Formidable-Class Frigate for Singaporean Navy

DCNS, a world leader in the design and realisation of advanced naval defence systems, today announced the completion of the New Frigate Programme for the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), with the delivery of RSS Supreme (73). This also marks the achievement of a comprehensive technology transfer to Singapore Technologies Marine (ST Marine) at the local shipyard providing turnkey shipbuilding.

In 2000, DCNS was awarded a contract to build six Formidable-Class Frigates as part of the New Frigate Programme, outlined by Singapore’s Ministry of Defence through the Defence and Science Technology Agency (DSTA). As part of this contract, based on its history and experience in building naval defence systems, DCNS focused on ensuring a full technology transfer to ST Marine.

The delivery of RSS Supreme (73) and the technology transfer to ST Marine underscores and cements the commitment of DCNS to enabling the Republic of Singapore Navy to become a world-class defence force. As Europe’s leading naval defence systems provider, DCNS can greatly contribute to governments in the Asia Pacific region that are looking to develop their naval defence systems to address growing security requirements.

The first frigate, RSS Formidable (68), was built at the DCNS shipyard in Lorient, France. The five following frigates were built in Singapore by ST Marine under DCNS supervision.

The completion of the technology transfer is a testimony of the strong partnership between the two companies. “ST Marine is very glad to have had DCNS as a partner in the last eight years to work on the RSN’s New Frigate Programme to replace the Missile Gun Boats. This partnership has culminated in the delivery of a fleet of highly capable frigates to the RSN", said CHANG Cheow Teck, President of ST Marine.

DCNS and ST Marine are thankful to DSTA and the RSN for their strong and continuous support throughout this successful program.

RSS Supreme (73) together with RSS Stalwart (72) are expected to be commissioned in the first quarter of 2009. The first four Formidable-Class Frigates are currently in operation and are already participating in advanced combat exercises with foreign navies, abroad. The 3,200 -tonne, 114 -metre long Formidable-Class Frigates, are regarded as the Singapore navy's most powerful warships.

The design of the Singapore Formidable-class frigates is based on the French Navy’s La Fayette Class Frigate, which boasts significant anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. The design of the frigates also has effective stealth capabilities, which reduce visibility of the frigates on radar screens, enhancing their survivability during combat.

Formidable-class frigates are also reputed for their advanced electronic systems, capable of preventing modern network-based attacks. These features have enabled the Republic of Singapore Navy to better fulfill its mission of protecting Singapore's coastlines and safeguarding its waters.

DCNS commenced operations in Singapore in 2002 and today has a team of 40 staff based in Singapore, which will continue to provide service and support to the RSN here. Globally, DCNS has the broadest range of naval defence capabilities and services, spanning from warships to nuclear submarines.

The DCNS Group is one of Europe’s leading players on the world market for naval defence systems. To meet customer demands for more comprehensive and integrated systems, DCNS acts as prime contractor for naval shipbuilding, integration and support by combining its own development, marketing and production capabilities with those of selected partners. The DCNS Group employs 13,000 people and generates annual revenues of around EUR 2.8 billion.

ST Marine, the marine arm of ST Engineering, provides turnkey building, repair and conversion services for a wide spectrum of naval and commercial vessels. In shipbuilding, it has the proven capabilities to provide turnkey solutions from concept definition to detailed design, construction, on-board system installation and integration, testing, commissioning to through-life support.

Iran About to Produce Domestically Built Submarine

Iranian state television has reported the launch of a domestic program to produce a midsize submarine built completely by the state. The submarine program - named Ghaem - was inaugurated by Iranian Defense Minister Gen. Mostafa Mohammed Najjar on August 25.

Because of arms embargoes placed on the revolutionary Islamic regime, Iran is forced to utilize a significant level of resourcefulness within its own defense industry to produce and maintain the bulk of its own military material.

Iran has been in the midst of producing its own coastal class of submarines with - according to the state-run media - a level of success. The first of the Ghadir class was launched in May 2005, with a second purported to have been produced.

The basic characteristics of this class are that their displacement is 120 tons, with a length of 30 meters, and can carry a crew of 32.

The Iranian Navy also has three Kilo class submarines acquired from Russia in the 1990s.

The USA’s New Littoral Combat Ships (Development)

The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) is the U.S. Navy’s newest surface combatant class. Optimized for shallow seas and operations within 100 miles of shore, but deployable across the ocean, LCS ships are a centerpiece of the USA’s new focus on littoral warfare. They will help to counter growing “asymmetric” threats like coastal mines, quiet diesel submarines, global piracy, and terrorists on small fast attack boats. They will also perform intelligence gathering and scouting using helicopters and UAVs, offer some ground combat support capabilities, and share tactical information with other Navy aircraft, ships, submarines, and joint units. Swappable “mission modules,” UAV robot aircraft, and robotic UUV and USV vehicles will give these small ships the specialized capabilities they require for each of these roles – and the quick-replace adaptability they need to keep up.

At present, 2 teams are competing for the final LCS design. The General Dynamics team is offering a futuristic but practical high-speed trimaran based on Austal designs and experience. The Lockheed Martin team offers a high-speed semi-planing monohull based on Fincantieri designs that have set trans-Atlantic speed records. Team Lockheed’s efforts have run into serious trouble, including cancellation of the contract for their second ship. The General Dynamics/Austal team hit the same rocks soon afterward, in part because of the US Navy’s unusual proposal for future business arrangements.

DID places recent developments in context by explaining a bit more about the US Navy’s new surface combatant; detailing the teams, key time line events, and contract awards under the program to date; and providing additional resources and links to complete our in-depth coverage.

World Record For Longest Unmanned Flight By Zephyr UAV

Zephyr's reputation as the world's leading solar powered high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has been reinforced with a world-beating three and a half day flight at the US Army's Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona.

The solar powered plane flew for 82 hours 37 minutes, exceeding the current official world record for unmanned flight which stands at 30 hours 24 minutes set by Global Hawk in 2001 and Zephyr's previous longest flight of 54 hours achieved last year.

The UK Ministry of Defence has funded the development of Zephyr to date and has partnered with the US Department of Defense (DoD) under their Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (JCTD) Programme - which is designed to move urgently needed technologies rapidly into the hands of US forces in the field.

The US DoD funded the demonstration flight under the Programme and this was the first time the two governments have participated in a joint demonstration of a HALE UAV.

JCTD projects are specially tailored to meet the needs of US combatant commands. Zephyr is supported by USCENTCOM, the combatant command with responsibility for Iraq and Afghanistan, along with the Office of Secretary of Defense (OSD) for Advanced Systems and Concepts (AS and C) and the US Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC).

Launched by hand, Zephyr is an ultra-lightweight carbon-fibre aircraft. By day it flies on solar power generated by amorphous silicon solar arrays no thicker than sheets of paper that cover the aircraft's wings.

By night it is powered by rechargeable lithium-sulphur batteries, supplied by SION Power Inc, which are recharged during the day using solar power.

The flight trial at Yuma took place between 28 and 31 July in the harsh conditions of the Sonoran Desert in mid summer with temperatures up to 45oC (113oF).

Zephyr was flown on autopilot and via satellite communications to a maximum altitude of more than 60,000ft. The trial included a military utility assessment of a US Government communications payload.

The trial is a step towards the delivery of Zephyr's capability for joint, real-time, battlefield persistent surveillance and communications to forces in the field at the earliest opportunity.

Russia Agrees to Transfer T-90 Tank's Key Technology

After months of acrimony, Russia has finally agreed to transfer key technology for the frontline T-90 tanks enabling Indian armament factories to now go ahead and produce these weapon platforms indigenously.

Russians have finally agreed to supply specifications of the T-90 tank barrels by end of this year

The delay in providing the specifications had held up the indigenous production of the T-90 tanks at the Avadi Heavy Vehicles Factory.

India and Russia have signed agreements for delivery of almost 1,200 T-90 tanks at
a cost of a staggering US 1.2 billion dollars.

The deal, concluded in three tranches over the past five years, also specifies transfer of technology for production of another 1,000 to 1,500 tanks in India.

At the 8th meeting of the Indo-Russian working group on shipbuilding, aviation and land systems, Moscow also agreed to full product support for indigenous production of these tanks.

With this crucial agreement, it has become apparent that the Indian army would continue to rely on the Russian tanks as its main battle tanks. This is significant as the indigenous Arjun tanks have yet to pass the crucial induction trials.

Though the Ordnance Factories Board had concluded the technology transfer agreement with Russia way back in 2001, Moscow's reluctance to part with key barrel specifications had held up the indigenous production of the tanks.

At the meeting co-chaired by Ajay Acharya, Additional Secretary, Defence Production, and his Russian counterpart Karavaev Igor Evgeniyevich, New Delhi also submitted its technical requirements for the joint development of a futuristic 5th generation fighter aircraft.

Though the aircraft design is yet to be finalised, the two countries have agreed to step up efforts to ensure that the new fighter enters flying service by 2015.

The key working group met within the framework of the Indo-Russian intergovernmental commission military technical cooperation and also took up issues for supply of Russian sub-systems for India's new range of P-17A warships.

Russia has also agreed to open cooperation with the bluechip public sector undertaking Hindustan Aeronautics Limited as an offset partner for future programmes.