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News-in-Brief Extra

NEW INDIAN BASE?

With India’s recent unveiling of its nuclear-powered submarine project, and associated cruise missile armament, reports have begun to appear in the Indian media regarding the construction of a major submarine base at Rambilli. To be located near Vishakhapatnam, the home of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet, it is expected to be operational by 2011 and will house the entire eastern submarine fleet. A significant asset for submarines operating out of Rambilli will be the channel leading to the base, which is deep enough for them to approach and leave the base submerged. The base’s location will enable a closer watch to be kept on the Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC) emanating from the Far East and any Chinese naval activity in the Indian Ocean. It is thought elements of India’s surface fleet will also be based at Rambilli.

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RECORD DEPLOYMENT FOR SURVEY VESSEL

The Royal Navy hydrographic survey vessel HMS Echo left her home port of Plymouth in April to start a milestone five-year deployment to the Far East. 

It is the longest ever outside UK waters by a Royal Navy warship for many decades. The environmental data the ship gathers will be processed through the UK Hydrographic Office in Taunton, Somerset, enabling current sea and shoreline charts to be updated and improving the safe navigation of both merchant and coalition military vessels through international waters.  As well as conducting valuable ocean survey work, Echo will undertake a number of high profile diplomatic visits en route and in the Far East, where, in the South China Sea region, she will provide support for the Five-Power Defence Agreement involving the UK, Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore.

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US NAVY LAUNCHES NEW SUPPLY SHIP

In a night-time ceremony, the latest Lewis and Clark Class of dry cargo/ammunition ships, the USNS Amelia Earhart, was launched at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego. The 689-foot long ship, designated T-AKE 6, is the sixth ship in the class. Named in honour of the famous American aviation pioneer, and the first woman to be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the vessel will be operated by the Military Sealift Command (MSC). Construction began on the USNS Earhart in December 2006 and completion will be later this year. The US Navy expects to build 14 TAKEs altogether, the first 11 of which will serve as combat logistics ships, while the remaining three are expected to be part of the Maritime Prepositioning Force (Future).

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SECOND SUB RADIO ROOM FOR DEVONPORT

A fully operational representation of a Vanguard Class submarine's radio room has opened at Devonport Naval Base. The new Communications Shore Development Facility is managed and operated by Babcock Marine and is housed within a secure and controlled electro-magnetically shielded enclosure, which with ship-borne antennae fitted to the roof, is capable of live transmissions. All this allows personnel to operate and become familiar with the boat's equipment prior to embarking in a Vanguard Class ballistic missile submarine, thereby developing key skills and reducing risks prior to going to sea. Sited alongside the Vanguard radio room is the Communications Shore Integration Facility for Trafalgar Class attack submarines.

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PAKISTAN STILL SEEKS ORION

During the recent acceptance of Alouette helicopters and a Fokker F-27 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA), the head of the Pakistan Navy once again alluded to his force’s Airborne Early Warning (AEW) programme, saying such aircraft would be acquired in the next few years. Since IDEAS2006, the PN is thought to have been negotiating for three AEW systems. These have been revealed to be P-3B Orion airframes modified to carry the Hawkeye 2000 AEW system, currently fitted to the E-2C as used by the US Navy and its allies. If implemented, the deal is expected to be worth up to US $855 million, but paid for through a Foreign Military Finance/ Excess Defense Articles package. The Pentagon is negotiating the transfer of the systems, but this will probably be dependent on the supply of suitable Orion airframes. A further boost in naval aerial assets has also been alluded to for some time in the form of the transfer of Mirage-5 equipped No.8 Squadron from the air force to the operational command of the navy. The unit’s planes are armed with the MBDA AM-39 Exocet and tasked with anti-shipping strike. It may yet be joined by a further squadron, in an effort to more adequately support naval operations in the Arabian Sea and northern parts of the Indian Ocean.

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TURKISH FRIGATE

With Turkey’s Milgem indigenous corvette programme now in full swing, attention has turned to the next generation frigate for the Turkish Navy. Under the project name TF-100, a multi-mission frigate is being developed using the Milgem corvette as its basis. Besides being larger, the principal difference in terms of weaponry would be the Mk-41 Vertical-Launch System, which is expected to carry the ESSM Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM). A similar vessel, the TF-2020, a specialised Anti-Air Warfare (AAW) frigate, is also in the design stage, the details of which are currently speculative. The Mk-41 VLS system is also the foundation for arming Turkey’s current batch of Yavuz and Barbaros Meko-200 frigates, as well as the FFG-7 Gabya/Oliver Hazard Perry Class frigates, with a more potent SAM armament.

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ESSENTIAL WATER WORKS

According to the UK Defence Equipment and Support magazine ‘Preview’, the fresh water production and treatment on Royal Navy ships is set to improve, following the award of a contract to Salt Separation Services of Rochdale, England. The company will acquire responsibility for the fleet's reverse osmosis units, fresh water filtration and chlorine and anti-scalant dosing equipment. This encompasses spares, repairs, documentation management and technical support. Even though the contract primarily deals with the provision of spare parts, particular attention will be paid to improving the reliability of the Type 23 reverse osmosis plants, originally installed 10 years ago and now feeling the strain. Salt Separation Services have come up with innovative and affordable solutions to the Type 23s' problems, and by awarding this contract DE&S is expected to make 20 per cent savings over the existing system and enjoy significant improvements.

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LIFE EXTENTION FOR ROSALIE

The UK’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Fort Rosalie supply vessel is undergoing a 10-month Ship Life Extension Programme (SLEP) at North Western Ship Repairers in Liverpool. Up-grades will be made to cargo handling machinery, safety equipment is to be improved and more defensive measures provided, including surface ship torpedo defence. Living areas will be refurbished and a new galley fitted. The £28 million project will see the vessel through to a revised out-of-service date of 2018.

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