United Kingdom (UK) military developments

123Sunny

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2009
Messages
126
Likes
0
HMS Daring undertakes ammunition trials
United Kingdom - - 3 SEPTEMBER 2009

HMS Daring, the Royal Navy's newest and most powerful warship, made her first visit to Marchwood military port in Southampton this week for ammunition handling and loading trials.

The Type 45 destroyer arrived at the port, known as the Sea Mounting Centre, for a 24-hour visit as part of ongoing trials designed to test all parts of the ship's capabilities before she is formally accepted into the Royal Navy fleet - and able to be deployed anywhere in the world - early next year.

HMS Daring's Commanding Officer, Captain Paddy McAlpine, said:

"The visit to Marchwood is an important part of the ship's trials programme and we will be working hard to make sure we come through it successfully."

HMS Daring - the first of the Royal Navy's six Type 45 destroyers - was built and launched in Glasgow and made her first entry into her home port of Portsmouth Naval Base in January. The second, Dauntless, is undergoing sea trials and will arrive at Portsmouth Naval Base for the first time early next year.

The main weapon of the Type 45 is the sophisticated and lethal Principal Anti-Air Missile System, comprising a multi-function radar (MFR), automatic command and control system, and surface-to-air missiles operating in conjunction with long-range and early warning radar.

The MFR can detect all types of targets out to a distance of 400km and is capable of tracking hundreds of targets simultaneously. Her long-range radar provides a 3D search capability and can track up to 1,000 targets.

The Type 45 also has a comprehensive suite of other weapons and equipment, including a 4.5-inch (114mm) main gun for shore bombardment, and is equipped with a surface ship torpedo defence system, protecting it against the most advanced torpedoes.

Daring's on-board power plant can supply enough electricity to light a town of 80,000 people, and she is fitted with enough electrical cable to circle the M25 motorway three times.

File Photo: U.K. Royal Navy HMS Daring






Interesting Facts:

-- Daring is affiliated with both Birmingham and Guernsey.

-- Two and a quarter million man hours have been spent fitting her out.

-- The hull structure is made of 2,800 tonnes of steel which is more than the
weight of the Blackpool Tower. Approximately 40 tonnes of paint will have
to be applied to cover an area of 100,000 square metres of steel.

-- The PAAMS air defence missile is the size of a public telephone box, weighs two thirds as much as a small car, and from launch accelerates to a speed twice that of Concorde in under ten seconds. The missile's flight manoeuvres as it closes in on a target are ten times more severe than a human could withstand.

-- Her 152-metre length is equivalent to more than 16 double-decker buses
laid end-to-end and she is as high as an electricity pylon.

-- Her onboard power plant can supply enough electricity to light a town of
80,000 people.

-- Her fuel tanks have a volume equivalent to approximately half that of an
olympic-sized swimming pool.

-- She contains 220 beds, 26 sofa beds, 22 single beds and has her own
hospital facilities complete with operating table. She is fitted with one
bath, 44 showers, 54 toilets and 100 wash basins.

-- She is fitted with enough carpet to cover nearly two five-a-side football
pitches.

-- She has 404 telephones (mainly internal) and is fitted with enough
electrical cable to circle the M25 three times.



Source: U.K. Ministry Of Defence
 

123Sunny

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2009
Messages
126
Likes
0
£52m equipment contracts placed for new carriers
United Kingdom - - 7 SEPTEMBER 2009

As the first sections of the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carriers arrive at the Rosyth dockyard where they will be assembled, work is continuing apace to deliver the machinery, fixtures and fittings that will equip the ships.

The Ministry of Defence has announced that sub-contracts for the new Queen Elizabeth aircraft carriers worth over £52m for a wide range of equipment have been placed, helping to secure jobs and sustain work for industry across the UK.

Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies, said:

"As well as the everyday essentials such as washing machines and TVs that will make the ship’s company comfortable onboard, the contracts announced today provide for some of the highly sophisticated equipment that will make these ships fit for the Royal Navy of the 21st century.

"With construction well underway and the first units of the pre-fabricated units having arrived at the dockyard in Rosyth where they will be assembled, the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers are beginning to take shape.

The UK is procuring two new aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy - HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. The carriers will be the biggest and most powerful surface warships ever constructed for the Royal Navy and will deliver an increased strategic effect and influence around the world.

The ships will be delivered by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance - an innovative alliance comprising industry participants and MOD in which MOD acts as both client and participant. For the manufacture phase the industrial participants will be the BAES/VT planned Joint Venture, Thales, Babcock and BAES (Surface Ships & Insyte).

Tony Graham, Head of Capital Ships within MOD’s Defence Equipment & Support, said:

"The vast majority of Queen Elizabeth Class supply contracts have now been placed. These latest orders begin to close out the few remaining supply agreements needed to finish HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.

"Our supply chain stretches the length and breadth of the UK and as such we recognise that the build of these two important warships is a national endeavour of great consequence for jobs, skills and local pride."

The sub-contracts include: £16m for 12,000 valves by Score Marine Ltd, based in Peterhead, who employ 675 people at the site; £15m for an integrated waste management system managed by Babcock Strachan & Henshaw in Bristol, helping to sustain employment for their suppliers for the next six to eight years; and £3m for ship lighting and lighting distribution panels by McGeoch Technology Ltd, based in Birmingham, as well as several other smaller contracts.

The Queen Elizabeth Class carriers together with the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft and the brand new Type 45 destroyers will form the cornerstone of Britain's future ability to jointly project airpower world-wide from land or sea at a time and place of the UK's choosing.


Artist's impression of the two Future Carriers





Source: U.K. Ministry Of Defence
 

123Sunny

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2009
Messages
126
Likes
0
Royal Navy's Most Advanced Attack Submarine Prepares for Sea Trials
UNITED KINGDOM - 8 SEPTEMBER 2009

Barrow-in-Furness, United Kingdom: The largest, most powerful and stealthiest nuclear attack submarine ever built for the Royal Navy is preparing to leave the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness for sea trials.

BAE Systems is responsible for the design, build and initial in-service support for the Astute submarine class currently under construction at the company’s shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness. The first of class HMS Astute is undergoing final test and commissioning work before leaving for extensive sea trials prior to entering service with the Royal Navy. A further three Astute class vessels, Ambush, Artful and Audacious are currently under construction with long lead orders placed for equipment for a fifth submarine. The keel for Audacious was laid at the shipyard earlier this year.

Design and construction of the Astute class involves over 7,000 design drawings and more than 1 million components.

The construction method for a nuclear submarine means that the first of class presents the challenges of both a prototype and a first production model, with many of the design elements proved and refined during the construction cycle, takes from concept design to a finished nuclear powered submarine.

Powered by a nuclear reactor more complex than those found in power stations, Astute is designed to operate over 25 years without refuelling, patrolling for up to 90 days submerged and undetected.

Safety is a primary consideration as the boat’s 98 crew live and work in close proximity to the reactor while operating in the harshest environment on the planet, the deep ocean.

Astute is capable of undertaking a variety of mission roles including anti-ship and anti submarine action, intelligence gathering and support for land forces. She is armed with heavyweight Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles capable of delivering pinpoint strikes up to 1000 kilometres from the coast. Astute is also equipped with the latest stealth technology to avoid detection and the advanced Sonar 2076 system to locate and identify other vessels.





Source: BAE Systems
 

123Sunny

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2009
Messages
126
Likes
0
A greener and leaner HMS Ark Royal returns to sea
United Kingdom - - 25 September 2009

A more environmentally friendly HMS Ark Royal returned to the seas after an extensive seven-month overhaul, today, Friday 25 September 2009.

The aircraft carrier has just undergone a £12m upgrade in her home port of Portsmouth and is about to embark on two weeks of post-maintenance tests.

She is heading to the Royal Navy's training areas off the south west of England for marine and weapon engineering trials.

During the upgrade her hull was painted with new 'intersleek' paint - allowing her to cut through the seas more quickly - which will cut fuel costs and emissions by nine per cent. It will also increase her top speed by two knots to 30 knots (56km/h).

The work, carried out by BVT Surface Fleet, also included new exhaust systems, an updated IT network and improvements to sewage treatment plants. Her gearboxes, main engines and diesel generators have also been refurbished.

The ship's Commanding Officer, Captain John Clink, said:

"The ship's company is excited and proud to be taking Ark Royal back to sea to commence our preparations to become the Royal Navy's Strike Carrier and the UK's Fleet Flagship.

"I recognise that our seven months in Portsmouth has been hard work but it has ensured that we are ready to start our sea training and be able to practise our war-fighting skills. The ship is now faster, leaner and greener and looking forward to taking her place at the Vanguard of the Fleet."

Ark Royal will resume her role as Fleet Flagship in the New Year, taking over from her sister ship HMS Illustrious which took on the honour during Ark Royal's upgrade.







Source: U.K. Ministry Of Defence
 

sky

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 12, 2009
Messages
340
Likes
25
Britianina no longer rules the waves,however it's nice to see the arrival of future defence capability. with what i've seen it warm's my heart knowing defence cut's in the future wont affect our new aircraft carrier programme.In about seven month's we go to the poll's and who ever wins will introduce austerity to govenment spending.:twizt:

:Laie_57:
 

123Sunny

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2009
Messages
126
Likes
0
AgustaWestland Awarded Apache Integrated Operational Support Contract - Delivering Cost and Capability Benefits
United Kingdom - - 6 October 2009

AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company is pleased to announce the award of the Apache Integrated Operational Support (IOS) contract by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to meet the Apache Attack Helicopter Future Support Arrangements (FSA) requirement. The contract valued at £439 million (€480 million), for the initial period to March 2014, was announced today by the Minister of State for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies MP during a visit to Wattisham Airfield, the British Army’s main Apache AH Mk.1 operating base.

The Apache IOS contract will deliver greater aircraft availability whilst reducing through life costs by more than £50 million in the initial period and builds on the success of similar IOS availability based contracts for the UK MoD’s AW101 Merlin and Sea King helicopter fleets. The contract is output-based, whereby AgustaWestland is incentivised to improve the levels of operational output whilst seeking continuous improvement to reduce through life costs.

Minister of State for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies said, “I am delighted to announce the award of this contract to meet the Apache Attack Helicopter Future Support Arrangements requirement. It provides a more efficient way of doing business, representing excellent value for British taxpayers whilst sustaining and improving today’s level of service.”

Graham Cole, Managing Director, AgustaWestland said at the announcement “The Apache IOS contract is further evidence of our continuing commitment to partnering with the Ministry of Defence to deliver innovative industry leading support solutions in a cost effective manner. The Apache is proving its worth every day on operations in Afghanistan and we, along with our partners, are committed to ensure they and the entire Apache force in the UK get the absolute best possible support.”

Apache IOS prime contractor AgustaWestland has formed an industrial alliance with Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Longbow International to deliver logistical, engineering, depth maintenance and technical support for the UK MoD’s fleet of 67 Apache AH Mk1s. AgustaWestland and its industrial partners will deliver a complete spares provisioning service, enhanced technical support services including aircraft safety management, mission avionics systems rig support and training course material. At Wattisham AgustaWestland will continue to manage the Depth Support Unit and the associated workshops, ensuring the throughput of the facility matches the requirements of the Army.

At Middle Wallop AgustaWestland will continue to be responsible for the provision of Apache aircraft on the flight line at the School of Army Aviation, delivering the required number of flight hours to match the Army’s training requirements. The Apache IOS contract has now commenced and will be fully operational from 1st April 2010. The contract is expected to continue for at least 22 years when the Apache is currently scheduled to be taken out of service. At regular intervals there will be price and value for money reviews to ensure performance targets are being met. The contract represents another stage in the helicopter plans set out in the MoD-AgustaWestland Strategic Partnering Arrangement and strengthens the relationship between industry and the MoD.


Source: AgustaWestland


File Photos: Some of U.K. Army's Apache Attack Helicopters


 

123Sunny

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2009
Messages
126
Likes
0
UK Type 23 frigate HMS Argyll to receive major upgrades by Babcock
United Kingdom - 12 October 2009

Type 23 frigate HMS Argyll is to receive major upgrades to her command and weapon systems, sensors and ventilation systems in a 14 month upkeep period by Babcock at Rosyth, which has now started.

The multi-million pound contract will be delivered under the long term partnering arrangement at Rosyth which calls for close working between all the key stakeholders of MoD, ship’s staff and Babcock. Rosyth has an excellent record for this type of contracting arrangement, which has been fostered on previous refit periods.

Notably Babcock will be installing the Royal Navy’s new DNA(2) Command System (described as the ‘brain’ of the ship and central to its fighting capability against air, surface and underwater threats); the SeaWolf mid-life update (SWMLU) comprising tracking, guidance and weapon management upgrades to counter evolving anti-ship missile threats; ‘globalisation’ fit of the entire ships ventilation system; and the new Defence Information Infrastructure (Future) (DII(F)) system to enable information sharing and collaborative working across the Armed Forces and MoD. Further upgrades include the 4.5 inch Mk8 Mod1 gun, 30mm automatic gun mounts, and boat davits.

These upgrades are in addition to a programme of deep maintenance work derived from the Unit Maintenance Management System (UMMS), which provides a structured methodology to deliver effective maintenance strategies or reliability centred maintenance (RCM) in the maritime environment. This will include a full structural survey of the hull and superstructure, and overhaul work packages on the ship’s mechanical systems including renewal of two diesel engines.

As the oldest Type 23 frigate in the fleet (HMS Argyll is the first Type 23 to undergo a second refit, or ‘RP2’), the project will involve a number of challenges, and significant focus will centre on the hull structure, as well as renewal of the flight deck. Further challenges include the ventilation upgrade, which affects nearly every compartment in the ship and requires careful management of its interface with other work.

As Babcock project manager George White comments: “The up and coming second refit period for HMS Argyll will present the partnership with some significant challenges over the next 14 months and, as with previous projects here at Rosyth, a close liaison between our key stakeholders (the waterfront MoD team backed by the platform group, ships staff, Fleet HQ and Babcock) will be the key driver to deliver a successful product back to our customer and end user in the Royal Navy.”

Clyde Director (Rosyth) Project Contract Manager Bob Philp said: “There will undoubtedly be challenging times in the coming months, however I am confident that the working relationship that has been developed with all partners at Rosyth will result in a successful outcome to this project.”

Mike Pettigrew, managing director of Babcock at Rosyth remarked: “The award of this contract continues to allow us to develop the high level of skillsets required to support the Royal Navy, and further strengthens our partnering relationships with the MoD through the Surface Ship Support Alliance.”

Scottish secretary Jim Murphy, speaking in Fife about jobs and the economy, stated: “It’s great to see a resurgence in the ship yards thanks largely to a number of defence contracts over the past decade. Companies in Fife such as Babcock work hard to win these contracts and ensure staff have the skills and expertise to deliver challenging and important Government projects.”

HMS Argyll is due to return to duty with full operating capability by the end of 2010.





Source: Babcock
 

123Sunny

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2009
Messages
126
Likes
0
HMS Ocean hosts Army's Apache helicopters
United Kingdom - - 13 October 2009

Two Apache helicopters from 4 Regiment Army Air Corps have recently been conducting maritime aviation training in the North Sea onboard the Royal Navy's largest warship.

The Apache aircrew, based at Wattisham Airfield in Suffolk, have recently returned from operations in Afghanistan and were onboard HMS Ocean learning to operate their aircraft from the ship's flight deck.

During the two-day embarkation, eight pilots conducted multiple day and night landings to achieve their deck qualifications. This now opens the way for further embarkations, increasing the operational capability of this already versatile aircraft.

HMS Ocean's Commanding Officer, Captain Simon Kings, said:

"Embarkations such as this will undoubtedly become more common in the future as current operations require the three Armed Services to co-operate more closely than ever before, with the flexibility to operate outside of their traditional roles.

"We were delighted to have the Army Air Corps back onboard, working alongside the Fleet Air Arm, and having now built up a pool of experienced Apache aircrew qualified to operate in the maritime environment, I look forward to seeing them onboard again in the near future."

Lieutenant Matt Punch RN is the maritime operations officer for 4 Regiment Army Air Corps at Wattisham. He said:

"This is the second time such training has been conducted, previously undertaken in 2005. Due to our commitments in Afghanistan the chance to carry out such training is limited, but with HMS Ocean sailing past our front door we were able to make the most of this opportunity.

"We concentrated on the qualification of instructors last week so we are in an excellent position to carry out further maritime training in 2010.

"Operating from a ship's deck is a new challenge for our pilots who are more used to the dust of Afghanistan, but is well within the Apache's capability.

"It has been very successful; to carry out 128 deck landings in order to qualify eight pilots in only two days is more than we could have hoped for."

The Apache is a twin-engined attack helicopter developed by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing). It entered service with the US Army in 1984 and has been in operation with the British Army since 2000. The Apache, more at home in the open desert than the open sea, has been used extensively during operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

HMS Ocean is the Royal Navy's largest warship, with a displacement of 22,500 tonnes, and was built on the Clyde by Kvaerner Govan and fitted out at Barrow-in-Furness by Vickers Shipbuilders Ltd. She was launched on 11 October 1995 and was commissioned into the Royal Navy on 30 September 1998.

As an amphibious assault helicopter carrier, she is capable of rapid deployment anywhere in the world; her primary role being to carry and deliver an embarked military force of up to 500 troops supported by twelve medium lift helicopters, six attack helicopters and four landing craft.

HMS Ocean returned from her 27,000-mile (43,500km) TAURUS 09 deployment to the Far East on 3 August 2009, but after only four weeks' leave it was all hands on deck for a busy autumn programme that has seen the warship visit Jersey and Sunderland as well as conducting intensive flying operations with 702 Naval Air Squadron (Navy Lynx helicopters), 848 Naval Air Squadron (Navy Sea King helicopters) and 4 Regiment Army Air Corps (Apache helicopters) embarked.


An Army Air Corps Apache helicopter hovers inches above the deck of HMS Ocean



An Army Air Corps Apache helicopter approaches the deck of HMS Ocean



An Army Air Corps Apache helicopter



Source: U.K. Ministry of Defence
 

123Sunny

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2009
Messages
126
Likes
0
SELEX Galileo’s Defensive Aids Suite Selected by the RAF to Protect Upgraded Pumas
United Kingdom - 13 October 2009

Luton | SELEX Galileo, of Finmeccanica, will provide the Defensive Aids Suite (DAS) as part of the £300 million upgrade programme for 28 of the Royal Air Force’s fleet of Puma Mk1 helicopters. The upgrade, based on technology in the combat proven HIDAS system, will include a separate DAS controller and multi-function colour display which will warn crews of threats, increase situational awareness and will have the ability to record mission data for post-flight analysis.

The DAS Controller, also known as the Aircraft Gateway Processor (AGP), has received commendation when variations of the system were installed as a UOR on the RAF Chinook helicopter fleet and after its selection for AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopters operated by the U.S. Army and export customers. A key part in the success of the AGP has been its ease of installation, operating software and the ability to integrate different sensors regardless of origin.

This latest contract contributes to SELEX Galileo’s leading portfolio in Electronic Warfare systems, which also includes the protection suite for the Eurofighter Typhoon, HIDAS and Aircraft Gateway Processor (AGP) which are all currently being offered to a number of international customers.





Source: SELEX Galileo
 

Latest Replies

Global Defence

New threads

Articles

Top