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Australia awards BAE, Saab and NSM for Anzac Class Frigates maintenance and upgrade contract

Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne announced on March 2; the Defence Department has signed a $1.2 billion deal with a consortium of local companies to maintain and upgrade Australia’s eight frigates.

The new contract narrows a $2 billion, eight-year agreement with BAE Systems, Saab Australia and Naval Ship Management (NSM). Naval Ship Management (Australia) Pty. Ltd. is a Joint Venture between UGL and Babcock, established to execute the ANZAC Class Maintenance Contracts.

Mr Pyne said the follow-on contract would ensure the jobs of almost 1700 workers across the country, with facilities in Sydney, Adelaide and Williamstown also receiving work.

“This strategic partnership will see highly skilled jobs secured around the country, including in small and medium-sized businesses,” Mr Pyne said.

The Anzac class is based on the German Meko 200 frigate design with eight ships constructed in Australia for the Royal Australian Navy.

Anzac class is a long-range frigate capable of air defence, surface and undersea warfare, surveillance, reconnaissance and interdiction. The ships are fitted with an advanced package of air and surface surveillance radars; omni-directional hull mounted sonar and electronic support systems that interface with the state-of-the-art 9LV453 Mk3E combat data system. They can counter simultaneous threats from aircraft, surface vessels and submarines.

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Leander concept for Royal Navy Type 31e Frigate

Cammell Laird and BAE Systems have teamed up to compete for the Type 31e frigate programme with their ‘Leander’ concept. Cammell Laird will be the prime contractor with BAES providing the design and systems integration expertise.

Forming the centrepiece of the MoD’s National Shipbuilding Strategy, the Type 31e programme envisages the fast-track acquisition of a globally deployable but affordable frigate geared towards maritime security and defence engagement operations. A ceiling price of GBP250 million (USD350 million) per ship has been set for the first batch of five frigates, which are intended to enter RN service from 2023 to replace the five general purpose-roled Type 23 frigates.

CL project director, Tony Graham said “In order to win this competition, we must be better, cheaper and faster than anyone else… fundamentally, we recognised that this ship has to work straight out of the box” MoD is expected to award the Type 31e contract in March 2019 and if the Leander bid was successful it could see steel cutting beginning on Merseyside in March 2020.

The Leander design is evolved from the 3 Khareef-class corvettes built by BAE Systems in Portsmouth for the navy of Oman under a £400M contract between 2009-2014

BAE Systems to demonstrate Type 31e design at DIMDEX 2018

Visitors to DIMDEX, the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition & Conference, which is being held from 12-14 March in Doha, Qatar, will be able to see BAE Systems’ proposed design for the Type 31e frigate competition in the UK.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88VUe98dSNI

BAE Systems has brought together its warship design and engineering capability and combat systems expertise with Cammell Laird, the commercial shipbuilder, in a Teaming Agreement to bid for the contract to deliver Type 31e, the UK’s adaptable general purpose frigate.

A key part of the Type 31e programme is configuring the new frigate and its Combat Management System to be attractive to potential international customers and DIMDEX is the first time BAE Systems is showcasing its proposed design outside the UK.

With a proposed top speed in excess of 25 knots and a range of more than 7,500 miles, BAE Systems’ design is equipped with some of the most modern and effective weapons systems available, and has been designed to operate in international waters, including the Gulf. It is capable of operating both independently for significant periods and as part of a task group, offering enormous value in bringing together allied maritime nations.

United Kingdom has finally decided to order a seventh Astute Class Submarine

The Ministry of Defence has announced it will sign a contract for Astute boat seven.

According to the Ministry of Defence; the United Kingdom has finally decided to order a seventh boat, and the contract with BAE will be formalized this year.

Negotiations are ongoing and the contingent liabilities will come into force on signature of the contract.

The Departmental Minute describes the Contingent Liability that the MOD will hold as a result of placing the Astute Boat 7 ‘Whole Boat’ Contract, which will provide for the production and testing of the Vessel. The maximum contingent liability against the MOD is unquantifiable and will remain until the Out of Service Date of the submarine.

Within the Boat 7 contract, BAE Systems Marine Ltd limit their exposure to Product Liability to £1 billion per incident and £300 million in any 12-month period. This limits the contractor’s exposure for claims by the MOD for losses associated with the product being defective or deficient, and creates an exposure for MOD to third party claims against the contractor for losses associated with the product being defective or deficient. It is the view of the Department that the likelihood of any claim is remote.

Plasan signs contract with BAE Systems to provide armour for the Type 26 Frigate fleet

Israeli firm Plasan announced that they have signed a contract with BAE Systems, to provide armour for the Type 26 Frigate fleet.

The new Type 26 Frigate designed and built by BAE Systems is the new class selected for the replacement of eight anti-submarine frigates of the Duke class currently in service with the Royal Navy.

Plasan is expected to begin the production of armour for the first three vessels of the class this year under the arrangement.

Official press release here

BAE Systems awarded 40 Mk4 Naval Gun contract for Finland

BAE Systems will produce and deliver Bofors 40 Mk4 Naval Guns for the Finnish Navy and its Hamina Class Squadron 2000 fast attack craft, under a contract with Patria, the prime contractor for the vessel’s mid-life upgrade and overhaul program.

With this contract, Finland adds the 40 Mk4 to its installed base of BAE Systems naval guns, including both previous versions of 40-millimeter (mm) L/70 systems and 57-mm Mk3 systems.

The low weight and compact Bofors 40 Mk4 gun system with its high rate of fire and ability to switch between optimized ammunition types – including the intelligent 40mm 3P all-target ammunition – provides high survivability and tactical freedom at all levels of conflict.

In addition to Finland, more than 10 countries currently use BAE Systems Bofors 40-mm guns.

You can read BAE Systems press release here

Rolls-Royce to supply propellers and mission bay technology for UK Type 26 Frigate

Rolls-Royce has signed two contracts with BAE Systems to supply low-noise propellers and mission bay handling technologies for the UK Royal Navy’s new Type 26 Global Combat Ship.

The contracts cover the first three ships – the first of which is currently under construction at the BAE Systems shipyard in Glasgow.

The Type 26 is designed with modularity and flexibility in mind and a key feature which sets it apart from competing designs is its mission bay. The Rolls-Royce Mission Bay Handling System, will enable efficient movement of craft and containerised mission packages within the mission bay. It also features a launch and recovery capability.

Each ship will feature two Rolls-Royce fixed bolted propellers, designed for extremely low underwater-radiated noise, suited to the ships’ key role of anti-submarine warfare.

You can read Rolls Royce press release here.

BAE Systems selected to help U.S. Navy SPAWAR identify and track threats

The U.S. Navy has selected BAE Systems to provide equipment and support services for Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic (SPAWAR).

Work under the contract will help SPAWAR’s Joint Warfare Support Division to field, adapt, and optimize a variety of mission critical surveillance and sensor systems. Services will include systems integration, test and evaluation, training, certification, maintenance, life-cycle management, and technical field service support. The total value of all orders to be awarded over the life of the IDIQ is estimated at $180 million.

You can read the details here on official press release…

U.S. Navy awards BAE Systems contract to modernize USS Philippine Sea

BAE Systems has received a $9.6 million contract from the U.S. Navy to modernize the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58).

The ship will undergo 10 months of work at the company’s Jacksonville, Florida, shipyard and at nearby Naval Station Mayport. This docking selected restricted availability (DSRA) contract includes options that, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value to approximately $72 million.

“We have extensive experience with the Navy’s Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruisers and specifically with the Philippine Sea,” said Todd Hooks, general manager of BAE Systems Jacksonville Ship Repair. “We will utilize our cruiser experience to accomplish the DSRA and return the ship back to the fleet ready for continued service.”

The USS Philippine Sea was commissioned in March 1989. Work on board the 567-foot-long ship is expected to begin in April and be completed in February 2019. The company’s Jacksonville shipyard currently employs about 540 people.

BAE Systems to provide U.S. Navy with modernized Mk 45 guns

The U.S. Navy has awarded BAE Systems a $46.8 million contract option to deliver four additional Mk 45 Naval Guns.

The contract modification calls for upgrading existing guns to the Mod 4 configuration to increase the firepower and extend the range of the weapons. This modification to the initial 10-gun contract brings the full value of the award to $176.8 million for the 14 guns.

The Mk 45 Mod 4 provides NSFS range of more than 20 nautical miles (36 km) with the Navy’s new 5-inch Cargo projectile and an improved propelling charge.

Work on the Mk 45 Mod 4 conversions will be performed at the BAE Systems’ facility in Louisville, Kentucky, with support from the company’s supplier base, and is expected to be complete by 2021.

You can read BAE Systems press release here