Seawolf Trials

USS Seawolf (SSN-21) has finished her sea trials (photo at right). She is expected to commission in the fall of 1997. Check out Seawolf's web page at www.mindport.net/-bspence/ wolfhome.html. It covers all four Seawolf (Seawolves?), starting with SS28.

India Buys Flankers

India has signed a major arms deal with Russia. The buy consists of 40 Su-30MK two-seat multirole Flanker variants, delivered in four yearly batches starting in 1997. The last batch will have two-dimensional thrust-vectoring nozzles (add at least 1.0 to their ATA rating) and the engines will be backfitted to the previous three batches when it becomes available.

The Indians have also inquired about purchasing Admiral Gorshkov (ex-Baku, fourth unit of the Kiev class), but the Russians are asking too high a price.

India badly needs a replacement for aging Viraat and Vikrant. Vikrant will decommission 31 January 1997, and Viraat will start a badly needed refit, which will take several years. This will leave their Harriers without a deck.

Iranian Sub

The third Iranian Project 877EKM [Kilo] submarine has arrived in the Persian Gulf.

SLAM Firing

US P-3s have successfully test fired the SLAM air-to-surface missile. Tests will continue through 1997, and full capability is expected in 1998.

SIAM ER (at right, AGM-184 SLAM ER--Enhanced Response) will begin low-rate initial production in the Spring of 1998. Most missiles will be conversions of existing SLAM missiles, but new missiles will also be built. In addition to extended range (100 nm), the SLAM ER allows a pilot to retarget the missile in flight, something that was not possible with SLAM. It is also stealthy. The 227 kg warhead (45 dp) warhead has improved penetrating capability. In other respects it is similar to SLAM, but has a 710 kg hang weight. It still requires a Walleye II ERDL data link pod to be carried by the controlling aircraft.

US Navy Deployment at Taiwan

The following were the forces the U.S. Navy deployed to support U.S. policy over Taiwan early in 1996. This was distributed by the Reuters News Service. What is interesting is the information given out on the deployment of U.S. submarines.

Nimitz battle group:

USS Nimitz, USS PortRoyal, USS Callaghan, USS Oldendorf USS Ford, USS Portsmouth, USS Shasta, USS Willamette

Independence battle group:

USS Independence (homeported Yokosuka, Japan), USS O'Brien, USS Hewitt, USS McClusky, USS Columbus, USS Bremerton, USS Pecos, USS Bunker Hill.

Reuters reported that the United States deployed three nuclear-powered attack submarines to help monitor Chinese war games in the Taiwan Strait. The Pacific Fleet said the submarines Columbus and Bremerton were part of the battle group built around Independence. A third nuclear submarine, Portsmouth, was deployed to support Nimitz, sent from the Persian Gulf.

Thanks to Trent J. Telenko

In a separate article, Reuters reported that Patriot missiles were deployed to cover Taipei, the capitol.

BT