets above and on the surface. continuously analyses the electromagnetic Such monitoring is achieved by a net- Modern unmanned systems combine au- spectrum over a wide bandwidth, search- work of active-passive SeaShield sensors tonomy with “a human in the loop” and ing for anomalies indicating that a suspi- that build a virtual anti-submarine bar- rely on an array of sensors to conduct their cious activity might relate to a hostile activ- rier, guarding against underwater threats. mission. A defender could exploit the elec- ity. Since unmanned systems have a distinct Linked by fibre-optical cables, the centrally tromagnetic, photonic, and acoustic emis- electronic signature, ESM provides the first monitored sensors provide automatic de- sions of drones to detect, track, and disrupt alert of a threat to the ship. With its ability to tection, tracking, and classification of tar- the drones' operation. determine the signal's direction arrival, ESM gets of interest. DSIT offers a standalone

February 2021 · Maritime Security & Defence 49 cause havoc on a ship, the mission of which and self-defence depends on electronic systems that jammers can disrupt. When commercial drones are deployed, defenders can hijack the drone by means

Photos: Typhoon, Rafael of a cyber attack, which might not always TYPHOON C-UAS – computer vision enhances the TYPHOON MK-30C work against military drones. Neverthe- performance by detecting and tracking multiple targets simultaneously. less, solutions such as ECLIPSE from NSO Group allows defenders to take over and safely land an invaiding UAV, allowing the captors to analyse its nature and asses its threat level. Citadel Defense Company offers TITAN, a C-UAS system for safe use on board ships. The system went through extensive shipboard evaluations and deployments with US Navy destroyers and an aircraft carrier to demonstrate effective onboard operation. TITAN detects drones from a range of about 2.5 miles and delivers an escalated RF countermeasure effect to match the detected threat without interfering with nearby communications. The system employs machine learning and artificial intelligence to identify targets and update its threat library with a new adversary im- mediately upon detection. According to Citadel, TITAN detects controller, video, telemetry, and Wi-Fi communication links from 400MHz to 6GHz to identify air, land, and sea drone threats. The system TYPHOON 30mm - to RAFAEL's TYPHOON MK-30C 30mm Naval Remote has proven success in defeating individual Weapon Station (NRWS) drone threats, and swarm attacks with surgical precision at standoff distances solution for offshore platforms and port air threats like fighters and helicopters. The beyond line-of-sight. surveillance - the AquaShield. This diver XENTA family meets the strictest require- Drone swarms are becoming of greater detection sonar system was demonstrated ments for drone detection and air surveil- concern due to their “group immunity”. in 2018 for the US Navy's STILETTO Mari- lance – including critical infrastructure and The French Icarus Swarms company and time Technology Demonstration Program, border, perimeter control, and air defence associated CERTIFENCE began to oper- performing automatic detection, tracking, applications. It provides high-performance ate drone swarms as a RED TEAM test- and classification of UUVs and divers. 3D detection, tracking and classification by ing C-UAS systems' resilience to evaluate Integrating multiple sensors and data combining FMCW and CW digital-array risks. Such evaluations are conducted feeds is essential for situational aware- beam forms with advanced dynamic clut- through a protocol of 15 tests employed ness and effective responses. Counter- ter-mapping and MTI-D processing. with groups of real drones. Challeng- unmanned missions require an integrated These radars increase the distance at which ing defence systems of different types, approach to establish situational aware- even the smallest micro-Doppler signals CERTIFENCE showed most current sys- ness over a 360° perimeter around an as- can be detected. The radars can track a DJI tems cannot cope with even small drone set. NiDAR, from Monaco-based MARSS SPARK micro-drone beyond 2.5 klometres, groups. Tiny drones cannot destroy Group, is such a system. The intention was with micro-Doppler signature classification a ship, but when targeted at ship sen- to initially to secure superyachts. NiDAR of the propellers beyond 1.5 klometres. sors, defensive systems, and the close-in employs smart software algorithms to au- The DJI PHANTOM IV drone can be tracked weapon system (CIWS) itself, they de- tonomously and intelligently detect, clas- up to 6 km with classification up to 4.5 km. grade the vessel's defensive capability sify, and respond to aerial, surface, and and open the way for a lethal attack by underwater objects to determine poten- Countermeasures, much heavier weapons. tial threat levels and trigger alerts. Soft and Hard Kill A somewhat more aggressive measure is a physical interception. XTEND's SKY- Tracking Challenge When an unmanned vehicle is detected LORD uses a small UAV interceptor that Weibel Scientific conducted extensive in- and determined as a threat, soft and hard- engages uninvited drones by colliding house development resulting in the novel kill countermeasures are used to repel or the drone with an airborne arresting net XENTA product family, a new generation of destroy it. Electronic jamming is the most towed by the interceptor drone. SKY- counter-drone and short-range air defence common countermeasure. They produce LORD combines augmented reality (AR) radars. This ground-breaking radar system jamming protocols to disrupt the drone's guidance and control technology to en- is designed to detect, track and classify LSS control channel or deny GPS location to able an operator to perform the complex targets, such as UAVs - and conventional distract its navigation. However, this can intercept with ease and precision.

50 Maritime Security & Defence · February 2021 Engaging targets below the waterline also requires special ammunition. A concept developed for the US Navy combines an armour-piercing effect with the ability to shoot straight through the water using the super-cavitation effect. As it pierces Photo: Orbital ATK/ Northrop Grumman through the water, the projectile is en- gulfed by a low-pressure air bubble, reducing drag drastically. This dual effect means the same ammunition can be fired against surface and submersible targets. DRONEKILL – In 2018, the BUSHMASTER chain gun demonstrated effective hard kill of drones using the Programmable Air Bursting Munition (PABM). Defence at the Speed of Light Different types of arresting nets are also higher elevation and depression angles for in use against unmanned platfoms. The the gun and improved stabilisation of the Future C-UAS effectors could further la- STINGRAY UUV interceptor net from Mari- system's EO/IR targeting system to enable ser weapon developments. Several na- time Arresting Technologies is deployed tracking and engaging these small targets. vies are already testing laser weapons, along the target's course of movement, at To engage targets at the maximum range, including those of the US, UK and Ger- the path of a suspected UUV. STINGRAY the NRWS employs active target detection many. Lasers are considered effective protects the entire water column, extend- that searches the entire field of view for against soft targets such as drones and ing from the water surface to the seabed. known target profiles and highlights them fast boats and operated autonomously for instant evaluation by the shooter. Using or to enhance other defensive systems Kinetic Hard Kill programmable airburst ammunition, NR- onboard to defeat simultaneous missile WS has demonstrated neutralising drones attacks. Used as part of existing naval defensive at ranges of 2-3 km. The US Navy is moving quickly to include measures, guns and lasers can generate Software upgrades enable real-time laser weapons to boost the protection effect against drones. But these weapons computer vision processing for target of its combat ships. In 2020 the US Navy also need some adaptation. Existing radars detection, identification, and tracking. tested the Laser Weapon System Demon- associated with CIWS are not geared to These improvements boost accuracy by strator (LWSD) built by Northrop Grumman track slow targets. Furthermore, destroying introducing an automatic targeting ca- on the PORTLAND amphibious transport a group of drones or loitering weapons a pability that incorporates a diverse mix dock (LPD-27) ship. For destroyers and frig- few hundred yards from the vessel may be of synchronised multi-spectral sensors, ates, the Optical Dazzling Interdictor – Navy challenging, mainly when a drone swarm weapons, and intelligent effectors that (ODIN) is developed. The prototype was performs coordinated manoeuvres that dis- result in high hit accuracy. Automatic tar- integrated in 2020 on USS DEWEY (DDG- tract the defender from their main threat. get recognition, classification, and track- 105), an ARLEIGH BURKE-class guided- Such adaptations were recently made to ing (ATR), automatic target acquisition missile destroyer. Built by Lockheed Martin, RAFAEL's TYPHOON MK-30C 30mm naval (ATA) technologies improve detection, ODIN is less potent than LWSD but achieves remote weapon station (NRWS), adapting recognition, classification, and tracking an effect at a more extended range since it to the C-UAS role. Improvements include of elusive, small targets. it is designed to distract and blind electro- optical sensors rather than destroy incoming threats. The German Navy plans to test its laser this year. The first project will use a 20 kW fibre Photo: US Navy laser made by Rheinmetall, mounted on the class F124 SACHSEN frigate.This laser effector consists of 12 nearly identical 2kW fibre laser modules with close to diffrac- tion-limited beam quality. A beam combin- er couples the 12 fibre-laser beams to form a single, weapons-grade laser beam. The modular assembly has growth potential in the 100kW performance class.

New Understanding

But the rush to add C-UAS capabilities on board should not be hasty. Sensors and countermeasures must be carefully tested and integrated with the ship's systems, and concepts of operation have to be developed to cover the looming threat of small The US Navy tested the first SEQ-3 Laser Weapon System in the Arabian and slow drones while avoiding disruption Gulf on board USS PONCE in 2014. to the ships' systems. L

February 2021 · Maritime Security & Defence 51  MARITIME INDUSTRY Assurance – Key to Autonomy

Christian von Oldershausen

This op-ed article focusses on one element in the use of autonomous vehicles: building trust. The author explains how to overcome the biggest barrier in the use of new technologies. As a safe autonomous vessel needs to have situational awareness in all relevant conditions, whatever the weather, lighting, sound, and ship motions that it might encounter, assurance is key for its operation.

With this article, Maritime Security and Defence is opening a regular feature in which we intend to illuminate upcoming changes in the world of shipping. Driven by the idea that changing the way a ship is operated will have an impact on multiple aspects of maritime security, it will most certainly have significant consequences for the naval sector.

“ nmanned autonomous and remotely The modern ship bristles with software- at the end of the day the general public, Uoperated transport for automated driven systems already sold by many equip- be sure that the vessels are just as safe, supply chains and improved safety and en- ment and system manufacturers. These efficient, and environmentally sound as if vironmental performance were once the systems include firmware, operating sys- they were manned? stuff of science fiction. They are moving tems, application software, and network Well-conceived regulation opens the win- closer to becoming reality thanks to ad- and Internet of Things devices. With soft- dow to the ecosystem of vessel owners, vances in information and communications ware determining what they do, they are builders, equipment makers, operators, technologies (ICT). usually very flexible. charterers, insurers, and finance, gaining Image: Rolls-Royce

Modern ships already bristle with software-driven systems and there are few if any technical obstacles to autonomous and remotely operated vessels; the biggest barrier is trust. These Rolls-Royce Marine (now part of Kongsberg Maritime) autonomous ship concepts date from 2016.

Author In short, there are few if any technical clear sight of what it takes for autonomous obstacles to autonomous and remotely ships to operate safely, efficiently, and sus- As a Vice-President and former operated vessels. As with other new tech- tainably. navy officer, Freiherr Christian von nologies, or novel uses of them, the big- We believe that the International Maritime Oldershausen is the Segment Direc- gest barrier is trust. In other words, would Organization (IMO) should set overarching tor Navy at DNV GL in Hamburg, an autonomous or remotely operated ship regulation in very high-level terms. For ex- Germany. also be a safe ship? Can a port authority, ample, it could simply call for IMO member vessel owner, operator, governments, and states to require autonomous and remotely

52 Maritime Security & Defence · February 2021 MARITIME INDUSTRY  operated vessels to be at least as safe as tra- We are identifying which shipyards and cases, from national regulations. And, na- ditional ships. Beyond that, it could be left vessel owners have come furthest with vies are as aware as any vessel operator to other stakeholders, such as classification this technology, and the projects that they of the safety risks implicit in autonomous societies, to assure the technology to prove are involved in. We are then focusing on or semi-autonomous vessels and craft op- that regulations have been met. developing the assurance methodology in erating in locations where other vessels, Assurance is key, and our own way of ap- parallel with these projects. both naval and civilian, are on the water. proaching this at DNV GL shows how it With the entire concept of such vessels be- They include inshore waters, ports, har- works. The assurance process for any ing inseparable from the ICT that makes bours, dockyards, and inland waterways. new vessel begins when we receive a de- them possible, considerations of safety Hence, assurance being developed for scription of the basic concept behind the also need to include cyber security. We autonomous and remotely operated ves- customer’s request when building a new have therefore been developing assurance sels in the commercial space should ideally vessel. What is the operational intent? around cyber security for maritime applica- have relevance for navy applications of the This forms one basis for our understand- tions, based around international standards relevant technologies and designs. Safe ing what is required from assurance. We for control and bridge systems. navigation is the sticking point, for both also need a detailed understanding of the Although much of the discussion involves navy and civilian vessels, and any regime regulations that might apply in order to de- commercial shipping, autonomous and that would cover unmanned operations cide what assurance we need to consider to remotely operated vehicles are already in- need to be built around this. meet this intent and validate the safety of cluded in the range of vessels that navies We are often asked how quickly autono- the technology. use for a variety of purposes in peacetime mous and remotely operated ships could We are receiving an increasing number and in hostilities. be introduced and then scale up. Pressed of such concepts for autonomous, semi- We are now seeing navies increase their to gaze into the crystal ball, I would say autonomous and remotely operated ves- interest in developing more and larger that if the IMO sets the overall requirement, sels, and are actively developing assurance vessels that can operate themselves or be flag state regulations could follow relatively projects to satisfy such requests. It is very directed from a distance. In 2020, for ex- quickly to set safety limits. important for providers of assurance to col- ample, the US Navy awarded a contract for Then comes the assurance side. It is a laborate closely with those at the cutting the development of a prototype Medium lengthy process that limits the speed at edge of technology development so that Unmanned Surface Vehicle. which autonomous vessels will be intro- feedback between both results in technol- Navy vessels are exempted from some duced. It is not stretching the point to say ogies that comply with regulation. international regulations and, in many that it is virtually as difficult to develop an

February 2021 · Maritime Security & Defence 53  MARITIME INDUSTRY Photo: US Navy The US unmanned surface drone SEA HUNTER has been used to provide information to help the future integration of autonomous systems into the US Navy; the service awarded a contract for the development of a prototype Medium Unmanned Surface Vehicle in 2020.

assurance procedure for safety compli- a vessel operating some or all of the vessels operating in open water, perhaps ance in these cases as it is to make the time in congested waters with complex within five years. technology itself. navigational challenges. What I am already seeing is that develop- The question of risk is central. If a ves- Building on this thought, a safe autono- ment of industrial clusters that can support sel is to operate solely across the Pa- mous vessel needs to have situational the development and deployment of these cific Ocean – where it may encounter awareness in all feasible conditions, technologies is most advanced in flag states another ship once a week, for argu- whatever the weather, lighting, sound, where regulation encourages innovation ment’s sake – the safety consequences and ship motions that it might encounter while laying down requirements. They in- of remote-control or autonomy fail- during operations. clude, China, Finland, Japan, South Korea, ing may be limited enough to accept For all these reasons, I think it likely that Norway, Singapore, UK, and the US. There the risk of a ship not being completely we will first see the first implementations is perhaps a lesson there for other flag states safe in all operational situations. The of autonomy and remote operation being that would like their maritime industries to risk profile would be very different for for various types of machinery parts on have a piece of the autonomy pie.” L

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54 Maritime Security & Defence · February 2021 Marketing Report: Marine Alutech Oy RÜSTUNG & TECHNOLOGIE 

WATERCAT Boats for Demanding Requirements

Marine Alutech is a leading manufacturer “Our ability to recognise customer require- of state-of-the art maritime vessels for mili- ments” says Niko Haro, the CEO. “This tary, law enforcement and other maritime helps us understand exact requirements of applications. 2021 is a milestone for the our customers’ needs and means that we 30 years anniversary celebration. Company can provide vessels in response to these is based in the greater Helsinki area (Fin- requirements”. When finding an answer land). Marine Alutech’s product portfolio to the question, Mr Haro appreciates the includes: dynamic development of related bench- • Combat and fast patrol boats in lengths marks. “30 years ago, the benchmark between 5 and 25 metres; was a speed of 40 knots with very simple • Typical marine diesel & waterjet propul- manual weapon systems. Today, we are sion systems; discussing customer requirements for ves- • Modular weapon & self-protection sys- sels with fully integrated weapon systems tems. that achieve top speeds over 50 knots. The company's core capabilities cover Everyone wants to go faster and be more prime contractor services, project man- heavily armed”. agement, design and manufacture of Recognising this, Marine Alutech’s focus aluminium and composite vessels includ- is the “M” product range of the WATER- ing lifecycle management. Besides, it can CAT type vessels. M stands for Military,

provide dedicated expertise in unmanned thus applying significantly more rigorous Photos: Marine Alutech vessels, Electromagnetic Interference and internal design features and construction Watercat M18 AMC Compatibility (EMI/EMC), electrical sys- processes. tems and for the integration of weapon The M range includes of the M12 vessel and a medium range missile system. With and CBRN systems. that is primarily designed for troop trans- a proven hull shape and a propulsion sys- Vessels of the company are in service and port, but also for amphibious support. It tem able to achieve speeds in excess of 50 successfully operated in Asia, Africa, the can be fitted with the Patria NEMO 120mm knots we believe this vessel offers multiple Middle East and Europe. mortar system. roles and tactics needed for today’s military The company is proud of Finland, as Marine The M18 can be designed for troop trans- organisations”. Alutech’s home market, constituting the port but can also be configured as a weap- Haro is reluctant if asked about demand. largest customer reference; Marine Alutech ons platform. More than 30 of 12M and He does not disclose any details about sees itself as a partner of the Finnish De- twelve M18 vessels (with a wheelhouse parties interested in the M range except fence Forces and the Border Guard – rather roof mounted RWS) are in service with the that the company is in various stages of than just a supplier. Finnish Defence Forces. negotiations with many organisations for As an SME, the company takes advantage The flagship of the M range is the M22. the supply of these heavily armed multi- of such a relationship based on partner- Using the same design concepts as im- role vessels. ship, particularly during periods of military plemented with the M18, it is a physically Whilst the focus is on meeting customer conflicts, global financial crises, and health larger vessel. Haro is quick to point out that expectations with the current M range of pandemics, as they have been experienced a slightly larger vessel size adds significant WATERCAT vessels, Haro points out that since 1991. capability. “We can engineer a weapons the company is still very active in law en- So what has been the key success factor for suite on board to include a main gun of up forcement and commercial markets. “We this innovative company? to a 40mm calibre, 2 x 12.7mm side guns, have served these markets for our complete 30-year history, and this sector has been very loyal to us and we are happy to recip- Watercat M22 rocate that kind of loyalty”. Recent achievements include a fleet of 14 vessels to a Mid- dle Eastern coast guard authority and seven vessels for a port authority in Singapore. Combined with the support of 60 dedicated personnel, full ISO 9000 and AQAP management recognition, prime water- front facilities, newly built state-of-the-art outfitting halls, the future looks promising. Haro: “Here’s to the next 30 years”. Marine Alutech invites you to its digital meeting point at NAVDEX, Abu Dhabi, s t and C- 016 .

Maritime Security & Defence 55  MARITIME INDUSTRY The New Normality for Shipbuilding

MSD Editorial Team

t cannot be ignored, COVID19 presence and find new ways of meeting their de- Hein van Ameijden, CEO, Iand its impact on our lives is everywhere manding build schedules and realise new Damen Naval, The Netherlands - gnawing at the edges of our existence efficiencies. more aggressively daily. New variants Maritime Security and Defence (MSD) threaten the easing of lockdown meas- spoke with several international shipbuild- ures, activities are forbidden and dear ers, posing the same question to them: Photo: Damen lives succumb to the virus, leaving gaping “What measures did your company take holes in our families. Nevertheless, hu- (or have in place), allowing it to thrive de- man ambition to survive and thrive once spite COVID-19?” Shipbuilders are finding again continue on a pathway of “normal- novel practices and a "new normal". The cy” that endures. While requirements for following are some overviews about meas- defence materiel and naval assets remain ures the leadership of these shipyards took a constant as national defence and in- to meet customer demand and overcome dustrial strategies struggle to maintain a COVID challenges. This editorial focus pro- pre-COVID existence, new ways of fulfill- vides MSD readers with an opportunity ing obligations to defence organisations to benefit from these shipyards’ new best become available as shipbuilders adapt practices and processes.

David Massey, CEO, ADSB, from outside while the administrative United Arab Emirates staff worked remotely. Measures to contain the virus involved: I believe that the COVID19 outbreak has designating multiple buildings as isola- the potential to transform how business is tion facilities for those who tested posi- done globally in our industry and across

Photo: ADSB tive; quarantine for those exposed; and, many sectors. Damen responded decisively separate facilities for those tested nega- to the pandemic with new safety measures tive or recovered. Staff members were supporting new efficiencies, i.e. remote moved sometimes every few days where working. The restrictions caused interna- necessary. With a healthy workforce tional supply chain disruptions, travel re- largely in their 20s to 40s, only a very ductions and presented other challenges, small number of those who were tested positive required hospital treatment. Surely there was an impact on workforce availability; however, ADSB never closed Photo: Damen down and (rather) maintained support to its customers throughout the pandemic, working with staff members who were all regularly tested negative. As commercial customers tried to mitigate the effect of vessels being off-charter or not being used in oil service operations, The pandemic presented significant chal- they brought the vessels forward for main- lenges to ADSB, as it interrupted land- tenance activities. We benefitted from this based material supply chains due to bor- unexpected outcome; driving the ADSB der closures, and deliveries of combat commercial repair and maintenance rev- systems parts from European suppliers enues in 2020 are significantly ahead. during the lock-down. Although international movement restric- A more serious challenge was the rap- tions impacted on business development, id transmission of the virus within the we used this time to strengthen our de- 500+ members of the workforce who sign team and develop new projects. At live onsite, in many cases sharing rooms. the forthcoming IDEX exhibition in Feb- Damen shipyard view in Visslingen, ADSB was one of the first companies in ruary we will be able to show prototypes during the delivery ceremony of the UAE to implement a mass weekly for several new vessels, which – for the the KAREL DOORMAN Joint Support testing regime for all of its onsite staff, first time – are completely designed and Ship for the Royal Netherlands Navy and severely restricted access to the site built by ADSB.

56 Maritime Security & Defence · February 2021 MARITIME INDUSTRY  such as preventing our customers and stra- frigates contract for the German Navy, We have continued to grow in the naval tegic suppliers from attending/performing the pre-selection of SAAB/Damen for industry, winning several major contracts. testing and commissioning activities at our the replacement programme of the RNLN These include, for example, the contract sites abroad. However, the solid relations Walrus-class submarines, and the role of to install the entire HVAC system for 12 between our teams, customers and suppli- Damen as coordinator of Sea Defence, new-generation mine hunters for the ers led to new ways of progressing work the first naval European Defence Indus- Belgian and Dutch navies. We will also within strict safety measures to continue trial Development Programme project. be providing maintenance in operational serving our customers. We will continue to focus on launching condition for the icebreaker Astrolabe, COVID19 demands maximum flexibil- customer programmes in the European operated by the French navy in Antarctica ity and solution creativity with respect to and home markets. and the Indian Ocean. working from our offices and from home. As for the rest of the world, we expect Finally, this global pandemic has led us From secure IT connections to organisa- government budget cuts, as a result of to innovate and we are now able to in- tion and project agreements, all solutions COVID19, meaning more demand for corporate bio-decontamination solutions must be well considered and balanced. compact, cheaper vessels. This is a promis- to guarantee a healthy environment on Many people still work remotely, as the ing opportunity for our flexible and future- board ships and combat the spread of Netherlands finds itself in a second lock- proof portfolio for navies and coast guards, viruses. Completely modular, these so- down, so we lean more on digital com- especially our SIGMA range of combat and lutions can be adapted to the concrete munication for our daily work, with clients ENFORCER range of logistic and amphibi- needs of vessel operators to include, if and each other. I think these changes were ous ships. necessary, new equipment to combat vi- coming anyway, but the virus outbreak ruses (including UV lamps, HEPA filters, certainly accelerated them. etc.) as well as automation programs spe- The pandemic will also accelerate develop- Julia Maris, EVP for Defence cific to the circumstances. ments in sustainability in this increasingly and National Security, ENGIE environmentally conscious and health and Solutions, France safety-minded world. The sustainability Eitan Zucker, CEO, Israel performance of our products is becoming Shipyards, Israel ever more important, especially with West- ern countries. It is something we anticipated and is a main theme in our R&D initiatives we undertake with industry partners, research institutes and universities. Photo: ENGIE Solutions We are quite confident in our post- COVID business prospects as our market position grows in Europe: Combat Sup- port Ship contract for the Royal Nether- lands Navy (RNLN), our selection as main contractor for the new Anti-Submarine Warfare Frigates (ASWF) for both the RNLN and the Belgian Navy, the F126

When the pandemic started to affect us, our first actions were to protect our employees Photo: Israel Shipyards because we put their safety above all other Israel Shipyards, has thrived despite COV- considerations. We therefore adapted and ID-19. We entered this new phase in a put in place appropriate procedures to avoid strong position, and were able to meet infection in places where we operate, pro- the challenges through flexibility and an viding the means to protect ourselves and agile response to required changes, even imposing strict compliance with barrier and without any significant government as- physical distancing measures. sistance. First, regarding operational and Furthermore, we are very active in the field manufacturing activities, we established of Maintenance in Operational Condition. a Corona-focused routine to protect the For our clients, this involves strategic is- health and safety of our employees – im- sues related to the national sovereignty plementing strict social distancing, limiting of the countries concerned. They must be the number of workers in close proximity at able to use their equipment at all times. any given time, requiring masks to be worn We, therefore, remain in action, what- at all times, imposing personal hygiene pro- ever the circumstances, to carry out our cedures, and continually monitoring the maintenance plans and guarantee a high health of each individual. In addition, we level of availability for the equipment in maintained ongoing communications with our charge. all personnel, ensured a strong managerial

February 2021 · Maritime Security & Defence 57 Photo: Israel Shipyards Israel Shipyard’s OPV62 and SHALDAG MK II

presence, and made emotional and other nising that they were also experiencing Our post-COVID plans cover the develop- support readily available. this crisis, we expanded our budgetary ment of an array of customisable new so- Next, we significantly expanded our digi- assistance, offering exceptionally conven- lutions that expand our current offerings, tal customer engagements – providing ient financing terms, long-term credit, ensure the continuous high performance of virtual tours of our premises, holding and trade-in options. These flexible pay- our vessels, and create new health safeguards dozens of online meetings, and delivering ment plans enabled the acquisition and – including advanced means of identifying webinars for clients around the world. leasing of our vessels, even by those fac- and isolating those exposed to contagious Our main takeaway from this crisis was ing the most extreme budgetary restric- diseases. In addition, we plan to enter new the need to prepare plans in advance that tions, and allowed them to meet their markets, which are tangential to military mar- ensure maximum support of our custom- critical need to upgrade their maritime kets, such as humanitarian aid, disaster relief, ers and attention to their needs. Recog- security. and routine policing and security.

Lena Ströbele, Managing contact to a minimum and also work- So far, we have continued regular opera- Director, Fr Lürssen Werft, from-home opportunities for various tion at our shipyards, taking the current cir- Germany office functions. These measures follow cumstances into account. We are confident the current recommendations that come that we will be able to continue to lead our from the Robert Koch Institute, as well as shipyard group through the current crisis the specifications of the German health without any substantial disruptions, subject authorities. In addition, we are in close to the given restrictions and precautions. contact with the regulatory bodies on a However, we are already noticing that inter- daily basis so that we can reassess the nal operating expenses have increased sig- Photo: Fr Lürssen Werft) situation on site each day and ensure we nificantly and that the global shipbuilding adjust our operating procedures at short market has clouded over, with strong effects notice if necessary. on the German shipyard landscape. Photo: Fr Lürssen Werft

Due to the current situation regarding BU?? the Corona crisis, we have implemented numerous preventive measures at all our shipyard locations. In addition to the various standard hygiene measures, we have also introduced, for example, shift working in production so less employees are working at the same time, intro- MAGDEBURG, second-of-class of the German Navy's K130 corvettes, duced zoning areas to keep unnecessary was built at Lürssen shipyard's facilities on the river Weser.

58 Maritime Security & Defence · February 2021 MARITIME INDUSTRY  Reducing Risk in Cargo Shipping

David Fairnie

orldwide, cargo shipping faces a shipments over any other transportation warehouse facilities where these items are Wmyriad of threats whether in tran- modality. This is not to say that freight stockpiled may continue to face an increased sit, when stored in warehouses, and even carried or intended to be taken by ship risk of theft. when it reaches its final location. This risk is excluded from the risk of cargo theft, of theft applies for cargo regardless of the as the incident in Canada demonstrates The Bigger Picture modality used for transportation, whether that the threat extends to these points in via air, sea, land, or all three, and threatens the supply chain, albeit at a lower rate. A resilient supply chain, effective in mitigat- Organisational Resilience if the threats are Often, cargo thefts that occur at port ing loss is often measured in loss ratios, not recognised and appropriate loss pre- facilities, involve some element of cor- compliance scores, on-time deliveries, and vention mitigation techniques applied. ruption, with supply chain actors either bottom-line cost savings. However, a truly participating directly or providing critical resilient supply chain arguably means that Identifying the Threat inside information to thieves. an organisation’s logistics infrastructure of Cargo Theft Cargo crime continues to rise as strategies employed by thieves diversify and evolve, challenging organisations that must also be agile and adapt to these new threats. Graphic: BSI 2021 Thieves use a multitude of tactics to steal cargo. Often, the particular theft modus operandi is regionally specific. For example, in Latin America and South Africa, cargo hijacking while trucks are in-transit to seaports is a popular tactic. In Europe, thieves predominantly use a "slash-and- grab" tactic, slashing through a soft- sided trailer to steal cargo. Additionally, thieves may steal cargo by breaking into warehouses and facilities, posing as a legitimate carrier to fictitiously pick up cargo or trucks, or outright steal entire trailers or trucks from port facilities. One of the more prominent examples of this type of theft occurred in Canada in 2015 when thieves stole a shipping container loaded with $10 million of silver from Montreal's port. Looking at the highest areas of concern BSI data shows that the top commodities stolen by criminals in 2020 for cargo theft globally, Brazil, Mexico, were food and beverage and consumer projects. Criminals targeted new India, the United States, and Germany products due to their increased value during the pandemic, creating are the top-ranking countries. Tactics new vulnerabilities for organisations transporting these commodities used by thieves in these countries can and increasing the importance of securing their supply chain. vary, but in general cargo thefts tend to involve a higher proportion of truck This past year, as a result of COVID-19 lock- and operations are not used as a conduit downs and consumer demand for certain for criminal and corrupt activity and that Author products, we witnessed strategies employed shipping is done in a responsible manner, by thieves shifting. Specifically, BSI intelli- minimising risk to the business, operations, David Fairnie is a senior security gence data identified increased targeting of and employees. and risk management expert with food and beverage commodities and alcohol The issue of cargo crime is just one challenge extensive operational and commercial and tobacco, likely due to the increased value an organisation must face in any typical year. experience worldwide whose solu- resulting from panic-buying, stockpiling, and 2020 was far from a typical year. Due to tions positioned organisations as shortages. Consumer products, such as hand COVID-19, supply chain resilience was pulled international leaders in supply chain sanitizer and cleaning supplies, and medical into the public eye to an unprecedented security initiatives, including the US devices and supplies, including PPE, were degree. Supply chain disruptions, including Megaports and Secure Freight Initia- targeted at elevated rates in many regions large cargo theft rates and added exposure tive non-proliferation programmes. due to their high demand and subsequent for goods stockpiled in warehouses, were a shortages. As lockdowns continue into 2021, chief concern for companies and consumers

February 2021 · Maritime Security & Defence 59  MARITIME INDUSTRY

risk common to each country of operation. To build a supply chain that is ahead of the criminal tactics and trends, organisa-

Graphic: BSI 2021 tions should secure their supply chain by implementing specific security procedures dependent on the identified level of risk exposure, while concurrently providing appropriate awareness and training for staff. Organisations must also remain current on the primary trends in cargo theft risk and be aware of their evolving nature these take over time. Looking at prevention, organisations needed to consider risk mitigation to cargo as it moved through the supply chain. Protecting cargo in transit can involve add- ing locks and seals to trailers, route risk analysis and training drivers to be aware of problematic routes. While at rest stops and parking locations, drivers should In 2020, the countries with the largest amount of cargo theft incidents maintain strict protocols with monitoring were Brazil, Mexico, India, and Germany. While the types of cargo theft their vehicles. To prevent occurrences of in these countries might vary, organisations should guard their supply theft, organisations should invest in and chains in these countries against the risk of theft. deploy a combination of driver training and technology for monitoring cargo sta- alike. With massive supply chain shortages were at a much more significant advan- tus. Warehouses and facilities storing and around the globe for items critical to com- tage to mitigate losses. While the events distributing high-value products should batting the early spread of the virus, includ- of 2020 were unprecedented in the way be more vigilant than ever with security ing medical masks, hand sanitizer and other that they impacted supply chains on a protocols, as criminals are increasingly tar- essentials, the threat of cargo theft was at global level, the vital take-away is that geting these locations due to the lull in the forefront of concerns for organisations the changing tactics, trends, and wilful- the flow of goods during the COVID-19 even more. Particularly those not used to ness of cargo thieves can have a significant outbreak and lockdown cycles. experiencing as high of a risk - in comparison rippling effect on supply chain resilience. Overall, with cargo theft on the rise and to industries like electronics, which due to Not only can there be a sizeable financial a rapidly changing market for criminals, the inherently high value, tend to be stolen downside to theft, but the security of per- securing an organisation's supply chain frequently. sonnel, product, and reputation are all at against cargo theft is of the utmost im- Early in 2020, the BSI SCREEN Intelligence risk when supply chains are exposed to portance. Identifying the threat of cargo team began noting cargo thefts of daily vulnerabilities. theft globally and for an individual or- necessities in locations, like China and ganisation, understanding the overall Hong Kong, where these types of crimes Mitigating the Risk impact and significance of the risk, and occur at a relatively lower rate compared taking appropriate and proactive meas- to other cargo theft hotspots around the Organisations looking to reduce the risk of ures to decrease these risks is the best world. Organisations that moved swiftly cargo crime in their supply chain need to way to ensure Organisational Resilience to track the situation beginning to unfold primarily understand the varying type of and combat cargo crime. L Photo: BSI/Getty Images

BSI's risk assessment mapping

60 Maritime Security & Defence · February 2021 MARITIME OPERATIONS & DOCTRINE  Adapting Aircraft Carriers to F-35B Operations – A Progress Report

Peter Donaldson

Preceded only by the HARRIER and the Soviet era Yakovlev Yak-69, the Lockheed Martin F-35B LIGHTNING II is a member of a very exclusive club of jets to operate from carriers without catapults and arresting gear. This it achieves with the aid of a thrust vectoring nozzle for the engine exhaust, a lift fan behind the cockpit that blows through a box containing movable vanes and a pair of variable area thrusters (known as roll posts) under the wings that provide roll control using compressor bleed air.

hat vectored exhaust can damage any Tsurface on which it impinges; even without the use of afterburner it can buckle deck

plating and the structure underneath if it Photo: Royal Navy is not adequately protected. On the British Royal Navy’s new carriers, QUEEN ELIZA- BETH and PRINCE OF WALES, for example, a coating protects the flight deck surface from exhaust gases at temperatures of up to 1,500 °C to which it is exposed when a jet is in the hover and making a vertical landing. Monitor Coatings, which developed the material, says that it is a compound of aluminium and titanium that is sprayed onto the deck in molten form and is intended to last for the vessels’ 50-year design life. In spite of this need to protect against heat damage, the F-35B arguably makes fewer and smaller physical demands on an aircraft Seen from the “flyco” aboard HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, this USMC F-35B carrier than a conventional jet of the same was pictured just after it made the first vertical landing of the type on size and weight because it needs neither the carrier. catapults nor arresting gear (although the ski- jump that enables short take-offs at greater This is why the British F-35B test team de- a standard shipping container. Integrating weights is far from a trivial feature of a ship’s vised the Shipborne Rolling Vertical Land- operations, maintenance, prognostics, sup- deck). The F-35B’s power-plant and flight ing (SRVL) technique, which was carried ply chain, customer support services, train- control systems provide it with several alter- out for real for the first time in October ing and technical data, ALIS is designed to native ways of launching from and recovering 2018 by British pilot Peter Wilson after be a single, secure information environ- aboard an aircraft carrier. Short Take-Off and more than 2,000 practice landings in the ment that provides users with up-to-date Vertical Landing, proven over many years of simulator. The technique requires the pilot information through web-enabled applica- HARRIER operations, works particularly well to make a conventional looking approach tions on a distributed network. It is a com- aboard ski-jump-equipped vessels, allowing to the carrier at speed from astern while us- plex and bulky system that has exhibited greater take-off weights. A standard verti- ing a combination of wing lift and vectored problems and is set to be replaced around cal landing involves bringing the aircraft to a thrust to bring it to a touchdown at a speed the middle of the decade with the Opera- hover next to the deck and then translating low enough to roll safely to a halt. tional Data Integrated Network (ODIN). sideways before briefly hovering once more The US Marine Corps (USMC) has been ex- and touching down. However, weight limits Make Room for ALIS, ploring shipboard LIGHTNING II operations on vertical landings mean that aircraft might then ODIN since 2015 and has tested the new Light- have to dump fuel and weapons. ning Carrier concept under which up to A major element of the total F-35 system 13 of these jets have flown from its WASP Author that is not trivial to accommodate is the (LHD-1) class and AMERICA (LHA-6) class Autonomic Logistics Information System amphibious assault ships. These vessels Peter Donaldson is a freelance (ALIS). Every F-35 unit has an ALIS, which reportedly lack the command and control writer focusing on aerospace, consists of a computer server system and capabilities needed to exploit the data the defence and technology. terminals that form a Standard Operating LIIGHNING II’s sensor suite can generate. Unit (SOU). A deployable version fits into Accordingly, the USMC is considering oper-

February 2021 · Maritime Security & Defence 61  MARITIME OPERATIONS & DOCTRINE

eastern freeboard in the autumn of that aircrew and landing signals officers. Despite year by QUEEN ELIZABETH, the first F-35B postponement of operational sea training deck landings on the Royal Navy carrier were for COVID-19 testing, ship and crew were

Photo: Royal Navy completed on 25 September followed by the ready by 18 July, enabling 617 Squadron, the first night landings a few days later. Shortly first operational UK LIGHTNING-II unit, to afterwards, the first weapon launches from take part in Exercise Crimson Ocean 2020. an F-35 operated from the carrier took place Here, the F-35Bs mounted combat air patrols using inert PAVEWAY II laser guided bombs involving simulated combat against RAF TY- assembled from kits aboard the ship. PHOONs, practice strikes against simulated QUEEN ELIZABETH returned to the US east targets ashore and aerial refuelling. coast in the autumn of 2019 to work up with This paved the way for participation in the RN/RAF and USMC F-35Bs, testing aircraft, overlapping GroupEx 2020 and Joint War- aircrew and shipboard support crew in re- rior/Griffin Strike 2020 from September into alistic war fighting scenarios as a cohesive October. With F-35Bs from USMC squad- Final approach during the first carrier strike group that also included a Type ron VMFA-211 in addition to those from 617 ever Shipborne Rolling Vertical 45 air defence destroyer, a Type 23 frigate, Squadron, 15 jets operated from QUEEN Landing (SRVL) in October 2018. a tanker, MERLIN and WILDCAT helicopters. ELIZABETH and dropped live weapons for SRVL allows the F-35B to land on- The group was also joined by other US Navy, the first time on Scotland’s Cape Wrath board carriers at higher weights. Air Force and Marine Corps units. Weapons Range. One milestone was the attachment of a full Initial Operational Capability (IOC) was ex- ating SAN ANTONIO (LPD-17) class amphibi- 22,000 lb weapon load to the jet aboard pected to be declared around the end of ous transport docks in cooperation with the the carrier for the first time, which includ- 2020 and was formally announced on 4 Lightning Carriers because they have much ed inert PAVEWAY bombs and Advanced January 2021. more sophisticated C2 systems. Short Range Air-to-Air Missiles on external F-35s are fifth generation jets that principally pylons and in the internal bay. This allowed International Observers communicate over the stealthy Multifunc- “bomb-head” air engineer technicians to tion Advanced Data Link (MADL). However, exercise the carrier’s Highly Mechanised Other navies are watching these develop- most US allies use Link-16 that is not de- Weapon Handling System. Remotely con- ments with close interest. These include signed to handle certain 5th generation in- trolled “moles” carry weapons on pallets Italy, whose carrier CAVOUR came out of formation. Solutions to most of this problem along tracks and via lifts to preparation ar- a 16-month overhaul and refit in early May include gateway translation systems aboard eas or the hangar. Prepared weapons are 2020 to equip the vessel to operate and sup- airborne warning and control aircraft or the then moved on another set of lifts to the port the aircraft. The refit notably included GLOBAL HAWK high-altitude long-endur- flight deck and wheeled to the aircraft. The a thermal coating to protect the deck. Ca- ance UAV. However, direct translation of aircraft launched from the carrier to practice vour can accommodate a maximum of 16 messages into Link-16 format within MADL dropping weapons. F-35Bs, with 10 in the hangar and six on systems has been demonstrated. The exercise culminated in the launch of deck. The Italian Navy plans to acquire 15 four F-35Bs from QUEEN ELIZABETH’s deck of the type (another 15 will be operated by Preparing the Queen within seconds of each other. the Italian Air Force) with an IOC scheduled Early 2020 saw the carrier in the North Sea, for 2024. A number of other firsts for the British car- with four F-35Bs completing night landings Japan is to upgrade its two IZUMO class heli- rier programme preceded the October 2018 as part of joint RN/RAF operational conver- copter carriers to operate the type, having SRVL trial. During a deployment off the US sion unit 207 Squadron’s qualification of announced its decision in late 2018. Initial work on the IZUMO was reported to be in progress by July 2020. Elsewhere in the Asia- Pacific region, South Korea reportedly plans to acquire 20 F-35Bs for its future LPX-II light aircraft carrier, which is expected to displace Photo: Italian Navy between 30,000 and 35,000 tonnes. How- ever, suggestions that Singapore’s future Joint Multi-Mission Ship could embark the 12 or so F-35Bs that the nation is acquiring are thought to be largely speculative. Australia’s amphibious assault ships CAN- BERRA and ADELAIDE are other speculative contenders for F-35B operation, although a more likely possibility is the Spanish JUAN CARLOS I, which was the model for the Australian ships and already operates HAR- RIERs. With an eye to interoperability with the RN and other F-35B operators, a French parliamentary report published in October said that studies are underway to analyse The Italian Navy aircraft carrier CAVOUR completed a refit to allow the the implications of including a dedicated ship to operate the F-35B in the course of 2020. landing spot on its future aircraft carrier. L

62 Maritime Security & Defence · February 2021 MARITIME OPERATIONS & DOCTRINE  AGÉNOR’s View: from a Danish Frigate’s Bridge in the Strait of Hormuz

Hans Uwe Mergener

he Danish frigate HDMS IVER HUITFELDT Treturned to her base on 10 December 2020 after a four-month deployment to

Arab peninsular waters. From late August Photo - EMASOH to late November 2020, it joined Operation AGÉNOR the military pillar of the European Maritime Surveillance Mission in the Strait of Hormuz (EMASOH). This European-led mission’s goals include: assessing situations independently; monitoring maritime activities; and, guaranteeing freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and onto the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. The Strait became a potential choke point for shipping in circa June 2019 when a mul- tilateral “denuclearisation” agreement with Iran collapsed with the US withdrawal from A view of the Danish frigate IVER HUITFELDT escorting the tanker TORM the treaty. The Strait is close to Iran’s ter- RAGNHILD as seen from a helicopter gunship ritorial waters and has a width of only 21 nautical miles (39 km) separating the United organic helicopter plus a detachment of the was assigned to this task. When coupled Arab Emirates and Oman from Iran. Extra- Frømand-Korps, a special forces unit. with the appointment of a Senior Civilian regional ships (European) were in particular Beginning in early 2021, Denmark takes Representative - Ambassador Julie Pruzan- danger of being detained indefinitely by Ira- command of the Force Headquarters in Abu Jørgensen – to the mission, the strength of nian maritime patrols as these ships passed Dhabi. Commodore Carsten Fjord-Larsen, Denmark’s commitment to maritime secu- through this narrow, strategic seaway that Deputy Commander Royal Danish Navy, rity is clear. eventually leads to many vital commercial and industrial destinations. Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Maritime Security & Defence Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal are (MSD) magazine recently spoke taking part in Operation AGÉNOR as a mari- with Cmdr (s.g.) Kim Nybo Skjødt, time security initiative to ensure safe transit the Commanding Officer of HDMS and freedom of navigation for merchant shipping. While force generation seems to IVER HUITFELDT. be an issue for EMASOH, there are three

nations contributing sea-going assets: Den- Photo: Danish Defence/Emma Kjærside mark, France and the Netherlands - also MSD: What is the background for Den- France contributed maritime patrol aircraft mark’s participation in Operation Agénor? for intermittent missions. EMASOH is head- Skjødt: Denmark's participation with the quartered in the French military base in Abu frigate HDMS IVER HUITFELDT was based Dhabi. on a parliamentary resolution with a strong During the three months of Operation AGÉ- mandate in the spring of 2020. As the NOR, IVER HUITFELDT patrolled in designat- world’s fifth largest maritime nation, the ed waters and conducted numerous tasks Commander s.g. Kim Nybo Skjødt right to free navigation is of crucial impor- in and around the Strait of Hormuz. An es- became the Commanding Officer tance to Denmark. Danish merchant ships sential aspect of this mission is to establish of HDMS IVER HUITFELDT and Divi- sails through the Strait of Hormuz on a daily a surface situational picture and recognise sion Commander in 2020. To his basis and therefore constitute an important traffic patterns in order to identify anomalies credit he was decorated as Knight source of employment and prosperity for that could indicate illegal activities or hostili- of the Dannebrog Order and Denmark. ties. IVER HUITFELDT logged long patrol pe- awarded both a Medal of Honor, In light of the security incidents in the Strait riods weighed against comparatively short serving the Navy for 25 years of Hormuz in 2019, France took the initiative port periods for rest and replenishment. The (2010) and a Medal for participa- to establish a maritime surveillance mission ship’s company was complemented by her tion in Operation AGENOR (2020). in the Strait of Hormuz. The mission aims to

February 2021 · Maritime Security & Defence 63 protect freedom of navigation, ensure coordination between partners in the area and contribute to de-escalation through presence on both sides in the strait. Through increased international presence and monitoring, the mission is intended to reduce the

risk of more of the type of incidents that Photo: EMASOH took place in the summer of 2019. Dane-by-Dane, IVER HUITFELDT escorts the merchant ship ESTELLE MAERSK.

after about a month in the area, we had a very clear picture of the pattern of life and EMASOH could gradually begin to anticipate move- Participation (%) ments and activities. I foresee that this successful European mission – and I say this even though some of the

Souce: EMASO, graphic: MSD member nations still have not participated with ships or aircraft - could lead to other case-by-case European missions in the future. In this context it will be important that one or more members of a mission already have a kind of a footprint in the specific region. This will make all the infrastructure setup smoother – just like the French facilities in Abu Dhabi for the EMASOH mission.

MSD: What are the lessons learned? Skjødt: Due to the complexity of the area It was thus an obvious task for the Danish MSD: How do you assess Operation AGÉ- and the fact that an actual military con- Navy, and IVER HUITFELDT sailed from Den- NOR’S success from the IVER HUITFELDT frontation cannot be ruled out, it should be mark on 10 August 2020 with a view to join perspective? maintained to deploy actual combat units this classic naval task. Skjødt: The operation seems to live a with a high degree of self-defence for oper- “quiet” life, there is not much publicity on ations in the Strait of Hormuz or the Persian MSD: How did you and your crew prepare a larger scale. It can also be categorised as a Gulf in general. for the operation? “success”, as there have been no significant The countries around the Strait of Hormuz Skjødt: IVER HUITFELDT was on high alert security incidents since the operation started clearly demonstrated that they distinguished in 2020, and the general training level was in 2020. between EMASOH units and units from equivalent. There was therefore a primary AGÉNOR is a mission at the 'soft' end of other missions in the area. They appeared need to focus the mission preparation train- the conflict scale. The task itself and the polite and professional. ing by integrating the external sub-contribu- geography are somewhat reminiscent of The cooperation within our task force was tions (helicopter crew, special forces, etc.). the coastal environment in Danish waters. uncomplicated. It was a kind of ‘plug and In addition, it was obvious to train strait cross- The task is thus an uncomplicated task for a play’ since we used to operate together in ing. For that purpose, we used the inland highly certified frigate. other contexts. Using a French naval base in Danish waters and straits. This gave a very The operation can generally be categorised Abu Dhabi was also an important pre-condi- realistic scenario, where also various input as a simple task in a very complex environ- tion for both the staff and the ship’s logistics. from other units and role players provided ment. I was very aware that a possible mis- Other lessons learned – besides the chal- good training in the legal considerations that take on my tactical level or other misinter- lenge with the force flow – I could have could be foreseen in the Strait of Hormuz. pretations among the actors at sea and in wished for even more strategic communi- After intense mission preparation weeks at the air could ultimately have military conse- cation, both to the entire world in general, sea in the summer of 2020, IVER HUITFELDT quences and strategic implications. but also specific to the merchant shipping was ready to begin the transit to the area of This mentioned, we did not actually see any units operating in the area. Also, more in- operations. activities we had not been prepared for. And teraction and cooperation with other local actors could be prioritised, but I know that these topics are well-known by the force headquarters. My overall conclusion from the tactical level

Photo: EMASOH is clear: it has been an easy and successful mission with very good cooperation within the task force.

MSD: Cmdr Skjødt, thank you. Fair winds and following seas.

IVER HUITFELDT alongside her French counterpart LANGUEDOC The questions were asked by (a French FREMM type frigate) Hans Uwe Mergener

64 Maritime Security & Defence · February 2021 HISTORY • POLITICS • TECHNOLOGY

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