Navy Nears Competition For Extra Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicle

The U.S. Navy plans to buy 30 of the systems to hunt and neutralize mines.

Marc Selinger, Defense Daily
26 October 2016 
 
The U.S. Navy plans to conduct an industry competition for the Extra Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV) in the current fiscal year, according to a service official.
In September, the Navy issued a request for information (RFI) on capabilities that could help it achieve the extended-range vehicle.
The service is now reviewing the responses, said Nidak Sumrean, executive director of the program executive office for Littoral Combat Ships (LCS), which includes the Unmanned Maritime Systems Program Office.
The Navy plans to build five XLUUV vehicles and deliver them to the fleet "in the next couple of years," Sumrean said Oct. 25 at the Unmanned Systems Defense conference in Arlington, Va. The vehicle could support multiple missions, including mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR).
"The Navy is taking an accelerated approach with industry to leverage existing unmanned undersea vehicle designs that can be modified to rapidly bring additional capabilities to the undersea domain," the Navy wrote in the RFI.
Sumrean also the Navy's progress outlined on other new unmanned maritime systems, including the Common Unmanned Surface Vessel (CUSV) and the Knifefish UUV. The Navy plans to experiment with the 11-meter-long CUSV in fiscal years 2017 and 2018. CUSV, made by TEXTRON, is designed to hunt and neutralize mines, but could also have other uses, including towing, sonar and conducting ISR.
Knifefish, a mine hunter built by GENERAL DYNAMICS, will be tested aboard LCS in FY 2017 and is scheduled to be fielded starting in FY 2018. The Navy plans to buy 30 systems, six of which will be for training.

Navy's Ohio Replacement Sub Faces DoD Review In November

Marc Selinger, Defense Daily
26 October 2016 
 
The Pentagon plans to conduct a high-level review of the Navy's Ohio class replacement submarine program in early November, a key service official said Oct. 26.
The Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) meeting, overseen by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, is expected to scrutinize the program's progress, formally green-light the effort and set a cost baseline, said Rear Adm. Michael Jabaley, the Navy's program executive officer for submarines, who spoke at a Naval Submarine League symposium in Arlington, Va.
But Jabaley warned that the program could be slowed if Congress does not approve $773 million for fiscal year 2017 detail design work by about Jan. 1. Lawmakers have not yet passed an FY 2017 defense appropriations bill, and the current continuing resolution, which funds the federal government until December, does not contain the design money. Navy officials insist the program's schedule is already tight and cannot afford a delay.
"It is a perilous situation that I am hopeful will be resolved either in the next continuing resolution or with the passage of an appropriations bill" for FY 2017, Jabaley said.
For its part, the Navy is using "aggressive prototyping scheme" to keep the program on track, Jabaley said. With research and development funding, "we are already building pieces of this ship," including missile tubes components that will be installed on the first sub, he said.
The Navy plans to buy a total of 12 new submarines to replace 14 aging Ohio boomers. GENERAL DYNAMICS [GD] Electric Boat is the prime contractor and HUNTINGTON INGALLS INDUSTRIES (HII) Newport News Shipbuilding is taking a secondary role. Construction of the first new sub is scheduled to begin in 2021.
Jabaley said the Navy is "working very hard" with its shipbuilders to complete negotiations on a contract to complete the sub's design. Electric Boat has been conducting research and development for the new vessel under a five-year, $1.85-billion contract awarded in December 2012.
In 2014, the Navy calculated that designing the sub and preparing construction yards would cost $17.4 billion, and that building "follow" ships two through 12 would cost an average of $5.2 billion.

General Dynamics Expects Major Contract For Ohio Replacement By End Of Year

Jason Sherman, Inside Defense
26 October 2016
 
General Dynamics expects the Navy to award a contract to commence detailed design and construction of the Ohio-class replacement submarine program by the end of the year,  the top executive of the defense contractor said this week, providing new insight into the revised schedule for the high-profile program. 
Phebe Novakovic, General Dynamics chairman and chief executive officer, said during an Oct. 26 earnings call with investment bankers today that the company proposed to a detailed design to the Navy for the new ballistic missile submarine this summer along with proposals for component development design. 
"And they would like to give us an award by the end of the year," Novakovic said. 
Previously, the Navy had aimed to seek permission in August from the Pentagon's acquisition executive to transition the Ohio-class Replacement Program from technology maturation and risk reduction into engineering and manufacturing development and award a contract for detailed design and construction to General Dynamics by Oct. 1. 
Last month, however, Navy officials acknowledged that schedule had slipped. A meeting of the Defense Acquisition Board meeting is now scheduled for Nov. 1 to consider a milestone B decision for the Ohio-Replacement Program, a decision with major budgetary implications for the service and the Defense Department. 
"When you think about these large, nationally strategic programs, one of the most important things that we all get right is that cost is well understood," Novakovic said. 
"One of the things that has been driving our work the last three years is a bottom-up analysis of full cost of construction," she added. "That will be an important element as we work through those costs with the Navy." 
As part of the milestone B review, Pentagon leaders will consider cost estimates from the Navy and the office of cost analysis and program evaluation. These estimates will supersede 2014 Navy figures that have been the basis for public discussion of the new submarine program. 
That 2014 estimate, in then-year dollars, includes "lead ship end cost (with plans)" to be $14.5 billion, the "lead ship end cost (without plans)" to be $8.8 billion; lead ship non-recurring engineering to be $17.4 billion, and the average ship cost for boats two through 12 to be $9.8 billion, according to a February report to Congress. 
The "end costs" account for government-furnished equipment, ordnance, construction costs as well as change costs, according to the report. 
Non-recurring engineering accounts for one-time costs to research, develop, design and test new things while the cost of plans factors in NRE for detail design funded in the Navy's shipbuilding accounts. 
The Navy is seeking $773 million in advance procurement funding in FY-17 -- the first resources for construction of the new ship class. The lead ship of the planned 12-submarine fleet is forecast to cost $14.5 billion,
according to the most recent Navy figures. The service plans to finance the bulk of the procurement costs of the lead ship across seven years with most of the payments in 2021, 2022, and 2023. 
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson told a Senate panel last month that the Navy is looking to the new year for the Ohio Replacement Program to transition to the next phase in the acquisition system. 
"In the immediate future, January 2017 is planned to be a major ORP milestone when we transition from research and development to ship construction funding in order to conduct detailed design work," Richardson told the Senate Armed Services Committee Sept. 14.

Enlisted Women in Submarines Road Shows Hit Fleet Concentration Areas

Lt. Lily Hinz, Navy.mil
27 October 2016
 
KINGS BAY, Ga. – Following the announcement of the opening of the third application window for enlisted women in submarines, the Enlisted Women in Submarines (EWIS) Task Force began their roadshow circuit to provide informational briefs for command career counselors and female enlisted Sailors interested in learning more about opportunities to apply to become a submariner. Below is a schedule of roadshow events:

Navy Region Southeast: 8-9 November
- NAS Jacksonville
Date: Nov.9
Time: 1300-1430
Location: Religious Education Center (Bldg 749)
-Naval Station Mayport
Date: Nov.9
Time: 1245-1415 and 1430-1600
Location: ATG Auditorium

Pacific Northwest: 14-16 November
- Naval Base Kitsap
Date: Nov. 14
Time: 0900-100
Location: NOSC Bremerton Auditorium (Bldg 1013)
Date: Nov. 14
Time: 1430-1530
Location: Off Crew Bldg 2100, Room #103/104
- Naval Air Station Whidbey Island
Date: Nov. 15
Time: 0900-1000 and 1200-1300
Location: NOSC Bldg 2739 Room 120
- Naval Station Everett
Date: Nov. 16
Time: 0900-1000 and 1200-1300
Location: Bldg 2000 Auditorium


San Diego: 17 November
- Naval Air Station North Island
Date: Nov. 17
Time: 0900-1100
Location: CNAP Auditorium (Bldg 8C)
- Naval Base San Diego
Date: Nov. 17
Time: 1300-1500
Location: Career Information Center (Bldg 3416)

The recruitment for this cycle of applicants comes on the heels of successful integration of female officers and senior enlisted Sailors onboard submarines that started in 2010.
In January 2013, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta rescinded the 1994 Direct Combat Exclusion act which restricted women from serving onboard submarines.
Naval Administrative (NAVADMIN) message 19/15 entitled, "Opening Submarine Force Billets to Enlisted Women," detailed the enlisted women integration plan and was formally approved in December 2014 for federal funding by Congress.
This year, NAVADMIN message 196/16 detailed requirements for female Sailors interested in applying.
Female Sailors in ranks Seaman Recruit to Senior Chief Petty Officer are eligible to apply.

Chief Petty Officer and Senior Chief Petty Officer conversions are available in:
* C260 - Information Systems Technician (ITS)
* C170 - Culinary Specialist (CS)
* C220 - Logistics Specialist (LS)
* G065 - Independent Duty Corpsman HM(IDC)
* C250 - Yeoman (YN)

Petty Officer 1st Class and below conversions 
are available in:
* C130 - Fire Control Technician (FT)
* C150/C151 - Machinist's Mate (MM) (Auxiliary or Weapons)
* C121/C126 - Electronics Technician (ET) (Navigation or Communication)
* C170 - Culinary Specialist (CS)
* C220 - Logistics Specialist (LS)
* C250 - Yeoman (YN)
* C260 - Information Systems Technician (ITS)
* C230 - Sonar Technician Submarines (STS)
* C180 - Missile Technician (MT)

This cycle of conversions will be for the initial enlisted integration of USS Ohio (SSGN 726) submarine crews in Bangor, Washington in 2018.
Applications are due by April 1, 2017 and the selection process will begin in May 2017.

USS Key West Returns from National Tasking

Lt. Lauren Spaziano, DVIDSHub.net
25 October 2016
 
The Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Key West (SSN 722) returned to its homeport of Apra Harbor, Guam, on Oct. 25 following a four and a half-month forward operating period to the Western Pacific.
Key West, under the command of Cmdr. David Coe, is returning from the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility where the crew executed the Chief of Naval Operations’ Maritime Strategy in supporting national security interests and maritime security operations.
“My crew has done some incredible work these past months, defending the homeland and conducting other missions vital to national security,” said Coe. “I am immensely proud of each and every one of my Sailors, who have proven time and again their dedication and professionalism while operating forward at the tip of the spear. They have more than earned some time at home with family and friends. It’s great to be back in beautiful Guam, U.S.A.”
Key West conducted routine patrols throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region and operated in conjunction with other Navy ships to conduct maritime security operations that promote stability and peace while developing key partnerships with allies across the region.
Key West conducted brief port visits in Yokosuka and Sasebo, Japan.
“It’s exciting visiting new places,” said Seaman Aron Nichols, who serves as a yeoman. “This is my first deployment and first time out of the United States. It was great trying sushi from Japan!”
The crew of Key West celebrated various achievements in professional development.
“Our crew has accomplished some incredible things this underway, both professionally and personally, and I couldn’t be more proud of them,” said Master Chief Petty Officer Eric Baker, Key West Chief of the Boat. “We had 12 Sailors become submarine qualified, 20 crew members frocked, three Chief Petty Officers pinned, and eight officers promoted.”
Key West was commissioned Sept. 12, 1987, and is the third ship of the U.S. Navy named for the city of Key West, Florida. Measuring more than 360 feet long and displacing more than 6,900 tons, Key West has a crew of approximately 140 Sailors. Key West is capable of supporting various missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, strike warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
Key West is a member of Commander, Submarine Squadron (COMSUBRON) 15, which is located at Polaris Point in Apra Harbor, Guam. COMSUBRON 15 staff is responsible for providing training, material and personnel readiness support of four Los Angeles-class attack submarines stationed in Guam. The submarines and submarine tenders USS Frank Cable (AS 40) and USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) are maintained as part of the U.S. Navy's forward-deployed submarine force and are readily capable of meeting global operational requirements.

German-French Rivalry Led To Scorpene Submarine Data Leak: Report

Staff, The Financial Express
21 October 2016 

The Scorpene submarine data leak to The Australian newspaper in August was allegedly carried out by sources linked to German defence firm ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), French investigators have found. Reporting the findings, French newspaper Le Monde said the data leak was driven by a competition between TKMS and French firm DCNS. The two companies were competing for export of submarines to various countries.
DCNS CEO Hervé Guillou said that the Scorpion leak has not dented the confidence of India confidence in his company. “I went to the Indian authorities for reassurance. We formed a group working on the issue with them,” Guillou told Le Monde.
However, IE reported sources in the Indian defence ministry as saying that Manohar Parrikar, Union Defence Minister, did not meet Guillou or any other DCNS official in the last few weeks. The sources dismissed it as “a matter of corporate rivalry” and refused to comment further.
At a time when the French and German companies are competing to get the Project 75-I programme of the Indian Navy, the report on French investigations gains significance. As part of the Project 75-I, the contracted company would construct six submarines under ‘Make in India’ initiative of the Modi government.
The Australian had published online excerpts of 22,400 documents related to the Scorpene submarine being made under Project-75 at Mazagon Docks Limited in Mumbai on August 24.

New Nuclear Submarine Given Famous Naval Name

Staff, BBC News
21 October 2016

The first of four new UK submarines to carry Trident nuclear missiles will be named Dreadnought, a decision inspired by famous ships from the past.
The Ministry of Defence revealed the name, to coincide with Trafalgar Day, for the first vessel of the £31bn project to replace existing submarines.
The MoD said nine Navy vessels had previously been named Dreadnought.
Perhaps the most famous was HMS Dreadnought, commissioned in 1906, which transformed naval warfare.
The name became used at the time to describe a new era of warship design.
Other Dreadnoughts included one that sailed with Sir Francis Drake to battle the Spanish Armada in 1588, and another that was present with Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
Britain's first nuclear-powered submarine, launched 56 years ago, also shared the name.
Critics of the project to renew the UK's Trident nuclear weapons system believe the enormous investment could be better spent elsewhere.
But Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: "Every day our ballistic missile submarines are used to deter the most extreme threats to Britain's security.
"We cannot know what dangers we might face in the 2030s, 2040s and 2050s, so we are building the new Dreadnought class.
"Along with increasing the defence budget to buy new ships, more planes, and armoured vehicles, this commitment shows we will never gamble with our security."
Dreadnought will be the lead boat of the four new submarines, as well as the class name for the whole fleet.
The MoD, which received approval for the name from the Queen, said the next three boats would also be given names with "historical resonance".
But there are still groups fighting against the project who have said the bill will run much higher than predicted.
Dave Webb, chairman of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said: "Replacing and running Trident is set to cost a staggering £205bn.
"The government dishonestly states Trident will cost between £31bn and £41bn, but that's only the cost of manufacturing four submarines.
"Hundreds of billions for a nuclear weapons system that does nothing to address the real and serious security threats we face - like terrorism and cyberwarfare - but not enough money for schools, hospitals, welfare and jobs. That just doesn't make sense to the majority of the population."