An SM-6 Block I missile arcs skywards following launch from a US Navy DDG-51 guided-missile destroyer. South Korea plans to integrate the missile onto its second batch of KDX-III guided-missile destroyers. (US Navy)  The US State Department has approved the possible sale of SM-6 Block I air-defence missiles to South Korea, the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 14 November.  DSCA said Congress was informed of the possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) – estimated to cost USD650 million – earlier the same day.  The deal f...

New defence export rules in Australia will provide licence exemptions for the UK and the US to facilitate the programme to develop and build the SSN-AUKUS submarine, a graphic depiction of which is above. (BAE Systems)  Australia has proposed amended defence export legislation to support its AUKUS partnership with the UK and the US while toughening rules on the transfer of technologies to other foreign countries.  The Department of Defence (DoD) in Canberra proposed the amended Defence Trade Controls Amendment Bill 2023 earlier in November, c...

A model of Hanwha Ocean's FFX-III frigate on display at MADEX 2023 in Busan, South Korea. (Janes/Ridzwan Rahmat)  Hanwha Ocean has received a contract to build the final two Chungnam (FFX-III)-class guided-missile frigates for the Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN).  The KRW791.73 billion (USD596 million) contract was inked with the country's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) on 10 November, the company announced on the same day.    South Korea conceived a requirement for the warships in the wake of the mishap that befell ROK...

The RN's Type 26 frigates are among one class of ship being installed with Elbit Systems' electronic intelligence solution as part of MEWSIC Increment 1. (BAE Systems)  The programme to deliver a next-generation electronic surveillance system for the Royal Navy's (RN) surface warships has passed the critical design review (CDR), the UK Ministry of Defence announced on 13 November.  Known as the Maritime Electronic Warfare System Integrated Capability (MEWSIC), the programme – being delivered by Babcock, Elbit Systems UK, and QinetiQ – aims t...

The RN has taken delivery of six REMUS 300 vehicles to meet its SAUV requirement. (HII)  The UK Royal Navy (RN) has begun training on the new REMUS 300 small autonomous underwater vehicles (SAUVs) delivered by HII's Mission Technologies division.  Being introduced to support mine-countermeasures (MCM) operations, the REMUS 300 is intended to enhance the capability of the RN's Hunt-class MCM vessels to deliver a full-spectrum ‘find-fix-finish' capability to maximum depth. The new 300 m-capable vehicles will also inform the next-generation Mine...

BAE Systems Australia displayed a model of its proposed new Hunter-class frigate design at the Indo Pacific 2023 show in Sydney. (BAE Systems Australia/Salty Dingo)  Potential design changes to the Hunter-class frigates contracted for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) from shipbuilder BAE Systems Australia would boost the number of vertical launch system (VLS) cells on the ships from 32 to 96 and add four deck-mounted quadruple canisters of anti-ship naval strike missiles (NSMs). The potential changes were disclosed by BAE Systems Australia at...

President Joe Biden's administration wants to fund expansion of the 155 mm shell production with an emergency supplemental funding request for fiscal year 2024. (US Army)  The US goal to produce 100,000 rounds of 155 mm ammunition per month by calendar year 2025 cannot be met if lawmakers do not pass the fiscal year (FY) 2024 emergency supplemental funding, US Army assistant secretary for acquisition, logistics, and technology Doug Bush said on 7 November.  The legislation – proposed by President Joe Biden's administration – contains USD3.1 b...

While the US Army's hypersonic weapon programme is delayed, the service's Mid-Range Capability is on track for operational capability. (US Army)  It is predicted that the US Army will not be able to field its hypersonic weapon by the end of the calendar year as planned after a critical test was cancelled before launch.  Similar to the cancelled tests in September and March 2023, the “problem” was identified before the launch schedule to take place from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. Doug Bush, US Army assistant secretary for acq...

The Royal Australian Navy Hobart-class destroyer, HMAS   Sydney  , firing a Harpoon missile during Exercise ‘Pacific Vanguard 2022'. Lockheed Martin has recently upgraded this class to enable integration of the Aegis Baseline 9 combat management system.  (Commonwealth of Australia)  Lockheed Martin has upgraded the design architecture of the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN's) Hobart-class destroyers to enable integration of the Aegis Baseline 9 Combat Management System (CMS) into these vessels.  The upgrades were de...

A model of the Tasman-class corvette, offered by Austal, Civmec, and Navantia Australia for the Royal Australian Navy's requirements, on display at Indo Pacific 2023. (via FTI Consulting)  Austal, Civmec, and Navantia Australia have jointly proposed a new corvette design in anticipation of the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN's) upcoming requirements.  The concept is being proposed “in recognition of the navy's urgent need for increased strike capability”, reads a statement issued by the teaming arrangement in conjunction with the Indo Pacific 20...

Marsun and TKMS are pitching the MEKO A-100 design to meet the Royal Thai Navy's long-term requirements for a new light frigate. (Janes/Jon Grevatt)  Thai shipbuilder Marsun has teamed with ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) to offer the German company's MEKO A-100 light frigate to the Royal Thai Navy (RTN).  Under the partnership, TKMS will supply A-100 design and technical support while Marsun will act as the lead local firm, supporting ship construction and supply chain requirements.    A Marsun official told   Janes  at th...

The first-of-class Type 125 frigate,   Baden-Württemberg  , which will be deployed to the Indo-Pacific region in 2024.   (TKMS)    The German Navy will deploy its first-of-class   Baden-Württemberg  (Type 125) frigate and its second Berlin (Type 702)-class combat support ship,   Frankfurt Am Main  , to the Indo-Pacific region in 2024.   Janes  was able to confirm this with the Chief of the German Navy, Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack, while he was in Singapore on 6 November....

The Tp 47 lightweight torpedo was fired from Finnish Navy Hamina-class FACs for the first time on 31 October. (Finnish Navy)  The Finnish Navy has conducted acceptance firings of the Torpedo 47 (Tp 47) lightweight torpedo from its Hamina-class fast attack craft (FAC).    The test firings were performed by first-of-class FRNS   Hamina  (80) and fourth boat FRNS   Pori  (83) in the Archipelago Sea on 31 October, the Finnish Navy confirmed on 1 November.    Developed by Swedish defence and security group Saab for t...

Al Seer Marine 11 m USV that was unveiled at NAVDEX 2021. (NAVDEX)  The United Arab Emirates' (UAE's) Coast Guard Group contributed an unmanned surface vessel (USV) to the ‘Union Fortress 9' demonstration that was held on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi on 5 November.  ‘Union Fortress' is held every year in different locations to show the public the capabilities of the UAE Armed Forces and security organisations.  The USV seen in the television coverage of this year's event looked like the 11 m one unveiled by the local company Al Seer Marine during...

The USS   Gerald R Ford  carrier strike group participated in a dual-carrier exercise in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.  (Janes/Michael Fabey)  Ships, aircraft, and personnel from the USS Gerald R Ford (CVN 78) Carrier Strike Group (CSG 12) and the USS Dwight D Eisenhower (CVN 69) Carrier Strike Group (CSG 2) trained on high-value unit defence, ballistic missile defence, replenishments-at-sea, cross-deck flight operations, and maritime security operations in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea in early November, US Nav...

India seeks to develop long-range surface-to-air missile systems to provide interception capabilities similar to the Russian S-400 Triumf air-defence system (pictured above) recently inducted by the Indian Air Force. (Janes/Peter Felstead)    India has initiated a programme to develop long-range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM) systems for the Indian Air Force (IAF) to strengthen its air-defence capabilities, an official at India's state-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) told   Janes  in early November....

The D11A, pictured at the Defense & Security 2023 show in Bangkok, is intended to launch guided and unguided rocket systems of different calibres, with an effective range between 40 and 300 km. (Janes/Jon Grevatt)  The Defence Technology Institute (DTI) – an agency under the Thai Ministry of Defence – has furthered the development of the D11A, a local version of Elbit Systems' multicalibre Precise and Universal Launching System (PULS).  A DTI official told Janes at the Defense & Security 2023 exhibition in Bangkok on 6 November that developme...

Sea trials of the first Hugin Endurance in progress. (Kongsberg Discovery)  Norway's Kongsberg Discovery has started sea trials of its Hugin Endurance long-range autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), the company confirmed on 26 October.  Launched in 2021, Hugin Endurance has been specifically designed for extended operations in deep sea environments and can be deployed directly from shore or a vessel of opportunity. Powered by lithium-ion batteries, it has an endurance of 15 days at sea, an operating range of 2,200 km or 1,200 n miles, and a d...

HII prepares to deliver Virginia-class submarine   New Jersey  as the company looks to open new markets through AUKUS deal.  (Janes/Michael Fabey)  HII sees the AUKUS agreement made by Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States for submarine programme development as a vehicle for new international business.  “We actually see that as an opening of markets,” Christopher Kastner, HII CEO and president told investment analysts on 2 November, during a quarterly earnings call.  In particular, HII expects to r...

HII's Newport News Shipbuilding has turned over about 70% of ship compartments on aircraft carrier   John F Kennedy  to the US Navy.  (Janes/Michael Fabey)  HII's Newport News Shipbuilding has turned over 70% of aircraft carrier John F Kennedy (CVN 79) compartments to the US Navy (USN), but the delivery of carrier Enterprise (CVN 80) will be delayed, Christopher Kastner, HII CEO and president told investment analysts on 2 November, during a quarterly earnings call.  Work on Kennedy is focused on compartment compl...