Think Tank: Sea, air, land and space updates (29-Nov-2016)

Christopher Cowan, Thulasi Wigneswaran, Elisabeth Buchan and Alexander Vipond

Sea State

The Indian Navy’s anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability received a boost this past week, with the commissioning of the INS Chennai. Equipped with two ASW helicopters as well as sophisticated sonar systems, the INS Chennai is optimised for ASW missions but also has a potent anti-air capability and boasts a stealthy design. The INS Chennai is the third and last ship of the Indian Navy’s Kolkata-class guided missile destroyers; the first two—the INS Kolkata and the INS Kochi—were commissioned in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

According IHS Jane’s, the Royal Danish Navy is looking to acquire SM-2 missiles for its fleet of Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates and will make a decision on planned frigate ballistic missile defence upgrades in 2018. The Danish frigates are admired by many (including some members of the US Navy) for their flexibility; equipping them with the SM-2 would add a punch to their arsenal.

USA: USS Stethem returns to Japan after 7-month patrol

By Lt.j.g. Kyle Wagner

USS Stethem (DDG 63) returns to Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Nov. 17. (U.S. Navy/PO1 Peter Burghart) >>

YOKOSUKA, Japan - The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS Stethem (DDG 63), returned to Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, Nov. 17 after a seven-month patrol supporting security and stability in the Indo-AsiaPacific region.

While deployed, the ship visited eight different countries, participated in nine military exercises, conducted a regular patrol in the South China Sea, served as part of the U.S. Navy's Great Green Fleet initiative, and supported Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 5.

“The entire crew performed remarkably over the last seven months,” said Cmdr. Doug Pegher, Stethem's commanding officer. “They represent the best our nation has to offer. We are also extremely grateful to our families and friends ashore who supported us while we were away."

Stethem operated with navies from Brunei, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Australia, Republic of Korea, and Japan.

News Story: False Alarm May Have Triggered U.S. Navy Warship's Missile Defense System

USS Mason (Image: Wiki Commons)

By: Andrew Tilghman

After several days of investigation, the U.S. Navy believes an urgent warning about an incoming missile aboard a destroyer Saturday night may have been a false alarm, defense officials said Tuesday. 

The guided-missile destroyer Mason, underway in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen, detected a “possible inbound missile,” prompting the ship’s commander to activate the missile defense system and launch interceptor missiles, defense officials said. 

Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, said the commander’s decision to fire the missile defense system was “appropriate,” but there has been no confirmation of an inbound missile posing a threat to the U.S. ship. 

“We have not actually confirmed that that happened,” Davis said Tuesday. 

“We are not ready to call it an 'attack',” he said. “We are going back and reviewing the information to see what happened.” 

Read the full story at DefenseNews

USA: Possible Foreign Military Sale to Japan for SM-2 Block IIIB Standard missiles

WASHINGTON, Jul 19, 2016 - The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Japan for SM-2 Block IIIB Standard missiles, equipment, and support. The estimated cost is $821 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on July 15, 2016.

The Government of Japan has requested a possible sale of up to two hundred forty-six (246) Standard Missile (SM-2), Block IIIB Vertical Launching Tactical All-Up Rounds, RIM-66M-09. This request also includes MK 13 MOD 0 Vertical Launching System Canisters, operator manuals and technical documentation, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services. The total estimated value of Major Defense Equipment (MDE) is $685 million. The total overall estimated value is $821 million.