By Xavier Vavasseur
Fincantieri confirmed to Naval News during Sea Air Space 2023 that the keel laying ceremony for the future USS Constellation is “projected for August 2023”.
Three ships of the class have been awarded to Fincantieri: The Constellation (FFG 62) in 2020, the Congress (FFG 63) in 2021, and the Chesapeake (FFG 64) in 2022. A contract for construction of the fourth ship-in-class, the yet to be named FFG 65, is expected sometime this year.
The future USS Constellation (FFG 62) is the lead ship of the US Navy’s newest class of warships. Construction of the first-in-class ship is underway. The shipyard, Fincantieri Marinette Marine officially began construction of the first Constellation-class frigate last summer. The shipyard which used to produce Freedom-type LCS, and is about to launch the last and final one on Saturday, went through an extensive upgrade of its facilities to support the frigate program. These capital Improvements at the yard are set to be completed in 2023.
In a recent social media post, the shipbuilder explained that it is already planning for the future:
This new acquisition program is changing things up by prioritizing the sustainment of these ships. Here are some key points:
- The USS Constellation is being built by Fincantieri, using several cost-saving measures to reduce risk and improve efficiency.
- Unlike previous ships, the Constellation will be built to 90% completion before transferring into the water, saving time and providing better access to the ship.
- The Constellation-class frigates will be used for various operations, including anti-air, anti-surface, anti-submarine, electromagnetic warfare, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.
It’s clear that Fincantieri is taking a strategic and innovative approach to building and maintaining these new ships. We can’t wait to see what they accomplish with the Constellation-class frigates!
During a NAVSEA briefing on the program during Sea Air Space 2023, Capt. Kevin Smith, FFG 62 Program Manager, explained the US Navy is still working through a timeline to meet a congressional mandate to add Standard Missile 6 and the Tomahawk Cruise Missiles to future Constellation-class guided-missile frigates.
The FFG 62 class is based off the Italian Navy variant of the FREMM multi-mission Frigate.
By Darren Orf
The U.S. Air Force successfully tested and concluded its Hypersonic Airbreathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) missile, a technology demonstrator.
- Hypersonic missiles are weapons capable of travelling at speeds of Mach 5 and beyond.
- The U.S. Air Force successfully tested and concluded its Hypersonic Airbreathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) missile, a technology demonstrator.
- The data from the flight will influence future hypersonic efforts throughout the U.S. military.
The future of aviation is hypersonic. The U.S. Air Force is hard at work on a next-gen hypersonic bomber, and even commercial aviation is looking for ways to push planes into Mach 5 and beyond. But the most pressing issue is to counter the world’s growing (and terrifying) chorus of hypersonic weapons.
Luckily, the Air Force just wrapped up a stunning final test of the scramjet-powered Hypersonic Airbreathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) missile, a program it calls the most successful of its kind in U.S. history.
On Monday, the Air Force and the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announced that the weapon system successfully achieved Mach 5 flight and travelled 300 nautical miles at 60,000 feet. That’s an impressive feat, though the results don’t state exactly how long the missile achieved those hypersonic speeds.
TEAM AUSTRALIA NAMED FOR INVICTUS GAMES DUSSELDORF 2023
Thirty-one athletes will represent Australia at this year’s Invictus Games in Dusseldorf Germany this September.
The Invictus Games is an international, adaptive multi-sports competition for serving and former military personnel who have been wounded, injured, or become ill during their military service.
Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans’ Affairs, The Hon Matt Keogh MP, said the combined Australian Defence Force (ADF) and Invictus Australia team, was a credit to the nation.
“On behalf of all of us sport-loving Australians, I wholeheartedly congratulate all the incredible members of Team Australia, who will not only represent our country at this year’s Games, but they will also represent all those who have served our nation in our ADF,” Minister Keogh said.
“I commend Invictus Australia on their mission to adapt to the ever-changing needs of Australian veterans and families and the powerful role sport can play in strengthening wellbeing, supporting transition, recovery and rehabilitation.”
“Sport is a fantastic tool to support veterans as they transition from military service, not only to maintain physical fitness and social connection but as a proactive and preventative measure to build mental resilience too.”
“I would like to acknowledge the families and friends of our team members, for their support through their rehabilitation journey.”
Australian competitors will join 500 current and former serving military personnel from 21 other nations to take part in the sixth edition of the event.
Team Australia will participate in sports including athletics, indoor rowing, powerlifting, road cycling, sitting volleyball, table tennis, swimming, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby.
“The Invictus Games is an opportunity for Australia to celebrate determination, mateship and honour with others from around the world who have also shown resilience in times of adversity,” Minister Keogh said.
In 2022 the Australian Government contributed $9 million towards the Invictus Games and the ongoing work of Invictus Australia in the community.
Team Australia is supported by the Australian Defence Force and Invictus Australia.
This is the first disease to spread from humans to animals it is the sad reality of our times.
Israel Shipyard announced that the Philippine Navy’s 3rd and 4th SHALDAG Mk. V interceptor boats arrived in the Philippines on April 11, 2023. Israeli Shipyards will construct nine FAIC-M boats for the Philippine Navy.
Another two, brand new Fast Attack Interdiction Craft (FAIC) platforms for the Philippine Navy were delivered to the country on Tuesday, April 11.
Said FAICs, which are part of the nine platforms contracted with Israel Shipyards Ltd, arrived from Israel on board the general cargo ship MV Mick. They were unloaded with the assistance of BRP Mamanwa (LC294) and proceeded to the naval shipyard in Cavite for a series of tests and crew training.
Slated to be christened in May, they will soon join the Acero-class patrol gunboats along with frontrunners BRP Nestor Acero PG901 and BRP Lolinato To-ong (PG902).
They are a welcome addition to the Navy’s capability to secure vital choke points, key sea lines of communication, and littoral areas of the country.
About Shaldag Mk V boats
The Shaldag Class’ largest family member is a combat-proven, all-aluminum, light and fast vessel with higher payload capacity, designed for naval security missions.. The Shaldag MK V, as with all members of the Shaldag Class, provides a high level of manoeuvrability and seakeeping. Designed to operate in distant arenas, it is cost-effective with a high firepower-to-displacement ratio. The Shaldag MK V is a recognized leader in the protection of littoral and EEZ waters.
Specifications:
- LOA (Length Over All): 32.65m
- Beam Max.: 6.20m
- Displacement: About 95tons
- Max Speed: above 40knots
- Range @ 12knots: 1000NM
All platforms will be armed with one Typhoon Machine Gun System mounted with a 30-millimeter cannon and two Mini-Typhoon Machine Gun System as secondary guns, while four of the nine platforms will be fitted with the Spike Non-Line-Of-Sight Missile System.
Robert Cross has forwarded this submission to DHAAT.
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BY RHODA WILSON
Alarming defence reforms proposed by Australia’s federal government could see defence contractors embedded with the Australian Defence Force and national security agencies.
Australians must recognise the danger posed by allowing global arms manufacturers embedded access to its defence and national security agencies, and restrict their involvement in any way possible.
Australians who already think that Big Government working hand-in-hand with Big Corporations is a danger to freedom and liberty will be absolutely alarmed by news that the powerful military-industrial complex could take control of their nation’s defence force and national security agencies.
With recent reforms proposed by the Albanese Labor government, this possibility is quickly becoming a reality with international weapons companies set to become further embedded in the nation’s armed forces and security agencies.
A report by Michelle Fahey of Undue Influence details just how the military-industrial complex could gain a foothold in both the Australian Defence Force and the Australian national security apparatus under those Albanese Labor government reforms. A summary of Fahey’s opinion piece is as follows:
- The Albanese Labor government is reforming the 1903 Defence Act and related legislation to more deeply integrate involvement by the US arms industry in Australia’s defence and national security establishment.
- The legislative amendments are expected to sail through Parliament with limited scrutiny.
- The proposed legislative reforms, ambiguous consultation paper, and muted manner of release add further cause for concern.
- Development and funding of lethal autonomous weapons are occurring out of the public view, with no international legal framework regulating their development or use.
- The US government has outsourced parts of its drone assassination program to defence contractors, killing innocent civilians, and Pine Gap has played a facilitating role in these killings.
- The deadline for public feedback on reforms is tight with submission closing in just one week: 21 April.
Most people consider the military-industrial complex to be a shadowy cabal of colluding corporate defence contractors, and corrupt government officials who operate just inside the letter of law, but certainly not within the spirit of the law. This cabal takes advantage of sovereign nations and erstwhile sovereign national defence and national security systems.
By promoting “forever wars” – which are conflicts that seem to be without end and/or clear outcome such as those in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Ukraine – they then get to peddle weapons of mass destruction to the highest bidder. They literally get rich off of the death and destruction that they manufacture… ridiculously rich; and all the while the taxpayer foots the bill and their children – young men and women – are sent into harm’s way to engage in their “forever wars.”
It is clear that Australians must not let the military-industrial complex take over – or even get a greater foothold in – the nation’s defence and security apparatus and agenda.
Fundamental freedoms and privacy are under threat if such a situation comes to pass; not only will these embedded corporations break traditional line-of-command principles but they will also have the potential to exercise an undue influence over Australia’s defence strategy and decision-making.
Ultimately, to preserve liberty and privacy, Australians must recognise the danger posed by allowing global arms manufacturers embedded access to its defence and national security agencies, and restrict their involvement in any way possible.
More than six figures for this six-wheel drive combat machine sets a big precedent for ex-military vehicles.
A rare Australian six-wheel drive ex-army vehicle – specialised for long-range warfare – has recently sold at auction for over $110,000.
While auction house Pickles and Australian Frontline Machinery do not disclose the final sale amount of their ex-military vehicles, Drive understands that the auction price is approximately $113,000.
When the Pickles processing fee is included, this long-range patrol vehicle would have cost approximately $115,000 for the lucky buyer.
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Ex-SAS six-wheel-drive Land Rover sells for huge sum at auction – Drive
The words “Nuclear Power” are banned in Australia by the Looney Lefties.
As a SMALL example, France has 76 nuclear power stations scattered among major cities. There are six big ones operating in Great Britain with another one about to be built.
The company that operated 250 wind turbines on a hill overlooking Sheffield walked away from them last year because their economic life had expired (they only last 15-18 years) and, because they couldn’t afford to remove them and had nowhere to dispose of them they are still sitting there, now subject to legal action.
There are over 250,000 lying in fields in America for the same reason. The cost to remove the nine-ton concrete base is also a huge expense. The blades can’t be recycled because of the composition and even a large semi-trailer could only remove one turbine shaft at a time and only if it could be cut into three pieces. But where would you take it??
Just Saying
