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



Northrop Grumman Maritime Laser Clears Design Hurdles
Source: Northrop Grumman Corp

REDONDO BEACH, Calif. --- The Maritime Laser Demonstration (MLD) system being developed by Northrop Grumman Corporation has passed two milestone reviews by the Office of Naval Research, which point to the real potential of the MLD weapon system design.

Representatives from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army and the High Energy Laser Joint Technology Office conducted a critical design review and critical safety review of the MLD at the Dahlgren Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, Va.

These reviews indicate that our MLD design should meet the Navy's objectives in future demonstrations," said Steve Hixson, vice president of Advanced Concepts “ Space and Directed Energy Systems for Northrop Grummanâ Aerospace Systems sector. Next we will finalize detailed test plans and move into land-based, live fire tests.

Northrop Grumman will conduct an at-sea demonstration of this revolutionary capability, according to Dan Wildt, vice president, Directed Energy Systems. We will prove that the pinpoint accuracy and response capability of our MLD system can protect Navy ships and personnel by keeping threats at a safe distance. We will accomplish this while leveraging technologies with proven scalability that may ultimately enable addressing additional threats of interest to the Navy.

The company received a contract from the Office of Naval Research in July 2009 to demonstrate an innovative laser weapon system by the end of 2010 suitable for operating in a marine environment and able to defeat small boat threats, and ultimately could be applicable to other self-defense missions. The indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity MLD contract has a ceiling value of up to $98 million and an expected overall completion date of June 2014.


New Patrol Ship of Lithuanian Naval Force Piered in Klaipėda
Source: Lithuanian Ministry of Defense

On January 29, the new patrol ship of Lithuanian Naval Force P14 with crew of 25 led by Lt. (N) Jonas Vyšniauskas, piered in Klaipėda, cruiser and warships terminal.

The ship and the crew were met by LNF Commander-in-Chief Capt. (N) Olegas Mariničius and Commander of Naval Flotilla Cdr. Artūras Andriušaitis.

P14 is the third ship of that type acquired by Lithuanian navy. It will take up ship patrolling, search and rescue, and other tasks. Inauguration and naming ceremony is planned for the 12th of March when the new ship will be given the name of “Aukštaitis".

Lithuania signed agreement with Denmark on procurement of three multipurpose “Flyvefisken" or “Standart Flex 300" class patrol boats in April 2007. Total value of the procurement amounts to around 30 m Litas.

The first two ships P11 “Žemaitis" and P12 “Dzūkas" were delivered to Lithuania in May 2008 and 2009 January respectively and have been conducting successfully naval tasks: sea patrolling, search and rescue, ant other.

Before arriving in Lithuania, P14 underwent repair in Korsor, Denmark, were her main engines were changed and general modernisation was completed under supervision of a team of the Lithuanian Naval Force.

Lithuanian crew entered service in P14 in the beginning of 2010. Lithuanian soldiers took over experience of maintaining the ship, her equipment and materiel, from Danish colleagues. Readiness of the Lithuanian P14 crew was drilled daily through various training events in harbour waters and at sea.


History and technical characteristics of P14:
-- Built in Danyard A/S, Olborg, (Denmark) P14 was commissioned to the Royal Danish Navy on 1994. The hull of the ship is made of glass fieber.
-- Displacement 450 t.
-- Length 54.00 m
-- Beam 9.00 m
-- Draught 2.60 m
-- Complement 20-30 depending on mission
-- Propulsion 2 x MTU diesel engines
-- Armament 76 mm cannon
-- Speed 18 knots


South Korea Reorganizes Navy
Source: Forecast International

SEOUL --- The South Korean navy has reorganized its surface combatant fleet in order to provide two rapid-reaction forces to better protect its maritime areas. The reorganization follows just days after the two Koreas exchanged barrages of artillery fire in the disputed sea border off the west coast of the Korean Peninsula.

Each rapid reaction force consists of six destroyers, including one of the new KDX-3 Aegis destroyers. "The establishment of the high-mobility combat unit indicates our naval force has come close to joining some of the world's best," South Korean Navy Chief of Staff Jung Ok-keun said.

Other rapid-reaction groups will be built around South Korea's first amphibious ship transport helicopter, "Dokdo," as well as a number of aircraft and submarines.

Two destroyer squadrons are scheduled to be deployed in the southern cities of Busan and Jinhae, with plans to add another squadron in Jeju after a new naval base opens on the island in 2014.




Australian Naval Helicopter Competition Heats Up
Source: Forecast International

MELBOURNE, Australia --- The competition to supply 24 helicopters to the Australian Navy has gained momentum with a Eurocopter team making an impressive display before senior defense officials and Canberra-based NATO ambassadors. Using an NH90 borrowed from the Italian Navy, the team put the helicopter through a comprehensive demonstration of its performance.

At stake is an AUD3.5 billion order for maritime helicopters to replace the existing fleet of 16 S-70B Seahawks and the cancelled order for SH-2 Seasprites. The NH90 is competing with the Sikorsky MH-60R for this requirement. It is the more expensive of the two options, about AUD50 million each compared with AUD30 million to AUD40 million for the MH-60R.

While Sikorsky is expected to emphasize the benefits of a less-expensive, fully imported helicopter, Australian Aerospace says at least 700 full-time jobs will be created if the Royal Australian Navy buys its aircraft. Australian Aerospace also stresses that the NH90 is the most advanced of its type in the world and incorporates some of the latest advances in aircraft safety. It is able to float for up to 15 minutes in rough seas in the event of a ditching - time enough to allow the crew to escape.

The NH90 team is also making great play of its formidable weapons system that allows it to sink large warships with its Marte Mark2-S anti-shipping missiles. These have a range of 35 kilometers.




Friends of the Hunley

Today’s website is the Friends of the Hunley. Enjoy.


This Day in U.S. Naval History

1864 - The Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley sinks USS Housatonic.
1942 - The 1st Construction Battalion (Seabees) arrives at Bora Bora.
1944 - U.S. carrier aircraft strike the Japanese fleet at Truk, sinking ships and destroying aircraft.


Photo of the Day



The Cyclone-class Coastal patrol craft USS Whirlwind (PC 11) protects Iraq's oil terminals in the Northern Persian Gulf.

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