Revival of Royals

[Zarvan]

HMS Queen Elizabeth II at sea, during its sea trials. Photo: MOD, Crown Copyright

A major project currently reaching its climax is the induction of two 65,000 ton aircraft carriers – HMS Queen Elizabeth II and HMS Prince of Whales into service with the British fleet. The new carriers will become the centerpiece of the Royal Navy. QE II arrived today at its home port at Portsmouth, following its first sea trial last month; HMS Queen Elizabeth’s sister ship, HMS Prince of Wales, is structurally complete and is now in the outfitting phase. Queen Elizabeth will become the flagship of the Royal Navy, replacing HMS Ocean helicopter carrier in this role.

The introduction of two aircraft carriers will strengthen the Royal Navy commitment, particularly to the European defense that currently relies on US Naval super carriers and a single French carrier. The ship will operate with a crew of approximately 700, increasing to the full complement of 1,600 when aircraft are in operation.

As the two carriers become operational, 24 F-35B will arrive in the UK and, by 2023, earlier than planned, they will be ready to fly from those carriers. It will offer the largest dedicated air group of fifth generation fighters at sea, and the most potent Carrier Strike capability outside the United States. “It will endow the UK with the means to take our place alongside our closest allies – chiefly the United States and France, but others – in providing maritime air power in defense of shared interests around the world.” Rear Admiral Alex Burton, Royal Navy’s Commander UK Maritime Forces said at the Maritime Warfare Conference in Malaysia earlier this year.



“Given our long-standing defense relationships in the Middle East, it is certain that a Royal Navy strike group – centered on a Queen Elizabeth-class carrier – will regularly deploy East of Suez. And it will be perfectly possible, should we wish, for Type 31 frigates to permanently operate from the Gulf region or from Asia-Pacific in the decades ahead.” Burton added.

The Royal Navy has also been working with the Government of Oman to explore berthing options in the new commercial port of Duqm. Situated outside the Strait of Hormuz it gives immediate access to the Indian Ocean and beyond and capacity for aircraft carriers and nuclear-powered submarines. Under the Five Powers Defense Agreement, the Royal Navy also keeps berthing space in Singapore. These facilities provide the UK Government with the option, should it wish, to project power and influence beyond the Atlantic.

On its recent sea trials the new carrier joined the US Navy task force headed by USS Nimitz. Photo: MOD, Crown Copyright

HMS Queen Elizabeth II arriving at the Portsmouth seafront, passing on its way one of its intended guardian, HMS Diamond Type 45 destroyer. Photo: Crown Copyright
Protectors of the Queen and Prince

Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless cuts through rough weather in the South Atlantic during her deployment to the area. The gun and vertical launch silos of the Sea Viper missiles are clearly seen in the forehead. Photo: MOD, Crown Copyright

Six Daring Class Type 45 destroyers are deployed to protect those task forces against aerial threats. For this mission, they carry the PAAMS – Sea Viper air and missile defense system, comprising the multi-mission Sampson radar and Aster missiles. The rotating AESA radar is housed in a distinctive sphere seated on top of the huge mast, soaring above the sea to extend visibility over the horizon. The missiles are stored in six vertical launch stacks of eight launchers each, providing a total capacity of 48 ready to launch missiles. Both Aster 15 and 30 are used.

Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon pictured in the Middle East during Operation Kipion 2013. Photo: MOD, Crown Copyright

Capable of launching eight missiles in about 10 seconds, the system simultaneously handles multiple targets. High flying aircraft and missiles flying at a speed up to Mach 4, can be intercepted up to 120 km away while low altitude targets and sea skimming missiles are engaged at the extended horizon – a distance of up to 25 km.

MBDA is currently developing a follow-on version of the Aster missile, known as Block 1NT. Italy and France are committed to this upgrading program for their naval and land-based Aster missile systems. Britain has shown interest but has not decided yet. The new weapon will receive a new RF seeker operating in the KA band and more powerful processor but retain the missile dimensions and guidance systems to maintain compatibility with existing systems. When completed, and if selected, Aster Block 1NT will provide a Type 45 destroyer limited missile defense capability against medium range ballistic missiles (missiles with a range of 1000 – 1500 km).

These destroyers also have the Mk8 medium turret with 4.5″ gun mounted in the forecastle. This weapon is common to all Royal Navy destroyers and frigates. One of the ships – HMS Duncan is also capable of carrying Harpoon anti-ship missiles.

• The Year of the Royal Navy
• Modernization of the Submarine Fleet
• New Frigates and OPVs Replacing the Older Generations

Type 45 destroyers have exceptionally high mast with the heavy radar on top which extends the ship’s radar horizon. Photo: MOD, Crown Copyright

http://defense-update.com/20170817_carriers.html

 

[Zarvan]

2017 is the Year of the Royal Navy
By
Tamir Eshel

2017 represents a turnaround year for the British Royal Navy. After years of budget cuts that resulted in diminishing the size and risk of obsolescence of maritime power, new investments, announced in the past two years are setting the pace for rebound. Construction of a new class of submarines, modern frigates, and ocean-going offshore patrol vessels are part of a £178 billion defense equipment plan recommended by the Strategic Defense and Security Review (SDSR) of 2015.

In addition to the new investments, two new aircraft carriers are being fielded, along with a wing of F-35B fighters and AEW helicopters, and nine P-8A maritime patrol anti-submarine aircraft – reinstating capabilities that were neglected in the lean years of the past decade. Improvements are also made in ship self-defense and counter-air capabilities, with the introduction of improved torpedoes and air defense systems.

Fighting smugglers is one of the tasks of Royal Navy frigates when on patrols. When on patrol in the Caribbean, HMS Argyll, a Type 23 intercepted over 1.5 tons of Cocaine. Photo: MOD, Crown Copyright

With strategic interests vested in NATO, the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, the Arabian Gulf and the Indian Ocean, the Royal Navy flexes muscles across the seas to meet its responsibilities – keeping maritime security, counter piracy, stability and disaster response, operating as part of international and regional maritime forces.

As an island nation renewing its independent, international trading power, the Royal Navy is of critical value for Britain’s security, particularly following its departure from the European Union.

Political stability will be of utmost importance for this ambitious shipbuilding plan, as most of the investments in shipbuilding have been spent in Scotland, where aircraft carriers were built in Rosyth, and Offshore Patrol Vessels are under construction in Glasgow, where the future Type 26 will be built.

Construction of Astute class submarines at Devonshire Dock Hall (DDH), at Barrow-in-Furness. Visible are the Anson, the fifth Astute-class submarine, next to sisters Artful and Audacious. Photo: BAE Systems

The submarine building is done at Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria, North West England, where the Astute submarines are built and next generation Dreadnought class will be built in the next decade. Other constructions of support ships are contracted competitively from smaller shipyards in the UK and shipbuilders overseas.

The future Dreadnought will replace the Vanguard ballistic missile submarines in the 2030s. Image: BAE Systems

The majority of military shipbuilding works is done at shipyards dedicated to military construction. Lack of competitiveness and lengthy procurement have led to increasing costs. An independent review of the UKshipbuilding strategy, published in 2016 recommends contracts for smaller vessels are also delivered to those shipyards, or competed internationally, to save costs. Critics in the UKrecommend that some of the smaller vessels could also compete internationally, or with smaller shipyards in the UK, to save costs and improve efficiencies.

Following several acquisitions of local shipyards BAE Systems is the largest manufacturer of naval systems in the UK, the company designs build, repairs and upgrades surface ships, submarines, as well as torpedoes, radars, naval guns and command and combat systems. On different programs, the company established alliances with main subcontractors, for example, Babcock, Rolls Royce and Thales, to name a few.

• Carriers Revival
• Modernizing the Submarine Fleet
• New Frigates and OPVs Replacing the Older Generations

One of the largest shipbuilding programs in the coming years will be the construction of two new classes of frigates, to replace the current Duke Class (Type 23) multi purpose frigates. Seen here is St Albans, F83. Photo: MOD, Crown Copyright

http://defense-update.com/20170817_royal_navy_turnaround.html