Australian Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

French naval defense group DCNS opened today a subsidiary in Australia named "DCNS Australia". The move, which coincides with an official visit to Australia by French president François Hollande with Thales and DCNS CEOs alongside, is aimed at getting closer to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and ultimately better marketing the SMX OCEAN submarine when the opportunity arises.

SMX Ocean SSK:
SMX Ocean is a new heavy conventional submarine (SSK) which was unveiled by DCNS at Euronaval 2014. It is based on the Barracuda SSN currently under construction. Xavier Mesnet (Submarines Marketing Director at DCNS) told Navy Recognition: "SMX OCEAN is more than a concept ship, it is a concept ship near to be realized".
[...]
2nd Generation fuel cell:
To achieve such performance, the propulsion system is based on DCNS' revolutionary second generation fuel cell. This solution combines several key DCNS innovations in fuel cell technology and has some specific advantages:
- the hydrogen produced on demand avoid storage contraints and hazards,
- the absence of pure-oxygen in the cells allows longer life cycle,
- the fuel is easily available worldwide.
This is a technological breakthrough compared to existing AIP solutions (even in Europe) because the system generates less oxidation and increases the lifetime of the propulsion system. In addition, the maintenance cycle of the fuel-cell now matches the maintenance cycle of the whole submarine while existing solutions are very maintenance intesive. This technology exists since DCNS built a shore based functional model of the 2nd generation fuel-cell and has been testing it for many years now

French Officials visit to Australia:
During the visit, the President and other VIPs including French Ambassador Christophe Lecourtier, Thales Executive Vice President Pierre Eric Pommellet and CEO of DCNS Herve Guillou, focused on Thales Australia’s manufacture of Scylla submarine sonars for Australia’s Collins Class submarines, including the latest Flank Array upgrades and integration capabilities for SEA 1000 Future Submarine systems. President Hollande’s visit follows the G20 Leaders' Summit held on 15-16 November in Brisbane.

[...]

According to the Australian Financial Review, DCNS is already in discussions with ASC (the builder of the Collins cass SSK) for a possible local construction of the future submarines.

Click to expand...

By setting up a long-term base in Australia, DCNS aims at taking the lead on coming discussions on SEA 1000 program between Australian stakeholders and a combined French government/industry team, including THALES Australia. Through this program, Australia plans to replace its current Collins Class submarines and DCNS is considering to propose a “conventional Barracuda” submarine, offering to Australia access to the most advanced French design and engineering know-how.

Hervé Guillou, CEO of DCNS, commented: “I am very pleased to officially announce the creation of DCNS Australia Pty Ltd. Australia is a key objective for the Group and for the French defence industry. Thanks to our dual expertise in design, build and through-life support of submarines of all sizes, including combat systems integration, we intend to bring a key contribution to the Commonwealth of Australia. Using sea proven solutions and robust industrial roadmap for the Future Submarine Australian program (SEA 1000), we’ll mitigate both program and technological risks while ensuring proper delivery strategy and capability continuity”.

Click to expand...

Australian-made submarines substantially cheaper than government suggests

Australia's government-owned shipbuilder says it could construct a new fleet of submarines in South Australia for less than $24 billion, making it competitive with rival overseas bidders.

Complicating the task of foreign shipbuilders who are pitching for the business, the interim head of Adelaide-based ASC told a Senate estimates hearing on Thursday morning that the firm believed it could build 12 new submarines for between $18 billion and $24 billion. Estimates for the cost of the government's favoured overseas option are between $20 and $30 billion.

The Abbott government has repeatedly implied that it is considering outsourcing overseas the manufacture of a replacement fleet for the ageing Collins Class submarines, despite a pre-election promise by Defence Minister David Johnston to build them in Australia.

This is partly for cost reasons, though Senator Johnston has also said he is concerned that building them locally would take longer and open up a disastrous "capability gap" in which the new boats are not ready by the time the Collins is due to be retired.

ASC's interim CEO Stuart Whiley told the Senate hearing that the firm had calculated a "potential cost range" based on data about the Collins Class and come up with a figure of between $18 billion and $24 billion.....

Read more:

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

Click to expand...

HMAS Parramatta (foreground) in the Coral Sea monitors the Russian Federation Ships Varyag (frame left) and the auxiliary oil replenishment ship Boris Butoma. Mid-Caption Defence has completed monitoring a Russian Surface Task Group, in accordance with international law.

The Russian Surface Task Group has now departed the Coral Sea and is no longer operating in the maritime approaches to Australia.

Russian ships monitored by Australian authorities in the maritime approaches to Australia included:

Russian Federation Ship (RFS) Varyag, a Slava class guided missile cruiser, RFS Marshal Shaposhnikov, a Udaloy class guided missile destroyer, and two support ships Boris Butoma and Fotiy Krylov.

Defence monitoring activities included:

AP-3C Orion aircraft and HMA ships Parramatta and Stuart that conducted maritime surveillance patrols.

HMAS Sirius that supported HMA ships Parramatta and Stuart.

HMAS Sydney was also positioned in the south Queensland area to be available to support G20 activities and to conduct maritime surveillance patrols as required.

The movement of the Russian vessels was entirely consistent with provisions under international law for military vessels to exercise freedom of navigation in international waters.

Click to expand...

​

Naval Today said:

As the Australian Navy’s newest ship’s company prepared for her commissioning ceremony, two Navy helicopters marked a different milestone by making the first deck landings on Australia’s largest warship.

A MRH90 ‘Taipan’ from 808 Squadron and an S-70-B Seahawk from 816 Squadron flew to Fleet Base East, Sydney from their base at HMAS Albatross, Nowra to begin deck handling trials with Canberra’s aviation support crew.

Aviation support sailor Able Seaman James Sullivan was the Aircraft Rescue Fire suitman on the day and witnessed the landing first hand.

Due to restricted air space over the ship both aircraft had to use the same landing spot therefore the flight deck team had their work cut out for them removing the first aircraft from the deck before the second came in.

Canberra’s Flight Deck Officer, Lieutenant Paul Coxell said the first landings where a significant event for both the aviation department and the ship as a whole.

“It is the first time in over 30 years that Navy has had such a platform that enables air operations on a grand scale, with six landing spots and a hangar with workshops able to accommodate multiple aircraft.
Not only was this the first landing of an aircraft on the ship, but for many of the aviation department it’s their first time at sea and also the first time since the completion of their training that they have experienced landing an aircraft on a ship.
It was an exciting moment and an event that will be written into the history books for the entire aviation department.

While a significant step forward, this is also just the start for Canberra’s Air Department with the focus now swiftly moving into deck handling and ‘first of class’ flight trials to begin the more complex task of certification.

The two aircraft remained onboard Canberra for the commissioning ceremony last Friday, 28 November and are scheduled to return to HMAS Albatross in the coming week.

Click to expand...