Afghanistan and India! The reason that Germany declined to transfer AIP technology to Pakistan's submarine Project

A top German security panel headed by the Chancellor Angela Merkel has turned down Pakistan’s request for supply of air independent propulsion (AIP) systems for its submarines that would allow them to stay underwater for weeks, people familiar with the matter said.

Pakistan wants to upgrade its Yuan Class Submarine with AIP technology

The decision taken by the German Federal Security Council headed by Chancellor Angela Merkel was conveyed to the Pakistan embassy on August 6, people cited above said on conditions of anonymity.

Pakistan had made the request for access to the air independent propulsion system that can recharge submarine batteries without having to surface for longer periods. Pakistan had proposed the upgrade for submarines in its inventory and the Yuan class submarines being manufactured under joint China-Pakistan project in China.

The AIP system would have enhanced the combat capabilities of its submarines by allowing the diesel engines to run without atmospheric air for a week or more.

Conventional submarines have to surface almost every second day to run their air-breathing diesel engines, running the risk of detection.

Possible Allegation of India

Pakistan watchers in Delhi said the primary reason for Germany to take a hard stance on Pakistan’s request was being attributed to its role in promoting terror, particularly Pakistan’s failure to cooperate in identifying the perpetrators of the truck bomb attack on the Germany Embassy in Kabul in May 2017.

Nearly 150 people were killed in the bombing that devastated a central area of Kabul near the embassy. The bombing, counted among the deadliest terror strikes in recent years, was linked to the Haqqani Network that is known in counter-terror circuits to be supported and directed by Pakistan deep state.

Afghanistan to Germany

The Afghan National Directorate of Security had then gone on record to blame the Haqqani network based in neighbouring Pakistan for the terror strike and accused Pakistan’s spy agency ISI of helping in planning the attack. German officials have noted that Islamabad hadn’t pursued the investigations at its end.

Turkish Aerospace Industry delivers new radar equipped drone to Turkish Naval Forces

On August 24 2020, the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) has supplied another ANKA a long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with an automatic identification system and synthetic aperture radar (SAR), to the Turkish Naval Forces.

Turkish Navy received new Anka-S drone from TAI (Pic Source: Turkish Navy)

Task

The ANKA that can be deploy in the Aegean and Mediterranean seas with its SAR and camera load for surface reconnaissance and surveillance missions, can gather intelligence from a distant range and above clouds with its new radar system.

Features

The ANKA-S System is developed for day and night reconnaissance, surveillance, fixed/mobile target detection, identification, tracking and real-time image intelligence tasks. It can also under all-weather conditions. The ANKA-S System has a payload of 200 kg and an altitude of 30,000 feet and is capable of 24 hours of flight time.

Turkish Fleet

The UAV's fleet of the Turkish Naval Forces includes 110 Bayraktar TB2 drones domestically-produced by Turkey’s leading aviation company Baykar Makina, 4 ANKA drones and 10 Israeli Heron-TP UAVs.

Germany, France and Dutch Navies hold Mine Countermeasures Drill

On August 24 2020, the harbour protection exercise started at three different locations in the inner port of Ostend. This exercise is the first part of a diptych of Exercise SANDY COAST 2020, an international mine action exercise in Belgian waters.

Harbour protection exercise hold at Ostend Port, Belgium (Pic: Belgium Navy)

During the exercise, the Dutch, French and German "Very Shallow Water" (VSW) and "explosive ordnance disposal" (EOD) teams train in the procedures that are actually applied when they have to search for explosive devices. It goes without saying that fake explosive devices will be used during the exercise.

The two teams explore the bottom and the walls of the quay in search of explosive material (improvised explosive device and mines). They locate explosive devices using unmanned systems (Autonomous Underwater Vehicles abbreviated AUV) such as the Alister-9 and the Remus 100.

After analyzing the images from these AUVs, objects presumed to be explosive devices are identified with the help of divers. If the contact turns out to be an explosive (even if it is a real explosive), it will be rendered harmless.

Navy personnel unmanned research and rescue system repairing (Belgium Navy)

During the exercise, attention is also paid to suspicious objects in the vicinity of the exercise areas, which will then also be neutralized according to a planned procedure. During this exercise in the inner port of Ostend, the teams will keep the staff, which coordinates everything, informed of developments.

SACO 20 as a Binational exercise will primarily focus on MCM tactics, techniques and procedures, including experimental tactics (EXTACS) and VSW/EOD techniques and procedures. The 2020 edition will equally focus on harbour protection (HP) and shore-based VSW MCM.

Royal Navy of Britain's fastest constructed new Patrol Vessel HMS Tamar ready for deployment

Britain is ready to put its newest warship on front-line duties. It is thought to be the fastest generation of a warship in peacetime, the Portsmouth-based ship is ready to deploy around the globe by August from lifeless hulk at the beginning of 2020.

HMS Tamar a River Class Offshore Patrol Vessel of Royal Navy of Britain is ready for Frontline mission

The fact that HMS Tamar has 61 crew member, all new to River-class Offshore patrol vessel and have come from frigates and destroyers, even aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.

The class is at the vanguard of the Royal Navy’s Forward Presence programme, stationing ships around the globe in regions key to UK interests and security as well as in-home waters.

HMS Tamar

River Class: HMS Tamar is a Batch 2 River-class offshore patrol vessel of the British Navy. Named after the River Tamar, she is the fourth Batch 2 River-class vessel to be built and was formally commissioned on 4 June 2020

HMS Tamar is the fastest constructed patrol vessel 

Dimension: River-class ship is dimensionally 90.5m (296 ft 11 in) long hull, a top speed of 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph)

Displacement and Endurance: Tamar with displacement of 2,000 tonnes has of about range of 5500 miles (10200km) with endurance up to 35days.

Power Plant: River-class Tamar is powered by 2 × MAN 16V28/33D diesel engines developing 14,700kW/19,700HP has a Merlin capable flight deck for Helicopter.

Armaments: It is armed with one DS30B 30 mm cannon, two Miniguns and two General purpose machine guns. The class is also fitted with the Kelvin Hughes SharpEye integrated radar system for navigation, the Terma Scanter 4100 2D radar for air and surface surveillance, and a BAE CMS-1 Combat Management System.

New Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (HMCS) Harry DeWolf delivered under National Shipbuilding Strategy to Royal Canadian Navy

According to information published by the Canadian MoD (Ministry of Defense) on July 31, 2020, the Royal Canadian Navy has taken delivery of the first new Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS). Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Harry DeWolf, the first of a class of six, is named in honour of Vice-Admiral Harry DeWolf, a Canadian wartime naval hero. HMCS Harry DeWolf is the first ship built for the RCN under the National Shipbuilding Strategy.

New Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS-430) build for Royal Canadian Navy under National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy

Specifically designed to patrol Canada’s offshore waters and northernmost regions, this new class of ship will be at the core of an enhanced Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Arctic presence, effectively complementing the capabilities of our other current and future warships through critical reconnaissance and surveillance activities.

In addition to highly versatile platforms that will enable the ship to support a variety of domestic and international missions. HMCS Harry DeWolf will remain docked at Jetty NJ at the CFB Halifax Dockyard while the RCN conducts its post-acceptance trials and training, including operations near Newfoundland and Labrador. 

Commissioning and Deployment

The ship will undergo a formal commissioning ceremony in summer 2021, which will mark that it has officially entered into active naval service, followed by an Arctic deployment. Construction for the following three ships is ongoing, with construction of the fifth and sixth ships expected to begin in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

HMCS Harry DeWolf being welcomed in sea

HMCS Harry DeWolf (AOPV 430) is the lead ship of its class of offshore patrol vessels for the Royal Canadian Navy. The class was derived from the Arctic Offshore Patrol Ship project as part of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy and is primarily designed for the patrol and support of Canada's Arctic regions.

Features

Dimension: The Harry DeWolf-class offshore patrol vessels are designed for use in the Arctic regions of Canada for patrol and support within Canada's exclusive economic zone. The vessel is 103.6 m (339 ft 11 in) long overall with a beam of 19.0 m.

Displacement: The ship has a displacement of 6,615 metric tons. The ship has an enclosed foredeck that protects machinery and work spaces from Arctic climates.

Power House: The vessel is powered by a diesel-electric system composed of four 3.6-megawatt (4,800 hp) generators and two diesel engines rated at 4.5 megawatts (6,000 hp) driving two shafts.

Speed: Harry DeWolf is capable of 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) in open water and 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) while icebreaking in new year ice of 1-meter (3 ft 3 in) thickness.

HMCS Harry DeWolf class AOPS-430 under trial by RCN

Endurance: The ship has a range of 6,800 nautical miles (12,600 km; 7,800 mi) and an endurance of 85. Harry DeWolf is equipped with fin stabilizers to decrease roll in open water but can be retracted during icebreaking.

Other: The ship is also equipped with a bow thruster to aid during maneuvers and docking procedures without requiring tugboat assistance.

The Last Cruiser Of British Royal Navy

HMS Blake was a light cruiser of the Tiger class of the British Royal Navy, the last of the traditional Royal Navy gun-armed cruisers in the 20th century. She was named after Robert Blake, a 17th-century admiral who was the "Father of the Royal Navy".

HMS Blake (C99) Cruiser of British Royal Navy

She was ordered in 1942 as one of the Minotaur class of light cruisers. They had a low construction priority due to more pressing requirements for other ship types during World War II, particularly anti-submarine craft.

In 1954, construction of Blake resumed, but to a new design. She would have fully automatic 6 inch guns in twin high-angle mounts with each gun capable of shooting 20 rounds per minute, and a secondary battery of Fully Automatic 3 inch guns which delivered 90 rounds per minute per gun.

HMS Blake Cruiser (C99) During a sea mission

On 18 March 1961, Blake finally commissioned into the Royal Navy to date the last cruiser to do so. Just two years later, she was placed in reserve. From 1965 to 1969, she underwent a major conversion to become a helicopter and command cruiser. This reconstruction included replacing the after 6 inch and 3 inch mounts with a flight deck and hangar. The refit was very expensive, during the conversion a major fire broke out causing considerable damage and raising the costs still further.

In 1969 Blake deployed to Gibraltar along with other Royal Navy units in order to ‘fly the flag’ in response to Spanish hostility following the closure of the Gibraltar-Spain border by General Franco. Also in 1969 a Royal Air Force Harrier jet landed on Blake. In 1971, she was present during the emotional withdrawal from Malta, supporting the commando carrier Bulwark.

VTOL Harrier jet landing on HMS Blake of Royal British Navy

In 1977 she took part in the Fleet Review of the Royal Navy during the Silver Jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II, which took place off Spithead. The cruiser was host to the Westland Wessex HAS-3 helicopters of 820 Naval Air Squadron from June 1969 and these were replaced by the Westland Sea King HAS-1 helicopter in December 1972, continuing until Blake was withdrawn from service in 1979.

HMS Blake with four Sea King Helicopter

The advent of the Falklands War led to a rapid ship survey in early April and work was immediately begun to recommission her for service in the conflict, but work was stopped in late May when it was clear she could not be ready in time to deploy. She was the last cruiser serving with the Royal Navy upon her decommissioning and was sold for scrapping in August 1982.

Russia is developing hypersonic missiles against foreign aircraft carriers

The launch of the project 22350 frigate of the Admiral Gorshkov type was the first successful launch of the 3M22 Zircon hypersonic missile  belongs to Russia. The missile hit the ground target located at the military range of the Northern Urals the flight range was more than 500 km.

Russian 3M22 Zircon Anti-Ship (aircraft carrier) hypersonic missile

This is the third hypersonic complex after the ‘Dagger Aviation Hypersonic missile’, the ‘Avangard Ground Hypersonic missile’ and the first sea-based hypersonic complex in Russia. Although the test target was on land, foreign media believe that the target of this missile will be an aircraft carrier strike group.

Russia attaches great importance to the development of hypersonic weapons and currently has three types of hypersonic missiles. Hypersonic missiles “Avangard”, which are in service with the Strategic Missile Forces, carry out strategic strike missions.

The Dagger hypersonic missile system is being use by air force that has installed on the MiG-31M “Fox Hound” interceptors and performs operational and tactical missions.

Various surface ships and submarines of the Russian Navy can employ the 3M22 Zircon missile, it is being mainly design to destroy surface and ground targets at a remote distance.

Russian armed forces has tested their Zircon Hypersonic missile on MiG-31 Aircraft

According to foreign media, the Zircon missile is inherently a hypersonic anti-ship missile, in terms of the way it conducts operations, it adopts the tactics of supersonic breakthrough of an air defence system and delivering strikes against an area with continuous destruction at a remote distance, the same was used by the navy in Soviet times.

During the Cold War, faced with an aggressive U.S. aircraft carrier group, the Soviet Navy, thanks to space, air and sea-based reconnaissance systems, created a complex that allows attacking aircraft carriers using supersonic anti-ship missiles, based on surface, underwater and air launch platforms.

In this complex, supersonic anti-ship missiles launched from various platforms can create waves of attacks.

Specification of Zircon Hypersonic Anti-ship Missile

Before the Aegis missile defence system appeared, the Russian complex made it possible to detect, recognize and intercept the air targets of American ships, gradually balancing the anti-ship missile systems.

The Zircon rocket speed has increased to Mach 9, and the flight range reaches 1000s km. The missile can be launch at a safer distance, reducing the reaction time of the enemy ship’s anti-aircraft missile system.

Massive fire caught in US Navy's Wasp Class Ship

A massive fire broke out in the Wasp Class Assault Landing Ship, Bonhomme Richard  in San Diego. The ship is still burning 12 hours after the blaze was first reported in the morning local time.

Massive fire in Wasp Class Assault landing ship, Bonhomme Richard (Source: TheSanDiegotribune)

The cause of the fire is still unknown but it started in the ship's floodable lower cargo hold, where vehicles and marine equipment like landing crafts are stored.

160 sailors were on board the vessel when the fire started. They have all been evacuated and all crew members are accounted for. It also means the fire is no longer fought from within the ship itself but from the outside.

17 sailors and 4 civilians total of 21 people have been lightly wounded and are being treated for smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion are being treated in the hospital.

USS-Bonhomme-Richard-massive-burning-San-Diego

Bonhomme Richard is assumed to keep burning through the night. Lawrence Brennan, a retired Navy captain, said, "Repair prices if practical, will be hundreds of millions of dollars, or replacement will take many years and cost about a billion dollars.”

The Navy undertook a modernisation program on the landing ship in 2018, to turn her into a "Light aircraft Carrier", enabling her to carry and support up to 20 F-35B. The USN has been implementing this plan to all 10 of its assault ships.

Huntington awarded $936 million contract to construct a Destroyer

Huntington Ingalls Industries (Ingalls Shipbuilding division) has been awarded a $936 million contract for the construction of an additional Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) Flight III destroyer for the U.S. Navy. In 2018, Ingalls was awarded a $5.1 billion fixed-price incentive, multiyear contract for construction of six Arleigh Burke-class Flight III destroyers for the U.S. Navy.

Arleigh Burke-class Flight III destroyer (Pic source: US Navy)

“We take great pride in the craftsmanship of our shipbuilders, and in the capabilities of our world-class shipyard,” Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias said. “This contract award provides great momentum for Ingalls and our more than 600 suppliers, in nearly 40 states, as we enter the second half of the year. We continue to focus on high performance and providing the greatest value possible to our customers.” Ingalls has delivered 32 destroyers to the US Navy and has four more under construction including Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121), Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123), Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) and Ted Stevens (DDG 128). Ingalls delivered Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) to the Navy in April. Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are capable, multi-mission ships and can conduct a variety of operations from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection all in support of the United States military strategy.

Arleigh Burk Class III Destroyer (Pic Source: HII)

These guided missile destroyers are capable of simultaneously fighting air, surface and subsurface battles. These ships contains myriad offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime defense needs well into the 21st century.

Pakistan Navy: Buying Vessels for Special Operations from US Company!

Pakistan Navy has placed an order for two 75m Swift Corvettes from Swiftships, said the company’s Chief Executive Officer Shehraze Shah. In an interview with a defence and security magazine Mönch, Mr Shah said that the Pakistan Navy had also purchased Swiftships’ 11m Special Operation Craft Riverine, which was deployed for counterinsurgency and drug-interdiction missions.

Pakistan Navy's Swift Corvettes for special operations. (Pic source: SwiftShips)

Pakistan also retains the option to order two more Swift Corvettes later. Swiftships has partnered with Lockheed Martin to offer these 1,500 to 2,000 ton ships to the client. The corvettes will be equipped with Lockheed Martin’s combat management system. The corvette is a multi-purpose platform for addressing both conventional and asymmetrical security threats. Pakistan is expected to use these ships in its Combined Task Force deployments. According to SwiftShips, the corvette can also deploy rigid-hulled inflatable boats for special operation forces missions and for board, search and seizure operations. At a speed of 15 knots (28km per hour), the corvette has a range of 4,000 Nautical miles and endurance of 25 days. It has a top speed of 30 knots with the Swift Corvette would have a displacement of 1,640 tons. A Pakistan specific defence and analysis group Quwa, reported that in June, the Pakistan Navy signed an order for two offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) from Damen Shipyards. One of these will be built at the Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KSEW).

Swift Corvette enable to operate SCANEAGLE-UAV. (Pic Source: Swiftships)

The intended role for the Damen OPVs is “anti-surface, anti-air operations and maritime security operations, day & night helicopter operations, combat search and rescue, and surveillance and intelligence gathering operations. The corvette is configurable with a 76mm main gun, two 30mm guns, anti-ship missiles (AShM), Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) for very short-range air defence (VSHORAD) coverage, decoy launchers and two Mk93 50 calibre mounts with Mk16 tripods. It also has an aft deck and hangar sufficient for a utility helicopter. It can also deploy "ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)" which are also in service with the navy. Quwa reported that the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency is taking delivery of six new Chinese maritime patrol vessels (MPV) — two 1,500-ton and four 600-ton MPV designs. These could assume law enforcement, exclusive economic zone monitoring and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

High budget allocation to modernise Navy and Maritime Forces: Australin Government

The Australian government approved the so-called Defense Strategic Update and the 2020 Force Structure Plan, which provide for Australia spending a total of AUD 270 billion in defense spending over the coming decade, announced The Australian PM Stock Morrison.

"The Strategic Update sets out the challenges in Australia’s strategic environment and its implications for Defence planning. It provides a new strategic policy framework to ensure Australia is able – and is understood as willing – to deploy military power to shape our environment, deter actions against our interests and, when required, respond with military force", he added.

HMAS Canberra, Anzac, Sirius, Paramatta and Melbourne during exercise Ocean Raider. Pic Source: Aus. Navy

Australia has taken the step against the Cyber Attacks and Economic indifferences which has arised in the area (Indo-Pacific region). Australia will emphasize on increase its presence with nations and to tackle the Cyber crimes in the region.

On the naval side, the Strategic Update covers both Naval Shipbuilding and Maritime capabilities:

Naval Shipbuilding

• The 2020 Force Structure Plan builds on Government’s commitment to continuous naval shipbuilding as set out in the 2016 Defence White Paper.
• The Force Structure Plan includes plans for the acquisition or upgrade of up to 23 different classes of Navy and Army maritime vessels with investment of approximately $50 billion over the decade 2020-30 and up to $137 billion over the period 2020-40. In total, this represents a plan to invest between $168 - $183 billion out to the completion of the Attack class submarine build in the 2050s.
• Australia will buy missiles and defense systems for all three services. New F-18 Super Hornets will be inducted and Carriers will be upgraded with long range anti-ship missiles. 
• Detail on opportunities for Australia’s shipbuilding industry arising from this plan will be included in an update to the Naval Shipbuilding Plan.

Maritime

• Australia is responsible for one of the world’s largest exclusive economic zones (Indo-Pacific region) and is highly dependent on maritime trade.
• The Indo-Pacific region has seen a rapid expansion and modernisation of maritime forces, potentially complicating Australia’s ability to protect its interests.
• The 2016 Defence White Paper laid the framework for the most ambitious plan to regenerate the Royal Australian Navy since the Second World War. The 2020 Force Structure Plan will enhance this even further.