A new design for the future British frigates of type 26

The proposed change T26 head! The design of future frigates to replace the 13 units of type 23 Royal Navy has changed dramatically over the original design, introduced in 2010. Much sleeker, the new model, recently unveiled by BAE Systems, is much more in line with the evolution of naval architecture.

148 meters long with a width of 19 meters, the building displays a displacement of about 5400 tons.Capable of exceeding a speed of 28 knots and cross 7000 miles at 15 knots, the future British frigate is designed to have a very large range, 60 days without refueling. Army by 118 sailors, it can accommodate 72 passengers. Its armament include a surface-to-air Sea Ceptor, an artillery piece at the front, two guns multitubes type Phalanx guns and two tele-operated as well as torpedoes and possibly anti-ship missiles. The radar should be a main ARTISAN 3D.

Royal Navy's Merlin HM2 helicopter clears carrier trials

Flight test activities with the Royal Navy's upgraded AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin HM2 multi-mission helicopter have passed an initial 10-sortie campaign performed from the deck of the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious.
Conducted from 3 September using test aircraft ZH826, the work focused on proving the HM2's new-generation navigation systems, says Lockheed Martin, prime contractor for the £850 million ($1.37 billion) Merlin Capability Sustainment Programme (MCSP) activity.
"Over the following two-week period, the ship sailed between Plymouth and the edge of the Atlantic, during which time the planned 10 flight sorties were made," Lockheed says. Covering a variety of flight profiles, these included testing the navigation system under GPS-denied conditions, it adds. The flights were planned using a Lockheed-supplied ground preparation facility embarked aboard the vessel.

GE Delivers Last of Eight Propulsion Motors for Giant UK Aircraft Carriers

New U.K. Aircraft Carriers become the Largest Electrically Propelled Warships in the World

GE Energy Management’s Power Conversion business has delivered the last of eight propulsion motors for two aircraft carriers under construction for the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy. The two vessels, the Queen Elizabeth and the Prince of Wales, each with a length of 280 meters and a displacement of 65,000 tons, will be the largest warships in the world to use fully electric propulsion systems.

In 2008, the company won a contract to deliver the major elements of the Integrated Full Electric Propulsion (IFEP) systems for the new Queen Elizabeth class (QEC) carriers. The IFEP comprises all shipboard electrical power generation and propulsion systems and features GE’s Advanced Induction Motor (AIM) technology, which delivers increased fuel efficiency plus high levels of survivability.

“Building the two QEC carriers is the largest engineering project in the U.K., behind only the Olympics,” said Jim Bennett, power & propulsion director of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, which is building the ships. “The project team has pulled together to meet critical milestones. The on-time delivery of the 110-ton GE Advanced Induction Motors is a key element in the success of this massive undertaking.”

Flagship aircraft carrier Ark Royal to be sold for scrap

The former flagship of the Royal Navy is to be sold off to scrap merchants ending two years of uncertainly over her future, it will be announced in Parliament today. 

 

HMS Ark Royal, once the bullish symbol of Britain’s defence diplomacy, will follow the ignominious fate of her sister ship HMS Invincible by ending life as a razor blades.

There had been strong indications that she would sold to a British diving company and sunk off the Devon coast to become a major scuba diving attraction.

An estimated bid of £6.5 million was submitted to purchase the ship that as a diving reef could have contributed up to £30 million to the local economy
But it is understood that the Ministry of Defence hierarchy could not stomach the imagery of the iconic aircraft carrier sinking to bottom at a time when the Navy has been decimated by cuts.
Officials have examined a series of other options for the 22,000 ton warship that included becoming a casino off China, a London heliport, nightclub or museum ship.

Duncan departs on maiden sea trials

 Glasgow, United Kingdom: DUNCAN, the sixth and final Type 45 destroyer built by BAE Systems, has today set sail from the company’s Scotstoun shipyard to embark on her first stage of sea trials off the west coast of Scotland.

During three weeks at sea, DUNCAN will undertake an extensive programme of trials that will include testing of her power and propulsion systems, auxiliary and domestic services.

Paul Rafferty, Type 45 Programme Director at BAE Systems, said: “This is the sixth Type 45 destroyer to embark on sea trials, but there will be no complacency in the rigour with which we will put her through her paces and prove her outstanding capabilities. Every stage in the delivery of the Type 45 destroyers brings an enormous amount of pride to those who have worked on the programme and there’s a special significance attached now that all six ships have sailed the seas.”

HMS York and HMS Edinburgh for sale on Navy website

The Royal Navy destroyer HMS York is to be sold-off by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

The MoD's Disposal Services Authority has put the ship and another Type 42 destroyer, HMS Edinburgh, up for sale on its website.
HMS York is affiliated to the city and its crew have regularly visited the region for parades and other events over the years.
The MoD said it was planning to sell the two vessels to another government.
HMS York entered service in 1985 and was deployed in the 2003 Iraq war.
In 2011 it supported operations during the revolution in Libya.

Lockheed Martin Gains U.K. Nuclear Submarine Work With Babcock

Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT) (LMT) and Babcock International Group Plc (BAB) will take over support activities involving the U.K.’s Vanguard submarine-based nuclear deterrent under a contract signed today.

The U.K. Ministry of Defence finalized a 15-year agreement with the ABL Alliance for support of the Trident weapon system at the Royal Naval Armament Depot in Coulport and the Strategic Weapon Support Building at Faslane, the defense ministry said in a statement. The contract is valued at 150 million pounds ($236 million) over its duration, a defense ministry spokesman said.
AWE Plc, based in Reading, England, will act as the prime contractor. The company, owned equally by Lockheed Martin, Serco Group Plc (SRP), and Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (JEC) (JEC), also runs the U.K. Atomic Weapons Establishment under a government-owned contractor-operated arrangement.
The Trident support contract is part of a wider U.K. defense ministry initiative to shift work to the private sector and reduce the government’s work force. The defense ministry decided last year to outsource the Trident work after a three- year review period.

Britain’s flagship Bulwark ‘stands ready’ to support Olympic mission

On a typical summer’s day – wet, windy – seamen specialists of the nation’s flagship pull in the hawser on the forecastle as HMS Bulwark sails on her Olympic mission.
The amphibious assault ship departed Devonport yesterday and is spending the next few days ‘fine tuning’ before she arrives in Weymouth Bay – a giant piece in the Olympic security jigsaw.
The 16,000-tonne warship will serve as the floating command and control headquarters supporting Dorset police’s security team – the hub of a huge operation safeguarding sailing events off the seaside town.
Aside from Bulwark, the Royal Navy is committing RFA Mounts Bay, P2000 patrol boats, landing craft, fast boats and Merlins from 814 Naval Air Squadron to the mission.

Royal Navy Submarine HMS Turbulent Retire

A ceremony marking the retirement of Royal Navy submarine HMS Turbulent took place this weekend at Her Majesty's Naval Base Devonport in Plymouth. Turbulent officially left operational service at a decommissioning ceremony on Saturday after nearly 30 years of service, including firing missiles during operations against Libya. The ceremony marked the end of the distinguished service of the second oldest of the Trafalgar Class submarines with the Royal Navy, the boat having come to the end of her natural operational life. Guests included the submarine's sponsor Lady Cassidi, twelve previous commanding officers, and family and friends of the submarine and her crew from over the years. Lady Cassidi paid tribute to the submarine, her crew and the families who supported the vessel when at sea. The submarine's bell was rung for the last time, the decommissioning pennant was lowered on board, a religious service was staged and the Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines Commando Training Centre Lympstone played. HMS Turbulent's current Commanding Officer, Commander Nicholas Wheeler, said: "The decommissioning event provides a memorable opportunity to officially decommission Turbulent from her fleet life. It was an opportunity for me to offer my and the Royal Navy's gratitude for the hard work the men of Turbulent have provided me and my predecessors over recent years. "It is an honour to have Lady Cassidi attend the event as ship's sponsor after many years of unfaltering support." The submarine has had an active and successful career, fundamental to the defence of the United Kingdom. In 2011 Turbulent deployed from the UK for a longer than normal 268 days, successfully completing a deployment to the Indian Ocean. HMS Turbulent also provided Tomahawk land attack missile coverage in support of joint operations against the former rulers of Libya and conducted other operations and exercises during which she visited Souda Bay, Fujairah, Bahrain, Goa and Aqaba.

Rolls-Royce Secures £1 Billion Contract for UK’s Future Submarine Programme

Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, has signed a contract worth in excess of £1 billion with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to deliver reactor cores for the UK’s nuclear-powered submarine fleet. This contract includes regeneration of the current Rolls-Royce submarine reactor core manufacturing facility in Derby. The Group will introduce the latest technology and manufacturing techniques to deliver increased efficiencies committed by the MoD and industry as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review. Jason Smith, Rolls-Royce President Submarines and Chief Operating Officer - Nuclear said: “This is excellent news that demonstrates the high level of trust the MoD has in both our technology and the expertise of our highly skilled workforce. This new facility will deploy advanced manufacturing techniques to enhance our world leading nuclear manufacturing capability.” Under this contract Rolls-Royce will continue to maintain and operate its existing reactor core manufacturing facility in Derby, UK. In parallel the Group will complete a phased rebuild to provide a leading-edge manufacturing facility with the highest standards of safety to support future MoD programme needs. Rolls-Royce is the UK’s lead company, on behalf of the MoD, in nuclear submarine reactor systems and support services; incorporating design, manufacture, procurement and operation.

Bye bye to the Search and Rescue helicopters. In 2016, a private operator will be driving

The British Minister of Armed Forces , Nick Harvey, in a statement  to the Commons, confirmed that the British military helicopters no longer provide the rescue mission at sea ( Search and Rescue ) from April 2016. These helicopters (the Sea King ) are still stationed on eight bases. This mission will be conducted by a civilian company, under contract with the Department of Transportation.

Harvey also announced that the lives of Puma Mk2 will be extended to 2025 and the Merlin Mk3 will be transferred to the Royal Navy for its commandos.

UK Royal Navy participates in Exercise Arabian Shark 2012

The UK Royal Navy's Type 23 frigate, HMS Westminster, and a Trafalgar-class submarine have participated in the Exercise Arabian Shark 2012, aimed to train and test coalition navies readiness to deal with submarines.

The two British warships participated in the war games alongside navies from the US, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in the Gulf of Oman, in performing hunt and kill operations.

The multi-national anti-submarine exercise involved the US Navy's destroyer USS Sterett and Los Angeles-class nuclear submarine, Royal Saudi Navy corvettes Hitteen, as well as Pakistan Navy frigate Badr.

The Trafalgar-class submarine (T-boat) and the US Navy's USS Pittsburgh frigate led a seven-strong naval task group as the exercise drew to a close.

The exercise was intended to strengthen military relationships and improve the war-fighting techniques of all the navies involved.

Westminster's principal warfare officer (underwater) lieutenant Thom Hobbs said the Arabian Shark was a significant international exercise allowing for the strong bonds between the participating nations to be reinforced.

"We are working together to ensure security and stability at sea," Hobbs said.

Since January 2012, HMS Westminster has been deployed as part of the 25-nation Combined Maritime Forces counter-piracy task force and disrupting pirate activity and will now resume its maritime security role in the Indian Ocean.

Westminster is scheduled to return to its home port in August 2012.

Trafalgar-class nuclear-powered attack submarines features new nuclear reactor core and Type 2020 sonar and are equipped with two SSE Mk 8 launchers for Type 2066 and Type 2071 torpedo decoys, an acoustic countermeasures system and Eddystone communications-band electronic support measures (CESM) system.