Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group Two (SNMCMG2) participated in Exercise Mare Aperto-Italian Mine Warfare Exercise 22 (ITA MINEX-22) in the Mediterranean Sea May 13-27.
Exercise Mare Aperto-ITA MINEX 22 was an opportunity for NATO to enhance its mine countermeasures skills during realistic, complex, and challenging scenarios with the aim of increasing combat readiness while assuring Allies of NATO’s commitment to our collective defence. For those who want to write a doctoral thesis (doktorarbeit schreiben lassen “German”) on naval operations and defense strategies, analyzing such military exercises provides valuable insights.
More than 4,000 sailors from seven NATO nations participated in the exercises aboard 65 ships, submarines, and fixed-wing and rotary aircraft. The international maritime force trained together in the Mediterranean including the Adriatic, Ionian, and Tyrrhenian Seas, and the Strait of Sicily.
SNMCMG2, consisting of the Spanish Navy flagship ESP Meteoro (P41), minehunters French Navy FS Capricorne (M653), Hellenic Navy HS Evropi (M62), Italian Navy ITS Numana (M5557), and German Navy FGS Bad Rappenau (M1067), was confronted in a tri-dimensional, multi-threat environment for naval mine warfare operations, including asymmetric threats, in addition to manoeuvring and communication exercises. Mare Aperto-ITA MINEX enabled SNMCMG2 staff and crews to improve in forward-planning capabilities and to increase readiness in detecting and identifying mines at sea.
“Mare Aperto-ITA-MINEX provides an outstanding option for training under realistic conditions along with our allies,” Commander, SNMCMG2 Captain Javier Nuñez de Prado said. “Our ability work together to detect and neutralize mines is critical to maintaining safe and open sea lines of communication for the international community.“
SNMCMG2 performed the exercises with Italian and Spanish mine countermeasures ships as well as the Mine Countermeasure Command of the Italian Navy (MARICODRAG) embarked on the Italian Navy’s new, state-of-the-art ship, ITS Paolo Thaon di Revel (P430).
Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) also participated in the last phase of Mare Aperto providing support from French Navy FS Forbin (D620) and Canadian HMCS Montreal (FFH 336).
Twenty-six nations, 38 surface ships, four submarines, nine national land forces, more than 170 aircraft and approximately 25,000 personnel will participate in the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise scheduled June 29 to Aug. 4, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California.
RIMPAC 2022 is the 28th exercise in the series that began in 1971.
As the world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity designed to foster and sustain cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s interconnected oceans.
The theme of RIMPAC 2022 is “Capable, Adaptive, Partners.” Participating nations and forces will exercise a wide range of capabilities and demonstrate the inherent flexibility of maritime forces. These capabilities range from disaster relief and maritime security operations to sea control and complex warfighting. The relevant, realistic training program includes amphibious operations, gunnery, missile, anti-submarine and air defense exercises, as well as counter-piracy operations, mine clearance operations, explosive ordnance disposal, and diving and salvage operations.
Logo of RIMPAC 2022
This year’s exercise includes forces from Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Hosted by Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, RIMPAC 2022 will be led by Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, who will serve as Combined Task Force (CTF) commander. Royal Canadian Navy Rear Adm. Christopher Robinson will serve as deputy commander of the CTF, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Rear Adm. Toshiyuki Hirata as the vice commander, and Fleet Marine Force will be led by U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Joseph Clearfield. Other key leaders of the multinational force will include Commodore Paul O’Grady of the Royal Australian Navy, who will command the maritime component, and Brig. Gen. Mark Goulden of the Royal Canadian Air Force, who will command the air component.
During RIMPAC, a network of capable, adaptive partners train and operate together in order to strengthen their collective forces and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. RIMPAC 2022 contributes to the increased interoperability, resiliency and agility needed by the Joint and Combined Force to deter and defeat aggression by major powers across all domains and levels of conflict.
Forces from the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United States began a 10-day military exercise Neon Defender in and off the coast of Bahrain, May 8.
Exercise Neon Defender is an annual bilateral training event between U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) and the Bahrain Defence Force. The Bahrain Coast Guard is also participating. The exercise focuses on maritime security operations, installation defense and medical response. For those who want to write an academic paper (facharbeit schreiben lassen “German”) on military cooperation and strategic defense exercises, analyzing operations like Neon Defender offers valuable insights.
“Bahrain makes many vital contributions to the maritime security of the Gulf and the annual bilateral Neon Defender exercise highlights the fulsome capability of Bahrain’s maritime forces,” said Ambassador Steven C. Bondy, the U.S. ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain. “The U.S.-Bahrain security partnership continuously develops to deliver enhanced regional security. This exercise is a strong example of how our two nations are working in tandem to improve security and safety for all, to the benefit of both our great nations.”
Nearly 200 U.S. personnel are participating, including maritime engagement, security, medical and construction teams from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. U.S. Coast Guard cutters USCGC Robert Goldman (WPC 1142) and USCGC Baranof (WPB 1318) as well as several U.S. Navy unmanned systems will also participate in the exercise.
“Neon Defender is an excellent opportunity to increase interoperability with our Bahraini partners,” said Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of NAVCENT, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces. “I am inspired as our military-to-military relationship with Bahrain continues to grow as we strengthen and expand our mutual cooperation.”
The Lockheed Martin-led shipbuilding team launched Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) 29, the future USS Beloit. Ship sponsor, Major General Marcia M. Anderson, USA (Ret.) christened Littoral Combat Ship LCS 29, the future USS Beloit, prior to its launch into the Menominee River at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM) Shipyard on May 7, 2022.
“Lockheed Martin is confident that the sailors of Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) 29, the future USS Beloit, will play a critical role in supporting maritime security and deterrence. The LCS Freedom-variant, operationally deployed today, is an unmatched and highly adaptable warship, designed to outpace the growing threat of our adversaries and fulfill the dynamic missions of the U.S. Navy. Our team of more than 800 suppliers maintains a strong partnership with the U.S. Navy to add lethality and survivability enhancements to the highly capable and resilient LCS class.” – Steve Allen, Lockheed Martin vice president, Small Combatants and Ship Systems
In 2011, Major General Marcia Anderson was named the first female African American officer to earn her second star in the U.S. Army reserves. When the former Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Richard Spencer, directed that LCS 29 be named after the City of Beloit, he also asked that General Anderson be honored as the ship sponsor.
Launching ceremony (Lockheed photo)
“I am honored and excited to be a part of the christening and launch of the USS Beloit. As a Beloit native, I am well aware of the long history my city has had as it supported our national security by not just providing people who served, but also helped build the amazing ships and vehicles that have made our military the envy of the world. I know the USS Beloit will carry that tradition forward as she and her crew become an integral part of our nation’s history, and I am happy to be able to play a small role as the Sponsor during the life of this great ship.”
–Major General Marcia M. Anderson, USA (Ret.), Ship Sponsor of the future USS Beloit (LCS 29)
The Lockheed Martin-led LCS team is comprised of shipbuilder Fincantieri Marinette Marine, naval architect Gibbs & Cox, and more than 800 suppliers in 42 states. Built at the Midwest’s only naval shipyard, LCS production supports 12,500 U.S. jobs, including more than 7,500 jobs in Wisconsin and Michigan.
“Shipbuilding is hard work, done by dedicated professionals. And I could not be more proud of the work done by our team here in Marinette to get another Freedom-class warship built and in the water where she belongs.”– Mark Vandroff, Fincantieri Marinette Marine CEO
Unique among combat ships, LCS is deployed today for close-to-shore missions and is a growing and relevant part of the Navy’s fleet. In the last year, Freedom-variant Littoral Combat ships have supported the Navy on various missions including several counter-illicit drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in narcotics seizures. Its speed, strength and versatility make it a critical tool to help sailors achieve their missions. Recently, the Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship for the first time has deployed to US 6th Fleet, as a measure of assurance for NATO allies and partners in Europe and Africa.
LCS 29 is the 15th Freedom-variant LCS and 29th in the LCS class. It is the first ship named in honor of the city of Beloit, Wisconsin. Lockheed Martin is in full-rate production and has delivered 11 ships to the U.S. Navy. There are five ships in various stages of production.
The U.S. Navy marked an important milestone in its effort to develop reliable undersea capability with the christening and first in-water test of the Orca Extra Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (XLUUV) Test Asset System April 28, 2022 in Huntington Beach, California.
Capt. Scot Searles, program manager for Unmanned Maritime Systems (PMS 406), representatives from the office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Ship Programs and the Undersea Warfare Division of the Chief of Naval Operations, and Boeing executives marked the occasion. The test asset system is critical in the performance and production of the five operationally relevant prototype Orca XLUUVs.
The Orca XLUUV Test Asset System prepares for the first in-water test following a christening ceremony April 28, 2022, in Huntington Beach, California. The Orca XLUUV program is tailored to address joint warfighting needs with a sense of urgency.
The Orca is an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) that is under development by Boeing and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) for the United States Navy.
The Orca project dates back to September 2017, when the Navy awarded contracts worth about $40 million each to Boeing, which had previously partnered with HII to build unmanned submarines, and Lockheed Martin to develop competing designs for an extra-large unmanned underwater vehicle (XLUUV) capable of operating autonomously on missions lasting up to several months. In February 2019, the Navy awarded the Boeing/HII consortium a $43 million contract to begin construction of four XLUUVs, with a design based on Boeing’s previous Echo Voyager AUV. The following month, the Navy added a fifth vehicle to the order, bringing the total value of the contract to $274.4 million. Orca deliveries should be completed by the end of 2022.
The Orca XLUUV Test Asset System prepares for the first in-water test following a christening ceremony April 28, 2022, in Huntington Beach, California. The Test Asset System will allow the Navy and Boeing to test and refine the Orca XLUUV program while reducing schedule and cost risk.
The basic design of the Orca shares a length of 51 feet (16 m) with the Echo Voyager, but the Orca will have a more modular design, primarily to be built with an additional payload module up to 34 feet (10 m) long and a capacity of 8 metric tonnes (8,000 kg) for a total length of 85 feet (26 m). The Navy specified the ability to adapt the Orca platform depending on the mission, with surveillance, underwater, surface and electronic warfare, and minesweeping capabilities.
The vessel is powered by a hybrid diesel/lithium-ion battery system that powers the Orca with batteries underwater and recharges the batteries on the surface with diesel generators. Top speed is 8 knots (15 km/h), but typical service speed is about 3 knots (5.6 km/h). This gives the Orca a range of up to 10,500 km (6,500 miles) and an endurance of several months.
ORCA (Echo Voyager) Key Data:
Weight in Air: 50 tons (45,360 kg)
Envelope (no payload): 51 ft x 8.5 ft x 8.5 ft (15.5 m x 2.6 m x 2.6 m)
Envelope (with a 34 ft payload section): 85 ft (25.9 m)
Maximum Depth: 11,000 ft (3,000 m)
Maximum Speed: 8.0 kts (14.8 km/hr)
Minimum Speed: 2.5 kts (4.63 km/hr)
Optimal Speed: 2.5 – 3 kts (4.6 – 5.6 km/hr)
Range between recharges: ~150 nm (~280 km) at nominal speed
From April 25th to May 6th the international exercise ESP MINEX-22 will take place off the Balearic Archipelago with participation of 14 surface ships and a helicopter, with a total workforce of 700 people from 9 different nations and organizations.
ESP MINEX-22 is an advanced multinational mine countermeasures (MCM) exercise organized and commanded by the Spanish Navy in the Mediterranean Sea on an annual basis.
The multinational Naval Force integrates NATO’s Standing MCM Group number 2 (SNMCMG-2) and Europe’s Maritime Force (EUROMARFOR), all under command of Captain Francisco Javier Ruiz, Commander of the Spanish MCM Force, who will embark with his Staff on board the patrol vessel ‘Furor’ (flagship).
Spanish Navy photo
On Friday 22nd all Spanish Navy units called at the port of Mahon to prepare the exercise, and the remaining participating units arrived at the island during the weekend.
The MCM Naval Force boasts sophisticated detection systems as well as specialized divers. All ships have state-of-the-art autonomous underwater vehicles which help enhance the capabilities of the minehunters themselves.
On the weekend, a series of open doors events were organized so that the local population had the chance to visit the OPV ‘Furor’ and the five minehunters of the MCM Force.
The exercise commended with the activation of the EUROMARFOR contingent with a ceremony presided over by the Spanish Fleet Commander (ALFLOT) after which the task group set sail to conduct the scheduled drills. The exercise will conclude on May 6th at the Porto Pi naval station in Majorca.
The future Royal Navy fleet today started to take shape as the construction of the first of five new frigates began.
In the brand-new assembly hall in Rosyth dockyard in Scotland, the keel of HMS Venturer was laid in a ceremony which blended cutting-edge shipbuilding with naval history.
The construction of the fleet will support around 2,500 jobs both at Babcock and nationally through the UK supply chain, as well as creating 150 additional apprenticeships.
The keel laying is the formal moment of construction beginning for the ship, following September’s steeling cutting for the Inspiration-class Type 31 frigate.
The construction of HMS Venturer is underway in the dockyard in Rosyth
Over the coming months it will rise a 6,000-tonne ship and, alongside it from next year, the second ship in the class, HMS Active. The Venturer Hall is large enough to allow two frigates – each longer, wider and heavier than the Type 23 warships they replace – to be constructed side by side.
“Today’s keel laying ceremony connects Royal Navy tradition with 21st century shipbuilding,” said Rear Admiral Paul Marshall, Director Navy Acquisition for the Royal Navy.
“The short seven months between HMS Venturer’s first steel being cut and her keel being laid demonstrates the continuing pace of the Type 31 programme building on cutting edge processes, skills and facilities in Scotland and the UK which should ensure that the Royal Navy gets the capability it needs on time.”
The construction of the Type 31 frigates is part of a wider investment in UK yards and industry under the Government’s National Shipbuilding Strategy of more than £4 billion over the next three years alone. The money spent by the MOD alone directly supports around 25,000 jobs across the United Kingdom, plus some 20,000 jobs supported indirectly.
Defence Procurement Minister Jeremy Quin said: “The keel laying is a hugely important milestone in the build of any new ship and particularly for HMS Venturer, being the first of a new frigate class for the Royal Navy. It is testament to the work of Babcock UK that they have reached this stage so soon after September’s steel cutting.
“We look forward to more Type 31 milestones at Rosyth dockyard, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to UK shipbuilding and to modernising the Royal Navy.”
The construction of HMS Venturer is underway in the dockyard in Rosyth
The keel was placed upon a coin minted especially for the occasion – in keeping with Royal Navy tradition – watched by representatives from the Navy and the shipbuilding industry.
The special coin – designed by seven-year-old Josh Duffy, whose mother works for Babcock, the firm constructing HMS Venturer – is said to bring the ship and her crew luck.
Each ship is larger than the current Type 23s they replace but slightly shorter and lighter than HMS Glasgow and the seven other planned Type 26 frigates also being built for the fleet in Govan, just 35 miles away.
The 26s will focus on anti-submarine warfare – like eight Type 23s fitted with towed arrays – leaving the 31s to carry out patrols wherever they are needed, from conducting counter-terrorism/drug smuggling patrols in the Indian Ocean to helping out in the aftermath of a disaster.
The 31s have been designed and are being built for the Royal Navy, but with one eye firmly on the export market; the Polish and Indonesian Navies have selected the design for their future fleets.
Each ship is equipped with three Pacific 24 boats, – crucial for board-and-search/counter narcotics work – a 57mm gun and two 40mm secondary guns, Sea Ceptor air defence missiles – also fitted to Type 23 and 26 frigates – with off-the-shelf sensors and computer systems.
And the flight deck can host helicopters up to the size of a Chinook, although more typically Royal Navy Merlins and Wildcats.
A typical crew will be just over 100, but with space – notably for Royal Marine detachments – for up to 187 personnel on board.
All five ships being built take their names from previous predecessors which wrote their name large in naval annals thanks to inspirational actions and deeds.
In Venturer’s case, she’s named after the first submarine to torpedo and destroy another boat while both craft were submerged. After Venturer and Active come HMS Formidable, Bulldog and finally Campbeltown.
Out at sea, French, German and Norwegian surface combatants were joined by American and German maritime patrol aircraft in a hunt for adversary submarines while small boats from Arlington and Icelandic vessels conducted visit, board, search and seizure missions on suspect vessels.
CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopters buzzed overhead as two landing craft, air cushions from the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington (LPD 24) stormed the beach. U.S. and Royal Marines poured out of the helicopters as light armored vehicles drove ashore to join the raid. The Icelandic offshore patrol vessel ICGV Þór (UT 512L) provided security at the mouth of the fjord during the evolution.
Out at sea, French, German and Norwegian surface combatants were joined by American and German maritime patrol aircraft in a hunt for adversary submarines while small boats from Arlington and Icelandic vessels conducted visit, board, search and seizure missions on suspect vessels.
Back on land, near Keflavík Air Base, an Icelandic Coast Guard rescue helicopter transported trapped and injured citizens to a temporary medical facility staffed by members of 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Shock Trauma Platoon and host nation medical personnel for triage and treatment.
For the last two weeks, Allied nations have exercised these capabilities and more, coming together to hone their skills and enhance cooperation during the Iceland-hosted, U.S. Sixth Fleet-executed exercise Northern Viking 22.
220414-N-NO901-1001 NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN (April 14, 2022) From left to right, the Norwegian Fritdjof Nansen-class frigate HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl (F314), French F70 type frigate FS Latouche-Tréville (D646) and German Sachsen-class air-defense frigate FGS Sachsen (F219) sail in formation in the North Atlantic Ocean in support of exercise Northern Viking 22. Northern Viking 22 strengthens interoperability and force readiness between the U.S., Iceland and Allied nations, enabling multi-domain command and control of joint and coalition forces in the defense of Iceland and Sea Lines of Communication in the Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom (GIUK) gap. (Courtesy photo by French Navy)
“Northern Viking 22 has been incredibly successful for us and for the participating Allies,” said Cmdr. Marvin Ingólfsson, Deputy Commander of Keflavík Air Base. “We have learned from each other these last two weeks and we have shared tactics and procedures, improving our ability to operate together in the defense of Iceland and of the lines of communication that run through this area.”
The exercise, which began April 2 and concluded April 14, initially focused on protecting the critical infrastructure of Keflavík Air Base. Exercise participants established temporary secondary refueling positions for Allied aircraft while working to neutralize security threats to the base and its personnel.
“Northern Viking is really important for our cooperation in the high north seas and to our country in defense of law enforcement scenarios,” said Lt. Ásgeir R. Gudjonsson, the Icelandic Coast Guard improvised explosive device (IED) disposal specialist. “It’s good to have a go at actual events and the training is vital for us. We learned that [different EOD teams] differ a bit, but they’re close – so we can work really well together.”
The first week of the exercise also included air defense scenarios, coordinated shiphandling evolutions and hydrographic and airfield surveys. Throughout the exercise, Allied maritime forces practiced a variety of evolutions to enhance their cooperation and coordination in defending Iceland and the sea lines of communication in the Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom (GIUK) gap.
“There are several aspects of the exercise that are of specific relevance to us; anti-submarine warfare and cooperation with partner Navies are especially important,” said Cmdr. Arne Pfingst of the Exercises Division at German Navy Headquarters in Rostock. “The exercise took place in an area that is of great interest to the German Navy: The North Atlantic around the GIUK gap.”
Participants shifted their focus during the latter half of the exercise to the Marines of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and Royal Marine Commandos as they conducted multiple ship-to-shore operations, a natural progression in complexity of the overall exercise. Marines and Sailors from the USS Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group and 22nd MEU participated in a tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel, simulated raids on illicit compounds and visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operations.
The teamwork among Icelandic, U.S. and U.K. personnel was fully on display during a distinguished visitor event in Whale Fjord, April 11. The event featured the CH-53s and LCACs conducting a choreographed ship-to-shore operation involving some 200 Allied personnel. Visitors got a front-row seat to the kind of interoperability and teamwork that has informed the success of this exercise throughout its variety of scenario events.
In addition to units on air, land, and sea, other Allied personnel in the exercise control room played integral roles in the exercise. The Portuguese Armed Forces, who have been recently involved in the Air Policing mission in Iceland, provided support to units and personnel involved in Northern Viking. Danish liaison officer Cmdr. Jens Vester (Vet.) advised the multinational Northern Viking team on the waters of the high north, providing a wealth of experience and expertise while also identifying unique skills Denmark could bring to future exercises.
U.S. Navy Sailors assigned to the Kearsarge Amphibious Readiness Group and U.S. Marines with 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit conduct ship-to-shore movements aboard a U.S. Navy landing craft, air cushion attached to Assault Craft Unit 4, in support of exercise Northern Viking 2022 in Miðsandur, Iceland, April 10, 2022. Northern Viking 22 strengthens interoperability and force readiness between the U.S., Iceland and Allied nations, enabling multi-domain command and control of joint and coalition forces in the defense of Iceland and Sea Lines of Communication in the Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom (GIUK) gap. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Yvonna Guyette)
“I think the exercise has gone very well – it’s very professional,” Vester said. “Knowing the waters up here, I know how difficult it is to operate in these rough seas, winds and temperature. It’s a challenging place to be, but Denmark has a lot of experience, and I’m sure we can bring that to the exercise… It’s important to maintain [Allied] presence at the GIUK Gap (the area between Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom), and support [allies and partners] in the region.”
A recurring theme in Northern Viking, much like the earlier Cold Response in Norway, was dealing with the harsh environments and unpredictable climates that Vester mentioned. Ashore and at sea, Allied units learned about the environment and operating in the High North while training alongside their counterparts.
Northern Viking 22, led by the U.S. Sixth Fleet as a maritime-focused event for the first time in decades, established a framework for future iterations of the Northern Viking exercise. As units and personnel depart Iceland for their own national taskings and future missions, the planning cycle for Northern Viking 24 is right around the corner. With lessons learned and invaluable training experiences and opportunities to look back on, exercise planners look forward to building on the successes of Northern Viking 22.
Northern Viking 22 strengthens interoperability and force readiness between the U.S., Iceland and Allied nations, enabling multi-domain command and control of joint and coalition forces in the defense of Iceland and Sea Lines of Communication in the Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom (GIUK) gap.
Navantia has started the construction process of the new F-110 class frigate for Spanish Navy, with the cutting of the first steel plate in an event presided by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
The programme, whose implementation order was signed in 2019, foresees the construction of five frigates, valued at 4,320 million euros. The F-111 will be commissioned in 2027 and deliveries will take place yearly.
The cutting of the first steel plate has taken place the 6th of April in Navantia’s shipyard in Ferrol (A Coruña, Spain), where all five F-110 class frigates will be built. The event was also attended by Spanish Vice Prime Minister for Labor and Social Economy, Yolanda Díaz; Finance Minister María Jesús Montero, along with Navantia’s Chairman, Ricardo Domínguez; VP for Shipbuilding, Agustín Álvarez; VP for Systems and Services, Donato Martínez, and Ferrol shipyard’s director, Eduardo Dobarro, among other authorities.
The F-110 frigates for the Spanish Navy are multi-purpose escort ships, with anti-aircraft, anti-surface, and anti-submarine capabilities to perform their force protection and naval power projection duties. They will operate in combination with other units, and they are versatile platforms that can also perform functions related to maritime security and support to civilian authorities.
The design of this new frigate includes advanced technological features, such as an integrated mast with different sensor and antenna solutions, a multi-mission space that expands the ship’s capabilities in all defence segments and a new, more efficient and silent hybrid propulsion plant, providing the ship with great versatility. The frigates will be equipped with the Spanish combat system, SCOMBA, developed by Navantia Sistemas.
Cutting the first steel of F110 frigate (Navantia photo)
Digital Twin
The F-110 frigate will be a smart ship, the first Spanish naval programme designed to have a Digital Twin: a virtual replica of the ship that constantly receives information from the vessel, data permanently supplied by a network of sensors distributed throughout the ship, constituting a cyber-physical system that through the use of behavioral models and technologies such as Cloud Computing, Machine Learning and the Internet of Things (IoT) allows to support its maintenance and operation even thousands of miles away through the Digital Twin deployed ashore.
The Digital Twin is complemented by an Integrated Services System (ISS), an R&D developed with the Universities of Vigo and Coruña, which will provide the ship with integrated sensors in its light points, substantially reducing its wiring. The F110 will also have 3D printers on board for the manufacture of spare parts.
They will be the first ships in the fleet to have an integrated cybersecurity system to protect the vessels against increasing cyberthreats. This will enable the ship to have a reduced crew complement for operation, which will result in improved habitability.
BAE Systems has received a $89.4 million contract from the U.S. Navy to perform major modernization work aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89).
The value of the competitively awarded contract could reach $95.2 million if all options are exercised.
Under the depot maintenance period (DMP) availability contract awarded, BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair will dry-dock the ship, perform underwater hull preservation work, recondition the engineering spaces, upgrade its command and control equipment, and refurbish the crew’s living spaces. The DMP work is expected to begin in May 2022 and be completed in November 2023. The company expects to dry-dock the ship at the San Diego Naval Base and then complete the remaining work at its Barrio Logan facility.
“A depot maintenance availability is a significant project for upgrading the capability of Aegis destroyers,” said David M. Thomas, Jr., BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair’s vice president and general manager. “Our ship repair team has the critical know-how for repairing DDGs from our prior work. The DMP availability we’ll perform on the USS Mustin will usher the ship into a higher phase of fleet readiness.” BAE Systems’ San Diego shipyard is completing similar work aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88) and has previously completed a DMP availability aboard USS Shoup (DDG 86).
USS Mustin is the 39th ship in the Arleigh Burke class and was commissioned in July 2003. The ship is named in honor of the Mustin family who has more than a century of service in the U.S. Navy. One other U.S. Navy combatant has carried the family name, USS Mustin (DD 413).
