RAN and USN sign agreement on Collins Sub

[gf0012-aust]

AGREEMENT SIGNED WITH THE US OVER COLLINS SUBS



A new era of cooperation has been reached between Australia and the United States in the further development and improvement of the new combat system being provided for Australia’s Collins Class Submarines.

The system, called the AN/BYG-1 Combat Control System, will be installed in both US Navy and Royal Australian Navy submarines under an Armaments Cooperation Project.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed by Australia and the United States for future joint development, production and support of the combat system.

Defence Minister Robert Hill said this latest decision follows the Government’s approval of the $455 million Collins Replacement Combat System Project in September 2002 and will lead to significant upgrades to the capability of the Collins Fleet commencing with the first installation in 2006.

"Cooperating with the US Navy means we have the opportunity to influence the design and development of the systems and to participate in a continuous upgrade process that will provide the latest advances while continuing to meet our particular requirements," Senator Hill said.

"The cooperative approach also provides opportunities for Australian industry to inject Australian innovative technology into the joint program and to participate in supporting the systems while in service.

"The MOU specifically provides for industry from both countries to bid for work on equal terms and to be selected competitively."

The new combat systems will complement the new advanced capability torpedoes for the Collins Class submarines, also approved by the Government late 2002, and also being developed and produced under an Armaments Cooperation Project with the US Navy.


http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/Hilltpl.cfm?CurrentId=4378

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This is interesting in the sense that some of the items discussed have already been underway for some time. So it appears to be a more formalised acknowledgement for moving forward.

This is the same combat system that is going into the Seawolfs on a replacement, and future Virginia class vessels

 

[Aussie Digger]

And they reckon the Collins Class are good now. Wait til they get this new Combat system and the new Mk48 ADCAP Torpedo...

 

[gf0012-aust]

And they reckon the Collins Class are good now. Wait til they get this new Combat system and the new Mk48 ADCAP Torpedo...

The new Mk 48 ADCAP is a RAN/USN co-operative build. It's known as a Mod 7 CBASS and will only be used by the USN and RAN. It's been optimised to go shallow water hunting and geared towards the new generation conventionals (like the 214's etc....) So the software has been rebuilt and optimised. The ADCAP was initially designed to sink Akulas and Typhoons, so it's quite a belter. It was designed to take out 100,000 tonners (ie CVN sized vessels) with about 3 shots. It will split a large DDG destroyer in two. (although I think the numbers say that the Russian Sovremenys could be dropped in one shot as well - this was in the hoary days when the Russians were the enemy)

At this stage I think it's the LA's, Seawolfs, Virginias and SSGN's getting them as well as the Collins (when ready). The software packs have been optimised for a fast changeover. Also new acoustic sensors.

I'm not sure if you've ever seen the footage of a "48" ADCAP clobbering the Torrens. But she bubbles her up and breaks her in 2 in a matter of minutes. It was on the ADF site at one stage.

It's a popular vid whenever I've seen it Naval Conferences. Everyone just stops and goes "faaaarrrrk"

Shock testing with a Mk 48 ADCAPs has left a few panels ruptured on some of the USN's "testees".

 

[Pendekar]

It will be quite a distance for any "nearby" countries submarines to catch up with collins.

 

[Aussie Digger]

I have seen that video gf, impressive wot? The Collins are very good, Pendekar, but why should other Countries feel the need to "catch up"? Have we ever shown ourselves to be irresponsible with our military capability? That sort of thing only encourages a tit for tat arms race. Something we aren't interested in...

 

[Pendekar]

let's just say it's important to keep a balance, just for deterance.

 

[Ethan]

Dont know much about other competing torpedoes but from what I know I'd say that the Mark 48 ADCAP is probably the most advanced torpedo in it's class. I read on the www.globaldefence.com that a South Korean Type-209 sub actually carried out a live fire exercise against an old cruiser of more than 10,000 tons.

The result of a single shot was that the hull bouned in the air, split in two and sank in less than 15 minutes. I'd say this is a pretty awesome weapon and would sink most of the surface combatants in any navy in a single shot.

 

[gf0012-aust]

U.S., Australia To Develop Future Sub Combat System
By GREGOR FERGUSON, ADELAIDE, Australia


The close ties between the U.S. and Australian navies will become more intimate under a November agreement to develop a new family of command systems for use on both countries’ submarines.

The AN/BYG-1 combat command system fuses data from sonar and other sensors, calculates firing solutions, and presents situational and navigational information. The system is built by Raytheon, which calls it the Command Control System Mk 2 (CCS2).

Australia ordered the BYG-1 in 2002 to replace the troubled systems on its six Collins-class subs. The U.S. Navy intends to install it aboard its Los Angeles- and Seawolf-class subs.



The November memorandum of understanding commits both nations to improve the BYG-1. The agreement will run five years, and may be extended by mutual agreement.

“Cooperating with the U.S. Navy means we have the opportunity to influence the design and development of the systems, and to participate in a continuous upgrade process that will provide the latest advances while continuing to meet our particular requirements,†said Australia’s defense minister, Sen. Robert Hill, announcing the agreement Nov. 19.

The U.S. Navy will lead the BYG-1 program at a U.S./Australian Joint Project Office in Washington, an Australian defense official said. The navies will fund the project in proportion to the number of subs that are eventually to be equipped with the BYG-1. Each may also fund special work for its own subs, Navy sources in Canberra said.

Most of the BYG-1 development will be undertaken by the U.S. Navy Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) in Newport, R.I. The Royal Australian Navy’s team is led by the NUWC; Raytheon Naval & Maritime Integrated Systems, Tewkesbury, Mass.; and Raytheon Australia, Canberra.

U.S. Navy officials were unable to provide more information by press time.

Raytheon and General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton, Conn., provide major components for the BYG-1. Raytheon Australia will install and integrate the CCS2 on the Collins-class submarines, including the first system aboard a Collins-class boat in 2006.

Australia will fund its contribution under the 455 million Australian dollar ($344 million) Collins Replacement Combat System (RCS) program.

The arms-cooperation agreement is the third between Washington and Canberra; a 2001 accord promoted earlier development of the CCS2, while a second, signed earlier this year, covered joint development of the Mk48 Mod7 ADCAP (Additional Capability) heavyweight torpedo, which will arm both navies’ submarines after 2007 or so.

The 2001 agreement was intended to split the cost and risk of developing the system and to share the knowledge of the two countries’ industry and research communities, a naval source said.

U.S. firms are pre-eminent in large-scale systems integration and submarine command-and-control technology, but Australia has much to offer as well, the naval source said. Nautronix, Fremantle; Acacia Research, Adelaide; and Sonartech Atlas, Sydney, have developed world-class sonar and target-tracking technologies.

“The cooperative approach provides opportunities for Australian industry to inject Australian innovative technology into the joint program and to participate in supporting the systems while in service,†Hill said. “The MoU specifically provides for industry from both countries to bid for work on equal terms and to be selected competitively.â€

The Australian government’s Defence Science & Technology Organisation is not yet involved in the BYG-1 program, but may help with two supporting research projects planned by the U.S. Navy: the Advanced Processor Build and Technology Insertion programs.

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Update to prev. http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=537679&C=americas

 

[corsair7772]

hey gf, is it possible to fire underwater UAVs from a Submarine? Probably through the missile tubes?

 

[highsea]

Corsair, did you mean UUV's? The current UAV's employed by the US (predator, global hawk) are too big to sub launch (naturally).

The US has a UUV that is used on 688 class SSN's for mine hunting.

UUVs allow an SSN to safely gain access to denied areas with revolutionary sensors and weapons. These areas may be denied based on unacceptable risks to an SSN such as extremely shallow water, very poor acoustic conditions, or mined waters. UUVs provide unique capabilities and extend the "reach" of our platforms while reducing the risk to an SSN and its crew.

UUVs are envisioned to contribute to the following SSN mission areas: Mine Warfare (MIW); Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR); and undersea environmental sensing and mapping.

The first UUVs that will be fielded on SSNs will support Mine Warfare. The Long-term Mine Reconnaissance System (LMRS) will greatly improve submarines’ mine hunting capabilities in the near future. Ultimately, a mission reconfigurable UUV will also come into service providing more capabilities and reducing risk to future SSNs. UUVs are key elements in maintaining submarines’ future undersea dominance against any threat.

The Navy's current inventory of UUVs can be loaded on 688/688I class submarines using standard weapons handling procedures. They can be airlifted or shipped to any forward site capable of conducting weapons handling evolutions.

UUVs were used in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Naval Special Clearance Team (NSCT) One, along with Royal Navy and Australian forces, on March 24, 2003, handled the task of exploratory mine hunting to render the port safe for incoming humanitarian aid shipments. NSCT One accomplished its mission with the aid of Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (UUV). They also conducted additional UUV operations further up the river at Az Zubayr and Karbala, Iraq. NSCT 1 went into action by initially checking the bottom for mines. Then the divers conducted tactile searches of the quay wall out into the surrounding water to determine any possible mine burial zones.

In all, NSCT One conducted ten missions in the waters off Umm Qasr, covering a total of 2.5 million square meters.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/systems/uuv.htm

 

[corsair7772]

Something like that but a bit more radical. Im talkin something like a predator designed for aqua operations, packed up to fit in the missile tube and launched from underwater, unfolding once its out and then doin the same mission as any other UAV like attacking ground targets. If a UAV like this can be mated with submarines, then if im right it could expand the roles performed by a submarine.

 

[highsea]

Actually we are working on something that would sort of be like that. Darpa is working on the next generation of cruise missiles that will be able to loiter over an area searching for targets. It will have AAR capabilities and even be able to RTB if no targets are found. So you could have a sub-launched version of that. I don't know about remote controlling it like a UAV, but it doesn't seem like it would be too hard to do. I do know it will be reprogrammable in flight. You would have to have a disposable booster for sub launching, but the rest of the missile could still be re-usable (until it found a target anyway).

 

[gf0012-aust]

Something like that but a bit more radical. Im talkin something like a predator designed for aqua operations, packed up to fit in the missile tube and launched from underwater, unfolding once its out and then doin the same mission as any other UAV like attacking ground targets. If a UAV like this can be mated with submarines, then if im right it could expand the roles performed by a submarine.

The USN already has that concept in place for the Virginias and future subs. It's a conformal UUV that is networked to the sub and is weapons delivery capable.

The platform has been under test for the last few years.

 

[Awang se]

Much like the concept developed by japanese during WW2, launching aircraft from submarine.

I just wondering that maybe AIP system installed on submarine might be a little bit noisy compare to the running on electric.

what kind of AIP used on collins?

 

[metro]

The USN already has that concept in place for the Virginias and future subs. It's a conformal UUV that is networked to the sub and is weapons delivery capable.

The platform has been under test for the last few years.

- This sounds similar to what you're describing, maybe it's done testing?

Navy introduces unmanned mini-sub for Gulf operations

WASHINGTON — The navy has overseen a project to develop an unmanned underwater vehicle that could recovered by a submerged submarine. The platform was meant for missions in the shallow waters of the Gulf to guard against saboteurs.

[The AN/BLQ-11 is designed to be launched, torpedo-style, from Los Angeles class submarines to survey, detect and gather data on underwater objects for more than 12 hours.]

The AN/BLQ-11 UUV has been developed by Boeing. For the first time, the company demonstrated UUV recovery by a submarine.
"This milestone represents a critical next step for the U.S. Navy and opens the door for a whole new set of advanced submarine missions," Dan Jones, director of Boeing Advanced Information Systems, said.

During recent tests, a U.S. Navy attack submarine launched the AN/BLQ-11 from one of its torpedo tubes. AN/BLQ-11, formerly called the Long-term Mine Reconnaissance System, returned to the vessel and reentered the submarine.

"With this recent success, Boeing has taken another important step in UUV development by demonstrating that the unmanned vehicle can return to the submarine and be recovered by a robotic arm," Jones said.

Executives said the retrieval was conducted during the UUVs first attempt. They said two days later another successful demonstration took place.

"The AN/BLQ-11 system demonstrated all of the elements required for a complete UUV launch and recovery evolution," Boeing said on Nov. 26. "The U.S. Navy then secured from testing after having met all test objectives in half the allotted time."

In 1999, the U.S. Navy's Unmanned Undersea Vehicle program office selected Boeing to work on the LMRS program, later known as the AN/BLQ-11 system. AN/BLQ-11 was designed for launch from the host submarine's torpedo tube to survey, detect and gather data on mines and other underwater threats.

After completing its mission, the UUV docks with a robotic arm that extends from another of the host submarine's torpedo tubes for recovery back through the launch tube. Executives said the system enables operators to retrieve data from the vehicle and prepare for re-launch.

During the tests, AN/BLQ-11 also performed such several vehicle maneuvers as station keeping and operating underwater alongside the host submarine. Executives said the tests supported the navy's decision to pursue development of the 21-inch diameter submarine-deployed UUVs.

View attachment 2098

www.geostrategy-direct.com, December 24, 2007

 

[Transient]

I think he's referring to the Manta UUV. The AN/BLQ-11 isn't conformal.