IAI has developed its first unmanned mini submarine, named BlueWhale. (IAI)  Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has unveiled its first unmanned mini submarine, named BlueWhale.  Developed by IAI's subsidiary Elta Systems, the modular, electric-propelled large autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) is designed for covert intelligence-gathering operations above the sea surface, as well as anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and minehunting missions.  According to IAI, BlueWhale has already undergone thousands of hours of submerged and autonomous operation...

Rheinmetall's MASS decoy system is pictured here firing an Omni-Trap multispectral decoy round during a live trial. Australia will become the 16th user nation of the system. (Rheinmetall)  The Australian government has signed a deal with Rheinmetall Defence Australia (RDA) to procure the company's Multi-Ammunition Soft-kill System (MASS).  The Department of Defence (DoD) in Canberra said on 5 May that the MASS decoy system will be integrated onto the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN's) Anzac-class frigates and Hobart-class destroyers.  The deal a...

The multirole acoustic stabilised system on MSRV   Sentinel  , seen here while the ship was at Changi Naval Base during IMDEX 2023.   (Janes/Ridzwan Rahmat)  The Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN's) Sentinel-class maritime security and response vessels (MSRVs) are being equipped with Sitep Italia's multirole acoustic stabilised system (MASS).  The non-lethal weapon system was spotted on first-of-class, MSRV Sentinel, during the warship display segment of the IMDEX 2023 naval exhibition that is taking place at Chan...

A High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon Capability-configured Mk 54 lightweight torpedo is dropped from a US Navy P-8A Poseidon MPA during testing. The wing kit adaptor is visible atop the torpedo body. The Mk 54 torpedo is used by many countries in the APAC region. (NAVAIR)  The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is one of the most important maritime regions in the world, with several countries possessing extensive coastlines, strategic naval bases, and busy sea lanes. Increasing regional security challenges, including territorial disputes and...

A model of the Blue Spear missile on display in Singapore. The weapon will soon be deployed on the country's Formidable-class frigates. (Janes/Ridzwan Rahmat)  The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) will replace the Harpoon surface-to-surface missile (SSM) on its Formidable-class frigates with the Blue Spear SSM.    The weapon will be incorporated as part of the Formidable class' mid-life upgrades (MLUs), said the RSN's Commander First Flotilla, Colonel Ng Kok Yeng Daniel, in a recent wider-ranging interview with   Janes  to di...

A mock-up of the naval Iron Beam system, on display at IMDEX 2023. (Janes/Ridzwan Rahmat)  Rafael Advanced Defense Systems unveiled a naval variant of its Iron Beam directed-energy weapon (DEW) system at the IMDEX 2023 naval exhibition held in Singapore from 3 to 5 May.  The variant is based on the land-based Iron Beam high-energy laser (HEL) system, which was unveiled at the Singapore Airshow in 2014.    A representative from Rafael who spoke to   Janes  at IMDEX 2023 described the naval variant as a DEW that can protect its...

A mock-up of the Torbuster SP on display at IMDEX 2023. (Janes/Ridzwan Rahmat)  Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and its subsidiary DSIT Solutions have jointly unveiled a surface vessel-launched variant of the Torbuster hard-kill torpedo countermeasure system.  The original Torbuster is a submarine-launched torpedo countermeasure, which was developed to meet a requirement for the Israeli Navy.  The surface vessel-launched variant is known as the Torbuster SP, and it is being unveiled for the first time at the IMDEX 2023 naval exhibition held...

The configuration of Rheinmetall's ‘Total Ship Trainer' features simulators including full-mission bridges, part-task bridges, engineering rooms, damage control trainers, and ship-handling systems. (Rheinmetall)  Rheinmetall unveiled its ‘Total Ship Trainer', a networked and integrated training solution, at the IMDEX 2023 naval exhibition held in Changi, Singapore, from 3 to 5 May.  According to Rheinmetall, the ship trainer will enable navies to conduct realistic, land-based, and simulated training for an entire warship crew, in part or toge...

ST Engineering said its new Autonomast system is designed to convert a manned vessel into an unmanned surface vessel for autonomous missions. (Janes/Vinod Kumar CV)  Singapore Technologies Engineering (ST Engineering) displayed its new Autonomast system at the IMDEX 2023 naval exhibition in Changi, Singapore, held from 3 to 5 May.  According to the company, the modular Autonomast is designed to convert a manned vessel into an unmanned surface vessel (USV) for autonomous missions.  “[The system] integrates various mission controls and payloads...

As Newport News Shipbuilding is building aircraft carrier   Enterprise  , the yard finds it needs to outsource unit and panel work.  (Janes/Michael Fabey)  HII is looking to outsource some construction work for aircraft carrier Enterprise (CVN 80) at its Newport News Shipbuilding yard, HII officials confirmed on 4 May during a quarterly call with investment analysts.  “On CVN 80, we find ourselves from a time capacity and throughput [standpoint] needing to offload and/or outsource unit work and panel work right no...

A computer-generated image depicting the possible stern view of Singapore's future multirole combat vessel. (Singapore Ministry of Defence)  The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) will soon be equipped with a new class of frigate-sized combatants under a plan to replace the service's six Victory-class corvettes with the multirole combat vessel (MRCV).  While earlier computer-generated images issued by the country's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) have long hinted that the MRCV will be larger than the Victory class, official comments on the new ves...

The Lanza 3D medium-range surveillance radar (pictured) is part of two of the three Defence Deployable Air Traffic Management and Control Systems (DDATMCS) delivered by Indra to the RAAF. (Indra)  Spanish technology company Indra delivered three deployable air traffic management systems to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) under the Australian Department of Defence's (DoD's) Project AIR 5341 Phase 1.  The systems, named the Defence Deployable Air Traffic Management and Control Systems (DDATMCS), will enable the RAAF to manage airfield and...

The Giraffe 1X is a lightweight X-band 3D radar with an AESA digital beam-forming antenna. It is available in land and naval iterations. (Saab EDS)  The British Armed Forces will be equipped with new Saab Giraffe 1X radars.  According to a company announcement on 2 May, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has ordered 11 Saab Giraffe 1X radars for approximately SEK264 million (USD25.6 million).    Deliveries began at the end of 2022 and are scheduled to conclude in the summer of 2023 (June to September), an MoD spokesperson told   Janes...

GA-ASI has secured a contract to provide four MQ-9B SeaGuardians (pictured) along with two ground control stations, spares, and support equipment to Taiwan. (General Atomics)  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) has secured a contract to provide four MQ-9B SeaGuardian medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to the Republic of China (RoC) Armed Forces. .  The US Department of Defense (DoD) announced on 1 May that the value of this “undefinitised contract action” secured by GA-ASI will not exceed USD2...

US Coast Guard icebreaker Healy conducted operations using the Arctic-capable communications, sending, and navigation system in 2022. (Michael Fabey)  The US Navy (USN) will deploy a new Arctic navigation, communication, and environmental sensing system later in 2023, according to Admiral Michael Gilday, chief of naval operations (CNO).  “Our navy continues important communications, surveillance, navigation, marine meteorology, and physical oceanography research activities to improve situational awareness in support of future cold weather hig...

DSME's financial performance has continued to deteriorate in recent years amid efforts by the state-run Korea Development Bank to find a buyer for the naval shipbuilder. (Janes)  South Korea's Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has approved the Hanwha Group's proposed acquisition of a controlling stake in Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), one of the country's biggest naval shipbuilders.  The FTC announced on 27 April that it has approved a deal in which Hanwha Group subsidiaries – including its defence businesses, Hanwha Aerospace and...

DSME's financial performance has continued to deteriorate in recent years amid efforts by the state-run Korea Development Bank to find a buyer for the naval shipbuilder. (Janes)  South Korea's Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has approved the Hanwha Group's proposed acquisition of a controlling stake in Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), one of the country's biggest naval shipbuilders.  The FTC announced on 27 April that it has approved a deal in which Hanwha Group subsidiaries – including its defence businesses, Hanwha Aerospace and...

Image taken from the Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP   Malapascua  allegedly showing the near collision with China Coast Guard vessel 5201. The incident is said to have taken place on 23 April 2023 in the South China Sea.  (Philippine Coast Guard)  The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has accused a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel of carrying out “dangerous manoeuvres” during a recent encounter in the South China Sea.  The encounter began when two PCG Parola-class multirole response vessels (MRRVs) began a seven-day...

Australia intends for its northern military bases to become a forward deployment line for joint combat capabilities and the protection of the country's northern maritime approaches. Here, an RAAF F-35A flies over HMAS   Sydney   during Exercise ‘Tasman Shield' in April 2023.  (Commonwealth of Australia)  The Australian government has announced an investment of AUD3.8 billion (USD2.5 billion) to improve a network of military bases across the northern part of the country.  The funding will be spread over four years,...

A file image of BRP   Jose Rizal  , the Philippine Navy's first guided-missile frigate. The vessel took part in the country's first joint sinking exercise with US military forces.  (Philippine Navy)  The US and Philippine military forces have conducted their first joint sinking exercise (SINKEX).  The activity was conducted against the Philippine Navy's decommissioned Second World War-era PCE 827-class corvette, which was in service as BRP Pangasinan, on 26 April in the South China Sea (SCS).  The vessel, which wa...