JAN-MAR 2010 VOL 72 No1 - Navy League of Australia

FLASH TRAFFIC
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extended-range anti-air warfare (AAW) missile.
The system will provide a defensive capability
against fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, unmanned
aerial vehicles and anti-ship cruise missiles out
to 200nm.
When combined with CEC (Cooperative
Engagement Capability), SM-6 will provide a Navy
with an extended battlespace capability against
over-the-horizon AAW threats.
SM-6 also allows the use of active and semiactive
modes and advanced fuzing techniques.
04
FIFTH TYPE 45 LAUNCHED
Thousands turned out on the banks of the Clyde
to cheer on the latest ship to make up the Royal
Navy’s new Type 45 destroyer class. The destroyer
DEFENDER was launched on 21 October 09.
Chief in Command Fleet Admiral Trevor Soar said:
“The thousands gathered here today to witness
the launch of DEFENDER is testament to the
pride Scotland rightly takes in its shipbuilding
industry which has seen a resurgence in recent
times with the Type 45 build programme and the
manufacture of the Aircraft Carriers that they will
defend.
“DEFENDER’s affiliation with her ‘hometown’
of Glasgow will ensure these strong links live
on and gives the Royal Navy the chance to give
something back to the community that worked so
hard to deliver her and her sister ships.
“The launch of the fifth ship is an exciting
milestone as we draw nearer to the first of class
HMS DARING entering into service this year to
begin her duties with the Royal Navy.”
DEFENDER is the fifth ship of six in the Type 45
destroyer class. Progress is being made on the
programme: HMS DARING (ship one) has been
commissioned into the Royal Navy and is on her
final trials prior to her entering service, planned for
February 2010, minus her ASTER30/PAAMS antiair
missile system due to slippages in the systems
acceptance.
DAUNTLESS (ship two) has recently completed
two very successful sets of sea trials while
DIAMOND (ship three) has just begun her sea
trials. DRAGON (ship four) was launched in
Scotland at the end of 2008 and DUNCAN (ship
six) is under construction in Govan.
05
QUEENS OK
On 25 October 2009, British newspapers began
reporting that budget cuts would likely sacrifice
one of the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers
(CVF), with discussions centred on plans to make
one CVF an amphibious command and control
vessel. This was reportedly due to the high cost
of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) that is slated to
replace the UK’s Harriers as the air wing on the
new class.
It would now appear that these reports are not
official, and the article misrepresents the actual
situation. In fact, there has always been an
unpublicised plan to reduce fixed wing embarked
aviation air-readiness of one of the CVFs, having it
take on a role more in line with that of a helicopter
landing ship (LPH). This was due to the increased
cost of the JSF that will be needed to replace the
Harriers as they quickly approach the end of their
service lives.
At a cost of nearly US$150M each, reduction in
the number of JSFs by about half would save the
UK around US$10B in aircraft alone. This does
not take into account spare parts, maintenance
equipment and personnel.
Although discussions continue on the topic, both
carriers of the class will be built to the same
standards and will simply deploy with different
air assets as the mission dictates. This will allow
one or the other to operate as a fixed wing aircraft
carrier should the need arise while the other is
going through a refit programme. Additionally,
if funding becomes available for more aircraft
(either leased or purchased) in the future, the
second CVF would be able to be equipped as an
aircraft carrier with a full air wing of JSFs.
The option of utilising the second CVF (PRINCE OF
WALES) as an LPH would also allow a cost saving
when HMS OCEAN decommissions in 2018 as
there is currently no funding allocated for a direct
replacement. Looking at future construction costs
for a replacement of HMS OCEAN, the RN would
see an immediate savings of over US$1B.
Current planning for the CVF calls for the
commissioning of unit one (QUEEN ELIZABETH)
in 2016, followed by PRINCE OF WALES in 2018,
in line with the decommissioning schedule for
OCEAN, making this option even more attractive
to the RN.
RUSSIA TO CALL WESTERN TENDERS FOR
LHD CONTRACT
Russia plans to hold an international tender for the
purchase of a helicopter carrier, involving France,
Spain and the Netherlands, the country’s Navy
chief said on 11 September 09.
“I can confirm that negotiations are being held,
but there is likely to be a tender,” (see THE NAVY
Vol 71 No.4 p20) Adm. Vladimir Vysotsky said,
adding that other countries could also be involved.
He said there were no negotiations with the United
States - “for understandable reasons,” adding
that the US authorities were “highly sensitive”
about the transfer of new technology, especially
dual-purpose technology.
The admiral stressed, however, that technology
transfer was a key condition for buying a
helicopter carrier abroad.
04
DEFENDER being readied for her launch. (BAE Systems)
05
The two Queens. Both will be built to the same standard. However, the UK will only
be buying half as many F-35 JSFs as originally planned meaning there will not be
enough to totally outfit both carriers with a full air complement.
18 THE NAVY VOL. 72 NO. 1