Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.
Feature - HMS Prince of Wales
MSW Crewmember Kostas Katseas brings us his 1/350 HMS Prince of Wales for our review.
BAE Systems-Led Team Pursues Next Phase of Navy Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Targeting System
Source: BAE Systems
SAN DIEGO --- BAE Systems has formed a team to compete for the next development phase of the U.S. Navy’s primary intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting, or ISR&T, system. The team is competing for a contract to transition the Distributed Common Ground System-Navy to an application-based system through the DCGS-N Prime Mission Product, known as DCGS-N PMP.
The BAE Systems-led team consists of BAE Systems, General Dynamics, Sun Microsystems, MTCSC, Space Dynamics Laboratory, InVisM, and Athena consulting. DCGS-N, the network-centric operations “backbone” for the Navy, enables the actionable and timely distribution of ISR&T data, processes, and systems. It helps naval commanders make better decisions in major combat operations.
“Knowledge and intelligence are essential elements in providing an advantage to our warfighters,” said Gene Glazar, president of information solutions for BAE Systems. “This team is dedicated to ensuring that our Navy maintains information dominance in any battle space. We look forward to continuing our history of performance on the current DCGS-N contract in pursuing DCGS-N PMP.”
“General Dynamics will leverage its mission systems integration and information assurance experience to deliver mature, leading-edge technologies,” said Lou Von Thaer, president of General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems. “Our open and scalable architecture approach will enable the integration of information into the DCGS-N environment across multiple-level security domains, providing Navy commanders with the information they need to achieve mission success.”
With DCGS-N PMP, the Navy is moving toward applications and services on a common infrastructure to share and disseminate vital ISR&T data for analysis and targeting in support of a wide range of missions. As the gateway to joint and government-agency intelligence systems, DCGS-N allows the Navy to exchange information and data across multiple security domains, warfare areas, environments, and theaters.
“Key to DCGS is the timely, accurate, and efficient movement of ISR&T data not only between service components, but up and down echelon within each service,” said Tracy Morgan, vice president of technical transformation for MTCSC. “MTCSC’s DCGS Integration Backbone architecture and DCGS family of services experience will bring value to the BAE Systems team and the DCGS-N PMP program.”
BAE Systems, Sun Microsystems, Space Dynamics Laboratory and Athena Consulting are current contractors for DCGS-N. General Dynamics, MTCSC, and InVisM bring valuable experience and technologies to the team.
The team will co-locate at the BAE Systems command, control, communications, computing, and intelligence development center in Point Loma, California. The Navy is expected to award the DCGS-N PMP contract in March 2010.
Sagem Modernizes the Navigation Systems on France’s Nuclear Attack Submarines
Source: Sagem
French naval shipyards DCNS, acting on behalf of the fleet support department in the French navy, has placed an order with Sagem (Safran group), on behalf of the French navy, for a new series of Sigma 40XP inertial navigation that will be used to modernize France’s SNA class nuclear attack submarines.
The French navy’s decision was largely based on the performance of the Sigma 40XP, demonstrated during operational trials at sea, and during long operational patrols by the Saphir nuclear attack submarine, which is fitted with one of these navigation systems.
Two inertial navigation units will be integrated in each submarine’s combat system. The Sigma 40XP calls on Sagem’s state-of-the-art technologies, including very-high-performance laser gyros and advanced digital filtering techniques. The Sigma 40XP is designed for use even in extreme operating environments.
The Sigma 40XP capitalizes on Sagem’s extensive experience in high-precision navigation solutions. Sagem’s navigation systems are used on more than 300 ships deployed by 31 navies worldwide, including surface vessels and submarines with nuclear, air-independent and conventional propulsion.
Sagem also supplies the optronic, electronic warfare and radar mast system on the French navy’s nuclear attack submarines, intended for use in surface actions.
Sagem is a high-tech company in the SAFRAN Group. It is a world or European leader in solutions and services in optronics, avionics, electronics and critical software for the civilian and military markets. Sagem is the European No. 1 and worldwide No.3 in INSs for aeronautic, naval and land applications. It is also the worldwide No.1 in helicopter flight controls and the European No.1 in optronic and tactical UAV systems. Present across the globe via the SAFRAN Group’s international network, Sagem and its subsidiaries employ 6000 people in Europe, South East Asia and North America.
UCAS 1st Flight Expected Early 2010
Source: Navair
First flight of the Navy’s X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstrator will take place in second quarter of fiscal year 2010 at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. First flight was planned for late 2009.
The Naval Air Systems Command UCAS-D program office (PMA-268) and industry partner Northrop Grumman continue pre-flight testing of the aircraft to ensure the system’s readiness to fly in early 2010.
"This is not in any sense a derivative aircraft," said Capt. Martin Deppe, program manager in Patuxent River, Md. "The Navy is breaking new ground here, and given both the resulting technical complexity and strategic importance of this program, we're taking a closer look before first flight to sort out any integration issues. We intend to do it right."
The X-47B ground-based check-outs, surrogate aircraft flight testing, and lab-based integration testing reveal challenges of ushering in a fundamentally new class of aircraft.
During recent X-47B system check-out activities, propulsion acoustic issues and engine start sequencing did not operate to required performance levels, requiring engineers to troubleshoot, make associated adjustments and perform additional testing both in the lab and on the aircraft before moving forward, according to Deppe.
Postponing first flight allows us to make those changes and then proceed with a thorough first flight review by a team of NAVAIR and Northrop Grumman subject matter experts, while remaining on-schedule for sea trials in 2012, said Deppe.
Taxi testing is the next major phase of pre-flight operations. Low-speed taxi testing is expected to commence no later than December, according to Deppe.
"So far, the issues have been manageable", said Deppe, "and we look forward to our first flight early in the, but we won't go until we're ready."
The X-47B will be the first unmanned jet aircraft to take off and land aboard an aircraft carrier. It also will be the first all-new aircraft of any kind to operate on the flight deck in more than 30 years.
The X-47B will demonstrate that a long-range, low-observable, flying-wing unmanned combat aircraft can operate safely from aircraft carriers and refuel in-flight to achieve ultra-long mission endurance, said Deppe.
Established in 2007, the UCAS-D program is intended to reduce risk and determine requirements for a potential follow-on acquisition program.
American Merchant Marine at War
Today’s website is American Merchant Marine at War. This site is dedicated to the Mariners who died in service of their country during all Wars, including Revolutionary War, World War II, Korea, Vietnam; and their U.S. Naval Armed Guard shipmates. Enjoy.
This Day in U.S. Naval History
1842 - Three crew members of USS Somers, Midshipman Philip Spencer, Boatswain Samuel Cromwell and Seaman Elisha Smallare, executed for mutiny.
1921 - In the first flight of an airship filled with helium, Blimp C-7, piloted by Lt. Cmdr. Ralph F. Wood, left Norfolk, Va., for Washington, D.C.
1959 - The Bureau of Ordnance merges with the Bureau of Aeronautics to form the Bureau of Naval Weapons.
Photo of the Day
An international research expedition is being conducted in the Beaufort Sea aboard the Coast Guard heavy icebreaker ship Polar Sea (WAGB 11).
Gator
