20 juin 2019 | International, Naval
By: Otto Kreisher
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A panel of senior Navy civilian officials said the planning efforts for the future combat fleet was focused on making the fleet more flexible, interoperable and lethal.
There also is an emphasis on open architecture to make it easier, quicker and cheaper to upgrade combat systems, they said. Those priorities would reduce the cost of sustaining the fleet going forward, the officials said at the American Society of Naval Engineers' annual Technology, Systems & Ship symposium on June 19.
Michael Stewart, deputy director for integrated warfare systems, said his job was to look at the available capabilities across all the different surface platforms to make the fleet more capable and lethal. He also would ensure that all requirements going forward were clearly tied to the National Defense Strategy, since “we can't afford to fund everything.”
John Hootman, the deputy director for surface warfare, said he was looking at the architecture for the future surface combatants in the 2030-2040 timeframe, when the Ticonderoga-class cruisers and some of the early Arleigh Burke destroyers would be retiring. But, he said, “we can't know what we'll need until we know how we'll fight.” In response to a question, Hootman praised the creation of the Surface Development Squadron, which will help in that effort to determine how the future fleet would fight.
Hootman also emphasized the need to look at capabilities across the fleet, not at specific platforms, to promote commonality across the fleet, including a common combat system that could equip the whole range of surface combatants and even the amphibious ships. But that focus on common systems also could apply to the hull, mechanical and electrical elements of future ships. “The push for commonality is key.”
Another official extended that quest to communications systems, arguing that every different circuit in the fleet reduces capacity, flexibility and the ability to integrate operations in the strike group.
Steven Dries, filling in for Rear Adm. Steven Pardoe, director of integrated warfare, noted that the capabilities that ships would need in the future will change, which makes it all the more important to field systems that can be modernized with software changes, rather than having to tear out hardware. Hootman stressed the same thing as a way to more efficiently modernize ships and gain commonality. He also cited the savings in training sailors to operate and maintain systems that are common across platforms.
https://news.usni.org/2019/06/19/navy-mulling-how-to-make-surface-fleet-flexible-lethal
12 juin 2024 | International, Aérospatial
The U.S. military's V-22 Osprey enterprise will be slow to return to full operations as a wide-ranging review of its training and resources continues.
3 octobre 2018 | International, Naval
By: Pierre Tran PARIS — Naval Group, a French shipbuilder, sought to play down media reports of a potential collapse of talks for a major contract with Australia for 12 ocean-going submarines, with elections looming next year in the Commonwealth nation. “We are in the process of pursuing the strategic partnering agreement,” a Naval Group spokesman told Defense News. That agreement covers some 30 years and is an extremely close commitment, he added. “It is plain logic that that takes time,” he said. “We are not particularly worried. We remain confident." Naval Group is working under a 2016 design and mobilization contract on the Australian future submarine program, while negotiating the strategic partnering agreement. The latter is a critical contract which moves the French company closer to building the diesel-electric boats in Adelaide under an Australian $50 billion (U.S. $36 billion) deal. There is concern that failure to reach consensus on intellectual property and warranty conditions have held up a signing of the strategic partnering agreement, with time running out, Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported. “Negotiations on that document have stalled and it is feared they may not be resolved before next year's federal election,” ABC reported. Signing the strategic partnering agreement by the end of this year is needed to allow detailed design contracts to be finalized and building of the boats, the broadcaster reported. In Australia, Defense Minister Christopher Pyne sought to calm the waters with an Oct. 1 reply on social media. “There is no delay to the delivery of 12 Future Submarines. Negotiation of strategic partnering agreement is continuing & we will ensure we end up with an equitable & enduring agreement to deliver the capability our servicemen & women need, and get the best deal for Australian taxpayer.” Nigel Pittaway in Melbourne, Australia contributed to this report. https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/euronaval/2018/10/02/naval-group-talks-with-australia-still-underway-for-sub-buy
24 novembre 2020 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre
A l'occasion du Paris Air Forum, une table-ronde sur la question des exportations françaises a réuni Thierry Carlier, directeur du développement international à la Direction générale de l'armement (DGA), Philippe Keryer, directeur général adjoint, Stratégie, Recherche et Technologie chez Thales, Alexandre Ziegler, directeur de l'international et des relations institutionnelles de Safran, et Cédric Perrin, vice-président de la commission des affaires étrangères, de la défense et des forces armées du Sénat. Thierry Carlier souligne que l'exportation d'armements représente pour la France, qui est capable de fournir l'ensemble du spectre de matériel militaire, la manifestation d'une volonté politique et l'expression d'une politique étrangère. C'est aussi le moyen de garder les compétences et une industrie dans le pays : un point de vue partagé par Philippe Keryer, qui estime que l'exportation permet notamment de lisser les cadences et de rentabiliser l'innovation, tout en maintenant en France de l'emploi qualifié. Pour Alexandre Ziegler, il est indispensable de trouver des clients à l'étranger en l'absence de préférence européenne. Le sénateur Cédric Perrin insiste sur la nécessité de l'exportation pour garantir la pérennité de la BITD, indispensable à l'autonomie stratégique. Les intervenants se sont montrés optimistes sur le développement des programmes européens de défense : le lancement du SCAF ou de l'Eurodrone, notamment, permettront de mettre en place des règles communes, et de gagner en autonomie stratégique. La Tribune du 24 novembre