Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.
On Display - JMSDF LST-4002 Shimokita
Crew-mate Alec Cap (bigal07) shares a gallery of images of his build of LST Osumi Class JMSDF LST-4002 Shimokita in this "On Display" feature.
Fiscal Year 2011 Department of the Navy Budget Submission
Source: US Department of the Navy
WASHINGTON --- Department of the Navy (DoN) budget submission of $160.6 billion delivered today is consistent with the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review, the basic tenets of the National Defense Strategy and the Maritime Strategy. The fiscal year (FY) 2011 baseline budget is a $4.6 billion, or 3 percent increase over the FY2010 level.
Navy and Marine Corps resources have been prioritized to prevail in today's wars, prevent and deter conflict in all domains, prepare for a wide range of contingencies and preserve the force.
Additionally, the FY 2011 request for overseas contingency operations (OCO) of $18.5 billion integrates sustained support for the warfighter. It includes incremental costs to sustain operations, manpower, equipment and infrastructure repair, as well as equipment replacement to support the focus on increasing threats.
The FY 2011 budget supports a deployable battle force of 284 ships including 11 aircraft carriers and 29 large amphibious ships. It also reflects a shift to support irregular warfare and includes funds for the littoral combat ship (LCS), expeditionary E/A-18G aircraft supporting national electronic warfare requirements, P-8 Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance aircraft supporting increased emphasis on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and a variety of unmanned aerial vehicles.
In the area of ship procurement, this budget funds nine new construction ships in FY2011 and 50 ships across the Future Years Defense Plan (FY 2011 through FY 2015) including two Virginia-class submarines per year, 17 LCSs, 8 DDG-51-class ships to continue the DDG-51 program restart, three new Mobile Landing Platforms, the first LHA(R) and the second Ford-class aircraft carrier.
In addition, aircraft procurement funds 206 airframes in FY 2011 and 1,006 airframes across the FYDP.
Navy Operation and Maintenance resources are increased to tightly focus on meeting increased combatant commander operational tempo requirements, properly sustaining and resetting ships and aircraft to reach expected service lives, restoring base budget enduring flight hour requirements previously funded with overseas contingency operations funding, and funding price increases, most notably in fuel.
Military and civilian basic pay is increased by 1.4 percent. Commitment to our investments in science and technology, cyberspace capabilities, facilities sustainment, base closure and family housing is maintained.
Astrium Awarded MILGEM2 Contract by the Turkish Armed Forces
Source: Astrium
ANKARA --- Astrium has been awarded a follow-on contract for the delivery of a second set of sub-systems to the Turkish Navy’s MILGEM satcom programme. The sub-systems will be provided by Astrium Services’ Secure Satcom Systems, through Aselsan, the prime communications contractor for the Turkish Armed Forces.
In August 2009 Astrium Services’ Secure Satcom Systems successfully delivered the first set of satcom equipments to Aselsan as part of the prestigious Turkish National corvette programme.
The contract forms part of the Turkish Navy’s eight to ten ship MILGEM programme, with a current order for two of Astrium’s Mini-SCOT terminals and associated below deck equipment.
Aselsan, as the prime contractor for the MILGEM satcom suite, is responsible for the system design and software development of the naval terminals as well as the software development for the terminals control station. Aselan also has responsibility for.the assembly, integration and test of the terminals and the installation, acceptance, onboard testing and overall system delivery.
These will operate over the acclaimed Astrium Secure Satcom Systems and Aselsan supplied Turkish Military Satellite Communications System (TMSCS). Aselsan and Astrium have previously supplied 16 sets of GEMI shipborne terminals for the Meko and Perry Class ships under the TMSCS project.
TMSCS is a turnkey satellite communications solution for the Turkish Ministry of Defence. Working in conjunction with the Turkish Armed Forces Integrated Communications System (TAFICS), TMSCS provides the military satcom ground infrastructure, enabling a fully integrated tri-services communications network. MILGEM2 will gain access to this infrastructure with the provision of full communication services including voice, data and imagery transmission.
The MILGEM2 equipment will be delivered during 2010 and continues to increase indigenous capability through the very successful technology transfer programme. Working with Aselsan, Astrium’s Secure Satcom Systems are totally committed to support the future MILGEM programmes and will continue to deliver capability to the Turkish Armed Forces through SSM.
Increased Focus on Submarine Availability
Source: Australian Department of Defense
Greg Combet, Minister for Defense Personnel, Materiel and Science, today announced that a new Australian Submarine Program Office will be established in Adelaide next month.
“The establishment of the joint Australian Submarine Program Office is a vital step towards achieving the submarine output Government expects,” Mr. Combet said.
“The Australian Submarine Program Office will be established in Adelaide to jointly manage submarine availability required by Government.
“The idea for a new project office follows discussions between the Navy, the Defense Material Organization and ASC Pty Ltd on how better results can be achieved.
“The Government has made clear to all parties involved in the maintenance of the Collins Class Submarines that we expect better results. We understand this will take time but we are determined to see an improvement.
“This marks the start of a new partnership between Navy, the DMO and ASC which will set the basis for a strong and enduring submarine capability over the next decade,” Mr. Combet said.
The Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Russell Crane, DMO Program Manager Submarines, Mr. Kim Gillis, and CEO of ASC Pty Ltd, Mr. Steve Ludlam, met to develop a new charter to drive the relationship between the three key players in Australia’s submarine force.
“Discussions between the parties have also focused on a way forward for HMAS Farncomb’s generator repairs and a maintenance schedule change which will improve overall submarine availability,” Mr. Combet said.
HMAS Farncomb is in maintenance following the electrical failure of one of its three main generators last month.
The office will commence work in March and will operate as an integrated product team of Navy, DMO and ASC personnel led by DMO’s Director General Submarines Commodore Bronko Ogrizek
X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Taking Shape On Board Lincoln
Source: U.S. Navy
ABRAHAM LINCOLN, At Sea --- Personnel from the Navy Unmanned Combat Air System (N-UCAS) program team and industry partner Northrop Grumman Corporation are underway with USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) to test the integration of existing ship systems with new systems that will support the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D).
This effort will reduce program risk and is one of many steps toward the X-47B's first carrier arrested landing or "trap."
The X-47B will be the first unmanned jet aircraft to take off and land aboard an aircraft carrier. With a 62ft wingspan and length of 38ft, the X-47B is about 87 percent the size of the F/A-18C aircraft currently operating aboard Navy aircraft carriers.
The UCAS-D effort is focused on developing and demonstrating an aircraft carrier (CV) suitable, low observable (LO) unmanned air system in support of persistent, penetrating surveillance, and penetrating strike capabilities in high threat areas. The effort will evolve technologies required to conduct launch, recovery, and carrier controlled airspace (CCA) operations and autonomous air refueling (AAR) of an LO platform.
By FY13, the Navy plans to achieve UCAS CV demonstration; achieve hybrid probe & drogue (USN style) and boom/receptacle (USAF style) AAR demonstration; and evaluate and identify technologies supporting future naval capability requirements.
Mark Pilling, a former naval flight officer with operational unmanned aircraft experience, is the team's mission operator. He and his team are charged with verifying mission operator software between the ship and aircraft.
"This is the first step in the X-47B's integration into the carrier's systems," said Pilling.
The team is testing X-47B software integration by using a King Air turbo prop "surrogate" aircraft taking off and landing from shore. As the aircraft approaches the carrier, it performs the same types of procedures as manned aircraft. However, since the X-47B is unmanned, digital messages from shipboard controllers will be used to control the aircraft instead of verbal instructions. In response to the digital command and control messages, the plane's software confirms, complies and sends a "wilco" signal back to the controllers and mission operator.
"Over the last two at sea periods on Lincoln, we have integrated into a number of the ship systems, from PriFly, to CATCC, to the LSO platform," said Pilling.
Janice Stolzy, the Northrop Grumman project lead, is on board to verify that the prototype equipment works in a real-time operational environment. Stolzy said successful UCAS-D system testing on Lincoln will set the stage for additional developmental testing later this year, including testing the software integration using an F/A-18 surrogate aircraft to more closely emulate the X-47B's flight path.
John Zander, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) lead test engineer, said a prime benefit of a UCAS concept is to reduce the risk to human pilots. "This is an important milestone for the Navy and we're making great strides on board Lincoln," said Zander.
Additional UCAS-D development activities are underway at multiple NAVAIR and Northrop Grumman sites throughout the United States. First flight of the X-47B is expected later this year.
WWII Campaigns of the Italian Navy
Today’s website is the Historic Ships Memorial at Pacific Square. Enjoy.
This Day in U.S. Naval History
1865 - A Union squadron under the command of Rear Adm. David Dixon Porter bombards and captures Wilmington, N.C.
1870 - After arriving on USS Nipsic, the Darien Expedition, commanded by Cmdr. Thomas O. Selfridge Jr., begins active operations ashore at Caldonia Bay. The exhibition then surveys the Isthmus of Darien, Panama, for an interoceanic ship canal.
1909 - The "Great White Fleet" returns to Hampton Roads, Va., from its historic around-the-world cruise.
1943 - USS Iowa (BB 61), the lead ship of the last class of American fast battleships, is commissioned.
1974 - Lt. j.g. Barbara Ann Allen becomes the first Navy officer designated as a female aviator.
Photo of the Day
The modernized USS Iowa firing a full broadside.
Gator
