Is Iran building an Aircraft Carrier?!

Iran is building a 1/3rd replica of a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier to use in a movie called "Airbus", which narrates the story of the ill-fated Iran Air Flight 655.

Iran Building a Mock-Up of US Nimitz Class Super-Carrier

What is interesting about this simple prop is the attention it's getting. More than one news site claimed it's actually built for military propose, primarily to serve as a simulation target. A few went as far as claiming that Iran is building this to gain experience about carrier building.

Whoever producing this movie, probably never anticipated they will get this kind of publicity.

Pennsylvania (SSBN-735): Saga of an Incredible One's (Part-II)

After "Part-I"....

A torpedoman is checking the fire control console in the torpedo room of the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735).

A torpedoman is checking the number two torpedo tube on board the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735).

Sailors man the periscopes on board the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735). One is the spotting scope and the other is the shoot scope.

A sailor mans the main conole of the ships Ballast Control Panel on board the nuclear-powered ballistic submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735), November 1995.

A view looking aft from the fairweather sail of the nuclear-powered ballistic submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) as the ship cruises off the coast of Georgia. The American flag is shown flying from the bridge staff, November 1995.

Port side view of the fore section of the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) underway off the coast of Georgia, November 1995.

An aerial starboard bow view of the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) underway, November 1995.

Submarine Centennial Day Proclamation, 11 April 2000, signed by the Governor of the State of Pennsylvania in honoring the State's namesake, Pennsylvania (SSBN-735).

The Ohio class ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) arrives at its new homeport, Naval Submarine Base, Bangor, Wash. on 17 October 2002, after transiting from the Navy's submarine base in Kings Bay, Ga. Strategic deterrence has been the sole mission of the fleet ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) since its inception in 1960. The SSBN provides the nation's most survivable and enduring nuclear strike capability.

Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) coal theme card / commemorative post mark on the occasion of Pennsylvania's 15th year on station, 9 September 2004.

The Naval Intermediate Maintenance Facility (IMF), Bangor completed its 500th TRIDENT refit on 4 June 2004, for the Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) at Naval Submarine Base, Bangor.
This important milestone consisted of more than 36,000 production man-hours and 600 jobs performed on the submarine to accomplish planned incremental overhaul and repairs. The four-week long TRIDENT submarine refits have been accomplished at Bangor ever since the arrival of the Ohio (SSBN-726) in July 1982. IMF (formerly the TRIDENT Refit Facility) was built specifically for the purpose of maintaining the fleet at Bangor and was the model used for TRIDENT Refit Facility, Kings Bay, Georgia.
IMF has expertise in hull, mechanical, electrical, electronics, and weapons systems repair and continually responds to meet the fleet's maintenance and repair needs with on-time, cost-effective and quality service.
"It's an honor to be here at IMF as we celebrate the 500th Trident refit at Bangor." said CAPT Thomas H. Barge II, commanding officer of IMF. "Even as we mark this special event, we should remember that we got here by more than twenty years of quiet excellence, IMF civilian employees and Fleet Sailors working day-in and day-out to keep the TRIDENT Fleet ready for operations at sea."

An american submarine (Trident) leaving Pearl Harbor for commencement in Exercise RIMPAC 2004. The naval assets for RIMPAC 2004 included four U.S. Pacific Fleet nuclear-powered attack submarines, Key West (SSN-722), Louisville (SSN-724), Charlotte (SSN-766), and Olympia (SSN-717).
There are forward 5-inch countermeasures and no rear 6-inch countermeasures. If my knowledge is correct, the west coast boats had been converted to 6-inch prior to 2004 (or at least for the most part) which means that this picture is most likely of a prior east coast boat.......being either the Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) or the Kentucky (SSN-737). Also, the location of the aft draft reading typical of the east coast boats, the west coast ones usually have theirs a little more forward.

Overhead view of the Ohio class ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735), with sailors spelling out the word "Fifty" as they return to Naval Base Kitsap, Navy Region Northwest on Whidbey Island, WA. 20 July 2005.
Pennsylvania has just completed its 50th Patrol at sea and a significant moment in history for the submarine.

Gen. James Cartwright, Commander, U.S. Strategic Command; Cmdr. Dave Knapp, Commanding Officer, Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) (Gold); John Whisler, Jr. - CEO of Leo Daly architectural firm located in Omaha, Neb.; Cmdr. Michael Dobbs, Commanding Officer, Pennsylvania (Blue); Rear Adm. Frank M. Drennan, Commander, Submarine Group 9 and Captain Scott B. Bawden, Commander, Submarine Squadron 17 stand with crewmembers of Pennsylvania and the Olympic mountains in the background during the presentation of the Omaha Trophy at Silverdale, WA, 25 July 2005. The trophy was given to Pennsylvania for being the "best of the best" Trident submarine in 2004.

Chief Culinary Specialist Bryan Syster, culinary specialist division leading chief petty officer of the ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) Gold crew, takes a 40-pound odor barrier bag of plastic saved during the most recent patrol to shore for disposal on 12 May 2008. Pennsylvania is the first ballistic missile submarine to go underway with the new zero plastic waste discharge instruction and successfully saved nearly 2000 pounds of plastic.

The Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) returns to its homeport of Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor following sea trials on 19 September 2012.

Pennsylvania (SSBN-735): Saga of an Incredible One's (Part-I)

Cut out of the Ohio Class submarine.

The Launching & Christening Ceremony of the Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) on 23 April 1988.

Pennsylvania (SSBN-735), under construction at the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT. 1988.

Louisville (SSN-724) slides down the building ways at the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics, Groton, CT., 14 December 1985. The nearly complete boomer in the background is the Tennessee (SSN-734). The other parts belong to the Pennsylvania (SSBN-735).

The officers and crew of the Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) stand on her bow during her after her launching at the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT., 23 April 1988. The partly completed West Virginia (SSBN-736) appears on the left.

Pennsylvania (SSBN-735), probably during her alpha sea trials off the Atlantic coast, 1988-89.

Capt. Norman Cram, chaplain, delivers the invocation during the commissioning ceremony of the nuclear-powered strategic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735).

Guests depart from the deck of the nuclear-powered strategic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) following the vessel's commissioning ceremony on 9 September 1989.

Acrylic on canvas painting by the artist William H RaVell III entitled 'Pennsylvania (SSBN-735)'. It is currently hanging in the boat's Ward Room.

A view of an enlisted berthing area aboard the nuclear-powered strategic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735), 9 September 1989, at New London, CT. The lower bunk at center has been propped up to show the gear storage space located beneath it.

Scaffolding surrounds the sail structure of the nuclear-powered strategic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) while the submarine undergoes maintenance at the Trident Refit Facility dry dock at Kings Bay, Georgia on Mar 1992.

Crewmen gather on the deck of the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) as the ship prepares to depart for sea from the Naval Submarine Base.
Note the "Lower all masts and antennas" sign in the nearby facility, November 1995.

Low oblique stern view of the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) departing the Kings Bay Submarine Base under escort of two commercial tugboats.

A view of the complexity of the Ballast Control Panel on board the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735).

A view taken through the spotting periscope of the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) showing the ship's stern, November 1995.

A view looking forward from the top of the fairweather sail of the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) as the ship steams off the United States coastline. A lookout uses binoculars to scan the horizon.

Members of the ship's security force of the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) carry out a security drill. Note all personnel are wearing gas masks.

Quartermaster Second Class (QM2) Warrick checks the navigational chart at the plotting table in the ship's control center of the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735).

Personnel are shown manning their post at the Fire Control Station of the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Pennsylvania (SSBN-735).

To be continued to the "Part-II"....

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.