http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Jun16552/index.htm
Korea ­ Mk41 Vertical Launch Systems

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Jun16551/index.htm
UK New High-Tech Warship Enters Service

華盛頓記者林寶慶／三十日電
http://udn.com/NEWS/NATIONAL/NAT1/1417137.shtml

台灣一年前向美國提出申購四艘神盾戰系阿利勃克級導彈驅逐艦案，最近已獲美國海軍技術轉移暨安全協助審查會核准。但美國政府傾向暫不出售神盾艦給台灣。

據了解，美國政府傾向暫不出售的主要原因是鑒於台灣無法消化。四艘神盾戰系驅逐艦總共需要六十億美金，台灣目前的採購案已經落後，雖然台灣國防部提高軍事預算，但遭到行政院大幅削減。此外，台灣最近也並未積極促請美國出售。

美國政府前年已決定核准出售台灣神盾戰系，但當時未評估載台。

由於中共對台灣的威脅，台灣早已具備取得神盾戰系驅逐艦的要求。而美國轉移先進武器技術給台灣的一個主要考量是，美國一直假設出售給台灣的武器技術必定會落入中共之手。美國不希望將來得與自己的武器技術作戰。

(中央社記者陳正杰華盛頓一日專電)美國國防部今天宣布，美國海軍第九艘尼米茲級核子動力航空母艦ＣＶＮ７６「雷根號」的成軍典禮，將於七月十二日在維吉尼亞州諾福克軍港舉行。

國防部說，這艘以美國第四十任總統雷根為名的航空母艦，將配屬太平洋艦隊，以加州聖地牙哥為母港。同樣以聖地牙哥為母港的傳統動力航母「星座號」預定八月除役。

（中央社記者張芳明東京三日專電）日本為因應北韓的情勢，將撤回正在印度洋對進行反恐作戰的美軍等提供支援活動的神盾級艦，改派可搭載直升機的一般型護衛艦前往接替任務，這項新措施將使得去年十二月開始前往海外執行支援任務的這種具有極先進防空性能的軍艦結束半年多的海外任務而告一段落。

「朝日新聞」今天報導，日本防衛廳決定由印度洋撤回神盾級艦，主要理由是避免由於這項派遣使得日本近海出現完全沒有神盾級艦留守待命的「空白期間」來因應緊急事態而削減日本對北韓的警戒態勢與能力。

海上自衛隊目前有四艘神盾級艦，在四個艦隊中各配有一艘，其中一艘正在長期維修，另一艘去年十二月至今年五月完成在印度洋的反恐支援任務後已回國也在維修中，「金剛號」目前在印度洋負責護衛日本的補給艦。

報導指出，海上自衛隊若派最後一艘盾艦「妙高號」前往接替四月出航至印度洋而預定八月返航的「金剛號」的任務，則在交接移防期間，日本國內將出現全無盾艦留守的「空白期間」，對北韓發射導彈動向的監視和警戒將形成一大漏洞。

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13450-2003Jul5.html

Proposed Ship Speeds Into Gathering Storm

By Dan Morgan
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, July 6, 2003; Page A05

Navy officials moved quickly when Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld began prodding Pentagon chiefs for imaginative ways to transform the military to deal with new global threats. They promptly proposed a multibillion-dollar fleet of light, super-speedy ships that would look like nothing else in the Navys arsenal.

The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), designed to perform a host of missions along enemy coastlines, would meet many of Rumsfelds requirements, the Navy said: versatile enough to sniff out and destroy missiles hidden in Chinese harbors, to launch submarine-tracking helicopters and to intercept terrorists with small, fast boats.

But some congressional leaders and military analysts are saying not so fast to plans for the LCS and several other high-tech -- and high-cost -- weapons systems being proposed in the name of military transformation. Will they justify their price tags, they want to know, or will contractors and Pentagon brass exploit Rumsfelds initiative to deploy expensive new weapons systems without making the tough decision to eliminate existing equipment and systems.

Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett (R-Md.), who chairs the projection forces subcommittee of the Armed Services Committee, was taken aback at a recent hearing when a top Navy official acknowledged that rigorous analysis of the need for the LCS came mainly after the Navy decided to press for the program. Were concerned that the cart has been put before the horse in terms of procurement decisions, before theres an analytical justification, Bartlett said later. Before we commit any big amounts of money, well know where were going.

Other congressional panels also are pressing military officials to explain why submarines, tanks and guns that performed well in Iraq -- or weapons systems now coming on line -- cannot handle future threats. They want the Pentagon to identify more clearly the enemies the new weaponry is intended to confront.

Studies by congressional budget experts and outside analysts generally agree that U.S. commanders will not be able to afford all the new systems they have under development or on the drawing board. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that acquiring 60 LCS craft, for example, could cost at least $15 billion, more than half the annual budget of the National Institutes of Health.

Even bigger outlays would be required for the Armys signature Future Combat System -- which envisions dozens of light, fast-moving vehicles linked by sensors and computers -- and for the Air Forces Joint Strike Fighter.

The LCS proposal may serve as an early case study of the promise and pitfalls of Rumsfelds effort to overhaul the military. Military scholar Michael E. OHanlon of the Brookings Institution has called LCS one of the symbolic and key systems for those who favor transformation.

The House Appropriations Committee last month approved $158 million to start development in 2004 and indicated it was very supportive of the Navys concept. But it also expressed concern about the Navys approach in a report attached to the 2004 defense spending bill.

There is no definition of the requirement and no road map of how the Navy will achieve the system required, the report stated.

The Navy has promoted the LCS as relatively inexpensive, but that is true only by Pentagon standards. The estimated cost of each ship, with combat payload added, is about $250 million. That sum could fund all the federal governments arts and humanities efforts for one year.

The Bush administration has budgeted $4.1 billion for the program in its five-year defense plan.

Navy officials describe the LCS as a key member of a futuristic family of ships that includes a next-generation destroyer, the DD(X), and a guided missile cruiser, the CG (X). Six industry teams, including major defense contractors and all major shipyards, have proposed a number of breakthrough designs.

The Navy is studying a range of possible designs, several based on high-speed ferries used abroad. A team led by General Dynamics Corp. is proposing a trimaran-style hull. NorthropGrumman Corp. has offered a single-hull craft made of lightweight composite materials. The Pentagon soon will ask one or more of the teams to build a prototype.

The idea for a breed of small, fast ships was put forward in the 1990s by a group of Navy officials and defense intellectuals. They were looking ahead at the shallow-water missions and localized skirmishes in which the post-Cold War Navy was likely to be involved.

A speedy, lightly manned vessel, they believed, could clear out mines, submarines and other threats in shallow coastal waters. A coastal ship called Streetfighter was promoted by Capt. Wayne P. Hughes of the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., and Vice Adm. Arthur K. Cebrowski, then-president of the Naval War College in Newport, R.I.

A naval aviator who previously commanded the aircraft carrier USS Midway, Cebrowski was not wedded to the expensive, heavily manned ships of the Cold War. The LCS, Cebrowski has argued, would be well-suited to babysit the petri dish of festering problems we have around the world.

But according to a Congressional Research Service analysis, some in the Navy doubted that a ship as small as the Streetfighter could survive in combat. Most Navy leaders at the time appeared to politely resist the idea of the smaller combatant ship, it said.

When Rumsfeld tapped the retiring Cebrowski to direct the Pentagons new Office of Force Transformation in October 2001, the concept found a highly placed backer. A month later, Adm. Vern Clark, the chief of naval operations, embraced it.

Skepticism about the program continues to run deep in the Navy, where some senior officers worry the LCS will compete for limited funds against submarines, aircraft carriers, and even the future destroyers and cruisers needed to defend the smaller ships.

The Congressional Budget Office has warned that the Navys plans for expanding its surface fleet, based around the LCS and the next-generation destroyer and cruiser, could crowd out funding for other ship programs. To solve this budgetary problem, it suggested the Navy might consider delaying the mothballing of existing destroyers and cruisers, or even canceling the LCS program.

The [Navy] surface and aviation people think LCS is one of the dumbest ideas that has come down the road, one retired admiral said. If you buy LCS, youre not going to [be able to afford] something else. But I dont see what LCS does.

Ronald ORourke, a naval analyst with the Congressional Research Service, told a Navy symposium earlier this year that LCS was the product of an analytical virgin birth. . . . That is going to be a problem for this program down the road, according to a report in Defense Daily.

Senior submarine officers have told Congress confidentially that the LCS is not needed to hunt down diesel subs, such as those used by China, because Virginia-class submarines could do the job. The LCS could also create logistical challenges, they said, because it would not carry enough fuel for long distances without access to a tender.

A House-Senate report on the 2003 defense authorization act demanded to know why the Navy did not explore using submarines, helicopters, frigates and unmanned craft for missions in hostile coastal waters, before deciding on the LCS. It said the program had not been vetted through the Joint Requirements Oversight Council process, particularly regarding possible alternatives.

A Senate Armed Services Committee report issued in April was even blunter. The committee is concerned that the analysis underpinning the LCS requirement is not sufficient, it stated.

© 2003 The Washington Post Company

http://www2.chinesenewsnet.com/MainNews/Topics/cna-1b6f3875-4090043.html
華郵：美海軍研發近岸作戰艦引起議論

(中央社記者郭無患華盛頓六日專電)華盛頓郵報今天報導，美國國防部長倫斯斐敦促五角大廈將領要以富有想像力的方式推動軍事轉型，以面對新的全球威脅；這些軍事將領很快地提出經費高達數十億美元的輕型高速戰艦計畫，但是國會領袖和部分軍事分析家則認為，以轉型為名推動這種高科技、高成本的計畫，最好不要太快。

　　這種被初步命名為近岸作戰艦 Littoral CombatShip (LCS) 的計畫，是新發展一部能部署在敵人沿岸，符合倫斯斐所要求的新海軍艦隻，新作戰艦多才多藝，根據海軍方面的說法與舉例，它能聞得出藏在中國港口裡的飛彈，並將它們摧毀；它還能搭載追蹤潛艦的直升機，也能以小型快艇攔截恐怖份子

　　但一些國會領袖和軍事分析家表示，近岸作戰艦計畫和其他若干高科技、高成本的武器系統，都以軍事轉型為名提出來，應該還要再深入考慮、研究，快不得；如何處理現在已經在使用中的裝備和武器系統，就是一個大問題。

　　根據國會稽核局的初步研究，如果海軍採購六十艘近岸作戰艦，將要花費一百五十億美元，這個數字比衛生部所屬的國家衛生研究院一年預算的一半還多。而陸軍計劃中，能與感測裝置、電腦連結的輕型快速作戰車輛、空軍的聯合攻擊戰鬥機，花的錢也不在少數。　　雖然海軍說近岸作戰艦相對來說並不貴，但加上作戰系統和彈藥後，一艘大約兩億五千萬美元，這個數字是聯邦政府一年對藝術活動與人道協助的經費。

﹙中央社記者張淡浪馬德里九日專電﹚中國政府利用西班牙外長巴拉席歐在北京訪問的機會，向她表明中國反對西國伊薩（Izar）造船廠接受美國訂單為台灣建造八艘潛艇的立場；巴拉席歐僅表示，西政府尚未對是否接單建艇作出決定。

西國世界日報及國家報，今天均分別就巴拉席歐與中國總理溫家寶及外長李肇星會晤時論及上述議題，予以報導。世界報並引述中國駐西大使館官員談話，「中國政府反對與中國有外交關係的國家為台灣建造武器」，並強調「建艇行動無助中國的統一」。

報導指出，巴拉席歐對中國所提要求表示，西政府一向支持「一個中國」的理念，因此在決定是否製造潛艇時，將會仔細考量西國與中國及與台灣間的關係。她表示目前尚未對此作出決定。

(中央社台北十一日綜合報導)美國海軍官員透露，諾斯諾普格魯曼公司 (Northrop Grumman Corp.)與通用動力 (General Dynamics Corp.)未來如為台灣承造柴油動力潛艦時，洛克希德馬丁 (Lockheed MartineCorp.)與雷神 (Raytheon Co.)是兩家最有能力的合作夥伴。

美國布希政府在2001年時承諾對台灣出售八艘柴油潛艦，提供台灣防禦之用。目前中國大陸擁有六十九艘攻擊潛艦，台灣僅有四艘，潛艦軍力呈現失衡。

根據彭博社報導，美售台潛艦軍售案還包括反潛偵查機、四艘驅逐艦及飛彈等，不過這項軍事採購案，因仍在台灣立法院討論中而拖延，可能須待2004年或2006年時，經費才可能有著落。

PTI

JODHPUR: The process for building an indigenous aircraft carrier for the Indian navy has started at Kochi shipyard in Kerala, naval Chief Admiral Madhavendra Singh said here on Thursday.

The design of the aircraft carrier with displacement of 37,000 tonnes is ready and the construction project would commence at the shipyard next year, he told reporters here.

It would take about eight years for completion of the project, he said.

Singh said negotiations were also on with Moscow for acquiring a 45,000-tonne aircraft carrier and the deal was likely to be finalised by the end of the year.

Advocating strong naval defence Singh, said any nuclear country was most likely to rely on submarines to defend itself and added US, France, UK and Russia too placed their deterrence at sea.

Singh was in the town to participate in the birth centenary celebrations of late Maharaja of Jodhpur Ummed Singh.

---------
09.07.03, Interfax-AVN

Two Il-38 Airplanes from Russian Federation Naval Aviation to Be Upgraded
for Indian Navy

Two Il-38 from Russias naval air fleet will be upgraded for the Indian
navy, an informed source in Russian aircraft construction reported to
Interfax-AVN on Wednesday.

After the loss of two airplanes last year, India plans to obtain and
upgrade two airplanes from Russias naval air force line elements,the agency
source noted.

He recalled that previously, in September 2001, FGUP Rosoboronehksport, the
Ilyushin aviation complex and Indias Ministry of Defense signed an
agreement for 205 million dollars for the upgrade of five Il-38 airplanes.

The IF-AVN source reported that five Il-38 have made up the 315th Indian
naval aviation squadron since 1977.

The first flight of an upgraded Il-38N airplane with a mock-up of the
future Novella(Morskoy Zmey) navigational, search and attack complex was
made the spring of 2001. State tests have been underway since November 2002
of this complex, which are planned for completion before the end of this
year. The reequipping of the majority of the Il-38 airplanes in the naval
aviation inventory up to the Il-38N standard is envisioned at the 20th
aircraft repair plant in the city of Pushkin outside St. Peterburg.

Intended for equipping naval aircraft, the Novellasystem is capable of
detecting airborne targets at a distance up to 90 kilometers and surface
((targets)) up to 320 kilometers. At the same time, the system
simultaneously retains 32 targets in the field of view both above and
beneath the water. It is used for submarine, surface and aerial radar
surveillance and weapons targeting.

The Novellacomplex combines a digital computer with the control stations
for two operators, each of which is equipped with a 13-inch liquid crystal
display, and a commanders station, which is equipped with a large monitor.
All blocs are connected to each other via special buses. Such a solution
allows integrating special equipment according to the customers choice,the
agency source emphasized.

Officials from the Rubin Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering expect Saint Petersburg, the first Project 677 Lada-class diesel-electric submarine for the Russian Federation Navy, to begin sea trials in April 2004.

Bureau officials speaking to JNI in June 2003 said that Saint Petersburg is now 85% complete at the Admiralty Shipyard in St Petersburg, but acknowledged that the boats equipment acceptance programme had suffered some slippage.

According to Rubin, it is now planned to launch the Saint Petersburg in November this year. If any further delays are encountered, however, launch may be further delayed until April 2004 (after the Russian winter).

Construction of Saint Petersburg began in 1996. Characterised as a fourth-generation diesel-electric submarine, the single-hull design displaces 1,765t surfaced and can carry an outload of 18 weapons (including heavyweight torpedoes or the 3M-54E1 anti-ship missile associated with the Club-S missile system).

（中央社記者陳正杰華盛頓十二日專電）在美國陸戰隊擔任中尉軍官的華裔青年夏培元從伊拉克出生入死歸來之後，不但對加入軍旅毫不後悔，反而自信的表示，即使沒有軍隊的獎學金，他還是願意重來一次。

旅居馬里蘭州的夏培元說，在陸戰隊的四年光陰，是他一生最美好的時刻之一。

他希望能有更多華裔青年加入美軍行列，因為學習領導、犧牲和瞭解自由從何而來，對人的一生非常重要。二十六歲的夏培元也認為，軍旅講究同袍的情誼，民族融合的程度在美國社會可能是最徹底的一環。

但他也指出個人意願的重要性。他說，除非個人有強烈的從軍意願，部隊會成為最難過的地方。

夏培元的父親夏緒安在美國聯邦政府任職，旅美前曾在中華民國空軍服役。夏培元說，他們父子一向敬重軍人，他的父母從未要他加入軍旅，但這卻是他一直想做的事。

夏培元在長春藤名校賓夕凡尼亞大學就學期間，加入美國後備軍官訓練團 (ROTC)，學費由軍方提供，一九九九年畢業後，以少尉官階進入陸戰隊服役。

他在役期於今年七月底結束後，將轉入賓州或馬里蘭的法學院深造，但就在役期結束前幾個月，他隨陸戰隊第一師第七團第三營遠征伊拉克。

華府僑界聞人蔣達昌得知他勝利返鄉，選在今天為夏培元全家舉行午宴，另邀數十位夏家親友出席，慶祝夏培元平安歸來，也聽他講述戰地的經驗。

夏培元在接受記者訪問時，對有些人質疑美國出兵伊拉克的正當性不以為然。他相信美國最終將會找到伊拉克藏匿的大規模殺傷性武器，而且，他相信質疑者若有機會到伊拉克目睹美國軍人所看到的海珊政權暴行，必然會改變看法。

夏培元的職務是火砲聯絡官，負責為營部各步兵連協調地面和空中火力支援。他說，平時在加州「二十九棕櫚」的營地，每個月有一半的時間是在沙漠中進行實彈演練，今年初部署到科威特之後，更是每天操練到「大家都想不起來今天是星期幾」。

他說，結果是打仗感覺起來還不如演練辛苦。他舉例說，平常在演練時，長官會要他同時調度大砲、迫擊砲和空中火力，但在戰時，最多只曾出現需要調度其中兩種火力的情況。

儘管如此，在戰爭期間，還是有幾次驚心動魄的時刻。

第七團第三營是最早進入巴格達的美軍地面部隊之一，稍早也是最早在科伊邊界集結完畢的美軍單位之一。就在科伊邊界待命期間，這個營的一輛坦克就被美軍的直升機誤擊，幸好無人死亡。

誤擊事件發生後，長官傳達準備在半個小時之後跨越邊界的指令。此時，信奉基督教的夏培元以十五分鐘的時間禱告。

他回憶說，在部署科威特和戰爭期間，他最難忘的是心裡知道父母和弟弟隨時在為他擔心的感覺。另一件難忘的事，是他有五十四天沒有洗澡。

在戰場上，夏培元的工作崗位是一輛配置各種通訊設備的輕裝甲車。在沙漠裡，車內溫度可以達到攝氏五十度以上，遇到敵軍攻擊時，裝甲又最多只能抵擋輕型機槍的攻擊。

他很慶幸在三個多星期的戰鬥中，他搭乘的裝甲車只曾被輕型武器擊中，敵軍對他們發射的槍榴彈都從車旁掃過。

（中央社台北十三日電）位於俄羅斯遠東港口城市海參崴郊外的俄太平洋艦隊的彈藥庫，當地時間今天凌晨爆炸，存放在彈藥庫內約七十車皮的彈藥全部炸毀，造成十三人受傷，爆炸現場的大火到中午才被撲滅。

國際文傳電訊社援引俄太平洋艦隊新聞處提供的消息報導說，彈藥庫位於海參崴以北約七十公里處。彈藥庫內存放的是艦載小口徑炮炮彈。今天凌晨四點三十分，彈藥庫內響起連續不斷的劇烈爆炸聲。

2003.07.14 中國時報
雷根號下水服役
【本報訊】

美國海軍尼米茲級核子動力航空母艦「雷根號」，十二日在維吉尼亞州諾福克海軍基地正式下水服役。「雷根號」是美國海軍第一艘以仍在世的美國前總統之姓命名的航空母艦。現年九十二歲且阿茲海默氏症纏身的雷根並未出席典禮，而由其夫人南西到場代為致詞。

哈德威船廠出售 進入關鍵期

歐洲特派員陳玉慧／慕尼黑十二日電

法國泰勒斯軍火集團（Thales）有意買下德國哈德威潛艦公司，目前已進入派會計清查公司財產總值的階段。哈德威發言人指出，擁有大多數股份的美國財務集團ＯＥＰ（One Equity Partners）已決定拋售全部股份。

由於台灣海軍有意購買八艘非核潛艦，台灣海軍需要的正是哈德威生產的閉氣密室推進系統型潛艦，泰勒斯軍火集團除了購買哈德威意向鮮明，也正在積極與台北接觸。八月十四日泰勒斯集團將大規模參加在台北舉行的航空展。

美國財務集團ＯＥＰ去年才買下哈德威，接著也從德資巴寇克和普薩克公司買下所屬股份，幾個月前卻開始尋求買主。據可靠消息指出，法國國家造艦局（ＤＣＮ）最近幾周開始與ＯＥＰ交涉，表現非常積極，未來德法合作生產潛艦的可能性大增。

哈德威長期合作夥伴提森克魯伯公司和費羅鋼鐵公司意向不明，德國政府當初擔心潛艦技術外流，特別要求註明未來美方若要出售哈德威，這兩大周邊公司應有權優先買下哈德威各百分之十五股份，但目前這兩家公司已放棄優先購買權，此舉對美方有利，美方ＯＥＰ公司可任意向任何對象出售股份。

但在幾周前，提森克魯伯卻有意買回哈德威，向ＯＥＰ開價五億歐元。ＯＥＰ表示，去年是以八億五千萬歐元向德方買下股份，提森克魯伯的價錢「低得離譜」。外電近日傳出，法國國家造艦局向ＯＥＰ開價九億歐元。不過，到目前為止，法國造艦局雖表示正與美方公司接觸，並不願證實價碼。

一般認為，德法合作的可能並非沒有，以空中巴士為例，便是極佳的組合。泰勒斯軍火集團目前也在考慮類似的組合，泰勒斯希望哈德威的合作夥伴提森克魯伯公司和費羅鋼鐵能加入。泰勒斯看準，法國國家造艦局目前在政府支持下進行百分之百私營化，而政府將提供一百廿億歐元的資金，不過法國財政部長麥爾還未指出，一百廿億歐元將何時補助，法國財政部也不願評論國家造艦局將購下哈德威一事。

德國自民黨基爾區主希柯布林對此事不以為然，他表示：「法國根本對投資哈德威沒有興趣，法國有興趣的是哈德威獨步全球的潛艦技術。」但也有專家表示，法德合作不失為解決哈德威財務狀況的方法。

http://news.chinatimes.com/Chinatimes/Moment/newfocus-index/0,3687,920714041+92071405+0+082444,00.html

華盛頓時報：日本將興建兩艘小型航空母艦
（中央社華盛頓十四日專電）

航華盛頓時報引述日本和美國官員的話報導說，日本海軍已經在準備建造兩艘小型航空母艦，這是二次世界大戰結束六十多年以來的頭一遭。

這兩艘航空母艦將各配屬十二架具備短場垂直起降能力的戰鬥機，可擔任戰鬥和轟炸雙重任務，另外也將配備SH-60海鷹武裝直升機。

根據計畫，日本海軍的小型航空母艦約有一萬三千五百噸，滿載一萬六千噸，大約接近西班牙奧斯圖利亞王子號航艦，比泰國海軍的航艦稍大，最高航速每小時可達三十節。

日本計劃中的航空母艦當然不可能和美國剛成軍服役的龐然巨物，九萬八千噸的尼米茲級航艦雷根號相提並論，日本航艦未來部署時可被視為指揮艦，作為保障日本經濟命脈海域的武力投射載具。

日本具備航艦作戰能力將引來中國、北韓和南韓的抗議，這些國家在二次世界大戰時期都經歷過日本侵略，並對日本加強防衛安全措施一向予以批評；但美國政治領袖，從一九七○年代末期的卡特總統開始，就要求日本多加強自我防衛。

一直到最近，日本才開始察覺到來自北韓的立即威脅，以及中國大陸的長期威脅，在上週日本發布的國防白皮書中，日本國防單位強調，必須建立基本國防能力以確保自身的獨立與安全。

興建第一艘小型航空母艦的預算將包括在二○○四年的預算中，二○○八年成軍；第二艘航艦預算則從二○○五年開始執行，二○○九年成軍。另外兩艘航艦可能以後建造。

有趣的是，日本海軍官員稱這兩艘航艦為驅逐艦，以平息日本國內的反對聲浪，以及來自中國和南、北韓的批評。

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/xml/uncomp/articleshow?msid=77270
India seeks more naval strike capability
C R JAYACHANDRAN

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2003 05:56:41 PM ]

NEW DELHI: With growing concern over Chinese naval presence in the Indian Ocean and the hostile posture adopted by Pakistan, India is likely to expedite the acquirement of P3 Orion multi-mission maritime aircraft equipped with Harpoon anti-ship missiles.

A high-level delegation of Lockheed Martin Corporation, vendors for the P3 Orion, is currently in New Delhi to discuss the pricing of the multi-mission maritime aircraft, in which India has evinced a keen interest.

The Indian Navy is looking for maritime reconnaissance version of the P3 Orions from the United States to keep the Indian Ocean under surveillance.

The P3 B Orions, which India is planning to purchase, are the best four-engined long range Maritime Recce aircraft in the world. According to defence officials, the Indian Navy can easily fit Brahmos missile on them to make them strike capable.

Defence ministry officials were quoted by the Defence News as saying that India had told the US government that it wanted to buy eight used P3 Orion maritime surveillance planes under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.

India plans to buy the P3 C version of the aircraft at a cost of about $10 million each. But as the C variant was not available through FMS because of its advanced surveillance equipment, the US would consider selling B variants to India, officials were quoted by the weekly.

The negotiations with the visiting American delegation will hinge on what package India wants on board the aircraft and according to sources, talks between the Indian team and Lockheed Martin have so far been positive.

Since the talks are directly between the company and the Indian government, no request has been made to the US administration for the aircraft.

According to defence officials, the hostile posture adopted by Pakistan is well known. The Pakistani navy has substantial punch with the acquisition of P3 C Orion aircraft with anti-ship missiles and Agosta 90 B submarine from France which are capable of firing Exocet anti-ship missiles.

A ministry of defence note on the modernisation and upgradation of the Indian Navy had also expressed serious concern over the fact that Chinese navy ships and nuclear submarines have been making sorties in the Indian region.

Though New Delhi and Beijing have strengthened their bilateral relations after the visit of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee last month, the Indian Navy continues to be wary of Chinese naval presence in the Indian Ocean and the strengthening of China’s ties with Indian Ocean rim countries. Beijings direct military assistance to Islamabad is also cause for concern for New Delhi.

A RUSSIAN MILITARY SHIPYARD, BALTIYSKY ZAVOD, HAS OVERSTEPPED THE MARK IN TRYING TO RESCUE ITS REPUTATION. THERE WAS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF ITS HARDWARE, BUT THE SHIPYARD TRIED TO SHIFT THE BLAME TO A PARTNER ENTERPRISE AND A FEW OF ITS RIVALS.

BODY:
Rosoboronexport (Russian Arms Exports) is to pay a $40 million penalty for a delay of over a year in the execution of a contract with India for building three 1135.6 class frigates. This is reported by Janes Defence Weekly, citing sources at the Indian Defense Ministry. When and in what form New Delhi is going to get this money is so far unclear. Two options are discussed: a direct transfer and including this money in the payment of a contract for building three more ships of this class.

Naval hardware (NH) accounts for 15% of Russias arms and military hardware exports. According to expert evaluations, in the Asia-Pacific alone clients are prepared to buy 17 destroyers, 65-70 frigates, 25 corvettes, 40 submarines, 80-85 minesweepers, and 70 patrol and escort ships over the next few years, to the value of $60-80 billion. Along this line alone, Russia can earn more than $8 billion by 2005. Yet, after the scandal over the Indian 1135.6 class frigates, Moscow can simply lose this market.

The conflict between Moscow and New Delhi arose because a Shtil-1 air defense missile system, supplied as part of the armament of an export 1135.6 class frigate, had failed a test in India. In spite of all attempts of the Indian sailors, one of the most reliable and perfect Russian naval air defense systems either did not fire at all or fired with the missile missing the target.

Baltiysky Zavod, head contractor for the India project, immediately placed the blame for the problems on its partner, the developers of the system: the Moscow Altair Naval Research Institute of Radio Electronics. It also accused its chief rival, the Severnaya Verf shipyard that had won a tender for building 956 class destroyers for the Chinese Navy, of installing units and mechanisms with expired warranties or dismantled from recycled Russian ships of an analogous class on the ships it was building (see Izvestia, June 16, 2003).

Arkady Borzunov, deputy chief designer for Altair: We understood at once that the trouble should not be searched for in the system or the missile (the same machines launched from land-based launchers had hit targets confidently), but on the Indian frigates. It turned out that a flaw had been made in designing the ship, when choosing parameters of its radio-electronic facilities - one of the ship systems worked on the same frequency as the homing device of the missile. The interference of this frequency led to failures in missile performance.

In the course of shop tests this flaw had not been detected - it is hard to assume that the testers had simply concealed it.

But for political circumstances, a senior Chinese diplomat told us, we would long have ceased any sort of military technology cooperation with Russia. We are not satisfied with the attitude of Russian exporters to meeting their liabilities.

The matter is that China, Moscows main strategic partner in the area of military technology cooperation, is extremely sensitive about making information on this area public. Moscow and Beijing even have signed a special intergovernmental agreement on the non-disclosure of cooperation details. After the demarche of Baltiysky Zavod, it is easy to understand the Chinese.

Not so long ago, China bought a batch of Buk air defense missile systems from Rosoboronexport. However, all the machines are still in their hangars, since there are no spare parts. In respond to Chinas request to sell them, Rosoboronexport wanted to bill an amount equivalent to the contract for supplying the systems themselves. In Beijing, they simply did not know how to react.

The scandal around the Indian frigates has made Chinas Navy get concerned as well. China once bought a 956 design destroyer from Russia, with a Shtil air defense missile system installed on it like on the Indian frigate. Its potential surpassed all expectations of the Chinese Navy - a missile of the system easily caught a French Exocet cruise missile. Yet, the fest has been spoiled by the news from India. If their system does not work, its Chinese counterpart can fail, too.

ESPRIT DE CORPS

In expert views, while rescuing its reputation, Baltiysky Zavod has overstepped the mark. It is clear there is competition between plants and design bureaus in the same field of the Russian defense industry, for lucrative foreign contracts (only those working for export can survive given the present quantity of government contracts for NH). There is price and contract duration dumping. But this sort of public discussion of the quality of execution is far too much, since it already strikes not on thecompetition, but on the government on the whole, experts think. After the home contentions, not many states will agree to deal with Russia.

The resonance of the actions of Baltiysky Zavod will have a very long negative impact on future Russian arms and military hardware exports, they are sure in Rosoboronexport. The matter is not even that Russian arms traders will have to register numerous expert resolutions and submit certificates on each part installed on a ship or submarine. The trouble is that Russia has once again demonstrated its being incapable of accurately fulfilling contract obligations it undertook. Accordingly, it has provided a ground for financial blackmailing, which New Delhi is already showing, trying to benefit on the $40 million fine as much as possible.

In any case, the loser will be the end contractor, since it is the contractor who will have to adjust to the hard limits of the significantly diminished export revenues from military technology cooperation. But, as experience has shown already, Russian defense industry plants cannot do that. The fine will be paid by Rosoboronexport, or so Baltiysky Zavod hopes.

Isnt it odd? A contract is violated by a private shipyard, but the state will pay the penalty?

FROM THE ZUBR TO THE MOSKIT

Japanese Reviving Their Carrier Fleet

July 19, 2003: The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force [JMSDF] is planning the construction of two small aircraft carriers, although the new ships are referred to as destroyers in an effort to blunt criticism from Japan pacifists, as well as wary neighbors in China and the two Koreas. Most observers remember the term Japanese carrier in terms of Pearl Harbor and the epic Pacific Ocean battles of World War II. However, since the Carter administration the US has encouraged Japan to do more for its own defense and obviously, the Japanese are quietly leaving their postwar pacifist attitudes behind. In its 2003 White Paper on defense, the Self-Defense Agency asserted that the nation must build up its fundamental defense capabilities to ensure its independence.

Yet the Japanese are still engage in the Kabuki dance of international respectability. While this multipurpose hi-tech ship will not carry vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (VTOL) aircraft like the Sea Harrier, the fact that it could conceivably support fixed-wing aircraft is what gets Japans neighbors nervous. The Japanese destroyer-carriers can act as command and control ships, giving the JMSDF a limited ability to project power into the sea lanes that are vital to Japans economy, although the Japanese stress the ships ability to support evacuations during emergencies and help with United Nations peacekeeping operations or disaster relief missions.

There were two designs floating around, the less-threatening with its bridge at its center and separate flight decks in front and behind. The Japanese chose a continuous deck design with its island bridge structure along the starboard edge because it is easier for helicopter pilots to use.

This class of helicopter-carrier destroyer will be able to make better than 30 knots and have a displacement of 13,500 tons, with about 16,000 tons fully loaded. The Japanese plans are squarely between the Spanish 16,700-ton Principe De Asturias (carrying 17 planes) and Thailands 11,500-ton Chakri Nareubet (with 12 planes). The heliport ship is slated to carry four SH-60J antisubmarine helicopters and an MH-53E mine countermeasures or four MH-53 transport helicopters. Below the flight deck is a hangar large enough to house helicopters and vehicles. The vessel will be armed with a vertical missile launcher and two air defense weapons, but not the surface guns found on other JMSDF destroyers.

The Japanese have earmarked approximately $1 billion from the next fiscal year budget, since the cost of this design is nearly double that of other destroyers and equivalent to an Aegis-equipped ship. Funds for the first ship have been included in Japans defense budget for fiscal year 2004 (which begins on April 1). The first ship is to be commissioned in 2008, replacing the helicopter destroyer Haruna. The second carrier is scheduled for fiscal year 2005 and two more may be built later, replacing two Shirane and two Haruna-class flagship destroyers.

The Japanese have also built the 13,000-ton, 22-knot Osumi-class dock landing ship, which looks like a mini-aircraft carrier and provoked predictable responses from regional skeptics. While the Japanese insist that they can only accommodate two CH-47 Chinook helicopters, the 584-foot Oosumi has a long, uncluttered vehicle parking deck with a blocky island superstructure offset somewhat to starboard. Their stern wells can each hold two LCACs. Three more of the class may be built later to complete the replacement of the current six LSTs, whose normal employment is in resupply of Japanese offshore island facilities. But theyre not aircraft carriers. Really. - Adam Geibel

Conceptual drawing of split-deck design, online at:
http://homepage.tinet.ie/~steven/images/nddh.jpg

俄國為中共「現代」級驅逐艦提升武器性能

（中央社記者張聲肇紐約二十日專電）根據最新一期「漢和情報評論」報導，俄國北方造船廠為中國生產的兩艘「現代」級驅逐艦956EM DDG在防空和艦對艦武器方面做了一系列的改進。

　　漢和情報發言人平可夫確認，956EM使用3M80MBE艦對艦導彈，這是專門為中國研製的改進型3M80E導彈，最大射程超過兩百公里，大大超過了西方分析人士的估計。

　　報導指出，956EM拆棄了尾部的130毫米主炮，新安裝了兩座Kashtan近程砲彈結合系統 (CIWS)，並為Kashtan安裝了照射雷達。

　　Kashtan由三十二枚9M311-1兩段式固體火箭推進艦導彈和兩座Gsh6-30K快速炮構成，導彈射程1500-8000公尺，火炮射程500-4000公尺，射高5-6000 公尺，導彈最大射速900m/s。殺傷概率0.96到0.99。可以同時對付6個目標。火炮射速每分鐘10000發/雙管。956EM的艦對艦打擊能力以及迎擊艦對艦導彈的能力都獲得提升。

俄羅斯新一代677型Lada級柴電潛艇海試延後
2003-07-22

Cost concerns force UK to consider smaller carrier

By Richard Scott, JDW Naval Editor, London

Mounting concerns over the affordability of the 65,000-ton adaptable carrier design selected as the basis of the UKs Future Aircraft Carrier (CVF) programme have forced the UK Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) and the BAE Systems/Thales industry alliance to urgently explore a smaller and cheaper fallback design concept.

Due to enter service in 2012 and 2015, the two new carriers will operate the short take-off and vertical landing variant of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, selected in September 2002 as the UKs Future Joint Combat Aircraft. However, the ship design is to be sufficiently flexible to adapt to new aircraft, unmanned air vehicles and/or unmanned combat air vehicles entering service during the course of its life.

Following a politically charged competition, BAE Systems was selected as prime contractor designate in January with its rival Thales brought on board to provide the whole-ship design as key supplier. The two companies have subsequently brought their CVF teams together in a single structure known as the Future Carrier Alliance.

Both BAE Systems and Thales completed the submission of their competing design proposals to the DPA last November together with their respective cost models. Neither was obliged to confirm a final price.

However, it is understood that incoming Chief of Defence Procurement (CDP) Sir Peter Spencer ordered an urgent review of the CVF project last month after industry costed the programme at about £3.8 billion ($6.2 billion) - a full £1 billion above the available budget. The London Financial Times newspaper revealed last week that studies of a smaller carrier had been instigated due to this significant cost disparity.

The nature of this disclosure, which suggested that BAE Systems had marked up its costing since receiving the prime contractorship, has angered industry officials. They insist they have consistently advised the DPA that two vessels meeting all the criteria laid out in the user requirements document could not be built for the £2.8 billion earmarked for the demonstration and manufacture phase.

(中央社記者郭芳贄曼谷二十二日專電)泰國是東南亞國家裡唯一擁有航空母艦國家，艦上有九架海鷹式戰鬥機，目前只有兩架還可飛行，其他七架都因零件缺乏而停擺在艦上。泰國總理戴克辛上週末視察泰國陸海空聯合軍事演習後決定，先把這七架戰鬥機修理使用，以保持泰國海軍戰鬥力，然後再視經濟能力購買新機。

這艘名為節基里納雷比 (CHAKRI NARUEBET)中型航空母艦是購自西班牙，這九架戰鬥機放置這艘航空母艦。

戴克辛指出，泰國未有興趣進行武器競爭，故三軍不應該聽從外國武器製造廠商的遊說而購買武器，國防預算應是「安全投資」。為此，三軍應該提出全面發展的短期和長期計劃來購武。目前泰國經濟逐漸復甦下，應該還有預算再購買零件費用。

　　戰斧導彈計劃負責人約翰•吉爾雷稱﹐飛行試驗的成功是聯合海軍/雷聲公司戰斧導彈小組緊密合作的結果﹐它體現了雷聲公司系統工程設計研發的方法在獲得首次成功上的有效性。

　　在這次試驗中﹐一枚戰術戰斧導彈實彈從美海軍“德森”號潛艇上發射﹐這是美海軍第一次從潛艇上發射戰術戰斧導彈的實彈﹐也將是導彈計劃技術評估階段的最後一次試驗。這次試驗結束後﹐導彈將進入最後的評估階段﹐即作戰適用性評估階段。在這一階段美海軍將進行4次發射試驗﹐2次在水面艦船上發射﹐2次從一艘核攻擊潛艇上發射。

　　這枚導彈從位于聖尼古拉斯島北部的“圖森”號潛艇上發射﹐導彈飛行了一個半小時﹐飛行距離達720海裡﹐之後導彈擊中在聖克萊蒙特島上的一個目標。戰術戰斧導彈在這次試驗中達到了所有的試驗目標並展示了該新型武器系統的戰術未來。

　　戰斧計劃經理諾瓦克稱﹐這次成功的試驗結束了戰斧計劃32年研發中最成功的研發試驗階段。該導彈的作戰適用性試驗將于今年秋末開始﹐計劃小組的日程將確保該武器完成試驗並于2004年春天開始用于美海軍作戰部隊。

箝制中國美航母擬進駐亞太中國、北韓威脅升高美考慮增派航母戰鬥群常駐夏威夷或關島二次大戰後首見

（中央社華盛頓十一日電）華盛頓時報今天報導指出，面對共產中國威脅持續增加，以及北韓核武危機仍未解決，美國國防部正在考慮增派一個航空母艦戰鬥群，常駐夏威夷或關島；美國自從第二次世界大戰結束以來，就沒有常駐航空母艦在夏威夷。

華盛頓時報「國防圈內」專欄報導說，國防部長倫斯斐和國防部高層策劃人員已經在討論增派第2支航空母艦戰鬥群前進太平洋；目前美軍有12支航空母艦戰鬥群分布在太平洋和大西洋。

但隨著共產中國的威脅日漸升高，加上北韓核武問題一直未能解決，國防部策劃人員考量從大西洋地區增派一個航空母艦戰鬥群常駐夏威夷或關島。

最近兩艘美國攻擊潛艦奉派駐在關島，第三艘也即將抵達，最終將有四艘攻擊潛艦駐在關島，以面對從印尼到台灣海峽的可能狀況。目前美國在太平洋地區的聖地牙哥駐有3艘航空母艦，華盛頓州有2艘，日本有1艘。

空軍也已經派遣Bｋ1和Bｋ52轟炸機前往關島駐紮，並在那裡存放空射型巡弋飛彈，這些行動引起北京政府的抗議，如果美國再增派航空母艦到夏威夷或關島，一定會讓中國再度大聲抱怨，北京視美國軍事力量是其未來的主要對手，並不斷在發展摧毀美軍航空母艦和戰艦的飛彈能力。

一位美國國防部官員告訴時報，著眼於伊拉克的狀況，以及波斯灣地區需要有航空母艦常駐，調整航空母艦武力至太平洋是很合理的。

俄羅斯戰略導彈部隊發言人證實，俄國已向烏克蘭購買這批導彈作為戰略武器，截至二○○二年七月俄羅斯已擁有多達一百五十枚此類核彈。烏克蘭在一九九九年為了支付欠下俄羅斯的天然氣債務，已經向俄羅斯交出十一架蘇製戰略轟炸機和數百枚巡航導彈作抵押。軍事專家表示，廉價回購上述武器，可節省軍費來發展新式武器，由於經費緊絀俄羅斯發展白楊流動導彈的龐大計畫受阻，添置SS19導彈和延長其服役期，可以在美俄裁減核武條約下維持兩國軍力平衡。

　　(中央社記者曾淳良北京三十一日電)據北京的中國國防科技信息中心指出，俄羅斯海軍將在二００六年前裝備一種新型戰略核潛艇｜九三五型「北方之神」級核潛艇。北方之神級核潛艇將取代俄羅斯海軍現役的颱風級戰略核潛艇。

　　消息來源稱，俄羅斯國防部長伊凡諾夫日前視察北方艦隊司令部所在地莫曼斯克時透露，「多爾高魯基」號將是俄羅斯海軍北方之神級核潛艇的首艇，但他未進一步說明俄羅斯打算建造多少艘北方之神級戰略核潛艇來取代現有的戰略核潛艇。

　　俄羅斯海軍的新型戰略核潛艇建造工作始於一九九六年，但由於經費和技術方面的問題，尤其是潛艇上的核導彈艙存在問題，這一項目被暫時中止。不過，該型核潛艇的首艇建造工作仍預定於二００六年前完成，隨後將開始批量生產。

LCS field reduced to three

By Nick Brown with additional reporting by Kim Burger

Industry teams led by General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (BIW), Lockheed Martin Naval Electronic & Surveillance Systems (NE&SS;) and Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems have been selected to compete for the preliminary design phase of the US Navys (USNs) fast-track Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) programme, Naval Sea Systems Command announced on 17 July 2003.

The down-selection means that rival teams headed by EDO/Textron, Northrop Grumman and Titan Systems have now been eliminated from the competition.

The LCS is intended to be a small networked surface combatant, combining an advanced high-speed platform - or seaframe - with modularised payloads to prosecute mine warfare and littoral anti-submarine warfare, and to counter small-boat swarm threats. The USN is looking to accept the first operational vessel in 2007.

All three teams have been awarded nearly US$10 million apiece to carry out Flight 0 preliminary design activities. Following submission of preliminary design proposals in January 2004, the field will be further trimmed to two teams, which will each be funded into prototype build.

Each bidder is proposing a radically different advanced hullform as the basis for its seaframe. BIW and its team-mates Austal Ships, BAE Systems, CAE, Maritime Applied Physics and QinetiQ have proposed a semi-trimaran hull based on Austals high-speed commercial trimaran. The team claims that this is the best configuration to meet the USNs exacting demands for a vessel capable of speeds of over 50kt and with a large payload capacity to cover the range of modular packages.

Lockheed Martin NE&SS;, together with naval architect Gibbs & Cox and shipbuilders Bollinger and Marinette Marine, is proposing the Sea Blade advanced semi-planing monohull, an aluminium vessel based on the commercial ferry design that currently holds the transatlantic crossing record.

Raytheon and its partners Umoe Mandal, engineering and ship-designer John J McMullen Associates, Atlantic Marine shipyard and composite design and fabrication specialist Goodrich are proposing a surface-effect ship (SES) seaframe. This is likely to be based on a scaled-up version of Umoe Mandals Skjold SES design, which has already demonstrated a top speed of 57kt in service with the Royal Norwegian Navy.

http://www.janes.com/defence/air_forces/gallery/op_telic/op_telic030724_1_n.shtml
24 July 2003

Focus on Joint Force Harrier operations during Operation Telic

By Edward Downs, Editor, Janes Avionics

During the recent Gulf War, designated Operation Telic by the UK armed forces, elements of Nos. 1(F) and IV(AC) Squadrons deployed their Harrier GR7 aircraft to Ahmed Al Jaber airbase in Kuwait, which was also home to US Marine Corps AV-8Bs and F-18Ds and USAF F-16s and ANG A-10s.

Flying round-the-clock missions in support of the liberation of Iraq, pilots employed a variety of weapons, including the Maverick air-to-ground missile and both conventional Paveway II (PWII) and Enhanced Paveway (EPII) laser-guided bombs (LGBs), against a wide variety of fixed and mobile targets. Designation duties were taken care of within formations, with one or more of the attack formation carrying the BAE Systems Thermal Imaging Airborne Laser Designator (TIALD) pod. Although the performance of TIALD, at least in its current Series 400 guise, compares less than favourably with the latest breed of laser designation systems such as the Northrop Grumman Litening ER (fitted to US Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier IIs), the pod facilitated precision bombing of enemy targets in accordance with the strict rules of engagement (RoE) imposed to avoid collateral damage.

Many missions involved air-to-air refuelling (AAR) against RAF Tristar, VC-10 and US KC-10 tankers, often conducted over Iraq. While all GR7 night missions were conducted with the aid of night vision goggles, the incompatible external lights of the tankers necessitated pilots removing their goggles prior to taking on fuel.

Enjoying complete air supremacy over Iraq, coalition aircraft were able to patrol at will in the target areas and closely monitor the ground situation to provide air support to ground forces at extremely short notice, providing commanders with the ability to react in near real time to the developing tactical scenario. While Iraqi anti-aircraft fire around Baghdad can at best be described as ‘spirited’, it did not hinder the Harriers in their extended ‘loiter’ missions over the capital, making PWII and EPII LGB attacks by day and night. Indeed, perhaps a more pressing problem for the pilots was maximising their time ‘on station’ in the area.