Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.
Feature - HMS Tiger “Dogger Bank”
MSW crew-mate Peter Fulgoney (peterf) unveils his latest 1/700 scale wonder, a masterful build of the British Battlecruiser HMS Tiger in this photo feature.
Experiment Introduces Sailors, Marines to New Technology
Source: US Navy
ARLINGTON, Va. (NNS) -- The Low-Cost Imaging Terminal Seeker (LCITS), an Office of Naval Research (ONR)-sponsored technology, could soon give the U.S. Navy and coalition military ships an upper hand in swiftly defeating multi-axis attacks by small swarming boats.
Managed by ONR's Naval Air Warfare and Weapons Department as a Future Naval Capability (FNC), LCITS equips the unguided Hydra-70 rocket with a low-cost imaging infrared guidance solution to more accurately strike an intended target.
Steve Smolinski, Office of Transition FNC director, explained the importance of the FNC program to fulfilling naval missions such as LCITS.
"The FNC program represents the requirements-driven, delivery-oriented portion of the Navy's science and technology investment," Smolinski said. "FNC enabling capabilities draw upon technologies that can be developed, matured and delivered to acquisition programs within a three- to five-year period."
The seeker is composed of three main subsystems: a targeting integration system aboard the helicopter, a digital smart launcher and the guided imaging rocket. The helicopter uses its targeting system to lock onto and track the target's position and velocity, and transfers the information to the rocket launcher prior to weapon release. Once locked onto the target, the weapon follows the LCITS commands to the target.
From a pilot's perspective, the entire process can be handled in a matter of seconds, increasing the number of targets that can be engaged in a short amount of time. LCITS can also engage targets in a 120-degree cone centered off the nose of the helicopter at ranges up to 7 kilometers.
Howard McCauley, LCITS principal investigator in the China Lake Naval Air Warfare Center's Emergent Weapons Division, touts the speed by which the system operates.
"The key to survivability while effectively engaging and defeating the fast inshore attack craft threat is the target engagement time line," McCauley said. "You must be able to very rapidly engage and defeat each target. The technology we've developed will provide this increased capability."
In a demonstration earlier this year, an LCITS-equipped AH-1 Cobra helicopter targeted and fired a rocket against a maneuvering unmanned small boat at a test range off the coast of California. The pivotal test firing highlighted not only LCITS' ability to strike high-speed mobile surface targets, but marked the successful conclusion of the program, opening the door for its transition to the fleet.
The Republic of Korea teamed with the United States in this co-development between the two countries, helping to improve the aerodynamic performance of the rocket system and lower the overall design cost. Dr. Seung-Ki Ahn, project manager at the Agency for Defense Development for the Republic of Korea cites multinational collaboration for the success of the test launch.
"This was a great moment to exhibit how the potential of a true team effort between the Republic of Korea and the U.S. can very effectively expedite the fielding of a low-cost precision guided weapon," Ahn said.
The seeker now moves forward to the Medusa Joint Capability Technology Demonstration phase. Started in 2009, the Medusa ensures that a military utility assessment will be completed on the LCITS, which will lead the way to a naval acquisition program.
The Department of the Navy's Office of Naval Research provides the science and technology necessary to maintain the Navy and Marine Corps' technological advantage. Through its affiliates, ONR is a leader in science and technology with engagement in 50 states, 70 countries, 1,035 institutions of higher learning, and 914 industry partners. ONR employs approximately 1,400 people, comprising uniformed, civilian and contract personnel.
Irish Navy Orders Two Offshore Patrol Vessels
Source: Wexford People
The Irish Navy is to buy two new patrol vessels for its fleet.
The 100 million euro (£83 million) order will replace older ships in 2014 and 2015 to maintain defence, customs and fisheries duties on Ireland's 3,500 miles of coastline.
Defence Minister Tony Killeen said he was delighted to announce Government financial backing for the vessels.
"The acquisition of two new modern vessels will ensure that the Naval Service continues to be fully equipped to carry out its day to day roles in enforcing the State's sovereign rights over our waters and our fisheries and meeting Ireland's obligations in the area of maritime safety and security and fisheries protection," the minister said.
"I am acutely aware of the difficulties for Irish fishermen arising from the damage inflicted by over-fishing of some key stocks off our coast. The Naval Service plays a significant role in helping to return these stocks to sustainability."
The navy fleet plays a vital role in fisheries protection and works closely with gardai and customs officials in the seizure of drugs.
By 2015, all but two of the current fleet of eight Naval vessels will be at least 30 years old, and it is not recommended that ships remain in service for more than 35 years.
Babcock Marine, a British shipyard, has been contracted to build the two new Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs). Negotiations on the finer details are ongoing.
The two new OPVs will be 90m (295ft) vessels with a crew of 44 and 10 trainees, and will have a cruise speed of 16 knots with a capability of reaching 23 knots. The ships will be packing a 76mm (3in) cannon, two heavy machine guns and four general purpose machine guns.
USS Franklin D. Roosevelt
Today’s website is the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. Enjoy.
This Day in U.S. Naval History
1823 - After pirate attack, Lt. David G. Farragut leads landing party to destroy pirate stronghold in Cuba.
1944 - Invasion and recapture of Guam begins.
1946 - In first U.S. test of adaptability of jet aircraft to shipboard operations, XFD-1 Phantom makes landings and takeoffs without catapults from USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV 42).
1987 - Navy begins Operation Earnest Will, escorting first Kuwaiti tanker convoy in the Persian Gulf.
Photo of the Day
Irish helicopter patrol vessel LÉ Eithne.
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