Armoredd.com

By ANDREI CHANG
Published: June 4, 2009 at 10:04 AM

HONG KONG, June 4 (UPI) — Shipbuilding experts from Eastern Europe have confirmed that the People’s Republic of China will start to build its own aircraft carrier this year, as preparations for the project are complete.

The experts had visited the No. 3 military dock of the Changxing Island Shipyard — the new location of the Jiangnan Shipyard, known as the cradle of China’s defense industry — based in Shanghai, where they acquired exclusive photos of the interior of the shipyard. From these it can be deduced that China is ready to commence building the aircraft carrier
at this dock.

Chinese armed police have dramatically strengthened their watch on Dock No. 3. All the entrances to and exits from this dock are under armed police guard, with plainclothes police on patrol. In contrast, the entrances to Dock No. 1, where civilian ships are built, are guarded only by shipyard security staff.

Dock No. 3 is 580 meters long, 120 meters wide, and completely encircled by a wall at least 2.5 meters high. A giant gantry crane has been built, with a capacity to lift at least 600 tons. The dock is large enough to build a medium-sized conventional aircraft carrier similar to the Russian Admiral Kuznetsov class with a light load displacement of about 50,000 tons.

The outfitting quay for No. 3 Dock has been finished and includes a large gantry crane. According to the Eastern European sailors who visited the shipyard, the quay is 8 kilometers long and was finished in the fall of 2008.

A number of large containers have been shipped to the area near the dock. Among senior shipbuilding experts from Germany, France and Italy who examined the shipyard photos, one suggested the containers might be loaded with oxygen supplies and power-generating equipment, as huge amounts of oxygen and power would be required for welding engineering.

An Eastern European source familiar with the aircraft carrier project told United Press International that China had invested $5.1 billion in the facilities at Changxing Island, including three gigantic joint-structured indoor assembly workshops in which the separate sections of the carrier would be built.

The expert from the French shipbuilding industry said these facilities could be used for processing steel plates and section materials, or the preliminary treatment or assembly of separate sections of the carrier.

Sources have informed United Press International that the shipyard and all its facilities were built at a very fast pace. A separate road network was finished around January 2007 to provide safety and security for the project. Despite attempts at secrecy, many residents of the nearby Changxing township knew that the shipyard was being readied to make China’s first aircraft carrier.

The facilities include numerous five-story buildings — accommodations for nearly 60,000 peasant laborers hired to build the aircraft carrier facilities — that have been in use since early this year. A correspondent for Kanwa Defense Review visited the area to interview peasant workers recruited for this project. The workers said they were paid from $440 to $585 per month, which is three or four times what an ordinary laborer in Shanghai can earn, and that their living conditions were very good.

The round-shaped headquarters building was to be finished this spring. Free-standing residential buildings in red and gray have been constructed for the shipbuilding experts. Satellite photos show that these houses are quite luxurious.

Judging from the size of the three gigantic joint-structured indoor assembly workshops affiliated to Dock No. 3, it is fully possible that the separate modules of the ship will be built in these workshops and finally assembled at the dock.

Sources told United Press International that China intends to build, equip and launch its first aircraft carrier — internally named “Beijing” — between 2009 and 2015. It is possible that the process could take longer, however.

The first steps will include the processing and cutting of steel plates and section materials as well as the assembly of sectional parts. When the keel is laid down it will be difficult to keep it secret, as the keel of the aircraft carrier must be towed to the dock in one piece.

June 3 was the Jiangnan Shipyard’s 144th anniversary.

–

(Andrei Chang is editor in chief of Kanwa Defense Review Monthly, registered in Toronto.)

© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

By Christopher P. Cavas - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jun 1, 2009 16:48:42 EDT

More than 10,000 welded joints on at least eight submarines and a new aircraft carrier might need to be reinspected after the discovery by Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding that one of its inspectors had falsified inspection reports.

According to an internal report obtained by Navy Times, the issue came to light May 14, when a welding inspector at the company’s Newport News, Va., shipyard told a supervisor that a fellow inspector was initialing welds as “OK” without performing the inspections. Confronted by the supervisor, the offending inspector admitted to falsifying three weld inspections, all that same day.

Company officials rapidly began an internal investigation and notified the Navy’s supervisor of shipbuilding of the situation, according to the report. On May 20, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service began its own investigation.

Northrop Grumman declined to reveal the employee’s name, citing the ongoing personnel investigation. A company official did say May 28 that the employee initially had been suspended, then fired.

According to the report, a quick company review of the inspector’s work showed that 12 other joints inspected by the employee that evening were satisfactory. But the ramifications of the falsified inspections rapidly grew beyond a single night’s work.

“We have to go back and check everything this guy has ever touched,” said one industrial source.

The employee had been certified to perform inspections in June 2005 and, according to the report, a review of the shipyard’s welding database showed that in the ensuing four years he inspected and signed off on more than 10,000 structural welding joints on at least nine ships.

Company officials said May 27 that the investigation of the employee’s work could mean that all the joints would need reinspection or re-evaluation.

3 ships in service
According to the report, the ships worked on by the inspector included the Virginia-class nuclear attack submarines North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Missouri, California, Mississippi, Minnesota and John Warner, and the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush. Bush, North Carolina and New Hampshire are in service; the other subs are in various states of construction at Newport News and at the General Dynamics shipyards in Groton, Conn., and Quonset, R.I.

The two shipbuilders share equally in building the submarines. Each shipyard builds specific sections of the submarines and transports the sections to the other yard. The shipbuilders alternate in assembling the hulls.

The inspector performed most of his work on the New Mexico (2,133 welds inspected), Missouri (3,169), California (2,002) and Mississippi (2,177). The employee inspected only 23 welds on New Hampshire and two on North Carolina.

A little more than 10 percent of the submarine welds were hull integrity, or SUBSAFE, joints involving critical parts.

The inspector also performed 229 piping joint inspections on submarines.

There are many thousands of welds on each 7,800-ton submarine — more then 300,000, according to an Electric Boat Best Manufacturing Practices Web site.

But making sure that welding work is done correctly can be a matter of life and death.

“People take this really, really seriously,” said one industry source. “Why? Because people don’t want another Thresher. Nobody takes a chance.”

The submarine Thresher sank in April 1963 when it was forced to dive below its crush depth and the hull imploded. All 129 men aboard the sub perished.

“The quality of our work is something we take very seriously,” Northrop spokeswoman Margaret Mitchell-Jones said in a May 28 statement to Navy Times.

Previous problems
Newport News is still smarting from a welding filler issue that arose in fall 2007. Shipyard workers had used the wrong type of welding filler material on many pipe welds, and the company and the Navy were forced to re-examine a number of submarines, aircraft carriers and surface ships built or repaired at the shipyard. Northrop changed a number of workshop practices as a result.

Both the Navy and Northrop Grumman emphasize that there is no relation between the weld filler issue and the latest problem with the inspector.

Northrop Grumman has developed an inspection plan of the offending inspector’s work that will focus on hull integrity and SUBSAFE joints as a priority, followed by non-SUBSAFE joints, according to the internal report.

The nature of the NCIS investigation is unclear.

“I can confirm that NCIS is investigating allegations made against a weld inspector, but I cannot get into case specifics,” NCIS spokesman Ed Buice wrote in a May 28 e-mail to Navy Times. “NCIS does not comment on the details of ongoing investigations.”

Source: Navy Times

LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 19, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) is being awarded a $259.9 million U.S. Navy contract to overhaul and upgrade 57 Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems and to provide ancillary equipment, spares, as well as additional technical support.

The agreement calls for 40 sea-based Phalanx systems and 17 Centurion Land-Based Phalanx Weapon Systems.

“The capability of our world-class Ku-band radar coupled with Phalanx’s thermal imager provides unparalleled self-defense protection,” said Todd Callahan, Raytheon’s Close-In Defense Solutions program director. “Additionally, Phalanx gives commanders at sea and on the ground the ability to interface with other systems to defeat targets, save lives and prevent damage.”

Phalanx is a rapid-fire, computer-controlled radar and 20 mm gun system that automatically acquires, tracks, and destroys enemy threats that have penetrated all other ship defense systems. More than 890 systems have been built and deployed in the navies of 25 nations. Centurion LPWS defends ground forces and high value sites against rocket, artillery and mortar attacks. Twenty-two have been delivered to the U.S. Army and 10 to the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence.

“At sea, Phalanx Block 1B provides a reliable day and night passive search and track capability in near-shore, littoral environments,” said Callahan. “The land-based system has proved to be very effective since it was first delivered in mid-2005, defeating more than 110 launches against high value Multi-National Corps-Iraq assets.”

Raytheon Company, with 2008 sales of $23.2 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 87 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 73,000 people worldwide.

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

27 May 2009

EARLIER this year, the good folk of Her Majesty’s Ship Portland enjoyed war games run by the Pakistanis, Exercise Aman.

From Aman to Oman… Now the frigate has been exercising on the opposite side of the Arabian Sea with Allied navies.

Aman means ‘peace’ in Urdu. The Omanis had a rather more warlike name for their exercises, Khunjar Hadd – sharp dagger.

Indeed there was little peaceful about the four days of Khunjar Hadd. It began with war, ended with war, and there was a little war in between.

Organisers crammed the whole gamut of surface operations in Sharp Dagger – boarding parties, gunnery serials, air defence, navigation of mine-swept channels, replenishment at sea, basically think ‘Thursday War’ but run over four days, not one. The Omani Air Force were also keen to test their Super Lynx helicopters at sea.

Despite such a demanding schedule, key to the exercise was the ability to ‘mix and match’ sailors throughout the force, allowing them to spend a day with one of their Allies to see how they do things.

As in every other walk of life, nothing quite compensates for the personal touch.

“There’s nothing better in helping an exercise work so well as to actually meet and work with our partners,” said Lt Cdr Rob Crabbe, Portland’s operations officer. “This exercise was superb for allowing us to do that.”

Sharp Dagger was run out of the Omani naval base at Wudam, 75 miles along the coast from the capital Muscat.

Naval bases are not renowned for their beauty. Luckily for Portland’s sailors, they enjoyed their down time in the capital.

Source: Navynews.co.uk

Republic of Korea – SM-2 Standard Missiles

WASHINGTON, May 26, 2009 – On May 22, The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of the Republic of Korea of 46 SM-2 Block IIIA Tactical STANDARD missiles, 35 SM-2 Block IIIB Tactical STANDARD missiles, 3 SM-2 Block IIIB Telemetry Missiles, 84 SM-2 missile containers and associated test and support equipment, spare and repair parts, training, training equipment, publications and logistical support for an estimated cost of $170 million.

The Republic of Korea has requested a possible sale of 46 SM-2 Block IIIA Tactical STANDARD missiles, 35 SM-2 Block IIIB Tactical STANDARD missiles, 3 SM-2 Block IIIB Telemetry Missiles, 84 SM-2 missile containers, missile modifications, test and support equipment, spare and repair parts, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical data, U.S. Government and contractor technical assistance and other related logistics support. The estimated cost is $170 million.

The proposed sale will enhance the Republic of Korea’s defensive capabilities and increase interoperability with U.S. and multi-national forces supporting coalition operations. The country already has these missiles in its inventory and will have no difficulty absorbing these items.

The prime contractor will be Raytheon Electronic Systems Company in Tucson, Arizona. At this time, there are no known offset agreements in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will require temporary travel for U.S. Government or contractor representatives to the Republic of Korea for in-country training. Training will be a recurring requirement during the life of the missile system.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law. It does not mean that the sale has been concluded.

Source: Defense Security Cooperation Agency

Navy researchers hope to use lasers for sonar detection or communicating with underwater submarines.

Posted May 25, 2009
By Jeremy Hsu, LiveScience

Flashy lasers should not make any sound in space, despite what “Star Trek” would have people believe. But lasers aimed underwater can and do create small supersonic explosions.

It’s not just a light show. Naval researchers hope to use lasers for sonar detection, or even submarine-to-aircraft communication.

“The lasers we’re using in experiments now are pretty compact,” said Ted Jones, a physicist at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. “They’re smaller than desk-sized and could fly on an aircraft.”

Radios or other devices that rely on the electromagnetic spectrum don’t work underwater, because water does not transmit such waves well. That means submarines cannot communicate from beneath the waves — they have to surface if they want to communicate with home base, planes or other naval ships.

Lasers could fill that communication gap, because water can act as a focusing lens if a laser has the right “frequency chirp.” The chirp depends on the arrangement of different color wavelengths within a laser beam, because each color travels at a slightly different speed underwater.

The water’s focusing effect squeezes the laser beam so that it gets narrower and narrower, and eventually creates a superheated explosion that can be heard.

“It’s a very hot little bubble of steam that expands supersonically, makes a little shockwave, dissipates a bit and then turns into an ordinary acoustic pulse,” Jones told LiveScience.

The naval researchers have used modest lasers to create pulses of 210 decibels, which far exceeds the sound of a jet engine or the loudest rock concert imaginable.

Playing with lasers underwater is nothing new for the U.S. Navy, but previous experiments used larger lasers and could only thermally heat the water without the pulse effect.

Much understanding of the acoustic pulse effect came from laser eye surgery, where scientists wanted to reduce the effect. Now Jones and his colleagues want to do the exact opposite and enhance the acoustic shock for a louder sound.

Jones envisions aircraft using lasers to transmit messages to submarines gliding beneath the waves. Or the lasers could allow aircraft to quickly search large areas of ocean with sonar systems, which listen for sound signatures reflected off of underwater objects.

“You put down an array of passive sonar buoys and go back over with same aircraft that dropped those,” Jones explained. The aircraft could then use its laser to sweep a wide area and see what the sonar buoys detect.

But before any of that can happen, Jones and his fellow researchers are trying to improve the laser ranges underwater. Their current lasers can travel almost 66 feet (20 m) — not exactly Star Trek material, but still very sci-fi.

Copyright 2008 Imaginova Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: US News

ST. LOUIS, May 20, 2009 – The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has received a $48.9 million contract from the U.S. Navy for development and testing of a Distributed Targeting (DT) system for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighter.

This new targeting capability is part of the Navy’s F/A-18E/F Network Centric Warfare Upgrades program and F/A-18E/F Flight Plan, a technology-insertion program that ensures the Block II Super Hornet will stay ahead of known and emerging threats through 2025 and beyond.

“Distributed targeting is a powerful new tool for the warfighter and another increase in capability for the Super Hornet, in line with the F/A-18E/F Flight Plan,” said Rick Martin, Boeing F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Flight Plan program manager. “Boeing will continue to work with the Navy as this new system moves forward to ensure our men and women in uniform have the capability they need.”

The DT capability utilizes onboard hardware and software processing to produce precise targeting solutions.

Development of the DT system began in February at Boeing facilities in St. Louis and at Harris Corp. in Melbourne, Fla. The DT development program will culminate with Navy flight tests in September 2010 at the Naval Air Warfare Center, China Lake, Calif.

The Block II F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a multirole aircraft, able to perform virtually every mission in the tactical spectrum, including air superiority, day/night strike with precision-guided weapons, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defenses, maritime strike, reconnaissance, forward air control and tanker missions. Boeing has delivered more than 390 F/A-18E/Fs to the U.S. Navy. Every Super Hornet produced has been delivered on or ahead of schedule.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world’s largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32 billion business with 70,000 employees worldwide.

Source: Boeing

May 21, 2009

General Dynamics, Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Conn., is being awarded a $15,800,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for work on the USS Hartford (SSN 768), the submarine that was in a collision with the amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18) in the Strait of Hormuz, March 20.ed in the aftermath of the incident.

The contract covers advance planning and off-hull fabrication of the replacement hull patch and bridge access trunk, advance planning and material procurement for the port retractable bow plane, and advance planning for the sail for restoration of USS Hartford (SSN 768) to full service condition. Work will be performed in Quonset Point, R.I., (70 percent) and Groton, Conn., (30 percent), and is expected to be completed by Oct. 2009. Contract funds in the amount of $15,800,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-08-G-6321).

Source: Marine Log

Visakhapatnam (PTI): Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sureesh Mehta on Tuesday commissioned the Indian Navy’s sixth Landing Ship Tank (Large), Airavat, into the naval fleet at the Eastern Naval Commands, IN Jetty here.

“The Indian Navy would build 32 warships and six submarines using indigenous technology by the year 2012,” Adm. Mehta told reporters on the occasion.

Previously named as Yard 3016 in March 2006, the LST was re-christened INS Airavat on Tuesday. It was formally handed over to the Indian Navy on March 30 this year at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited, Kolkata.

As a platform designed for amphibious operations against the enemy, Airavat is a further upgrade on the Magar Class (the First LST (L)) in her suite of weapons, sensors and indigenous content, the Indian Navy said in a release.

With a significantly enhanced weapon package, latest control systems and better habitability conditions, Airavat delivers considerable punch and amphibious capabilities to the fighting prowess of the Indian Navy, it said.

The ship can carry 10 Main Battle Tanks, 11 Combat Trucks and 500 Troops and has a considerable range and endurance at sea. Besides undertaking amphibious operations, the ship is a potent assault platform capable of operating both Seaking 42C and the indigenous Dhruv helicopters.

Airavat is fitted with two indigenous WM 18A rocket launchers to support successful amphibious operations.

The threat from air is dealt with through two indigenous CRN 91 Anti-Aircraft Guns auto-controlled by Optronic Sights and shoulder-launched IGLA Surface-to-Air Missiles. It also has soft-kill ability through Chaff Rockets, which can be used to clutter the sensory inputs of an incoming energy aircraft or missile, the Navy said.

The ship is also fitted with Remote Propulsion Control, Battle Damage Control System and Automated Power Management System.

These are fully integrated, microprocessor based, digital control systems for providing control and for monitoring ships machinery and systems, it said.

Airavat also has a microprocessor based anti-roll Flume Stabilisation System and smoke curtains to impede spreading of smoke and toxic gases in case of fire on board. In addition, the ship can act as a fleet tanker through stern refueling of other naval vessels and as a hospital ship.

According to the Navy, the ship can be effectively tasked for HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) missions during natural calamities like tsunami, cyclone and earthquake and can operate independently at high seas for as long as 45 days.

Source: The Hindu

IAN McPHEDRAN
May 21, 2009 12:01am

SUBMARINE woes have hit a new low with just one of six Collins Class craft fit for service.

Experts differ on the security risk this poses for the nation, but they agree that having just one boat available to defend the nation is a terrible return on a $10 billion taxpayer investment.

With HMAS Waller tied up at the Henderson shipyard south of Perth for urgent battery repairs, the only seaworthy sub is HMAS Farncomb.

The other four boats are either out of active service (HMAS Collins) or out of the water for major maintenance known as full cycle docking (HMAS Sheehan, Rankin and Dechaineux).

The latest submarine crisis comes just a month after the navy released a damning report into the management of the submarine force and its overworked crews with a solemn promise to fix the problems.

It also coincides with a $20 billion-plus push to equip the navy with 12 new generation submarines over the next 20 years.

Despite having just one operational vessel, the navy has promised the Government the subs will be available for an extra 160 days of duty next year.

Documents released with the Federal Budget show that the navy plans to increase the number of “unit ready days” for the fleet next year from 762 to 914 or more than 300 days each for three boats.

“There is less docking maintenance scheduled for FY09/10 hence the URD forecast is higher,” it said.

Military expert at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute Andrew Davies said many issues needed to be sorted out before the nation invested $20 billion in a new submarine fleet.

“Do we spend more time thinking about buying new things than we do looking after what we have got?” he asked.

When they are working the Collins boats are the Australian Defence Force’s most important strategic weapon. However, the subs have been dogged by major technical problems including leaky welds, excessive noise, and unworkable combat systems.

Waller’s battery problem, the second inside a year, is reportedly so serious it could cost more than $3 million and take months to fix.

The navy denies any problem with Waller and says the maintenance stop was “scheduled”.

Source: Adelaide Now

19-May-2009 18:07 EDT

Dubai’s Khaleej Times relays a Der Spiegel report that Germany has approved a sale to Pakistan of 3 top-of-the-line Type 214 diesel-electric submarines with Air-Independent Propulsion. An export financing credit of EUR 1 billion euros ($1.36 billion equivalent) has reportedly been offered.

The catch? No contract. Contract negotiations were dragging out, and any contract is ultimately dependent on approval from Germany’s national security council, an inner cabinet of ministers with security portfolios. Pakistan’s insurgency has become a civil war, and recent Taliban advances are causing international observers to worry about the Pakistani government’s potential for collapse, or for a Taliban-backed coup led by the likes of Hamid Gul. In Germany, those developments reportedly led Germany’s national security council to take time away from serious matters like government efforts to ban paintball, and adjourn further deliberation on the Pakistani submarine sale until after September 2009.

If Pakistan buys the U-214s, they would join 3 new French Agosta 90B class diesel-electric boats equipped with MESMA AIP systems, and 2 Agosta 70 submarines commissioned in 1979-1980. The U-214s sit alongside the U-212As as the most modern submarines in the U-209 family, the world’s most popular line of diesel-electric submarines. Their Siemens AIP systems allow them to run submerged at reduced speeds for up to 2-3 weeks without surfacing for air, or at full speed for a shorter period of time.

Source: Defense Industry Daily

TUCSON, Ariz., May 4, 2009 /PRNewswire/ — Raytheon Company has developed a technology plan to enhance moving target capabilities for the combat-proven Tomahawk Block IV missile. The technology will enable naval forces to effectively engage moving maritime surface targets and conduct anti-surface warfare missions.

“This capability will allow the warfighter to attack a new tactical target set from more than 900 nautical miles (1035 statue miles),” said Harry Schulte, vice president of Raytheon Missile System’s Air Warfare Systems’ product line. “Raytheon’s technology road map is the first step toward a rapid-development effort that will deliver a single, affordable, multi-mission missile capable of land attack and anti-surface warfare operations.”

The Tomahawk Block IV is a surface- and submarine-launched, precision-strike, stand-off weapon. It is designed for long-range precision strike missions against high-value and heavily defended targets.

More than 1,900 Tomahawk rounds have been fired in support of almost every conflict since 1991, and more than 1,300 Tomahawk Block IV missiles have been delivered since 2005. The Tomahawk Block IV is integrated on numerous surface and subsurface combatant platforms in the U.S. Navy and subsurface combatant vessels in the U.K. Royal Navy.

Raytheon Company, with 2008 sales of $23.2 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 87 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 73,000 people worldwide.

Note to Editors:
Raytheon’s Tomahawk Block IV program provides more than 250 jobs in Tucson, Ariz.; Camden, Ark.; El Segundo, Calif.; and Ft. Wayne, Ind.

Major suppliers include: AAR Summa, Huntsville, Ala.; Aerojet, East Camden, Ark.; Ball Aerospace, Broomfield, Colo.; Goodrich, Aurora, Ohio; Honeywell Sensor and Guide Products, Clearwater, Fla.; Honeywell Sensor and Guide Products, Minneapolis, Minn.; Kaman Aerospace, Middletown, Conn.; Klune, Spanish Fork, Utah; LaBarge, Joplin, Mo.; Pacific Scientific, Chandler, Ariz.; and Williams International, Walled Lake, Mich.

Contact:
Mike Nachshen
520.794.4088 - office
520.269.5697 - mobile
Michael_nachshen@raytheon.com

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

Web site: http://www.raytheon.com/

Press Releases
ATK

May 12, 2009

Continued Success Follows the 2008 Production Contract Award

AARGM On-Schedule for U.S. Fleet Deployment in 2010

MINNEAPOLIS, May 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Alliant Techsystems , the U.S. Navy, and the Italian Air Force successfully fired an AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake on April 13, 2009. The firing marks the fifth consecutive successful AARGM live fire in the program’s System Development and Demonstration (SD&D) phase and continues AARGM’s progression toward Independent Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) commencing summer 2009. ATK began work on the AARGM program SD&D contract in June 2003 and the program remains on-schedule to enter service with the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps in 2010.

The AARGM was fired from a U.S. Navy FA-18C Hornet in a scenario designed to test the missile’s ability to identify, locate, track and prioritize multiple emitter targets in-flight; and its ability to function against shut-down emitter tactics. During the missile flight profile, the AARGM identified and distinguished a pop-up priority emitter target from other secondary targets and altered its guidance. Then the AARGM’s unique capability to overcome emitter shut-down tactics was tested by terminating the priority target’s emissions. In response to the emitter shut-down, AARGM utilized its GPS/INS navigation to continue guidance to the primary target location. In the terminal flight phase, the missile employed active Millimeter Wave (MMW) radar to locate and guide on the primary target. During the final seconds of missile flight, the AARGM transmitted a Weapon Impact Assessment (WIA) message reporting weapon information to support Battle Damage Assessment (BDA). The missile then directly impacted the target.

“We are very proud of the versatility, reliability, and lethality the AARGM system has demonstrated throughout the test program. This is another example of ATK’s ability to deliver on its commitment to affordable precision for our U.S., Italian, and Coalition customers,” said Jack Cronin, President, ATK Mission Systems. “AARGM’s entry into Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) this past year, coupled with ATK’s continued development success, ensures our customer’s vision of fielded supersonic Destruction of Enemy Air Defense (DEAD) and multi-mode strike capability.”

ATK participated in the missile firing as a member of the U.S. Navy’s Integrated Product Team, led by the Direct and Time Sensitive Strike Program Office (PMA-242). The test was led by members from the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division - China Lake and included Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Three One (VX-31), the National Reconnaissance Office, the Naval Air Systems Command, and the Italian Air Force.

“Our international, government-industry team delivered another successful test result today. It is a tribute to the professionalism of the entire development and test team,” said Capt. Larry Egbert, the U.S. Navy’s program manager for Direct and Time Sensitive Strike programs (PMA-242). “We are now one important step closer to entry into Operational Evaluation and delivery of game-changing DEAD capability to our warfighters.”

With this firing, AARGM has now achieved twelve consecutive successful live fires throughout development. The AARGM development team has demonstrated system maturity and reliability in over 200 Beech King Air flight tests and 58 Captive Carriage FA-18 sorties flown against a wide array of targets.

AARGM is a supersonic, air-launched tactical missile that will be integrated on the FA-18 C/D, FA-18 E/F, EA-18 G and Tornado ECR aircraft. The missile is also being designed to be compatible with the F-35, EA-6B, and U.S. and Allied F-16. Its advanced multi-sensor system includes a Millimeter Wave (MMW) terminal seeker, advanced Anti-Radiation Homing (ARH) receiver and Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System (GPS/INS) capable of rapidly engaging traditional and advanced enemy air defense targets as well as non-radar time-sensitive strike targets. The AARGM MMW seeker can operate in concert with the ARH to counter RF shutdown tactics, or in a stand-alone mode to guide to non-emitting time-sensitive targets. AARGM is a network-enabled weapon that will directly receive tactical intelligence information via an embedded Integrated Broadcast System Receiver (IBS-R) and transmits real-time Weapons Impact Assessment (WIA) reports. The AARGM system, an upgrade to the U.S. Navy AGM-88 HARM system, is a U.S. and Italian international cooperative major acquisition program with the U.S. Navy as the executive agent. When delivered to Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in November 2010, AARGM will be the only tactical extended-range, supersonic, multi-role strike weapon in U.S. and Italian inventory.

ATK is a premier aerospace and defense company with more than 19,000 employees in 22 states, Puerto Rico and internationally, and revenues in excess of $4.6 billion. News and information can be found on the Internet at www.atk.com.

Certain information discussed in this press release constitutes forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although ATK believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Among those factors are: the challenges of developing and fielding advanced missile technology; changes in governmental spending, budgetary policies and product sourcing strategies; the company’s competitive environment; the terms and timing of awards and contracts; and economic conditions. ATK undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. For further information on factors that could impact ATK, and statements contained herein, please refer to ATK’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE: Alliant Techsystems

Web site: http://www.ATK.com/

By Andrew Scutro - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday May 14, 2009 19:09:36 EDT

A submariner assigned to the new attack boat Hawaii died May 8 in Groton, Conn., in what’s been determined to have been a suicide.

“There was a weapons discharge on the pier,” said Cmdr. Pat McNally, spokesman at Submarine Force in Norfolk, Va. “He died later that morning.”

The sailor, Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class (SS) John Carlos Rodriguez, died at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital in New London. Rodriguez, 22, was from Doylestown, Pa. He joined the Navy on May 23, 2006.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for Connecticut determined the death to be a suicide caused by a gunshot wound to the head.

“No other sailors were involved or hurt,” said Lt. Pat Evans, spokesman for Submarine Group 2. “The incident occurred before 5 [a.m].”

Evans said the Naval Criminal Investigative Service is investigating.

Rear Adm. Bruce Grooms, who is group commander until Friday when he changes command, said in a news interview that there appears to be no connection between the death and conditions on Hawaii.

“We looked really closely at the climate aboard the submarine, and I can tell you with 100 percent certainty that the boat and the senior leadership are as good as it gets,” he said in a copy of his remarks provided by Evans.

Hawaii departed Groton on Wednesday to for its new homeport of Pearl Harbor, where it’s expected to arrive this summer.

Source: The Navy Times

Story Number: NNS090514-11
Release Date: 5/14/2009 5:03:00 PM

From Department of Defense

WASHINGTON (NNS) — The Navy will christen the newest Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer, Gravely, May 16 during aceremony at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Miss.

The new destroyer honors the late Vice Adm. Samuel L. Gravely Jr. He was born in Richmond, Va., June 4, 1922. After attending Virginia Union University, he enlisted in the Naval Reserve in September 1942.

In 1943 he participated in a Navy program (V-12) designed to select and train highly qualified men for commissioning as officers in the Navy. On Dec. 14, 1944, Gravely successfully completed midshipman training, becoming the first African American commissioned as an officer from the Navy Reserve Officer Training Course. He was released from active duty in April 1946 but remained in the Naval Reserve.

Gravely was recalled to active duty in 1949. As part of the Navy’s response to President Harry S. Truman’s executive order to desegregate the armed services, Gravely’s initial assignment was as a Navy recruiter, recruiting African Americans in the Washington, D.C., area. Gravely went on to a Navy career that lasted 38 years and included many distinguished accomplishments.

Gravely was a true pathfinder whose performance and leadership as an African American naval officer demonstrated to America the value and strength of diversity. Gravely’s accomplishments served as watershed events for today’s Navy. He was the first African American to command a warship (USS Theodore E. Chandler); to command a major warship (USS Jouett); to achieve flag rank and eventually vice admiral; and to command a numbered fleet (3rd).

Retired Adm. J. Paul Reason will deliver the ceremony’s principal address. Alma Gravely will serve as sponsor of the ship named for her late husband. In accordance with Navy tradition, she will break a bottle of champagne across the ship’s bow and christen the ship.

Designated DDG 107, the 57th Arleigh Burke class destroyer, Gravely will be able to conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection. Gravely will be capable of fighting air, surface and subsurface battles simultaneously and contains myriad offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime warfare in keeping with “A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower,” the new maritime strategy that postures the sea services to apply maritime power to protect U.S. vital interests in an increasingly interconnected and uncertain world.

Cmdr. Douglas Kunzman is the prospective commanding officer of the ship and will lead the crew of 276 officers and enlisted personnel. The 9,200-ton Gravely is being built by Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding - Gulf Coast in Pascagoula, Miss. The ship is 509 feet in length, has a waterline beam of 59 feet and a navigational draft of 31 feet. Four gas turbine engines will power the ship to speeds in excess of 30 knots.

The christening ceremony will be streamed from the following site at 10 a.m. (CDT) May 16: http://www.sb.northropgrumman.com/events/gravely/.

For more news from the fleet, visit www.navy.mil.

By Roxana Tiron
Posted: 05/15/09 07:31 PM [ET]

The Navy on Friday ordered Lockheed Martin and Agusta Westland to stop all work on the new presidential helicopter.

The stop work order comes after the Pentagon’s weapons buying chief Ash Carter on Friday signed a memo formally canceling the new presidential helicopter program also known as the VH-71.

The decision to terminate the contract with Lockheed and Agusta is not a new one: Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced the cancelation of the program last month when he previewed the Pentagon’s 2010 budget request.

The decision to scrap the contract under which the defense contractor already built nine choppers does not sit well with several supporters in Congress, who are maneuvering to figure out a way to salvage the program. Lockheed’s main operations related to the VH-71 are in New York state.

The Obama administration decided to cancel the program after its costs more than doubled from $6.8 billion to $13 billion and the program faced delays. A total of 23 helicopters were supposed to be built.

Dan Hill, vice president of Agusta Westland North America, which builds the helicopter, said in a statement last week that his company “is proud” of the helicopters it has delivered. The helicopters “meet or exceed all of the program specifications,” he said.

Supporters of the program argue that the cost ballooned because of increasing requirements and specifications from the Secret Service, which protects the president and the Marine squadron that flies the presidential helicopters.

The Navy was in charge of the presidential chopper program. Carter directed the Navy to come up with options to replace the current decades-old presidential helicopters over the next 30 days.

In a statement issued Friday, the Navy said that the 2010 budget request includes money to extend the life of the current helicopters and to develop a plan to eventually replace them. The Navy said the budget request also covers the termination costs to the defense contractors. Those costs are, however, negotiated between the government and the contractors, so it’s unclear as of now what those costs are. The Obama administration requested $85 million overall to cover the extension of the old helos, figure out the way forward and pay the cancellation costs.

The government also has to figure out what to do with the nine helicopters the contractors have already built. According to the Navy the options are to keep the helicopters for other Pentagon uses, sell them to other “interested parties” or have the contractors buy back the helicopters.

Source: The Hill

Press Trust of India

Moscow, May 11 (PTI) Russia is expected to deliver the Akula-class nuclear-powered submarine to India by the end of this year as the shipyard has repaired the damage caused by the mishap during sea trials in November in which 20 sailors and technical staff were killed.

“The repairs are complete and the vessel is technically ready for the resumption of sea trials,” an official of the Amur Shipyard was quoted as saying by Interfax.

According to the director of the shipyard Nikolai Povzyk the “aim is to deliver the vessel by the end of this year.” “We are completing the enrolment of trial team, which will have to finish trials and deliver the submarine to the Indian side by the end of this year,” Povzyk said.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin today announced plans to provide funds to the Amur Shipyard for the completion of the Indian order. However, details of the funding were not known.

Russia was to deliver the Akula-II Class nuclear attack submarine to the Indian Navy on a 10-year lease in June.

However, due to the November 8, 2008 mishap, which took place during sea trials, it was deferred.

At least 20 people were killed and 21 injured in the disaster, Russia’s worst naval accident in nearly a decade, which was caused by accidental triggering of fire suppression system in one of the submarine’s compartments. PTI

by Staff Writers
Singapore (AFP) May 11, 2009
Space War

Asian states led by China, Japan and South Korea are expected to spend some 60 billion dollars to beef up their navies in the next five years, an industry analyst said Monday. That is bigger than what NATO countries — excluding the United States — are forecast to spend for new naval construction in the same period, said Bob Nugent, vice president of US-based naval consultancy AMI International.

The world’s biggest spender will remain the United States at a little above 60 billion dollars between now and 2014, Nugent said here on the eve of IMDEX Asia 2009, Asia’s top maritime defence show.

Non-NATO European countries led by Russia are forecast to spend 11 billion dollars on new naval capabilities in the next five years, he added.

Nugent said that for Asia, the most popular buys are submarines, frigates and aviation-capable amphibious ships as governments build “third generation” navies with underwater, surface and aerial capabilities.

Asian navies are also moving away from their main role of patrolling local waters to having the capability to operate in international waters, he added.

“Defence spending in Asia has proven stable over the last year and is expected to remain so. Looking at the global market, we’ve not seen the same cutbacks that are unfolding in Europe,” Nugent said.

“In our view, this reflects greater macroeconomic stability and relatively less exposure to systemic and credit risk in most Asian economies as well as a recognition of how vital effective sea power is to national security and prosperity.”

China, Japan and South Korea will lead the region in naval spending, but India is also ramping up investments to modernise its navy, he said.

Australia and Singapore have substantial naval programmes planned, while Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand are expected to sustain investments in their navies in the next five years.

Apart from planning for conventional and non-conventional security threats, Asian navies are also building their capability to protect offshore oil rigs and platforms as the search for more energy sources expands, he said.

Delegates from 36 countries, including some defence and navy chiefs, will attend the conference and exhibition, while 20 warships from 14 nations will dock here for the duration.

By MICHAEL GANNON
Norwich Bulletin

Posted May 07, 2009 @ 03:52 PM
Last update May 07, 2009 @ 03:53 PM

President Barack Obama’s proposed defense budget would significantly increase spending on Virginia-class attack submarines and would further fund advance research on the next generation of ballistic submarines.

The president’s request must pass through both Houses of Congress, where it is expected to meet resistance from states where Obama and the Pentagon are seeking to cut program spending.

According to U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, Obama’s defense budget request for next year includes more than $4.1 billion for the Virginia program, including $1.96 billion to start construction of a sub in 2010. It also included advance procurement for a submarine to be started in 2011, when the Navy increases Virginia construction to two boats per year.

Virginias are built at Electric Boat in Groton and at the Newport News shipyard in Virginia.

Courtney’s office said Obama also is expected to request a large increase in research and development funding for the SSBN(x), which is slated to replace the aging Ohio submarine class over the next two decades, though Courtney’s office said they are seeking more information from the Navy on exact figures.

Ohio submarines are the sea-going arm of the U.S. nuclear arsenal.

Raytheon

TEWKSBURY, Mass., and ANKARA, Turkey, April 28, 2009 /PRNewswire/ — Raytheon Company’s Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) and HAVELSAN Inc. have signed a teaming agreement to cooperatively market the GENESIS Ship Integrated Combat Management System for surface ships of navies worldwide.

GENESIS successfully completed at-sea testing and delivery of the first system in 2007. The second and third ships were tested and delivered in 2008. GENESIS was developed for integration, including development; hardware and software testing; training; and maintenance services onboard eight of the frigates that are part of the Turkish fleet.

Originally initiated and designed by the Turkish Naval Forces Command for the modernization of USS OLIVER HAZARD PERRY (FFG 7) class frigates, GENESIS has been upgraded and implemented by HAVELSAN. Raytheon provided fire control and electronic warfare system modifications.

“In the context of such projects, the most challenging phase is the first delivery. With the delivery of the third ship, GENESIS is a tested and proven solution,” said Dr. Faruk A. Yarman, CEO of HAVELSAN.

“Today, the GENESIS-implemented frigates are preferred for critical missions, such as the participation of the TCG Giresun as part of an international joint task force fighting increasing piracy in the Gulf of Aden. With the GENESIS system — originally developed by the Turkish Navy and transferred to HAVELSAN after the completion of successful sea trials — FFG 7 class frigates around the world can significantly improve their combat intelligence and ability to take action to counter threats.”

Raytheon IDS’ Charles “Tom” Bush, vice president of Seapower Capability Systems, said:

“The GENESIS solution transforms the FFG 7 combat system, giving it outstanding capability to meet today’s threats by improving sensor integration, information management, and by reducing reaction times — all critical capabilities for a modern, front-line combatant. Together, the Raytheon-HAVELSAN team has provided a complete and affordable solution to modernize and optimize the effectiveness of these tough, multi-mission ships in service in allied fleets around the world.”

The cooperation of HAVELSAN and Raytheon in the marketing and implementation of the GENESIS program targets the FFG 7 fleets around the world. The GENESIS system guarantees optimization and effectiveness in the naval combat management. The GENESIS system enhances the ships’ situational awareness and accelerates the defense capabilities, decreasing the detect-to-engage reaction time by more than half.

HAVELSAN Inc., which is a Turkish Armed Forces Foundation company, is active in the fields of C4ISR (Command, Control, Communication, Computer, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance Systems), Naval Combat Systems, Air Defence Systems, Management Information Systems, Simulation and Training Systems, Homeland Security Systems and Energy Management Systems. By internalizing a collaborative business model in the international standards with its worldwide offices and agencies, HAVELSAN is a high-tech company that has special experience and unique capabilities in the field of the design, development, manufacture, test and installation of defense systems both in and abroad, particularly in the naval combat systems.

Integrated Defense Systems is Raytheon’s leader in Global Capabilities Integration providing affordable, integrated solutions to a broad international and domestic customer base, including the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, the U.S. Armed Forces and the Department of Homeland Security.

Raytheon Company , with 2008 sales of $23.2 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 87 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 73,000 people worldwide.

Contact:
Carolyn Beaudry
401.842.3550

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

Web site: http://www.raytheon.com/

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