NAVY NEWS WEEK 3-3

16 January 2018

BLACK SEA (Jan. 6, 2018) The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile USS Carney (DDG 64) fires a Phalanx close-in weapons system during a live-fire exercise in the Black Sea. Carney, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, is on its fourth patrol in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of regional allies and partners, and U.S. national security interests in Europe. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class James R. Turner/Released)

U.S. Navy awards BAE Systems $41 million contract to modernize USS Oscar Austin 3 Jan 2018

BAE Systems has received a $41.6 million contract from the U.S. Navy to modernize the guided missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79). The Oscar Austin will undergo 12 months of extensive work at the company’s shipyard in Norfolk, Virginia, the ship’s homeport. The contract includes options that, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value to $117.1 million. Under the depot maintenance period (DMP) contract, BAE Systems will dry-dock the 509- foot-long Oscar Austin. The shipyard’s employees and subcontractors will then upgrade the ship’s Aegis Combat System and will perform alterations and miscellaneous repairs that will affect nearly every onboard space. The work is expected to begin in February and be completed in February 2019. “The work we will perform on the Oscar Austin is large and complex, and will involve a large number of our employees and subcontractors,” said Dave Thomas, vice president and general manager of BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair. “We are prepared to perform this extensive work, which is vital for the ship’s future readiness and combat effectiveness. This contract is important work for the ship’s crew, the Navy, and our shipyard team and industry partners.” The Oscar Austin was commissioned in August 1990, and is named for a War-era Medal of Honor recipient. The ship is the second guided missile destroyer to undergo the extensive repair and upgrade work. BAE Systems’ shipyard in Jacksonville, Florida, is currently working on the first destroyer to undergo the DMP modernization, the USS Roosevelt (DDG 80). The company’s shipyard recently was awarded the first West Coast destroyer DMP contract for work on board the USS Howard (DDG 83). BAE Systems is a leading provider of ship repair, maintenance, modernization, conversion, and overhaul services for the Navy, other government agencies, and select commercial customers. The company operates five full-service shipyards in Alabama, , Florida, Hawaii, and Virginia, and offers a highly skilled, experienced workforce, eight dry docks, and significant pier space and ship support services. Source: https://www.baesystems.com

Surface Force Directing the Future of the Surface Fleet Release Date: 1/8/2018 7:48:00 PM From Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

PACIFIC OCEAN (Sept. 20, 2017) Sailors assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided- missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90) and the USNS Pecos (T-AO 197), break away from a replenishment-at-sea. Chafee is part of the U.S. 3rd Fleet and U.S. Naval Surface Forces, currently deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility on a routine scheduled deployment. The forces of both fleets complement one another across the spectrum of military operations in the Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Benjamin A. Lewis/Released)

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Commander, Naval Surface Forces (CNSF), Vice Adm. Tom Rowden is taking a holistic approach to implementing recommendations from the Comprehensive Review of Surface Force Incidents (CR) to ensure safe and effective ship operations at sea, the safety of our Sailors and the readiness of our surface forces. In the wake of three collisions and one grounding involving U.S. Navy ships this year, Vice Chief of Naval (VCNO) Operations Adm. Bill Moran assigned Adm. Phil Davidson, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, to lead a thorough review of surface ship mishaps over the last decade in order to inform improvements Navy-wide. "The comprehensive review found that over a sustained period of time, rising pressure to meet operational demands led those in command to rationalize declining standards - standards in fundamental seamanship and watchstanding skills, teamwork, operational safety, assessment and a professional culture. This resulted in a reduction of operational safety margins," said Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Adm. John Richardson during a November press conference when he announced the release of the CR. Davidson's report states, "Going forward, the Navy must develop and formalize 'firebreaks' into our force generation and employment systems to guard against a slide in standards." Based on the recommendations, Rowden and his staff continue to take decisive action to make the Surface Force safer, more proficient and more effective. Many of the CR recommendations fall within the scope of CNSF and are connected with the surface warfare community. However, the CR Oversight Board (OSB) is not only focused on implementing the recommended changes from the CR, but also broader initiatives to refine Navy policies, procedures, culture and training. This process will enhance the readiness of surface combatants. Rowden serves as one of the members of the OSB, which the CNO tasked the VCNO to lead. "The oversight board is going to make sure that we properly prioritize the recommendations in a framework that gets after the great needs of the fleet, and looking at it from the commanding officers' perspective," Moran said. The panel, which includes senior leaders like Davidson and Rowden, meets monthly to evaluate the progress toward implementing the CR recommendations. Taking this holistic approach, the Navy and its Surface Warfare community are moving quickly to implement immediate actions, as well as moving mid- and long- term initiatives into planning phases for the entire Surface Force. The efforts made today will set the surface warfare community on the right course to address issues identified in the CR and improve the surface fleet for decades to come. "I owe it to our Sailors to provide them the tools they need to be the most capable mariners and warfighters possible," said Rowden. A combined effort between Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific (CNSP) and Atlantic (CNSL) fleets will lead implementation of recommended changes and track those changes throughout the surface fleet. Their teams consist of representatives from Naval Sea Systems, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, Naval Personnel Command, Naval Education and Training Command, and other commands that have a role in making changes for current Sailors and how to develop future officers and Sailors to drive their ships, fight and win at sea. CNSP and CNSL serve as the central node for both realizing recommendations on the deckplates and relaying progress to senior leadership. At the time this article was submitted for publication, 11 CR recommendations had been accomplished by the Navy. The Surface Force continues to focus on completing all CR initiatives. Examples of other initiatives under consideration are a bridge resource management workshop, a junior officer of the deck course, officer of the deck assessments and prospective commanding officer competency checkpoint assessments. These initiatives were framed using the CR recommendations as well as Sailor feedback from when Rowden visited with commands and ship crews in , , and Everett, Washington, following the incidents. "We need to revisit basics and these initiatives are a look at how to do and train the fundamentals correctly," said Rowden. "If we can't master the basics, it will be challenging to be proficient operating at the tactical level." While the CR was gathering its information, Rowden, in concert with U.S. Pacific Fleet, commander, Adm. Scott Swift, took immediate action to address needed changes and improvements to the surface fleet at every opportunity. Following an operational pause directed by the CNO, Rowden recognized a need to improve confidence and competence in the surface Navy. To that end, the CNSF commander issued guidance directing a concerted focus on the basics upon which safe navigation rests: contact management; bridge resource management; subject to the cognizant policies of fleet , the transmission of Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) while operating in restricted waters and high-traffic areas; the aforementioned circadian rhythm watchbill and shipboard routine implementation; and ready for sea assessments. Additionally, subordinate commanders were directed to take specific actions such as ensuring more personal involvement with manning, watchbills, training and certification pillars in order to ensure increased safety and readiness of their units and ships - at sea and in port. “We've already implemented a number of the recommendations from the CR, and we will continue to address all of the remaining recommendations, ensuring all our initiatives put sharp focus on building better mariners, enhancing our ability to safely operate at sea and ultimately strengthening our warfighting capability," said Rowden. "The one thing that remains constant as we implement these initiatives is the dedication of the young Sailors that serve aboard our warships. They take great pride in their profession, as they should." Source: www.navy.mil Reading this, I get concerned for the SAN. It is suffering from a reducing budget, while there is no reduction in commitments. As evidence in the US Navy, this is a recipe for disaster.

BLACK SEA (Jan. 7, 2018) The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) operates in the Black Sea. Carney, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, is on its fourth patrol in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of regional allies and partners, and U.S. national security interests in Europe. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class James R. Turner/Released)

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presides over India’s show of naval might off western coast ET Bureau| Updated: Jan 09, 2018, 09.42 PM IST NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presided over India's show of naval might on Monday and Tuesday in which more than 10 warships took part off India's western coast, said the Defence Ministry. The warships included the , INS Vikramaditya, three and various naval aircraft that conducted operational manoeuvres. Sitharaman initially embarked INS Kolkata, the first of the indigenously built Kolkata Class and then spent the night at sea on-board INS Vikramaditya, according to the ministry. To assess the performance of the carrier in real conditions, the RM 'transited' through a simulated 'multi-threat' environment on-board along with her 'escorts' during Monday night. "Reviewing the maritime prowess of the Indian Navy over the two days, Sitharaman presided over a multiple complex naval operations including air interceptions, missile, gun and rocket firings, ship-to-ship replenishment, night flying and anti-- operations," said the ministry in a statement. The Western Fleet of the Indian Navy undertook these major naval manoeuvres off the western seaboard of India to showcase operational excellence and combat capabilities. The minister while commenting on the navy's battle readiness said, "Having witnessed first-hand the prowess of the Western Fleet, I am confident that the Indian Navy is fully capable of defending the nation against any form of threat", she stated. She also interacted with the sailors on-board the warships. Finally, minister disembarked the ship by a naval helicopter to INS Hansa, Goa, today. Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com

Pakistan Navy ships visit Port Victoria Navy Task Group comprising PNS Khaibar and PNS Nasr visited Port Victoria, during an Overseas Deployment to East African countries and Island States of Region. PNS Khaibar is a Type-21 and PNS Nasr is a combat support ship. Cdre Javaid lqbal, Commander 9th Auxiliary & Mine Warfare Squadron is commanding the Task Group as Mission Commander. During the visit, the Mission Commander along with Commanding Officers of the Ships held meetings with military leadership of Seychelles and discussed matters of mutual interests. This included call on with Ambassador Maurice Loustau Lalanne, Minister of Tourism, Brigadier Leopold F Payet, Chief of Seychelles Peoples Defence Forces, Mr Kishnan Laborite, Commissioner of the Seychelles Police, Mr David Andre, Mayor of Victoria and Ms Sheryl Vartgadasamy, Special Advisor (Police) to Minister of Home Affairs. Philanthropic activities like visit to St. Elizabeth Orphanage and La Retraite Elderly Home were also undertaken with donation of gifts. Officers and men of both the ships also visited Regional Coordination Operations Centre (RCOC) and discussed the importance of information sharing in maritime domain. Naval forces, as extension of government's foreign policy, have historically contributed to strengthen the bonds of friendship between nations through such goodwill visits. Cognizant of this fact, Pakistan Navy has always endeavoured to enhance collaboration with friendly countries. The visit of PN Task Group was aimed to promote peace and security in the region, enhance maritime collaboration and open new avenues of bilateral cooperation between the friendly countries. Source : the news

NAVSEA: New Navy Frigate Could Cost $950M Per Hull By: Sam LaGrone January 9, 2018 4:45 PM • Updated: January 9, 2018 11:37 PM

The littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) conducts routine patrols in international waters of the near the Spratly Islands as the People’s Liberation Army-Navy [PLA(N)] guided-missile frigate Yancheng (FFG 546) sails close behind, on May 11, 2015. US Navy photo.

This post has been updated to include additional information on the Littoral Combat Ship costs for Fiscal Year 2018. ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy’s new class of 20 guided-missile could cost an estimated $950 million per hull, the Naval Sea Systems Command FFG(X) program manager said on Tuesday. Speaking at the Surface Navy Association 2018 symposium, NAVSEA’s Regan Campbell said the new class of small surface combatant would set a so-called threshold requirement for a net average cost of $950 million for the second through 20th hulls in the FFG(X) next-generation frigate program following a downselect to a single shipbuilder in 2020. The lead ship in the class is expected to cost more than the $950-million average. In comparison, a Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer (DDG-51) costs about $1.8 billion to build and equip with sensors and weapon systems. That frigate number is also above the $588-million per-hull cost of the existing Lockheed Martin Freedom-class (LCS-1) and Austal USA Independence-class (LCS-2) Littoral Combat Ships slated for the Fiscal Year 2018 budget. The estimate emerges as the Navy is in the midst of a conceptual design review with an unknown number of bidders for the follow-on to the LCS, following a request for proposal issued late last year. By March, NAVSEA expects to award four to six contracts to further develop the conceptual designs ahead of the final construction contract award in 2020. “We’re going to have a technical review of each of these proposals by the end and provide them feedback in where these designs might need some buffing up to get to a full and open competition,” Campbell said. “You will see those requests for proposals by the fourth quarter of 2019, with an award in 2020.” While NAVSEA has not disclosed the bidders for last year’s RFP, USNI News understands up to eight or more designs are under consideration for the next phase of the program. Those designs not only likely include the two existing LCS builders but also several European frigate designs. European shipbuilders, like Spain’s Navantia, have experience building smaller frigate-sized warships using the Lockheed Martin Aegis Combat System. Aegis shares a common DNA with the COMBATSS-21 combat system currently in use on LCS and planned for FFG(X). “There are foreign ships that are competitors in the space and we anticipate those could be coming into play,” Campbell said. In addition to previously disclosed requirements, NAVSEA has set the range it would like to see for the number of the Mk-41 Vertical Launch System cells – an objective target of 32 and threshold of 16. The cells could field a single Raytheon SM-2 or SM-6 per cell or four Evolved SeaSparrow Missiles quad- packed into a single cell. In comparison, a Flight IIA Burke has 96 VLS cells. NAVSEA also will require the FFG(X) field a minimum eight over-the-horizon anti-ship missiles, with an objective requirement of 16. Source: https://news.usni.org

Supply vessel Mac Griffin at anchor in the with French navy vessel Tonnerre (L9014) in the background Photo : Gert van der Veer (c) Indian Navy Fully Capable To Deal With Any Threat, Says Defence Minister The navy said Nirmala Sitharaman "presided over" complex naval operations including air interceptions, missile, gun and rocket firings, ship-to-ship replenishment, night flying and anti-submarine operations during the two-day- long show which began yesterday. All India | Press Trust of India | Updated: January 09, 2018 23:00 IST

The defence minister embarked INS Kolkata, the first of the indigenously built Kolkata Class destroyers.

New Delhi: The Indian Navy is fully capable of defending the nation against any form of threat, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today said after witnessing a show of its operational might off the western coast of India. More than 10 warships from the Indian Navy including the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, three submarines and various naval aircraft participated in the show. The navy said Ms Sitharaman "presided over" complex naval operations including air interceptions, missile, gun and rocket firings, ship-to-ship replenishment, night flying and anti-submarine operations during the two-day-long show which began yesterday. The western fleet of the navy undertook the manoeuvres off the western seaboard of India to showcase operational excellence and combat capabilities. The defence minister initially embarked INS Kolkata, the first of the indigenously built Kolkata Class destroyers and then spent the night at sea on-board aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. "To assess the performance of the carrier in real conditions, Sitharaman 'transited' through a simulated 'multi-threat' environment on-board along with her 'escorts' during the night of January 8," the navy said in a statement. "Having witnessed first-hand the prowess of the Western Fleet, I am confident that the Indian Navy is fully capable of defending the nation against any form of threat," she was quoted as saying by the navy. Ms Sitharaman said the navy's "mission based" deployments in the Indian Ocean region have effectively contributed in keeping the seas safe. The navy had operationalised a new 'mission-ready' plan for aggressive deployment of warships in critical sea lanes around five months ago, seen as a move to counter China's growing assertiveness in the Indian Ocean region. Ms Sitharaman said the government was sparing no efforts to enable and empower the armed forces as they "stand firm" on the country's borders. "I am confident that your presence and preparedness will deter our adversaries from attempting any actions detrimental to our sovereignty and safeguard our interests," she said. She disembarked the ship by naval helicopter to INS Hansa in Goa today. Source: https://www.ndtv.com

US Navy Exploring Weaponized Unmanned Surface Vessels 00:58 10.01.2018 The US Navy and defense contractor Textron reached an agreement on Tuesday to study ways to arm the Navy’s Common Unmanned Surface Vehicle (CUSV). The vessel, which also goes under the "Fleet-class" unmanned boat classification, is a small, 40-foot ship originally designed to deploy from littoral ships to thwart underwater mines. The ship sends out electronic signals to detonate mines that listen for audio or electromagnetic signals from larger ships, Maritime Executive notes. Textron and the Navy will examine possibilities to "develop and integrate surface warfare payloads" onto the vessel, including "various missiles, designators, sensors and remote weapon stations," Textron said in a joint announcement with Naval Sea Systems Command. The unmanned ship is guided by a remote operator aboard a littoral combat ship and can last at sea for up to 20 hours. The design of the ship was specifically tailored to be "modular," or ready to handle new uses in the future beyond mine-countermeasures, a Textron executive told USNI News. "The ability to do that is because of the design of the CUSV — that open modular payload bay, the flexible architecture that the system is built off of," said Wayne Prender, senior vice president of control and surface systems at Textron. While it's not entirely clear what weapons could be stored in the ship or mounted onto it, USNI News noted that a 30mm remote-controlled autocannon would be able to fit onto the ship, and the AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire missile is already designed for small boat anti-surface warfare. Israel pioneered the concept of weaponized unmanned surface vessels, particularly with the Rafael-made Protector, sometimes called the "Death Shark." The Death Shark is equipped with several cameras and sensors and can be outfitted with a.50 caliber machine gun, grenade launcher or Gatling gun, USNI News said. Singapore has purchased multiple Death Sharks over the years to conduct patrol missions. Source: https://sputniknews.com

Babcock launches 'Team 31' bid for new UK frigate Babcock has announced it will lead a bespoke team of industry partners in a bid for the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) new £1.25 billion Type 31e general purpose light frigate programme, building on the success of its role within the Aircraft Carrier Alliance. Two of the UK’s leading defence suppliers – Babcock and Thales – have joined forces with BMT, Harland & Wolff and Ferguson Marine to form ‘Team 31’ to deliver world-class ships that will drive economic benefits throughout the UK. The highly experienced team will seek to deliver capable, cost-effective and flexible ships to the and, using the team’s considerable international reach, maximise export opportunities. The announcement comes as the UK Government’s Secretary of State for Defence; The Rt Hon Gavin Williamson MP toured Babcock’s Appledore facility in North Devon and met with members of its workforce. Babcock will act as the overall programme lead, whilst Thales will have overall responsibility for the development of the Mission System solution. Babcock and BMT will use their unrivalled experience in the development of designs for both naval and commercial vessels to produce a world-class product.The make-up of the team will ensure that the economic benefits of the programme are shared across the UK. Ferguson Marine on the Clyde, Harland & Wolff in Belfast and the Babcock facilities in Fife and Devon will all have key roles to play, while much of the equipment provided by Thales and others will support jobs across the UK. The UK’s National Shipbuilding Strategy has ushered in a new and exciting era for naval procurement in the UK. Building on key lessons from the success of the Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier programme and the Offshore Patrol Vessel for the Irish Naval Service, the Strategy seeks to maximise UK content, export potential and the cost and programme benefits of a modular build using the breadth of skills and facilities available across the UK. Team 31’s modular build approach will make best use of UK facilities, innovation and skills to deliver a cutting-edge platform that combines capability with value-for-money and advanced technology to afford class-leading levels of availability and operating costs. Babcock CEO Archie Bethel said: “Team 31 will allow Babcock and Thales to take forward the key lessons from the Aircraft Carrier Alliance and apply them in a new and highly capable team with Harland & Wolff, BMT and Ferguson Marine. “We firmly believe that our combined skills can deliver an affordable and effective Type31e Frigate programme for the Royal Navy and offer something new and exciting in the export market. With a high degree of UK content and the use of innovative technologies, we believe that our approach will deliver real benefits to UK plc.” Victor Chavez, CEO of Thales UK said: “Thales UK is delighted to be working with Babcock and our partners as part of Team 31. We recognise the diversity of roles anticipated for Type31e and, together, we will create and exciting, innovative and flexible capability for the Royal Navy based on the best of UK and international technologies in an open- system architecture that will ensure long term value for money.” Sarah Kenny, BMT CEO said: “BMT has supported the UK and global maritime sector for decades. As a proud member of Team 31, we are delighted to be shaping the Type 31e programme, and we welcome the opportunity to bring our substantial global engineering experience to bear on this vital UK defence programme. We are confident that the combined Team 31 offering will meet the exacting requirements of the UK MOD whilst creating UK shipbuilding industry momentum and a competitive offering for wider export opportunities”. For more information, please visit: https://www.babcockinternational.com/

Visakhapatnam: Fire breaks out on INS Shivalik warship, no casualties reported The blaze was extinguished after six hours.

INS Shivalik at sea. Photo: Indian Navy

A fire broke out on the Indian Navy’s stealth warship INS Shivalik in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday, ANI reported. There were no casualties. The blaze erupted on the vessel while it was docked at the Eastern Naval Command’s engine store room. The fire was doused after six hours. Unidentified Navy officials said that an inquiry has been ordered into the incident. More details are awaited. Source: https://scroll.in

China’s new landing ship useful in island dispute: expert By Liu Xin Source:Global Times Published: 2018/1/10 21:58:39 Another Type 071 landing ship from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy came into the limelight on Wednesday with military experts saying such ships could enhance military advantages in dealing with potential island disputes. With a maximum displacement of 29,000 tons, the 210-meter-long, 28-meter-wide Longhushan is the largest domestically designed amphibious warfare ship in China, news site thepaper.cn reported on Wednesday. Longhushan was named after a mountain in Yingtan, Jiangxi Province. The civil affairs bureau of the East China city released a notice on January 2 in an effort to collect a song for the new ship from the public. The song needs to represent thoughts of enhancing the PLA and display the image of Longhushan, according to the notice. "China is developing Type 071 ships to meet requirements of possible wars involved with islands in the future, which could help it gain advantages in solving disputes on islands as well as questions involved with Taiwan," Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times on Wednesday. China owns four or five amphibious warfare ships, Song said. Type 071 have helicopters that can land on islands from the sea. The Type 071 can work with Type 075 amphibious assault ships and help the navy win control of the air during landing operations, according to Song. "The Type 071 ships are equipped with defensive weaponry to deal with enemy attacks," said Song. "It could also deliver the navy and the army to the target island. The expanding number of this type of ships could greatly enhance the PLA Navy's amphibious warfare capability," Song said. Zhang Junshe, a senior research fellow at the PLA Naval Military Studies Research Institute, told the Global Times on Wednesday that aside from its use in landing operations, Type 071 ships have joined PLA Navy escort missions since the year of 2008. "China has fewer landing ships than that of the US. And the PLA Navy is expanding the groups as it develops," Zhang said. Source: http://www.globaltimes.cn Saudi Forces Thwart Bomb Boat Attack in Red Sea By MarEx 2018-01-10 17:23:04 The Saudi coalition backing the Yemeni government in Yemen's civil war announced Wednesday that it had thwarted an attempted bomb-boat attack on a tanker off Hodeidah. A spokesman told media that over the weekend, coalition forces destroyed a boat laden with explosives that was headed for an unnamed tanker. He suggested that the attack was evidence that militants in Hodeidah pose a threat to merchant shipping in the Red Sea and at the chokepoint at its southern end, the Strait of Bab al-Mandeb. In addition, he said that militia members attempted to target a Saudi jet over the weekend using "advanced weaponry." The announcement came just one day after Yemen's Houthi rebel group said that it would block Red Sea shipping lanes if the Saudi-led coalition continued its advance towards the port of Hodeidah, which handles a majority of Yemeni imports and is a key landing point for aid shipments. “The battleships and oil tankers of the aggression and their movements will not be safe from the fire of Yemeni naval forces," the group said in a statement carried by its official news site. Houthi forces have demonstrated the ability to attack large ships before. An anti-ship missile fired by Houthi forces destroyed the ex-U.S. Navy transport HSV-2 Swift in October 2016; in a subsequent attack, the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Mason came under fire, but she was not harmed. American forces retaliated with Tomahawk missile strikes on radar installations on shore. The rebel forces have also deployed inventive tactics: a drone boat laden with explosives struck and damaged a Saudi warship off Hodeidah in January 2017, and improvised naval mines planted near the port of Mokha damaged a Yemeni coast guard vessel in May 2017. American defense analysts believe that Houthi forces are receiving technical and material assistance from Iran, which has enhanced the militants' capabilities. Most of the attacks have targeted naval vessels, but merchant shipping does not appear to be exempt. Last June, Saudi forces said that a small boat fired three rocket-propelled grenades at a merchant tanker in the Strait of Bab al-Mandeb. The vessel and her crew escaped unharmed. Source: https://maritime-executive.com

Navy Has Choice: More Ships or Fewer Missions, Surface Commander Says

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Kidd, USS Howard and USS Shoup participate in a group sail as part of Tiger Cruise 2017 for the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group on Dec. 2, 2017, in the Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ian D. Zagrocki)

Military.com 10 Jan 2018 By Hope Hodge Seck The commander of Naval Surface Forces believes the Navy can recover from the jarring tragedies of last summer, when the service lost 17 sailors in two separate ship collisions in the Pacific. But, he said, recovery will take time, and that will mean finding slack in the surface fleet's high operational tempo. In one of his last public addresses in his position, Vice Adm. Thomas Rowden spoke Tuesday at the Surface Navy Association's annual symposium near Washington, D.C. On the heels of the two ship collisions, Rowden requested early retirement and will hand off the position to his successor, Rear Adm. Richard Brown, in the next three weeks. Recently released investigations into the collisions of the destroyers Fitzgerald and John S. McCain with commercial vessels revealed errors of watchstanding, communication, and ship control that resulted in the disasters. Concurrent reviews ordered by the chief of naval operations and the secretary of the Navy highlighted an array of issues, including failures in training of surface officers and career trajectories that kept them from developing proficiency in driving ships. It also found that fatigue was a problem, with overworked sailors forgoing sleep to stand watches. The Navy is in the process of evaluating dozens of prescriptive recommendations to fix identified problems. Some measures have already been implemented by Rowden, including a policy to allow sailors to get more regular sleep aboard ship and a ready-for-sea assessment program that evaluates surface ships before they deploy. In his address, Rowden said all these changes will require a costly resource: time. "[Ship crews in the Western Pacific need] time. Time to maintain their gear, time to refresh their basic individual and team skills, and time to unwind," he said. "Time will only come from one of two things, or a combination of them -- more ships, and fewer obligations. It is hard to see things any other way." The Navy is only now beginning to acknowledge within the institution that it might have to take on fewer missions in order to rebuild readiness and ensure safe operations. Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer broached the topic in December, noting that the Navy is currently fulfilling only 50 percent of tasking received from the Joint Chiefs and geographic combatant commanders. He added that the service may have to turn down more missions to avoid being overtasked. For Rowden to make a similar statement as an operational commander sends a strong message. As the commander of the Navy's surface forces, he noted that his job is to get the mission done. "The adjudication is above my paygrade," he said. However, he added, it is his responsibility to speak out about the supply and demand mismatch. " 'Hey, Tom, can you do it?' 'Yes,' " Rowden said. "But the question that I have to ask myself is ... should I do it? Based on where we are on the materiel perspective, on the manning perspective, whatever the case may be. That's kind of at the fundamental basis. We've got to find answers." The Navy does plan to build more ships -- it continues to endorse a goal of a 355-ship fleet -- but significant growth has yet to be planned or funded, and is years away in any case. And if the Navy does plan to pull back from certain taskings, officials are not yet ready to say which ones. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson declined to get into specifics Tuesday ahead of the Navy's ongoing effort to internalize findings from its two recent reviews. Source: https://www.military.com

'Not a Truck': Future Amphibs May Carry Fewer Marines, More Lethality Military.com 10 Jan 2018 By Hope Hodge Seck

Artist rendering of the LX(R) Future Amphibious Ship (Image: Huntington Ingalls Industry)

The days of treating amphibious ships like shuttle buses that get Marines to the fight are over. The commandant of the Marine Corps wants his troops to be able to "fight to get to the fight," and that may mean shaking up the loadout of the amphibious assault ship -- and possibly leaving some personnel and gear off in favor of equipment that boosts the ship's lethal power. Speaking at the Surface Navy Association's annual symposium near Washington, D.C., Marine Maj. Gen. David Coffman, the Navy's director of expeditionary warfare, said he wants to get the service thinking differently about how to use its beloved amphibs. Years ago, he said, the ships were viewed exclusively based on what they could carry. "How many aircraft can you embark and operate, how many landing craft ... vehicles, rolling stock, square footage, how much cargo ... how many troops can you put in racks," he said. "That is important. But that's not an amphibious warship; that's a truck." When troops are transiting through the Straits of Hormuz or the Bab Al Mandab on a ship, the reality of the potential threat they face comes home, Coffman said. In fall 2016, the crew of the destroyer Mason had to employ defensive measures when it was fired on in the Bab Al Mandab by missiles shot by Houthi rebels from the coast of Yemen. "I make the captain do the lifeboat drill. Then I walk [around] and ask the Marines, 'Why are we doing this drill?' " Coffman said. "Because you might get sunk. And how tragic if all this combat capability, not to say the lives, are at the bottom of the ocean because we could not figure out how to integrate, physically, technically and operationally, such that we can win both the sea control and the power projection fight." It's about minor trade-offs, Coffman said. "The 1,232nd lance corporal in [battalion landing team] 1/1 is not as important to me as what he's doing with C5I on that ship," he said, using the acronym for command, control, communications, computers, collaboration, and intelligence. The 1,230th to 1,252nd lance corporal on that ship and the last seven Humvees and other stuff, get rid of all of them. You mean I'm going to get some special ops, irregular warfare capability; you mean I'm going to get some enhanced [signals intelligence]; you mean I'm going to get some better radars; you mean I'm going to get fires to do some of my own killing?" Coffman said. "Thank you, Marines, for your interest in national service. We'll see you at the beach, or we'll get you there another way." This shift is already taking place to some extent. The LX(R) future amphibious ship design includes 650 berthing spaces for Marines, compared with 700 in the San Antonio-class amphibious assault ship that LX(R) is planned to succeed, a design change spurred by cost concerns and capability needs. The Corps has also begun actively exploring ways to add lethality to the amphibious ship. In a proof-of- concept exercise in October, the service fired a HIMARS rocket from the amphibious transport dock Anchorage while it was off the West Coast, obliterating a land-based target 70 miles away. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller has also publicly discussed his interest in using the available space for vertical launching system, or VLS, cells aboard the San Antonio-class amphibs to enable the ships to fire missiles. Other technology or capability additions may be yet to be determined. "Here's a deck on a future [amphibious] ship. What's going to go on there? I don't know yet," Coffman said. "Whatever the right person buys. Or ... what the commandant buys." Coffman emphasized than any loadout trade-offs for amphibious ships will be on the margin, rather than wholesale swaps. "The main battery of the L-Class amphibious assault warship is the embarked [Marine air-ground task force]," he said. "We wouldn't buy [amphibs] just to do sea control. We'd buy and destroyers or future combatants. Our proposition is, we probably need the diversity of all those things." Source: https://www.military.com

India to negotiate price for Russian warships next week: Move could boost New Delhi's ties with its most important defence ally India FP Staff Jan 11, 2018 14:54:15 IST India will begin negotiations with Russia next week regarding the acquisition of four stealth frigates to scale up the Indian Navy's capabilities, a report in Hindustan Times quoted a senior government official as saying. The report quoted defence sources as saying that India is prepared to bargain hard for the project. "Price negotiation with a visiting Russian delegation will begin on 15 January. GSL has the expertise and infrastructure to build the warships in the country," said the public sector yard's chairman, Rear Shekhar Mital (retd). Of the four new stealth frigates, two will be constructed in Kaliningrad while two others will be at Goa. They will take the total number of Russian stealth frigates with India to 10; India currently operates six frigates purchased from Russia between 2003 and 2013 — three each of the Talwar Class and Teg Class. The move comes just a week after Prime Minister spoke to Russian president Vladimir Putin on the occasion of New Year, and the two sides vowed to strengthen special and privileged bilateral partnerships. "They discussed the intensification of the bilateral relations between India and Russia and their cooperation on international forums," the release said. They positively reviewed the exchanges between the two countries in 2017 and agreed to further strengthen the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia, it said. Course correction The deal signed with Russia would be a type of course correction for India, which has inched towards the US in recent years. Though Russia still remains India's largest defence supplier, New Delhi has begun looking towards the US for its top- of-the-line defence requirements. As reported by Firstpost earlier, Russia contributes 68 percent of India's total arms import, while the US is a distant second place with 14 percent. However, as pointed out in a separate copy by The Times of India, if you narrow it down to deals struck in recent years, the US would actually overtake Moscow to top spot. Russia has notched military sales worth over $40 billion since the first MiG-21 jets and T-55 tanks in the 1960s to the present-day Sukhoi-30MKI fighters and T-90S main-battle tanks, The Times of India report said. However, the US is aggressively working at making inroads into the Indian defence market. And not only them, Israel and France are also eyeing this sector. India, incidentally, has turned to Israel even to upgrade some of its Russian-origin equipment, The Times of India report added. From 2007 onwards, the report said, the US has bagged Indian defence deals worth almost $10 billion, including deals for 12 C-130J 'Super Hercules' aircraft, eight P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft and 10 C-17 Globemaster-III giant strategic airlift aircraft ($4.1 billion). All this is happening at a time when ties between the US and Russia are frayed. Technical cooperation between India and the US is coming at a time when there exists great distrust between Washington and Moscow since the Ukraine crisis. A report on The Hindu said Moscow is increasingly wary of US-India defence cooperation lest it compromises existing Russian defence technology in Indian hands. At times like these, if India and Russia manage to sign the defence pacts for four stealth frigates, it will come as a great boost to their bilateral ties. As mentioned by the report on The Hindu, India can ill afford to alienate Russia. Moscow's technical assistance to India’s indigenous nuclear submarine programme has been immense. Its first nuclear submarine, INS Arihant, was with Moscow's assistance, and this assistance is something that India's next generation of nuclear submarines would also need. Russian naval personnel are always on board its nuclear submarines which are leased to India, the report said. And though some Indian strategists now argue for US technical cooperation in naval nuclear propulsion, New Delhi knows it will be difficult for the US to overcome its reluctance to share military nuclear technology with India. For the sake of future possibility of cooperation with the US, India is unlikely to alienate its most important defence partner. Source: http://www.firstpost.com

Workhorses of the sea

The Arbol Grande moored at Damen Shiprepair in Willemstad- Curacao Photo : Hermann Hazenberg ©