Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.
Raytheon's Standard Missile-6 Program Begins Sea-Based Flight Testing
Source: Raytheon Company
WASHINGTON --- Raytheon Company's Standard Missile-6 begins sea-based flight testing this month, paving the way for initial operational capability (IOC) in 2011.
"With its over-the-horizon protection, SM-6 increases the surface Navy's battlespace against air and cruise missile threats and offers protection for coalition forces ashore," said Frank Wyatt, Raytheon's vice president of Air and Missile Defense Systems product line. "These sea-based flight tests clear the way for Raytheon to deliver a critical capability to the warfighter by 2011."
SM-6 takes full advantage of the legacy Standard Missile airframe and propulsion elements while incorporating advanced signal processing and guidance control capabilities of Raytheon's Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile. The merger of two proven technologies enables SM-6 to employ both active and semiactive modes.
"Since Raytheon began SM-6 development five years ago, the on-time and on-budget program has completed five successful land-based flight tests and moved to low rate initial production," said Wyatt. "With the hard work of Raytheon's employees, our dedicated suppliers and our U.S. Navy customer, we are on track to achieve the IOC milestone in 2011."
Indra to Modernize Rota and Cartagena Ports with Avant-garde Technology
Source: Indra
The Spanish Navy commissioned Indra the modernisation of Naval Station Rota and Cartagena Naval Base’s communications infrastructures for EUR 1.7 M. The systems will become operative in 2011 and will meet the needs of NATO’s most modern ships. The design of the networks guarantees further customisation.
The modernisation is essential for the ports to maintain their decisive role in NATO’s strategy in the Mediterranean Sea. It will place both ports among Europe’s most technologically advanced.
The new systems will provide the ships with a high-capacity transmission link through NATO’s general purpose communications segment while moored with the station systems as well as with other facilities in Spain or in third countries.
The link will allow access to voice, data and video services and to connect to the Spanish Navy and NATO’s networks with confidentiality and security guarantees by means of a multiservice IP network.
The network’s new capacities are essential to meet the complex needs of NATO’s ships. The services cover from telephony or email to telediagnosis of embarked systems. The automatic test benches of the naval stations will analyse the performance of the logistics, communications and electronic defence embarked systems, among others.
Cartagena Naval Base, located at the natural harbour of the city, gives support to NATO’s ships and the Spanish Navy in the Mediterranean Sea, besides housing its submarine base. It was in this same location where Indra inaugurated in early 2009 the Centre of Excellence for the Armed Forces called CEMANPER (Periscope Maintenance Centre) with the support of specialists in development and maintenance of sonar, electronic and optical systems for S-70 and S-80 submarines.
Naval Station Rota, located across Cadiz Bay, provides logistic support and maintenance to NATO ships. It also offers onshore and maintenance facilities for USA’s Sixth Fleet ships and is a necessary route to reach the Indian Ocean. It also gives services to Grupo Alfa and Grupo Anfibios of the Spanish Navy. Besides this, the station houses the US Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Center which supplies information to Spain and NATO.
GA-ASI Introduces Sea Avenger UAS for UCLASS Carrier Operations
Source: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
NAVY LEAGUE SEA AIR SPACE, WASHINGTON --- General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA ASI), a leading manufacturer of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), tactical reconnaissance radars, and surveillance systems, today introduced Sea Avenger, a carrier-based derivative of its Predator C Avenger UAS, to fulfill the U.S. Navy’s need for an unmanned carrier-launched airborne surveillance and strike (UCLASS) system. The company formally proposed Sea Avenger to the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) via a Request for Information (RFI) submitted on 30 April.
“Sea Avenger fulfills the Navy’s need for a carrier-based unmanned aircraft system that offers long-endurance, proven ISR [Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance] and precision-strike capabilities,” said Frank Pace, president, Aircraft Systems Group, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
Like Predator C Avenger, Sea Avenger presents a low-risk, high technology ready procurement option as it leverages more than 18 years of Predator-series UAS development, manufacturing, and system support, along with one million flight hours of operational experience. In addition, many Predator-series elements, components, and subsystems already provide mature, proven, and affordable mission capabilities desired by the Navy for a UCLASS system.
Anticipating a future requirement for a carrier-based UAS, GA-ASI designed specific features into its Predator C Avenger to facilitate subsequent development of an aircraft uniquely suitable for carrier operations that would also integrate seamlessly into the carrier air wing. These include a highly fuel-efficient engine and inlet design, retractable electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor, internal weapons bay, and folding wings. The aircraft’s structure was also designed with the flexibility to accommodate carrier suitable landing gear, tail hook, drag devices, and other provisions for carrier operations.
“Sea Avenger is an affordable and transformational technology that will provide commanders with enhanced situational awareness and time-sensitive strike,” noted J. Neal Blue, chairman and CEO, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
Sea Avenger is based upon its predecessor, Predator C Avenger. Predator C is designed to perform high-speed, multi-mission persistent ISR and precision, time-sensitive strike missions over land or sea. The current configuration features a 44-foot long fuselage and 66-foot wingspan, is capable of flying at 400 KTAS for 20 hours, and can operate up to 50,000 feet. Avenger incorporates a pure jet power plant and carries a Lynx® Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), various EO/IR camera systems, and up to 3,000 pounds of internal ordnance, as well as other sensors. The aircraft is based on an open, modular architecture that provides “plug and play” system configuration, configuration management, and significant flexibility for rapid, controlled change, adaptation, and growth. Developed on company funds for near-term military use, Predator C Avenger is successfully continuing through its planned test program, with a second aircraft currently under development and expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The U.S. Navy has experience operating both Predator and Predator B aircraft manufactured by GA-ASI.
USS Long Beach (CGN-9)
Today’s website is history of the USS Long Beach (CGN-9). Enjoy.
This Day in U.S. Naval History
1908 - Navy Nurse Corps established.
1943 - Bureau of Navigation renamed Bureau of Naval Personnel.
1945 - Aircraft from fast carrier task force begin 2-day attack on Kyushu airfields, Japan.
1964 - Organization and deployment of world's first all nuclear-powered task group, USS Enterprise (CVN 65), USS Long Beach (CGN 9), and USS Bainbridge (CGN 25), to Sixth Fleet.
Photo of the Day
Operating in formation in the Mediterranean Sea, 18 June 1964, the ships are the aircraft carrier Enterprise (CVAN-65), at left; the guided-missile cruiser Long Beach (CGN-9), in center; and the guided-missile frigate Bainbridge (DLGN-25), at right.
Gator
