Egypt Is The First Buyer of French Rafale and the Second of FREMM Frigate

Egypt has agreed to buy 24 Rafale fighter aircraft from France, ending the French quest to find the first export customer for the Rafale which had its first flight all the way back in 1986.

Prior to this, France had lost in several countries against fighter aircraft from other countries, such as the F-16, Typhoon and the Gripen. This includes countries such as Morocco and Brazil where it had initially been considered the favorite to win, but in the end lost out to someone else.

Ironically, Egypt also happens to be the first export destination of the Mirage 2000, the predecessor of the Rafale. There are still about 18 Mirage 2000 in service with the Egyptian Air Force.

In the near future, France is looking at additional customers for the Rafale in Qatar and India, both of which have operated the Mirage 2000. Other countries where the Rafale is hoping to secure a contract in the more distant future is Malaysia.

Egypt also becomes the second customer of the French-Italian FREMM frigate after Morocco, which, like Egypt, ordered a single ship in 2008. This ship was delivered to Morocco in 2014 and is more similar to the French version of the FREMM than the Italian version.

Besides Morocco, France has two FREMM frigates and Italy has another four frigates. In all, Egypt has spent over 5 billion euros on new acquisitions. France is expected to provide loans to Egypt to help cover the purchases.


https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/worldwide/defence/press-release/egypt-selects-rafale-and-fremm-equip-its-forces

By U.S. Navy Specialist 1st Class Denny Cantrell [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Six Project 11356M Admiral Grigorovich Class Frigates Fitted With Shtil VLS SAM

The six Project 11356M Admiral Grigorovich class frigates are to be equipped with the vertically launched Shtil Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) air defense system. This makes them the first ships to be equipped with this system.

The Shtil VLS SAM was first displayed several years ago but until now had never been fitted on any ship, whether within the Russian Navy or any other export country such as India.

Unlike the previous version which was fired from a single-arm launcher, the new version uses a Vertical Launch System (VLS) in a 2x6 cell configuration that is different from most other VLS systems used in other countries .

The Admiral Grigorovich class frigates are an improved derivative of the Project 11356 Talwar class, which was in turn based on the Krivak class. Two batches of three ships of the Talwar class have been exported to India between 2003 and 2013.

All six of those ships to India were equipped with the older Shtil missiles launched from a single-arm launcher. This same system is also used on all three Shivalik class frigates that India will eventually induct.

FREMM Frigate starts sea trials for delivery to Morocco in 2013

The Mohammed VI, the FREMM frigate destined for the Moroccan Navy has started sea trails and is on schedule to be delivered in late 2013. Morroco had ordered the French anti-submarine warfare (ASW) variant in 2008 to become the first and to date only export customer of the FREMM frigate.

Developed by France and Italy, only one FREMM frigate, the Aquitaine, has so far been commissioned in France. Like the Mohammed VI, the Aquitaine is also of the ASW variant. The next FREMM frigate, the Normandie, is set to be delivered in 2014.

In all, France intends to acquire 9 hulls of the ASW variant and another 2 hulls of the FREDA variant. The FREDA is a version of the FREMM frigate dedicated to providing air defense.

Italy intends to acquire 4 units of the ASW variant and another 6 units of the general purpose variant. The first general purpose variant, the Carlo Bergamini, is set to be commissioned into the Italian Navy in late 2013.

All the FREMM frigates share a common hull design, but the Italian and French versions differ from each other and are relatively easy to distinguish. The FREMM frigate specifications are:

• a lenght of 142-144 m
• a beam of about 20 m
• a draught of 5 m
• a displacement of 6000 tonnes
• a maximum speed of 27-30 kn
• a range of 6000 nautical miles at 15 kn

The FREMM powerplant is based on COmbined Diesel eLectric Or Gas (CODLOG) using electric motors for silent low speed and gas turbine power for high-speed propulsion.

There are many differences between the French and Italian versions in terms of sensors, weapons and other equipment fitted. Some notable differences are:

• the French version uses the Herakles radar, while the Italian verison uses the EMPAR radar
• both versions use the Otobreda Super Rapid 76 mm gun, but the Italian version is fitted with one on the hangar and the Otobreda 127 mm gun
• both versions have 32 VLS cells, but differ in the type of SYLVER modules that are installed
• the French version carries a single NH90 helicopter, while the Italian version can carry an additional NH90 or EH101 helicopter

Some of the equipment is subject to changes pending construction. The FREDA version, especially, has yet to have its design finalized.

The FREMM frigates will succeed the HORIZON class frigates. Only 4 units of the HORIZON class were build for the French and Italian Navies.


http://en.dcnsgroup.com/2013/04/18/dcns-debute-les-essais-en-mer-de-la-fregate-multimissions-fremm-destinee-a-la-marine-royale-du-maroc/

By Fabius1975 [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

By Fabius1975 [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Project 11356M Admiral Grigorovich Frigates to be Fitted with Kalibr Missile System

The first three Project 11356M / Admiral Grigorovich class frigates that are currently being build for the Russian Navy will be equipped with the Kalibr / Klub-N missile system. The Kalibr is domestic version for Russia of the Klub missile complex which is intended for export customers.

The Klub or SS-N-27 is a multi-role missile system that can engage targets on land, at sea or under water. A second batch of three Project 11356M frigates will also be build at the Yantar shipyard in Kalingrad.

All six ships are based on the Project 11356 Talwar class, six of which were build by Russia for India. Both the Project 11356M and Talwar class are based on the hull design of the previous Krivak class.

The first batch of three Talwar class are fitted with Klub-N missile system, while the second batch of three carry the Brahmos missile. The Brahmos is a variant of the Yakhont missile, which in turn is the export version of the 3M-55 Oniks missile.

The Project 11356M ships may also replace the Shtil-1 system with the Redut air defense system, which is compatible with several vertical-launched surface-to-air missiles such as the 9M96 missile.

The Kashtan and AK-630M Close-in Weapon System of the first and second batch of the Talwar class respectively may be replaced with the Palma, a combined gun-missile system which can use the 57E6 missile found on the Pantsir-S1.

The Project 11356M ships were ordered before transitioning to the new Project 22350 / Admiral Sergei Gorshkov class frigate, which uses a completely new hull design and other more radical changes.


http://en.rian.ru/business/20130318/180089251/Russian-Frigates-to-Get-Advanced-Missile-Systems.html

By Allocer [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Another Talwar Class Frigate to be Delivered to India in 2013

India is scheduled to received its sixth Talwar class frigate in the summer of 2013 after completion of contractor trials by the INS Trikand. The ship was build at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia and will now prepare for state sea trials.

The INS Trikand is the third and last of the second batch of 3 frigates ordered from Russia by India in a 2006 contract worth $1.6 billion. The other two, the INS Teg and INS Tarkash were both delivered to the Indian Navy in 2012.

The second batch of the Talwar class differ from the first batch in the following:

• The second batch are armed with 8 Brahmos supersonic cruise missile instead of the 3M-54 Klub missile.
• The second batch lacks the Kashtan Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) and is only fitted with 2 AK-630M guns. Presumably, the Israeli Barak-1 will be added to the ships in the future similar to the Shivalik class.

All 6 units of the Talwar class are also equipped with:

• one 100 mm A-190 dual purpose gun
• the Shtil system with 24 9M317 surface-to-air missiles
• two dual 533 mm torpedo launchers

There is a hangar for a single helicopter such as the Kamov Ka-28. The Talwar class is based on the Krivak III class and is referred to in Russia as the Project 11356 class frigate based on the Krivak class.

There have been negotiations with Russia concerning a third batch of 3 Talwar class frigates to India despite the fact that some issues had to be resolved regarding the second batch. However, no final contract has so far been signed.


http://en.rian.ru/military_news/20130315/180042579/Russian-Frigate-Built-for-India-Completes-Sea-Trials.html

Russia Will Receive 24 Submarines and 54 Warships by 2020

Last year, President Vladimir Putin said the naval procurement of submarines and surface ships would be a priority in the coming decade as part of a major military rearmament program.

Around 5 trillion Russian Rubles or $166 billion has been set aside for the modernization and rearmament of the Russian Navy by 2020.

According to the Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, the Russian Navy will receive 24 submarines and 54 surface warships by 2020. These include:

• 3 Project 955 / Borey class and 5 Project 955A / Improved Borey-A nuclear class ballistic missile submarines
• 8 Project 885 / Yasen class / Graney class nuclear attack submarines
• Project 636M / Improved Kilo class diesel submarines
• Project 677 / Lada class diesel submarines
• Project 22350 / Admiral Gorshkov class frigates 
• Project 20380 / Steregushchy class corvettes
• Project 21630 / Buyan class corvettes
• Project 11711 / Ivan Gren Class large landing ships

Many of the older ships and submarines such as the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, Kirov class cruiser and Sierra class submarines are also scheduled to be brought back.

The Russian Navy is currently just a shadow of it once was during Soviet times. Only a fraction of its surface ships and submarines remain operational, with the majority having been decommissioned since the end of the Cold War and the absence of sufficient financial resources.

The Russian program is just part of a global trend towards increased naval power that can be observed throughout the world:

• the United States continues to spent record amounts despite its budget deficits
• China has embarked on a comprehensive naval expansion and modernization 
• European countries such as the United Kingdom, France and Italy continue to allocate resources for modernization despite fiscal problems
• Japan is steadily improving its Navy
• India has ambitious plans for an increased Navy
• Even countries such as Brazil that didn't place much importance in the past now want to acquire more naval power

It can be argued that most of these countries are probably not in a position to spend so heavily on their military considering the state of their economy. Yet, nations continue to allocate huge resources, which is an indication of how much they recognize the importance of naval power.


http://en.rian.ru/military_news/20130311/179945052/Russian-Navy-to-Receive-24-Subs-54-Warships-by-2020.html

By DoD [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Thailand to negotiate purchase of 3 Chinese Type 054A class frigates

Thailand is to negotiate a Chinese proposal of 3 Type 054A class frigates for the Royal Thai Navy, which has budgeted 30 billion Thai Baht or roughly $1 billion for 2 frigates.

The Thai government last year approved the purchase of 2 frigates after a previous attempt to purchase 6 used Type U-206 submarines from Germany was unsuccessful.

Instead of the 2 frigates budgeted, Thailand would receive 3 Type 054T frigates, build according to Thai specifications, and which could come with offsets for local component production and up to 6 Z-9C Anti-Submarine Warfare helicopters. 

The Thai Navy already operates 4 Type 053 frigates, which were build by China for Thailand during the nineties and fitted with various western systems and weapons.

The Type 054A frigates are upgraded versions of the 2 earlier Type 054 frigates, which in the past have been reported to cost the Chinese Navy around $250 million each. So far, 16 Type 054A hulls have been either launched or commissioned with several more under contruction.

Each Combined Diesel And Diesel (CODAD) Type054A frigate has a length of 134 m, a beam of 16m, a maximum displacement of 4053 tons and is armed with:

• one PJ26 76 mm dual-purpose gun
• 2 x 4 YJ-83 / C-802A anti-ship missiles
• 4 x 8 Vertical Launch System (VLS) able to fire HHQ-16 anti-air missiles or rocket-assisted anti-submarine torpedoes
• two H/PJ12 7-barrel 30 mm Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) gatling guns
• 2 x 3 324 mm torpedoes

The Type 054A ships have also been designed with reduction of their Radar Cross Section in mind.

http://www.janes.com/products/janes/defence-security-report.aspx?ID=1065975734

India Receives the Fifth Talwar Class Frigate From Russia

The INS Tarkash has arrived in Mumbai after leaving Russia on November 17.  It is the second Talwar class out of 3 that are to be delivered as part of a $1.6 billion contract signed in 2006.

This contract was preceded by a first batch of 3 similar frigates consisting of the INS Talwar, INS Trishul and INS Tabar. The Talwar class is based on the Krivak III class frigate.

The Indian Navy received its predecessor, INS Teq, on April 27. The third, the Trikand, is currently undergoing trials in the Baltic Sea and will be delivered to India in the summer of 2013.

This Talwar class is equipped with:

• eight supersonic Brahmos (second batch) or Klub (first batch) anti-ship cruise missiles
• a 100 mm A-190 dual purpose gun
• the Shtil-1 air defense system with 24 surface-to-air missiles
• two Kashtan Close-In Weapon Systems (first batch) or AK-630 (second batch)
• two dual 533 mm torpedo launchers
• a single Ka-28 anti-submarine warfare helicopter

The second batch is expected to be fitted with the Barak missile defense system once they arrive in India.


http://en.rian.ru/military_news/20121230/178497380/India_Receives_Second_Russia-Built.html

Taiwan Buys 2 More Oliver Hazard Perry-class Frigates

Taiwan plans to buy two warships from the United States as part of an effort to modernise its naval force amid a perceived military threat from China, defense minister Kao Hua-chu said on Monday.

The two Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, now serving in the US navy, will be delivered to Taiwan by 2015, Kao said in response to questions in parliament.

The two warships, estimated to cost a total of about TW$7 billion (US$240 million), will replace two of eight now ageing Knox-class frigates which Taiwan acquired in the early 1990s, Kao said.

The Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate specifications are:

• a displacement of 4200 tons
• a length of  135 m
• a beam of 14 m
• a draft of 6.7 m
• a speed of 29 knots
• a range of 8300 km at 20 knots
• a complement of 176

The ship is powered by 2 General Electric LM2500 gas turbines, each generating 41000 shp of horsepower.

The 2 additional ships will join 8 Cheng Kung class frigates, which are a locally build variant of the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate, already in service in the Taiwanese Navy. 


http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/1235324/1/.html

By U.S. Navy photo [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons