Pantsyr-ME seaborne air defense missile and artillery system undergoes sea trials

Russia’s latest seaborne air defense missile system undergoes sea trials

Military & Defense June 28, 17:54 UTC+3

Pantsyr seaborne air defense system can destroy targets at 20km distance

ST. PETERSBURG, June 28. /TASS/. Russia’s latest Pantsyr-ME seaborne air defense missile and artillery system has already been mounted on the Project 1241 (Molniya) missile boat and is undergoing trials in the Black Sea, Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau Head Alexander Shlyakhtenko told TASS on Wednesday.

"Now the seaborne Pantsyr will undergo the entire set of tests. We have actually already installed it on the experimental model, on the Molniya," he said at the 8th International Maritime Defense Show in St. Petersburg, adding that the trials were being held in the Black Sea.

Shlyakhtenko earlier said that the seaborne Pantsyr would be mounted on Project 22800 Karakurt-class small missile ships. "The plans have not changed. It [the Pantsyr] will be installed on them," the design bureau chief said.

High Precision Weapons Group CEO Alexander Denisov earlier said that the trials of the Pantsyr-ME complex were planned to be completed in one or two years and the Russian Navy had already ordered this system.

Project 1241 missile boats are a series of large missile boats built at Soviet shipyards in 1979-1996. They are operational in the Russian Navy and the navies of other countries.

Pantsyr seaborne air defense system to destroy targets at 20km distance.

Russia’s state hi-tech corporation Rostec has unveiled the most advanced Pantsyr-ME seaborne air defense missile and artillery system at the St. Petersburg International Maritime Defense Show, the corporation’s press office reported.

The latest seaborne missile complex has been developed by the Tula design bureau of instrument-making, the press office said.

"The creation of actually each of the complex’s basic systems has prompted a principally new scientific and technical solution. As a result, the striking potential of the Pantsyr-ME complex increased three-four-fold compared to the Kashtan-M complex. Specifically, the range of the air defense missile’s strike has been increased from 10 to 20 kilometers and its altitude from 3 to 15 kilometers," Rostec CEO Sergei Chemezov was quoted by the corporation’s press office as saying.

All the stages of combat performance, from the search for targets to firing, are implemented in motion, he said.

"The combined use of the radar and optical control system provides for the complex’s round-the-clock operation in any weather conditions. All of the complex’s processes are automated and the crew provides only surveillance and control," he said.

The use of the multi-functional radar with a phased antenna array and an antiaircraft missile with a 20km firing range in the Pantsyr-ME’s combat module allows engaging four targets at a time and destroying new types of modernized anti-ship missiles and small-size air attack weapons and surface targets. The complex can be mounted on warships displacing from 300 tonnes, the press office said.

The Pantsyr-ME air defense missile and artillery system mounted on warships allows providing secure protection against modern air attack weapons, including low-flying and small-sized remotely controlled aircraft, the press office said.

"The development of the new Pantsyr-ME complex ensures reliable protection of warships against air attack means with the unconditional probability practically equal to 1, including against low-flying anti-ship missiles and remotely-controlled aircraft," the corporation said.

"The main specific feature of the complexes developed by the instrument-making design bureau is that they can attack targets with missile armament first and then with an anti-ship missile in the antiaircraft missile’s dead zone, if the target has not been destroyed for some reasons or has been insufficiently destroyed," the corporation’s press office reported.

Rostec CEO Sergei Chemezov earlier said that the development of the Pantsyr-ME seaborne air defense missile/gun system had been completed and the complex had been launched into serial production.

The Pantsyr-ME is the shipborne version of the Pantsyr family of air defense missile/gun systems. The system’s version for the ground forces is called Pantsyr-S.

Source: tass.com

Russia’s latest Pantsyr-ME seaborne air defense missile and artillery system has already been mounted on the Project 1241 (Molniya) missile boat and is undergoing trials in the Black Sea

Project 1241 (Molniya) missile boat (Project 1242.1/1241.8 'Molniya')

Project 1242.1

MOLNIYA Missile Boat is intended to engage hostile surface combatants, transports and landing ships in the littoral zones and open sea areas.

Specifications

Displacement fully-loaded, t	550
Length overall, m	56,9
Beam overall, m	13,0
Midship depth, m	5,31
Draught fully-loaded, m	3,62
Top speed, kts	38
Cruising speed, kts	12
Cruising range, miles	2400
Endurance, days	10
Crew, persons	44

Propulsion plant

2 x M15E OM5 gas turbine units, total power output of 17420 kW (23700 h.p.) at t=34ºC,
or
2 x MTU 20V1163NB93 diesel engines, total power output of 14800 kW (19850 h.p.).

Attack missiles (Project 12421) 

MOSKIT missile system is provided to engage surface targets.
The system comprises a fire control equipment suite and two twin (over-and-under) missile launchers accommodating a total of four low-altitude MOSKIT (3M80Е) supersonic cruise missiles with active guidance system.

• Missile flight range – 120 km.
• Flight altitude – 20 m.
• Flight speed – 2-2,4 M.

Attack missiles (Project 12418)

URAN-E missile system is provided to engage surface targets (project 12418).
The system comprises four missile launchers accommodating a total of sixteen URAN (3M24Е) cruise missiles.

• Missile flight range — 130 km.
• Flight speed — 0,9 M.

Anti-aircraft missiles 

12 х IGLA-class guided anti-aircraft missile systems are provided to engage airborne targets.

•   Missile flight range — up to 5200 m
•  Target altitude — 10-3500 m

Artillery

1x 76.2-mm AK-176M automatic gun mount is provided to engage airborne, surface and coastal targets.

• Fire rate — up to 130 rds per minute.
• Maximum firing range — up to 15.7 km.

2 x AK-630M 30-mm automatic gun mounts intended to engage airborne and small surface targets.

• Fire rate — up to 5000 rds per minute.
• Maximum firing range — up to 8 km.

Source: vympel-rybinsk.ru

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Canadian Bidder urges overhaul of government's request for proposals for the $60B navy frigate program

EXCLUSIVE Bidder urges overhaul of design tender in $60B navy frigate program

Documents show a ship designer says no company likely to meet Canada's requirements for new ships

By Murray Brewster, CBC News Posted: Jun 28, 2017 3:32 PM ET Last Updated: Jun 28, 2017 3:32 PM ET

Canada's plan to buy an off-the-shelf design for the navy's new frigates faces a "very high risk of failure" unless the Liberal government rewrites its proposed requirements, one of the bidders has told the shipyard running the competition.

Documents obtained by CBC News show the unidentified company, which is bidding to supply the design and help with the $60-billion construction program, has warned the plan is more complex than initially advertised by the government.

In a written submission last month, the company told Irving Shipbuilding the government's request for proposals needs a major overhaul.

But Irving dismissed the bidder's concerns, according to an exchange contained in a collection of questions and answers with prospective bidders that were circulated to all bidders by Irving on May 12, 2017, a copy of which was obtained by CBC News.

When the Liberals retooled the national shipbuilding strategy last year, they made a point of saying they want a proven warship design, rather than something done from scratch.

They said it would be faster and cheaper.

Given all of the conditions in the request for proposals, the bidder said that expectations are too high. 

"To the best of our knowledge, neither we, nor any other prequalified bidder, possesses an off-the-shelf ship design which could be modified to meet all of the [request for proposal] requirements without, in effect, becoming a new design with all of the risks that would stem from a massive redesign effort," said documents.

Risk of failure

The unidentified bidder did not mince words.

"Not only will we not be in a position to make a proposal, which we believe will best meet Canada's objectives, but we have reason to believe that most, if not all, other prequalified bidders with an existing ship design will be in a similar situation," said the documents.

"In such an event, a failure to respond positively to our enquiries might put the (request for proposal) process at a very high risk of failure, either because an insufficient number of bids are received or because the bids which are received do not meet Canada's value for money objectives."

Irving responded: "This has been considered and no change to the [request for proposals] will be made."

The government has already extended the deadline for submitting ship design bids until August — or perhaps later.

Irving Shipbuilding said in a written statement that it has conducted multiple rounds of industry engagement on the project. It said each question has been carefully considered and answered and it is the government that decides what kind of warship it wants.

"Delivering the right [Canadian surface combatant] capabilities to the Royal Canadian Navy, on time and on budget, is a priority for Irving Shipbuilding," said spokesperson Sean Lewis.

"In doing so, we will work closely in partnership with the government of Canada in selecting a design that is most suitable for Canada and the requirements of the Royal Canadian Navy. These requirements are set by the Canadian government."

Complex process

In the past, Irving officials have expressed concern publicly that too many design changes will mean lengthy delays.

Retired vice-admiral Bruce MacLean said the process of designing and building a modern warship is complex and requires give-and-take from all sides.

"You have to be sufficiently flexible to make change, whether it's a cost issue or a capability issue," Maclean told CBC News.

He noted that the navy's first attempt to replace its supply ships was scuttled in 2008 because the navy's requirements exceeded the hard budget cap imposed by the former Conservative government.

The Liberals intend to build 15 frigate replacements and recently acknowledged the cost will be in the range of $56 billion to $60 billion — a huge increase from the initial $26-billion forecast made almost a decade ago.

And MacLean said that underscores the importance of the unfolding backroom debate.

"Is it really an off-the-shelf design? Or are the modifications so extensive [that] it will turn it into something else? There's the rub," he said.

Intellectual property debate

Bidders have also quietly expressed concern that the initial order will only involve three warships, which are meant to replace the navy's command and control destroyers.

The government intends to build a total of 15 surface combat ships, but they will be constructed in batches in a manner similar to the frigates they will eventually replace.

There is also an indication that a key behind-the-scenes battle over intellectual property rights, which has been raging since last year, has not been resolved.

National Defence and Public Works has demanded that ship designers hand over virtually all their intellectual property data for the high-tech electronic combat systems that would be installed on the new warships.

They asked bidders for all their foreground and background data necessary to maintain equipment such as radar and combat management suites. The problem is many of Canada's allies, including the U.S., Britain and France, paid for the development of those essential electronics individually and don't want to share the data for their own national security reasons.

But some of the bidders look at it from a competitive point of view.

"The grant required by the [request for proposals] would permit Canada and [Irving Shipbuilding Inc.] to use 'background' intellectual property supplied pursuant to the [request for proposals] to compete with the bidder supplying the intellectual property for subsequent military procurement contracts with other nations," said the documents.

Source: cbc.ca

As for the warship designer, Alion-JJMA, BAE Systems, DCNS, Fincantieri, Navantia, Odense Maritime Technology and ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems were pre-qualified. Source: janes.com

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Russia has launched the production of upgraded engines for Sukhoi Su-33 fighter jets

Russia restarts production of engines for shipborne fighter jets

Military & Defense June 28, 15:54 UTC+3

Engines for the naval aviation’s Su-33 aircraft arrive after passing all the test stages

ST. PETERSBURG, June 28. /TASS/. Russia has launched the production of upgraded engines for deck-based Sukhoi Su-33 fighter jets, the press office of the United Engine Corporation (UEC) said on Wednesday.

"In order to meet the requirements of the state customer, the UEC has resumed the production of AL-31F series 3 turbofan engines for deck-based Su-33 fighters. A batch of the engines has already been produced by UMPO [part of the UEC] and supplied to the customer," the press office said.

The AL-31F series 3 engines were developed and produced specially for Su-33 aircraft, the UEC said.

"Considering the evolutionary development that the family of AL-31F engines has undergone after the last series 3 units were produced, the new engines for seaborne heavy fighters are made with the introduction of modifications that have already been applied to the engines of the AL-31F family," the corporation’s press office said.

Engines for the naval aviation’s Su-33 aircraft arrive after passing all the test stages. The UEC is also carrying out work for providing technical support for operational seaborne AL-31F engines.

The AL-31F turbofan engine with an afterburner and a variable thrust nozzle is mounted on the aircraft of the Su-27 family. It is used in a wide range of altitudes and flight speeds and provides for the aircraft’s unique maneuverable characteristics.

The AL-31F has been used as the basis for developing the AL-31FP variant with thrust vector control and the AL-31FN variant with the lower arrangement of the box of aircraft accessory for mounting on single-engine fighter jets.

As its specific feature, the Al-31F series 3 offers a possibility for introducing an additional special mode for the aircraft’s takeoff from the deck with the full combat load or for an emergency go-around maneuver.

Source: tass.com

No data on Al-31F series 3 at time of post.....

Su-33 Flanker-D: Details

Thailand interested in buying Korean armored cars and rifles

Thailand interested in buying armored cars, rifles

Wed, June 28, 2017 | 18:50

By Jun Ji-hye

Thailand has shown interest in buying Korea's armored cars and rifles, defense officials here said Wednesday.

Bangkok has already purchased a 3,650-ton frigate made by Daewoo Shipbuilding, which will be delivered to the Royal Thai Navy next year.

The country also signed a deal in September 2015 with Korea Aerospace Industries to buy four T-50TH supersonic trainer jets to replace their Czech Republic-made L39 trainer jets.

Defense officials and scientists from Thailand are visiting Korea as part of their efforts to explore defense industries and organizations.

During their four-day visit that began Monday, Thai officials from the Defense Science and Technology Department (DSTD), led by Deputy Director Maj. Gen. Sombat Prasankasem, and scientists from the Defense Technology Institute (DTI) toured Korea's defense companies, including Poongsan and S&T Motiv.

Poongsan produces ammunition, while S&T Motiv manufactures rifles and machineguns, such as the K-2 and K-12.

The DSTD, part of Thailand's defense ministry, is in charge of defense technology and quality control. The DTI is the ministry-affiliated center that leads research and development and testing and evaluation.

Thai officials and scientists also visited the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality (DTaQ) on Tuesday to learn about Korea's procedures to standardize and guarantee the quality of military supplies and materials.

"The visit took place upon the request of Thailand that seeks to enhance technology cooperation with Korea," the DTaQ said in a release. "The DTaQ explained to Thai officials using examples of standardization and quality assurance of military supplies. The DTaQ also showed them its test facilities."

Source: koreatimes.co.kr

There is no mention on what type of armored cars......

Daewoo K2 (S&T Motive)

Daewoo K2 - modernfirearms.net

Daewoo Precision Industries K2: The principal rifle used by the ROK Marines is the Daewoo K2, which is chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO and takes STANAG (M16-type) magazines.

Daewoo K2 butt folded - modernfirearms.net

Weight: 3.26 kg (7.2 lb)

Length: 980 mm (39 in) (extended), 730 mm: (29 in) (folded)

Barrel length: 465 mm (18.3 in)

Cartridge: 5.56x45mm NATO, .223 Remington

Action: Gas operated, Rotating bolt

Rate of Fire: 750 RPM

Feed System: STANAG Magazines

Sights: Iron Sights

Source: tactical-life.com

S&T Motive K12

General-purpose machine gun designed K12 South Korean company S & T Motiv to replace obsolete 7.62mm general-purpose machine gun M60 American-made. K12 machine gun was first shown to the public in 2009 at the international exhibition of the Seoul ADEX defense and aerospace technologies.

Performance characteristics	K12
Caliber, mm	7,62h51NATO
Length mm	11234
Barrel length, mm	560
Weight, kg	12
Food	200 tape cartridges
Effective range, m	800
Maximum range, m	3600
Rate of fire, rds. / min	650-950

Source: zonwar.ru

HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier computers still running 16-year-old Windows XP operating system

The Navy's £3bn new aircraft carrier is running 16-year-old Windows XP - and could be for another 3 years

The Ministry of Defence indicated the vessel was running the discontinued operating system, which Microsoft stopped supporting in 2014

BYMIKEY SMITH

18:00, 27 JUN 2017UPDATED18:09, 27 JUN 2017

Computers on the Royal Navy’s £3.1 billion new aircraft carrier is still running 16-year-old operating system Windows XP - and will for up to three years, the Ministry of Defence indicated today.

Reports that computers aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth, were running the ageing software emerged in the Times this morning, after reporters spotted them during a tour last week.

And today, the MoD suggested it could still be running the operating system throughout its three-year shakedown.

Microsoft stopped officially providing security updates and bug fixes for the operating system three years ago.

But a spokesperson insisted the onboard computers would not be affected by the ransomware attack sweeping the globe last night, because they are not connected to the internet.

In 2015, while the vessel was still being built, pictures emerged which appeared to show a technician computer running Windows XP.

At the time, the MoD told tech website The Register: “The MoD can confirm that Windows XP will not be used by any onboard system when the ship becomes operational.”

Asked to clarify what that meant today, a Navy spokesperson said: “We are following a programme towards delivering a carrier Strike capability –ie. operational - for the UK from 2020.”

And asked this morning if the vessel was running XP, Tory Defence Secretary Michael Fallon appeared to confirm it.

He said: "It’s not the system itself that’s vulnerable, of course, it’s the security that surrounds it. I want to reassure you about Queen Elizabeth. The security around its computer system is properly protected and we don’t have any vulnerability on that particular score."

When Microsoft discontinued support for Windows XP in 2014, the UK Government paid them £5.5 million to provide updates for another year, to give them time to migrate away from the software.

An ‘emergency’ patch was released by the tech giant last month in order to fix the exploit used by the WannaCry ransomware infection which hit the NHS and thousands of businesses worldwide.

When it finally goes on active service in 2020, HMS Queen Elizabeth is expected to run a system called Shared Infrastructure, developed by the MoD with BAE Systems.

The new computers will allow the ship’s crew access to navigation, communications, sonar and other vital systems through a single console.

An MOD spokesperson said: “While we don’t comment on the specific systems used by our ships and submarines, we have absolute confidence in the security we have in place to keep the Royal Navy’s largest and most powerful ship safe and secure.

“We take cyber security extremely seriously and the UK has doubled its cyber investment to £1.9 billion.”

Source: mirror.co.uk

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Russian submarine Yuri Dolgoruky has successfully test-fired a Bulava missile from the Barents Sea

Russian submarine successfully test-fires Bulava intercontinental missile

Military & Defense June 26, 19:20 UTC+3

The missile has hit all the targets at the practice range in Kamchatka

MOSCOW, June 26. /TASS/. The Russian Northern Fleet’s Project 955 underwater missile cruiser Yuri Dolgoruky has successfully test-fired a Bulava missile from the Barents Sea and hit all the designated targets at the Kura practice range in Kamchatka, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Monday.

"The Project 955 Borey-class underwater missile cruiser Yuri Dolgoruky has made a successful launch of a Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile from the designated area of the Barents Sea towards the Kura practice range in Kamchatka. The launch was made from the submerged position in compliance with a combat training plan," the Defense Ministry said.

"The parameters of the Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile’s flight trajectory were practiced in the normal regime. According to the confirmed data of the registering equipment, the warheads of the intercontinental ballistic missile performed a full cycle of the flight and successfully hit the designated targets at the practice range," the Defense Ministry said.

The previous launch of a Bulava missile was carried out on September 27 when the submarine Yuri Dolgoruky performed an experimental salvo launch of two ICBMs from the White Sea towards the Kura practice range in the Russian Far East.

The warheads of the first missile performed a full cycle of the flight program and successfully hit the designated targets at the practice range. The second missile self-liquidated after performing the first stage of the flight program.

The submarine Yuri Dolgoruky is the Project 955 Borey-class lead vessel. The underwater cruiser is armed with a set of Bulava sea-launched intercontinental ballistic missiles and also with torpedoes. The sub can be armed with cruise missiles. It has a full displacement of 24,000 tonnes, is about 160 meters long and 13 meters wide.

The R-30 Bulava is a solid-propellant ballistic missile developed specially for Project 955 submarines. It can deliver 10 warheads of 150 kilotonnes each to a distance of 10,000 kilometers.

Source: tass.com

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