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



On Display - R.A.F Air Sea Rescue Launch

Alec Cap (bigal07) shares a gallery of images of his 1/72 scale build of Airfix Models R.A.F Air Sea Rescue Launch in this "On Display" feature.



Northrop Grumman to Supply Machinery Automation Systems on Mine Countermeasures Vessels for Lithuanian Navy
Source: Northrop Grumman

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. --- Northrop Grumman Corporation has won a contract to supply machinery automation systems for two mine countermeasures vessels being sold by the U.K. Ministry of Defence to the Lithuanian Navy, considerably enhancing their mine countermeasures capability in the most cost-effective manner.



The contract was awarded to Northrop Grumman's Sperry Marine unit by Thales U.K., prime contractor for the refit and upgrade of the two ships prior to handover to the Lithuanian government. Each of the two ships will be fitted with Sperry Marine's commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) machinery automation system, which will provide an integrated and flexible network for monitoring and controlling the ships' propulsion engines and auxiliary systems. Sperry Marine will also provide supervision of installation, commissioning, testing and training for the ships' crews.

"The open-architecture COTS system will provide a rugged and robust network for machinery automation," said J. Nolasco DaCunha, vice president of International Naval Systems at Northrop Grumman's Naval and Marine Systems Division. "It is based on Sperry Marine's extensive experience in designing, developing, installing and supporting integrated ship control and monitoring systems."

Northrop Grumman is also the supplier of the Platform Management System for the Royal Navy's Type 45 destroyers and Astute submarine programs, and has deployed over 750 shipboard monitoring, alarm and control systems for commercial and naval vessels worldwide.

The two Hunt-class ships, formerly HMS Cottesmore and HMS Dulverton, were originally built in the 1980s for minesweeping and minehunting operations. Later they had their mine countermeasures systems removed and were used as Northern Ireland patrol ships before being decommissioned in 2005. Their hulls were constructed with glass-reinforced plastic, presenting a very low magnetic signature for mine countermeasures operations.




Hawker Beechcraft Delivers 500th T-6 Military Trainer to U.S. Government
Source: Hawker Beechcraft Corporation

WICHITA, Kan. --- Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) this week announced the delivery of the 500th Beechcraft T-6 military trainer to the United States Government. The milestone aircraft, a T-6B, went to the U.S. Navy and will be based at Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton, Fla.

Deliveries began in 2000 after the aircraft was initially selected to fill the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System role for the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and the U.S. Navy (USN) in 1996.

“The T-6 and its derivatives are now in service around the world,” said Jim Maslowski, president, U.S. and International Government Business. “It has met and surpassed the performance and durability requirements set in the original procurement and has shown it will continue to be an exceptional training platform for many years to come.”

The T-6 offers military organizations worldwide the most proven and most cost-effective training system available today. As a primary trainer aircraft it accommodates instruction in instrument flight procedures and basic aerial maneuvers. To date, it has been used to train pilots in approximately 20 different countries.

Hawker Beechcraft has a rich heritage of meeting military mission needs and has been delivering aircraft certified to military specifications for more than 50 years. Today, 100 percent of USAF student pilots and 100 percent of USN student pilots train in aircraft made by Hawker Beechcraft.

In addition to the T-6, Hawker Beechcraft is rolling out a light attack version of the aircraft, the AT-6. With one prototype flying and a second prototype planned to enter flight test in 2010, the integration and flight test efforts are proceeding on parallel paths in order to meet rapidly emerging needs for irregular warfare capabilities around the world.




Military History Online

Today’s website is Military History Online. Enjoy.

This Day in U.S. Naval History

1781 - Continental sloop ship Saratoga goes down will all hands in a sudden gale, three days after sailing from Cap Francais, Haiti.
1945 - Carriers begin a three-month Okinawa campaign by destroying aircraft on Kyushu, Japan.
1974 - The Navy is sent to sweep mines from the Suez Canal.


Photo of the Day



A Chilean navy Sa'ar 4-class fast-attack craft performs tactical maneuvering exercises in the Strait Of Magellan.

Gator