Great article, had the US continued with series production of the type it could have made for a very interesting contender for Australia's SEA5000 frigate replacement program. Its very large, very capable but, meets all requirements with ease as well as having low cost of ownership, through its highly efficient systems and low manning. I wonder what a repeat ship would cost without the amortised overheads from the original development program?
US Navy News and updates
- Thread starter AegisFC
- Start date
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
The Monsoor and LBJ are still being built so perhaps we will soon learn about cost reductions. The Monsoor is 80% complete. Defense-aerospace has a neat picture of Zumwalt leaving port on their site. Great pictures in the DefenceNews site as well.
I can try and dig out a link but unit costs on the last in type was something like 4Bn USD - they'd been ordered in batches of three or more over a twelve or more ship program, I suspect they'd have been quite a bit less. Something approaching similar costs on the Burke Flight III I guess.
USN commissions Sea Hunter Remote ASW platform
The USN commissioned the first ACTUV vehicle. It will begin a year of testing with DARPA followed by one more with ONR. If the concept proves out, intent is to provide a large number at lower costs, approx 20mil USD
Unmanned Sub-Hunter To Begin Test Program
The USN commissioned the first ACTUV vehicle. It will begin a year of testing with DARPA followed by one more with ONR. If the concept proves out, intent is to provide a large number at lower costs, approx 20mil USD
Unmanned Sub-Hunter To Begin Test Program
More USN Zumwalt info
Interesting article about the RCS capabilities of the Zumwalt. First I've read about deployable screens that reflect radar and improve the Zumwalts RCS profile
How stealthy is Navy's new destroyer? It needs reflectors
Interesting article about the RCS capabilities of the Zumwalt. First I've read about deployable screens that reflect radar and improve the Zumwalts RCS profile
How stealthy is Navy's new destroyer? It needs reflectors
nathanmarcus
Banned Member
More USN commissions Sea Hunter Info
Yes unmanned vessel(ACTUV) programme aims to explore the US Navy's capabilities to engage in missions across thousands of kilometres of range and months of endurance, without the need for a human presence in the vehicle, and under a sparse remote supervisory control model
Yes unmanned vessel(ACTUV) programme aims to explore the US Navy's capabilities to engage in missions across thousands of kilometres of range and months of endurance, without the need for a human presence in the vehicle, and under a sparse remote supervisory control model
USS Zumwalt heads to Sea
The USS Zumwalt is heading to the Atlantic for its final acceptance trials prior to a May commissioning
https://news.usni.org/2016/04/20/zu...rks-for-u-s-navy-acceptance-trials#more-19208
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The USS Zumwalt is heading to the Atlantic for its final acceptance trials prior to a May commissioning
https://news.usni.org/2016/04/20/zu...rks-for-u-s-navy-acceptance-trials#more-19208
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A bit dated but positive vibes coming out of the Navy's AMDR Program which wll succeed the venerable SPY-1(V). The scalability using modular AESA RHAs will simplify leveraging the tech across a variety of platforms. Those RHAs are monstrous compared to the T/R modules used on fighter aircraft.
Successes -- and hardware -- stack up for Raytheon’s AMDR
TEWKSBURY, Mass., Jan. 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) announced its AN/SPY-6(V) Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) team has completed the first full radar array, fully populated with component Line Replaceable Units (LRUs), including more than 5,000 Transmit/Receive elements, in 140 days. In less than two years, the radar has been designed, built and transitioned to test; the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase of the program is now more than 66 percent complete. The program remains on track to begin production and deliver on time to the FY16 authorized DDG 51 Flight III destroyer.
"As each milestone is completed, development of the SPY-6 radar progresses on schedule," said U.S. Navy Captain Seiko Okano, major program manager, Above Water Sensors (IWS 2.0). "With this array, now built and operational in the Near Field Range, we're proceeding to plan and commencing full-scale integration and test of AMDR's unprecedented capability."...These recent achievements are among the many successes and milestones realized to date, including:
Nine of nine major program milestones completed on schedule, including:
hardware and software Critical Design Reviews and the Development Test Event 2 (DT-2) Readiness Review
Transition to DT-2 - currently in process, culminating in 2016 with verification of hardware level specifications to requirements and shipment of the array to the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii for system validation testing (DT-3)
Completed Build 2 software early, with all planned functionality (30 capabilities), formally qualified in July 2016; Build 3 is more than 75% percent complete
95% of EMD hardware production is complete; awaiting final power systems delivery in early 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7fccxSjF0Q
Successes -- and hardware -- stack up for Raytheon’s AMDR
TEWKSBURY, Mass., Jan. 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) announced its AN/SPY-6(V) Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) team has completed the first full radar array, fully populated with component Line Replaceable Units (LRUs), including more than 5,000 Transmit/Receive elements, in 140 days. In less than two years, the radar has been designed, built and transitioned to test; the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase of the program is now more than 66 percent complete. The program remains on track to begin production and deliver on time to the FY16 authorized DDG 51 Flight III destroyer.
"As each milestone is completed, development of the SPY-6 radar progresses on schedule," said U.S. Navy Captain Seiko Okano, major program manager, Above Water Sensors (IWS 2.0). "With this array, now built and operational in the Near Field Range, we're proceeding to plan and commencing full-scale integration and test of AMDR's unprecedented capability."...These recent achievements are among the many successes and milestones realized to date, including:
Nine of nine major program milestones completed on schedule, including:
hardware and software Critical Design Reviews and the Development Test Event 2 (DT-2) Readiness Review
Transition to DT-2 - currently in process, culminating in 2016 with verification of hardware level specifications to requirements and shipment of the array to the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii for system validation testing (DT-3)
Completed Build 2 software early, with all planned functionality (30 capabilities), formally qualified in July 2016; Build 3 is more than 75% percent complete
95% of EMD hardware production is complete; awaiting final power systems delivery in early 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7fccxSjF0Q
J. Randy Forbes, a prominent Congresscritter, notes in the HASC mark-up of the FY17 NDAA (which includes 20B USD extra for shipbuilding) that this is a down payment towards a "350 ship" Navy.
So apparently, that's going to be the new requirement.
So apparently, that's going to be the new requirement.
nathanmarcus
Banned Member
USS Arleigh-Burke successfully conducts PASM missile firing exercise
The US Navy's Arleigh-Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) has successfully launched a Standard Missile-2(SM-2) missile off the coast of Virginia, as part of a post-availability SM-2 (PASM) missile-firing event.
The vessel's PASM was conducted as a part of the post Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) availability shakedown. Arleigh Burke commanding officer Tom Myers said: "A lot of work and effort went into getting the ship to this point, and my ship and crew were ready.
We could not have gotten where we are today without the dedication and commitment of the maintenance community and our Aegis modernisation team.
The US Navy's Arleigh-Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) has successfully launched a Standard Missile-2(SM-2) missile off the coast of Virginia, as part of a post-availability SM-2 (PASM) missile-firing event.
The vessel's PASM was conducted as a part of the post Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) availability shakedown. Arleigh Burke commanding officer Tom Myers said: "A lot of work and effort went into getting the ship to this point, and my ship and crew were ready.
We could not have gotten where we are today without the dedication and commitment of the maintenance community and our Aegis modernisation team.
nathanmarcus
Banned Member
US Navy awards $3.1bn contract to BWXT for naval nuclear reactor components and fuel
The US Naval Nuclear Propulsion Programme has awarded contracts to two subsidiaries of BWX Technologies (BWXT) to manufacture naval nuclear reactor components and fuel.
The contracts include options that when exercised will bring the total value of the order to approximately $3.1bn. BWXT Nuclear Operations Group (BWXT NOG) has been chosen for the reactor components order, while Nuclear Fuel Services (NFS) received the naval nuclear fuel award.
This year, the company has received nearly $1.2bn of the contract. Subject to annual Congressional appropriations, the remaining contract awards are expected to be received between 2017 and 2018.
The US Naval Nuclear Propulsion Programme has awarded contracts to two subsidiaries of BWX Technologies (BWXT) to manufacture naval nuclear reactor components and fuel.
The contracts include options that when exercised will bring the total value of the order to approximately $3.1bn. BWXT Nuclear Operations Group (BWXT NOG) has been chosen for the reactor components order, while Nuclear Fuel Services (NFS) received the naval nuclear fuel award.
This year, the company has received nearly $1.2bn of the contract. Subject to annual Congressional appropriations, the remaining contract awards are expected to be received between 2017 and 2018.
Back in vogue, except this time for real.
Marines' deadly fighter jet to make its first ship-based deployment next year
April 28
The Marine Corps' version of the joint strike fighter's maiden deployment is set for late 2017 and its bound for the Western Pacific, the Navy's top officer in the Pacific said Tuesday.
The F-35B jump-jet stealth fighter will deploy aboard an amphibious flattop, enhancing its combat might, and the service is planning a more powerful escort force to support it, according to Adm. Scott Swift, head of Pacific Fleet.
The F-35B was declared operational in July 2015 and testing continues ahead of next year's debut. PACFLT spokesman Lt. Clint Ramsden confirmed it would be the aircraft's first time to be based aboard a ship for a deployment, which typically lasts from a few months up to an eight-month cruise.
A surface action group, like the three-destroyer group dispatched mid-April to the Western Pacific, will defend the amphibious assault ship.
The concept was rolled out by Adm. Scott Swift during an April 26 all-hands call on the destroyer Momsen, which was docked in Hawaii on a port visit.
“I think this is going to revolutionize where we are with expeditionary strike groups,” Swift said. “The three-ship PAC SAG that [destroyers] Decatur, Momsen and Spruance are part of will pave the way for another SAG, just like this one, attached to the large-deck amphib so that it will become what I’m calling an ‘Up-Gunned ESG.’”
An attack sub may also accompany the group.
This new concept, with the addition of the joint strike fighter, looks a lot like a mini-carrier strike group. The surface action group envisioned by Swift would include a big deck and a handful of shooters.
Swift also said he has asked the destroyer squadron leader for the surface action group currently deployed to assign warfare commander responsibilities to the different ships and to act as if it were attached to the expeditionary strike group. The Decatur, which is a ballistic missile defense-capable ship, could take on the role of air warfare commander, a role typically assigned to a cruiser.
“I’m excited about the potential options you will explore as part of this three ship SAG,” Swift told sailors.
The SAG was deployed from Washington state and San Diego and was sent to be a test-case for new tactical concepts.
The idea is to break up groups of surface combatants to threaten enemy ships and land targets from multiple angles and force the adversary to devote surveillance assets like submarines and aircraft to find them. The surface action groups pull the enemy in multiple directions and make it harder to target carrier strike groups.
The up-gunned ESG takes that approach a step further and creates even more problems for an adversary when you add the F-35B, which has a significantly longer range than the AV-8B Harrier, which is a mainstay of the Marines' ground-attack mission. The F-35B will be able to take off vertically. It's the version that the Royal Navy plans to put on its new class of carriers, rather than the F-35C that features a tailhook.
An up-gunned ESG could also help alleviate some of burden on the overstretched flattop fleet, though the amphibious assault ships will only pack six to eight F-35s, said Jerry Hendrix, a retired naval aviator and analyst at the Center for a New American Security. That's compared to roughly 40 jets on an aircraft carrier.
“This is a step forward in the right direction,” Hendrix said. “What Adm. Swift is doing is tuning the force to get the most out of it, and that’s important given the carrier shortage we have right now. It also shows the scalability of the force to meet different demands.”
Seth Cropsey, head of the Hudson Institute’s Center for American Seapower, agreed it was a step in the right direction but that the concept was still large and expensive for low-to-mid-range missions.
“If we want ESGs to fight smaller brush fires to leave the carriers to larger conflagrations, that’s fine but it’s still expensive,” Cropsey said. “The F-35B is not something you buy in your local CVS.”
The ESG concept would benefit significantly if they develop an AEW versionn of the MV-22 to complement the F-35B. They also have the option of packing more jets aboardship, up to 16 or so for an LHA. IIRC the Navy employed his number of Harriers on an LHD during the Libyan conflict.
Bit hard to do a tophat config on an MV-22
that means that any derivative using that platform would need to be a sidescanner, or lookdown. that means huge CONOPs changes using an MV-22 in the AEW role
not a good option IMO. they're far better off using all assets as a conjoined array to contribute to the overall combat COP - at least in the interim. I suspect that all future fleet based AEW will end up being dismounts with offboard assists from Orions, USAF assets, Space Command etc....
its now achievable
Leonardo (Finmeccanica) have come out with a lightweight full spherical AESA radar, with no moving parts, that could fit on a V22 Osprey for AEW. It involves three separate AESA arrays with one in the nose and the other two in a helicopters uncarriage sponson. It's an interesting development.
commonly called a butterfly array.... as the effect is like looking at a butterfky from above. similar to how beam arrays work like the ericsson beam/nose hybrid
USN to add OTH ASM on LCS in time for RIMPAC
The Us Navy has announced its fitting OTH missiles on LCSPC-1 and LCS-4 this year. LCS-4 with get the NSM, LCS-1 will get the newest block Harpoon
A step in the right direction for the program IMO
https://news.usni.org/2016/05/04/na...-on-uss-freedom-by-next-deployment#more-19460
The Us Navy has announced its fitting OTH missiles on LCSPC-1 and LCS-4 this year. LCS-4 with get the NSM, LCS-1 will get the newest block Harpoon
A step in the right direction for the program IMO
https://news.usni.org/2016/05/04/na...-on-uss-freedom-by-next-deployment#more-19460
From the link mate, the fit is reversed, NSM to LCS1 and Harpoon to LCS4.
A pleasing development.