Navy

Paul Ignatius launched

November 20, 2016 Dmitry Shulgin

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division launched USS Paul Ignatius (DDG-117), the company’s 31st Arleigh Burke-class (DDG-51) guided missile destroyer, on Saturday, November 12, 2016.

«The DDG-51 program provides our U.S. Navy customer and our nation a series of highly advanced and capable warships», said Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias. «For 30 years, our talented shipbuilders have been building these much-needed, quality destroyers. Launching DDG-117 is an important milestone in the life of the ship, which will continue building toward fleet readiness in 2018».

USS Paul Ignatius (DDG-117) was translated via Ingalls’ rail car system to a floating dry dock. Once on, the dry dock was moved away from the pier, and it was ballasted to float the ship.

Ingalls has delivered 28 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to the U.S. Navy. Other destroyers currently under construction at Ingalls include USS John Finn (DDG-113), USS Ralph Johnson (DDG-114), USS Delbert D. Black (DDG-119) and USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG-121). Construction on USS Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG-123) is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2017.

«Ingalls shipbuilders continue to partner with our Navy and Supervisor of Shipbuilding team to conduct these evolutions in a safe and efficient manner», said Kari Wilkinson, Ingalls’ vice president, program management. «This collective team put in a lot of hard work this week, and they should be very proud of their accomplishments».

USS Paul Ignatius (DDG-117) is named in honor of Ignatius, who served as Secretary of the Navy from 1967 to 1969 and was the Assistant Secretary of Defense during President Lyndon B. Johnson’s administration.

Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are capable, multi-mission ships and can conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection, all in support of the United States’ military strategy. The guided missile destroyers are capable of simultaneously fighting air, surface and subsurface battles. The ship contains myriad offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime defense needs well into the 21st century.

The Ingalls-built destroyer USS Paul Ignatius (DDG-117) launched at first light Saturday morning, November 12, 2016 (Photo by Andrew Young/HII)

Ship Characteristics

Length Overall	510 feet/156 m
Beam – Waterline	59 feet/18 m
Draft	30.5 feet/9.3 m
Displacement – Full Load	9,217 tons/9,363 metric tons
Power Plant	4 General electric LM 2500-30 gas turbines; 2 shafts; 2 CRP (Contra-Rotating) propellers; 100,000 shaft horsepower/75,000 kW
Speed	in excess of 30 knots/34.5 mph/55.5 km/h
Range	4,400 NM/8,149 km at 20 knots/23 mph/37 km/h
Crew	380 total: 32 Officers, 27 CPO (Chief Petty Officer), 321 OEM
Surveillance	SPY-1D Phased Array Radar and Aegis Combat System (Lockheed Martin); SPS-73(V) Navigation; SPS-67(V)3 Surface Search; 3 SPG-62 Illuminator; SQQ-89(V)6 sonar incorporating SQS-53C hull mounted and SQR-19 towed array sonars used with Mark-116 Mod 7 ASW fire control system
Electronics/Countermeasures	SLQ-32(V)3; Mark-53 Mod 0 Decoy System; Mark-234 Decoy System; SLQ-25A Torpedo Decoy; SLQ-39 Surface Decoy; URN-25 TACAN; UPX-29 IFF System; Kollmorgen Mark-46 Mod 1 Electro-Optical Director
Aircraft	2 embarked SH-60 helicopters ASW operations; RAST (Recovery Assist, Secure and Traverse)
Armament	2 Mark-41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) with 90 Standard, Vertical Launch ASROC (Anti-Submarine Rocket) & Tomahawk ASM (Air-to-Surface Missile)/LAM (Loitering Attack Missile); 5-in (127-mm)/54 (62) Mark-45 gun; 2 (1) CIWS (Close-In Weapon System); 2 Mark-32 triple 324-mm torpedo tubes for Mark-46 or Mark-50 ASW torpedos

Guided Missile Destroyers Lineup

Flight IIA: Restart

Ship	Yard	Launched	Commissioned	Homeport
DDG-113 John Finn	HIIIS	03-28-15
DDG-114 Ralph Johnson	HIIIS	12-12-15
DDG-115 Rafael Peralta	GDBIW	10-31-15

Flight IIA: Technology Insertion

Ship	Yard	Launched	Commissioned	Homeport
DDG-116 Thomas Hudner	GDBIW
DDG-117 Paul Ignatius	HIIIS	11-12-16
DDG-118 Daniel Inouye	GDBIW
DDG-119 Delbert D. Black	HIIIS
DDG-120 Carl M. Levin	GDBIW
DDG-121 Frank E. Peterson Jr.	HIIIS
DDG-122 John Basilone	GDBIW
DDG-123 Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee	HIIIS

Flight III

Ship	Yard	Launched	Commissioned	Homeport
DDG-124 Harvey C. Barnum, Jr.	GDBIW
DDG-125 Jack H. Lucas	HIIIS
DDG-126 Louis H. Wilson, Jr.	GDBIW

The Ingalls-built destroyer USS Paul Ignatius (DDG-117) launched at first light Saturday morning, November 12, 2016 after translating to the dry dock overnight

Air Force

First major upgrade

November 19, 2016 Dmitry Shulgin

Australia’s Super Hornets have undergone their first major upgrade. The job was finished on budget and two weeks ahead of schedule by the Electronic Attack Enterprise team, consisting of Air Force, Defence’s Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group, Boeing Defence Australia and Raytheon Australia.

The Royal Australian Air Force’s entire fleet of F/A-18F Super Hornet fighters have cow completed their first upgrade, as part of the Spiral Upgrade Program under which the fleet will receive incremental capability upgrades (RAAF photo)

The work was the first stage of the Super Hornet Spiral Upgrade Program under which the fleet will receive incremental capability upgrades.

The program is being conducted in parallel with the US Navy F/A-18F upgrade program to ensure the technology remains in line with the world’s largest and only other Super Hornet operator.

The 12-month Increment 1 program delivered updates to the aircraft training system, as well as to software and hardware.

These included the installation of Navigation Warfare to provide GPS navigation protection, a Distributed Targeting System to enable precision targeting, and an upgraded Solid State Recorder for the cockpit.

Five separate structural modifications to improve fatigue life and eliminate hazards were incorporated with the hardware upgrades.

OC Air Combat and Electronic Attack System Program Office Group Captain (GPCAPT) Jason Agius said the program’s success demonstrated a mature and integrated support capability.

«The completion of Increment 1 was essentially a coming-of-age for the Super Hornet support system», he said.

«It was the first time we brought together every element of the support system, from program management, logistics and engineering through to training and deeper maintenance. The project’s completion on budget and ahead of schedule is a testament to how well it worked. As prime contractor, Boeing Defence Australia exhibited ingenuity and innovation in foreseeing and addressing challenges. They used their knowledge to add value and insight at every stage and worked in close partnership with both Air Force and training system services provider Raytheon to guarantee the program’s success. The project’s completion ahead of schedule is a strategically important achievement for Air Force and one of which all involved should be proud».

Boeing Defence Australia’s Super Hornet Program Manager, Chris Gray said the program demonstrated the value of Air Force and industry working as one team.

Navy

German laser effector

November 18, 2016 Dmitry Shulgin

From 4th to 14th October, MBDA Deutschland successfully conducted tests of a new high-energy laser effector at a military training facility on Germany’s North Sea coast, marking the next step in the progression from technology to product. In this series of trials, the system was tested under real environmental conditions for the first time.

Tracking tests with MBDA Germany’s new laser effector

The primary purpose of this series of trials was to test the beam guidance and tracking system, with a simulated engagement of airborne targets. In this exercise, the targets were preset, scanned with the laser target illuminator, and an aim point was held on the target for an extended period. The quadcopter, serving as the airborne target, performed a variety of often highly dynamic manoeuvres at a variety of ranges.

«These successful tests demonstrated that our laser effector has achieved a high degree of technological maturity. This puts us in a leading position in the development of laser effectors», said Thomas Gottschild, Managing Director of MBDA Deutschland GmbH.

The tests verified the functionality of the overall system and the performance capability of the further improved tracking system. In spite of often adverse weather conditions, including heavy rain and storms, the system was able to successfully track all the targets involved in the trials. During night trials, the demonstrator proved capable of acquiring and tracking targets even under conditions of poor visibility. In other experiments, the laser team simulated a defence against a swarming attack, which required rapid switching between targets approaching from different directions.

The new system demonstrator builds on the experience gained in previous laser activities and proven technologies. It is integrated in a standard container and is equipped with a highly dynamic 360-degree beam guidance system. The MBDA Deutschland solution features high precision, scalability of effect and low logistics costs. The sophisticated mirror optics are capable of harnessing higher laser power levels than those available today. The laser effector thus has enormous future potential.

Navy

Finnish minehunter

November 17, 2016 Dmitry Shulgin

On 2 November 2016, at a ceremony held this morning at Porto Lotti (La Spezia), Intermarine, a subsidiary of the Immsi S.p.A. industrial group, handed over the Vahterpaa, a minehunter in the Katanpää class, to the Finnish Navy.

The Finnish Navy’s third and final Mine Hunter, Coastal (MHC), Vahterpaa, has now been handed over by the Intermarine shipyard. Seen here is Katanpää, the lead ship of this small class of advanced minehunters (Internet photo)

The formal documentation ratifying the handover of the vessel was signed by the Commander of the Finnish Navy, Rear Admiral Veijo Taipalus, and by the CEO of Intermarine, Livio Corghi.

«Intermarine is a world leader in the design, construction and fitting of special military vessels with particularly stringent operating requirements; these are highly advanced ships which require outstanding levels of expertise at every stage», said Immsi Group Chairman Roberto Colaninno. «Over the years, Intermarine has established a strong position on the international market thanks to the excellent reputation gained as a supplier of special vessels such as this minehunter to the world’s most illustrious navies, and the completion of the order for the Finnish Navy with today’s handover was an important challenge culminating in a success in which we take great pride».

With this delivery, Intermarine has completed the order to supply the Finnish Navy with three minehunters.

The three vessels in the Katanpää class built for the Finnish Navy are the result of a lengthy process to perfect and adapt the Intermarine basic project to the customer’s specific requirements.

A Katanpää class minehunter is 171.9-foot/52.4-meter long LOA with an approximately 32.8-foot/10-meter beam (for a total displacement of 680 tonnes) and is powered by two diesel engines supporting a top speed of more than 13 knots/14 mph/24 km/h. The structure – including the hull – is made with a new type of glass fibre developed specifically for this project, and is built employing the «Unstiffened Monocoque Single Skin» construction technique used for all Intermarine minehunters. The superstructures are made from a «sandwich» material, with two layers of glass fibre and carbon fibre around a balsa wood heart, and built using the vacuum infusion process.

Katanpää class minehunter present a new capability of Mine Countermeasures including minehunting and disposal capabilities along with the already existing minehunting capabilities in the Finnish Navy.

The Procurement is mainly for homeland defense. The Katanpää class minehunter capability can also be used for co-operation between other authorities e.g. seabed mapping, underwater search and identification operations and EOD-operations.

Katanpää class minehunter are EU and NATO operations capable and are designed for international crises handling operations if needed.

Confirming its international leadership in this sector of defence vessels, Intermarine has already built or is building at its facilities, 43 minehunters, in 10 different configurations for the Navies of 9 countries, including the USA, Australia and Italy.

Intermarine Hands Over «Vahterpaa» Minehunter to the Finnish Navy; completion of contract for three minehunters

TECHNICAL DETAILS

The «Katanpää» class mine countermeasures vessels are based on the «Lat Ya» class vessel constructed by Intermarine for the Thai Navy, which entered service in 1999.

The hull of the Katanpää class vessels (length 171.9-feet/52.4 m, width approximately 32.8 feet/10 m, displacement 680 t) is made from glass fibre reinforced plastic, using the special «unstiffened monocoque single skin» construction technique adopted for all Intermarine mine hunters, but with a new type of glass fibre developed specifically for this project.

The superstructures are built in a «sandwich» configuration (two layers in fibreglass and carbon fibre encasing an internal balsa layer) with the vacuum infusion method, already successfully used by Intermarine to build 42.65 feet/13 m patrol boats and for the bridges of 91.86 and 118.11 feet/28 and 36 m patrol boats, but employed for the first time for minehunter superstructures.

The vessels are equipped with two 1 MW MTU 8V 396TE74 diesel engines, each fitted with a five-blade epicycloidal «Voith Schneider» propeller (size 18”, model GH/135-PP), for a top speed of more than 13 knots/14 mph/24 km/h.

For maximum navigation precision in the tricky waters of the Finnish archipelago, propulsion is implemented with two Schottel tunnel bow thrusters.

The vessels feature a complete and highly versatile «Mission Suite», enabling the Finnish Navy to use the MCMVs as tool boxes, selecting the best system for the mission in relation to environmental and operating conditions.

The Katanpää Class MCMVs are fitted with an advanced command and control system (supplied by Atlas Elektronik, with six consoles) and latest-generation mine hunting and neutralisation equipment.

The ability to search for and locate mines is largely based on the use of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), including the HUGIN 1000 (produced by Kongsberg) and the REMUS (produced by Hydroid), flanked by an Atlas HMS-12M hull-mounted sonar and a side scan sonar (supplied by Klein).

Mine destruction capability is guaranteed by a Double Eagle II reusable ROV (from Saab Underwater System) and a Sea Fox underwater vehicle (from Atlas Elektronik).

Armaments consist of a Bofors 40/70-mm gun supplied by the Finnish Navy.

Main technical data

Dimensions	172 × 32.4 feet/52.45 × 9.87 m
Displacement	680 t
Speed	13 knots/14 mph/24 km/h
Crew	34 people
Range	1,500 NM/1,726 miles/2,778 km
Engines	2 × MTU 8V 396 TE74 (2 × 1000 kW)
Propulsion	2 × «Voith Schneider» epi-cycloidal propellers
Armaments	Bofors 40-mm gun
Sonar	Hull-mounted, Atlas HMS – 12M
R.O.V.s.	SeaFox + Double Eagle
Command and control	Atlas IMCMS-FN
Underwater vehicles	AUV 1 – Kongsberg Hugin 1000
	AUV 2 – Hydroid Remus
	Side Scan Sonar – Klein

Air Force

Viper in Romania

November 16, 2016 Dmitry Shulgin

Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company, is pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with IAR – Ghimbav Brasov Group, a leading company in the Romanian defense and aerospace industry.

Romanian aerospace manufacturer will engage with American manufacturer to discuss potential collaboration on AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter

«Bell Helicopter is a strong global partner and we are pleased to have this opportunity», said Ion Dumitrescu, general director of IAR – Ghimbav Brasov. «We look forward to exploring different avenues of cooperation on one of the most capable platforms in the world».

IAR – Ghimbav Brasov specializes in aeronautical structures and electrical work, with a special emphasis on MRO capabilities for helicopters. The company has been in operation for more than eight decades and is well positioned to provide support for the AH-1Z «Viper» attack helicopter should it be purchased by the Romanian government.

«We are excited about potential collaboration with a company as well regarded as IAR – Ghimbav Brasov. Their talented engineers and specialists make them a leader in the Romanian defense industry», said Lisa Atherton, Bell Helicopter executive vice president of Military Business. «The potential for the AH-1Z Viper in Romania is exciting, and the AH-1Z should be a very strong candidate in addressing the Romanian government’s need for an advanced, reliable platform for security and defense».

NATO guidelines published in 2015 encourage member nations to dedicate 2% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for defense spending. The goal is to modernize equipment and enhance capabilities in order to more effectively contribute to national and regional defense. Many governments in Eastern Europe are increasing defense spending to better support the goal of defensive strength and deterrence in response to increasing regional threats. The government of Romania continues to commit funding and resources to help meet the NATO threshold, and expect to exceed their current 1.7% defense spending level in the coming years.

The AH-1Z Viper is the most advanced anti-tank attack helicopter in production. It is designed in partnership with the United States Marine Corps and carries the widest range of precision weapons and most advanced sensors available. The Viper has a combat radius greater than 149 miles/240 km when carrying 16 Hellfire missiles, 2 AIM-9’s, and 650 20-mm rounds. The Viper offers more capability than other available attack platforms with lower acquisition, maintenance and life-cycle costs.

Air Force

First Avenger ER flight

November 15, 2016 Dmitry Shulgin

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems solutions, today announced the successful first flight of its new Avenger Extended Range (ER) aircraft, an extended range version of its multi-mission jet-powered Predator C Avenger which has accumulated over 13,000 flight hours to date. The flight occurred on October 27th at the company’s Gray Butte Flight Operations Facility in Palmdale, California.

Avenger Continues to Grow in Endurance and Capability

«The first flight of Avenger ER is a significant achievement in the evolution of Predator C’s proven performance and multi-mission capability», said Linden Blue, CEO, GA-ASI. «The increased endurance and high payload capacity will deliver tremendous capability to our customers, who need persistent situational awareness and strike mission affordability».

With an increased wingspan of 76 feet/23.16 m and 2,200 pounds/998 kg of additional fuel, Avenger ER extends the legacy Avenger’s already impressive endurance from 15 hours to 20 hours. The RPA provides an optimal balance of long loiter Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and precision-strike capability, supporting a wide array of sensors and weapons payloads to perform ISR and ground support missions. Like the legacy Avenger, Avenger ER features avionics based upon the combat-proven Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper, has a 44-foot/13.4-meter long fuselage, 3,000-pound/1,361-kg payload bay, and is capable of flying at over 400 KTAS/460 mph/741 km/h. Avenger ER, along with its predecessor, is designed to carry payloads such as the all-weather GA-ASI Lynx Multi-mode Radar, the MS-177 Electro-optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensor, and the 2,000-pound/907-kg Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM).

GA-ASI developed Avenger on Internal Research and Development (IRAD) funds with the intent of making a RPA that has a quick-response, armed reconnaissance capability. First flown in April 2009, the aircraft’s fuselage was extended by four feet in 2012 to accommodate larger payloads and fuel. Avenger received a FAA-issued Experimental Certificate (EC) in 2016, enabling it to operate in the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS).

Avenger is a highly advanced, next-generation Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA)

Navy

Acceptance Trials

November 14, 2016 Dmitry Shulgin

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division announced today it successfully completed the third and final round of sea trials for the guided missile destroyer USS John Finn (DDG-113). The Arleigh Burke-class (DDG-51) destroyer spent two days in the Gulf of Mexico testing the ship’s various systems for acceptance trials.

The five-inch Mk-45 naval gun system aboard the destroyer USS John Finn (DDG-113) was tested during the second of three planned sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico (Photo by Andrew Young/HII)

«The success of DDG-113 acceptance trials moves us one step closer to delivering a quality, state-of-the-art surface combatant to the U.S. Navy», said Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias. «For nearly three decades, the DDG-51 program has served as the backbone of our shipyard, and today we are proud to continue that legacy. Our shipbuilders are eager to show our U.S. Navy customer the positive impact of a skilled workforce and a hot production line can have on the DDG-51 program».

The U.S. Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) spent time onboard evaluating the ship’s overall performance during the final set of sea trials. The USS Navy required three sea trials as part of the restart effort on the DDG-51 program. Now shipbuilders will put the final finishing touches on the ship for its delivery in December.

«The shipbuilders are ready to get back to work on DDG-113», said George Nungesser, Ingalls’ DDG program manager. «They know acceptance trials are a vital part of the process, but it’s not the end of the road. Our shipbuilders take pride in what they do every day because they know how important these ships are to the defense of the nation and to the safety of sailors serving aboard them».

USS John Finn DDG-113 is named in honor of the U.S. Navy’s first Medal of Honor recipient of World War II. John Finn received the honor for machine-gunning Japanese warplanes for over two hours during the December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, despite being shot in the foot and shoulder and suffering numerous shrapnel wounds. He retired as a lieutenant after 30 years of service and died at age 100 in 2010.

Ingalls has delivered 28 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to the U.S. Navy. Other destroyers currently under construction at Ingalls include USS Ralph Johnson (DDG-114), USS Paul Ignatius (DDG-117), USS Delbert D. Black (DDG-119) and USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG-121). Construction of USS Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG-123) is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2017.

During Bravo sea trials on the Aegis destroyer USS John Finn (DDG-113) October 24-26, Ingalls’ test and trial personnel were able to fire one SM-2 missile each from the ship’s forward and after Mk-41 Vertical Launch System (VLS)

Ship Characteristics

Length Overall	510 feet/156 m
Beam – Waterline	59 feet/18 m
Draft	30.5 feet/9.3 m
Displacement – Full Load	9,217 tons/9,363 metric tons
Power Plant	4 General electric LM 2500-30 gas turbines; 2 shafts; 2 CRP (Contra-Rotating) propellers; 100,000 shaft horsepower/75,000 kW
Speed	in excess of 30 knots/34.5 mph/55.5 km/h
Range	4,400 NM/8,149 km at 20 knots/23 mph/37 km/h
Crew	380 total: 32 Officers, 27 CPO (Chief Petty Officer), 321 OEM
Surveillance	SPY-1D Phased Array Radar and Aegis Combat System (Lockheed Martin); SPS-73(V) Navigation; SPS-67(V)3 Surface Search; 3 SPG-62 Illuminator; SQQ-89(V)6 sonar incorporating SQS-53C hull mounted and SQR-19 towed array sonars used with Mark-116 Mod 7 ASW fire control system
Electronics/Countermeasures	SLQ-32(V)3; Mark-53 Mod 0 Decoy System; Mark-234 Decoy System; SLQ-25A Torpedo Decoy; SLQ-39 Surface Decoy; URN-25 TACAN; UPX-29 IFF System; Kollmorgen Mark-46 Mod 1 Electro-Optical Director
Aircraft	2 embarked SH-60 helicopters ASW operations; RAST (Recovery Assist, Secure and Traverse)
Armament	2 Mark-41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) with 90 Standard, Vertical Launch ASROC (Anti-Submarine Rocket) & Tomahawk ASM (Air-to-Surface Missile)/LAM (Loitering Attack Missile); 5-in (127-mm)/54 (62) Mark-45 gun; 2 (1) CIWS (Close-In Weapon System); 2 Mark-32 triple 324-mm torpedo tubes for Mark-46 or Mark-50 ASW torpedos

The guided missile destroyer USS John Finn (DDG-113) recently completed the last of three planned sea trials and is scheduled for delivery to the U.S. Navy in December (Photo by Andrew Young/HII)