Naval Systems News

The future USNS Apalachicola (EPF 13) is performing a series of planned test events assessing autonomous capabilities integrated into the shipboard configuration, demonstrating that a large ship can become a self-driving platform.Known as Unmanned Logistics Prototype trials, each test event increases the perception capabilities and complexity of behaviors demonstrated by the autonomous systems. Test evolutions to date include point-to-point autonomous navigation, vessel handling…

Kongsberg Maritime's active sonar suite and bottom navigation technology has been selected for installation on Type 212CD class submarines for both the Norwegian and German navies.The contract was awarded through a comparative and thorough process governed by Kongsberg Thyssen Atlas JV (kta naval systems) and tkMS (thyssenKrupp marine systems) with another vendor(s).The Kongsberg technology package consists of SA9510S MKII Mine Avoidance and Navigation Sonars (MANS) plus a Bottom Navigation System (BNS) containing EM2040 MIL multibeam echo sounders and an EA640 echo sounder suite.

Sperry Marine has strengthened its portfolio of military navigation solutions with the release of Additional Military Layers (AML) for its VisionMaster series of Radars and ECDIS.The AMLs have been developed to allow defense and naval users to take advantage of Sperry’s commercial radar systems on demanding military assignments on small and large vessels. The latest enhancement supports the display of AMLs created to support both command and control and provide digital navigation…

Two Canadian firms are partnering to develop and commercialize 3D digital twin capabilities with hopes of making Canada more globally competitive, driving export opportunities and creating jobs in the marine sector.The the $3 million-plus Digital Ship In-Service Support Project comes from Canada’s Ocean Supercluster’s (OSC) Accelerated Ocean Solutions Program. Led by British Columbia-based Seaspan Shipyards together with partner and Newfoundland and Labrador-based, Genoa Design International…

Norwegian offshore supply vessel owner Boa Offshore is awarded contracts by The Norwegian Defense Logistic Organization (FLO) to charter two vessels for the state’s emergency response preparedness.The BOA Group offered prime assets, the BOA BISON and the BOA JARL, both excellent vessels with large capabilities, said a press release.The Norwegian Navy will assume responsibility oceangoing tug emergency response preparedness from the Ministry of Transport, with two hired and four own vessels from 1st. of January 2020.The two hired vessels will be included in the Armed Forces structure and the Coast Guard’s operation and maintenance routines.The contracts were signed on October 3rd. 2019.

A pigment package designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) to slow discoloration of the exterior coating on surface ships has started to make its way into the fleet and is producing early, positive results.NRL researchers created the pigment combination to satisfy the fleet requirement for the Navy standard "haze gray" paint that will remain color stable for longer than current coatings. While many paint manufacturers had produced new coating technologies that solved a variety of other problems…

Abu Dhabi Ship Building and Italy's Leonardo signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday to work together to create a combat-management system (CMS) for the United Arab Emirate's navy ships, state news agency WAM reported.The companies will work jointly on an integration laboratory capable of testing, maintaining and evolving the software of Leonardo's combat-management system, which is operational on more than 20 of the UAE Navy's ships, WAM said.The agreement also covers potential development of a joint logistic support solution for preventive and corrective maintenance and a local spare parts inventory for Leonardo naval systems.Reporting by Asma Alsharif and Alexander Cornwell

Lockheed Martin Canada has signed a formal contract with the New Zealand government for ship installation and trials to complete the upgrade and modernization of the ANZAC class frigates. The first of two frigates, Her Majesty's New Zealand Ship (HMNZS) TE KAHA arrived in Victoria yesterday. Lockheed Martin Canada is responsible for designing and supplying the upgraded combat system for each ANZAC Class Frigate, including a new combat management system – based on Lockheed Martin Canada's Combat Management System 330 – along with the supply and integration of various sensors, a missile system and a Combat Systems Trainer. Lockheed Martin Canada has entered into a subcontractual agreement with Seaspan Victoria Shipyards Co.

Davie Shipbuilding announced that during the weekend it launched the largest naval vessel ever to be delivered from a Canadian shipyard – on time, to budget and at an internationally competitive cost. Commissioning of all onboard systems began in early September and on the 16th November 2017, the ship will perform its sea-trials prior to achieving Full Operational Capability (FOC). During the sea-trials - overseen by Lloyd's Register – the ship's safety, quality, systems and functionality will be tested against the high military standards and specifications which it has been built to. The build quality and modern design of this ship…

Lloyd's Register (LR) has launched the LR Unmanned Marine Systems Code, a goal-based code that takes a structured approach to the assessment of unmanned marine systems (UMS) against a set of safety and operational performance requirements. With current and expected developments in autonomous and remote systems LR envisages that, within the near future, UMS will enter into widespread use through many sectors of the maritime industry. LR has been active in understanding how it can support the industry to demonstrate safe design and quality manufacture of critical aspects for unmanned systems. The LR Unmanned Marine Systems Code provides an assurance process in order to certify the safe design…

Kongsberg, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems GmbH(TKMS) and Atlas Elektronik enter into a comprehensive teaming agreement for submarines. The companies join resources and establish a joint venture company in Norway that will be the international strategic and exclusive supplier of combat systems for thyssenkrupp Marine Systems’ submarines. On February 3rd 2017, the Norwegian Government announced that Germany was chosen as strategic partner for new submarines, and that Norway enters into negotiation with prime contractor thyssenkrupp Marine Systems. Following the decision, Kongsberg, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and Atlas Elektronik today entered into a comprehensive teaming agreement. As part of this agreement, the partners will establish a new company based in Norway.

The Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, today announced the appointment of 10 Board Members to the Naval Shipbuilding Advisory Board, chaired by Professor Donald Winter. “The establishment of the Advisory Board is an important milestone in the Government’s naval shipbuilding strategy, ensuring expert, independent advice to Government on all aspects of this historical national endeavour,” Minister Pyne said. Mr Martin Bean, CBE – Vice Chancellor and President of RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia and former Vice Chancellor of The Open University in the United Kingdom. Mr Mike Burgess – After leaving the position of Chief Information Security Officer for Telstra, he is now a Strategic Cyber Security Adviser and Consultant.

Thales, BAE Systems and their partner SAAB, ECA Group and ASV Global welcome the confirmation by the Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) that the UK Ministry of Defense (MOD) and French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) will continue its collaboration for the combined United Kingdom and France MMCM (maritime mine counter measures) program. Initiated in 2010 under a cooperation agreement between France and the United Kingdom, the MMCM program develops a prototype autonomous system for detection and neutralisation of sea mines and underwater improvized explosive devices (UWIEDs). The agreement signed at Euronaval today between Harriet Baldwin…

Naval defense services and systems provider and integrator DCNS said it will showcase its digital and high technology naval solutions at the Euronaval Exhibition from October 17-21, 2016 in Paris-Le Bourget. These solutions, according to DCNS, aim to address the new generation of operators in the coming years, which includes naval and industrial autonomy. SMX 3.0 concept-ship - This new concept-ship is a submarine tailored to the needs of Generation Z. On board, 3.0 technologies, better power management, excellent operational performance in an unequal mastered digital environment.

Twenty weeks since walking through the gates of HMAS Creswell to start initial training, 104 naval officers graduated today. Friends and family were on hand to share in the achievements of the 82 men and 22 women. Honouring a long-standing commitment to the New Entry Officers, the Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, AC, reviewed the parade, hosted by Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, AO, CSC, RAN. “While we celebrate the achievements of the officers on parade today, our thoughts are also with the family and friends of a sailor who died during a port visit in the Middle East region,” Air Chief Marshal Binskin said. Students on the New Entry Officers Course 54 were introduced to the history and ethos of the Royal Australian Navy in the 20 week course.

France-based DCNS has been selected by the Commonwealth of Australia as its preferred partner for the design of the 12 future submarines. DCNS, whose naval systems are recognized worldwide for their operational, innovative multi-mission capabilities, has chosen Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform to manage the entire lifecycle of its products, from concept through engineering, to build, maintain and operations services. DCNS must manage extreme complexity and high-level integration to provide its clients, industrial systems and equipment partners, and supply chain with the most modern cooperation tools and digital interface. Adopting…

The U.S. military on Thursday christened an experimental self-driving warship designed to hunt for enemy submarines, a major advance in robotic warfare at the core of America's strategy to counter Chinese and Russian naval investments. The 132-foot-long (40-metre-long) unarmed prototype, dubbed Sea Hunter, is the naval equivalent of Google's self-driving car, designed to cruise on the ocean's surface for two or three months at a time - without a crew or anyone controlling it remotely.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) will launch in April a sleek, 132-foot warship from Portland, OR, testing its abilities over a succeeding period of 18 months. The ship is entirely autonomous, fully operational without an onboard crew. The Anti-Submarine Warfare Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel, or ACTUV, is scheduled to be launched April 17 from the Vigor Shipyards in Oregon. The ACTUV will continue sea-trials for 18 months following its maiden voyage, where it will be tested for its long-range tracking and self-driving functions. “Imagine an unmanned surface vessel following all the laws of the sea on its own and operating with manned surface and unmanned underwater vehicles,” said DARPA’s Deputy Director Steve Walker, according to the magazine National Defense.

Dassault Systèmes today announced that DCNS has selected the 3DEXPERIENCE platform to pioneer a new era in the design, engineering, construction and lifecycle services of naval defense solutions. DCNS will deploy the 3DEXPERIENCE platform to manage the entire lifecycle of its products, from new generation submarines to frigates, patrol vessels, aircraft carriers and landing platform docks (LPDs). From concept through engineering, to build, maintain and operations services for its customers, DCNS’s transformation will improve operational performance and competitive edge on a global scale. The design and engineering of high-performing naval defense solutions require a seamless integration of complex systems and infrastructure such as nuclear and conventional propulsion systems…

A daily game of Cold War cat-and-mouse is ratcheting up tensions in the Baltic and drawing the biggest military presence into the region for over 20 years, Swedish military officials say. Eye-to-eye encounters with Russian combat jets and reports of suspected submarines in Swedish and Finnish waters are fuelling regional concerns about Russian assertiveness in the wake of the Ukraine crisis and reversing years of defence cuts. Western officials say Russia has stepped up probing flights and mock bomb runs near Europe's borders since 2013, forcing jets from NATO nations and non-NATO allies like Sweden to scramble repeatedly. For its part, Moscow says NATO has dramatically increased reconnaissance flights near its borders.

Defence and security company Saab's acquisition of the Swedish shipyard Thyssen Krupp Marine Systems (TKMS, formerly Kockums) has now been completed. The acquisition strengthens Saab's position as a comprehensive supplier of naval military systems. The required decisions and approvals for Saab's acquisition of TKMS have now been granted. The company will become a business unit within Saab's business area Security and Defence Solutions. The business unit is named Saab Kockums. Saab expects operations will continue to be carried out primarily in Malmö, Karlskrona and Muskö. In June, Saab and FMV signed a letter of intent regarding the Swedish armed forces' underwater capabilities.

Defence and security company Saab has today entered into an agreement with ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions AG regarding the acquisition of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems AB (TKMS AB, formerly Kockums). The purchase price is MSEK 340. This acquisition is in line with Saab’s ambition to increase its capabilities in the naval domain. This move further strengthens Saab’s status as a comprehensive supplier of military systems. In April 2014, Saab and ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions AG signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding regarding the acquisition of the Swedish shipyard TKMS AB with operations based in Karlskrona, Malmö and Muskö, Sweden. The parties have now agreed that Saab will acquire TKMS AB. The purchase price is MSEK 340.

Defence and security company Saab says it has entered into an agreement with ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions AG regarding the acquisition of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems AB (TKMS AB, formerly Kockums). The purchase price is MSEK 340. Saab explains that the acquisition is in line with its ambition to increase its capabilities in the naval domain, and further strengthens Saab’s status as a comprehensive supplier of military systems. The purchase price is MSEK 340. Existing funds will be used to finance the acquisition. The transaction’s effect on Saab’s result for 2014 is estimated to be non-material. TKMS AB will be integrated into Saab’s business area Security and Defence Solutions. “We are looking forward to welcoming Kockums and its personnel to Saab.