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Weapon Systems News

08 Nov 2023

U.S. Navy Takes Delivery of Ship to Shore Connector, Landing Craft, Air Cushion 108

Credit: U.S. Navy

The U.S. Navy took delivery of the next-generation landing craft, Ship to Shore Connector (SSC), Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) 108, from Textron Systems."These next-generation craft provide our Navy and Marine Corps team with essential agility and speed to complete their missions,” said Capt. Jason Grabelle, program manager for Amphibious Assault and Connectors Programs, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships. “SSC provides the fleet with agility and speed to assist with current and future mission requirements.”LCACs are built with configurations…

12 Sep 2023

OSK Design Unveils Arctic Frigate Design

Source: OSK Design

Denmark-based OSK Design has unveiled its latest design, an Arctic frigate designed for operations in the North Atlantic, High North and Greenland regions.One of the notable features of the vessel is its fully operational helicopter, a critical asset for Arctic operations, allowing for airborne scouting, transport, and search and rescue missions in the challenging Arctic environment.The Arctic frigate is classed for year-round operation in the Arctic, capable of withstanding the most challenging ice conditions while maintaining optimal performance.

31 Jul 2023

$1.7B Contract to Upgrade Horizon-class Frigates

A $1.7B contract was signed to upgrade the weapons systems on Italian and French Horizon-class frigates. Image courtesy Fincantieri

OCCAR (Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation) awarded Naviris and Eurosam a contract for the mid-life upgrade (MLU) of the Italian and French Horizon-class frigates. The two co-contractors, Naviris and Eurosam, will work in close collaboration with their shareholders, Fincantieri and Naval Group for the frigate, MBDA Italia, MBDA France and Thales for the new generation of the Principal Anti-Air Missile System & Long-Range Radar (PAAMS & LRR).The value of the contract for Naviris and eurosam is $1.7B.

29 Jun 2023

Damen to Build Four Anti-Submarine Warfare Frigates for Dutch, Belgian Navies

Credit: Damen

The Dutch Ministry of Defence, Damen, and Thales have signed the contract for the design, construction, and delivery of four Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Frigates; two for the Netherlands and two for Belgium, focused on anti-submarine warfare.The agreement was signed on HNLMS Karel Doorman, the Royal Netherlands Navy's largest ship, by the Dutch Defence State Secretary Christophe van der Maat, Damen Shipyards Group CEO Arnout Damen, Damen Naval Managing Director Roland Briene…

17 Mar 2023

US Navy Accepts Delivery of LCAC 105

A landing craft air cushion (LCAC) in operations for the U.S. Navy. (Photo: Matthew Cavenaile / U.S. Navy)

The U.S. Navy announced it accepted delivery of the next-generation landing craft, Ship to Shore Connector (SSC), Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) 105, March 8.LCACs are built with configurations, dimensions, and clearances similar to the legacy LCACs they replace – ensuring that this latest air cushion vehicle is fully compatible with existing well deck-equipped amphibious ships, the Expeditionary Sea Base and the Expeditionary Transfer Dock. LCACs are capable of carrying a 60-75 ton payload.

20 Feb 2023

Anschütz SYNTACS Aims to Enhance Coastal Protection

Image courtesy AnschĂĽtz

Anschütz’ SYNTACS command and control system provides operators aboard and ashore with comprehensive situational awareness and full command of the scene from a single workstation.SYNTACS is sensor-agnostic and features advanced tactical target management that analyzes and correlates data from multiple onboard navigational and surveillance systems. It compiles an operational picture from the data and presents the operator with a clearly structured dashboard for tactical navigation…

19 Feb 2023

Lockheed Martin Scores $2 Billion US Navy Contract

(Image: Lockheed Martin)

The U.S.

17 Feb 2022

Want to stop a Drug Smuggling Boat? Try out a High Power Microwave Weapon Systems

Nhan Bui, a statistician with the High Power Microwave (HPM) Weapon Systems Division at Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, works on an HPM system. HPM is designed to be a safer alternative to other vessel stopping mitigations, using nonlethal methods.  Phouto courtesy Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division

Videos of U.S. military personnel stopping drug-smuggling boats are exhilarating and frightening. They are not Hollywood movies but real-life, dangerous encounters on the high seas. In each of those instances, the use of force applies. The High Power Microwave (HPM) Weapon Systems Division at Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) makes those encounters safer for everyone involved.“A significant portion of what we do focuses on vessel stopping,” said Kevin Cogley, HPM Weapon Systems Division head.

24 Dec 2021

US Navy Seizes Weapons from Fishing Vessel in the Arabian Sea

U.S. service members from patrol coastal ship USS Typhoon (PC 5) interdict a stateless fishing vessel carrying illicit weapons while transiting international waters in the North Arabian Sea, Dec. 20, 2021. (Photo: U.S. Navy)

U.S. 5th Fleet ships seized approximately 1,400 AK-47 assault rifles and 226,600 rounds of ammunition from a stateless fishing vessel during a flag verification boarding in accordance with customary international law in the North Arabian Sea, Dec. 20.U.S. Navy patrol coastal ships USS Tempest (PC 2) and USS Typhoon (PC 5) found the weapons during a search conducted by embarked U.S. Coast Guard personnel. The illicit weapons and ammunition were later transported to guided-missile…

11 Nov 2021

U.S. Navy: Constellation-class Brings Frigates Back to the U.S. Fleet

Artist’s concept of the new Constellation class of guided missile frigates.  (Fincantieri Marinette Marine)

Introducing a new class of warship can be fraught with pain, and the first ship is always the hardest – almost always behind schedule and over budget. And trying something new and transformational is even harder.The U.S. Navy knows this from experience. That’s one reason why the Navy is opting for a lower risk design for its next class of guided missile frigates (FFGs).Just about every new class has experienced a rough start. Although the USS Arleigh Burke-class of guided missile destroyers (DDGs) today represent the largest and most successful class of warships…

16 Feb 2021

US Navy Seizes Weapons from Dhows off Somalia

(Photo: Louis Thompson Staats IV / U.S. Navy)

The U.S. Navy seized thousands of weapons from two stateless dhows during a maritime security operation off the coast of Somalia last week.A boarding team from guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill’s (DDG 81) discovered the illicit cargo during a flag verification boarding in international waters, and the confiscation took place February 11 and 12.The cache of weapons consisted of thousands of AK-47 assault rifles, light machine guns, heavy sniper rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers…

27 Jan 2021

Stadt, Norway MOD Inks Development Contract

Photo: STADT AS

MOD of Norway signed an agreement to take part in a development project to extend the range and features of the STADT Stealth Naval Electric Propulsion.Due to increased use of electric and electronic weapon-systems, navies globally show increased interest for electric propulsion to power future navy vessels. Overall goals include minimizing carbon footprint, lowering power consumption with the use of new low emission power sources, while also increasing operational range and defense capabilities by stealth operations.

14 Jul 2020

USMI’s Family Recipe

Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen conduct a Maritime External Air Transportation System training evolution in Moses Lake, Wash. (U.S. Army photo by Christopher Prows)

Barry Dreyfus Jr., CEO of United States Marine Inc. (USMI), doesn’t keep the recipe to his company’s success a secret. In fact, it’s displayed plainly for all to see on the homepage of USMI’s website: family, integrity and quality. These have been cornerstones of the 36-year-old firm, today regarded as one of the nation’s premier military small craft builders.Headquartered in Gulfport, Miss., with a maintenance/repair facility in Chesapeake, Va., USMI is a fully integrated manufacturer of military, patrol and special warfare boats available in lengths from 21 feet to 90 feet.

22 Oct 2019

Gibbs & Cox: Historic Ship Designer Turns 90

The SS United States. Photo: Gibbs & Cox

Hindsight, they say is 20/20, and in this regard renowned design house Gibbs & Cox has nine decades in the rear view mirror on which to lean. We recently caught up with Chris Deegan, President and CEO of Gibbs & Cox, celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2019, to discuss the organization’s rich history and promising future.When you took the top spot at Gibbs & Cox in 2016, what were your goals for the organization?As a company that designs everything from yachts to work boats to destroyers, I wanted to reassert G&C as the global leader in the naval architecture and marine engineering industry.

21 Jun 2019

India to builds Six Submarines for $6.5B

The Indian Navy has issued an Expression of Interest (EoI) for shortlisting potential strategic partners (SPs) for the construction of six P-75 (I) submarines, a major initiative under the 'Make In India' costing nearly  INR 45,000 crore ($6.5B)."This is the second project being undertaken under the latest SP Model, with the first being the procurement of 111 Naval Utility Helicopters (NUH). This would provide a major boost to the indigenous design and construction capability of submarines in India, in addition to bringing in the latest submarine design and technologies as part of the project," said a press release from the government.The case was approved by the Defense Acquisition Council on 31 Jan 19.

27 May 2019

Port Everglades to Commission USS Paul Ignatius

Port Everglades, located in Greater Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, Florida,  hosted the U.S. Navy’s Commissioning Ceremony of its newest Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, the USS Paul IgnatiusLast week, the Broward County Commission voted unanimously to waive dockage charges for the ship’s call and provide a cruise terminal for the Commissioning Committee to hold weeklong events.“We are honored that the U.S. Navy recognizes that Port Everglades can meet their unique needs,” said Broward County Mayor Mark Bogen. “For 29 years, Fleet Week Port Everglades was produced as a signature annual event for South Florida, as well as the Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and for the nation, bringing tens of thousands of visiting military personnel and guests to our community.

08 Mar 2019

IRClass Wins ASW Corvettes for Indian Navy

Mr. Suresh Sinha (Photo: IRClass)

The Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass) has won an order for providing classification services for a series of 8 Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvettes to be constructed for the Indian Navy. The order was awarded under competitive bidding in which other classification societies participated, after qualifying stringent technical requirements.The ships are to be constructed at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd, Kolkata and will be built to IRClass’ Naval Rules 2015.These ships are designed for combating threats posed by submarines and special underwater craft…

12 Sep 2018

New Strategies to Guard Against Future Security Threats

©Hamburg Messe und Congress, Rolf Otzipka

The international conference on maritime security and defense (MS&D), held for the seventh time in Hamburg during the SMM maritime trade fair, focused on current and future challenges to maritime security and defense. Twenty naval, industrial and science experts discussed topics such as how to protect international ocean trading routes, when and how to deploy naval forces on crisis missions, as well as cyber security issues.The welcome address opened the event with somber words as Rear Admiral Thorsten Kähler…

12 Mar 2018

SECNAV Names Newest Destroyer in Honor of U.S. Marine

Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer named the next Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer in honor of Marine Corps Vietnam veteran and Navy Cross recipient Lance Cpl. Patrick Gallagher. In 1966, Gallagher, who immigrated from Ballyhaunis, Ireland in 1962, joined the Marine Corps where he served in H-Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division during Operation Hastings in the Republic of Vietnam. "Lance Corporal Gallagher is an American hero. His exemplary service in defense of our nation and his strength and sacrifice leaves an example for all servicemen and women to emulate," said Spencer. Gallagher was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions on July 18, 1966, when he selflessly threw his body on an incoming grenade, shielding his fellow Marines.

02 Feb 2018

Shipbuilding: Frigate Normandie Floated Out

French naval frigate FREMM Normandie was floated out February 1 at the Naval Group  shipyard in Lorient, France (Photo: Naval Group)

French shipbuilder Naval Group said it floated the FREMM multi-mission frigate Normandie on February 1, roughly one year after the start of hull assembly in the building dock on the Lorient site. The eighth FREMM frigate to be built in Lorient and the sixth in a series ordered by OCCAR (Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation) on behalf of the DGA (French Defense Procurement Agency - Direction Générale de l’Armement) for the French Navy, the FREMM Normandie was taken out of…

27 Dec 2017

Davie Delivers Canada’s New Naval Support Ship

(Photo: Davie Shipbuilding)

Commissioning and sea-trials have been completed for Canada’s first Resolve-Class Naval Support Ship, Asterix, the first new naval support ship to enter service with the Royal Canadian Navy in more than five decades. The ship, which is also the first large naval platform to be delivered from a Canadian shipyard in over 20 years and the first naval ship to be delivered since the launch of the National Shipbuilding Strategy, was delivered on time, to budget and at an internationally competitive cost…

07 Nov 2017

Revival of Training Capability

A 20-foot shipping container on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, helps the Australian Navy run one of the world’s few remaining shore-to-sea live firing training sites. Since 1959, West Head Gunnery Range which occupies an area of 16 hectares has provided the Royal Australian Navy with live gunnery training for close range and medium calibre shipborne weapon systems, navigation radar and miscellaneous communications and support equipment. One of the many systems used for safety during live firings and also training is the Electro-Optical Tracking System. Also fitted to most major fleet units, the system is highly accurate multi-sensor tracking system used to track and locate targets in aerial warfare.

14 Jun 2017

US Navy: Bigger is Better, but at What Cost?

U.S. Navy forces and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force routinely train together to improve interoperability and readiness to provide stability and security for the Indo-Asia Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Z.A. Landers)

The U.S. Navy has a balanced fleet, but it wants to grow bigger and better. Will the budget allow both? Maritime Reporter's March 2017 cover story on the U.S. Navy was all about the numbers. There exists several plans to grow the fleet beyond the current number of 308 ships, the Mitre recommendation of 414 ships, the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessment 340-ship proposal, and the Navy’s decision to grow the fleet to 355 ships, and the Trump administration’s 350. With so many numbers being bandied about, there are even more suggestions on how to get there.