gemerson

Your right there!

Greetings everyone. For those of us in the US, it Groundhog Day, it's Groundhog Day (if you haven't seen the Bill Murray movie by the same name, rent it and you'll get the joke). Lots of stuff happening around the world. Enjoy the news updates. Summary to follow ... 31 January ANGOLA Damen Shipyards subsidy in Galati (Romania) launches 62-m Fishery Inspection Surveillance Vessel (FISV 6210) NGOLA KILUANGE … built for the Angolan Ministry of Agriculture … another ship of this type as well as a smaller (28m) Fishery Research Vessel (Damen FRV 2810) under construction at Galati. (rmks: looks like a modified version of the STANEX patrol boat). Source: NIPmail. PIRACY Arabian Sea: Indications of possible Pirate Attack Group activity in the Arabian Sea, appr. 420nm NE of the Seychelles. (rmks: When will people read their history books concerning piracy and deal with them the wa they should - we could rotate through the stock of HE rounds, cycle the guns and give our gun crews training. Oh, I forgot we're kinder and gentler today. Sorry, but I have to wonder if that's a good thing.) Source: IMO Update. 01 February IRAN (FRANCE) Some (non-French) media floating rumours that French aircraft carrier CHARLES DE GAULLE will deploy to the Arabian Sea in March/April … to join three US aircraft carriers off Iran. (rmks: For the time being the CDG is conducting sea trials following a longer maintenance period. Operational work-up / first flight operations has been scheduled to begin only in March. Wait and see whether this schedule will be advanced. Holy smokes, the French are going to actually do some operational cruising. This is a day to mark on the calendars!). Source: NIPmail. RUSSIA The first of two French-built MISTRAL class helicopter carriers – to be named RFS SEVASTOPOL and RFS VLADIVOSTOK - was laid down at STX shipyard in St. Nazaire … Admiral Vysotsky: will be put in service in 35-months. (rmks: Interesting naming selections. Obviously the Lada class is truly dead, because one unit was to be named Sevastopol). Source: Naval Today http://navaltoday.com/2012/02/02/russia-mi...ol-vladivostok/ RUSSIA +++ Severnaya shipyard (St.Petersburg) has laid down first Project 20385 (GREMYASHCHIY class) corvette … company spokesperson: ten ships of this class ordered. Modified Project 22380 STEREGUSHCHIY class design, two of which (STEREGUSHCHIY, SOOBRAZITELNIY) are commissioned, a third (BOYKIY) undergoing sea trials and “two more under construction”. +++ Severnaya shipyard also lays keel of (rmks: probably third) Project 22350 GORSHKOV class frigate ADMIRAL GOLOVKO. Source: Naval Today http://navaltoday.com/2012/02/02/russia-co...golovko-starts/ UNITED KINGDOM Royal Navy flag ship BULWARK starts her winter deployment … first head for port visit to Hamburg (Germany), then proceed to Northern Norway for Arctic exercise “Cold Response”. Later this year to become flag ship for Olympic games security at London (UK). Soource: Naval Today http://navaltoday.com/2012/02/02/hms-bulwa...amburg-germany/ USA Technical malfunctions caused by “wear and tear” have prevented amphibious assault ship ESSEX from leaving home port Sasebo (Japan) for scheduled participation in upcoming exercise “Cobra Gold” with Thailand armed forces (05-17 Feb). (rmks: This may be the first of the signs of OPTEMPO stress on the fleet. The same thing happened in the late 1970's and the early 1980's, before Regan's reforms took place. Hmm, if memory serves me correctly that was when there was a lackluster democratic president in the White House and the Navy's budgets were getting hacked to pieces). Source: NIPmail.

Well, its the first of February! It's amazing how fast the first month of 2012 has passed. Lots of news to share, so here we go! Summary to follow ... 31 January RUSSIA A Pacific Fleet task group led by destroyer ADMIRAL PANTELEYEV arrives at Manila, Philippines, for a scheduled port visit until 02 Feb … the first visit of the Russian Pacific Fleet’s warships to Philippines in 96-years. (rmks: On return transit from anti-piracy operations off Somalia). Source: NIPmail. AUSTRALIA (multinational) More than 1000 delegates representing 35 countries attend the Royal Australian Navy Sea Power Conference in Sydney running through 02 Feb. Source: IMO Update FRANCE (LIBYA) Two French navy mine hunters arrive at Tripoli, Libya … to assist in mine clearing of ports and roadstead (oil terminals), train Libyan navy personnel, and “help in equipping the Libyan navy” (promote French systems). Source: NIPmail PIRACY Source: IMO Update. +++ Gulf of Aden: Iranian navy ships reportedly “rushed to help a tanker under attack from pirates” … “made the pirate boats flee by opening timely, massive fire on them” (rmks: single Iranian source, no date of incident given). +++ Somalia: indications that pirate groups are preparing to head out to sea from camps at the Somalia coast. +++ General: 14 suspected pirates arrested earlier this month by British supply ship FORT VICTORIA on a hijacked dhow, were handed over to Seychelles authorities to face prosecution. RUSSIA Baltic Fleet helicopter pilots to “double their number of flying hours” to 130 hrs/pilot during 2012 training year. Source: NIPmail RUSSIA AMUR class repair ship PM-56 returns to Black Sea home port of Sevastopol, after spending six-month in the Mediterranean. (rmks: probably had been station ship at Tartus, Syria. No info on possible replacement). Source: NIPmail RUSSIA The KUZNETSOV carrier task group reported near the Strait of Gibraltar, about to exit the Mediterranean. (rmks: “notorious” sources still claim the group to be at Tartus, Syria, preparing for action in support of the Assad regime). Source: NIPmail SPAIN Second METEORO class patrol ship, RAYO, conducting shake-down training in the Eastern Mediterranean, with visits to Turkish ports scheduled. Source: NIPmail UNITED KINGDOM On her maiden deployment to the Middle East, destroyer DARING has arrived at Souda Bay, Crete, for an operational work-up at the local NATO range. Source: NIPmail USA Naval Sea Systems Command has contracted Raytheon to develop preliminary design of a Pulse Forming Network (PFN) … part of a larger effort to develop a weapon system for use on warships … system will enable projectiles to reach great distances without the use of an explosive charge or rocket motor … provide electromagnetic energy for the railgun projectile, which will travel up to 220-miles in less than six minutes and exit the atmosphere before hitting its target at a velocity of 5,000 feet per second. (rmks: Enough with the gee-whiz, already! We are running out of bucks for all the Buck Rogers. Cut the science experiment and focus on preventing platforms from being cut from the inventory.) Source: NIPmail USA (IRAN) Assets of the ABRAHAM LINCOLN Carrier Strike Group responded to a distressed Iranian fishing dhow in the Persian Gulf … engine failed … master permitted US team to board the dhow where US technician repaired the engine. (rmks: Standy by for all the propaganda on Al-Jazerra.) Source: NIPmail USA Airbus Military/EADS North America deliver the 13th HC-144A Ocean Sentry maritime patrol aircraft to the US Coast Guard … two months ahead of the contractual delivery date. (rmks: Likely another CASA 235). Source: NIPmail USA The US Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) has transferred high speed vessels HUAKAI and ALAKAI (former civilian ferries) to the US Navy … will be used to transport troops and equipment in the West Pacific region. Source: NIPmail 30 January PIRACY Anti-Piracy Forces: US Navy destroyer ARLEIGH BURKE sails from Norfolk for anti-piracy operations in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility. Source: IMO Update. USA Aircraft carrier JOHN C STENNIS ends a scheduled port visit to Singapore, heading into the South China Sea … short Passex with two Singapore navy frigates. (rmks: on return transit after deployment to 5th Fleet area of responsibility). Source: NIPmail BAHRAIN The GCC states reaffirmed previous decision (rmks: made 18-months ago) to establish a maritime centre in Bahrain … in order to boost security in the Gulf, including that of vital shipping lanes for oil exports … agree to share information and contribute personnel and military assets. (rmks: not related to current situation with Iran). Source: NIPmail CHINA LUHU class destroyer QINGDAO and JIANGKAI-II class frigate YANTAI scheduled to soon start “major open ocean training”. (rmks: official info gives no further clues, but might be an upcoming out-of area cruise). Source: NIPmail FINLAND RAUMA class missile boats RAAHE, PORVOO and NAANTALI receive mid-life upgrade to stay operational until the 2020s … weapons and sensors integrated into a new system … anti-air missile system replaced with decoy thrower … first boat (NAANTALI?) to return to fleet by year end; all to be operational again by end 2013. Source: NIPmail RUSSIA Two Tu-95MS Bear strategic bombers fly a 16-hour routine patrol mission over the Arctic Ocean. Source: NIPmail RUSSIA Severnaya shipyard (St. Petersburg) set to start construction of Project 22350 (GORSHKOV class) frigate ADMIRAL GOLOVKO and Project 20385 (modified STEREGUSHCHIY class) corvette GREMYASHCHIY. Source: NIPmail USA (multinational) Exercise Bold Alligator 2012 (BA-12) has begun off the US Atlantic coast … “largest amphibious exercise in ten years” scheduled to run through 16 Feb … …”revitalization of the fundamentals of amphibious operations” … culminate in brigade-sized amphibious assault near Camp Lejeune … participants to include an amphibious task force with 10 amphibious ships (incl. KEARSARGE, WASP) and four to six combatants; a Marine expeditionary brigade-sized landing force (2d MEB); the ENTERPRISE Carrier Strike Group; mine counter measure forces, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) forces, Military Sealift Command (MSC) ships, and coalition force elements from several allies, among them French helicopter carrier MISTRAL. Source: NIPmail USA Vice Adm. Bruce Clingan - deputy chief of naval operations for operations, plans and strategy -nominated to head the 6thFleet in Naples (Italy). Source: NIPmail USA Destroyer MOMSEN and submarine ANNAPOLIS reportedly pass the Suez Canal southbound for the 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (rmks: MOMSEN, possibly also ANNAPOLIS, belong to the ABRAHAM LINCOLN Carrier Strike Group, already operating in the 5th Fleet area). Source: NIPmail UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS UNITED KINGDOM (March) In her maiden operational deployment, new TYPE 45 destroyer DAUNTLESS is scheduled to sail in late March for the South Atlantic … to take over regular patrol duties (also of the Falkland waters). (rmks: probably relieve TYPE 23 frigate MONTROSE. Media interpret the deployment as a “strong signal” of determination – and the willingness to escalate if need be – on the upcoming 30th anniversary of the Falkland War). Source: NIPmail

Like our constant upgrades of the venerable B-52, this news was almost a given.

You got that right! By the way, I think the Aussies would be one Navy that could really use the second hand LA's or even the Virginia's. Granted the support facilities would also need to be constructed.

Y'all are quite right. The economies of scale would work in everybodies favor.

Amen and Amen. It would be like the Upholder deal that the UK worked with Canada, but these subs will actually work.

Source: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/natio...es/2438160.aspx Teaser: American nuclear submarines could call Australia home if a proposal by two of Australia's leading Defence experts is included in the 2014 Defence White Paper. This WP should be an interesting read. This could provide an interesting twist for A-P area scenario design.

Source: The Korea Herald - http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail...=20120127000919 Teaser: An underwater tug-of-war is intensifying among countries such as China, Russia and the United States in the seas around Japan. A very interesting piece that has some definite scenario potential.

Yeah, the Cooper River Bridges were pretty dern scary!

Hope everybody had a great weekend. I sure did! Summary to follow ... 25 January PIRACY Anti-Piracy Forces: Turkish parliament approves extending Turkish navy participation in multinational anti-piracy operations off the Horn of Africa by another year. Source: IMO Update. USA Amphibious assault ship BATAAN completes a five-day visit to Lisbon, Portugal … final port visit during deployment … now heading home for Norfolk. Source: NIPmail. 26 January UNITED KINGDOM TRAFALGAR class submarines TRENCHANT and TALENT have received major upgrades to their combat systems. Source: NIPmail. 27 January ALGERIA Italian Orizzonte Sistemi Navali has started preliminary construction work on an 8,800-tonne multipurpose landing platform dock ship for the Algerian Navy. Source: NIPmail. INDIA SUDARSHINI, the second sail-training ship of the Indian Navy, inducted into the Southern Naval Command … 54-m ship, built at Goa shipyard. Source: NIPmail. LEBANON US company RiverHawk at Tampa, Fla. launched a first 43 m Coastal Security Craft for the Lebanese Navy. Source: NIPmail. PHILIPPINES – USA The Philippine foreign secretary confirms plans to allow a greater US military presence in the Philippines … looking for more joint exercises, as well as having a greater number of US troops rotating through the country … increased US Navy P3-C Orion patrols of the South China Sea … talks to be held in March to determine specifics. Source: NIPmail. RUSSIA The Mediterranean deployment of the KUZNETSOV carrier task force is coming to an end … “all tasks completed” … ships will “replenish, then leave the Mediterranean” through the Strait of Gibraltar and commence home transit. (rmks: MoD press statement gives no indication of more port visits). Source: NIPmail. RUSSIA While the Defense Ministry has not shown interest in developing / acquiring new wing-in-ground aircraft, and financing of their production has not been included in the state armament procurement program until 2020, the Federal Border Guard Service is planning to build a center for the production of such “ekranoplan” … at the former Avangard shipyard near Petrozavodsk. Source: NIPmail. UNITED KINGDOM The MoD has approved development of a new-generation supersonic short-range air defence missile system for the Royal Navy … defence against fast jets and sea-skimming missiles … “Future Local Area Air Defence System (Maritime)” - dubbed “Sea Ceptor” - based on MBDA’s CAMM Common Anti-air Modular Missile … contracts with MBDA reportedly already signed … new system to replace the long-serving Seawolf missile around 2016. (rmks: will cover an area of 500 square miles which some ignorant media have contorted to a range of 500 miles … calculation gives actual range of some 13 miles). Source: NIPmail. USA The US Navy has cancelled planned decommissioning of dock landing ship PONCE … instead “hurriedly” will convert her to new use as “mother ship” (Afloat Forward Staging Base) for special forces and mine clearance forces … to deploy to the Middle East in early summer. (rmks: Quite possibly another sign of the "do something disease" that is so prevalent with the current administration). Source: NIPmail. 28 January CHINA A Chinese newspaper reports fourth Type 071 YUZHAO class dock landing ship launched from Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai. (rmks: Photo confirmatrion to follow). Source: NIPmail. PIRACY Somalia Basin: Some 500 nm east of Hobyo, Somalia, a dhow releases a skiff with five armed pirates on board … approach a merchant ship, but then abort attack. Source: IMO Update. RUSSIA The world’s largest nuclear-powered ice breaker, 50 LET POBEDY, is deploying from Arctic region to the Baltic … for operations in the Gulf of Finland. Source: NIPmail. 29 January CANADA Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. reportedly will fail to meet commitment to deliver a "fully mission capable" version of the CH-148 Cyclone helicopter by June … could face a further $80 million in contract penalties. (rmks: Sea King replacement program is already years behind schedule). Source: NIPmail. IRAN EU sanctions on Iranian oil currently would extend to about 95 percent of tankers worldwide because they are insured under rules governed by European law … meaning: carrying Iranian oil would invalidate a tanker’s cover against risks including spills and collisions. Source: Bloomberg - http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-27/i...ance-rules.html UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS SOUTH KOREA – USA (27 Feb) update: bilateral exercise Key Resolve (27 Feb – 09 Mar) will be a computerized command post exercise, involving about 200,000 South Korean troops and 2,100 U.S. troops. Separately, joint air, ground and naval field training exercise “Foal Eagle” will be held in March and April with about 11,000 U.S. forces along with South Korean troops in division-sized or smaller units. (rmks: both exercises are long standing annual routine, although North Korea always portraits them as immediate war preparation). Source: NIPmail. BTW: I'm off tomorrow. The next NNSotD will be on Wednesday!

Ah, just another reason why I know 2012 is going to be an interesting year!

Gotcha on the post location! Also, if this is "spared," I'd hate to see what having the knives taken to the budget looked like!

Big doings in the various river citieis around the globe. Have a great wekend everyone! Summary to follow ... 24 January UNITED KINGDOM “Small fire” on board TRAFALGAR class nuclear powered submarine TALENT at Devonport Naval Base … quickly extinguished by the crew and nobody hurt … Royal Navy does not give location of fire although it is not believed to have involved the nuclear reactor. Extent and implications of damage are still being investigated, but the boat’s operational schedule should not be affected. (rmks: What is it with all the submarine fires lately!) Source: NIPmail. 25 January USA Missile cruiser VELLA GULF arrives at Sevastopol, Ukraine, for a scheduled visit … before, had conducted a four-day visit to Constanta, Romania. (rmks: If you've ever been there, Sevatopol is a great city to visit. Bet those guys are lovin' that liberty port!) Source: NIPmail. 26 January CHILE Former French dock landing ship FOUDRE – renamed SARGENTO ALDEA – departs Toulon enroute Chile. Name painted to the stern, but no hull number discernible yet. Source: NIPmail. RUSSIA Third Project 19920 hydrographic survey vessel (36m, 320ts) under construction … scheduled for commissioning into the Northern Fleet this year. Source: NIPmail. UNITED KINGDOM Designs from Italian Fincantieri and South Korean Daewoo and Hyundai - but not local Rolls-Royce - reportedly short listed for four new fleet tankers (Project Mars) … final decision expected in March. Source: NIPmail. UNITED KINGDOM US F/A-18 Super Hornet and French Rafale reportedly considered as possible alternatives (“interim aircraft”) for carrier-based aircraft in case of delayed availability of originally planned F-35C. Source: NIPmail. UNITED KINGDOM The Royal Navy’s new ice patrol ship PROTECTOR has arrived in Antarctica for the first time after her long sail south from Portsmouth … via Montevideo, Uruguay. Source: NIPmail. USA “Defense Budget Priorities and Choices” published: … delay OHIO-class SSBN replacement by two years … add cruise missile capacity to VIRGINIA class submarines … retain 11 aircraft carriers (with 10 carrier air wings) and all amphibious assault ships … all three F-35 variants “safe”, but procurement will be slowed down to allow for more testing … lose seven TICONDEROGA class cruisers, one of which is BMD capable but in need for “lot of repairs” … construction of one “big-deck amphibious ship” and a submarine will be delayed … two dock landing ships will be decommissioned and their replacements delayed … the navy will lose eight JHSV and two littoral combat ships … USMC will be cut by some 20,000 to 182,000, still “larger than in 2001” … some naval assets incl. aircraft carrier expected to be shifted from the US east coast to the Pacific region.. (rmks: Gloom, dispair and agony on us. Tis the year of the axe.) Source: see my other post on the subject. 27 January CANADA Defence ministry decided to have new Joint Support Ships (JSS) built after German design … variant of German Navy BERLIN class … joint working group from Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) and Blohm + Voss Naval contracted with design study. Source: NIPmail. IRAN On 06 Jan, IRGC had announced large scale naval exercise “Great Prophet 7” to start today, however, as of this morning, local media have given no indication that the exercise has indeed begun or is imminent. Source: NIPmail. 28 January PIRACY Anti-Piracy Forces: French frigate ACONIT to sail from Toulon for the Horn of Africa … will join EU NavFor in operation “Atalanta”. Source: IMO Update. UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS AUSTRALIA (multinational) (31 Jan) More than 1,000 delegates representing 35-countries will attend the Royal Australian Navy Sea Power Conference in Sydney from 31 Jan to 02 Feb. (rmks: Pacific 2012 is a BIG naval show. Likely to be some big announcements made here. Stay tuned.) Source: http://www.pacific2012.com.au/ THAILAND (multinational) 05 Feb. Multinational exercise “Cobra Gold” scheduled from 05-17 Feb … co-hosted by Thailand and the US Pacific Command … seven nations to participate (incl. Thailand, USA, Japan, South Korea) with another nine countries, incl. Russia and China, to send observers. Activities to begin with “humanitarian action”, followed by a command post exercise, a three-day landing drill and a tactical exercise for a week … conclude with maritime transportation and tactical maneuvering exercises in the Gulf of Thailand. Source: NIPmail.

Source: Defense Budget - Priorities & Choices January 2012 (PDF is attached) Okay boys and girls, it looks like the final cuts to the US Defense budget have been made and it ain't pretty. Here's the mountain tops above 10,000ft version ... No Ford class CVN slip ... but the sub force won't get two VA class for a year. Marines won’t be happy with L class cuts/slips LCS and JHSV both got slammed pretty hard on the budget mat, with major program cuts. "To ensure sufficient resources to protect these strategic priorities, we will reduce the number of ships by slowing the pace of building new ships and by accelerating the retirement of some existing ships. These include: - Retiring 7 cruisers early – 6 did not have ballistic missile defense (BMD) capability, and the seventh with BMD capability is in need of costly hull repairs )rmks: start saying your farewells to the Tico class). - Slipping a large deck amphibious ship (LHA) by 1 year (rmks: America class LHA is being delayed). - Slipping 1 new Virginia class submarine outside the FYDP (rmks: their no big surprise at their price tag). - Reducing Littoral Combat Ships by 2 ships in the FYDP (rmks: The navy's fascination with these ships is beyond my). - Reducing Joint High Speed Vessels by 8 in the FYDP (rmks: There is no joy at Austal and LMM today). - Retiring 2 smaller amphibious ships (LSD) early and moving their replacement outside the FYDP. (rmks: They will likely go on the international market for resale. Australia may have its candidate for replacing the M/V Windermere.) - Sea Basing gets a boost ... more MLPs or a different design (rmks: The marines consolation prize). - "Funded development of a new afloat forward staging base that can be dedicated to support missions in areas where ground‐based access is not available, such as counter‐mine operations" - And SSBN-X delayed...think this signals Ohios may get SLEP'd and fewer SSBN-X down the road...and this will stoke the calls to cancel Trident replacement in UK. (rmks: It looks like the Ohios are here to stay for a while longer). "However, we will delay the new Ohio submarine replacement by two years without undermining our partnership with the UK. While this delay will create challenges in maintaining current at‐sea presence requirements in the 2030s, we believe this risk can be managed. An ongoing White House review of nuclear deterrence will address the potential for maintaining our deterrent with a different nuclear force." (rmks: The SSBN(X) is pushed-out to hopefully, better budgeting days). The Navy needs to batten-down the budgeting hatching, as it looks like rough seas are ahead. This is only what's in store for this year. Lord only knows what 2013 and beyond looks like! PS: Sorry about the title error, I wrote it will imbibing my first cup of coffee this morning. 012612_FINAL_Defense_Budget_Priorities.pdf

Another day of great possibilities! Here are the interesting things happening in the global naval market today. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 24 January FRANCE Military procurement agency DGA has accepted delivery of second new EDA-R landing craft (9093). Source: NIPmail. 25 January FRANCE – USA French helicopter carrier MISTRAL in Norfolk, USA … preparing for upcoming amphibious exercise “Bold Alligator” scheduled to kick off on 30 Jan … currently practise to certify US Navy LCAC for operating from her well deck. (rmks: that would be an interesting tour to take! I'd like to see how it shapes up against the Navy's amphib's - I spent the worst two-ears of my navy career on the USS Nassau (LHA 4)). Source: NIPmail. RUSSIA GEPARD class frigate DAGESTAN not yet in the Caspian Sea but still at Novorossiysk where she had been damaged in a storm … navy and Zelenodolsk shipyard at odds over who is to pay the some Euro 1.5 million estimated for repairs. (rmks: It sucks when Mr. Murphy pays you a visit). Source: NIPmail. SOMALIA US Navy SEALs rescue two foreign aid workers (unharmed) kidnapped three months ago and held since at a camp near inland town of Galcayo.… at least eight captors killed during the raid. (rmks: Do the crime, pay the price. Wish they would do this more oftern. Its likely piracy wouldn't be a concern if the did). Source: IMO Update. SRI LANKA The Sri Lanka navy seized six Indian fishing boats which had strayed into Sri Lankan waters and - temporarily - detained 42 Indian fishermen. Source: IMO Update. THAILAND New Defence Minister, Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol Suwanatat, has “vowed” to revive the stalled submarine procurement program. (rmks: And if pigs had wings, they would fly). Source: NIPmail. USA – PHILIPPINES In an apparent strategic move aimed at countering China, the US is considering significantly expanding military presence in the Philippines … one option stationing navy ships … talks in “early stage”. (rmks: And why did we leave the Philippines?) Source: NIPmail. USA - Source: http://www.defensenews.com/ +++ The US Navy reportedly plans to cut a total of 16 ships from its five-year budget … in fiscal 2013 said to reduce the number of ships funded from 13 down to 10 … mostly forego Joint High Speed Vessel and other support ships ... try to avoid cancelling warships or submarines. (rmks: The year of the axe is shaping up to be pretty grim.) +++ Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is expected to request two new rounds of military base closures (BRAC) in the United States as part of the Pentagon budget-cutting process. (rmks: Is he freaking kidding! US defense policy seems prett bi-polar. I say a little less diversity and more beans, bullets and few reliable ships and aircraft!) UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS SOUTH KOREA – USA (27 Feb) The militaries of the US and South Korea are scheduled to begin annual two-week joint exercise “Key Resolve” on 27 Feb. Source: NIPmail.

Brad, You make your case very well. Great discussion! Your absolutely right, the Chi-coms would conduct a salvo strike. They would probably coordinate a multi-axis strike with SSN's and SSK's. TBMD is a big thing now. The Tico and Burkes are armed with the latest SM's and there is Slick-32 on the CVN to do the jamming. Even with all that, the pucker-factor would be extremely high and it would be a freaking scary situation. I wouldn't want to be the one managing the CIC on the flattops at the time!

I don't know a lot about missile technology, but I do remember this from my ESWS (Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist) days in Uncle Sam's canoe club - An ICBM attacks a stationary target. Your average US Navy CVN has the ability to move (and move FAST if needs be). The missile will need to have a GPS (or an equivalent system) to incorporate any type of way points or mid-course corrections, as the target CVN isn't just going to remain dead in the water, allowing the Chi-Coms to strike it.

I was off yesterday, so I didn't have access to the NNSotD stuff. Interesting stuff perculating out there. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 24 January ALGERIA Algerian authorities claim to have foiled a plot by an al Qaeda affiliate to ram US or European ships in the Mediterranean with an explosive-laden boat. (rmks: hmmm). Source: NIPmail. FRANCE Hydrographic survey ship BEAUTEMPS-BEAUPRE sails from Brest for a six-month mission to the Indian Ocean region … return in July. Source: NIPmail. IRAN British Defence Minister: “… could send extra military assets to the Strait of Hormuz to deter any attempt by Iran to block Persian Gulf oil tanker traffic”. (rmks: allsquiet on the French side of the channel and its likely to remain that way until something hits the fan). Source: NIPmail. RUSSIA The ADMIRAL KUZNETSOV carrier task group has completed several-day exercises in the Central Mediterranean … air defence, missile and artillery firing (rmks: photo shows missile launch from CADS-1), simulated anti-submarine warfare (rmks: target?). Flight operations on 23/24 Jan included 10 sorties of Su-33 Flanker and 24 missions of ASW helicopters Ka-27 Helix. Source: NIPmail. RUSSIA The Russian defence ministry signed contract to commence series production of submarine-launched Bulava missiles … official tests “completed” … President Medvedjew soon to officially decree introduction … initial orders running through 2020. (rmks: back in Oct 2010, Russia was said to have a requirement of more than 150 Bulava ballistic missiles for the next decade … at least 124 missiles required for eight BOREY class submarines, another 30 or 40 missiles will have to be set aside for test launches - while the US is scrapping strategi assets, Russia is building up their inventory. Something's wrong with that picture). Source: NIPmail. RUSSIA First YASEN class nuclear submarine SEVERODVINSK will be commissioned into service only in 2013. First Deputy Defence Minister Sukhorukov: “… deadlines for the contract were not fulfilled”. Source: NIPmail. SPAIN Local media: the Spanish government has accrued Euro 3.4 billion long-term debts on contracts awarded to naval shipbuilder Navantia. (rmks: Ouch!) Source: NIPmail. UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS RUSSIA (FRANCE) (early Feb) The first of an initial two MISTRAL class helicopter carriers will be laid down in early February at French STX shipyard in St. Nazaire … to be delivered in 2014. Source: NIPmail. RUSSIA (2012) KIROV class nuclear-powered cruiser PETR VELIKIY scheduled to conduct out-of-area deployment (“long march”) this year. No dates nor destinations given so far. (rmks: that one will be interesting to follow). Source: NIPmail. 17 January USA Africa Partnership Station (West) 2012: Frigate SIMPSON departs Mayport, Florida, for a six-month deployment to West Africa. Source: IMO Update. 23 January FRANCE FLOREAL class frigate VENDEMIAIRE sails from home port Noumea (New Caledonia) for a four-month cruise to South East Asia and East Asia, with visits planned to 15 regional ports. Source: NIPmail. IRAN Reacting to new EU sanctions which include an oil embargo, senior Iranian lawmakers stepped up threats to block other nations’ oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. (rmks: more saber rattling). Source: NIPmail. RUSSIA After completing visit to Surabaya (Indonesia), the Pacific Fleet’s former 6th anti-piracy task group, with destroyer ADMIRAL PANTELEYEV, now heading for Manila (Philippines) for another port visit during return transit from The Horn of Africa to Vladivostok. Source: IMO Update. SPAIN Patrol vessel ATALAYA intercepts a rubber dinghy (over)loaded with 44 African illegal migrants trying to cross the Alboran Sea for Southern Spain. Source: IMO Update. USA President Obama has nominated current director of the Pentagon’s Joint Staff, Vice Adm. Bill Gortney, as the next commander of US Fleet Forces Command … would be promoted to admiral and replace Adm. John Harvey “this summer”. Source: NIPmail.

Source: http://navaltoday.com/2012/01/25/fincantie...l-for-uae-navy/ Fincantieri shipyard at Muggiano recently launched the “Ganthoot”, the first of two stealth patrol vessels included in the “Falaj 2” program in progress for the United Arab Emirates Navy who ordered them in 2010. The ship, whose name comes from a geographical area in the Emirates in the neighbourhood of Abu Dhabi, will be delivered in the last half of 2012. A second will be built with an option for an additional two (which is likely to be acted upon). Specs are sketchy at this time, but they tout it will be a multi-mission platform. This will be something interesting to follow.

Although Rafale is a candidate, its an older airframe. I'm thinking a reconstituted LAF would likely go with the Eurofighter or sticking with the Russians - Mig-29 or SU-35. That's my take. It will be interesting to watch - along with how the navy refits, which will also probably be a priority for the new government. Greg

It's one thing to have an emitter, which they have. It's quite another to have an OTH fire control radar (which is what they are describing). A DF-21D based solely on this is a glorified fire-and-forget, bearing only missile that would not be avery accurate in engaging a CVN. If they have a GPS, that would be a significant improvment (not a complete game-changer). Greg

Source: Tactical Reports http://www.tacticalreport.com/view_news/Li...rocurement/2442 Recently appointed Chief of Staff of the Libyan Armed Forces Major-General Yusef Al-Manqoush is said to have no intention of putting any obstacles before any European country trying to place offers with the Libyan Air Force (LAF) for fighter jets. He provided his views regarding the Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon and Mirage 2000-9. (rmks: It looks like the reconstituted LAF will court EU aircraft suppliers - almost a no-brainer in defense circles. These procurments will likely act a shot-in-the-arm for European aircraft companies). What are the thoughts of the forum? FWFS, Greg Emerson, DM1(SW), USN-Retired Renton, WA, USA

Everythiny outside of the current five-year "foreseeable" radar picture. Although its nice to plan for the future, the US Navy needs to survive the years of the axe, before prognosticating about they fancy toys on their Christmas list. Greg

Nice pub. I agree with Warhorse - color me skeptical. Greg