Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.
Contract Signed for Assessment Phase of Navy's Next Warships
Source: UK Ministry of Defence
The MOD has signed a contract for the Assessment Phase of the Royal Navy's next generation of warships - the Type 26 combat ship.
A team led by BAE Systems Surface Ships, working with the MOD, will consider design proposals for the Type 26 combat ship, named in recognition of its planned multiple roles.
The Type 26 will replace the Type 22 and 23 frigates, which are to begin leaving service at the end of the decade. The ship will provide support for land operations as well as undertaking other key tasks such as anti-submarine warfare.
The Assessment Phase will play a critical part in ensuring that the necessary capabilities identified during the Strategic Defence Review are incorporated into the Type 26 design.
Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth announced the contract for the Type 26's Assessment Phase today.
He also announced that progress will continue on the Astute Class of submarines, the largest and most advanced attack submarines ever ordered for the Royal Navy.
The MOD is proceeding with the initial build work for Boat 5, as well as procurement activities to ensure key items for Boat 6 are available when needed.
The MOD has also negotiated a long term partnering agreement with Babcock Marine covering surface ship and submarine support activities.
This 15-year commercial arrangement - known as a Terms of Business Agreement (TOBA) - will generate financial benefits to the Department of over £1.2bn.
It represents the MOD's ongoing commitment to providing world-class capability for our Armed Forces in the most cost-efficient manner.
Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said:
"Planning for future defence is crucial. It is our duty to provide key equipment that will ensure the UK is properly prepared to meet its own defence needs in an ever changing world, and continues to play an important role in maintaining global security.
"Programmes like the Type 26 and Astute not only ensure the Royal Navy continues to have cutting-edge capability but also sustain the industry that supports them.
"These commitments, and the long-term partnering agreement with Babcock Marine, will protect the long-term future of the maritime industry and preserve the industrial capability and skills needed to carry out future programmes cost-effectively."
First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, said:
"These programme announcements are welcome news for the Royal Navy. You simply cannot have an effective Navy without capable frigates, and the Type 26 combat ship will form the future backbone of the Royal Navy's surface combatant force, alongside the new Type 45 destroyers.
"These ships will be highly versatile, able to operate across the full spectrum of operations, from war-fighting to disaster relief.
"The Astute Class submarine gives us a real edge, exploiting stealth and covert presence to offer enormous utility across a wide range of military tasks, everything from anti-submarine warfare, through intelligence-gathering, to striking targets far inland."
The key design aims for the Type 26 are for a ship that is:
-- Versatile - able to undertake a number of roles;
-- Flexible - to adapt to the changing needs of defence;
-- Affordable - both in build and support through its service life;
-- Exportable - designed with the international market in mind.
BACKGROUND NOTE:
1. Future Surface Combatant will be the first programme to be delivered under the Terms of Business Agreement with BAE Systems. It will be the next build programme after the Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier class.
2. The frigates’ roles are numerous but include: Anti-Submarine and Anti-Surface warfare; command and control; protection of high value shipping; support to land forces; surveillance; intelligence gathering; and acting as platforms to provide humanitarian aid, disaster relief and evacuation of non-combatant forces.
Turkish Navy to Purchase its First Landing Ship
Source: naval-technology.com
The Turkish Navy is set to purchase its first landing-platform dock to strengthen its ability to participate in Nato and other international peacekeeping missions.
The $500m ship construction project will be awarded to a domestic company but will involve partnerships with foreign industries as the project requires a high degree of technology transfer, according to hurriyetdailynews.com.
In late February, Turkey's defence procurement agency opened a competition among seven local companies to establish partnerships with foreign counterparts, including Italian, South Korean, Spanish, Dutch, French, German and UK firms.
Turkey's Defence Industry Executive Committee is expected to select a competition winner in 2011.
The new landing dock will be able to deploy a battalion-sized force of up to 1,000 troops and personnel, eight utility helicopters, three unmanned aerial vehicles, 13 tanks and 81 armoured vehicles.
This Day in U.S. Naval History
1893 - Navy General Order 409 of Feb. 25, 1893, establishes the rate of "chief petty officer".
1942 - The first Naval Air Transportation Service (NATS) squadron for Pacific operations is commissioned.
1945 - More than 1,200 Navy ships and Army troops begin invasion of Okinawa.
1966 - U.S. Naval Forces Vietnam established as a command.
1967 - Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron 3 is activated at Vung Tau.
Photo of the Day
Zak, a 375-pound California sea lion, gets a physical from a U.S. Army veterinarian and a distracting snack from his trainer. Zak is participating in the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center’s Shallow Water Intruder Detection System (SWIDS) program. Zak is trained to locate swimmers and other small-sized objects considered suspicious near piers and ships which may pose a threat to military forces in the area.
Gator
