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



Alert - Community Build 8th Session

Two days to go! Make sure you have your progress shots ready, uploaded, and posted in your Blog by 2/1/09, EST to be in the running for this months point awards!!




All Hands – USS Kitty Hawk, A Legacy of Service

Today’s website is the US Navy’s All Hands – USS Kitty Hawk, A Legacy of Service. This program, produced by the US Navy, is a unique look at the history of the USS Kitty Hawk. Enjoy.
Website




This Day in U.S. Naval History

1914 - U.S. Marines land in Haiti to protect the U.S. consulate.
1943 - Beginning of two-day battle of Rennell Island in the South Pacific, after which U.S. transports reached Guadalcanal.


US Moves to Counter Chinese Military Modernization
Source: Voice of America news

WASHINGTON --- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the United States is developing military capabilities to counter recent improvements in China's ability to threaten U.S. forces in the Pacific. Mr. Gates is the only member of former-President Bush's cabinet asked to stay on under President Obama.

In written testimony delivered to the Senate Armed Services Committee, Secretary Gates said as China modernizes its military, he is most concerned about advances in its ability to attack ships, submarines and aircraft, and its advances in ballistic missile technology, anti-satellite weapons and cyber warfare. He said those advances «could threaten America's primary means of projecting power» and helping defend its allies in the Pacific.

Countering China's New Capabilities

At the hearing, answering a question from Hawaii Senator Daniel Akaka, Secretary Gates spoke about what the Defense Department is doing to counter the new Chinese capabilities.

«We have a number of programs underway, in development, that are intended to counter some of the Chinese technological advances that have the potential to put our carriers at risk. And I think we're making good progress on those. And I think we have capability in place to be able to deal with any foreseeable Chinese threat for some time to come,» he said.

'Hot Line' to Beijing

Secretary Gates also noted what he called «some improvements in the U.S.-Chinese security relationship.» He mentioned the beginning of a formal strategic dialogue, the establishment of a direct telephone link, or 'Hot Line,' with his Chinese counterpart and continuing military exchanges. He said all that will help leaders on both sides «understand each other's intentions and avoid potentially dangerous miscalculations.»

Gates said even with ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the United States has «ample and untapped combat power» in its Navy and Air Force to «defeat any adversary that committed an act of aggression.» He called the risk of any such move by China, or by North Korea or any other country, something that is «manageable» but «cannot be ignored.»

The Taiwan factor

China says its military modernization program is part of its «Peaceful Rise» strategy, and U.S. officials and military commanders note that increased capabilities do not necessarily lead to increased threats. Still, with the United States committed to help Taiwan defend against any Chinese attack, and also to help defend Japan and South Korea, U.S. officials say they need to keep pace with technological advances by China's military.


£23m Refit Begins on Royal Navy Floating Hospital
Source: UK Ministry of Defence

Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) hospital ship Argus will be upgraded with the latest medical equipment as part of an extensive refit worth over £23m.

Work began on the ship this week at A&P Group's Falmouth facility in the first major refit under an RFA support contract awarded to A&P in 2008.

The new medical equipment to be installed includes the latest advances in CT scanning equipment, used to assess casualties by 3D X-ray imagery, as well as new sterilising kit.

Argus provides hospital facilities to troops in war zones; as a Primary Casualty Receiving Facility the ship can accommodate 100 casualties at any time ensuring wounded Service personnel of any nationality can quickly receive primary care.

MOD Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) Director of Afloat Support, Commodore Dave Preston, said:

"The medical support Argus can provide troops on operations is a crucial capability that can make all the difference when time is of the essence in the treatment of casualties."

The ship's environmental credentials will get a boost with a state of the art bioreactor that uses microbial action to process sewage, while new refrigeration and air conditioning plants that use more environmentally friendly refrigerant gases will be installed. The accommodation and mess facilities will also be modernised, to improve living standards for both crew and patients.

A&P Managing Director Peter Child said:

"A&P has a long history of working with the RFA and this experience has proved invaluable in the planning of this package which we have worked closely with DE&S to draw up. Working through the through-life support package, which we expect to secure nearly 100 jobs over the next five years, will expand this experience even further helping us to deliver real value while giving us stability in our order book."




Pentagon Contract Announcement
Source: US Department of Defense

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Integrated Systems Sector, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $49,088,731 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of 160 BQM-74E Aerial Targets and associated technical data for the U.S. Navy (153) and the Government of Canada (7).

The BQM-74E is a subsonic, subscale, jet-powered aerial target capable of being air launched or surface launched (land or shipboard). The BQM-74E supports Fleet training requirements for gunnery, surface-to-air and air-to-air missile exercises from fixed sites and during open-ocean and deployed remote site operations, both land and sea.

Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif. (31%); Walled Lake, Mich. (26%); Elmira, N.Y. (17%); Los Angeles, Calif. (12%); Palmdale, Calif. (9%); and Mandaree, N.D. (5%), and is expected to be completed in May 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

This contract combines purchases for the U.S. Navy ($46,838,125; 96%) and the Government of Canada ($2,250,606; 4%) under the Foreign Military Sales Program.

The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.


Photo of the Day



From the Life Archives - US battleship making passage through section of Panama Canal.

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