AmphibiousWatercraft go aheadA computer generated image <strong>of</strong> the Army's newMinister for Defence Robert Hill hasannounced the signing <strong>of</strong> a S32.73million contract with Newcastleshipbuilder ADI Limited for the designand construction <strong>of</strong> six AmphibiousWatercraft for the <strong>Australia</strong>n Army.Senator Hill also announced that acontract for SI0.66 million has beenconcurrently signed with ADI Limitedto provide 15 years through life supportfor the watercraft.<strong>The</strong>se lightweight vessels, to be builtfrom aluminium and powered by twodiesel engines and wateijet propulsion,will build on the total amphibiouscapability <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Australia</strong>n DefenceForce.<strong>The</strong> new watercraft will enable theArmy to deploy greater amounts <strong>of</strong>tanks, vehicles, soldiers and suppliesfrom ship to beach in a significantlyshorter time than is currently possiblewith the existing LCM 8 capabilityIn particular, the new watercraft willimprove the discharge rate <strong>of</strong> unloadingcargo by more than 30^.Senator Hill said the new watercraftwill be carried on the decks <strong>of</strong> the Royal<strong>Australia</strong>n <strong>Navy</strong> ships HMASMANOORA and KANIMBLA. <strong>The</strong>craft will be based in Townsville at die10 Force Support Battalion at all othertimes.'This project is expected to create40 jobs in the Newcastle area." SenatorHill said.When the watercraft are introducedinto service they will be maintained inTownsville by ADI Limited through aFlash Trafficsub-contract with a local company,which will create additionalemployment in the area.<strong>The</strong> first watercraft is planned toundergo extensive trials late next yearwith the final craft expected to befinished in 2005.RAN patrol boattenders short listedThree companies have been shortlistedto tender for the supply <strong>of</strong> patrol boatsfor the Royal <strong>Australia</strong>n <strong>Navy</strong>, afterthey were endorsed by Defence MinisterRobert Hill.<strong>The</strong> shortlisted tenderers are ADI.Defence Maritime Services partneringwith Austal. and Tenix.ADI would construct the boats inNewcastle. DMS and Tenix in Perth -providing significant economic andemployment opportunities in theseareas.Competition for the final shortlist togo on to stage two <strong>of</strong> the contractprocess was intense - highlighting thefact that <strong>Australia</strong> has a competitivesmall vessel shipbuilding industry.Nine companies provided tenders,seven <strong>of</strong> which qualified to produce thevessels.<strong>The</strong> RPB project is designed toprovide replacements for the RAN'sFremantle-class patrol boats (FCPBs).<strong>The</strong> new Patrol Boats are expected tocost approximately $375 million. <strong>The</strong>ywill be expected to provide over 3,000operational sea days per year, 1,800days will be directed towardsCoastwatch operations, plus a surgecapacity <strong>of</strong> 600 additional days per yearto deal with short-warning missions.<strong>The</strong> current FCPB fleet averages around2,700 operational sea days per year. <strong>The</strong>new boats will be larger and haveimproved seakeeping abilities over theFCPBs as well as a range <strong>of</strong> 3.000nm.(or 25% greater than the FCPBs).Maximum continuous speed shall be noless than 25kt.<strong>The</strong> shortlisted companies will beinvited to provide detailed tenderproposals by the end <strong>of</strong> October.Defence expects to be in a position torecommend to Government a preferredtenderer by late this year, with a view tosigning the in the new year.This would ensure the replacementpatrol boats would be ready for servicein the second half <strong>of</strong> 2004. consistentwith the Government's 2000 DefenceWhite Paper commitments.<strong>The</strong> new Patrol Boats will have theability to carry an additional 20personnel for emergencies in a separatefacility isolated and lockable from theboats other spaces. <strong>The</strong>y will carry tworigid-hull inflatable boats, no less than6m long and capable <strong>of</strong> sustaining 25ktin sea state 4 when fully laden, and anunrefuelcd range <strong>of</strong> lOOnm at 12kt. <strong>The</strong>patrol boats will have a full electroopticalsuite for day/night surveillanceoperations. <strong>The</strong> system must be capable,in tropical conditions, to detect a fishingboat at a range <strong>of</strong> 12km: detect a personin the water at 1.000m; and classify afishing boat at l()km. Radar andsearchlight will also be fitted.<strong>The</strong> boats will be armed with a25mm stabilized lightweight gun(similar to that found on the Huon classMCM). supported by two 12.7mmmachine guns.One <strong>of</strong> the short listed patrol boats.Sixth Indiansubmarine to haveClub-S missile system<strong>The</strong> Zvyozdochka shipbuilding plant inSeverodvinsk is to refit, repair andupgrade the Indian <strong>Navy</strong> Kilo diesclelectricsubmarine INS SINDHUGOSHunder the terms <strong>of</strong> a contract signed inDelhi between Russia's arms exportagency Rosoboronexport and the IndianMinistry <strong>of</strong> Defence.INS SINDHUGOSH. built by theAdmiralty Shipyard in St Petersburg,was commissioned into the Indian <strong>Navy</strong>in 1986.18 VOL. <strong>64</strong> NO. I THE NAVYSINDHUGOSH arrived in Russialast month and will become the thirdIndian Kilo to be refitted andmodernised at the Severodvinsk yard.SINDHURAJ and SINDHUKKSARI.have been upgraded at the AdmiraltyShipyard in St Petersburg.<strong>The</strong> modernisation refit, due tobe completed in 2004. will seeSINDHUGOSH retr<strong>of</strong>itted with theClub-S strike missile system (whichincorporates 22()km-range 3M-54Eanti-ship cruise missiles, see page 11this edition) developed by the NovatorDesign Bureau. It is also possible thatSINDHUGOSH may also be equippedwith the 3M-I4E land-attack cruisemissile also associated with the Club-Ssystem.Acceptance trials <strong>of</strong> the Indian<strong>Navy</strong>'s first three modernised Project877EKM Kilo class submarinesinvolved six successful 3M-54E testlaunches, demonstrating both minimum(20km) and maximum range capabilityagainst surface targets. However, in April2001 a missile launched on an IndianOcean test range failed to hit its target.June's Defence Weekly reported afault with the target on the test rangewas subsequently blamed for the failure:an anchored target with a corner radarreflector simulating a frigate-classsurface ship was displaced, and thereflector began to radiate signals in adirection perpendicular to a flighttrajectory <strong>of</strong> the missile's thirdsupersonic stage. As a result, the ARGS-54 seeker failed to acquire the target.All three <strong>of</strong> the Indian <strong>Navy</strong>'sProject 1135.6 ships will be armed withthe Club-N missile system, consisting <strong>of</strong>an eight-cell vertical launchcr andonboard missile-planning and launchcontrolsystem. A Garpun-Bal radarsystem will provide targeting data.Largest class evergraduates fromCRESWELL<strong>The</strong> RAN College HMAS CRESWELLhas graduated the largest intake <strong>of</strong> newentry <strong>of</strong>ficers in its history.One hundred and five <strong>of</strong>ficerspassed out <strong>of</strong> the College in what wasthe culmination <strong>of</strong> two days <strong>of</strong>ceremonies. <strong>The</strong>se began with aCeremonial Sunset and then the PassingOut Parade itself, reviewed by the thenTHE NAVYChief <strong>of</strong> the Defence Force. ADMLChris Barrie. in one <strong>of</strong> his last <strong>of</strong>ficialengagements before leaving the <strong>Navy</strong>and the ADF. Admiral Barrie himselfjoined the Naval College in 1961.Visitors to the Ceremonial Sunsetsaw the tradition <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Australia</strong>nNational Rag and the <strong>Navy</strong>'s WhiteEnsign lowered together, to the music <strong>of</strong>the Royal <strong>Australia</strong>n <strong>Navy</strong> band and thesalute <strong>of</strong> an armed guard. <strong>The</strong> eveninggun was fired, signalling the last nightthe class <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficers would have asinitial trainees.<strong>The</strong> passing out parade, which washeld the following morning, saw thenew class arrayed in their finestuniforms and assembled once again asan armed guard. <strong>The</strong>y were joined bytheir instructors and staff <strong>of</strong> the Royal<strong>Australia</strong>n Naval College, under thecommand <strong>of</strong> CAPT Andrew Cawley. onthe quarterdeck <strong>of</strong> the college. Manydistinguished visitors both Service andcivilian also watched the parade, as wellas families and friends <strong>of</strong> the trainees.A sad note in the proceedings wasthe mention <strong>of</strong> the death <strong>of</strong> one <strong>of</strong> thetrainees some weeks before graduation.MIDN Robert Maguire died in a caraccident.At the end <strong>of</strong> the parade, a marchpast. ADML Barrie took the salute. <strong>The</strong>award <strong>of</strong> prizes and a flyover followed.<strong>The</strong> new <strong>of</strong>ficers then celebrated withCDF. the college staff, members <strong>of</strong> theirfamily and friends.By LEUT Tom Lewis. NAVY NEWSUS ERGM flight testsuccessIn a first-<strong>of</strong>-a-kind test. Team ERGM'successfully fired a precision guidedprojectile from a representative gunsystem and guided it to a designatedtarget area last June. <strong>The</strong> flight testexceeded tactical end-game accuracyrequirements, and the test demonstratedterminal accuracy performance soonerthan called for in the program'sdevelopment plan.Led by Raytheon Company and theNaval Surface Warfare Center DahlgrenDivision, the All Up Round (AUR)guided flight <strong>of</strong> the Extended RangeGuided Munition (ERGM) took place atWhite Sands Missile Range, N. M.In the flight test. ERGM waslaunched from a representative Mk45Mod 4 gun system, using a tacticalVOL. <strong>64</strong> NO. Ipropellant charge, and successfullyexecuted navigation and guidance afterglobal positioning system (GPS)acquisition.This flight test achieved all testobjectives.<strong>The</strong> projectile demonstrated propernavigation and guidance despiteexperiencing extreme G-forces duringA cutaway <strong>of</strong> an ERGM showing its deployablewings and submunition warhead.33
gun launch. <strong>The</strong> 18-mega joulepropellant charge impacted theprojectile like a 40 ton hammertravelling at 70 miles per hour, almostimmediately accelerating the round to1.875 mph. <strong>The</strong> test also demonstrated aflight range <strong>of</strong> 39 nautical miles inunder four minutes time <strong>of</strong> flight andairframe stability and control withproper internal system operation.This guided flight test successfullycompleted the subsystem and systemlevel design validation tests <strong>of</strong> theERGM guidance. control andpropulsion systems. <strong>The</strong> final validationtests are planned for next year afterintroduction <strong>of</strong> the new unitarywarhead. This ma.ks the start <strong>of</strong> groundenvironmental and flight performancequalification testing phase, which is theprecursor to fleet deployment."<strong>The</strong> real accomplishment in thistest was demonstration <strong>of</strong> GPSacquisition and navigation over anextended range after a tactical gunlaunch, which we did flawlessly." saidBrian O'Cain. Raytheon's ERGMprogram manager."Unfortunately. range safelyfootprint constraints and the current gunposition prevented us from stretchingERGM' s legs and flying to a longerrange target. With this launch energyand rocket motor we could have easilyexceeded 50 nautical miles".Former <strong>Navy</strong> <strong>League</strong>Federal President DiesJohn Brooke Howsc KsU VRD. FederalPresident <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Navy</strong> <strong>League</strong> fromAugust 1968 to December 1971 andlong-serving ACT President died inCanberra in July aged 88.John Howse served in the RANduring World War II and retired at therank <strong>of</strong> Commander RANVR. He joinedthe <strong>Navy</strong> <strong>League</strong> soon after the war andbecame closely associated with the SeaCadet movement. As a member <strong>of</strong> the<strong>Australia</strong>n Sea Cadet Council, withCouncil Chairman Captain Neil BoaseRAN (the Director <strong>of</strong> Naval Reserves)and Council colleague Ge<strong>of</strong>f Evans(who succeeded him as FederalPresident), he toured <strong>Australia</strong> anddiscussed with State representatives thefuture <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Australia</strong>n Sea CadetCorps, an increasingly expensiveresponsibility <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Navy</strong> <strong>League</strong>. <strong>The</strong>report <strong>of</strong> the three-member committeeled to the formation <strong>of</strong> the NavalReserve Cadets (now <strong>Australia</strong>n <strong>Navy</strong>Cadets) in 1973 as a navalresponsibility. John and his wife.Valerie, continued to support the cadetsas well as other organisations inCanberra for many yearsJohn Howse had a distinguishedcareer in business and was a member <strong>of</strong>the Federal Parliament representing theNSW seal <strong>of</strong> Calare 1946-60. He was aTrustee <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Australia</strong>n War Memorial1967-73.Lockheed Martin-Northrop GrummanTeam selected for USCoast GuardDeepwater project<strong>The</strong> United Stales Coast Guard todayawarded Integrated Coast GuardSystems (ICGS) a contract to carry out afar-reaching modernization program forthe agency's Deepwater forces - theships, aircraft, command and control,and logistics systems that protect theUnited States and support the CoastGuard's many missions. <strong>The</strong> contractwas announced in a ceremony held inWashington. D.C.ICGS - a co-equal partnership <strong>of</strong>Northrop Grumman Corporation andLockheed Martin Corporation - wasawarded a contract valued at USS 11billion to modernize the Coast Guard'sDeepwater assets over a 20-year perit»d.<strong>The</strong> program's total potential valueover three decades is estimatedat approximately USS 17 billion.Deepwater is the largest recapitalisationeffort in the history <strong>of</strong> the US CoastGuard and will involve the acquisition<strong>of</strong> up to 91 ships. 35 fixed-wingaircraft. 34 helicopters. 76 unmannedsurveillance aircraft, and upgrade <strong>of</strong>49 existing cutters and 93 helicopters,in addition to systems forcommunications, surveillance andcommand and control."<strong>The</strong> nation depends on the CoastGuard to protect our homeland andsecure over 95.000 miles <strong>of</strong> shoreline,save lives and protect the environment."said Lockheed Martin chairman andchief executive <strong>of</strong>ficer Vance D.C<strong>of</strong>fman. "We are proud to partner withthe Coast Guard to assure its abilityto meet its evolving missions througha transformational modernizationprogram."Coast Guard Commandant AdmiralThomas H Collins said that theNorthrop Grumman / Lockheed Martinjoint venture <strong>of</strong>fered a superior solution,a strong management approach, a lowriskimplementation strategy and anOpen Business Model, all <strong>of</strong>which address the Coast Guard'smodernization needs. Thisperformance-based contract willdevelop, acquire, and sustain anaffordable, integrated system <strong>of</strong> surface,air. command, and logistics assets,while maximizing operationaleffectiveness at the lowest possible totalownership cost.ICGS will manage over 100companies from 32 states, as well asfour international teammates, toimplement its comprehensive plan forthe Coast Guard. <strong>The</strong> ICGS OpenBusiness Model 1 N1 approach maximizescompetition and assures best value to theCoast Guard and the American taxpayerthroughout the life <strong>of</strong> the program.ICGS has structured a program thatwill greatly enhance the US CoastGuard's core system capability withinthe first five years <strong>of</strong> the contract, andensure a low-risk transition to the fullvision <strong>of</strong> the Deepwater system. In thefirst five years. ICGS will:• Provide a network centric capability<strong>of</strong> robust C4ISR (Command. Control.Communications. Computers.Beginning to end. (Left) a Tactical Tomahawk, the next generation <strong>of</strong>Tomahawk cruisc missile, launches from its VLS test tube during a contractortest and evaluation. (Right) demonstrating its accuracy for which it isrenowned. Tomahawk provides a long-range, highly survivablc. unmannedland attack weapon system capable <strong>of</strong> pinpoint accuracy. <strong>The</strong> upgradedversion — referred lo as Tactical Tomahawk — adds the capability toreprogram Ihe missile while in-flight lo strike any <strong>of</strong> 15 preprogrammedallemale targets or redirect the missile lo any Global Positioning System(GPS) target coordinates. It also will be able (o loiter over a largcl area forsome hours, and with its on-board TV camera, will allow the warfighlingcommanders to assess battle damage <strong>of</strong> the target, and. if necessary redirectthe missile to any other target. Launched from the <strong>Navy</strong>'s forward-deployedships and submarines. Tactical Tomahawk will provide a greater flexibility toihe on-scene commander. Tactical Tomahawk (Block IV) is due to reach thefleet in 2004. and will supplement the current.VOL. <strong>64</strong> NO. 4T1IE NAVY VOL. <strong>64</strong> NO. 4
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