Russia Pushes "Project 1166.1" Frigate For Bangladesh Navy

 

Russia has completed the construction of two frigates of the Cheetah Class of the Vietnamese Navy and will also supply two ships of this class in Bangladesh, as Rafi Fatychow, spokesman for the shipyard Zelenodolsk announced.

Vietnamese Navy Frigate "Dinh Tien Hoang".

"It is by working co-operation with the Republic of Bangladesh. "Rosoboronexport" (the government of Russia for military equipment exporter - Red.) Negotiates about possible deliveries of ships 3.9 (Project 11661). For now, it comes to the delivery of two ships ", remarked Fatychow.

"The shipyard builds Selenodolsk two frigates of the project 3.9 for the Vietnamese naval forces. At the moment the order has been fulfilled, it will be installed weapons "Fatychow said on Tuesday at the forum" maritime industry ", held in Moscow from 19 to 21 May told RIA Novosti.

In addition, Russia is negotiating with Bangladesh for the supply of frigates "Cheetah 3.9" to this republic.

Frigates 3.9 of Cheetah class are an export version of the guard vessels of the project 11661, which will be built in the shipyard Zelenodolsk in the Russian republic of Tatarstan.

The project 11661, also known as Cheetah class, is a class of frigates russischen- and Vietnamese Navy.

PAF To Get Extra Military Hardwares From USA

A recent post from defence.pk suggests that Pakistan will get some crucial military hardwares from various US sources. These includes:

I. 8 Block 52+ F-16 C Fighting Falcons fighter

Pakistani F-16 Block 52+ Fighting Falcons.

II. 3 Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate

Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate infographic.

III. Requested the sale of AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters to replace the AH-1F/S Cobras 

 

A devastatingly handsome (and lethal) beast, AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters.

It is likely that Pakistan will exercise the option for the total 18 extra F-16s or buy more surplus ones from the US. Many would say this as the diplomacy of the COAS, but still there something to observe.  Pakistan those AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters, because for both type of war scenario of Pakistan Army, in the east or north-west, they need these attack birds very urgently. 

Recently Pakistan approaches firmly with Russian firms to acquire Mil Mi-35 HIND-E attack choppers in a countable number from Russia.

 

Philippines To Upgrade Navy Base Facing Disputed Waters

The Philippines is to upgrade a navy base facing disputed South China Sea waters to serve the extra ships being acquired to protect its territory, the military said Thursday.

Navy spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Fabic said the military would build a 500-million-peso ($11.2 million) port at Ulugan Bay, the Philippine military base nearest to the Spratly Islands.

“It is being programmed for capability upgrade ... we need to develop it to house the big vessels of the navy,” he told reporters.

Philippine sailors stand in front of the newly-commissioned Hamilton-class cutter Gregorio del Pilar in Manila on Dec. 14, 2011. The Philippines plans to upgrade a navy base facing disputed South China Sea waters to serve the extra ships being acquired to protect its territory, the military said Thursday. (Ted Aljibe / AFP/Getty Images

President Benigno Aquino is set to visit the base on May 20 to launch the upgrading, Fabic added.

The base on the west coast of Palawan Island is the headquarters of naval forces guarding the waters on the west of the archipelago.

In recent years, the Philippines has been locked in an increasingly tense standoff with China involving disputed reefs and islands in the Spratlys and other areas of the South China Sea.

Under a program designed to improve the capability of one of Asia’s weakest military forces, the Philippines has been acquiring naval vessels to create what the government described as a “credible deterrent” to protect its territorial integrity.

The navy has acquired two refurbished American coastguard frigates in the past two years, and they now lead patrols in the South China Sea.

The navy wants to acquire up to six more to guard the country’s long coastline effectively, armed forces chief of staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista announced in January.

In 2012 the Gregorio del Pilar, one of the two refurbished frigates, confronted Chinese ships on Scarborough Shoal, a small outcrop just off the coast of the country’s main island of Luzon.

The Chinese eventually gained control of the outcrop after Manila backed down. However, the Manila government sought UN arbitration to settle the dispute, a move rejected by China.

Last month the Philippines lodged a protest after the Chinese coast guard allegedly attacked Filipino fishermen off the shoal with water cannon on Jan. 27. Beijing rejected the protest.

China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, including waters near the coasts of its neighbors.

PLAN Type 054A Jiang-Kai

 by Chris King

I used the DML/Dragon USS Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate hull as the basis for this model. The hull was extensively modified to create the proper shape, with various parts coming from my spares box. 

Aft-deck of frigate Yi Yang (548). In this image, US Navy sailors are boarding to meet prior to conducting a bilateral counter-piracy exercise. Visible on the flight deck is a Harbin Z-9 helicopter

 The Type 054A (NATO codename: Jiangkai-II Class) is the new-generation multirole missile frigate developed from the Type 054 (Jiangkai Class), incorporated with improved weapon systems and sensors. The frigate is being built by the Shanghai-based Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard and Guangzhou-based Huangpu Shipyard, both part of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). 

13th Escort Taskforce of the Chinese Navy arrived in Valletta, Malta type054a frigate missile piracy

 So far a total of four hulls have been commissioned: Xuzhou (530), Zhoushan (529), Huangshan (570), and Chaohu (568). The first and third hull were built by the Huangpu Shipyard, and the second and fourth by the Hudong-zhonghua Shipyard. The fifth and sixth hulls were identified in the two shipyards in late 2008. 

 

PLAN-Jiangkai

The Type 054A was designed primarily for air defence role, featuring a medium-range air defence missile system with a 32-cell vertical launch system (VLS) on the bow deck. The frigate is also capable of anti-surface strike with its YJ-83 anti-ship missiles.

The frigate Zhou Shan (529) Moored on the Huangpu River in Shanghai

 Like the Type 054, the Type 054A incorporates a number of stealthy features in its hull design, including the sloped side to minimise radar cross section and the reduced profiles of external features. The helicopter deck at the stern has a single landing spot for a medium size helicopter, such as the Russian Kamov Ka-28 Helix, or the indigenous Harbin Z-9C. The deck is fitted with the helicopter handling system. The vessel has a full displacement of 4,500 tonnes. 

Missiles

 

The primary surface strike weapon system is the YJ-83 sea-skimming anti-ship cruise missile. Two quadruple launchers are installed at the mid-ship position. The missile uses active radar-homing to deliver a 165kg warhead to a range in excess of 180km. 

 

C-802-Cruise-Missile-Zhenguan-Studio-1S

The principal air defence weapon system is a 32-cell VLS developed by Luoyang Electro-Optics Technology Development Centre (EOTDC). The exact model of the air defence missile is unknown, but some reports have suggested that it may be the 38km-range Russian 9M317 (NATO codename: SA-N-12) Shtil semi-active radar-homing medium-range SAM, or its Chinese copy reportedly designated HongQi-16 (HQ-16). 

Unconfirmed reports suggested that the VLS could also launch an anti-submarine missile designated Yu-8. The missile carries an acoustic-homing torpedo, possibly developed from the Yu-7 (Mk-46 copy). 

Guns

 

A single-barrel 76mm gun (possibly Russian AK-176 copy) is installed on the bow deck, in front of the VLS. 

The frigate is equipped with two Chinese indigenous Type 730 seven-barrel 30mm CIWS to provide short-range air defence. The Type 730 CIWS has a maximum rate of fire of 4,600~5,800 rounds/min and a maximum range of 3,000m. The gun is controlled by the Chinese-made TR47C fire-control radar and an electro-optic director, both mounted on the roof of the gun turret. 

There are two Type 87 six-tube anti-submarine rocket launchers installed on the bow deck, with 36 rockets (240mm calibre, 34kg warhead). The maximum range is 1,200m. 

Sensors

 

The sensors of the Type 054A Jiangkai-II class are mainly Russian designs, produced either by licensed co-production or reverse-engineering of the systems obtained along with the Project 956 Sovremenny class missile destroyers. 

The air search radar is a Fregat-MAE-5 (NATO reporting name: Top Plate) 3D air search radar mounted at the top of the front mast, offering two channels in E-band. The radar can track up to 40 targets simultaneously, and has a maximum range of 120km to aircraft and 50km to sea-skimming missile. 

Four MR90 (NATO reporting name: Front Dome) F-band radars (two on top of the bridge, two on the roof of the helicopter hanger) provide guidance for the air defence missiles. Originally designed to provide fire-control for the 9M317/SA-N-7 Shtil SAM, each radar can provide two channels to guide two missiles simultaneously. 

A large round radome installed on top of the bridge houses the Mineral-ME (NATO reporting name: Band Stand) radar that provides anti-ship missile control and over-the-horizon radar acquisition and target designation of surface ships. 

The ship has three indigenous Type 347G I-band radars, two of which are integrated with the Type 730 CIWS to provide fire-control and a standalone radar is installed on top of the bridge behind the large round radome provides fire-control for the 76mm main gun. There is also a large round radome mounted at the top of the rear mast, possibly housing a MR36 (Type 346?) surface search radar. 

Countermeasures

 

The ship is equipped with two 18-tube multiple rocket launchers at the mid-ship position. They are thought to be used to launch decoys/chaffs. The round radome installed on top of the helicopter hanger and few smaller round radomes are believed to house electronic warfare antennas. 

Propulsion

 

The propulsion is a combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) arrangement. The system is based on four SEMT Pielstick (now MAN Diesel SA) 16 PA6V-280 STC diesel engines.

Recent Chinese exports in helicopter and ships

In my review of 2012, I mentioned recent Chinese exports as one of the overlooked areas in recent Chinese news. More than anything, China has been having a lot of success exporting smaller ships and helicopters. I have captured a series of photos from various Chinese shipyards this year for export orders. They do not include all of the ships that they've launched or handed over this year, but we will go through that in the second part.

First, we have the missile boat that was built for the Pakistani Navy. One was built in Tianjin shipyard as shown below and the other was built in Pakistan.

Next, we currently have a littoral patrol craft built for Bangladesh Navy. Two Such LPCs are built for BN and they were launched about a month apart from the WuChang shipyard.

Most recently, we have seen Patrol Boat for Malta. They have received quit a lot of order for patrol boats and FACs from African countries in the recent years.

And this is a patrol ship that WuChang shipyard built for Namibia. This has already finished sea trials and been delivered already.

Next, we have 3 ships that were part of PLAN that is undergoing work to be transferred to Myanmar Navy. They are 2 Jianghu class frigates (554 & 557) and Type 037 class ship 772. I believe 771 is also getting transferred to PLAN. At this point, it's most likely that these ships are transferred rather than sold, but still good to have Myanmar Navy using Chinese equipments that will rely on Chinese supplies/part for weapon system.

Other than these ships, I have also recorded these additional exports of helicopters and naval ships from the past year or so.

• Late 2011, 4 patrol boats (FACs) for Ghana
• Late 2011, 6 H425 for Bolivia
• Jan 2012, 12 AC-312 (Z-9) for Cambodia
• March 2012, 2 (535, 536) retrofitted Jianghu for Bangladesh
• March 2012, Z-11 production in Argentina
• April 2012, 2 OPVs for Nigeria
• May 2012, 3 F-22A for Algeria
• Nov 2012, 4 more F-22Ps for Pakistan
• Nov 2012, Z-9 for Zambia

So There have been quite a few success stories. This is something that I will follow up and update on next year. Chinese shipyards are doing really well in this low end naval/security ship market. Chinese helicopter companies are also doing a good job of selling Z-9s and Z-11s to third world countries. I think they are probably taking market share away from Russians and some Europeans. This is a trend that I expect to continue in the coming years.

Myanmar Navy can't compete with Bangladesh's

Force comparison between BN and MN


............................BN.................MN

Frigates:.................5................. 4

Missile
Corvette:................4.................2

Offshore
patrol
vessel:..................11................. NA


Fast
Attack
Craft (Missile)........9.................11


Fast
Attack
Craft
(Anti Submarine... 4................. 9
Warfare)


Fast
Attack
Craft ............ 8................. NA
(Torpedo)


Fast
Attack
Craft (Gun)...........9.................14


Large Patrol
Craft :.................5.................2


Rapid Response
Boat:..................16................. NA


Mine Warfare:......5................. 2


Amphibious
Warfare:.............11................. 5

Auxilaries:............15.................8


apart from that,Mayanmar has large collection of various Patrol boats and crafts..source Wiki...

China Constructing More Than Twenty Type 056 Frigates

Looks like they are mainly for South China Sea operations, due to their light displacement.

Last August the Chinese Navy received its first Type 056 corvette. After extensive testing at sea, this ship (hull number 582) entered service on February 24th. There are at least twenty more 056s under construction and 4-5 more will enter service this year. These ships appear to be playing a crucial role in Chinese efforts to seize control of the South China Sea.

The Type 056s are 1,400 ton ships armed with four C-903 anti-ship missiles (200 kilometers range), a FL-3000N anti-aircraft missile (nine kilometers range) launcher (with eight missiles), two 30mm remotely controlled autocannon and one 76mm gun. The ship has air and sea search radars plus a helicopter platform in the rear and will be used mainly for coastal patrol. The ship is highly automated and has a crew of only 60.

The 056s will replace an aging fleet of Type 053 class frigates. It was one of these ships (the Dongguan) that ran aground on a reef off the Philippines coast near Half Moon Shoal two years ago. This happened 111 kilometers from the Philippines (Palawan Island) and over 1,100 kilometers from the Chinese mainland. Letting a 2,400 ton warship (carrying a crew of 200) move around in these shallow and treacherous waters at night was asking for trouble. The waters west of the Philippines (including all the reefs, shoals, atolls, and islets claimed by China) are shallow and full of obstacles just under the water. Even shallow draft fishing boats proceed carefully and usually just in daylight. GPS and recent efforts to fully map (chart) the area have made it safer but only for those who proceed with care. China eventually got the Dongguan off the reef. A Type 056, which has a shallower draft and more modern navigation systems, would probably not have gone aground in the first place.

China recently upgraded the Dongguan and the other five Type 053H1G frigates, apparently in order keep them in service for another decade or more. Originally built in the 1990s, the six Type 053H1G ships were the last of 53 Type 053s built over about twenty years. Based on the older Russian Riga class frigate, the Chinese expanded the original 1,400 ton Riga (armed with depth charges, three 100mm guns, and torpedoes) design, to a missile laden 2,500 ton vessel equipped with modern electronics. The few Type 053s still in service are mainly used for coastal patrol. But the 053 design grew too large for this job, and the smaller Type 056 sets that right. 

Thales Signs Contract to Equip Additional FREMM Frigates

NEUILLY-SUR-SEINE, France: Thales has signed a contract to equip France’s additional three FREMM frigates with radar, infrared search and track, sonar and communications systems - bringing to 11 the number of French multi-mission frigates the company will supply.

“This latest contract reinforces Thales’s position as a key partner in developing the most advanced naval warfare systems available and further strengthens FREMM’s future,” said Pierre-Eric Pommellet, Thales Senior Vice President in charge of Defence Mission Systems, during the signature with Bernard Planchais, DCNS Executive Vice-President.

FREMM is the European programme for multi-mission frigates, launched in 2005 by France and Italy. Run by OCCAR (European joint armaments cooperation organisation), the objective of this programme is to replace existing navy frigates with new 6,000-tonne frigates, equipped with cutting-edge warfare systems.

French Defence Minister Hervé Morin announced in October 2009 that France had ordered these three additional navy frigates, bringing its total order to 11, alongside 6 frigates already ordered by Italy.

The newly signed contract takes into account new allocations for the FREMM frigates, namely 9 anti-submarine (ASM) versions and 2 anti-air versions (FREDA).

The Thales-Elettronica joint venture, SIGEN, oversees the provision of next generation electronic warfare systems under a separate set of contracts. As part of this partnership, Thales supplies FREMM frigates with detection, scrambling, and decoy systems for detecting threats, interceptingcommunications, and providing self-defence.

Prime contracting duties for FREMM are handled by DCNS in France, and by Orrizonte Sistemi Navali in Italy.

Thales is a global technology leader for the Aerospace and Space, Defence, Security and Transportation markets. In 2009, the company generated revenues of 12.9 billion euros with 68,000 employees in 50 countries. With its 25,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements. Thales has an exceptional international footprint, with operations around the world working with customers as local partners.

Photo of the day: PLAN’s 7th Task Force and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) sharing the same berth in Singapore.