Australian Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

bd popeye said:

Are the Aussies going to be able to operate these ships simultaneously? And who's going to man them? I hope they've not bitten off more than they can chew.

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SouthernSky said:

Australia will have no problem operating these ships concurrently if and when required.

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Pacific Sentinel said:

Another exciting project milestone for NUSHIP Canberra has been achieved with the installation of four Typhoon stabilised weapons systems onboard.

For weapon enthusiasts, this advanced weapons system includes a 25 mm M242 Bushmaster chain gun and a coaxially mounted M240 7.62mm machine gun. For those not so conversant with weapons systems, the Typhoon is a large gun with a rapid rate of fire.

Canberra’s Gunnery Officer, Lieutenant Adam Simeoni, helped to explain the size and scale of the weapon.

“The typhoon is smaller than the main gun you see on a Guided Missile Frigate, but it has a much higher rate of fire. While higher rates of fire are usually associated with small ‘person-operated’ automatic machine guns, the Typhoon has a much larger round,” said Lieutenant Simeoni.

“Basically, this means the Typhoon has a high rate of fire and decent sized rounds. This combination provides Canberra with a very effective and potent force protection weapons system, specifically suited to the requirements of the LHD platform,’ he said.

The Typhoon has a rate of fire of up to 180 rounds a minute and can be operated from the Operations Room via the Combat Management System (SAAB 9LV Mk4) or from the independent remote operating consoles, also located in the Operations Room.

The weapons have also been mounted in such a way to cover a 360 degree arc of fire around the platform. Two are mounted forward with one located on the starboard gun deck and the other on the port gun sponson. The aft mounts are located on either side of the quarterdeck, just behind and below the flight deck.

“When operated through the Combat Management System, the Typhoon provides an increased level of functionality that boosts its effectiveness as an all-round force protection defence system featuring capabilities not before seen in the RAN,” said Lieutenant Simeoni.

The Typhoon will be operated by both Boatswains Mates and Combat System Operators, depending on the mode of operation. A team of three Electronic Technician (Weapons) personnel will maintain the guns.

“The operators and maintainers have all completed the courses on how to maintain and operate the weapons system and are raring to go,” said Lieutenant Simeoni.

“We are all looking forward to testing and operating the system during First of Class Trials at sea next year” he said.

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Jeff Head said:

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Equation said:

Wow, I would like to know how did they make the barrel to withstand that rate of fire with larger rounds? That's impressive.

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Ultimate step in a broad and long evaluation process
This live test marks the end of an intensive evaluation campaign that took place over several years. Many firing tests were carried out to check the torpedo in various complex situations: in tropical waters, very shallow waters (<40m), long distance (stand off distance) and against typical submarines counter measure systems.

With a success rate of over 90% during the test campaign, the MU90 has demonstrated its ability to fulfill its missions whatever the environment and scenario. This success has validated its acceptance into operational service with the RAN.

The MU90 EUROTORP in "pole position"
These results open the way to new opportunities for the MU90 torpedo which could also also be fitted onboard RAN maritime patrol aircraft and helicopters. According the the RAN: "The MU90 torpedo significantly improves the anti-submarine warfare performance of all surface warships in the fleet. This weapon provides the RAN with a stand off submarine engagement capability, unparalleled among all other lightweight torpedoes."

Two more navies just acquired the MU90 in 2013, which brings the number of MU90 users to eight navies worldwide.

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Today marks an important milestone for the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) project with the laying of the keel for the second Hobart Class destroyer Brisbane at Techport Australia in Adelaide. AWD Alliance CEO Rod Equid said the event is a long-standing shipyard and naval tradition marking the start of the hull consolidation phase for Brisbane - the second of three DDG destroyers being built for the Royal Australian Navy as part of Australia’s largest approved major project with the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO).

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World Maritime News said:

February 3rd marked an important milestone for the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) project with the laying of the keel for the second Hobart Class destroyer Brisbane at Techport Australia in Adelaide.

AWD Alliance CEO Rod Equid said that the event is a long-standing shipyard and naval tradition marking the start of the hull consolidation phase for Brisbane – the second of three DDG destroyers being built for the Royal Australian Navy as part of Australia’s largest approved major project with the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO).

“As we celebrate the start of the consolidation phase for Brisbane, we also mark progress on Ship 1 Hobart. All 31 blocks have now been erected on the hardstand in readiness for the load-out and set-to-work of the Combat System,” Mr Equid said.

“We have made significant strides over the past year on this first-of-class build, and I am proud of everyone within the AWD Alliance for their hard work to get us where we are today. We are now working hard in preparation for the launch of Hobart with as much equipment as possible being loaded out over the coming months.”

“Once Hobart is floated off, Brisbane will take prominence on the hardstand of the Common User Facility where we will see the ship take shape. One of the next key milestones for Hobart will be the activation of the combat system following the successful integration testing at our land-based facilities.”

Mr Equid commended the highly-skilled project workforce which includes about 1,900 people in the AWD Alliance, and a total of about 2,850 people working across the country on the project.

“It is a complex and challenging project which has a talented and professional national workforce from the core Alliance Participants ASC, Raytheon Australia and the Government’s DMO. This is combined with the support and contribution of subcontractors and suppliers who have helped to build and strengthen our national shipbuilding capability in readiness for future projects,” Mr Equid said. “The Alliance model has enabled our teams to remain focused on successful outcomes whilst working together to overcome challenges along the way.”

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World Maritime News said:

The hull of HMAS Adelaide, one of the two biggest ships to ever sail with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), was welcomed to Melbourne today by Premier Denis Napthine.

The Adelaide joins HMAS Canberra, which arrived here in October 2012, as part of the Landing ship Helicopter Dock (LHD) project for the Royal Australian Navy.

The Adelaide and her sister ship Canberra are each 230 metres long, weigh 27,000 tonnes and can carry 1,100 personnel, 100 armoured vehicles and 12 helicopters.

They are multipurpose ships that can support disaster response and humanitarian relief missions – each containing a 40-bed hospital with two operating theatres, an intensive care ward, laboratory and X-ray facilities.

Both ships are being completed at the BAE Systems’ shipyards at Williamstown, which will involve modules for the combat, communications, and ship management systems and final fit-out of all operational compartments.

Dr Napthine said the LHD project would dramatically boost Australia’s national security and its ability to support neighbouring countries in the region.

“The complex, high-value and innovative work being undertaken on the Adelaide and the Canberra demonstrates Victoria’s strengths in defence and advanced manufacturing technologies,” Dr Napthine said.

“Our Government is committed to working with BAE Williamstown and with our defence and manufacturing industry in general to win more work on major naval projects and provide both a viable and secure future for Victoria.

“This includes planned and proposed projects such as the two Cantabria class replenishment ships, the replacement of 24 Armidale Class Patrol Boat and replacement of the Anzac Class frigates with six Future Frigates.

“The Victorian Government is working constructively with the Federal Government to ensure a strong and leading role for Victoria in these projects.

“The LHD project shows what Victorian manufacturing can deliver for our future defence needs while securing a strong and clear future for the BAE Williamstown shipyard and manufacturing supply chains across the state.”

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Sydney Morining Herald said:

Australia scrambled an air force surveillance plane earlier this month to monitor an unannounced Chinese military exercise that took the emerging superpower's ships closer to Australian territory than ever before.

In what observers say is a significant strategic development, China carried out combat simulations at the beginning of the month between Christmas Island and Indonesia in an apparent flexing of its growing naval muscle.

"It shows how much the region is changing": Professor Hugh White. Photo: Sasha Woolley

China had not announced the exercise. When Australia became aware that the three Chinese vessels were sailing across the waters to the north, the Royal Australian Air Force sent an AP-3C Orion maritime surveillance plane from RAAF Base Edinburgh, near Adelaide, to observe.

The Chinese flotilla - two destroyers and a landing ship able to carry hundreds of marines - came closer than the People's Liberation Army Navy ships had ever come while carrying out such an exercise. It was the first time China had carried out a military simulation in Australia's maritime approaches.

The three warships came through the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, skirted along the southern side of Java - taking them close to Christmas Island - before turning north through the Lombok Strait next to Bali.

Analysts stressed China's move was legal - taking place in international waters - and not inherently hostile. But it did constitute a signal by Beijing that it meant to become a truly global naval power, which fundamentally changed Australia's strategic position. Rory Medcalf, director of the Lowy Institute's international security program, said China was sending a message it considered the Indian Ocean part of its maritime domain as well as the Pacific.

''It should focus Australian minds because for decades Australian defence policy has been based on the view that Indonesia is between us and the great powers of East Asia. That's no longer quite the case,'' he said.

The signal was directed not at Australia but to the Asia-Pacific region more broadly - including a message to the United States and India that they could not blockade the vital sea lanes through the Strait of Malacca in the event of a crisis of conflict with China.

Hugh White, professor of strategic studies at the Australian National University, said the exercise was ''a very vivid demonstration of how far and fast those changes are happening''.

''It doesn't mean that this exercise is threatening to Australia but it does show how much the region is changing and how dangerous it is to assume - as successive Australian governments have done - that China can rise economically … without it making a fundamental strategic difference to the region.''

A spokesman for Defence Minister David Johnston said Australia had not been informed in advance but there had been no obligation for China to do so.

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