Universal Government
27-02-2004, 22:15
The Universal Government is willing to provide these military arms at varying prices.
NIMITZ CLASS NUCLEAR POWERED AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
The Nimitz Class aircraft carriers are the largest warships ever built. With over 6,000 personnel (crew and aircrew), the carrier has a displacement of 102,000t, and a flight deck length of 332.9m. All seven nuclear-powered Nimitz class carriers have been built by Newport News Shipbuilding (now Northrop Grumman Ship Systems), based in Virginia.
Tasked with a multi-mission attack/ASW role, the first of class, USS Nimitz, was commissioned in 1975. The latest, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), was commissioned in July 2003. Other hulls are: USS Dwight D Eisenhower (CVN 69), Oct 1977; USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Mar 1982; USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Oct 1986; USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), Nov 1989; USS George Washington (CVN 73), Jul 1992; USS John C Stennis (CVN 74), Dec 1995; USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) July 1998.
The keel for the tenth and last Nimitz Class, USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), was laid in September 2003 and the carrier will enter service in 2009. The vessel will have a modernised island house with new radar tower and transparent armour windows as well as upgraded navigation and communications systems. It will also have a new aircraft launch and recovery system and JP-5 fuel system for improved storage and handling of aircraft fuel. This will be the first transition ship to a new class of carriers (CVN 21), planned to start construction in 2007 and be delivered in 2014. Northrop Grumman Newport News will be the prime contractor for the program. CVN 21 will incorporate new technologies including a new multi-function radar system, volume search radar and open architecture information network and a significantly reduced crew requirement.
DESIGN
The more recent Nimitz Class carriers (CVN72-CVN76) have a displacement of 102,000t fully loaded. They have a length of 317m and beam of 40.8m. The carrier reaches a maximum speed of over 30 knots, and accommodates a complement of 3,184 personnel (with 203 officers); 2,800 aircrew (with 366 officers); and 70 flag (with 25 officers).
AIRCRAFT
The 50 TACAIR air wing includes the following fixed wing aircraft: 20 F-14D "Bomcats" (Tomcats with a strike role), 36 F/A-18 Hornets, 8 S-3A/B Vikings, 4 E-2C Hawkeyes, and 4 EA-6B Prowlers; and the following helicopters: 4 SH-60F and 2 HH-60H Seahawks. Air wings can be varied according to the nature of the operation: for example, in 1994, 50 army helicopters replaced the usual air wing on the USS Dwight D Eisenhower during operations off Haiti.
The flight deck measures 333 x 77m and is equipped with four lifts, four steam-driven catapults and four arrester wires. The carrier is capable of launching one aircraft every 20s.
MISSILES
The more recently built carriers are armed with three Raytheon GMLS Mk 29 eight-cell launchers for Nato Seasparrow surface-to-air missiles. Seasparrow has a range of 14.5km and semi-active radar terminal guidance. The carriers are also being fitted with the Raytheon RAM (Rolling Airframe) missile system, which provides short-range defence against incoming anti-ship missiles, including sea-skimming missiles.
GUNS
There are four Raytheon/General Dynamics 20mm Phalanx 6-barrelled Mk 15 close-in weapon systems which have a firing rate of 3,000 rounds/min and a range of 1.5km.
COUNTERMEASURES
Decoys include four Sippican SRBOC (Super Rapid Bloom Off-Board Chaff) 6-barrelled Mk 36 decoy launchers, which deploy infrared flares and chaff, SSTDS torpedo defence system and AN/SLQ-25 Nixie torpedo countermeasures system, from Sensytech Inc of Newington, Virginia.
The Raytheon AN/SLQ-32(V) electronic warfare system detects hostile radar emissions by two sets of antennae and the system analyses the pulse repetition rate, the scan mode, the scan period, and the frequency. The system identifies the threat and direction, provides a warning signal and interfaces to the ship's countermeasures systems.
COMBAT SYSTEMS
The carriers’ combat data systems are based around the Block 0 or 1 naval tactical and advanced combat direction system (ACDS) with communications Links 4A, 11, 14, and 16. Weapons control is managed by three Mk 91 Mod 1 MFCS directors for the Seasparrow missile. USS Nimitz is being fitted with the SSDS Mk2 Mod 0 ship self-defense system, developed by Raytheon. The SSDS will provide automated self-defence against anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs) by integrating and co-ordinating the ship’s weapon and electronic warfare systems.
USS Nimitz has also been fitted with the Lockheed Martin TIS (Tactical Input Segment) digital reconnaissance processing system, which can receive real-time imagery from airborne sensors.
SENSORS
Air search radars include the ITT SPS-48E 3-D, operating at E/F-band; Raytheon SPS49(V)5, C/D-band; and Raytheon Mk 23 TAS, D-band. Surface search radar is the Northrop Grumman Norden Systems SPS-67V, operating at G-band.
PROPULSION
The nuclear-powered carrier has two General Electric pressurised water reactors driving four turbines of 260,000hp (194MW) and four shafts. There are four emergency diesels of 10,720hp (8MW).
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Price : 1.5 Billion Each
INVINCIBLE CLASS AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
The first-of-class HMS Invincible Aircraft Carrier was built by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering (now BAE Systems Marine) at Barrow-in-Furness. The ship was commissioned in July 1980. The two sister ships HMS Illustrious and HMS Ark Royal, both built at the Swan Hunter Shipbuilders yard in Wallsend, were commissioned in 1982 and 1985.
The role of the 20,600t aircraft carrier is to provide a command headquarters for the task group and to support the operations of the short take off and vertical landing aircraft and helicopters. The ship accommodates over 1,000 crew, including 350 aircrew with 80 officers. It also has capacity for an additional 500 marines.
The vessels were armed with a Sea Dart twin launcher, installed on the forecastle of the ship near the ski ramp. However, the missile system has been removed from all three carriers and the flight deck extended, to provide more capacity for aircraft and enable take-off for RAF Harrier GR.7 aircraft. HMS Invincible completed a refit in March 2003. Illustrious is currently in refit at Babcock’s Rosyth yard.
In March/April 2003, HMS Ark Royal was deployed as part of the UK task force in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. On board were Merlin HMA1 and Sea King AEW7 helicopters, the first operational deployment of these aircraft.
COMMAND SYSTEMS
The combat data system is BAE SYSTEMS ADIMP with communication links Link 10, Link 11 and Link 14. Following refit, HMS Invincible has had the combat system upgraded to the same standard as Illustrious and Ark Royal, with new multi-function consoles and flat-panel colour displays. The secure satellite communications system, the Astrium (formerly Matra Marconi) SCOT, has the capacity to handle data rates up to 2Mb/s.
GUNS
HMS Ark Royal is armed with three Mark 15 Phalanx close-in weapon systems (CIWS) from Raytheon and General Dynamics. Each Phalanx CIWS has one 20mm M61A1 Vulcan Gatling-principle gun which fires 3,000 rounds/min at a range of 1.5km.
HMS Invincible and Illustrious each have three Thales Nederland (formerly Signaal) Goalkeeper CIWS. Goalkeeper's Gatling principle 30mm gun provides a maximum firing rate of 4,200 rounds/min with a range of 1,500m.
All three carriers are also equipped with two GAM-B01 20mm guns from Oerlikon-Contraves and BAE SYSTEMS, which have a maximum range of 2km and firing rate of 1,000 rounds/min.
COUNTERMEASURES
The Invincible class is fitted with the Thales Defence Type 675(2) jamming system and a UAT(8) electronic support measures system also supplied by Thales Defence (formerly Racal).
The ship's decoy system is the Royal Navy's Outfit DLJ with Sea Gnat. There are eight 130mm six-barrel launchers produced by Hunting Engineering. Chemring and Pains Wessex produce the Sea Gnat chaff and infra-red decoys.
AIRCRAFT
The ship supports nine Harrier aircraft (both the Royal Air Force GR7 Harrier II and the Royal Navy F/A2 Sea Harrier), nine Sea King HAS 6 antisubmarine warfare helicopters and three Sea King AEW 2 and AEW7 airborne early warning helicopters. Landing trials with the Merlin HM.1 helicopter have taken place on the Ark Royal, which is the first carrier to deploy the Merlin.
The runway is about 170m long with a ski ramp set at 12°. In the hangar deck the aircraft is tethered to the floor using securing chains with tension clamps. Strachan and Henshaw have been contracted to install a replacement aircraft carrier lift system.
SENSORS
The BAE SYSTEMS Type 909 G/H-band fire control radar, which provided target tracking and illumination for the Sea Dart missile, has been removed from the three carriers. BAE SYSTEMS Type 996 surface search radar antennae is mounted very high on the tower between the two funnels. HMS Ark Royal has Type 992. Both radars operate at E and F-bands. BAE SYSTEMS Type 1022 air search radar operates at D-band. HMS Invincible and Ark Royal are equipped with the Kelvin Hughes Type 1006 navigation radar and HMS Illustrious has the Type 1007, both operating at I-band.
Qinetiq has been awarded a contract to provide an advanced technology mast communications and radar mast for HMS Ark Royal. The sensors and antennas will be housed within the structure, protected from the environment. The mast is due to enter service in late 2005.
The sonar system is the hull-mounted Type 2016 active/passive search and attack sonar by Thales Underwater Systems (formerly Thomson Marconi Sonar).
PROPULSION
The ship is powered by COGAG (combined gas turbine and gas turbine), consisting of four Rolls Royce Olympus TM3B gas turbine engines generating 97,000hp, providing a speed of 28 knots. At the economical speed of 19 knots the range of the ship is 7000 miles.
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Price : 1 Billion Each
SSBN OHIO CLASS BALLISTIC MISSILE SUBMARINE
The Ohio class submarines serve the United States Navy as the virtually undetectable undersea launch platforms of intercontinental missiles. The Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics, based at Groton, Connecticut, has built 18 Ohio submarines, commissioned between 1981 and 1997. The submarines of the Pacific Fleet are based at Bangor, Washington, and those of the Atlantic Fleet at King's Bay, Georgia. The submarines spend 70 days at sea followed by 25 days in dock for overhaul.
SSGN CONVERSION
Under the requirements of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, START II, which was agreed in June 1992, the number of strategic missile submarines was limited to 14 from the year 2002. Rather than decommissioning these four submarines, the US Navy is converting them to SSGNs (conventionally armed nuclear-powered) submarines. In September 2002, Electric Boat received a contract for the conversion of USS Ohio (SSBN 726), Michigan (727), Florida (728) and Georgia (729). The submarines are being refitted with up to 154 Tomahawk TLAM (land attack) missiles and will also be capable of conducting special operations missions with accommodation for Northrop Grumman Advanced SEAL delivery systems (ASDS), mission control centre and 102 special operations troops.
General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems is modifying the Trident fire control system for the Tomahawk weapon control. Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems is adapting the missile launch tubes, developing a Multiple All Up Round Canister (MAC) which will provide storage and launch of up to seven Tomahawk missiles from each of the submarine's 22 missile tubes.
USS Ohio began conversion in November 2002 and will rejoin the fleet in 2007. SSBN's USS Pennsylvania and USS Kentucky will shift homeport from Kings Bay to Bangor to balance the strategic force.
In January 2003, USS Florida took part in Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) experiment "Giant Shadow" to test the capabilites of the new SSGNs. The experiment included validation launches of two Tomahawk missiles, the first ever launch of a UUV (unmanned underwater vehicle) and insertion of a Navy SEALS (Sea, Air, Land) force. The SSGN will have the capacity to accommodate 66 SEALS. USS Florida began the SSGN conversion in July 2003.
MISSILES
The Ohio class submarine is equipped with the Trident strategic ballistic missile from Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space. The Trident was built in two versions, Trident I (C4), which is being phased out, and the larger and longer range Trident II (D5), which entered service in 1990. The first eight submarines, (SSBN 726 to 733 inclusive) were equipped with Trident I and the following ten (SSBN 734 to 743) carry the Trident II. Conversion of the four Trident I submarines remaining after START II (Henry M. Jackson, Alabama, Alaska and Nevada), to Trident II began in 2000 and is planned to complete in 2008. Lockheed Martin received a contract in January 2002 for the production of 12 Trident II missiles for the four submarines.
The submarine has the capacity for 24 Trident missile tubes in two rows of 12. The dimensions of the Trident II missile are length 1,360cm x diameter 210cm and the weight is 59,000kg. The three-stage solid fuel rocket motor is built by ATK (Alliant Techsystems) Thiokol Propulsion. The US Navy gives the range as "greater than 7,360km" but this could be up to 12,000km depending on the payload mix. Missile guidance is provided by an inertial navigation system, supported by stellar navigation. Trident II is capable of carrying up to twelve MIRVs (multiple independent re-entry vehicles), each with a yield of 100 kilotons, although the SALT treaty limits this number to eight per missile. The circle of equal probability (the radius of the circle within which half the strikes will impact) is less than 150m. The Sperry Univac Mark 98 missile control system controls the 24 missiles.
TORPEDOES
The Ohio class submarine is fitted with four 533mm torpedo tubes with a Mark 118 digital torpedo fire control system. The torpedoes are the Gould Mark 48 torpedoes. The Mark 48 is a heavy weight torpedo with a warhead of 290kg, which has been operational in the US Navy since 1972. The torpedo can be operated with or without wire guidance and the system has active and/or passive acoustic homing. Range is up to 50km at a speed of 40 knots. After launch the torpedo carries out target search, acquisition and attack procedures delivering to a depth of 3,000ft.
COUNTERMEASURES
The Ohio class submarine is equipped with eight launchers for the Mk 2 torpedo decoy. Electronic warfare equipment is the WLR- 10 threat warning system and the WLR-8(V) surveillance receiver from GTE of Massachusetts. The WLR-8(V) uses seven YIG tuned and vector tuned superheterodyne receivers to operate from 50MHz up to J-band. An acoustic interception and countermeasures system, AN/WLY-1 from Northrop Grumman, has been developed to provide the submarine with an automatic response against torpedo attack.
SENSORS
The surface search, navigation and fire control radar is BPS 15A I/J band radar. The sonar suite includes: IBM BQQ 6 passive search sonar, Raytheon BQS 13, BQS 15 active and passive high-frequency sonar, BQR 15 passive towed array from Western Electric, and the active BQR 19 navigation sonar from Raytheon. Kollmorgen Type 152 and Type 82 periscopes are fitted.
PROPULSION
The main machinery is the pressure water reactor GE PWR S8G with two turbines providing 60,000hp and driving a single shaft. The submarine is equipped with a 325hp Magnatek auxiliary prop motor. The propulsion provides a speed in excess of 18 knots surfaced and 25 knots submerged.
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E-2C HAWKEYE AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING AIRCRAFT
The primary role of the E-2C Hawkeye aircraft supplied by Northrop Grumman is as an all-weather airborne early-warning aircraft to the naval task force. From an operating altitude above 25,000ft, the Hawkeye warns the naval task force of approaching air threats and provides threat identification and positional data to fighter aircraft such as F-14 Tomcats. Secondary roles include strike command and control, surveillance, guidance of search and rescue missions and as a relay to extend the range of communications.
The E-2C became operational in 1973. Block II aircraft, with improved engine and radar, entered service in 1992, with final delivery in 2001. As well as the United States Navy, E-2C aircraft are in service with the navies of Egypt, Israel, Japan, Singapore and Taiwan and, in 1998, the French Navy took delivery of two aircraft for the new Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier. Deliveries have totalled more than 140 for the USN and more than 30 for other nations.
The aircraft is operated by a crew of five, with the pilot and co-pilot on the flight deck and the combat information centre officer, air control officer and radar operator stations located in the rear fuselage directly beneath the rotodome.
CARRIER OPERATIONS DESIGN
The fuselage is designed for carrier operations and is fitted with a nose-tow catapult attachment for accelerated carrier take-off, an A-frame arrester hook for engagement of the arresting gear and a tail bumper to withstand impact or scraping on the runway. For storage in the hangar, the wings fold hydraulically to lie flat to the fuselage. The fuselage is of light metal construction, and parts of the tailplane are of composite structure in order to reduce radar signature.
From 2004, US Navy Hawkeyes are being fitted with two Hamilton Sundstrand NP2000 digitally-controlled, eight-bladed propellers to replace mechanically-controlled, four-bladed propellers. The new propellers provide less vibration and less noise. Initial carrier certification of the new propellers was carried out on USS John F Kennedy in November 2003.
MISSION SYSTEMS
The large 24ft diameter circular antenna radome above the rear fuselage gives the E-2C its distinctive profile. The radome houses the AN/APA-171 antenna supplied by Randtron Systems, which rotates at 5 to 6rpm.
The Lockheed Martin AN/APS-145 radar is capable of tracking more than 2,000 targets and controlling the interception of 40 hostile targets. One radar sweep covers 6 million cubic miles. The radar's total radiation aperture control antenna reduces sidelobes and is robust against electronic countermeasures. It is capable of detecting aircraft at ranges greater than 550km.
The mission computer is equipped with an enhanced high-speed parallel processor. The Lockheed Martin AN/UYQ-70 advanced display system and computer peripherals provide the operators with multicolour displays, map overlays, zoom facilities and auxiliary data displays.
NAVIGATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
A global positioning system and a Northrop Grumman (formerly Litton) AN/ASN-92 CAINS (Carrier Aircraft Inertial Navigation System) are the main components of the aircraft's navigation suite. The aircraft is also equipped with the AN/ASN- 50 heading and attitude reference system, an AN/ARA-50 UHF automatic direction finder from Rockwell Collins, an AN/ASW-25B automatic carrier landing system and a Honeywell AN/APN-171(V) radar altimeter.
The communications suite includes an AN/ARC-158 UHF data link, an AN/ARQ-34 HF datalink and a Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) which provides secure voice and data communications.
ENGINES
The E-2C was originally fitted with two Allison T56-A-425 turboprop engines, but since the introduction of E-2C Group I variants, T56A-427 engines have been fitted. With the new engines, the E-2C can cruise on station for more than four hours, up to 200 miles from base.
HAWKEYE 2000
Major upgrade programmes are continuing to the end of the service life in 2015. The first of the next generation standard, the Hawkeye 2000, was delivered in October 2001, with 21 on order for the USN, one aircraft destined for the French Navy under a foreign military sales (FMS) agreement and two for Taiwan. USN aircraft will achieve Initial Operating Capability (IOC) in 2004. Northrop Grumman is also to upgrade a number of USN aircraft to Hawkeye 2000 configuration. Egypt is to upgrade its five E-2C Hawkeye to Hawkeye 2000 standard and will receive one additional upgraded E-2C. The first upgraded aircraft was delivered in March 2003. The Japanese Air Self Defense Force is also upgrading its 13 Hawkeye aircraft. The United Arab Emirates has requested five refurbished aircraft, upgraded to Hawkeye 2000 standard.
Hawkeye 2000 features a Raytheon mission computer upgrade (MCU), Lockheed Martin Advanced Control Indicator Set (ACIS), co-operative engagement capability (CEC), satellite communications, new navigation and flight control systems. The MCU is based on open architecture commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) technology, with increased memory and faster processing. The CEC consists of processor, data distribution system and antenna and will enable Hawkeye 2000 to perform real-time battle management, fusing and distributing information from sources such as satellite and shipborne radar.
ADVANCED HAWKEYE
The next-generation, RMP/Advanced Hawkeye, will have, as well a new radar, theatre missile defence capabilities, multisensor integration and a tactical cockpit. Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems are developing a new solid-state, electronically steered UHF radar under the E-2C Radar Modernization Program (RMP). Northrop Grumman will supply the transmitter, Raytheon the receiver and L-3 Communications Randtron the UHF antenna.
The new radar began flight testing in July 2002 and the Advanced Hawkeye equipped with the radar will replace all 75 USN E-2C aircraft. The aircraft began full System Development and Demonstration (SDD) in August 2003 and is due to enter service in 2011.
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DELHI CLASS DESTROYERS
INS Delhi is the first of a new class of destroyer built by Mazagon Dock Ltd based in Mumbai. Under the Project 15 programme, the Indian Navy will acquire four Delhi class destroyers by the year 2002. The Delhi destroyer was designed by the Indian Navy with detailed and production design phase being carried out by Mazagon Dock. INS Delhi was commissioned in 1997, INS Mysore in June 1999 and INS Mumbai (formerly Bombay) in January 2001.
With a displacement of 6,700t, overall length of 163m and beam of 17m, the Delhi class is the largest warship built in India. The ship is fitted with sophisticated anti-ship, anti-aircraft and anti-submarine sensor and weapon systems.
WEAPONS
The ship's integrated combat data system is supplied by Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) of Hyderabad.
The main gun at the bow of the ship is a 100mm gun supplied by Russia. The ship is also fitted with four six-barrel AK 650 gatling guns.
The ship is equipped with four quad launchers for the Uran anti-ship missile system. The Uran system launches the Kh-35 (NATO designation SS-N-25) antiship cruise missile, which uses an inertial guidance system to steer the missile towards the target area and an active radar homing head for terminal guidance. The minimum and maximum ranges of the missile are 5km and 130km. The surface-to-air missile system is the Russian Shtil (SA-N-7), known by the NATO reporting name Gadfly. The missile's maximum range is 25km. It is envisaged that this will be replaced with the Trishul surface-to-air missile system. Trishul is being developed in India and has a range of 500m to 9km and a 15kg warhead. The technical problems, which had put the future of the missile system in doubt, appear to have been overcome and the missile successfully completed a series of firing trials in June 2003.
The ship has a quintuple 533mm torpedo launcher which can also be used to launch SS-N-15 "Starfish" or possibly SS-N-16 "Stallion" ASW missiles. SS-N-15 has a maximum range of 50km, SS-N-16 of 120km.
The ship also has two RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers with twelve tubes. Range is 6km and the maximum engagement depth is 500m.
HELICOPTERS
The 500m² helicopter deck is located at the stern of the ship. The ship can support two helicopters, the new Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and the AgustaWestland Sea King helicopters, primarily equipped for the air surveillance role. The Sea Kings carry the Super Searcher radar from MEL, the H/S-12 dipping sonar from Thales Underwater Systems with an AQS-902B acoustic processor, and the Hermes electronic support measures system supplied by BAE SYSTEMS. The Sea King is also armed with mines and Sea Eagle missiles.
COUNTERMEASURES
The ship is equipped with four chaff launch systems and the Ajanta radar interceptor developed by Bharat Electronics Limited of Bangalore. The TQN-2 jamming system is supplied by the Italian company, Elettronica.
SENSORS
The ship's radar suite includes: Rashmi I-band navigation radar by Bharat Electronics, Russian Kite Screech and Bass Tilt H,I and J band fire control radars for the guns, Garfun B fire control radar for the Kh-35 Uran SSM, Front Dome fire control radar for the SA-N-17 SAM, RALW - LW08 air search radar operating in D-band and supplied by Bharat Electronics Ltd and Thales Nederland (formerly Signaal) and the Bharat/ Thales RAWS - DA05 E-band surface search radar.
The ship's hull mounted active search sonar capability is based on the TSM2633 by Thales Underwater Systems or the APSOH by Bharat. The ship also has a variable depth sonar, Model 15-750 developed and manufactured in India by Indal and Garden Reach.
PROPULSION
The ship's propulsion is based on a combined diesel and gas CODAG system. The Russian gas turbine system is the AM-50. The KVM-18 diesel motors are supplied by Bergen and Garden Reach. The propulsion system drives two shafts and provides a maximum speed of 28 knots.
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Price : 400 Million Each
ARLEIGH BURKE CLASS (AEGIS) GUIDED MISSILE DESTROYERS
The first Arleigh Burke Class Aegis destroyer was commissioned in 1991. Contracts for the destroyers have been split between the Northrop Grumman Ship Systems (formerly Litton Ingalls Shipbuilding), based in Pascagoula, Mississippi and the General Dynamics subsidiary, Bath Iron Works, based in Maine. The first 21 ships (DDG51-DDG71) are categorised as Flight I and the next seven (DDG72-DDG78) as Flight II.
The revised Flight IIA ships entered production in late 1997. 12 have been commissioned: USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) - August 2000; Roosevelt (DDG 80) - November 2000; Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) - March 2001; Lassen (DDG 82) - April 2001; Howard (DDG 83) - October 2001; Bulkeley (DDG 84) - December 2001; Shoup (DDG 86) - June 2002; McCampbell (DDG 85) - August 2002; Preble (DDG 88) - November 2002; Mason (DDG 87) - April 2003; USS Mustin (DDG 89) - July 2003; Chafee (DDG 90) - October 2003. Pinkney (DDG 91) will commission in May 2004. Momsen (DDG 92, USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), Nitze (DDG 94), James E Williams (DDG 95), Bainbridge (DDG 96) and Halsey (DDG 97) are launched. In June 2002, the US Navy signed an MoU with Northrop Grumman and Bath Iron Works, as a result of which Bath will build four Arleigh Burke destroyers, previously assigned to Northrop Grumman and Northrop Grumman will assume responsibility for construction of all San Antonio Class LPD-17 vessels.
Improvements over the previous Flights include hangars for two SH-60B/F LAMPS helicopters, new combat systems software, an enlarged flight deck, the Evolved SeaSparrow missile, the Kingfisher mine detection sonar, Kollmorgen optronic sight and upgrade of the Aegis radar system.
DESIGN
The entire ship (except the two aluminium funnels) is constructed from steel, with vital areas protected by two layers of steel and 70t of Kevlar armour. There is a platform for re-arming and re-fuelling a LAMPS III SH-60B/F helicopter (with ASW capabilities), but no hangars, the ship is unable to house a helicopter of its own. This is the first US Navy class to be fitted out with anti-NBC warfare protection.
AEGIS COMBAT SYSTEM
The Arleigh Burke class destroyers are equipped with the Aegis Combat System which integrates the ship's sensors and weapons systems to engage anti-ship missile threats. The Aegis system has a federated architecture with four subsystems – AN/SPY-1 multifunction radar, Command and Decision System (CDS), Aegis Display System (ADS) and the Weapon Control System (WCS). The CDS receives data from ship and external sensors via satellite communications and provides command, control and threat assessment. The WCS receives engagement instruction from the CDS, selects weapons and interfaces with the weapon fire control systems.
The latest Aegis upgrade, Baseline 7.1, will be introduced to the fleet on USS Pinkney (DDG 91) in 2004. The upgrade includes a new radar, AN/SPY-1D(V), which has enhanced electronic countermeasures and more effective capability in littoral environments. Baseline 7.1 is based on COTS (commercial-off-the-shelf) computer architecture. Trials of the upgrade in March 2003 included live firings of the ESSM.
The weapons control systems include a SWG-1A for Harpoon, SWG-3 forTomahawk, Mk 99 Mod 3 missile fire control system, GWS34 Mod 0 gun fire control system and Mk 116 Mod 7 fire control system for anti-submarine systems.
WEAPONS
The ships are armed with 56 Raytheon Tomahawk cruise missiles, with a combination of land-attack (TLAM) missiles with a Tercom Aided Navigation System, and anti-ship missiles with inertial guidance. The Standard SM-2MR Block 4 surface-to-air missiles with command/inertial guidance remain at the centre of the Aegis system. Both Tomahawk and Standard missiles are fired from two Lockheed Martin Mk 41 vertical launch systems.
The first test of the weapon control system for the new Tactical Tomahawk (Block IV) took place on USS Stethem (DDG 63) in October 2002 and the missile will achieve initial operating capability in 2004. The new missile has the capability for mission planning onboard the launch vessel, in-flight targeting and loitering.
Raytheon is developing the latest version of the Standard Missile, the SM-3, which successfully destroyed a ballistic missile in space during sea trials in November 2002. SM-3, based on hit-to-kill technology, has a kinetic warhead and is for deployment against short to medium range ballistic missiles.
There are also eight Boeing Harpoon surface-to-surface missiles and Lockheed Martin ASROC vertical launch anti-submarine systems, armed with the Mark 50 or Mark 46 torpedo. ASROC is launched from the Mark 41 VLS.
Arleigh Burke vessels will be fitted with the Evolved Seasparrow Missile (ESSM), being developed by Raytheon. ESSM is an advanced ship self-defence missile for use against anti-ship missiles. In July 2002, the first ESSM sea launch was carried out by Flight IIA vessel, USS Shoup. The missile was launched from the Mk 41 VLS and the Aegis AN/SPY-1D radar successfully guided the missile to destroy the target. ESSM passed US Navy Operational Testing & Evaluation (OPEVAL) in September 2003 and will enter service in 2004.
There is one United Defense 127mm Mk 45 gun with Kollmorgen Mk 46 Mod 1 electro-optic sight and two Raytheon/General Dynamics 20mm 6-barrelled Phalanx Mk 15 close-in weapon systems (CIWS). Phalanx Block 1B has been installed on USS Howard, Bulkeley and Cole. The Phalanx 1B upgrade includes a Thales Optronics HDTI5-2F thermal imager, improved Ku-band radar and longer gun barrel providing an increased rate of fire of 4,500rpm. Flight IIA vessel USS Winston Churchill is the first ship to be fitted with the US Navy’s most advanced gun, the Mk 45 Mod 4, which can fire extended range guided munitions (ERGM) to a range of nearly 60 miles.
The destroyers are fitted with six (two triple) 324mm Mk 32 Mod 14 torpedo tubes, which launch ATK (AlliantTechsystems) Mk 46 or Mk 50 active/passive homing anti-submarine torpedoes.
COUNTERMEASURES
The ship’s electronic countermeasures/support measures system is the Raytheon AN/SLQ-32(V)3 which performs radar warning and jamming.
Decoys include two Sippican Hycor SRBOC 6-barrelled launchers for chaff and infrared flares and the AN/SLQ-25A Nixie torpedo decoy system from Sensytech Inc of Newington, Virginia.
SENSORS
The air search and fire control radar for the Aegis system is the Lockheed Martin AN/SPY-ID 3D phased array radar, operating at E/F band. Surface search radar is a DRS Technologies AN/SPS-67(V)3 C-band (5.4-5.8 GHz) radar. There is also: Raytheon SPS-64(V)9 I-band navigation radar and three Raytheon AN/SPG-62, I/J-Band radars for fire control.
The sonar suite is the Lockheed Martin SQQ-89(V)6, which includes Edo Corporation AN/SQS-53C bow-mounted active search and attack sonar and the AN/SQR-19B passive towed array. Vessels from USS Momsen (DDG 92) onwards will also have the Lockheed Martin AN/WLD-1 Remote Minehunting System, which includes a Remote Minehunting Vehicle (RMV) that tows the AN/AQS-20A variable depth sonar (VDS). The system will be delivered in July 2004.
PROPULSION
The destroyers are powered by four GE LM 2500 gas turbines, each rated at 33,600hp with a power turbine speed of 3,600rpm, driving two shafts, with controllable pitch propellers.
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Price : 700 Million Each
MIRAGE CLASS (TYPE 14310) PATROL BOAT
The Mirage Project 14310 Fast Patrol Boat has been designed by the Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau in Saint Petersburg and production is underway at the Vympel Joint Stock Shipbuilding Association in the town of Rybinsk in the Yaroslavl Region of Russia.
The role of the Mirage fast patrol boat is to carry out protection of territorial waters and exclusive economic zones, and to provide support to police, coast guard and customs forces.
DESIGN
The vessel is capable of operation in rough seas up to Sea State 7. The hard chine hull features a transverse step and a transom flap. The bottom of the hull is equipped with stabilising fins, which are controlled by electric servo drives. The stabilising fins give rise to a 2 to 2.5 reduction in the roll, a 1.5 fold reduction in pitch and vertical acceleration by 20 to 50%. The boat remains afloat even when one watertight compartment is completely flooded.
The boat's hull and superstructure are constructed mainly from aluminium magnesium alloy, which has very high strength and a yield point value of 180MPa. The hull is subdivided lengthwise into watertight compartments. The main engines and rotating machines are shock-mounted. The fore bulkhead of the engine room is covered with Polyacryl-VS vibration absorbing material and the surfaces in the crew spaces are clad with Viponite vibration absorbing material.
WEAPONS
The boat is equipped with an AK-306 automatic artillery system and eight Igla-1M portable air defence missile systems.
The 30mm AK-306 automatic artillery system is supplied by the Tula Engineering Plant JSC and the Sporting and Hunting Guns Research and Design Bureau both based in Tula. The AK-306 is installed on the front deck and provides defence against lightly armoured land and sea targets, floating mines and isolated airborne targets. The system is equipped with an AO-18L six-barrel automatic gun with an electrically driven revolving barrel cluster. The gun mount magazine holds a 500-cartridge ammunition-loaded belt. The firing rate is up to 1,000 rounds/min and the muzzle velocity is 880m/s. Air targets can be engaged at a range up to 4,000m and sea and coastal targets up to 5,000m.
The ship carries eight Igla-1M portable air defence missile systems. Six systems are stowed along the sidewalls of the superstructure. Two missile systems are installed on the action station guard supports on the afterdeck ready for immediate deployment.
The patrol boat also has spaces for the installation of pedestal mounts for two 14.5mm machine guns together with 1,000 rounds of ammunition, a Shturm missile system with Ataka missiles or the Vikhr missile system with six missiles.
SENSORS
The Mirage is equipped with a surface search I-band radar and a low-light level television camera for night-time surveillance.
The Mirage also has navigation radar, a gyroscope course indicator, MK69-M2 magnetic compass, log and echo sounder, radio navigation system, satellite navigation equipment (global positioning system) using positional data from the Russian Tskada space navigation or from the USA Transit space navigation system.
PROPULSION
The Mirage is equipped with two diesel engines each operating with its own shaft and fixed pitch propeller. For operation in temperate climates the boat is equipped with a type M520 diesel engine which provides a maximum speed of 50 knots. For tropical climates the diesel engine M520 TM5 is fitted: in a tropical climate at an ambient air temperature of 34°C, the M520 TM5 gives a maximum speed of 48 knots. The M520 and M520 TM5 are water-cooled four stroke diesel engines, with drive turbo compressors and a reverse reduction gear. The boat also has two diesel generators with a rated power of 50kW each.
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Price : 100 Million Each
LAKSAMANA CLASS CORVETTES
In October 1995 the Malaysian Ministry of Finance signed a contract with Fincantieri for the supply of two 650t missile corvettes for the Royal Malaysian Navy. A further two missile corvettes were ordered in February 1997. The first two ships, Hang Nadim and Tun Abdul Jamil, were commissioned in July 1997. The second two, Muhammed Amin and Tan Pusmah, were delivered in July 1999.
The original ship design had been ordered by the Iraqi Navy, but the supply of the missile corvettes was stopped by United Nations sanctions. Some specific aspects of the ships' design were modified and the ships were refitted to meet the requirements of the Royal Malaysian Navy.
IPN 10 COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEM
The ship's command and control system is the IPN 10 for the first two ships and the IPNS for the second two ships, both supplied by Alenia Marconi Systems (AMS), together with Thales Nederland Link Y. The IPN system gathers, correlates and filters the information from the ship's sensors, and communications and data networks. In April 2002, AMS was awarded a contract for the upgrade of the IPN 10 on two of the corvettes, the Hang Nadim and the Tun Abdul Jamil. The new system is designated IPN-S.
The fire control system is based on two NA21 and one DARDO system together with their dedicated radar, supplied by Alenia Marconi Systems.
ANTI-SHIP AND ANTI-AIR MISSILES
The ship's long-range sea-skimming missile system is the Otomat Mark 2/Teseo by MBDA (formerly Alenia and Matra BAe Dynamics). Six Otomat Teseo Mark 2 missile launchers, three pointing to port and three pointing starboard, are installed on the stern deck. The missiles are armed with a 210kg high-explosive warhead, fitted with impact and proximity fuses. The speed of the missile is Mach 0.9 and the range is 120km.
The ship's medium-range air defence system is the Albatros supplied by MBDA, which provides defence against aircraft and incoming anti-ship missiles. Albatros fires the Aspide missile which has a speed of Mach 2.5 and a 15km range. It uses semi-active radar homing to deliver a 33kg warhead. The Albatros launcher is installed on the raised bridge deck to the stern of the main mast.
GUNS
The ship's main gun, the 76mm 62 calibre Oto Melara Super Rapid is installed on the bow deck in front of the citadel. The firing rate is 120 rounds/minute and range is up to 16km. The ship's multi-role gun is the 40mm Oto Melara L70 twin gun which has a range of 12.5km and firing rate of 300 rounds/minute.
ILAS-3 TORPEDO LAUNCHER
The ships torpedo system is the ILAS-3 torpedo launcher from Whitehead Alenia of Salvanio, Italy. The triple launchers are installed one each side on the main deck. The A244/S anti-submarine torpedoes use active, passive and mixed mode homing to a target range of 7km.
ELECTRONIC WARFARE SUITE
The ship's electronic warfare suite comprises the INS-3 radar interceptor and the TQN-2 radar jammer, both from Alenia Marconi Systems.
One OTOBreda 105mm decoy launcher is installed on both the port and starboard side of the ship. Each launcher has six launch tubes and is capable of firing illuminating rounds or chaff rounds to counter hostile radars and radar guided missiles.
SENSOR SUITE
The ship's radar suite consists of: RAN 12L/X air and surface search radar, supplied by Alenia Marconi Systems and operating in D and I bands and Kelvin Hughes 1007 navigation radar operating at I band. The ship is also fitted with a Global Positioning System (GPS)
The ship is equipped with the ASO 94-41 hull mounted active search and attack sonar supplied by STN Atlas Elektronik.
PROPULSION SYSTEMS
The ship has four MTU 20 V 956 TB 92 diesel engines developing 14.8MW sustained power driving four shafts. Three diesel generators each yield 280KVA. The engines provide a dash speed of 36 knots, a maximum sustained speed of 34 knots and an economical speed of 18 knots. The range at 18 knots is 2,300 nautical miles.
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Price : 150 Million Each
M1A1 / M1A2 ABRAMS MAIN BATTLE TANK
The M1A1/2 Abrams main battle tank is manufactured by General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS). The first M1 tank was produced in 1978, the M1A1 in 1985 and the M1A2 in 1986. 3,273 M1 tanks were produced for the US Army. 4,796 M1A1 tanks were built for the US Army, 221 for the US Marines and 555 co-produced with Egypt. Egypt has ordered a further 200 M1A1 tanks with production to continue to 2005. 77 M1A2 tanks have been built for the US Army, 315 for Saudi Arabia and 218 for Kuwait. For the M1A2 Upgrade Program, over 600 M1 Abrams tanks are being upgraded to M1A2 configuration. Deliveries began in 1998.
M1A2 SYSTEM ENHANCEMENT PACKAGE (SEP)
In February 2001, GDLS were contracted to supply 240 M1A2 tanks with a system enhancement package (SEP) by 2004. The M1A2 SEP contains an embedded version of the US Army's Force XXI command and control architecture; new Raytheon Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV) with second generation thermal imager; commander's display for digital colour terrain maps; DRS Techologies second generation GEN II TIS thermal imaging gunner’s sight with increased range; driver's integrated display and thermal management system. The US Army planned to procure a total of 1150 M1A2 SEP tanks but the US Army has decided to cancel future production of the M1A2 SEP from FY2004.
Under the Firepower Enhancement Package (FEP), DRS Techologies has also been awarded a contract for the GEN II TIS to upgrade US Marine Corps M1A1 tanks. GEN II TIS is based on the 480 x 4 SADA (Standard Advanced Dewar Assembly) detector.
M1 ABRAMS ARMAMENT
The main armament is the 120mm M256 smoothbore gun, developed by Rheinmetall GmbH of Germany. The 120mm gun fires the following ammunition: the M865 TPCSDS-T and M831 TP-T training rounds, the M8300 HEAT-MP-T and the M829 APFSDS-T which includes a depleted uranium penetrator. Textron Systems provides the Cadillac Gage gun turret drive stabilisation system.
The commander has a 12.7mm Browning M2 machine gun and the loader has a 7.62mm M240 machine gun. A 7.62mm M240 machine gun is also mounted coaxially on the right hand side of the main armament.
DEPLETED URANIUM ARMOUR
The M1A1 tank incorporates steel encased depleted uranium armour. Armour bulkheads separate the crew compartment from the fuel tanks. The top panels of the tank are designed to blow outwards in the event of penetration by a HEAT projectile. The tank is protected against nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) warfare.
One L8A1 six-barrelled smoke grenade discharger is fitted on each side of the turret. A smoke screen can also be laid by an engine operated system.
FIRE CONTROL AND OBSERVATION
The commander's station is equipped with six periscopes, providing 360 degree view. The Raytheon Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV) provides the commander with independent stabilised day and night vision with a 360 degree view, automatic sector scanning, automatic target cueing of the gunner's sight and back-up fire control.
The M1A2 Abrams tank has a two-axis Raytheon Gunner's Primary Sight- Line of Sight (GPS-LOS) which increases the first round hit probability by providing faster target acquisition and improved gun pointing. The Thermal Imaging System (TIS) has magnification x10 narrow field of view and x3 wide field of view. The thermal image is displayed in the eyepiece of the gunner's sight together with the range measurement from a laser rangefinder. The Northrop Grumman (formerly Litton) Laser Systems Eyesafe Laser Rangefinder (ELRF) has a range accuracy to within 10m and target discrimination of 20m. The gunner also has a Kollmorgen Model 939 auxiliary sight with magnification x8 and field of view 8 degrees.
The digital fire control computer is supplied by General Dynamics - Canada (formerly Computing Devices Canada). The fire control computer automatically calculates the fire control solution based on: lead angle measurement; bend of the gun measured by the muzzle reference system; velocity measurement from a wind sensor on the roof of the turret; data from a pendulum static cant sensor located at the centre of the turret roof. The operator manually inputs data on ammunition type, temperature, and barometric pressure.
The driver has either three observation periscopes or two periscopes on either side and a central image intensifying periscope for night vision. The periscopes provide 120 degrees field of view. The DRS Technologies Driver's Vision Enhancer (DVE), AN/VSS-5, is based on a 328 x 245 element uncooled infrared detector array, operating in the 7.5 to 13 micron waveband. A Raytheon Driver's Thermal Viewer, AN/VAS-3, is installed on the M1A2 Abrams tanks for Kuwait.
PROPULSION
The M1 is equipped with a Honeywell AGT 1500 gas turbine engine. The Allison X-1100-3B transmission provides four forward and two reverse gears. The US Army has selected Honeywell International Engines and Systems and General Electric to develop a new LV100-5 gas turbine engine for the M1A2. The new engine is lighter and smaller with rapid acceleration, quieter running and no visible exhaust.
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Price : 500,000 Each
NIMITZ CLASS NUCLEAR POWERED AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
The Nimitz Class aircraft carriers are the largest warships ever built. With over 6,000 personnel (crew and aircrew), the carrier has a displacement of 102,000t, and a flight deck length of 332.9m. All seven nuclear-powered Nimitz class carriers have been built by Newport News Shipbuilding (now Northrop Grumman Ship Systems), based in Virginia.
Tasked with a multi-mission attack/ASW role, the first of class, USS Nimitz, was commissioned in 1975. The latest, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), was commissioned in July 2003. Other hulls are: USS Dwight D Eisenhower (CVN 69), Oct 1977; USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Mar 1982; USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Oct 1986; USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), Nov 1989; USS George Washington (CVN 73), Jul 1992; USS John C Stennis (CVN 74), Dec 1995; USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) July 1998.
The keel for the tenth and last Nimitz Class, USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), was laid in September 2003 and the carrier will enter service in 2009. The vessel will have a modernised island house with new radar tower and transparent armour windows as well as upgraded navigation and communications systems. It will also have a new aircraft launch and recovery system and JP-5 fuel system for improved storage and handling of aircraft fuel. This will be the first transition ship to a new class of carriers (CVN 21), planned to start construction in 2007 and be delivered in 2014. Northrop Grumman Newport News will be the prime contractor for the program. CVN 21 will incorporate new technologies including a new multi-function radar system, volume search radar and open architecture information network and a significantly reduced crew requirement.
DESIGN
The more recent Nimitz Class carriers (CVN72-CVN76) have a displacement of 102,000t fully loaded. They have a length of 317m and beam of 40.8m. The carrier reaches a maximum speed of over 30 knots, and accommodates a complement of 3,184 personnel (with 203 officers); 2,800 aircrew (with 366 officers); and 70 flag (with 25 officers).
AIRCRAFT
The 50 TACAIR air wing includes the following fixed wing aircraft: 20 F-14D "Bomcats" (Tomcats with a strike role), 36 F/A-18 Hornets, 8 S-3A/B Vikings, 4 E-2C Hawkeyes, and 4 EA-6B Prowlers; and the following helicopters: 4 SH-60F and 2 HH-60H Seahawks. Air wings can be varied according to the nature of the operation: for example, in 1994, 50 army helicopters replaced the usual air wing on the USS Dwight D Eisenhower during operations off Haiti.
The flight deck measures 333 x 77m and is equipped with four lifts, four steam-driven catapults and four arrester wires. The carrier is capable of launching one aircraft every 20s.
MISSILES
The more recently built carriers are armed with three Raytheon GMLS Mk 29 eight-cell launchers for Nato Seasparrow surface-to-air missiles. Seasparrow has a range of 14.5km and semi-active radar terminal guidance. The carriers are also being fitted with the Raytheon RAM (Rolling Airframe) missile system, which provides short-range defence against incoming anti-ship missiles, including sea-skimming missiles.
GUNS
There are four Raytheon/General Dynamics 20mm Phalanx 6-barrelled Mk 15 close-in weapon systems which have a firing rate of 3,000 rounds/min and a range of 1.5km.
COUNTERMEASURES
Decoys include four Sippican SRBOC (Super Rapid Bloom Off-Board Chaff) 6-barrelled Mk 36 decoy launchers, which deploy infrared flares and chaff, SSTDS torpedo defence system and AN/SLQ-25 Nixie torpedo countermeasures system, from Sensytech Inc of Newington, Virginia.
The Raytheon AN/SLQ-32(V) electronic warfare system detects hostile radar emissions by two sets of antennae and the system analyses the pulse repetition rate, the scan mode, the scan period, and the frequency. The system identifies the threat and direction, provides a warning signal and interfaces to the ship's countermeasures systems.
COMBAT SYSTEMS
The carriers’ combat data systems are based around the Block 0 or 1 naval tactical and advanced combat direction system (ACDS) with communications Links 4A, 11, 14, and 16. Weapons control is managed by three Mk 91 Mod 1 MFCS directors for the Seasparrow missile. USS Nimitz is being fitted with the SSDS Mk2 Mod 0 ship self-defense system, developed by Raytheon. The SSDS will provide automated self-defence against anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs) by integrating and co-ordinating the ship’s weapon and electronic warfare systems.
USS Nimitz has also been fitted with the Lockheed Martin TIS (Tactical Input Segment) digital reconnaissance processing system, which can receive real-time imagery from airborne sensors.
SENSORS
Air search radars include the ITT SPS-48E 3-D, operating at E/F-band; Raytheon SPS49(V)5, C/D-band; and Raytheon Mk 23 TAS, D-band. Surface search radar is the Northrop Grumman Norden Systems SPS-67V, operating at G-band.
PROPULSION
The nuclear-powered carrier has two General Electric pressurised water reactors driving four turbines of 260,000hp (194MW) and four shafts. There are four emergency diesels of 10,720hp (8MW).
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Price : 1.5 Billion Each
INVINCIBLE CLASS AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
The first-of-class HMS Invincible Aircraft Carrier was built by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering (now BAE Systems Marine) at Barrow-in-Furness. The ship was commissioned in July 1980. The two sister ships HMS Illustrious and HMS Ark Royal, both built at the Swan Hunter Shipbuilders yard in Wallsend, were commissioned in 1982 and 1985.
The role of the 20,600t aircraft carrier is to provide a command headquarters for the task group and to support the operations of the short take off and vertical landing aircraft and helicopters. The ship accommodates over 1,000 crew, including 350 aircrew with 80 officers. It also has capacity for an additional 500 marines.
The vessels were armed with a Sea Dart twin launcher, installed on the forecastle of the ship near the ski ramp. However, the missile system has been removed from all three carriers and the flight deck extended, to provide more capacity for aircraft and enable take-off for RAF Harrier GR.7 aircraft. HMS Invincible completed a refit in March 2003. Illustrious is currently in refit at Babcock’s Rosyth yard.
In March/April 2003, HMS Ark Royal was deployed as part of the UK task force in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. On board were Merlin HMA1 and Sea King AEW7 helicopters, the first operational deployment of these aircraft.
COMMAND SYSTEMS
The combat data system is BAE SYSTEMS ADIMP with communication links Link 10, Link 11 and Link 14. Following refit, HMS Invincible has had the combat system upgraded to the same standard as Illustrious and Ark Royal, with new multi-function consoles and flat-panel colour displays. The secure satellite communications system, the Astrium (formerly Matra Marconi) SCOT, has the capacity to handle data rates up to 2Mb/s.
GUNS
HMS Ark Royal is armed with three Mark 15 Phalanx close-in weapon systems (CIWS) from Raytheon and General Dynamics. Each Phalanx CIWS has one 20mm M61A1 Vulcan Gatling-principle gun which fires 3,000 rounds/min at a range of 1.5km.
HMS Invincible and Illustrious each have three Thales Nederland (formerly Signaal) Goalkeeper CIWS. Goalkeeper's Gatling principle 30mm gun provides a maximum firing rate of 4,200 rounds/min with a range of 1,500m.
All three carriers are also equipped with two GAM-B01 20mm guns from Oerlikon-Contraves and BAE SYSTEMS, which have a maximum range of 2km and firing rate of 1,000 rounds/min.
COUNTERMEASURES
The Invincible class is fitted with the Thales Defence Type 675(2) jamming system and a UAT(8) electronic support measures system also supplied by Thales Defence (formerly Racal).
The ship's decoy system is the Royal Navy's Outfit DLJ with Sea Gnat. There are eight 130mm six-barrel launchers produced by Hunting Engineering. Chemring and Pains Wessex produce the Sea Gnat chaff and infra-red decoys.
AIRCRAFT
The ship supports nine Harrier aircraft (both the Royal Air Force GR7 Harrier II and the Royal Navy F/A2 Sea Harrier), nine Sea King HAS 6 antisubmarine warfare helicopters and three Sea King AEW 2 and AEW7 airborne early warning helicopters. Landing trials with the Merlin HM.1 helicopter have taken place on the Ark Royal, which is the first carrier to deploy the Merlin.
The runway is about 170m long with a ski ramp set at 12°. In the hangar deck the aircraft is tethered to the floor using securing chains with tension clamps. Strachan and Henshaw have been contracted to install a replacement aircraft carrier lift system.
SENSORS
The BAE SYSTEMS Type 909 G/H-band fire control radar, which provided target tracking and illumination for the Sea Dart missile, has been removed from the three carriers. BAE SYSTEMS Type 996 surface search radar antennae is mounted very high on the tower between the two funnels. HMS Ark Royal has Type 992. Both radars operate at E and F-bands. BAE SYSTEMS Type 1022 air search radar operates at D-band. HMS Invincible and Ark Royal are equipped with the Kelvin Hughes Type 1006 navigation radar and HMS Illustrious has the Type 1007, both operating at I-band.
Qinetiq has been awarded a contract to provide an advanced technology mast communications and radar mast for HMS Ark Royal. The sensors and antennas will be housed within the structure, protected from the environment. The mast is due to enter service in late 2005.
The sonar system is the hull-mounted Type 2016 active/passive search and attack sonar by Thales Underwater Systems (formerly Thomson Marconi Sonar).
PROPULSION
The ship is powered by COGAG (combined gas turbine and gas turbine), consisting of four Rolls Royce Olympus TM3B gas turbine engines generating 97,000hp, providing a speed of 28 knots. At the economical speed of 19 knots the range of the ship is 7000 miles.
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Price : 1 Billion Each
SSBN OHIO CLASS BALLISTIC MISSILE SUBMARINE
The Ohio class submarines serve the United States Navy as the virtually undetectable undersea launch platforms of intercontinental missiles. The Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics, based at Groton, Connecticut, has built 18 Ohio submarines, commissioned between 1981 and 1997. The submarines of the Pacific Fleet are based at Bangor, Washington, and those of the Atlantic Fleet at King's Bay, Georgia. The submarines spend 70 days at sea followed by 25 days in dock for overhaul.
SSGN CONVERSION
Under the requirements of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, START II, which was agreed in June 1992, the number of strategic missile submarines was limited to 14 from the year 2002. Rather than decommissioning these four submarines, the US Navy is converting them to SSGNs (conventionally armed nuclear-powered) submarines. In September 2002, Electric Boat received a contract for the conversion of USS Ohio (SSBN 726), Michigan (727), Florida (728) and Georgia (729). The submarines are being refitted with up to 154 Tomahawk TLAM (land attack) missiles and will also be capable of conducting special operations missions with accommodation for Northrop Grumman Advanced SEAL delivery systems (ASDS), mission control centre and 102 special operations troops.
General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems is modifying the Trident fire control system for the Tomahawk weapon control. Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems is adapting the missile launch tubes, developing a Multiple All Up Round Canister (MAC) which will provide storage and launch of up to seven Tomahawk missiles from each of the submarine's 22 missile tubes.
USS Ohio began conversion in November 2002 and will rejoin the fleet in 2007. SSBN's USS Pennsylvania and USS Kentucky will shift homeport from Kings Bay to Bangor to balance the strategic force.
In January 2003, USS Florida took part in Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) experiment "Giant Shadow" to test the capabilites of the new SSGNs. The experiment included validation launches of two Tomahawk missiles, the first ever launch of a UUV (unmanned underwater vehicle) and insertion of a Navy SEALS (Sea, Air, Land) force. The SSGN will have the capacity to accommodate 66 SEALS. USS Florida began the SSGN conversion in July 2003.
MISSILES
The Ohio class submarine is equipped with the Trident strategic ballistic missile from Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space. The Trident was built in two versions, Trident I (C4), which is being phased out, and the larger and longer range Trident II (D5), which entered service in 1990. The first eight submarines, (SSBN 726 to 733 inclusive) were equipped with Trident I and the following ten (SSBN 734 to 743) carry the Trident II. Conversion of the four Trident I submarines remaining after START II (Henry M. Jackson, Alabama, Alaska and Nevada), to Trident II began in 2000 and is planned to complete in 2008. Lockheed Martin received a contract in January 2002 for the production of 12 Trident II missiles for the four submarines.
The submarine has the capacity for 24 Trident missile tubes in two rows of 12. The dimensions of the Trident II missile are length 1,360cm x diameter 210cm and the weight is 59,000kg. The three-stage solid fuel rocket motor is built by ATK (Alliant Techsystems) Thiokol Propulsion. The US Navy gives the range as "greater than 7,360km" but this could be up to 12,000km depending on the payload mix. Missile guidance is provided by an inertial navigation system, supported by stellar navigation. Trident II is capable of carrying up to twelve MIRVs (multiple independent re-entry vehicles), each with a yield of 100 kilotons, although the SALT treaty limits this number to eight per missile. The circle of equal probability (the radius of the circle within which half the strikes will impact) is less than 150m. The Sperry Univac Mark 98 missile control system controls the 24 missiles.
TORPEDOES
The Ohio class submarine is fitted with four 533mm torpedo tubes with a Mark 118 digital torpedo fire control system. The torpedoes are the Gould Mark 48 torpedoes. The Mark 48 is a heavy weight torpedo with a warhead of 290kg, which has been operational in the US Navy since 1972. The torpedo can be operated with or without wire guidance and the system has active and/or passive acoustic homing. Range is up to 50km at a speed of 40 knots. After launch the torpedo carries out target search, acquisition and attack procedures delivering to a depth of 3,000ft.
COUNTERMEASURES
The Ohio class submarine is equipped with eight launchers for the Mk 2 torpedo decoy. Electronic warfare equipment is the WLR- 10 threat warning system and the WLR-8(V) surveillance receiver from GTE of Massachusetts. The WLR-8(V) uses seven YIG tuned and vector tuned superheterodyne receivers to operate from 50MHz up to J-band. An acoustic interception and countermeasures system, AN/WLY-1 from Northrop Grumman, has been developed to provide the submarine with an automatic response against torpedo attack.
SENSORS
The surface search, navigation and fire control radar is BPS 15A I/J band radar. The sonar suite includes: IBM BQQ 6 passive search sonar, Raytheon BQS 13, BQS 15 active and passive high-frequency sonar, BQR 15 passive towed array from Western Electric, and the active BQR 19 navigation sonar from Raytheon. Kollmorgen Type 152 and Type 82 periscopes are fitted.
PROPULSION
The main machinery is the pressure water reactor GE PWR S8G with two turbines providing 60,000hp and driving a single shaft. The submarine is equipped with a 325hp Magnatek auxiliary prop motor. The propulsion provides a speed in excess of 18 knots surfaced and 25 knots submerged.
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E-2C HAWKEYE AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING AIRCRAFT
The primary role of the E-2C Hawkeye aircraft supplied by Northrop Grumman is as an all-weather airborne early-warning aircraft to the naval task force. From an operating altitude above 25,000ft, the Hawkeye warns the naval task force of approaching air threats and provides threat identification and positional data to fighter aircraft such as F-14 Tomcats. Secondary roles include strike command and control, surveillance, guidance of search and rescue missions and as a relay to extend the range of communications.
The E-2C became operational in 1973. Block II aircraft, with improved engine and radar, entered service in 1992, with final delivery in 2001. As well as the United States Navy, E-2C aircraft are in service with the navies of Egypt, Israel, Japan, Singapore and Taiwan and, in 1998, the French Navy took delivery of two aircraft for the new Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier. Deliveries have totalled more than 140 for the USN and more than 30 for other nations.
The aircraft is operated by a crew of five, with the pilot and co-pilot on the flight deck and the combat information centre officer, air control officer and radar operator stations located in the rear fuselage directly beneath the rotodome.
CARRIER OPERATIONS DESIGN
The fuselage is designed for carrier operations and is fitted with a nose-tow catapult attachment for accelerated carrier take-off, an A-frame arrester hook for engagement of the arresting gear and a tail bumper to withstand impact or scraping on the runway. For storage in the hangar, the wings fold hydraulically to lie flat to the fuselage. The fuselage is of light metal construction, and parts of the tailplane are of composite structure in order to reduce radar signature.
From 2004, US Navy Hawkeyes are being fitted with two Hamilton Sundstrand NP2000 digitally-controlled, eight-bladed propellers to replace mechanically-controlled, four-bladed propellers. The new propellers provide less vibration and less noise. Initial carrier certification of the new propellers was carried out on USS John F Kennedy in November 2003.
MISSION SYSTEMS
The large 24ft diameter circular antenna radome above the rear fuselage gives the E-2C its distinctive profile. The radome houses the AN/APA-171 antenna supplied by Randtron Systems, which rotates at 5 to 6rpm.
The Lockheed Martin AN/APS-145 radar is capable of tracking more than 2,000 targets and controlling the interception of 40 hostile targets. One radar sweep covers 6 million cubic miles. The radar's total radiation aperture control antenna reduces sidelobes and is robust against electronic countermeasures. It is capable of detecting aircraft at ranges greater than 550km.
The mission computer is equipped with an enhanced high-speed parallel processor. The Lockheed Martin AN/UYQ-70 advanced display system and computer peripherals provide the operators with multicolour displays, map overlays, zoom facilities and auxiliary data displays.
NAVIGATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
A global positioning system and a Northrop Grumman (formerly Litton) AN/ASN-92 CAINS (Carrier Aircraft Inertial Navigation System) are the main components of the aircraft's navigation suite. The aircraft is also equipped with the AN/ASN- 50 heading and attitude reference system, an AN/ARA-50 UHF automatic direction finder from Rockwell Collins, an AN/ASW-25B automatic carrier landing system and a Honeywell AN/APN-171(V) radar altimeter.
The communications suite includes an AN/ARC-158 UHF data link, an AN/ARQ-34 HF datalink and a Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) which provides secure voice and data communications.
ENGINES
The E-2C was originally fitted with two Allison T56-A-425 turboprop engines, but since the introduction of E-2C Group I variants, T56A-427 engines have been fitted. With the new engines, the E-2C can cruise on station for more than four hours, up to 200 miles from base.
HAWKEYE 2000
Major upgrade programmes are continuing to the end of the service life in 2015. The first of the next generation standard, the Hawkeye 2000, was delivered in October 2001, with 21 on order for the USN, one aircraft destined for the French Navy under a foreign military sales (FMS) agreement and two for Taiwan. USN aircraft will achieve Initial Operating Capability (IOC) in 2004. Northrop Grumman is also to upgrade a number of USN aircraft to Hawkeye 2000 configuration. Egypt is to upgrade its five E-2C Hawkeye to Hawkeye 2000 standard and will receive one additional upgraded E-2C. The first upgraded aircraft was delivered in March 2003. The Japanese Air Self Defense Force is also upgrading its 13 Hawkeye aircraft. The United Arab Emirates has requested five refurbished aircraft, upgraded to Hawkeye 2000 standard.
Hawkeye 2000 features a Raytheon mission computer upgrade (MCU), Lockheed Martin Advanced Control Indicator Set (ACIS), co-operative engagement capability (CEC), satellite communications, new navigation and flight control systems. The MCU is based on open architecture commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) technology, with increased memory and faster processing. The CEC consists of processor, data distribution system and antenna and will enable Hawkeye 2000 to perform real-time battle management, fusing and distributing information from sources such as satellite and shipborne radar.
ADVANCED HAWKEYE
The next-generation, RMP/Advanced Hawkeye, will have, as well a new radar, theatre missile defence capabilities, multisensor integration and a tactical cockpit. Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems are developing a new solid-state, electronically steered UHF radar under the E-2C Radar Modernization Program (RMP). Northrop Grumman will supply the transmitter, Raytheon the receiver and L-3 Communications Randtron the UHF antenna.
The new radar began flight testing in July 2002 and the Advanced Hawkeye equipped with the radar will replace all 75 USN E-2C aircraft. The aircraft began full System Development and Demonstration (SDD) in August 2003 and is due to enter service in 2011.
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DELHI CLASS DESTROYERS
INS Delhi is the first of a new class of destroyer built by Mazagon Dock Ltd based in Mumbai. Under the Project 15 programme, the Indian Navy will acquire four Delhi class destroyers by the year 2002. The Delhi destroyer was designed by the Indian Navy with detailed and production design phase being carried out by Mazagon Dock. INS Delhi was commissioned in 1997, INS Mysore in June 1999 and INS Mumbai (formerly Bombay) in January 2001.
With a displacement of 6,700t, overall length of 163m and beam of 17m, the Delhi class is the largest warship built in India. The ship is fitted with sophisticated anti-ship, anti-aircraft and anti-submarine sensor and weapon systems.
WEAPONS
The ship's integrated combat data system is supplied by Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) of Hyderabad.
The main gun at the bow of the ship is a 100mm gun supplied by Russia. The ship is also fitted with four six-barrel AK 650 gatling guns.
The ship is equipped with four quad launchers for the Uran anti-ship missile system. The Uran system launches the Kh-35 (NATO designation SS-N-25) antiship cruise missile, which uses an inertial guidance system to steer the missile towards the target area and an active radar homing head for terminal guidance. The minimum and maximum ranges of the missile are 5km and 130km. The surface-to-air missile system is the Russian Shtil (SA-N-7), known by the NATO reporting name Gadfly. The missile's maximum range is 25km. It is envisaged that this will be replaced with the Trishul surface-to-air missile system. Trishul is being developed in India and has a range of 500m to 9km and a 15kg warhead. The technical problems, which had put the future of the missile system in doubt, appear to have been overcome and the missile successfully completed a series of firing trials in June 2003.
The ship has a quintuple 533mm torpedo launcher which can also be used to launch SS-N-15 "Starfish" or possibly SS-N-16 "Stallion" ASW missiles. SS-N-15 has a maximum range of 50km, SS-N-16 of 120km.
The ship also has two RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers with twelve tubes. Range is 6km and the maximum engagement depth is 500m.
HELICOPTERS
The 500m² helicopter deck is located at the stern of the ship. The ship can support two helicopters, the new Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and the AgustaWestland Sea King helicopters, primarily equipped for the air surveillance role. The Sea Kings carry the Super Searcher radar from MEL, the H/S-12 dipping sonar from Thales Underwater Systems with an AQS-902B acoustic processor, and the Hermes electronic support measures system supplied by BAE SYSTEMS. The Sea King is also armed with mines and Sea Eagle missiles.
COUNTERMEASURES
The ship is equipped with four chaff launch systems and the Ajanta radar interceptor developed by Bharat Electronics Limited of Bangalore. The TQN-2 jamming system is supplied by the Italian company, Elettronica.
SENSORS
The ship's radar suite includes: Rashmi I-band navigation radar by Bharat Electronics, Russian Kite Screech and Bass Tilt H,I and J band fire control radars for the guns, Garfun B fire control radar for the Kh-35 Uran SSM, Front Dome fire control radar for the SA-N-17 SAM, RALW - LW08 air search radar operating in D-band and supplied by Bharat Electronics Ltd and Thales Nederland (formerly Signaal) and the Bharat/ Thales RAWS - DA05 E-band surface search radar.
The ship's hull mounted active search sonar capability is based on the TSM2633 by Thales Underwater Systems or the APSOH by Bharat. The ship also has a variable depth sonar, Model 15-750 developed and manufactured in India by Indal and Garden Reach.
PROPULSION
The ship's propulsion is based on a combined diesel and gas CODAG system. The Russian gas turbine system is the AM-50. The KVM-18 diesel motors are supplied by Bergen and Garden Reach. The propulsion system drives two shafts and provides a maximum speed of 28 knots.
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Price : 400 Million Each
ARLEIGH BURKE CLASS (AEGIS) GUIDED MISSILE DESTROYERS
The first Arleigh Burke Class Aegis destroyer was commissioned in 1991. Contracts for the destroyers have been split between the Northrop Grumman Ship Systems (formerly Litton Ingalls Shipbuilding), based in Pascagoula, Mississippi and the General Dynamics subsidiary, Bath Iron Works, based in Maine. The first 21 ships (DDG51-DDG71) are categorised as Flight I and the next seven (DDG72-DDG78) as Flight II.
The revised Flight IIA ships entered production in late 1997. 12 have been commissioned: USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) - August 2000; Roosevelt (DDG 80) - November 2000; Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) - March 2001; Lassen (DDG 82) - April 2001; Howard (DDG 83) - October 2001; Bulkeley (DDG 84) - December 2001; Shoup (DDG 86) - June 2002; McCampbell (DDG 85) - August 2002; Preble (DDG 88) - November 2002; Mason (DDG 87) - April 2003; USS Mustin (DDG 89) - July 2003; Chafee (DDG 90) - October 2003. Pinkney (DDG 91) will commission in May 2004. Momsen (DDG 92, USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), Nitze (DDG 94), James E Williams (DDG 95), Bainbridge (DDG 96) and Halsey (DDG 97) are launched. In June 2002, the US Navy signed an MoU with Northrop Grumman and Bath Iron Works, as a result of which Bath will build four Arleigh Burke destroyers, previously assigned to Northrop Grumman and Northrop Grumman will assume responsibility for construction of all San Antonio Class LPD-17 vessels.
Improvements over the previous Flights include hangars for two SH-60B/F LAMPS helicopters, new combat systems software, an enlarged flight deck, the Evolved SeaSparrow missile, the Kingfisher mine detection sonar, Kollmorgen optronic sight and upgrade of the Aegis radar system.
DESIGN
The entire ship (except the two aluminium funnels) is constructed from steel, with vital areas protected by two layers of steel and 70t of Kevlar armour. There is a platform for re-arming and re-fuelling a LAMPS III SH-60B/F helicopter (with ASW capabilities), but no hangars, the ship is unable to house a helicopter of its own. This is the first US Navy class to be fitted out with anti-NBC warfare protection.
AEGIS COMBAT SYSTEM
The Arleigh Burke class destroyers are equipped with the Aegis Combat System which integrates the ship's sensors and weapons systems to engage anti-ship missile threats. The Aegis system has a federated architecture with four subsystems – AN/SPY-1 multifunction radar, Command and Decision System (CDS), Aegis Display System (ADS) and the Weapon Control System (WCS). The CDS receives data from ship and external sensors via satellite communications and provides command, control and threat assessment. The WCS receives engagement instruction from the CDS, selects weapons and interfaces with the weapon fire control systems.
The latest Aegis upgrade, Baseline 7.1, will be introduced to the fleet on USS Pinkney (DDG 91) in 2004. The upgrade includes a new radar, AN/SPY-1D(V), which has enhanced electronic countermeasures and more effective capability in littoral environments. Baseline 7.1 is based on COTS (commercial-off-the-shelf) computer architecture. Trials of the upgrade in March 2003 included live firings of the ESSM.
The weapons control systems include a SWG-1A for Harpoon, SWG-3 forTomahawk, Mk 99 Mod 3 missile fire control system, GWS34 Mod 0 gun fire control system and Mk 116 Mod 7 fire control system for anti-submarine systems.
WEAPONS
The ships are armed with 56 Raytheon Tomahawk cruise missiles, with a combination of land-attack (TLAM) missiles with a Tercom Aided Navigation System, and anti-ship missiles with inertial guidance. The Standard SM-2MR Block 4 surface-to-air missiles with command/inertial guidance remain at the centre of the Aegis system. Both Tomahawk and Standard missiles are fired from two Lockheed Martin Mk 41 vertical launch systems.
The first test of the weapon control system for the new Tactical Tomahawk (Block IV) took place on USS Stethem (DDG 63) in October 2002 and the missile will achieve initial operating capability in 2004. The new missile has the capability for mission planning onboard the launch vessel, in-flight targeting and loitering.
Raytheon is developing the latest version of the Standard Missile, the SM-3, which successfully destroyed a ballistic missile in space during sea trials in November 2002. SM-3, based on hit-to-kill technology, has a kinetic warhead and is for deployment against short to medium range ballistic missiles.
There are also eight Boeing Harpoon surface-to-surface missiles and Lockheed Martin ASROC vertical launch anti-submarine systems, armed with the Mark 50 or Mark 46 torpedo. ASROC is launched from the Mark 41 VLS.
Arleigh Burke vessels will be fitted with the Evolved Seasparrow Missile (ESSM), being developed by Raytheon. ESSM is an advanced ship self-defence missile for use against anti-ship missiles. In July 2002, the first ESSM sea launch was carried out by Flight IIA vessel, USS Shoup. The missile was launched from the Mk 41 VLS and the Aegis AN/SPY-1D radar successfully guided the missile to destroy the target. ESSM passed US Navy Operational Testing & Evaluation (OPEVAL) in September 2003 and will enter service in 2004.
There is one United Defense 127mm Mk 45 gun with Kollmorgen Mk 46 Mod 1 electro-optic sight and two Raytheon/General Dynamics 20mm 6-barrelled Phalanx Mk 15 close-in weapon systems (CIWS). Phalanx Block 1B has been installed on USS Howard, Bulkeley and Cole. The Phalanx 1B upgrade includes a Thales Optronics HDTI5-2F thermal imager, improved Ku-band radar and longer gun barrel providing an increased rate of fire of 4,500rpm. Flight IIA vessel USS Winston Churchill is the first ship to be fitted with the US Navy’s most advanced gun, the Mk 45 Mod 4, which can fire extended range guided munitions (ERGM) to a range of nearly 60 miles.
The destroyers are fitted with six (two triple) 324mm Mk 32 Mod 14 torpedo tubes, which launch ATK (AlliantTechsystems) Mk 46 or Mk 50 active/passive homing anti-submarine torpedoes.
COUNTERMEASURES
The ship’s electronic countermeasures/support measures system is the Raytheon AN/SLQ-32(V)3 which performs radar warning and jamming.
Decoys include two Sippican Hycor SRBOC 6-barrelled launchers for chaff and infrared flares and the AN/SLQ-25A Nixie torpedo decoy system from Sensytech Inc of Newington, Virginia.
SENSORS
The air search and fire control radar for the Aegis system is the Lockheed Martin AN/SPY-ID 3D phased array radar, operating at E/F band. Surface search radar is a DRS Technologies AN/SPS-67(V)3 C-band (5.4-5.8 GHz) radar. There is also: Raytheon SPS-64(V)9 I-band navigation radar and three Raytheon AN/SPG-62, I/J-Band radars for fire control.
The sonar suite is the Lockheed Martin SQQ-89(V)6, which includes Edo Corporation AN/SQS-53C bow-mounted active search and attack sonar and the AN/SQR-19B passive towed array. Vessels from USS Momsen (DDG 92) onwards will also have the Lockheed Martin AN/WLD-1 Remote Minehunting System, which includes a Remote Minehunting Vehicle (RMV) that tows the AN/AQS-20A variable depth sonar (VDS). The system will be delivered in July 2004.
PROPULSION
The destroyers are powered by four GE LM 2500 gas turbines, each rated at 33,600hp with a power turbine speed of 3,600rpm, driving two shafts, with controllable pitch propellers.
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Price : 700 Million Each
MIRAGE CLASS (TYPE 14310) PATROL BOAT
The Mirage Project 14310 Fast Patrol Boat has been designed by the Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau in Saint Petersburg and production is underway at the Vympel Joint Stock Shipbuilding Association in the town of Rybinsk in the Yaroslavl Region of Russia.
The role of the Mirage fast patrol boat is to carry out protection of territorial waters and exclusive economic zones, and to provide support to police, coast guard and customs forces.
DESIGN
The vessel is capable of operation in rough seas up to Sea State 7. The hard chine hull features a transverse step and a transom flap. The bottom of the hull is equipped with stabilising fins, which are controlled by electric servo drives. The stabilising fins give rise to a 2 to 2.5 reduction in the roll, a 1.5 fold reduction in pitch and vertical acceleration by 20 to 50%. The boat remains afloat even when one watertight compartment is completely flooded.
The boat's hull and superstructure are constructed mainly from aluminium magnesium alloy, which has very high strength and a yield point value of 180MPa. The hull is subdivided lengthwise into watertight compartments. The main engines and rotating machines are shock-mounted. The fore bulkhead of the engine room is covered with Polyacryl-VS vibration absorbing material and the surfaces in the crew spaces are clad with Viponite vibration absorbing material.
WEAPONS
The boat is equipped with an AK-306 automatic artillery system and eight Igla-1M portable air defence missile systems.
The 30mm AK-306 automatic artillery system is supplied by the Tula Engineering Plant JSC and the Sporting and Hunting Guns Research and Design Bureau both based in Tula. The AK-306 is installed on the front deck and provides defence against lightly armoured land and sea targets, floating mines and isolated airborne targets. The system is equipped with an AO-18L six-barrel automatic gun with an electrically driven revolving barrel cluster. The gun mount magazine holds a 500-cartridge ammunition-loaded belt. The firing rate is up to 1,000 rounds/min and the muzzle velocity is 880m/s. Air targets can be engaged at a range up to 4,000m and sea and coastal targets up to 5,000m.
The ship carries eight Igla-1M portable air defence missile systems. Six systems are stowed along the sidewalls of the superstructure. Two missile systems are installed on the action station guard supports on the afterdeck ready for immediate deployment.
The patrol boat also has spaces for the installation of pedestal mounts for two 14.5mm machine guns together with 1,000 rounds of ammunition, a Shturm missile system with Ataka missiles or the Vikhr missile system with six missiles.
SENSORS
The Mirage is equipped with a surface search I-band radar and a low-light level television camera for night-time surveillance.
The Mirage also has navigation radar, a gyroscope course indicator, MK69-M2 magnetic compass, log and echo sounder, radio navigation system, satellite navigation equipment (global positioning system) using positional data from the Russian Tskada space navigation or from the USA Transit space navigation system.
PROPULSION
The Mirage is equipped with two diesel engines each operating with its own shaft and fixed pitch propeller. For operation in temperate climates the boat is equipped with a type M520 diesel engine which provides a maximum speed of 50 knots. For tropical climates the diesel engine M520 TM5 is fitted: in a tropical climate at an ambient air temperature of 34°C, the M520 TM5 gives a maximum speed of 48 knots. The M520 and M520 TM5 are water-cooled four stroke diesel engines, with drive turbo compressors and a reverse reduction gear. The boat also has two diesel generators with a rated power of 50kW each.
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Price : 100 Million Each
LAKSAMANA CLASS CORVETTES
In October 1995 the Malaysian Ministry of Finance signed a contract with Fincantieri for the supply of two 650t missile corvettes for the Royal Malaysian Navy. A further two missile corvettes were ordered in February 1997. The first two ships, Hang Nadim and Tun Abdul Jamil, were commissioned in July 1997. The second two, Muhammed Amin and Tan Pusmah, were delivered in July 1999.
The original ship design had been ordered by the Iraqi Navy, but the supply of the missile corvettes was stopped by United Nations sanctions. Some specific aspects of the ships' design were modified and the ships were refitted to meet the requirements of the Royal Malaysian Navy.
IPN 10 COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEM
The ship's command and control system is the IPN 10 for the first two ships and the IPNS for the second two ships, both supplied by Alenia Marconi Systems (AMS), together with Thales Nederland Link Y. The IPN system gathers, correlates and filters the information from the ship's sensors, and communications and data networks. In April 2002, AMS was awarded a contract for the upgrade of the IPN 10 on two of the corvettes, the Hang Nadim and the Tun Abdul Jamil. The new system is designated IPN-S.
The fire control system is based on two NA21 and one DARDO system together with their dedicated radar, supplied by Alenia Marconi Systems.
ANTI-SHIP AND ANTI-AIR MISSILES
The ship's long-range sea-skimming missile system is the Otomat Mark 2/Teseo by MBDA (formerly Alenia and Matra BAe Dynamics). Six Otomat Teseo Mark 2 missile launchers, three pointing to port and three pointing starboard, are installed on the stern deck. The missiles are armed with a 210kg high-explosive warhead, fitted with impact and proximity fuses. The speed of the missile is Mach 0.9 and the range is 120km.
The ship's medium-range air defence system is the Albatros supplied by MBDA, which provides defence against aircraft and incoming anti-ship missiles. Albatros fires the Aspide missile which has a speed of Mach 2.5 and a 15km range. It uses semi-active radar homing to deliver a 33kg warhead. The Albatros launcher is installed on the raised bridge deck to the stern of the main mast.
GUNS
The ship's main gun, the 76mm 62 calibre Oto Melara Super Rapid is installed on the bow deck in front of the citadel. The firing rate is 120 rounds/minute and range is up to 16km. The ship's multi-role gun is the 40mm Oto Melara L70 twin gun which has a range of 12.5km and firing rate of 300 rounds/minute.
ILAS-3 TORPEDO LAUNCHER
The ships torpedo system is the ILAS-3 torpedo launcher from Whitehead Alenia of Salvanio, Italy. The triple launchers are installed one each side on the main deck. The A244/S anti-submarine torpedoes use active, passive and mixed mode homing to a target range of 7km.
ELECTRONIC WARFARE SUITE
The ship's electronic warfare suite comprises the INS-3 radar interceptor and the TQN-2 radar jammer, both from Alenia Marconi Systems.
One OTOBreda 105mm decoy launcher is installed on both the port and starboard side of the ship. Each launcher has six launch tubes and is capable of firing illuminating rounds or chaff rounds to counter hostile radars and radar guided missiles.
SENSOR SUITE
The ship's radar suite consists of: RAN 12L/X air and surface search radar, supplied by Alenia Marconi Systems and operating in D and I bands and Kelvin Hughes 1007 navigation radar operating at I band. The ship is also fitted with a Global Positioning System (GPS)
The ship is equipped with the ASO 94-41 hull mounted active search and attack sonar supplied by STN Atlas Elektronik.
PROPULSION SYSTEMS
The ship has four MTU 20 V 956 TB 92 diesel engines developing 14.8MW sustained power driving four shafts. Three diesel generators each yield 280KVA. The engines provide a dash speed of 36 knots, a maximum sustained speed of 34 knots and an economical speed of 18 knots. The range at 18 knots is 2,300 nautical miles.
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Price : 150 Million Each
M1A1 / M1A2 ABRAMS MAIN BATTLE TANK
The M1A1/2 Abrams main battle tank is manufactured by General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS). The first M1 tank was produced in 1978, the M1A1 in 1985 and the M1A2 in 1986. 3,273 M1 tanks were produced for the US Army. 4,796 M1A1 tanks were built for the US Army, 221 for the US Marines and 555 co-produced with Egypt. Egypt has ordered a further 200 M1A1 tanks with production to continue to 2005. 77 M1A2 tanks have been built for the US Army, 315 for Saudi Arabia and 218 for Kuwait. For the M1A2 Upgrade Program, over 600 M1 Abrams tanks are being upgraded to M1A2 configuration. Deliveries began in 1998.
M1A2 SYSTEM ENHANCEMENT PACKAGE (SEP)
In February 2001, GDLS were contracted to supply 240 M1A2 tanks with a system enhancement package (SEP) by 2004. The M1A2 SEP contains an embedded version of the US Army's Force XXI command and control architecture; new Raytheon Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV) with second generation thermal imager; commander's display for digital colour terrain maps; DRS Techologies second generation GEN II TIS thermal imaging gunner’s sight with increased range; driver's integrated display and thermal management system. The US Army planned to procure a total of 1150 M1A2 SEP tanks but the US Army has decided to cancel future production of the M1A2 SEP from FY2004.
Under the Firepower Enhancement Package (FEP), DRS Techologies has also been awarded a contract for the GEN II TIS to upgrade US Marine Corps M1A1 tanks. GEN II TIS is based on the 480 x 4 SADA (Standard Advanced Dewar Assembly) detector.
M1 ABRAMS ARMAMENT
The main armament is the 120mm M256 smoothbore gun, developed by Rheinmetall GmbH of Germany. The 120mm gun fires the following ammunition: the M865 TPCSDS-T and M831 TP-T training rounds, the M8300 HEAT-MP-T and the M829 APFSDS-T which includes a depleted uranium penetrator. Textron Systems provides the Cadillac Gage gun turret drive stabilisation system.
The commander has a 12.7mm Browning M2 machine gun and the loader has a 7.62mm M240 machine gun. A 7.62mm M240 machine gun is also mounted coaxially on the right hand side of the main armament.
DEPLETED URANIUM ARMOUR
The M1A1 tank incorporates steel encased depleted uranium armour. Armour bulkheads separate the crew compartment from the fuel tanks. The top panels of the tank are designed to blow outwards in the event of penetration by a HEAT projectile. The tank is protected against nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) warfare.
One L8A1 six-barrelled smoke grenade discharger is fitted on each side of the turret. A smoke screen can also be laid by an engine operated system.
FIRE CONTROL AND OBSERVATION
The commander's station is equipped with six periscopes, providing 360 degree view. The Raytheon Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV) provides the commander with independent stabilised day and night vision with a 360 degree view, automatic sector scanning, automatic target cueing of the gunner's sight and back-up fire control.
The M1A2 Abrams tank has a two-axis Raytheon Gunner's Primary Sight- Line of Sight (GPS-LOS) which increases the first round hit probability by providing faster target acquisition and improved gun pointing. The Thermal Imaging System (TIS) has magnification x10 narrow field of view and x3 wide field of view. The thermal image is displayed in the eyepiece of the gunner's sight together with the range measurement from a laser rangefinder. The Northrop Grumman (formerly Litton) Laser Systems Eyesafe Laser Rangefinder (ELRF) has a range accuracy to within 10m and target discrimination of 20m. The gunner also has a Kollmorgen Model 939 auxiliary sight with magnification x8 and field of view 8 degrees.
The digital fire control computer is supplied by General Dynamics - Canada (formerly Computing Devices Canada). The fire control computer automatically calculates the fire control solution based on: lead angle measurement; bend of the gun measured by the muzzle reference system; velocity measurement from a wind sensor on the roof of the turret; data from a pendulum static cant sensor located at the centre of the turret roof. The operator manually inputs data on ammunition type, temperature, and barometric pressure.
The driver has either three observation periscopes or two periscopes on either side and a central image intensifying periscope for night vision. The periscopes provide 120 degrees field of view. The DRS Technologies Driver's Vision Enhancer (DVE), AN/VSS-5, is based on a 328 x 245 element uncooled infrared detector array, operating in the 7.5 to 13 micron waveband. A Raytheon Driver's Thermal Viewer, AN/VAS-3, is installed on the M1A2 Abrams tanks for Kuwait.
PROPULSION
The M1 is equipped with a Honeywell AGT 1500 gas turbine engine. The Allison X-1100-3B transmission provides four forward and two reverse gears. The US Army has selected Honeywell International Engines and Systems and General Electric to develop a new LV100-5 gas turbine engine for the M1A2. The new engine is lighter and smaller with rapid acceleration, quieter running and no visible exhaust.
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Price : 500,000 Each