harikaridog

The ASW Destroyer Vice-Admiral Kulakov has just departed Portsmouth UK after a 4 day port visit. Recently returned from the Horn of Africa and the Eastern Med, the Kulakov was open to the public for a short time on Sunday. battered and a bit rusty she was still an impressive sight . I'll post some pictures of the open day and her departure shortly.

Roger. Maybe $$$? Unfortunately that is my conclusion too.

I'll hazard a guess. With Aster/PAAMS/Sea Viper having a somewhat troubled history and despite recent test success, there's nothing quite like the peace of mind that is offered by a proven, rapid firing gun. no, I totally agree with the rationale of having a CIWS as a backup to Sea Viper, what I don't undrstand is why Daring deploys with, Dauntless without....and yet Diamond is fitted even though she is not due for any special deployment currently.

You really should ask for your money back!

That is an interesting development. Thanks! On Sunday got some good views of HMS Diamond and HMS Dragon. Diamond had Phalanx fitted whilst Dragon did not. So not sure what the rationale is for CIWS fitting on the T45s.

Hi, I watched HMS Dauntless leave Portsmouth this morning heading for a 6 month deployment to the South Atlantic. Given all the Falklands rethoric recently there were a good many people seeing her off. One thing I did notice (attention Db Builders) was that Dauntless was not fitted with Phalanx. Daring deployed to the Gulf earlier this year did carry that CIWS. Obviously much confidence in the Sea Viper for SSM defence. I wonder is the omission financial or tactical? I suppose Phalanx might have been seen as a useful deterrent against Iranian speedboats/skiffs etc rather than as a last defence against leakers. Anyway, hoping Dauntless has a quiet and peaceful deployment.

Hmm, Looking at the Photos I took yesterday I see that Hessen has also had her Harpoons removed too. I suppose the chance of Ship to Ship combat in the North Atlantic is a pretty remote scenario now. Also cannot see the point of wasting an SSM on a pirate Dhow If things go SNAFU in the Gulf, I would hope US airpower would terminate any surface threat very quickly. However I wish that Dauntless would get some fitted before the journey to the South Atlantic. To rely entirely on an 'assumed' SSN as the surface deterrent worries me a little. Even if Sea Viper and Phalanx handles the Exocet inbounds, a Harpoon in return should discourage the surface units. Not dicounting Sea Skua...but......! I know the chances of anything getting out of hand is remote...but you never know.

This morning watched a three ship German naval group depart Portsmouth UK comprising frigates Emden and Hessen and the supply ship Frankfurt Am Main. One thing I noted was that the Emden had her Harpoon launchers removed. The support struts were there but not the tubes themselves. I guess this represents Germany following the lead of other countries in determining that SSM's are not required in the current environment.

Here is an article from The Telegraph in 2011 talking about this issue. THE TELEGRAPH

Good to see the 'Tiffies' manoeuvering into the French 6 O'clock position. I think the photo illustrates the common ancestry of these planes back to the days of the original EFA project. I guess had the French got their way and had Dassault lead the design effort then the Eurofighter would have looked very much like the Rafale.

i would assume the final version would have enhanced engines to improve the thrust to weight. However depending on the assumed role of this plane the lower thrust may not be such an issue. i would think the probable role for this aircraft is a long range air defence fighter with dogfighting capability as low priority. the Tornado ADV low thrust would have been a disadvantage in a dogfight...but as a long range interceptor it was not a bad aircraft, and probably would have been successful against its primary opponents Soviet Longe Range Bombers and recce. Add the stealth factor and probable supercruise performance plus a wingplan that probably allows a large fuel tankage...this aircraft would be quite well suited denying airspace to various long range patrol/intelligence gathering assets. i would also imagine that this aircraft could also be developed into a long range strike / interdictor where thrust to weight again might not be such an issue. High speed stealthy hit and run.

Very impressive looking aircraft.....interesting blend of US and Russian design. I wonder if the final version will implement thrust vectoring? When all the control surfaces were being tested on the ground, I was half expecting the thing to transform into a giant robot.

So, we could win the title by then. 6-7 is a bit long, isn't it? you should be so lucky..this was posted by a Forest fan

I think Sukhoi were proposing an updated SU-33 using SU-35 avionics etc.... which I guess might compete with the latest MiG 29K...... however I agree that the production run of MiG 29K for India must be a driving factor..... What next!!! the return of the Su25K Su-25UTG, it was never an attack plane, just a trainer. Even in the 90s the 29K was more multirole than the Su-33 but MiG was out of favor when the USSR fell. Given the limitations of STOBAR it's possibly the better plane too. Ah right I see that the designation SU-25K relates to an export version of the SU-25. As for STOBAR, yes I remember reading that India was offered the SU-33...but space was a premium on the Gorshkov rebuild and the MiG took up less space than the Sukhoi.

I think Sukhoi were proposing an updated SU-33 using SU-35 avionics etc.... which I guess might compete with the latest MiG 29K...... however I agree that the production run of MiG 29K for India must be a driving factor..... What next!!! the return of the Su25K

From NavyTimes The first of two new prototype railguns is now firing bullets, moving the Navy’s long-held dream of fielding an electromagnetic weapon a step closer to reality.

From Maritime News http://www.marinelink.com/news/constructio...gate342743.aspx The Yantar Shipyard in the Baltic area of Kaliningrad is to start the construction of a new Krivak IV class frigate for Russia's Black Sea Fleet.

Hmm.... I wonder if these replace the SU33 or will become part of a mixed airwing. I guess the Su33s are a bit long in the tooth now.

Yes Daring has deployed to the Gulf with Phalanx fitted.....I suppose Silkworm Ally is considered a high threat location. I fully expect Dauntless to go South with Phalanx fitted... last ditch in case Sea Viper does not behave.

Here is another picture of the work ongoing on Dauntless. Scaffolding on Main Mast and Stack, possibly wiring up various Sensors/ECM etc. (or maybe just a lick of paint) http://www.flickr.com/photos/77383808@N08/...tream/lightbox/

Yup, you've managed to answer your own question. The DLF(3) 'Rubber Duck' launchers are 1.14 m long canisters typically mounted in pairs on either beam. Here's a pic of an angled pair on the Type 23 frigate St. Alban's: Thanks for the confirmation Looks like they are slowly but surely adding some of the missing capability. I continue to secretly hope that I may see some of the Harpoon launchers that used to be on the type 22/3's make an appearance, however considering how many Type 23's I see going in and out of port with Harpoon removed looks like SSM capability does not appear to be an RN requirement anymore. A reliance on SSNs or helo mounted ASMs for ship killing. All the best Roger

Torpedoes? Having done a bit of research I now think this is the DLF 'Rubber Duck' Inflatable Decoy. The UK Royal Navy has begun to fit its frigates and destroyers with a new rapid-response floating passive radio-frequency (RF) decoy manufactured by Irvin Aerospace (part of Hunting Engineering). Employment applications include `soft kill' seduction as well as distraction and confusion. Known as the Advanced Inflatable Radar Decoy, or Outfit DLF(3), the new system has been developed as a successor to Irvin's earlier Outfit DLF(2) `Rubber Duck' floating corner reflector. In comparison with the earlier system, DLF(3) inflates to its full size more rapidly and produces a much larger radar cross-section. In operation, the decoy is launched close to the ship to be defended. Ejected from its launch tube by compressed air (released from an attached gas cylinder), the decoy's internal gas system is activated by a lanyard. The structure inflates to support an array of corner reflectors made from radar-reflectant net. Another lanyard attaches the structure to the ship until it is fully inflated. After a short delay, line cutters sever the tether, allowing the decoy to float freely along the side of the ship. An automatic mechanical cutter is used to deflate the decoy several hours afterwards. Janes Navy International As Dauntless gets closer to deployment to the South Atlantic will keep an eye out for any interesting additions. Roger

Hi, Was at Portsmouth naval base this morning and got some close up looks at HMS Dauntless and Dragon, Lot of work going on around the main mast of Dauntless and I notice neither ship currenetly had Phalanx mounted. I guess this will happen just before deployment down South. As an aside I took a photo of some equipment just aft of the Sea Viper Launchers. I think I've seen something similar before, however wonder if any of you guys could tell me what it is...... survival equipment / decoys / storage / etc. The picture can be seen here http://www.flickr.com/photos/77383808@N08/...73009/lightbox/ Regards... Roger

The graphic is dated 2010. The last two Kara class cruisers were decommissioned, or are due to be commissioned, since that time. Ah if I'd looked closely at the graphic I would have seen that....sorry

I see the graphic still shows two Kara class in Black sea inventory.....is this wishful thinking?