Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.
MSW - Namesakes Issue 1
Associate editor Jim Adams begins a new series in which we will learn the faces behind a ships name and why a certain person, place, or thing was used to name a ship.
MSW - Namesakes Issue 1.
Indian Navy to Build Nuclear Submarine Base
Source: Forecast International
NEW DELHI --- The Indian Navy will construct a new base for its nascent nuclear submarine fleet. The project, codenamed Project Varsha, will be located on India's east coast. It will involve special features to ensure the safety of the submarines and their maintenance personnel. Reportedly the base will be modeled on the Chinese nuclear submarine base on Hainan Island, implying that it will consist of underground facilities linked to the sea by tunnels.
Currently, one locally built submarine, the INS Arihant, is undergoing its criticality certification in India, while the delivery of a second, Russian-built, boat is imminent. Up to five Arihant class submarines are planned.
Aussie Jobs Shored Up Under Nulka Contract
Source: Australian Department of Defense
About 130 Australian Defence industry jobs will be shored up under a new ship decoy contract awarded to BAE Systems, the Minister for Defence Materiel and Science Greg Combet said today.
The company has been awarded its 12th consecutive contract for the Nulka decoy, guaranteeing production and Defence industry jobs around the country until at least 2013.
BAE-Systems made Nulka decoys have been fitted to 12 ships across the Royal Australia Navy, protecting ships such as the Adelaide Class guided missile frigates and the Anzac-class frigates.
Australia’s Air Warfare Destroyer will also be protected by the Nulka Active Missile Decoy System.
Mr Combet said that the new contract was good news for local Defence industry, for local jobs and for Australia’s servicemen and women serving in the Royal Australian Navy.
“The Nulka decoy project is Australia’s largest regular Defence export and one of our most successful electronic warfare projects,” Mr Combet said.
“The project has generated export earnings of more than $500 million and employs approximately 130 Australians across a number of states, including Victoria, NSW and South Australia.
“It has helped keep thousands of our servicemen and women safe both here and abroad and supported local Defence industry and jobs in Australia.
“It is also a clear demonstration that our local Defence industry can compete against the best in the world and win.”
Nulka has now been in continuous production for 12 years. It is currently in operational use in 135 ships, and is planned to be fitted to more than 160 ships across the Royal Australian Navy, United States Navy and the Canadian Navy.
BAE Systems supports Nulka from facilities in Richmond, Victoria, Mulwala, NSW and Edinburgh Parks, South Australia.
Thales Alenia Space Altimeter Chosen for U.S. Navy Satellite GFO-2
Source: Thales
CANNES, France --- Thales Alenia Space announced that it has signed a contract with Ball Aerospace covering the preliminary phase for the GFO-2 RA altimeter, which will equip the new-generation Geosat Follow-On 2 (GFO-2) satellite. This phase covers the definition, design and system compatibility aspects; the final contract for the production of the altimeter is expected by the end of 2010.
Ball Aerospace is programme prime contractor on behalf of the U.S. Navy. The measurements provided by this new-generation GFO-2 will cover all of the planet’s oceans, delivering vital data for military strategy.
As a partner in this programme, Thales Alenia Space will develop the bi-frequency altimeter, using a technology derived from the Poseidon family of altimeters, already in operation on the Jason series of oceanography satellites.
“We are especially proud of our selection to work with Ball Aerospace on this contract for the U.S. Navy,” said Reynald Seznec, President and CEO of Thales Alenia Space. “This is the first time that the United States Department of Defense has chosen a European company to supply a microwave altimeter. Our business win clearly confirms the global renown of our altimeter product line, which boasts a proven track record in space.”
Thales Alenia Space and Ball Aerospace have already teamed up on climatology, since the Caliop instrument built by Ball Aerospace was integrated in the Calipso satellite in Thales Alenia Space’s clean rooms, within the scope of the partnership between NASA and French space agency CNES.
Thales Alenia Space has been one of the leading suppliers of European observation satellites for more than thirty year. Its contributions range from the Meteosat system, the world benchmark for geostationary weather satellites, to the Poseidon altimeters that paved the way for operational oceanography.
“Old Ironsides”
Today’s website is the poem by Oliver Wendell Holmes, “Old Ironsides”. Enjoy.
This Day in U.S. Naval History
1833 - USS Constitution enters drydock at Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston for overhaul. The ship was saved from scrapping after public support rallied to save the ship following publication of Oliver Wendell Holmes' poem, "Old Ironsides."
1926 - Office of Assistant Secretary of the Navy set up to foster naval aeronautics; aircraft building increased.
1948 - Berlin airlift initiated to offset the Soviet Union's blockade access of United States, France, and Great Britain to their sectors of Berlin.
Photo of the Day
A NATO Sea Sparrow missile is launched from the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77).
Gator
