Canada has purchased the British upholders. She will rename them after four of the country's major ports. The former HM submarines, Unseen, Unicorn, Ursula and Upholder will be renamed respectively as Victoria (Capital of BC), Windsor, (on the Ontario shore of the great Lakes), Corner Brook in Newfoundland, and Chicoutimi on the St Laurence Seaway. Previous ships of the name this century are few and include in WW II the Canadian Flower class corvette (HMCS Chicoutimi) and a British V&W class destroyer (HMS Windsor)
Greece has purchased the Hellfire II missile with an antiship warhead for its S-70B helicopters. In the antiship configuration, Hellfire is a 3rd Generation SALH weapon with a range of 0.2 - 3.0 nm, a speed of 772 knots on a ballistic trajectory. It has a VSmall signature. The HEAT warhead will be replaced with a blast/frag warhead, inflicting 5 damage points.
Russia has started to scrap units of the Project 941 Akula [Typhoon class]. The US is providing technical and financial assistance, and Secretary of Defense Cohen recently visited the shipyard where the scrapping will take place. The first unit arrived at the shipyard in Severdovinsk in August. Russia has also launched Gepard (Cheetah), the first (and probably only unit) of the Akula II class. She may enter service in 2000.
The multinational Horizon Frigate program was canceled in April this year when Britain withdrew from the agreement. Started in 1993, the joint UK-French-Italian project was formed to develop a common air defense frigate (FFG really) built around a European area SAM system, the ASTER 30/15. Britain would have bought the most ships, and her withdrawal leaves her two partners with nowhere to go.
Discussions over which country got to build which pieces ("workshare") could not be resolved. Also, the design, which was an unhappy compromise of different national requirements, no longer matched the changing requirements of the three countries. All three countries, but Britain especially, have spent millions and almost a decade of effort, and have absolutely nothing to show for it. The British have replaced the Horizon concept with the new Type 45, a completely British design. It is expected to enter service in 2007. The Italians and French are developing a conceptual Eurofrigate, which may or may not ever reach the design stage.
The Mica Missile is entering service with the French Air Force, for its Mirage 2000s and eventually the Rafale.
The PRC is continuing to work on improving its outmoded technology. Rumors have appeared that the Chinese are experimenting with WIG craft, based on smaller Russian designs. They have also purchased copies of the VA-111 Shkval torpedo, but have been unable to integrate it with their subs' fire control systems. They have also deployed ELINT aircraft, converting ex-commercial Tu-154 airliners. Four have been converted so far, and another eight are planned.
The keel for Virginia (SSN-774), first in a new class of SSN to follow the Seawolf class, was laid on 2 September 1999. Virginia is expected to enter service in 2004. The second unit, USS Texas (SSN-775), began construction in FY 99.
Admiral Gorshkov, which has (almost) been purchased by the Indian navy, was moved to Severdovinsk in July to begin its overhaul. This is interesting, and may show more about the need to keep shipyard workers busy than any money having changed hands. India has also ordered four Ka-31 [Helix D] AEW helicopters to serve aboard the refitted carrier. S-3 Viking Update
Tim Charlesworth, a longtime Harpoon supporter, has given us an update on a truly multi-role aircraft. Unfortunately, it's a startling change in the aircraft's role.
I talked to some of my pilot friends here at the US Army CGSC course during our in-house naval capabilities and limitations review training and looked at an article in World Air Power Journal, Summer 1999 issue concerning the current state of aircraft in the US Navy.
Apparently the decision to eliminate the ASW mission from the S-3B was made in late 1998. ASuW will be the primary mission, with secondary missions consisting of overland strike support, mine warfare, and aerial refueling. Four aircraft in each squadron of eight in the air wing will be permanently configured for tanking. No new designation yet (KS-3B is the proper guess). The S-3Bs are no longer carrying sensor operators in the back and are only flying with a pilot and NFO in the front. The Navy is looking at conducting a Service-Life Assessment Program to determine what to repair during a SLEP (Service Life Extension Program) for the airframe.
BT
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© Copyright 1999 by Larry Bond and Clash of Arms.
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