The Navy Vol_67_No_2 Apr 2005 - Navy League of Australia

The voyage may coincide with avisit by President Chen Shui-bian’s toPacific allies in May and the Taiwanleader could stay on board one of theships, the newspaper said.A Chinese navy destroyer andsupply ship made the first cruisearound the world by a Chinese navalflotilla in 2002.Derby AAMs forIndian Navy?India and Israel are expected to signa US$25 million deal for 20 air-airDerby missiles for the Indian Navy.The deal is for beyond visual range(BVR) air-to-air Derby missiles.According to senior Defenceministry sources, the deal will alsoinclude six practice missiles. Themissiles are designated for the IndianNavy’s Sea Harriers, which are on boardINS VIRAAT aircraft carrier.India has been conducting aworldwide search for BVR missilesfor its Fleet Air Arm since 2000. Thecontract for arming its Sea Harrier jetswas opened in 2003, sources added.Once the agreement is finalised,the Israeli company will be stationingits specialists in India to train the navalofficers in maintenance and operationof the missiles. Officials said that thecompany will also supply racks andtrailers for transferring and installingthe missiles.Delivery of the missiles will start 30months after the contract is signed, andbe completed a year after that, sourcessaid. These missiles have a maximumrange of 20 km, a flying speed of Mach1.2, and can lock in on the target evenbefore being launched, or shortly afterthe launch.An Israeli Derby BVR AAM on the outboardwing pylon (white nose cone closest to camera)of an F-16 fighter. The addition of Derby tothe Indian Sea Harrier fleet will give them amuch greater air-air capability againstmodern air forces.Flash TrafficSources said that Indian Air Force(IAF) also needs next-generation BVRmissiles for upgrading its Mirage 2000Hand Sukhoi Su-30 MKI.The need for new missiles wasrevealed in early 2003, when the IAF’sweapon systems were unable to copewith those of the French during a jointIndo-French military exercise.Indian Navy purchaseMiG-29KA contract for the purchase of16 MiG-29K aircraft from RussianFederation for the Indian Navy wassigned on Jan 20, 2004. The value ofthe contract is US$740 million. Thedelivery of the aircraft will commencefrom June 2007.A MiG-29K. The Indian airforce is already auser of the MiG-29 thus enabling the IndianNavy to enjoy a level of cost efficiency due tocommonality.New Corvettes forVenezuelaVenezuela will buy four corvettesfrom the Izar Shipyard in a contractvalued between 600 & 800 millionEUROs. The corvettes are believed tohave the following specifications:Length overall 102.0 m, Beam 14.0m, Full load displacement 2,600 tonnes,Draught 3.75 m, Maximum speed +27kts, Cruise speed 15kts, Cruisingspeed range 4000nm, 30 days supply, 62crew, Helicopter staff 8 and margin for10 more crew.This contract was closed during adiscreet visit by Spanish Minister ofDefense Jose Bono made on 25 Januaryto Caracas.In addition to the corvette order, sixC-295 cargo planes made by the Spanishbranch of European partnership EADSwere also ordered. This second contractis valued at 150 million EUROs.Daewoo to build fourwarships for IndonesiaDaewoo International Corp, a majorKorean trading company, recentlyannounced it has signed a US$150-million contract to provide four warshipsto the Indonesian navy in what is viewedas a major step in boosting its presencein the naval technology business inSoutheast Asian countries.The four warships, three commonlanding platform docks (LPDs) anda command ship, will be exported toIndonesia from January for use by itsnavy, the firm said.The LPD is designed to transporttroops into a war zone by sea usinglanding craft. It embarks, transportsand lands soldiers and landing craftand can also be used for landings byhelicopters.Daewoo International said in astatement that the contract was a resultof the know-how and capabilities itand its partners have built up in themilitary ship business. South Korea’sDae Sun Shipbuilding & Engineeringhas manufactured two of the LPDsand will give technological support toIndonesian firms for the building of theremaining two, Daewoo said.LPDs are emerging as key militaryitems for Southeast Asian countries forenhancing naval defence capabilities,Daewoo International said, adding itexpects ‘mega’ deals from other nationsin the coming months.Daewoo International has beenplaying a bridging role between SouthKorean shipbuilding firms and theIndonesian navy for exports of navaltechnology. The firm signed a contractworth $50 million in 2000 to provide amulti-purpose hospital ship and tugboatsto the Indonesian navy. In 2003 it won a$60 million Indonesian military projectto enhance submarine facilities andnaval warfare capabilities.USSSAN FRANCISCOSkipper relieved ofcommandThe commander of US Seventh Fleet,Vice Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, relievedCdr Kevin Mooney of his commandof USS SAN FRANCISCO (SSN-711)on Feb. 12. The decision to relieve16 VOL. 67 NO. 2 THE NAVY