Two new coastal submarines for the iranian's

The Iranian Navy is scheduled to launch 2 light-weight submarines this weekend, a senior Iranian Navy commander announced on Monday.

"2 light submarines of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Navy will be operationalized on November 28, i.e. the Navy Day," Commander of the Iranian Army's Navy Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari told reporters here in Tehran today. Iran has been pushing an arms development program in recent years in a bid to reach self-sufficiency. Iran announced in June that a home-made submarine, named Ghadir 948, had joined the naval brigade of the first naval zone. In November, Iran announced that its first domestically built Ghadir class submarine launched operation. The Iranian military said that the submarine can easily evade detection as it is equipped with sonar-evading technology and can fire missiles and torpedoes simultaneously. (article source: militarium), (photo: coastal iranian submarine)

Iranian midget submarines operating in the gulf of Aden ?

The Yemeni conflict is fast evolving from a Houthi insurgency against the Abdullah Salah regime in Sanaa to a broad regional conflagration drawing in Saudi Arabia and Egypt as major players and increasingly the United States, whose involvement is building up into a direct confrontation with the rebels' sponsor, Iran.

DEBKAfile's military and intelligence sources report that over the weekend, the Aegis class cruiser USS Chosin was designated the flagship of Combined Task Force 151 which is patrolling the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea. Responding to this signal, Iran's navy commander Adm. Habibollah Sayyari announced Monday, Nov. 23, that Ghadir-class submarines would be joining the 4 Iranian warships already in position opposite the Yemeni coast. He did not say how many subs were to be deployed.

Military experts describe the Ghadir as a midget submarine which Tehran claims is silent enough to elude the most advanced US radar. This is the first time those miniature craft will be deployed outside the Persian Gulf and in direct action against the US navy, as well as against Saudi naval craft. Both are blockading Yemeni ports against Iranian arms deliveries to the Yemeni rebels (article source: debka.com, debkafile), (photo: yemen map).

toward a 248 meters japanese...aircraft carrier...

The Japanese Navy planned to build a helicopter-destroyer, to counter China's naval buildup and improve responses for contingencies. The planned helicopter destroyer will have :
- a length of 248 meters
- a displacement of 19,500 tons
- a capability to transport up to 14 helicopters, 4,000 people and 50 trucks.
- It would also be able to refuel other ships.

A request for the helicopter destroyer was first made for the fiscal 2010 budget when the Liberal Democratic Party was in control of government. After Yukio Hatoyama became prime minister in September, new budget requests were submitted in October, including 118.1 billion yen for the construction of a helicopter destroyer. The ship would eventually replace the destroyer Shirane, which is scheduled to be decommissioned in fiscal 2014. (article source: asahi.com, Takateru Doi), (photo: Japanese destroyer of Shirane class, unknow ? credit)

Without doubt, a 248 meters flat-top will be carried F-35 fighter bomber...

1 billion € contract for french submarines maintenance

Frenc group DCNS has received 2 contracts for a period of 5 years for maintenance of all french nuclear submarines. The first contract, worth 500 million €, is for the 4 SSBNs, of "Le Triomphant " class, the second contract (500 million €) is for the 6 SSN of the "Rubis" class. 500 direct jobs & 800 other indirect jobs depend on this contract. (photo: French SSN of Rubis class, unknow ? credit)

OPV for Trinidad & Tobago Navy (updated view)

See a view of one fo the 2 OPV recently launched by BAE Systems for the Trinidad & Tobago Navy. The 2 OPV for the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard are part of a 150 million £ contract to build, integrate, test and commission (up to sea trials) 3 ships for the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. (photo: BVT Surface Fleet)

China’s newest nuclear submarines are noisier than 1970's era Soviet nuclear submarines

A new discovery on the web, conclusion that they've reached at FAS:

China’s new "Jin" class ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) is noisier than the Russian Delta III-class submarines built more than 30 years ago !, according to a report produced by the U.S. Navy’s Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI). Read the original report, so can't assess whether that's a completely fair summary. (article source: Hans M. Kristensen & ONI report).

UK 'sorry' for shooting at 'Spanish flag' buoy

The UK has apologised to Spain after the Royal Navy used a buoy with the Spanish colours for target practice.....

The exercise took place off the coast of Gibraltar earlier this week. The UK ambassador was summoned to the foreign ministry in Madrid to explain. According to local reports, the navy hastily removed the buoy, which had a red-and-yellow marker, when approached by a Spanish police launch on Tuesday. Ambassador Giles Paxman conceded it was insensitive and an error of judgement. While acknowledging that the target had appeared "similar" to the Spanish flag, he insisted that was not what it was supposed to represent. "HMS Scimitar was using Flag No1 during gunnery practice - not the Spanish national flag," a spokesperson said. "Flag No1 is traditionally used on gunnery targets due to its high visibility - however, we recognise its similarity to the Spanish national flag and will use an alternative marker during gunnery practice in this area in the future."

Gibraltar remains the lingering source of tension in an otherwise good relationship between the UK and Spain. The UK claims a radius of 3 nautical miles around the Rock of Gibraltar as British territorial waters. Spain disputes this, and in recent months there have been bad-tempered verbal exchanges between the Royal Navy and the Spanish police. (article source: news.bbc.co.uk, steve kingstone), (Photo: Gibraltar Rock).