The Navy Vol_73_No_3 Jul 2011 - Navy League of Australia

FLASH TRAFFIC
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award a project definition phase to industry
by the end of 2011. The CSC Programme is
expected to deliver 15 surface combatants
to replace the three Iroquois class destroyers
and the 12 Halifax class frigates at a cost of
US$15.4B to US$20.5B.
The first three units (Flight 1) will replace the
three Iroquois destroyers beginning in 2021
and will be oriented toward anti-air warfare
(AAW) and command and control. The twelve
follow-on units will replace the Halifax class
and will be general purpose combatants and
should begin entering service around 2025 with
project completion in 2035. These vessels will
be built in Canada at one of five yards that have
been selected for construction of major surface
vessels under the government’s new National
Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS) that
was approved in June 2010.
Under the strategy, two of the five yards
preapproved for large surface construction
(Peter Kiewit Infrastructure, Irving Shipbuilding,
Davie Yards, Seaway Marine & Industrial and
Vancouver Shipyards) will be down-selected
and the government will then negotiate with
both yards with one yard being selected as
builder for all future naval combatants over
1,000 tons and the other non-combatants over
1,000 tons. Separate negotiations and contracts
will awarded separately for individual programs
such as CSC.
Similar to the UK’s joining of the FSC-C1 and
FSC-C2, the RCN is also taking the same route
by utilising a single hull in order to reduce costs
with modularity being the answer in regards
to building different variants. In regards to
designs, the RCN will consider modern designs
such as the Dutch De Zeven Provincien class,
the Franco-Italian FREMM, German F 124, the
Spanish Alvaro De Bazan and the UK’s Type
Global Combat Ship (GCS) design.
With the project definition phase beginning in
2011, a design should be selected by 2013 with
a construction RfP released to the designated
builder of large combatants by 2014. In order
to have the first unit in service by 2021, the
construction contract should be in place
by 2016.
10
US$1.2 BILLION FOR SECOND
FY11 VIRGINIA-CLASS SSN
The USN has released US$1.2 billion for
the construction of the 14th Virginia-class
submarine, SSN-787, to General Dynamics
Electric Boat, a wholly owned subsidiary of
General Dynamics. This award marks the
beginning of production of two submarines per
year on the Virginia-class programme.
The release of the funding allows procurement
of long lead-time components that will support
the planned official construction start later
this year on the as-yet-unnamed submarine
at Electric Boat and its teammate, Huntington
Ingalls Industries in Newport News, Va.
“Today represents the culmination of an
extraordinary effort by the Virginia-class team,”
said John D. Holmander, Electric Boat’s vice
president for the Virginia Programme. “From
the engineers and designers who reduced the
cost of the Virginia Class, to the shipbuilders
who have delivered the submarines ahead of
schedule and under budget, to the vendors who
worked with us on cost-containment strategies,
and of course the USN, which has managed
the programme now recognised as a model for
Pentagon procurement, this has truly been a
collective effort.”
“Reducing the cost of Virginia Class ships to the
point where the Navy can afford to acquire two
ships per year has demanded an intense process
of continuous improvement,” Holmander said.
“Our task now is to ensure that we demonstrate
additional improvement on each ship so
taxpayers get the best possible return on the
nation’s investment in submarines.”
The Virginia class is the first USN warship
designed from the keel up for the full range
of mission requirements in the post-Cold War
era. Optimised for maximum technological and
operational flexibility, these submarines play a
key role in the US’s defence with their stealth,
firepower and unlimited endurance.
Virginia-class submarines displace 7,800 tons,
with a hull length of 377 feet and a diameter of
34 feet. They are capable of speeds in excess
of 30 knots and can dive to a depth greater
than 800 feet, while carrying Mk-48 advanced
capability torpedoes, Tomahawk land attack
missiles and unmanned underwater vehicles.
11
USN NAMES NEXT AIRCRAFT
CARRIER USS JOHN F. KENNEDY
Secretary of the US Navy Ray Mabus announced
on May 29th the next Gerald R. Ford-class
aircraft carrier will be named the USS JOHN F.
KENNEDY.
The selection JOHN F. KENNEDY, designated
CVN-79, honours the 35th President of the
United States and pays tribute to his service in
the Navy, in the government, and to the nation.
“President John F. Kennedy exemplified the
meaning of service, not just to country, but
service to all humanity,” said Mabus. “I am
honoured to have the opportunity to name
the next aircraft carrier after this great Sailor
and inspirational leader, and to keep the rich
tradition and history of USS JOHN F. KENNEDY
sailing in the U.S. Fleet.”
Born in Brookline, Mass., May 29, 1917,
Kennedy graduated from Harvard in 1940, and
entered the Navy in October 1941.
10
The nuclear powered attack submarine USS VIRGINIA on the slip before being launched. With the cost of each boat coming down to US$1.2 billion it makes the proposed cost of
AU$36 billion for 12 diesel-electric submarines for the RAN an excessive waste of money. If the RAN went down the Virginia route then less than 12 boast would be required thus
saving even more money. (USN)
20 THE NAVY VOL. 73 NO.3