|
ANAers!!
These are
exciting times – our Naval Aviation forces are spread
across the globe, some maintaining the peace by
showing the Flag, some engaged in combat operations in
Afghanistan, others training to prepare for deployment to
wherever our National Command Authority needs them …. no
other force is as formidable, as mobile, as sustaining
and as deadly forceful as the situation might require.
VR, Dutch
INDEX
From our President
It Takes A Carrier
Executing The Maritime Strategy
New Pacific
Commander
Gerald R. Ford (CVN
78) Keel Laying
India Mulls
Land-Based E-2D
HSC-23 in the AOR
A SAD VIEW
Royal Navy Aircraft
Carrier May Be Sold To India
The STOVL F-35B
arriving at Patuxent River
Planned Upgrade To
P-8 Would Allow Direct Control Of BAMS By 2020
From our President,
VADM Dunn, USN (Ret):
I suggest you distribute to your friends and colleagues
some copies of the Kraft article and keep at least one for
reference when someone in
your circle begins to denigrate the need for aircraft
carriers, and their embarked aircraft. It’s not only the
carrier and its aircraft of course; it’s the
system, the carrier battle group with strike fighters,
electronic warfare and early warning aircraft and
helicopters that makes for the best possible
warfare capability in the world, a capability on station
around the clock in support of the United States and our
allies. Efforts to reduce numbers
of aircraft carriers place in jeopardy the defense of us
all.
RETURN TO INDEX
It Takes A Carrier
Naval Aviation and the Hybrid Fight
By Rear Admiral Terry B. Kraft, U.S. Navy
Carriers still provide capability unmatched by any other
weapon system in the U.S. arsenal.
One need only open a newspaper to see the incredible
challenges facing our military today. An unprecedented
“high-low” mix of overseas operations, rising regional
superpowers, and transnational trends such as piracy and
radical Islam all contribute to a complex range of
scenarios for military planners and defense analysts. In
this
budget season, there are widely divergent views regarding
the shape of our current and future military and how
to remain responsive to an ever-increasing list of
contingencies.
Much of this discussion has centered on the need for
continued construction and support of our nation’s aircraft
carrier force. Large investments must be justified, and
carriers, air wings, and support ships come at significant
cost.
This interest in carrier strike groups is nothing new;
since 1976, more than ten different studies have examined
size
and configuration issues for aircraft carriers.1
Smaller ships, more vertical take off and landing (VTOL),
and other
power projection methods have been examined. After much
time and taxpayer money is spent on these studies, the
results have always been nearly the same: to project enough
force ashore to make a difference, you need about 4.5
acres of flight deck carrying around 50 strike-fighters and
support aircraft. The key comparative issue centers around
keeping a sufficient number of aircraft airborne and on
station for extended periods of time. Repeatedly, studies
show
that a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier provides
anywhere from 2.5 to 5 times as many ground support
aircraft when
compared to a smaller carrier, despite carrying only twice
as many aircraft.
Current and future operations require aircraft to be
there, on station, and responsive to asymmetric threats
while being
ready to attack moving ground targets. Ground forces,
particularly troops in contact, need flexible, multi-role
air power
to respond immediately. At longer ranges, the challenge to
support these requirements becomes even greater. A look
back at the beginning phases of Operation Enduring Freedom
(OEF) is instructive here. In 2001, despite strong
international support and invocation of NATO Article V,
there were no practical basing options for tactical
aircraft at the
start of hostilities. Not surprisingly, aircraft carriers
were the only viable solution for tactical air support and
in fact
provided 75 percent of OEF strike sorties through December
of that year.2
Hornet air crews became accustomed to
six- to eight-hour strike sorties while simultaneously
providing flexible, armed overwatch of troop movements.
EA-6B
Prowlers began missions that continue to this day, denying
the electromagnetic spectrum to the enemy.
Today, one aircraft carrier provides 49 percent of OEF
fixed-wing sorties immediately after reporting on station.3
On a
recent deployment, Carrier Air Wing Eight operating from
the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) flew more than
3,000
OEF sorties supporting troops-in-contact nearly 500 times.
They spent over five months of their deployment off the
coast
of Pakistan. Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) has been
similar. During my time in the Persian Gulf on board the
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), every type of air wing
aircraft directly supported ground operations on a daily
basis,
including E-2 airborne early warning aircraft flying 4.5
hour missions in-country. In looking at this and other
combat
operations from Bosnia to Iraq, carriers have proven
indispensable, particularly in the key early stages of a
conflict.
Hybrid Warfare
What makes aircraft carries unique has not changed over
time; they are independent, potent, and when they show up
off the coast, impossible to ignore. Shore-based aircraft
and long-range missiles all play a part, but the fact that
the
geographic coordinates of their hangars and bases never
change makes them instant targets. When the requirement
for host nation permission is added to the mix, diplomatic
challenges often hamper operational effectiveness. Manas
Airbase in Kyrgyzstan is a prime example. Although the U.S.
government has been able to negotiate for continued basing
rights, the costs have skyrocketed, tripling to more than
$60 million, which does not include $66 million for capital
improvements to the airfield. Even with all the money going
to the government of Kyrgyzstan, the field cannot be used
for tactical missions and is limited to support only.4
Issues such as this highlight how dangerous it would be to
assume
current basing privileges as options in future conflicts.
Recently, Defense Secretary Robert Gates made the point
that we need to configure our military for “the wars we are
fighting now.” His sense is that Pentagon planners too
often focus on the big ticket items while not providing
what our
troops need in the field at the moment. While it would be
inexcusable to let that happen, I would also offer that the
Navy
is currently up to its armpits in operations ranging from
piracy patrols to 14,000 Sailors on the ground in Iraq and
Afghanistan. What may be surprising for some is that the
one constant in these overseas contingency operations
(irregular warfare or whatever other term of the day
presents itself) is the aircraft carrier and embarked air
wing.
In
his now famous Foreign Affairs article, Secretary
Gates divided U.S. military forces into three groups: 50
percent for
conventional warfare or major contingency operations (MCOs),
10 percent for irregular warfare, and 40 percent that
could be used for both.5
In looking at current combat operations and future
contingencies, it becomes clear that carrier
strike groups hit the sweet spot and in fact make up the
most significant portion of that “hybrid” 40 percent.
A
typical argument against the aircraft carrier is that it is
a remnant of the Cold War or only viable in MCOs. Several
analysts would argue otherwise. Tactical aircraft, special
operations forces, and helicopters have played key roles
during
the last 11 years in a wide range of security operations,
none of them reaching the level of an MCO. This includes
Operation Desert Fox in 1998—when carrier tactical aircraft
launched the initial strikes on Iraq—to OEF in 2001. In the
early stages of OIF, five carriers provided critical air
support for regular and special forces. In the case of the
two carriers
in the eastern Mediterranean, those support missions
spanned more than 700 nautical miles. Amazingly, 8
different
strike/fighter orbits were maintained for 27 days.6
There are plenty of other examples of carrier hybrid
actions. The USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) led
tsunami relief
efforts in 2004. The USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) deployed
with critical special operations forces at the start of OEF.
What
is most interesting about all of these engagements is that
none of them would fit the definition of a Cold War
scenario
or a traditional major contingency. Carrier strike groups
were there when needed, provided crucial support across the
spectrum of operations, then redeployed when their work was
complete or they were relieved on station by another
carrier strike group.
All
of this underscores the fact that carrier strike groups are
busier than ever before. Beginning with a wide range of
contingency operations during the Clinton era to sustained
combat operations over the last four years, there have not
been enough strike groups to meet combatant commander
demand. Vice Admiral Barry McCullough, Deputy Chief of
Naval Operations for Integration of Capabilities and
Resources (N8), recently noted that this “presence deficit”
includes
areas such as the Black Sea, Baltic Region, Indian Ocean,
and areas off the African coast.7
Enhanced Air Wing Capabilities
While the carriers themselves look the same, the air wings
have changed significantly since the days of the Cold War.
The F/A-18 Super Hornet remains the most significant and
flexible aircraft in the world for supporting a complete
range
of activities from unconventional warfare to major
contingencies. Equipped with ATFLIR, ROVER targeting
system, and
Shared Reconnaissance Pods, with crews fully trained as
airborne forward air controllers, the Super Hornet presents
the
most capable and survivable ground support aircraft in
theater.
Another significant change is the current air wing on board
the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74), which includes a
mix of 19
SH-60 R/S aircraft. These helicopters are particularly well
suited to irregular warfare, with capabilities spanning
antisubmarine warfare to combat search and rescue. Future
air wings will add even more capability with the advent of
the EA-18G Growler and inclusion of unmanned aerial
vehicles. These systems are currently without peer as a
“fifth-generation” irregular warfare aircraft since, as
Secretary Gates noted “the F-22 [has] never flown a combat
mission
in Iraq or Afghanistan.”8
All
of these facts underscore why critics of aircraft carriers
have had little success in challenging the viability and
utility
of these ships and their air wings. The flexibility of what
they do and the respect they garner on arrival remains
unmatched by any other weapon system. Long after conflicts
in Iraq and Afghanistan are over, Navy ships will continue
to provide vital presence in troubled regions. Key tenets
that Secretary Gates has discussed certainly will be tasked
to
the Navy: capacity building through presence and
engagement, institutionalization of counterinsurgency, and
an
unambiguous ability to deter future conflicts.
Floating Targets?
Unable to effectively criticize aircraft carriers based on
need or warfighting utility, some have latched on to yet
another
tired argument: “Carriers are vulnerable! They’ll be taken
out by missiles!” Once again, such discussions are not new,
and
in fact date back to World War II. In a recent television
series on the Discovery Channel called Enterprise,
graphic
computer animation demonstrated how carriers of that era
were constantly under attack from the entire battlespace.
The USS Enterprise (CV-6) fought in nearly every
significant sea battle of World War II, surviving to
eventually earn 20
battle stars.
What the Enterprise series brings home is that
lucrative targets need determined defense to prevail.
Carrier strike groups
of today get underway with sophisticated, multi-layered,
and fully netted three-dimensional defensive systems.
Advancements such as Cooperative Engagement Capability, as
well as advanced antisubmarine warfare and missile
defense tactics will continue to protect high-value units
at sea.
When looking at carrier threats, much has been made of
China’s DF-21/CSS-5 antiship ballistic missile. This
journal went
so far as to feature a picture of a carrier (and unlucky
cruiser) blowing up on its May cover. While it is important
to look
closely at weapon innovations of other countries, it is
just as important to not over react to what may or may not
be on
the horizon for China or any other nation. Last year it was
the low-end swarm attack that concerned analysts, now the
DF-21 has provided new ammunition for the old argument of
aircraft carrier vulnerability. While the range of the
DF-21
is under debate, what remains central to the success of a
1,500-km missile is targeting and locating data. The
strident
article from Dr. Erickson and Mr. Yang (using information
primarily from Chinese field manuals) in the May
Proceedings
devoted exactly one sentence to the task of locating and
targeting an aircraft carrier, stating that it would be a
“key technical challenge.” In fact finding a ship at sea in
the middle of thousands of square miles of ocean, even an
aircraft
carrier, is extremely difficult. The question remains as to
whether potential adversaries have the level of persistent
accuracy needed to stage antiship ballistic missile
attacks. Should targets not cooperate by radiating military
radars or
communication gear, the challenge becomes nearly
insurmountable given the current technical state of play.
One
final question to ponder regarding the DF-21 is what type
of situation would lead China to launch such an attack.
Presumably there would be plenty of other indicators of
increasing hostilities leading to a range of military
options to
defend our assets. Such things do not occur in a vacuum.
Moreover, ceding the maritime high ground seems imprudent
simply because some believe we can’t keep pace with the
competition in the Pacific. The German Navy after Jutland
comes
to mind.
The DF-21 discussion is useful, however, in that it
highlights a key tenet of China’s possible military
strategy in the Pacific:
area denial. If the Chinese can push naval striking forces
farther out to sea, those platforms become less effective.
Long-range missiles, submarines, and even a future Chinese
aircraft carrier will undoubtedly be part of that mix. At a
time when things like the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR)
and budget pressures are coming to a head, some of these
“threats” seem to have taken on a life of their own. Like
the first carrier Enterprise, U.S. military weapons
and technology
will flex to meet this challenge and ensure we continue to
operate “inside the ring.”
The Global Commons
What must not be lost in this discussion is the rise of the
Chinese navy. By the next decade, China will have more
warships
than the United States. They are building submarines five
times faster than us as well.9
As the Chinese acquire more
deepwater ports, the concept of area denial in the Pacific
comes into sharper focus. While the possibility of direct
conflict with China is remote, what concerns regional
allies is the ability of U.S. ships to freely operate
throughout the
region, unhindered by the Chinese or any other nation.
Since World War II, the Navy has provided critical
engagement
and deterrence options to U.S. leaders and our key allies
in the Pacific.
Military analysts and political leaders devote much time
and effort trying to predict future conflicts that will in
turn inform
requirements and configuration decisions for our military
forces. In the requirements business, we live in the world
of
“five years from now” due to the inevitable delays and
limitations or the acquisition process. It’s a challenging
way to
shape a force.
One
interesting vision of the future comes from academic and
author Robert D. Kaplan. Based on current and projected
energy demands, he notes the importance of the vast energy
trade transiting the Indian Ocean and Strait of Malacca.
Instability in Pakistan and the rise of India are
interesting trends in the region. The United States will
continue to be
tasked to guard the global commons, controlling piracy and
providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief while
interdicting terrorism. He notes that by 2030, India will
have the largest population of any country in the world.10
With
this regional growth, it becomes clear that the competition
for resources will be acute. These factors help explain the
current naval expansion of both India and China and
highlight the need for the Navy to remain engaged in the
theater.
Kaplan further notes that “the U.S. Navy may in the future
be able to work with individual Asian countries, such as
India
and China, better than they can with each other.”
Kaplan’s vision of a Navy involved in the theater and
engaged with multiple sea-going nations is beginning now.
Combined Task Forces 150 and 151 patrol from the Gulf of
Aden to the Seychelles and comprise a force of more than
27 different navies, including, interestingly, China. These
types of efforts underscore the significant leadership
responsibilities of the United States in the region and
argue for continued presence.
The Way Ahead
The
final argument in favor of continued aircraft carrier
construction might be the fact that everybody else seems to
be
building them. Last November, an official in China’s
Ministry of National Defense mentioned for the first time
in a public
venue the possibility of his nation acquiring aircraft
carriers. Around the same time, Admiral Hu Yanlin, former
political
commissar of the People’s Liberation Army Navy, stated
“China has the capability to build aircraft carriers, and
should do
so.”11
His country has already purchased three carriers built by
the former Soviet Union and one built by Australia. It
has also been reported that, since 1987, China has been
training PLA pilots to one day command aircraft carriers.
The
United Kingdom, Russia, and India have all shown a keen
interest in building carriers.
It
seems clear, then, that aircraft carriers continue to
provide the kind of “hybrid” weapon system so
critical for current and future defense and presence
operations. I would argue that, rather than attempting
to link aircraft carriers to the Cold War or fret about
supposed vulnerabilities to untested weapon systems,
we focus on what is important to the future of our Fleet
and how to ensure carrier strike groups remain
relevant tomorrow. The first challenge will clearly be the
looming strike fighter shortfall, something that
has been articulated by Navy leadership over the past year.
While the Navy remains committed to the Joint
Strike Fighter (JSF), continued acquisition of the F/A-18
presents the best and most cost-effective way to
populate our aircraft carriers with air wings of sufficient
size to generate a meaningful amount of combat
sorties until the JSF becomes a reality. It is also
important that we retain our sharp focus on the need to
pursue effective defensive systems to protect our capital
ships. As a nation we must continually challenge
how our defense dollars are spent. In the case of aircraft
carriers and the Sailors and aircrews that
execute the Navy’s mission around the world, that
investment pays off every single day.
1.
Center for Naval Analyses, “Small Carrier Capabilities”
letter to ADM Nathman, 23 May 2005.
2.
Fox, Mikolic, Brown “Carrier Operations,” Study by Center
for Naval Analyses, 13 May 2009.
3.
CNO Comments, Naval War College Current Strategy Forum, 16
June 2009.
4.
Jessica Golloher, “US, Kyrgyzstan Reach Deal on Continued
Use of Manas Air Base,” Voice of America News, 23 June
2009.
5.
Robert M. Gates, “A Balanced Strategy,” Foreign Affairs,
New York, Jan/Feb 2009, Vol. 88, Issue 1, pp. 28-32.
6.
CNA Carrier Study, Fox.
7.
VADM McCullough, OPNAV N8, Comments Before the Subcommittee
on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces of the House Armed
Services Committee on Shipbuilding, 15 May 2009.
8.
Testimony, Secretary Gates to House Armed Services
Committee, 13 May 2009.
9.
Robert D. Kaplan, “Center Stage for the Twenty-first
Century,” Foreign Affairs, Mar/Apr 2009, Vol. 88,
Issue 2, pp. 16-29, 31-32.
10.
Kaplan, “Center Stage…”
11.
Bao Daozu, “Military Deputies Urge Building of Aircraft
Carriers,” China Daily, 6 March 2009.
Rear Admiral Kraft is a career naval aviator. A veteran
of Operations Eldorado Canyon, Desert Storm,
Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, his
commands have included the
USS Shreveport (LPD-12) and the USS Ronald Reagan
(CVN-76). He is currently Head, Maritime Aviation,
Unmanned Systems & Aviation Training Plans and Programs.
This article is reprinted courtesy of the United States
Naval Institute Proceedings
Issue: September 2009 Vol. 135/9/1,279
EXECUTING THE MARITIME STRATEGY
From CHINFO -
Our naval forces continue to be
globally engaged in executing the six core capabilities of
the Maritime Strategy around
the world everyday. Today's Rhumb Lines provides the
monthly look at how our Navy executed the core capabilities
of
the Maritime Strategy during the month of November.
A
product of...
Navy Office of Information
www.navy.mil
December 4, 2009
|
Executing the Maritime
Strategy |
“In
this continually changing and complex maritime environment,
coordination with other Navy Fleet Commanders and
relationship building
with our regional partners is crucial in executing our
Maritime Strategy in order to best address regional
challenges, ensure capacity building
for Maritime Domain Awareness, promote multinational
interoperability and increase non-governmental
organizations assistance in the promotion
of prosperity and stability throughout the Caribbean,
Central and South America.”
– Rear Adm. Victor Guillory, Commander, U.S. Navy Southern
Command / U.S. 4th
Fleet
Around the world, the Navy is executing the six core
capabilities of the Maritime Strategy – forward presence,
deterrence, sea control, power
projection, maritime security and humanitarian
assistance/disaster response.
Forward Presence
• USS Lassen (DDG 82) and USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19)
visited Da Nang, Vietnam. Lassen is commanded by Cmdr.
H.B. Le, whose visit
marked the first time the Vietnamese-born officer has
returned to the country of his birth since his family fled
during the fall of Saigon nearly
35 years ago.
Power Projection
• The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group completed a
Composite Unit Training Exercise, Nov. 24, off the
Southeast Coast of the
U.S. The CSG obtained a major combat operations
certification and is ready for deployment. The exercise
tested all warfare mission areas
of the strike group's individual and combined forces.
• Ships, submarines, aircraft and approximately 8,500
personnel from the U.S. 7th Fleet participated in Annual
Exercise 2009, a bilateral
exercise with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Nov.
10-17.
Maritime Security
• Combined Task Force 151 is embarked aboard USS
Chosin (CG 65) patrolling the internationally
recognized transit corridor in the
Gulf of Aden. The task force is conducting operations
to actively deter, disrupt and suppress piracy in order to
protect global maritime
security and secure freedom of navigation for all nations.
Sea Control
• USS San Juan (SSN 751) visited Simon's Town, South
Africa, and conducted the first ever at-sea submarine
exercise with the South
African navy and submarine force.
• The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group/22nd Marine
Expeditionary Unit is transiting the Atlantic Ocean en
route to homeports after
completing a seven-month deployment to the 5th
and 6th
fleet areas of responsibility. This deployment
marked the first ARG/MEU
to deploy with the MV-22B Osprey.
• USS Freedom (LCS 1) participated in several training
events with the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike
Group as part of its unit level
qualification and pre-deployment certification process.
Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Response
|
• USS Wasp (LHD 1) delivered approximately 39,000
pounds of medical and school supplies, text books,
and toys to the government
of Belize and various non-governmental
organizations during a Project Handclasp
delivery. Wasp is deployed on Southern Partnership
Station-Amphibious, part of the Partnership of the
Americas. |
|
Status
of the Navy (as of 1 December) |
|
Navy
Personnel
Total Active Component 329,655
Total Reserve Component 108, 655
DoN Civilians 194,562
Ships, Submarines & Aircraft
Total deployable ships/subs 285
Ship underway 128 (45%)
Attack Subs underway 28 (51%)
Ships deployed 106 (37%)
Subs deployed 25 (46%)
Expeditionary units deployed 56 (23%)
Total Operational Aircraft 3,700+ |
Ground Forces in NAVCENT AOR
Countries ≥400 AC RC
Iraq
2,925 935
Bahrain
2,815 75
Kuwait
697 897
Afghanistan
2,993 703
Qatar
520 38
Total on ground, all countries 12,985 |
Sailors at Sea by AOR
NAVCENT/C5F 9,862
PACFLT 14,514
NAVSOUTH/C4F 2,355
C2F 5,736
NAVEUR/NAVAF/C6F 1,472
For more information on the current status of the
Navy, visit: www.navy.mil. |
U.S. Military Gets New Pacific Commander
(ASSOCIATED
PRESS 20 OCT 09) ... Audrey McAvoy
(CAMP H.M.
SMITH, Hawaii) — A fighter pilot who headed the Navy in the
Pacific and made a cameo appearance as
a Tom Cruise foe in
"Top Gun" has taken over as the top U.S. military commander
in Asia and the Pacific.
Adm. Robert
F. Willard assumed control of the U.S. Pacific Command in a
Monday ceremony presided over by
Defense Secretary Robert
Gates, who stopped in Hawaii en route to meetings in Japan
and South Korea.
The F-14
fighter pilot spent the last two years heading the U.S.
Pacific Fleet and its 180 ships, 1,500 aircraft and
125,000
military personnel.
At the
Pacific Command, he'll lead all branches of the military in
the Asia-Pacific, from California to the Indian Ocean,
and
will be in charge of some 325,000 personnel.
(Read
"China's Navy Grows, and the World Watches Warily.")
Willard
will also be responsible for managing military
relationships with the 36 nations in the region, which
include allies
like Japan, South Korea and Australia. The
area also encompasses China, whose armed forces are rapidly
growing
and modernizing; and North Korea, which is
developing nuclear weapons and long-range missiles.
"This half
of the world has undergone immense evolution in just my 36
years of military service. And it's changing still,"
Willard told the crowd of several hundred gathered for the
ceremony in the hills above Pearl Harbor.
"Yet
constant throughout that time was a recognition of the vast
and growing importance of Asia to the rest of the
world,"
Willard said.
Willard
succeeds Adm. Timothy Keating, who is retiring.
In the
1980s, Willard was the executive officer at the Navy
Fighter Weapons School, also known as "TOPGUN."
Willard was
a consultant and flight choreographer on the 1986 film "Top
Gun." He also portrayed a Soviet MiG-28
pilot who wore a
black helmet and took on Cruise, who famously gave
Willard's character "the bird" while flying
upside-down
above him.
Shortly
after Monday's ceremony, Gates and Willard were due to head
to South Korea for annual meetings with
Seoul's military.
Gates was also due to stop in Tokyo.
Willard
comes to the job with a full set of challenges awaiting.
Japan's
newly elected government, led by Prime Minister Yukio
Hatoyama, recently announced it would withdraw
two naval
ships from the Indian Ocean that had been refueling allies
en route to Afghanistan.
He must
also manage the U.S. military's relationship with China's
military.
Last year,
China broke off military talks with the U.S. after the Bush
administration approved a major arms sale to
Taiwan, the
self-governing island Beijing considers a renegade
province.
Relations
have improved slightly since, leading China to send its
second-highest ranking officer, General Xu Caihou,
to the
U.S. for a visit at the end of this month. Xu's stops will
include the Pacific Command.
U.S.
commanders have said it's important to boost exchanges with
China's military so the two sides can become better
acquainted and reduce the risk of a misunderstanding
blowing up into an unwanted confrontation.
As China's
military has grown, its ships have repeatedly harassed U.S.
Navy surveillance vessels collecting intelligence
off
China's southeastern coast and Chinese submarines have
aggressively pursued aircraft carrier battle groups.
In a blog
post from last month while he was still at the Pacific
Fleet, Willard wrote that engaging China has been
difficult
"and at times our encounters with Chinese military forces
have been less than constructive in nature." But he
also
said both sides needed to seek out areas of common
interest.
"At a point
we need to understand who our counterparts are," Willard
said. "We have to get to know one another."
Admiral Robert F. Willard
 Admiral
Robert F. Willard is a Los Angeles native and a 1973
graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. He possesses
a master's
in Engineering Management from Old Dominion University and
is a Massachusetts Institute of Technology
seminar XXI
alumni.
A F-14 aviator, Willard served in a variety of fighter
squadrons and aircraft carriers. He was operations officer
and
executive officer of Navy Fighter Weapons School
(TOPGUN) and commanded the Screaming Eagles of Fighter
Squadron 51(VF-51).
Following nuclear power training, Willard commanded the
amphibious flagship, USS Tripoli (LPH 10) and the
aircraft
carrier, USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72).
As a flag officer, Willard has twice served in the Joint
Staff, was deputy and chief of staff of the Pacific Fleet
in Pearl
Harbor, and commanded Carrier Group 5 aboard USS
Kitty Hawk (CV 63) and the U.S. 7th Fleet in
Yokosuka, Japan.
In March 2005, Willard became the 34th vice chief of naval
operations. He commanded U.S. Pacific Fleet from
May, 2007
to Sept. 25, 2009.
Willard's decorations include the Defense Distinguished
Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of
Merit
and other various awards.
Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Keel Laying
A
product of...
Navy Office of Information
www.navy.mil
November 12, 2009
|
Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Keel
Laying |
|
“It is a source of indescribable pride and humility
to know that an aircraft carrier bearing my name
may be permanently associated with the valor and
patriotism of the men and women of the United
States Navy.”
– Former President Gerald R. Ford
The Gerald R. Ford class will be the premier
forward asset for crisis response and early
decisive striking power in a major combat
operation. Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers
and carrier strike groups will provide the core
capabilities of forward presence, deterrence, sea
control, power projection, maritime security and
humanitarian assistance. The class brings improved
warfighting capability, quality of life
improvements for our Sailors and reduced
acquisition and life cycle costs.
Improved Warfighting Capability
• The Gerald R. Ford class is designed to maximize
sortie generation rates. While the design leverages
the Nimitz-class hull, new flight deck and internal
arrangements and systems are designed to move
weapons, material, and information more effectively
around the ship, significantly improving its
warfighting capability.
• The CVN 78 design also provides infrastructure
enhancements in electrical generation, heating,
ventilation and air conditioning, and fresh water
generating capacity. These enhancements provide
sufficient margin to accommodate future
developmental systems well into the 21st century.
• CVN 78 key innovations include a new propulsion
plant, new electrical distribution system, new
integrated warfare systems, advanced weapons
elevators, electromagnetic catapults and advanced
arresting gear.
• Electro Magnetic Aircraft Launching System
(EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) will
provide greater operational flexibility, reduced
manning requirements and the ability to operate all
current and future naval aircraft.
Total Ownership Cost
• Each ship in the new class will save more than $5
billion in total ownership costs over its 50-year
life service, compared to the Nimitz class.
• Gerald R. Ford is the first aircraft carrier
designed with all electric auxiliary systems,
eliminating steam service lines from the ship,
reducing maintenance costs and improving corrosion
control.
• Technologies and ship design initiatives that
replace maintenance and workload intensive systems
with low maintenance systems will reduce ship’s
crew by more than 800 personnel. Coupled with
projected airwing manpower reductions, the Gerald
R. Ford class will carry 1,300 fewer personnel than
the Nimitz class.
• CVN 78 is the largest warship, and first aircraft
carrier, to be completely designed in a 3-D product
model. 3-D modeling creates the opportunity for
synergy between ship design and ship building,
improving production accuracy, eliminating waste
and reducing overall construction costs.
|
|
Key Messages |
Facts & Figures |
|
•
Aircraft carriers like the future USS
Gerald R. Ford
enable execution of all six core capabilities of
the Maritime Strategy.
• The Gerald R. Ford class is designed to maximize
the striking power of the embarked carrier air
wing.
• The Gerald R. Ford class will eventually replace
the Nimitz (CVN 68) class.
|
•
The keel laying for CVN 78 is scheduled for Nov. 14
in Newport News, Va.
• The ship’s systems and configuration are
optimized to maximize the sortie generation rate of
embarked strike aircraft, resulting in a 25 percent
increase the Nimitz class.
• The ship’s configuration and electrical
generating plant are designed to accommodate any
foreseeable requirements during its 50-year service
life.
|
Shipyard
Lays Keel Of Carrier In Solemn Tribute To Gerald R. Ford
(NEWPORT
NEWS DAILY PRESS 15 NOV 09) ... Peter Frost
NEWPORT
NEWS — Moments after Susan Ford Bales chalked her initials
into a steel plate authenticating the keel
of the Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier Saturday, the
strongest crane in the Western Hemisphere lifted into place
a
900-plus-ton section of steel marking the start of
construction of the first-of-its-kind ship.
As Bales,
the late President Ford's only daughter and sponsor of the
ship, finished a solemn and emotional tribute to
her father, a retractable canvas door rose, sending a blast
of cool, misty air into the Newport News shipyard's new
$37 million outfitting facility.
Suspended a
few feet off the wet concrete pad behind her, the first
hull section of the $8.7 billion carrier began its
30-minute journey into the bottom of Dry Dock 12, marking
the flattop's first major construction milestone.
"Dad met
the staggering challenges of restoring trust in the
presidency and healing the nation's wounds after Watergate
in the only way he knew how — with complete honesty and
integrity. And that is the legacy we remember this
morning,"
Bales told a crowd of 2,000 dignitaries, shipbuilders, Navy
and shipyard officials gathered in Newport News for the
keel-laying ceremony of the ship named after her father.
Moved by
her speech, they stood and applauded.
"My
goodness. I'm wondering if I'm supposed to present you a
key to the shipyard or something," responded Northrop
Grumman Shipbuilding President C. Michael Petters. "You're
welcome here any time."
Elements of
progress
Almost
everything about Saturday's celebration contained an
element of progress.
The
ceremony was held in a new $37 million outfitting facility,
built specifically for the Ford construction program.
A newly
fortified gantry crane, capable of lifting 1,050 metric
tons, lifted the heaviest single section of steel in its
history.
And the
Ford itself is the first ship of a new class, representing
the first major design change of the platform since the
10-ship Nimitz class of carriers was introduced in the
1960s.
The class
will contain several design and technological upgrades over
previous carriers, including an updated nuclear
propulsion plant, a larger flight deck, and more efficient
aircraft launch and arresting gear.
Those
changes will allow the Navy to remove as many as 1,200
sailors from the ship and save roughly $5 billion in
maintenance and operating costs over its scheduled 50-year
life.
"The design
and engineering is impressive," said Adm. Kirkland H.
Donald, the Navy's director of nuclear propulsion.
"The challenge now for our shipbuilding team is to bring
this ship — ready to fight — on time and on cost."
Coordinating the construction of a 100,000-ton, 1,092-foot
giant outfitted with the latest materials and technologies
is
an undertaking that requires teamwork between the Navy,
Northrop and hundreds of specialized contractors spread
across 40 states.
Roughly
20,000 workers will have a part in building the Ford, a
massive project that will span nearly two decades.
Including research, development and design, the cost of the
Ford checks in at $15.17 billion, according to Navy
figures.
Conceptual
design of the ship began in the late 1990s. Northrop is
scheduled to deliver the ship to the fleet in November
2015, when it will replace the Newport News-built USS
Enterprise, the nation's first nuclear powered carrier.
During
Saturday's ceremony, shipyard workers continued work on the
48-year-old Enterprise, which is undergoing its
final major maintenance project to prepare it for two final
deployments.
The cost to
keep that ship in the fleet has risen nearly 35 percent to
$611 million, leading the Navy to recommend
decommissioning the flattop in 2012. The service requested
and won approval this month from Congress to temporarily
reduce the number of active carriers to 10 during the
three-year span between the Enterprise's exit and when the
Ford comes online.
Political
intervention
Defense
Secretary Robert M. Gates has recommended making a
10-carrier fleet permanent after 2040, an initiative
he would achieve by moving the carrier build schedule to
five-year centers instead of four.
But Reps.
Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, D.-Newport News, and Glenn Nye,
D.- Norfolk, on Saturday each delivered
impassioned speeches advocating for a robust Navy
shipbuilding budget with no permanent reduction in the
number
of active carriers.
"We must
maintain support of our industrial base," Nye said. "It's
absolutely essential to retain the necessary labor
force to design and construct these indispensible ships.
... Moreover, the Navy's 11-carrier fleet commitment is
absolutely vital to this effort."
Reducing
the number of carriers would run counter to the nation's
national security interests and have a devastating
affect to the economy, the supply chain and the number of
skilled workers employed in shipbuilding, Nye said.
The
namesake
In the
keynote address, Michigan Sen. Carl Levin lavished praise
on fellow Michigander, Ford, who represented the
state's 5th District for 25 years in the U.S. House. He was
appointed vice president in 1973 and ascended to the
presidency in 1974 after Richard M. Nixon resigned amid
scandal.
Before Ford
entered national politics, he spent several years in the
Navy, assigned to the USS Monterey aircraft carrier
as an athletic officer and gunnery officer. He survived a
typhoon in 1944 that hit the ship while it was sailing the
Pacific Ocean.
It was
during Ford's Naval service, Levin said, that he gained the
courage and commitment he'd later use to govern
the nation during one of its most politically perilous
periods.
"This ship
will bear the name of the man who assumed our nation's
highest office at a time of great anguish and
confusion, a time of great distress and doubt," Levin said.
"In a time of great danger, Jerry Ford took the helm. At a
time of great instability, Jerry Ford kept our country on
an even keel."
The carrier
named after the 38th president, Levin said, "is a tribute
to his leadership."
Carrier
Continues Ford's Legacy
(NEWPORT
NEWS DAILY PRESS 13 NOV 09) ... Peter Frost
NEWPORT
NEWS, Va. — Friday Produced A Mix Of Emotion And Pride For
Susan Ford Bales, Daughter Of The
Late President Gerald R. Ford.
Surrounded
By Construction Workers Setting Up Approximately 2,000
Chairs, Reams Of Bunting And A Stage At
An Outfitting Building Inside Northrop Grumman Corp.'S
Newport News Shipyard, Bales Reflected On The Legacy
Of Her Father, At Times Struggling To Hold Back Tears.
As She
Mingled With Shipyard Workers, Navy Officers And Shipyard
Officials, Bales Ruminated On How Proud And
Humbled Her Father — A Navy Veteran And The Nation's 38th
President — Would Be To See Row Upon Row Of
Assembled Steel Structures That Will Form The Skeleton Of
The Aircraft Carrier Named After Him.
"It's Very
Emotional, Of Course, Because He's Not Here To See This,"
She Said Of Her Father, Who Died In 2006
At 93. "I Think He Would Be Beaming With Pride — Just
Beaming With Pride Because He Was A Navy Man."
Bales,
Ford's Only Daughter And The Ship's Sponsor, Is In Newport
News This Weekend For The Ship's Keel-Laying
Ceremony, The First Major Construction Milestone For The
$8.7 Billion Warship.
Today, The
Virginia Native Will Sketch Her Initials Into A Steel Plate
That Will Be Displayed Aboard The Ship For Its
50-Year Life, A Privilege She Said Will Pay Tribute To Her
Father For His Years Of Navy And Public Service.
About 2,000 People Will Attend The Private Ceremony,
Including Navy Secretary Ray Mabus; Sen. Carl Levin,
D-Mich.; And Reps. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, D-Newport News,
And Glenn Nye, D- Norfolk, As Well As Other
Dignitaries.
"So Many
Times, People Forget About Ford. They Go Straight From
Nixon To Carter, And They Forget About Him,"
Bales Said. "To Me, This Is Just One More Way To Continue
His Legacy."
Before Ford
Entered National Politics, He Spent Several Years In The
Navy, Assigned To The USS Monterey
Aircraft Carrier As An Athletic Officer And Gunnery
Officer. He Survived A Typhoon In 1944 That Hit The Ship
While It Was Sailing The Pacific Ocean.
He
Represented Michigan's 5th District For 25 Years In The
U.S. House Before Being Appointed Vice President
In 1973, And Then Ascending To The Presidency In 1974 After
Richard M. Nixon Resigned.
The
Nuclear-Powered Carrier Named In His Honor Is The First In
Its Class. It Represents The First Major Design
Change To The Platform Since The 1960s, When The 10-Ship
Nimitz Class Was Introduced.
Counting
Research, Devplopment And Design, The Total Price Tag Of
The Ford Clocks In At A Hefty $15.17 Billion,
According To The Navy.
But With
Several Technological Upgrades And Design Changes, The
Initial Expense Will Be Mitigated By Billions
In Savings Over The Life Of The Ship And Others In Its
Class, Navy Officials Said.
A New
Aircraft Recovery And Launch System, Combined With A More
Spacious Flight Deck, Will Allow 25 Percent
More Takeoffs And Landings A Day.
Re-Engineering The Ship To Introduce More Automation And
Efficiency In Its Operation Have Reduced By 1,200
The Number Of Crew Members Required To Operate The Ship,
Resulting In About $3 Billion In Savings Over Its
50-Year Life, Said Capt. Brian K. Antonio, The Navy's Ford
Program Manager.
When The
Concept For The Ford Was Developed In 1996, The Primary
Mission Was Focused On Delivering A
Carrier With Lower Operating Costs, Said Rear Adm. Michael
Mcmahon, The Navy's Program Executive Officer
For Aircraft Carriers.
"What We
Ended Up With Was A Much More Capable Ship That Will Be
Able To Operate At A Much Lower Cost,"
He Said. "It's Actually Been A Tremendous Success Story."
Today, The
Ford's Assembly Begins In Earnest, When Workers Lift The
First 900-Ton Piece Of The Ship's Keel Into
Dry Dock 12 In Newport News, Weather Permitting.
Over The
Next Six Years, The Shipyard Will Transform More Than 1,200
Large Sections Of Steel Into A
State-Of-The-Art Warship.
In 2015,
Northrop Hopes To Deliver To The Navy A Carrier That Will
Help Transform The Fleet.
For Bales
And The Ford Family, The Ship And The 10 That Follow It In
The Ford Class Will Serve As A Lasting
Tribute That Will Keep The Former President's Name In The
Public Domain For Generations To Come.
"I Hope The
Spirit Of This Ship Will Be The Spirit Of My Dad, Which Is
Integrity And Honesty," She Said.
Of The
Shipyard Workers Who Will Assemble The Carrier And The Crew
That Will Eventually Fill Its Ranks, Bales
Said, "I Feel Like We Have A Whole New Extended Family
Now."
The
First-In-Class Gerald R. Ford Aircraft Carrier Will Pass
Through Its First Major Construction Milestone Today In
A Keel-Laying Ceremony At Northrop Grumman Corp.'S Newport
News Shipyard.
The
Ceremony, Which Will Be Closed To The Public, Will Feature
The Late President's Daughter, Susan Ford Bales;
Navy Secretary Ray Mabus; U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich.;
And Reps. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, D-Newport News,
And Glenn Nye, D-Norfolk.
The Gerald R. Ford
(NAVY TIMES
23 NOV 2009) ... Andrew Scutro
The
ceremonial keel-laying for the aircraft Gerald R. Ford was
scheduled for Nov. 14, pending stormy weather in the
Hampton Roads, Va., area earlier in the week.
As part of
the event, the initials of the late president’s daughter,
Susan Ford Bales, will be welded into the ship’s keel.
The ship is expected to be delivered to the Navy in 2015.
Here’s what your need to know about the first of the
fleet’s newest class of aircraft carrier:
1. A
steamless transition. In an effort to make launching naval
aircraft more efficient, Ford will be outfitted with
electromagnetic catapults as opposed to the steam-driven
system currently in use. The Electromagnetic Aircraft
Launch
System, or EMALS, is designed to require less maintenance
and fewer sailors than the steam system.
2. Fewer
mouths to feed.Ford and the follow-on ships in the class
are designed to operate with fewer sailors than the
more than 5,600 on Nimitz-class ships. Fords are meant to
have at least 800 fewer in ship’s company and 400 fewer
in the air wing.
3. Sleek
profile.A reconfigured flight deck will make the carrier
stand out on the waterfront. The island is farther aft and
narrower than other flattops, and it features a composite
mast and new dual-band radar. A new arrangement of the
deck itself is meant to increase daily sortie rates by 25
percent.
4. Home
improvements. Berthing areas will be reduced from spaces
with 200 racks to 50. Noise is also a concern:
Lounges will be moved out of berthing areas, and the chapel
and library will be moved below decks to quieter areas.
Offices and planning spaces are designed so they can be
reconfigured depending on need.
5. Named
for a Navy man. Ford was an officer in World War II,
serving on the light aircraft carrier Monterey in the
Pacific.
An assistant navigator, physical education instructor and
anti-aircraft battery officer, he led damage control party
during
a storm that nearly washed him over board in 1944.
India Mulls Land-Based E-2D
(AVIATION
WEEK 19 OCT 09) ... Neelam Mathews
The Indian
navy is reevaluating the design of its future aircraft
carriers and showing interest in the U.S. Navy's
Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (Emals), which is in
development by General Atomics.
Emals uses
a linear motor drive instead of steam pistons to accelerate
aircraft for takeoff. India uses
short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing (Stovl) Sea Harriers
from its current carrier, the INS Viraat, which is near
retirement.
The navy has been waiting some time for the refurbished
Russian carrier Admiral Gorshkov, now due for delivery in
2012, and is working with Fincantieri of Italy on two
carriers.
"When
catapult technology improves, we are looking at building
conventional carriers with electric rather than steam
catapults," former Chief of Naval Staff Adm. Sureesh Mehta
tells DTI. With more than 7,500 km. (4,660 mi.) of
coastline
to patrol, experts say India needs at least five carriers.
For
near-term patrol and force-projection needs, India is
evaluating the Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye.
Discussions are underway following export authorization in
August by the U.S. government to Northrop Grumman
covering the latest version of the E-2.
India has a
requirement for six E-2Ds, which it hopes to use in
surveillance sorties and antiterrorism patrols.
John
Beaulieu, E-2 new business manager for the U.S. Navy, made
an 8-hr. presentation in August to Indian navy
officials who requested technical clarifications following
a request for information in 2008. Northrop Grumman has
been asked to supply a shore-based version of the E-2D,
since India's carrier-based naval aircraft are not
catapult-launched.
Shore-based
operations may be the only way to go for the E-2D, as the
navy has no carrier besides the Viraat.
Sixteen MiG-29K fighters on order will equip the Gorshkov,
which, when it arrives, will accommodate ski-jump takeoffs
and arrested landings.
During his
term as chief of staff, Mehta said the navy needed a robust
overhead surveillance capability. India seems
to be following the U.S. Navy's approach by ordering the
Boeing P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft to
replace aging Tupolev Tu-142M turboprops.
India has
also been interested for years in an aircraft that provides
airborne early warning and battle management
command and control. The E-2D, fitted with Lockheed
Martin's AN/APY-9 radar, would increase the territory India
monitors by 300%.
Critics say
the E-2 has low endurance, a cramped cabin, is expensive to
operate and designed primarily for
communication gear that is unique to the U.S. Navy. "We
have addressed the extended fuel range to give 8 hr. of
flight
time," says Beaulieu. "The only similarity to the E-2C and
the E-2D is the shadow it casts on the tarmac."
Northrop
Grumman has, moreover, signed a memorandum of understanding
with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. to develop a "wet wing"
that holds additional fuel and permits the aircraft to fly
for 8 hr.
"The E-2D
is designed for maritime operations and [its radar] has a
unique capability against air and surface targets,"
says Beaulieu. A detailed life-cycle analysis calculated on
flight hours using an E-2C indicates a cost of less than
$3,000 per flight, he adds.
The
interoperability of the E-2D with the U.S. Navy and NATO
through data links is another advantage. "Interoperability
is a very important aspect. It's fine to have this airborne
early warning system up in the air, but if you cannot
communicate
with not only our forces, but our allies around the world, it doesn't
do us, or [India], much good," Beaulieu says. "If India
desires to be interoperable with the U.S. Navy and NATO
through data link systems, this is the platform of choice."
The U.S.
Navy wants Emals to replace large and heavy steam
catapults. The trend toward heavier, faster aircraft will
result in launch-energy requirements that exceed the
capability of steam catapults. While the U.S. design might
be too
big for India, the launch stroke can be reduced and power
supplies are modular. Electrical power would need to be
added to a carrier with Emals, but high-energy-density
flywheels will replace the low energy density of a steam
accumulator.
HSC-23 in the AOR
091112-N-3038W-374
GULF OF OMAN (Nov. 12, 2009) Two MH-60S Sea Hawk
helicopters assigned to the Wildcards of
Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 transfer supplies
from the Military Sealift Command fast combat support ship
USNS
Bridge (T-AOE-10) during a replenishment at sea with the
aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) as the guided-missile
destroyer
USS Sampson (DDG 102) cruises into position. The Nimitz
Carrier Strike Group is on a routine deployment in the U.S.
5th Fleet
area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass
Communication Specialist 3rd Class John Phillip Wagner
Jr./Released)
A SAD VIEW
Photo
Thanks to CDR “Eggs” Benedict – a sad view – from the left
are USS INDEPENDENCE, USS
CONSTELLATION, USS RANGER, all now retired and awaiting the
grim Reaper and, fourth, USS LINCOLN in
for yard work.
Royal Navy Aircraft Carrier May Be Sold To India
(THE
TELEGRAPH 16 NOV 09)
One of the
Royal Navy's new £2bn aircraft carriers could be sold off
under government cost-cutting plans, the
Guardian has learned.
It is
understood that India has recently lodged a firm expression
of interest to buy one of the two state-of-the-art
65,000 tonne carriers, which are still being built by BAE
Systems in the UK.
Any sale of
the long-delayed carriers would be highly controversial and
would leave the Royal Navy with just one carrier.
It could also force Britain to borrow from the French navy,
which itself only has one carrier and is reluctant to build
any
more.
Last summer
French president Nicolas Sarkozy proposed to Gordon Brown
that the two navies co-ordinate the
maintenance and retrofitting of their carriers, so that at
least one of them is at sea at any time.
The
government has accepted it would cost more to cancel the
contract for one of the carriers than it would to carry
on building. BAE Systems is also keen to increase its arms
exports and would welcome the sale of such a flagship
piece of hardware to a country such as India, which is keen
to upgrade its military, particularly its air force.
According
to senior defence sources, Whitehall officials are
examining the feasibility of selling one of the carriers.
It
is understood they are planning to put forward the option
as part of the government's strategic defence review, which
will start early next year. The review will publish its
conclusions after the general election. Whichever party
wins the
election, the review is expected to result in savage cuts
to the UK's military budget.
"Selling a
carrier is one very serious option," a defence source said
this weekend, although the government is a long
way from committing to any sale. It could take between six
and 12 months to reach a decision, he added.
The £4bn
aircraft carrier programme has been dogged by controversy
and has become a totemic in the issue over
how public spending – and in particular the military budget
– should be cut. The programme has already been delayed
by two years to push back spending commitments, which will
end up costing the taxpayer more in the long run.
Construction finally began in July on HMS Queen Elizabeth,
which is due to come into service in 2016. Preparatory
work on the HMS Prince of Wales, due for launch in 2018,
has also started. The two carriers will replace the ageing
Invincible class carrier fleet, and are three times the
size.
Military
chief and the companies involved in building the carriers
had feared the government could scrap one of the
carriers altogether to save money. But it is understood
that the financial penalties the government would be
required to
pay to BAE Systems, the company building the ships, would
be prohibitive. The company is currently drawing up a
formal estimate of the cost the government would incur from
cancelling the order.
About
10,000 jobs in Portsmouth, Barrow-in-Furness, Fife and
Glasgow depend on the work. Now that construction of
both carriers will almost certainly go ahead, the
government is desperate to find other ways to cut costs.
Another
option under consideration is to only equip one of the
carriers with aircraft, leaving the other to only operate
with
helicopters, which could save more than £3bn.
Alternatively, the two carriers could share one complement
of planes. The original plan envisaged equipping each
carrier with 75 new US-made Joint Strike Fighter planes,
but the cost has soared from the original price tag of £18m
each.
Asked about
the plan for a sale of the one of the carriers, a
spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence said lots of
options
for the carriers were being considered, but stressed that
no decision had been taken. "We have got the strategic
defence review coming up, so all options are on the table,"
she said.
The debate
over whether British soldiers fighting in Afghanistan have
the equipment they need – most notably enough
helicopters to enable them to avoid heavily mined roads –
has brought the issue of military spending to the fore.
Military
analysts say that the navy's budget, such as that earmarked
for the carriers under review, is most vulnerable to cuts,
compared to that of the army and air force
RETURN TO INDEX
The STOVL F-35B arriving at Patuxent River
F-35 BF-1 left Dobbins AFB in
Marietta, Ga., at 11:34 a.m. eastern standard time Sunday,
Nov. 15, and arrived at
Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., at 12:46 EST. Jon
Beesley was the pilot. Aerial photo by David Drais. Ground
photo by Randy Hepp. Both pictures have been cleared for
public release.
.
F-35B
Flight Testing Under Way
(DEFENSE
DAILY 17 NOV 09) ... Marina Malenic
The F-35
Joint Strike Fighter model with short takeoff/vertical
landing (STOVL) capability yesterday began its first hover
and vertical landing tests at Naval Air Station Patuxent
River, Md., the program office said.
The F-35B
model was flown by a Lockheed Martin [LMT] test pilot from
Dobbins AFB, Marietta, Ga., to Patuxent River
on Nov. 15, said F-35 Joint Program Office spokeswoman
Cheryl Limrick.
"Flight
testing begins today," she said via e-mail.
The F-35B,
which is expected to replace the Marine Corps AV-8B STOVL
fighters, F/A-18 strike fighters and EA-6B
electronic attack aircraft, will perform a series of short
takeoffs, hovers and vertical landings over the course of
the next
several weeks, according to a Lockheed Martin statement
released yesterday.
The U.K.'s
Royal Air Force and Royal Navy and the Italian Air Force
and Navy are also committed to purchase the
F-35B. The program office earlier this month dismissed
recent news reports that the United Kingdom is considering
cutting their F-35B buy.
The F-35B
flight test schedule has slipped several times.
According
to the program office, the airplane is now scheduled to be
flown in STOVL mode--the most technically risky
aspect of the testing-- sometime next month.
Earlier
this month, the Pentagon acknowledged that its special
assessment team has once again concluded that the
program as a whole is still at risk of significant cost
increases. The Joint Estimating Team's latest cost
projection for
the program "continues to raise concerns about the course
the program is on," according to Defense Department
spokesman Geoff Morrell.
Defense
Secretary Robert Gates earlier this year decided to cancel
additional F-22 production, instead putting all the
department's money on the F-35. The airplane is expected to
enter service with the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps.
Several allied nations have also signed on to the $300
billion effort.
Planned Upgrade To P-8 Would Allow Direct Control Of BAMS
By 2020
–
The
‘Discussion Phase’ Only
(INSIDE THE
NAVY 16 NOV 09) ... Dan Taylor
The Navy
hopes to install upgrades on the P-8A Poseidon maritime
surveillance aircraft by 2020 that would allow the
crew to directly control the Broad Area Maritime
Surveillance unmanned aerial system, according to a report
received
by senators earlier this month.
Vice Adm.
David Dorsett, then the director of naval intelligence
(N2), submitted the Oct. 13 report on potential joint
efficiencies between the BAMS and P-8A programs, which was
required by the fiscal year 2010 House Permanent
Select Committee on Intelligence intelligence authorization
bill. Dorsett now heads the merged intelligence and
information directorates (N2/N6).
In the
report, the Navy lays out a number of efficiencies that
could be realized in the two programs, which are meant to
complement each other and which will reach the fleet at
around the same time -- the P-8A expected in 2013 and
BAMS in 2015.
“Increment
4, an unfunded upgrade tentatively planned for 2020, would
enable P-8A to control (i.e. ‘fly’) the BAMS
UAS air vehicle, control its sensors and payloads and
receive, process and disseminate raw payload data from
those
sensors and payloads,” the report states. “The capability,
identified as Level of Interoperability (LOI) 4, could be
applicable to any manned ground control facility, aircraft
or seaborne platform possessing the requisite equipment
and communications infrastructure.”
The purpose
of the upgrade is to give the maritime patrol and
reconnaissance forces “greater ability” to execute the
cue-to-kill chain and create more seamless platform
collaboration, the report adds.
Another
efficiency would be the ground-based Tactical Operations
Center, which would provide “tactical analysis and
data correlation for raw and process data” provided by P-8A
and BAMS, and act as a conduit of data between the two
platforms, “effectively becoming a networking agent” for
maritime patrol and reconnaissance forces, according to the
report.
Also, a
common data link, which would be available in the first
increment of P-8A aircraft in 2013, would enable the P-8
to receive raw data directly from BAMS, the report notes.
The report
also lays out some more minor efficiencies that the Navy
could achieve, including having the two platforms
share maintenance facilities in Jacksonville, FL, sharing
logistics infrastructure and sharing basing.
Also, P-8A
sensor operators “will most likely serve tours in a BAMS
UAS squadron at some point in their career,” so
the Navy is looking into a common graphical user interface
for both platforms, the report states.
The
Increment 4 upgrades are “very tentative and 2020 is too
far out to accurately predict answers to any of these
questions,” Capt. Leon Bacon, department head of the P-8A
development program, told Inside the Navy in a Nov. 12
email.
“At this
time, the BAMS and P-8 interoperability is in the
discussion phase only,” he said.
P-8
manufacturer Boeing deferred comment to the Navy.
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