Lockheed Martin remains sole bidder for new frigates

[TheCommander]

U.S. defense industry giant Lockheed Martin has been left as the only bidder in the $3 billion project for the joint manufacture of six frigates for the Turkish navy after Ankara rejected the remaining contender BAE Systems’ proposal.

The project, however, may still not be awarded to Lockheed Martin if an agreement cannot be reached on the technical aspects of missile integration. Such an eventuality would cause the project to be shelved and then reshaped.

The long-delayed project envisions the TF-2000 frigate as a regional anti-air warfare vessel that would respond to aerial threats and also provide support functions such as command control, communication, reconnaissance and early warning. It would be bigger, heavier and more efficient in terms of war capacity than the vessels the navy has today.

The Defense Ministry last month sent a letter informing their British counterparts that Turkey was “no longer interested” in BAE Systems’ offer, an official familiar with the tender told the Hürriyet Daily News.

BAE is currently working on a new type of frigate, Type 26, which is internationally known as the Global Combat Ship (GCS). “BAE has already started the project. It was late to join. Our needs would have increased the cost. Or we would have had to review our requirements in accordance with the British Navy, but our requirements are different. BAE had also asked for a ‘license fee.’ The partnership offer would have become a model in which Turkey was financing BAE’s project,” the source told the Daily News.

Turkey’s defense procurement agency, the Undersecretary of Defense Industries (SSM), has come close to formally selecting Lockheed Martin, but it needs to hear the Turkish Navy’s decision on the choice of missile systems, which is the most critical part of the project. The ship will be designed according to the missile systems, because of their enormous weight.

Missile Issue

Selecting the Lockheed SM2 missile system would simplify everything, as it is not heavy. The SM3 system would mean more negotiations on many aspects. It has a wider range, which means that the system would overlap with some of the Air Forces’ air defense duty. Missile integration is another subject to be solved.

Lockheed uses AN/SPY1 radar, while Turkish company Aselsan has started working on a smaller system called Multifunctional Phased Array Radar project (ÇAFRAD). Lockheed Martin has a Ship Integrated War Administration System called Aegis, which includes the AN/SPY1 radar, but Turkish Havelsan has already manufactured a smaller version called Genesis. Turkey wants ÇAFRAD to be inserted into AN/SPY1, Genesis to replace Aegis, and this combination to be integrated with the SM3 system.

If the two sides fail to resolve the missile integration question, then a second option will be considered. Turkey has successfully manufactured a corvette under the so-called Milgem project.

Milgem would be re-designed to manufacture a light frigate for air defense warfare and would be named TF100. “We have to develop something based on Milgem or we will waste all our know-how,” an industry source said.

Lockheed Martin remains sole bidder for new frigates | TR Defence

 

[TrMhMt]

First BAE than Lockheed Martin want to sell their ships under the name of "joint manufacture". I fell that they are trying to hamper our indigenous TF2000 and TF100 projects...

 

[OrionHunter]

I swear I didn't know that Lockheed Martin manufactures ships too!

I thought it operates in four business segments - Aeronautics, Electronic Systems, Information Systems & Global Solutions and Space Systems.

Since when has it started building ships?

 

[S.Y.A]

I swear I didn't know that Lockheed Martin manufactures ships too!

I thought it operates in four business segments - Aeronautics, Electronic Systems, Information Systems & Global Solutions and Space Systems.

Since when has it started building ships?

this is a first for me too

 

[cabatli_53]

LocheadMartine has system supplier statues.


In current position,


That's What Turkey wants to build:

Domestic Armerkom design TF-2000 Hull
Domestic Aselsan APAR radar
Domestic Battle management systems
Raytheon SM-3 missiles


That's What LockheadMartine offered

Domestic TF-2000 design
Aegis mast radar/Combat management system + SM-2/3 missiles


That's what BAE offered but rejected:

BAE designed TF-2000 hull (Global Combat Ship)
Own electronic, missile, radar and combat management integration rights
Joint export rights

 

[Targon]

So basically is it works for our benefits ?

 

[cabatli_53]

The final payload of Turkey's national naval warship project would be similar to those; (What Turkey want to shape own warships)

-4+2 TF-2000 AAW Frigate (6500-7000dwt)
*Aselsan CAFRAD Phased Array main mast radar
*Havelsan Genesis Advent Combat management system
*Raytheon SM-2/3 Long range Interceptors / other solutions
*Aselsan/Roketsan Low/Medium Altitude VLM
*Roketsan ATMACA Anti-Shipping Missile
*Roketsan AKYA Torpedos
*Tubitak SAGE Naval SOM VL Cruise Missile batteries (?)

-4 TF-100 Multi-Purpose Frigate (4000-4500dwt)
*Aselsan modified CAFRAD Phased Array main mast radar
*Havelsan Genesis Advent Combat management system
*Raytheon ESSM/SM-2 Interceptors
*Aselsan/Roketsan Low/Medium Altitude VLM
*Roketsan ATMACA Anti-Shipping Missile
*Roketsan AKYA Torpedos
*Tubitak SAGE Naval SOM VL Cruise Missile batteries (?)


-8+(4) Milgem/Milgem-S (2500-3000dwt)
*Aselsan produced Smart-S with dmestic T/R modules
*Havelsan Genesis Advent Combat management system
*Raytheon ESSM + RAM missiles
*Aselsan/Roketsan Low/Medium Altitude VLM (In following productions)
*Roketsan ATMACA Anti-Shipping Missile (In following productions as replacement of Harpoon SSM)
*Roketsan AKYA Torpedos (In following productions)

Milgem

So basically is it works for our benefits ?

Most probably, Lockhead Martin wouldn't accept integrating SM-3 missiles with a foreign combat management system working on a foreign mast radar. If you check all foreign countries using Standart missile 2-3 series, They use Lockhead's Aegis Combat system (From radar, CMS to Missiles). It is a naval warship package that Spain, Japan, S. Korean and many other navies applied their domestic warships but Turkey just demand state of art missiles to integrate them into own radar-CMS package.

 

[Skull and Bones]

I swear I didn't know that Lockheed Martin manufactures ships too!

I thought it operates in four business segments - Aeronautics, Electronic Systems, Information Systems & Global Solutions and Space Systems.

Since when has it started building ships?

They'll supply radar, sensor and weapon system while providing assistance in ship design. They doesn't make ships AFAIK.

 

[Nishan_101]

The final payload of Turkey's national naval warship project would be similar to those; (What Turkey want to shape own warships)

-4+2 TF-2000 AAW Frigate (6500-7000dwt)
*Aselsan CAFRAD Phased Array main mast radar
*Havelsan Genesis Advent Combat management system
*Raytheon SM-2/3 Long range Interceptors / other solutions
*Aselsan/Roketsan Low/Medium Altitude VLM
*Roketsan ATMACA Anti-Shipping Missile
*Roketsan AKYA Torpedos
*Tubitak SAGE Naval SOM VL Cruise Missile batteries (?)

-4 TF-100 Multi-Purpose Frigate (4000-4500dwt)
*Aselsan modified CAFRAD Phased Array main mast radar
*Havelsan Genesis Advent Combat management system
*Raytheon ESSM/SM-2 Interceptors
*Aselsan/Roketsan Low/Medium Altitude VLM
*Roketsan ATMACA Anti-Shipping Missile
*Roketsan AKYA Torpedos
*Tubitak SAGE Naval SOM VL Cruise Missile batteries (?)


-8+(4) Milgem/Milgem-S (2500-3000dwt)
*Aselsan produced Smart-S with dmestic T/R modules
*Havelsan Genesis Advent Combat management system
*Raytheon ESSM + RAM missiles
*Aselsan/Roketsan Low/Medium Altitude VLM (In following productions)
*Roketsan ATMACA Anti-Shipping Missile (In following productions as replacement of Harpoon SSM)
*Roketsan AKYA Torpedos (In following productions)

Milgem

Most probably, Lockhead Martin wouldn't accept integrating SM-3 missiles with a foreign combat management system working on a foreign mast radar. If you check all foreign countries using Standart missile 2-3 series, They use Lockhead's Aegis Combat system (From radar, CMS to Missiles). It is a naval warship package that Spain, Japan, S. Korean and many other navies applied their domestic warships but Turkey just demand state of art missiles to integrate them into own radar-CMS package.

Hope to see 11 Milgem class corvettes being produce in Pakistan very soon.