Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.



Community Build Session 5
Just a friendly reminder, Session 5 of our "MSW Community Build" is nearing the end, make sure that you have your monthly progress photos uploaded and posted in your "BLOG" by 11/1/08, which will then close this session of the event!




This Day in U.S. Naval History

1864 - Lt. William Cushing sinks Confederate ram Albemarle with a spar torpedo attached to the bow of his launch.
1922 - Navy League of the United States sponsors first annual celebration of Navy Day to focus public attention on the importance of the U.S. Navy. That date was selected because it was Theodore Roosevelt's birthday.
1943 - First women Marines report for duty on the West Coast, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
1944 - Fast Carrier Task Forces attack Japanese shipping and installations in Visayas and northern Luzon.
1967 - Operation Coronado VIII begins in Rung Sat Zone.


Russia to build new icebreakers

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin requested the country’s state nuclear energy company Rosatom to elaborate a long-term plan for the nuclear-powered icebreaker fleet. New icebreakers are to strengthen the position of the country on the Northern Sea Route.

In few years, Russia plans to build another 3-4 nuclear-powered new-generation icebreakers.



In a meeting with Rosatom leader Sergey Kiriyenko yesterday, PM Putin highlighted the need for an evaluation of the situation in the nuclear-powered icebreaker fleet and the elaboration of a plan for the fleet’s development, the Russian government website reports.

- You know that we have to assess the state of the fleet and determine its development perspectives, Mr. Putin said, adding that “I have in mind, of course, our plans for the further development of the Northern Sea Route”.

Mr. Kiriyenko responded that his Rosatom now is elaborating a programme on the fleet’s development. He underlined the need for the building of new vessels. Rosatom on 27 August officially took over the responsibility for the icebreaker fleet from the Murmansk Shipping Company.

- If we do not build new vessels, then our opportunities in the Arctic will decline after 2015, he said, adding that a key task in the country’s development programme on transport and infrastructure is the projecting of a new generation of nuclear-powered icebreakers in 2009 and subsequent funding for the new vessels.

- According to preliminary estimates, we need no less than 3-4 new generation icebreakers in the course of the coming years, Mr. Kiriyenko highlighted.

Russia today has seven nuclear-powered icebreakers in operation, the newest of them the 50-years Anniversary was launched in 2007. A few days ago icebreaker Arktika was officially taken out or service.


Raytheon to Deliver Zumwalt's Dual Band Radar to CVN 78

Raytheon Company received a $23.5 million U.S. Navy contract to adapt the Dual Band Radar (DBR) developed for the Zumwalt-class destroyer for installation on the future U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), America's next-generation aircraft carrier.

Raytheon will deliver DBR supporting equipment hardware and software designs to meet the installation and integration requirements of the CVN 78 class of ships.

The DBR, produced by Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS), is the most advanced air defense radar at sea and will provide superior surveillance capabilities supporting CVN 78 air operations and ship self-defense. Leveraging proven technologies to meet the carrier mission requirements in both deep water and littoral environments, DBR will be the U.S. Navy's most capable radar and a critical asset for the fleet.

"Bringing the advanced capabilities of Zumwalt's Dual Band Radar to the CVN 78 represents an enormous achievement in commonality and interoperability for the Navy," said Raytheon's Robert Martin, vice president and deputy of IDS' Seapower Capability Systems. "By leveraging proven and tested technologies, we are delivering affordable, effective and reliable seapower capabilities to multiple platforms across the Navy fleet."

Raytheon's Dual Band Radar features X-band and S-band phased array radar faces, which operate together in a complementary manner. DBR supports a wide variety of mission requirements, including self-defense/anti-air warfare, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, situational awareness, land attack, naval gunfire support, surface search, navigation and air traffic control.

Work on this contract will be performed at Raytheon IDS Headquarters, Tewksbury, Mass., and the Surveillance and Sensors Center, Sudbury, Mass.

Under the Navy's Zumwalt Detail Design and Integration contract awarded in 2005, Raytheon IDS serves as the prime mission systems equipment integrator for all electronic and combat systems for the Zumwalt-class destroyer program. Working with the Navy and a team of industry leaders, IDS is leading the effort to transform the Navy's surface warfare requirements to reality.

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


Raytheon Company, with 2007 sales of $21.3 billion, is a technology leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 72,000 people worldwide.




For all you fans of college football, here’s this week’s BCS top 5
1. Texas
2. Alabama
3. Penn State
4. Oklahoma
5. USC

Scores from around the country…
No. 1 Texas stops Oklahoma State 28-24.
No. 2 Alabama's makes it two in a row against Tennessee 29-9.
No. 3 Penn State squeaks by Ohio State 13-6.
No. 4 Oklahoma steamrolls Kansas State 58-35.
No. 5 USC uses defense to hold off Arizona 17-10.

Scores of interest
Gardner-Webb tops VMI 34-27
Senior Newswriter Gator Loup’s alma mater McNeese loses heartbreaker to Nicholls State 38-35.

Military Academy Scores
Navy sinks SMU 34-7.
Army victorious over La. Tech 14-7.
Air Force soars over New Mexico 23-10.

Photo of the Day



The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) visits the Netherlands Antilles for the humanitarian service project, Continuing Promise 08 (CP).

Gator