Australian Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

Damen Shipyards Group has announced the successful completion of sea trials of the Multi-role Aviation Training Vessel (MATV) MV Sycamore. The sea trials included testing of all on-board military systems. Following final vessel handover, MV Sycamore will perform diverse training and support duties for the Royal Australian Navy.

In addition to the more traditional elements of sea trials such as manoeuvring and speed tests, the MV Sycamore was put through her paces with an extensive testing programme of all on-board military systems. This included testing of the air traffic radar, flight deck lighting and firefighting, flight deck communication systems and helicopter traverse installation procedures.

The results of the sea trials were successful. All systems and processes of the vessel were accepted by representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Helicopter training tool

“We are proud to hear that the MV Sycamore has passed her first tests with flying colours,” says Damen Sales Director Asia Pacific Roland Briene. “Based on Damen’s successful and proven OPV series, the MATV is a very versatile ship.”

The chief role of the vessel will be to provide a training platform for all possible helicopter-related operations, such as helicopter deck landings and take off, helicopter (in-flight) refuelling operations and air traffic control.

Additional humanitarian role

However, Damen’s versatile MATV design will enable the Royal Australian Navy to accomplish numerous other secondary tasks also. To this end, the MV Sycamore will be able to undertake torpedo and mine recovery operations, navigation training, dive support, Officer Sea Familiarisation, target towing and consort duties as well as unmanned aerial vehicle support.

Furthermore, the 94-metre long vessel has a large storage capacity, which gives her the potential to be mobilised in humanitarian relief operations.

The coming weeks will see the MV Sycamore being prepared for her maiden voyage to her home port of Sydney, Australia, where she is expected to arrive at the end of May.

Talking about the future of Damen’s activities in Australia, Mr Briene comments: “We are making headway towards our ambitions of building further vessels for the Australian Navy, having recently submitted out tender for the SEA 1180 Program. It is our intention to work in close concert with local industry for the project, building not only the required vessels, but a sustainable shipbuilding industry for Australia with strong export potential.”

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HMAS Ballarat firing her 5 inch Mk 45 Mod 2 gun during recent exercises in the South China Sea

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The project to supply new destroyers for the Royal Australian Navy continues in earnest with the delivery of the Hobart Class Command Team Trainer and the Aegis block of the future HMAS Sydney now in position.

The Trainer simulates the operations rooms of a destroyer and is a significant improvement on existing command team trainers already in service.

Consisting of mock-ups of a number ship systems, including the Aegis weapon system operator displays control panels and interfaces, the training environment delivery process involved the completion of formal acceptance tests, running over a four-week period and involving the execution of 24 separate test procedures.

Then followed verification and audit against the original design specifications.

Mr Brad Flemming is the Combat System Shore Systems and Services IPT Program Manager and said he was proud of the efforts of his small group of experts.

“Their dedication and hard work has produced a system with the quality and complexity you would expect of a much larger team,” he said.

Concurrently 'Block 709' dubbed 'the heart of the Aegis system' for Sydney was consolidated on 15 March.

Weighing 202 tonnes, it was lifted onto the top of the hull using a crane, where it was joined to blocks 703 and 705, in a process that took only 30 minutes.

The third Destroyer’s team continues to implement the lessons learnt from the previous ships, which has enabled enhanced outfitting of blocks from day one.

Prior to consolidation the aft diesel generator exhaust stack was capped, full paint system application internally and externally, the combat system was prepared and most importantly, the full-fitting of all four Array foundations and lining.

To achieve the fitting of the Array foundations, the team had to work closely with the Accuracy Control Team to achieve foundation flatness of 0.02 millimetres.

NUSHIP Sydney Manager Jason Loveday commented on the importance of the block and its link to the progress of the project.

“The completion of Block 709 signifies a large achievement for the whole team involved," he said.

“Construction on the Block began over two years ago and through lessons learned from the first two ships, we have achieved a 30 per cent improvement in production hours from Ship 02 to Ship 03.

“Over 100, 000 person hours have been spent over the past three years on intensive production planning and hard work, and every member involved should all be very proud of what they have achieved.”

Ship 03 block consolidation continued with blocks 717 and 713 in April, and will be followed by the mast lift expected in early May.

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The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign
Military Sale to the Government of Australia for Anti-Radiation Missiles. The estimated cost is $137.6 million.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this
possible sale on April 27, 2017.

Australia has requested a possible sale of up to seventy (70) AGM-88B High Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles
(HARM) Tactical Missiles; up to forty (40) AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles (AARGM)
Tactical Missiles; up to sixteen (16) CATM-88B HARM Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM); up to sixteen
(16) CATM-88E AARGM CATM; up to twenty-five (25) AGM-88B Control Sections; up to twenty-five (25)
AGM-88B Guidance Sections; up to twenty (20) AGM-88E Control Sections; up to twenty (20) AGM-88E
Guidance Sections; up to forty eight (48) Telemetry/Flight Termination Systems; U.S. Government and
contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services; and other associated support equipment and
services. The total estimated cost is $137.6 million.

This sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve
the security of a major contributor to political stability, security, and economic development in the Western
Pacific. Australia is an important Major non-NATO Ally and partner that contributes significantly to
peacekeeping and humanitarian operations around the world. It is vital to the U.S. national interest to assist our
ally in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability.

Australia is requesting these missiles for its Electronic Attack EA-18G Growler aircraft. The proposed sale
will improve Australia’s capability in current and future coalition efforts. Australia will use this capability as a
deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense. Australia will have no difficultly absorbing
these additional missiles into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support does not alter the basic military balance in the region.
The prime contractors will be Orbital ATK (OA), Ridgecrest, CA, and Raytheon Missile Systems Company,
Tucson, AZ. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of additional U.S. Government or
contractor representatives to travel to Australia.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.

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Jura said:

gosh
Navy's largest ships unable to join Cyclone Debbie emergency response amid engine troubles

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The Navy’s two amphibious assault ships HMAS Canberra and HMAS Adelaide remain tied alongside at Fleet Base East, Sydney while Defence investigates issues with the LHDs’ ‘azipod’ azimuth propulsion systems.

The issue first came to public attention almost a month ago on March 29 when

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that both vessels were out of service after propulsion issues were discovered with HMAS Canberra while it was undertaking first of class flight trials with Army and Navy helicopters off the coast of Queensland in March.

“During these activities, a propulsion issue was identified aboard HMAS Canberra and she is currently alongside in Sydney being inspected,” Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Tim Barrett wrote on the Defence website on March 28.

“As a prudent measure, the same inspections were conducted on HMAS Adelaide and identified emergent issues.

“Having identified these emergent issues the ADF has put in place a very deliberate plan to investigate the issue and resolve it.”

However, the issues with the azipod systems remain unresolved, with an April 25 news story in the

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reporting that “an investigation found maintenance and oil changes were not being done properly”.

This assertion was disputed by Deputy Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Michael Noonan, who wrote a clarifying

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subsequently posted on the Navy Daily website.

“Defence has maintained and operated HMA Ships Canberra and Adelaide in accordance with the builder’s specifications, including the oils and lubricants used in their operation,” RADM Noonan, who is Acting Chief of Navy, wrote.

“Defence’s leadership is not “baffled” by these emergent issues, but it is still too early to determine the full extent of this emergent work. Defence has, and continues to work closely with industry and the original equipment manufacturers, Navantia, Siemens and BAE, to identify the root cause of the issues and develop the most appropriate repair strategy.”

HMAS Canberra was commissioned in November 2014 with HMAS Adelaide following in December 2015, but both ships are yet to be declared full operational.

“Defence has taken prudent measures to ensure the operational test and evaluation period of the vessels is sufficiently thorough to ensure they will serve the nation for decades to come,” wrote RADM Noonan.

He continued that “it remains too early to determine the extent of this emergent work and Defence is working to identify the causes and develop a repair strategy.”

The 27,500 tonnes displacement LHDs are powered by two 11-megawatt Siemens azipod thrusters with dual propellers mounted on 360-degree steerable pods driven by onboard electric motors – electricity for which is generated by the ships’ combined diesel and gas powerplant system. The LHDs’ azipods and plus their twin bow thrusters – similar configurations are fitted to large cruise ships – greatly improve ship manoeuvrability compared to conventional fixed-screw arrangements.

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Jura said:

Apr 3, 2017
and
LHDs remain alongside as Defence investigates propulsion issues
April 26, 2017 by

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Jura said:

this is interesting:
Government of Australia– Anti-Radiation Missiles

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Lethe said:

Why on Earth are we buying old AGM-88Bs when AGM-88E is available?

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...
Australia has requested a possible sale of up to seventy (70) AGM-88B High Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles
(HARM) Tactical Missiles; up to forty (40) AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles (AARGM)
Tactical Missiles; ...

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