RSN capabilities
- Thread starter SGMilitary
- Start date
I have some questions concerning the deployments of the Scaneagle in the RSN and UAV on frigates in general. Given the relative cheap price of a single Scaneagle (~100000$+sensor package) and the nature of UAV (or even aircraft in general) operations in peacetime and especiall combat would it not make a lot of sense to use a relative high number with different sensor suites (8-12) of them on board of a single frigate?. With two controlling stations and finely networked and automated sensors and the ability to auto- and programmed flight in combination with the ships C4ISR could vastly increase the ISR capabilites of a fleet.
BTW it sees that the larger sister-UAV of the Scaneagle, the Integrator will use the same launch, control and recovery systems, making it potentially very interesting addition.
BTW it sees that the larger sister-UAV of the Scaneagle, the Integrator will use the same launch, control and recovery systems, making it potentially very interesting addition.
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As reported in Aug 2007:
"a team from Boeing launched a trio of ScanEagle UAVs and, under the minimal guidance of a single human controller, let them fly missions on their own. The ground controller commanded the robotic craft to search for and track moving vehicles on the ground, then sat back to let them decide how best to accomplish their mission—including how to avoid being seen or heard by the targets...
ScanEagles, unlike joystick-controlled craft like Predators, already fly autonomously... The demonstrations of the new software, called Distributed Information-Centralized Decision (DI-CD, or “diced”), were an unqualified success. That’s good news for Marshall Williams, the Boeing Advanced Systems program manager who taught this small flock of ScanEagles how to fly. Williams says it’s all about creating programs that respond to the way humans communicate, instead of training people to translate commands so computers can understand them. “It’s a whole new way of telling them what to do,” he says. “You tell them, I need pictures of those things in this space.”
...Teamed with an optical tracking program called Stalker, DI-CD kept monitoring the truck as it made several abrupt turns, stops, and starts to evade detection. The software automatically adjusted the ScanEagles’ flight path to optimize viewing angles, while staying out of sight. A human operator would find it difficult or impossible to keep a ScanEagle fixed on a weaving vehicle while manually plugging in waypoints.
Advances like DI-CD are fulfilling the early promise of UAVs, says Daryl Davidson, executive director of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International. “When you put more than one of these in the air, that’s where you really multiply your capabilities,” he says. And with a single controller operating several aircraft at once, the cost of staffing and training comes down. Davidson says it’s a sign of things to come, inside and outside the Pentagon."
ScanEagles, unlike joystick-controlled craft like Predators, already fly autonomously... The demonstrations of the new software, called Distributed Information-Centralized Decision (DI-CD, or “diced”), were an unqualified success. That’s good news for Marshall Williams, the Boeing Advanced Systems program manager who taught this small flock of ScanEagles how to fly. Williams says it’s all about creating programs that respond to the way humans communicate, instead of training people to translate commands so computers can understand them. “It’s a whole new way of telling them what to do,” he says. “You tell them, I need pictures of those things in this space.”
...Teamed with an optical tracking program called Stalker, DI-CD kept monitoring the truck as it made several abrupt turns, stops, and starts to evade detection. The software automatically adjusted the ScanEagles’ flight path to optimize viewing angles, while staying out of sight. A human operator would find it difficult or impossible to keep a ScanEagle fixed on a weaving vehicle while manually plugging in waypoints.
Advances like DI-CD are fulfilling the early promise of UAVs, says Daryl Davidson, executive director of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International. “When you put more than one of these in the air, that’s where you really multiply your capabilities,” he says. And with a single controller operating several aircraft at once, the cost of staffing and training comes down. Davidson says it’s a sign of things to come, inside and outside the Pentagon."
While I do not know how many ScanEagles are launched in each mission, the above quote shows, that the ScanEagles can operate as a flock.
Thanks for digging it up. As expected the relative low cost and qualities of systems surrounding the Scaneagle and of the UAV itself are almost ideal for an use in a flock. I guess that in roughly 10-15 years a large number of such ISR UAV with different sensor packages will be considered a sine qua non for modern firgates.
SGMilitary
New Member
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
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Is there any updates for the following?
1. Details on RSN soon to be upgraded Bedok MCMV by Thales Defence?
2. Any add on order for S70B Sea Hawks ? 6 at current is on the low side.
3. Any plans to replace the Fokker 50 MPA?
4. Will the RSN procure Scan eagle UAS?
5. Upgrade plans for Victory MCV?
6. Final armament fit for Formidable FFG?
Regards.
1. Details on RSN soon to be upgraded Bedok MCMV by Thales Defence?
2. Any add on order for S70B Sea Hawks ? 6 at current is on the low side.
3. Any plans to replace the Fokker 50 MPA?
4. Will the RSN procure Scan eagle UAS?
5. Upgrade plans for Victory MCV?
6. Final armament fit for Formidable FFG?
Regards.
IIRC the US navy ship which covered the rescue operation with a Scaneagle operates around 8. Any news about the RSS Persistence (a most fitting name for the operation), her mission and her crew?
1. The RSS Persistence is on a 3 month deployment (starting April 9, 2009) and according to the latest update from Galrahn of Information Dissemination, the ship is operating as part of CTF-151. Kindly see the list of ships in CTF-151 as set out by Galrahn.
2. Rcently, RSS Persistence was visited by Turkish Rear Adm. Caner Bener, commander of CTF-151. I note that this news was reported by a CTF-151 public affairs officer (PAO). Unlike most USN ships who have a PAO onboard, the RSS Persistence (commanded by Lt. Col. Richard Lim) does not deploy with a PAO. Therefore, I don't expect any news. Unless a Singapore flagged ship is hijacked by the pirates, the Singaporean combined task force deployed (including the air force, army and navy) is not seeking to make news as their role is to patrol their CTF-151 sector and deter pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden with their presence.
3. With regards to the ScanEagle, the USN and the USMC did not acquire a system but a service. Performance is measured not by sorties flown, but by availability for collecting imagery over a defined period. According to Flight Global (at the 2009 Paris Air Show), Singapore purchased the ScanEagle as a ship-based airborne imagery service in 2008. Canada signed a similar service deal last year, and followed by signing a full acquisition contract with Boeing/Insitu in April. In the case of the Australian Defence Force, they deployed the ScanEagle in 2007.
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1. In other Singapore navy news, the 15th annual CARAT Singapore exercise, with the USN and US Coast Guard was kicked off on 8 June 2009 at Changi Naval Base. According to the Malaysian Chinese website - KLS Review, this year, there will be 4 AEIGS destroyers (USS Chung-Hoon, USS Chafee, USS Russell & USS John S. McCain) from the USN's Destroyer Squadron 31 at CARAT. CARAT Singapore 2009 will involve 1,500 personnel, 11 ships, 18 aircraft and two submarines (RSS Conqueror and USS City of Corpus Christi) from the three forces. This year's exercise is the first time that inter-submarine maneouvres will be carried out. Seeking to boost interoperability further, submariners from the RSN and the USN will interact with each other in a submarine tracking exercise.
2. Like last year's exercise, the RSN’s frigates and tank-landing ships will engage in surface and air gunnery drills and a replenishment-at-sea (RAS). Deck landing qualifications (DLQs) will involve U.S. Seahawks from the USS Chafee and the USS Chung-Hoon. DLQs are important to Singapore navy as Singapore's Sikorsky S-70B helicopters will be integrated with the First Flotilla later this year. Of special interest was the fact that five Vietnamese senior staff members observed CARAT Singapore 2008 with a view to consider the possibility of incorporating a Vietnam phase into future CARAT exercise planning.
3. Ashore in CARAT Singapore 2009, the Singapore army and the U.S. Marines from the 24th Marine Regiment will conduct urban warfare training at the Murai Urban Training Facility.
4. Another part of CARAT Singapore 2009 will focus on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, with the tank landing ship RSS Endeavour and Task Group 73.5 taking part in a HADR exercise off Sudong. RSS Endeavour was among the ships responding to the aftermath of the 2004 Tsunami.
5. The RSN will employ the corvette RSS Victory as a maritime security-training platform in conjunction with a Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST) embarked on USS Harpers Ferry. The rescue and salvage ship USNS Safeguard also will participate in the Singapore phase of CARAT 2009.
2. Like last year's exercise, the RSN’s frigates and tank-landing ships will engage in surface and air gunnery drills and a replenishment-at-sea (RAS). Deck landing qualifications (DLQs) will involve U.S. Seahawks from the USS Chafee and the USS Chung-Hoon. DLQs are important to Singapore navy as Singapore's Sikorsky S-70B helicopters will be integrated with the First Flotilla later this year. Of special interest was the fact that five Vietnamese senior staff members observed CARAT Singapore 2008 with a view to consider the possibility of incorporating a Vietnam phase into future CARAT exercise planning.
3. Ashore in CARAT Singapore 2009, the Singapore army and the U.S. Marines from the 24th Marine Regiment will conduct urban warfare training at the Murai Urban Training Facility.
4. Another part of CARAT Singapore 2009 will focus on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, with the tank landing ship RSS Endeavour and Task Group 73.5 taking part in a HADR exercise off Sudong. RSS Endeavour was among the ships responding to the aftermath of the 2004 Tsunami.
5. The RSN will employ the corvette RSS Victory as a maritime security-training platform in conjunction with a Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST) embarked on USS Harpers Ferry. The rescue and salvage ship USNS Safeguard also will participate in the Singapore phase of CARAT 2009.
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The international waters off Singapore in the South China sea.
A after looking at the underwater (and overall) topography it should be nice and diverse little pool to play in.The international waters off Singapore in the South China sea.
Yes, please read this DT news link for the details.
In 2006, Mindef decided against exercising options for additional Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters. Air force chief Maj Gen Lim Kim Choon said that the six S-70Bs acquired “are sufficient to meet our requirements”. The number was capped at six about due to budget limits.
Further, for electro-optical payloads (and even SAR radar), the ScanEagle provide persistent surveillance at a cheaper cost per hour than helicopters. There are also some interesting rotary winged UAV developments we should observe that may affect the Singapore's future purchasing behaviour:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AekQLCGI4WM]RQ 8A USN's Fire Scout[/ame]
No confirmed public source on upgrades. Please see our speculation in the RSAF thread.
With regards to the ScanEagle, the USN and the USMC did not acquire a system but a service. Performance is measured not by sorties flown, but by availability for collecting imagery over a defined period. According to Flight Global (at the 2009 Paris Air Show), Singapore purchased the ScanEagle as a ship-based airborne imagery service in 2008.
Yes, the defence minister confirmed that they will be upgraded a while ago but no details have been released.
No new news heard.
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In 2005, Sweden sold two A-17 Västergötland class submarines (HMS Västergötland and HMS Helsingland) to the Singapore navy. Kockums AB is the contractor responsible for modernizing these two vessels in Karlsrona.
Mikael Östlund said:
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Ananda
The Bunker Group
Are the existing previous 4 sweden subs will still be maintained or this two will be the replacement for those 4 (3 operational if I'm not mistaken) refurbished but old subs ???
Btw, I heard they have been refurbished into Sodermanland class (Vastergotland with AIP) standard, but that's not include the full Sodermanland rebuild (with AIP) right ??
The RSN bought 5 Sjöormen class hulls (with 1 hull, the Ex-Sjohasten being used for spares), which may be the source of your confusion.
The RSN currently operates 4 [URL="http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/news_and_events/nr/1997/sep/27sep97_nr3/27sep97_speech.html"]Challenger Class submarines[/URL] (formerly known as the Sjöormen class and were commissioned between 1968-1969). These 4 refurbished second hand vessels entered RSN service between 1997 to 2001. The Challenger Class submarines are based on very old hulls and have been in RSN service for a decade now.
In early 2005, sources (including Dzirhan, writing in the June 2005 issue of the Asia-Pacific Defence Reporter) reported that Mindef said the following:
“The Swedish Navy is planning to stand down two of its submarines of the Vastergotland class…. Mindef is now considering whether this might provide the Republic of Singapore Navy an opportunity to enhance its submarine capabilities by replacing some of its Challenger class submarines with the Vastergotland class submarines.”
When Singapore bought the two second hand Västergötland-class submarines (commissioned between 1986-1987) from Sweden. Col. Benedict Lim, director of public affairs for the Ministry of National Defense said:
“We will stand to benefit from synergies in crew training and logistics support as the Västergötland-class submarines are also of Swedish origin. The two submarines will be upgraded and converted for operations in tropical waters before entering service at the end of the decade.”
Please note that Singapore's Mindef did not specify the nature of the upgrading or modernization. However, it is widely reported that the the two vessels are being modernized to the Södermanland class and comes with AIP.For the sake of clarity, the RSS Archer is being launched (and is not being commissioned yet). We await further news on the work in progress on her sister vessel.
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I pleased to see that there are pictures online of the launch of RSS Archer.
(i) Overhead Pix of RSS Archer
(ii) Champagne Pix
(i) Overhead Pix of RSS Archer
(ii) Champagne Pix
Kockums said:
This seems to me to be the most realistic assumption, the one which makes most sense in a lot of ways. Anyway a good overview.
On the topic of the air assets of the RSN.
It is undeniable that each category be it heavy manned helicopter (Seahawk), light-medium or ultralight rotary wing UAV (FireScout, Camcopter S-100) and fixed wing TUAV (Scaneagle, Integrator) have their unique set of abilities. A sensible and networked combination of them should achieve the best results, especially for a navy like the RSN.
I wonder how the air assets of a frigate, not to speak of an LPD like the Endurance class will look like in say, twenty years.
Some nice videos of the Camcopter S-100
Speaking at the launch, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean said the RSN's mission is to secure the seaward defence of Singapore and to protect Singapore's Sea Lines of Communication. "The Archer-class submarines, integrated with our six stealth frigates and soon-to-be-delivered naval helicopters, will allow the Navy to undertake more complex and sophisticated operations to help maintain regional peace and stability, and secure the vital sea routes through our region," said Mr Teo.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbQ7IkthWm0]Launch of RSS Archer[/ame]
Mr Teo also said that: "The excellent training and the sharing of operating experience by the Royal Swedish Navy have been a major factor in the quick operationalisation of Singapore's submarine force and its successful integration into our Fleet."
Mindef has confirmed that RSS Archer class of submarines are equipped with an Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system via a new fact sheet.
The crew of the Archer-class submarines has undergone two key phases of training with the Royal Swedish Navy (RSwN). The first is the Key Personnel Training Phase, where they mastered individual vocational skills. This was followed by the Team Training Phase, where they operated as a composite crew (comprising RSwN submariners) to do mission-oriented training. To further hone their skills, submarine rescue exercises, comprising both sea training and simulator sessions, were also conducted for the crew.
RSS Archer will be undergoing sea trials following its launch and is expected to return to Singapore in 2010.
SPECIFICATIONS
Length: 60.5 metres
Beam: 6.1 metres
Height: 11.8 metres
Draught: 5.6 metres
Displacement: 1,400 tonnes (surfaced), 1,500 tonnes (submerged)
Speed: 8 knots (surfaced) >15 knots (submerged)
Armament: 9 Torpedo Tubes
Systems: Active and Passive Sonars, Command and Weapon Control System, Radar and Electronic Warfare Surveillance Measures, Integrated Navigation System, Air Independent Propulsion System
Complement: 28 crew
More RSS Archer Pixs here.
The launch of RSS Archer has been reported by William Choong for the Straits Times and reproduced in 'The Malaysian Insider'. I suspect that William Choong's article contains factual errors.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbQ7IkthWm0]Launch of RSS Archer[/ame]
Mr Teo also said that: "The excellent training and the sharing of operating experience by the Royal Swedish Navy have been a major factor in the quick operationalisation of Singapore's submarine force and its successful integration into our Fleet."
Mindef has confirmed that RSS Archer class of submarines are equipped with an Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system via a new fact sheet.
The crew of the Archer-class submarines has undergone two key phases of training with the Royal Swedish Navy (RSwN). The first is the Key Personnel Training Phase, where they mastered individual vocational skills. This was followed by the Team Training Phase, where they operated as a composite crew (comprising RSwN submariners) to do mission-oriented training. To further hone their skills, submarine rescue exercises, comprising both sea training and simulator sessions, were also conducted for the crew.
RSS Archer will be undergoing sea trials following its launch and is expected to return to Singapore in 2010.
SPECIFICATIONS
Length: 60.5 metres
Beam: 6.1 metres
Height: 11.8 metres
Draught: 5.6 metres
Displacement: 1,400 tonnes (surfaced), 1,500 tonnes (submerged)
Speed: 8 knots (surfaced) >15 knots (submerged)
Armament: 9 Torpedo Tubes
Systems: Active and Passive Sonars, Command and Weapon Control System, Radar and Electronic Warfare Surveillance Measures, Integrated Navigation System, Air Independent Propulsion System
Complement: 28 crew
More RSS Archer Pixs here.
The launch of RSS Archer has been reported by William Choong for the Straits Times and reproduced in 'The Malaysian Insider'. I suspect that William Choong's article contains factual errors.
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Ananda
The Bunker Group
If that's the actual RSS Archer specs' than it's larger than Basic Vastergodland. Seems confirming it's been upgraded to full Sodermanland standard.
Yes, the RSS Archer is no longer a Västergötland-class submarine, as it has been lengthened and like the Södermanland Class, it is equipped with AIP. However, it seems they are calling it the "Archer Class" (but no details have been released to enable us to compare between the Archer Class and the Södermanland Class).
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