United Kingdom-45 antiaircraft cruisers _ small fish

February 1, 2006, United Kingdom Royal Navy next-generation air defence destroyer-45 destroyer first warship "brave" (Dating), in the Clyde Hong Kong held a Grand launching ceremony, including the United Kingdom Defense Secretary John Reid and Navy Admiral Alain Wester, 11000 people attended the ceremony. 45 destroyer is built after World War II the United Kingdom's largest surface warships, will be used to replace the existing "Sheffield" level 42 destroyer. Added to the ship-to-use remote electronic scanning 3D radar, principal anti-air missile system (PAAMS), advanced command and control systems and tactical data link system, its technical performance and most advanced in the United States "Alice." Burke-class destroyers, comparable, will become the world's most advanced, combat most powerful Defense destroyer. ◆ Vengeance at present, the United Kingdom Royal Navy assume defense task of warships in 1982 Malvinas war suffered humbled "Sheffield" level 42-guided missile destroyer. The line-a total of 14 aircraft was built, in which the first 6, second and third instalment of 4 ships. The first-to-ship "Sheffield", in 1970, construction started January 1975, formal service. The last ship "Duke", in 1985. In the Malvinas war, the United Kingdom's Royal Navy 3 latest "Sheffield" destroyers first play to pay two died a painful cost of injury, the world fell glasses, also had a brilliant Sun Empire Navy discredited. Which, added to the ship's first ship "Sheffield" number is Argentina's "Super etendard Navy" air emitted a AM-29 "flying fish" anti-ship missiles sank; another "Coventry", has also been ' air force fighter plane throwing A-4 number 454 kilograms heavy MK-17 bomb blown. Although this is not the United Kingdom Royal Navy planes cannot form a remote sensing and aerial interception system with direct stakeholders, but also exposed the "Sheffield" Kidd in electronic detection equipment, weapons systems, and so did a big enough. Malvinas war lessons make United Kingdom Royal Navy recognizes that, in the rapid spread of anti-ship missile technology, on ships, the greatest threat comes from low altitude sea-skimming flight of anti-ship missiles, conventional by carrier, air defense ship and ship with short-range defense system consisting of a "three-layer defense" of concepts while still has value, but the major threat has evolved from a relatively simple environment of the North Atlantic Ocean to the anti-aircraft weapons use requirements more stringent coastal area. But when the vessels in coastal waters, waters environmental complex, battlefield objective noisy, sensor performance is greatly reduced, on tactical image processing will be more difficult, on the threat detection range and track warning time also greatly reduced, this will inevitably result in the original "three layers of Defense" system in the most outer defensive role in sharp decline, while relying on defense vessels provide strong protection for the importance of the more prominent. At the same time, the United Kingdom's Royal Navy that 42 destroyer design deficiencies, improvement potential of more limited, and therefore must be quickly developed a more effective alternative equipment to adapt "from sea to land" expeditionary warfare-defense needs of offshore to avoid repeating the Malvinas war, in a future war a xueqianchi. ◆ The twists and turns against the "Sheffield" destroyers that exposed the lack of significant, United Kingdom Royal Navy in the Malvinas war, began to develop a new generation air defence destroyer. Over the past 20 years, the United Kingdom's Royal Navy "blueprint Board" at least have seen 4 new drive/destroyers, but ultimately for various reasons but all Czechoslovakia. In the early 1980s, United Kingdom Aare Banja. the Marconi Company and aerospace systems, Inc. (BAE) has been designed for the Royal Navy's two new air defense destroyer, 43 and 44 of the destroyer. But United Kingdom Navy in the evaluation felt that the two-ship in command and control system, searching, and fire control systems, and other key technologies and substantial breakthroughs, therefore rejected these two design. Late 1980s, the European launch of eight NFR-90 "NATO frigate" plan, intended to develop a large frigates to replace NATO's original frigates team. At that time, even the United States are planned purchase 18 aircraft added to the ship. However, since the European g-8 in ship design requirements and financial aspects of their differences, the development process was greatly prevented. In 1989, the United Kingdom and France to platforms and weapons systems do not match as announced its withdrawal from the program, causing the NFR-90 plan nothing came. In 1991, Britain, France, the two countries decided jointly implemented a "horizon" scheme, a joint development of "universal frigate" (CNFG), 1993, Italy joined the scheme, the three countries in 2002 were built to service the ship-to-1. But the same problem recurs, English, French and Italian States on the basic design of the new vessel (propulsion systems and weapon equipped), serious, in the management structure and cost sharing on a bifurcation, there also exist numerous contradictions eventually led to the United Kingdom in 1999 and 25 April announced its withdrawal from the program. In a continuous experience with other countries was jointly developed by the United Kingdom after the failure back to the construction of a new generation air defence destroyer on its own track. 20 December 2000, the United Kingdom Ministry of defence and BAE company formally signed the construction of the first 3 45 destroyer of the contract, its single ship plan cost of $ 8.5. In 2002, the United Kingdom Ministry of defence has also signed the Chase for the second batch of 3 the destroyer of the contract. These two groups of six vessels 45 destroyer was named "brave", "defiant", "diamond", "Dragon", "defense,", and "Duncan" number. It is worth noting that the foot, 45 destroyer and no lineage 42 destroyer to United Kingdom city named, foot all words beginning with the letter d, so named by the Royal Navy is called D-class destroyers, and in accordance with the international common to first-name the name of the level of the ships, the practice of 45 destroyer can also be referred to as "the brave" destroyers. Under the initial plan, the United Kingdom intends to shared build 12 45 destroyer, divided into four batchesProcurement, each batch will be based on the incremental procurement project (IAP) requirements in the previous batch capability based on enhanced. Of these, the first vessel "courageous", the construction started in 2003, 2005, in September 2007. After the 10-month delivery of a ship's speed. However, it can truly be said to be added to the ship-to-strewn first warship in the construction process ran into unexpected trouble, its equipment plan was forced to delay. Due to a design time than expected, as well as access to Rawls. Rolls-Royce WR-21 advanced cycle gas turbine and primary air defense missile system design data has also been a drag-and-ship "after the first brave", launching time delayed a year into bondage time will be postponed for 18 months, that is delayed until 2009. In addition, its construction cost than the original budget exceeds 2.79 billion to $ 11.29 million, second only to Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's "King Kong"-class destroyers, 4 ＂ chokai "numbers cost (13.75 million). In addition, the United Kingdom in 2004, published by the national defense white paper announced, 45 destroyer of purchase amount will be reduced to 3 Group of eight, and financial pressures are pushing some incremental procurement project content cannot be fully realized. At present, the stages-the first three have already signed a contract, the second batch of 3 platform and major systems also have signed the corresponding contract. But the Defense Department does not seek to BAE Systems of the third instalment of the price of 2 ships, and is said to be at the right time. BAE Systems company made it clear that the 45 destroyers purchase quantity reductions will have on the cost of a single ship. ◆ Overall 45 antiaircraft cruisers and law and Italian joint development of "horizon"-level air defense frigates are born Europe "joint general frigate" (CNGF), three ships from appearance to look quite similar, but United Kingdom Royal Navy pay more attention to the remote area air defense, 45 destroyer with a more advanced duplex phased array radar system. At the same time, to the pursuit of weapons and equipment with the United States Navy's compatibility, 45 destroyer from the second batch onwards, will take us MK41 vertical launching system. In command and control systems, electronic warfare, anti-submarine and torpedo defence and shipborne power systems, 45 destroyer than other European countries there is or expel the air defense frigates (security guard) are more advanced. According to the United Kingdom's Royal Navy senior revealed that 1 45 destroyer than eight 42 destroyer composition of total fleet of firepower, visiting United States people ship equipped with powerful radar and missile systems sense "exception after shock." 45 90-men, 42-287-is equipped with. Ship design 45 destroyer in ship shape and "horizon" class frigates are very similar, we adopt the advanced stealth design, its compact and reasonable layout, ship deck above the water line is the floating of the main deck and above the obvious tilt, angular lines clearly, effectively reducing the radar signal. Its captain 152.4 m, width 21.2 m, depth 5.3 m, fully loaded displacement up to 7350 tons, making sailors 190 people, is the United Kingdom had built after World War II's greatest surface warships, fully embodies the destroyers large-scale trends. It is worth mentioning that during the construction gaijian adopts sectional, multi-national, divided into 6 parts in different shipyard construction, masts and chimneys and other ships as part of the above, it is appropriate in different shipyard construction, final Assembly in the Assembly plant. Power unit is added to the ship originally planned use of diesel engine or gas turbine engines and power-driven combined power plant, but ultimately adopted at the same time providing power and electrical equipment requires the full power of the integrated electricity system. Which, by Rawls. Heraeus company responsible for providing WR-21 advanced cycle gas turbine, gas turbine is based on a very successful total flight time of more than 10 million-hour "Trent" series commercial aircraft engine development, which is the first combination of compressor intermediate cooling and heat recovery air derived gas turbine technology, fuel utilization ratio is extremely high. Astrid-power conversion company would be responsible for providing and integrated naval electric power and propulsion system for all other devices, including the main propulsion motors, converter, etc. Integrated power-driven system although costs more, but you can ensure that the ship's bottom double axis propeller speed foot constant, ships moving speed, stable and quiet. Allegedly, the maximum speed at destroyers up to 27 knots, to 18 knots cruising speed can be continuously 7000 nautical navigation, which is equivalent to travel from the United Kingdom United States across the Atlantic, such high life for regular overseas activities of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy is crucial. Command and control system including the United Kingdom provide aerospace systems of combat management systems and data transmission system, Tellis communications provides a full-integrated communication system, Thunder company provides integrated navigation system, Aare Banja. Marconi Company provides tactical data system, etc. Among them, the combat management system could allow commanders to management and control of operational system; all the integrated communication system allows gaijian has a highly integrated internal and external communications system, and have each warship crew are able to send and receive e-mail; navigation system can determine this ship-to-position, velocity and attitude data and transfer to other systems on ships; tactical data link with the combat management system hardware interface, offers 11, Datalink (Link-11) and 16 Datalink (Link-16) run multiple data link. Sensor system for remote detection system adopts the Aare Banja. Marconi Systems Corporation provides 3D electronic scanning S1850M remote radar, the radar system Tellis company (former Netherlands Telecom) development of improved SMART-L radar. Its main difference is the prototype of the work in S1850M D-band radar, scan angle of up to 70 °, 400 kilometres on air targets for automatic detection and tracking, and has an electronic counter measures and additional wave design, improved radar sea environmental performance to deliver high clutter environment detection and tracking "stealth" target. At the same time, the ship will also be equipped with electronic surveillance devices (ESM), ship-crust sonar, meteorological and oceanographic system (METOC), IFF (IFF) and optical navigation and fire control system, etc. Electronic warfare system then uses the radar band electronic support measures (RESM) system as well as including porous generator bait and confrontation radar guided missiles of the radiation source baits are composed of deception. Air defense system within United States-to adopt a "aegis" system is very similar to the "principal anti-air missile system", the system is mainly composed of "Sampson" two-sided multifunction active phased array radar and a 6 × 8 unit "Silva" (Sylver) A50 vertical launching system. Of these, "Sampson" radar installed in the top of the main mast, work in E/F band, the maximum detection distance of up to 400 kilometres, can simultaneously monitor 500 ~ 1000 goals, and can be guided missile attack 12 6 air targets. "Silva" missile vertical launching system may 16 mixed launch "ziyuan" 15 and 32 pieces "ziyuan" 30-to-air missile. As a result of the thrust vector control technology, "ziyuan" missile attacks with high overload capacity, and veer overload up to 50g, be able to track and destroy 3 Mach above board spherical size flying targets. At present, "ziyuan" series has carried out 10 missile interceptor test sea-skimming, anti-ship missiles is 100% success rate. Test shows that the missile to 10-25 km of supersonic anti-ship missile defense, in 15 ~ 45 km of high speed flight within attack aircraft, 30 ~ 80 km of intercepting aircraft. In order to achieve compatibility with the US, the second batch onwards 45 destroyer also will adopt MK-41 vertical missile launching system, its missile loading will also further increase. 45 destroyer of near-system there are two "dense matrix" system that take search radar, tracking, radar and artillery Trinity structure, the degree of automation is high, reaction time 3.7 seconds, maximum tracking distance 10 km, 1 door 20 mm 6 tube "Vulcan" machine gun, shooting speed 4500 fat per minute, but the system also has more spectrum control logging and tracing capabilities, in complex environments implement operational 24/7. Anti-ship system be added to the ship-to-use of the Western States Navy's standard configuration-two four-Pack "gig" anti-ship missile systems, carrying launch 8 pieces of new RGM-84D "gig" anti-ship missiles. The missile with a range of 120 kilometers, with the last paragraph of inertia with active radar homing guidance, flight speed 0.9 Mach, warhead to 227 kg, its trajectory to detour changes, with strong anti-jamming capability, flaw foot warhead, flying slower, harder to NMD and the intercept. From the gun, the line ships are now uses 1 door 114 mm MK-8Modl stealth gun, firing slightly inadequate, however, from the second batch onwards will be upgraded to the gun, the programme has two kinds: one is using us MK-45Modl-127 mm next-generation stealth gun, the gun as launch EX-171 rocket range guided projectile, its maximum range is up to 117 km/h, 10 m hits; another is the use of 155 mm AS-90 "brave heart" howitzer of shipborne remodel, will become the world's largest naval gun caliber. Anti-submarine system be added to the ship is equipped with two Triple Pack torpedo tubes and can pick up a United Kingdom latest EH-101 "Merlin" versatile shipboard helicopter, the helicopter combat radius of up to 100 to 200 nautical miles. However, there has not been equipped with gaijian Western countries commonly used "Asma Locke" anti-submarine missile, which makes its anti-submarine seems inadequate. But the situation in future switched MK-41 vertical missile launching system will be improved. To attack the system at present, be added to the ship-to-ground attack weapons only 1 114 mm naval gun door, its overall weak attack capabilities. But according to the plan, the second group of 45 destroyer later will be switched MK-41 vertical missile launch systems and large-caliber gun, will have a launch on attack cruise missile and the capacity of large-diameter shells. The line-the most probable ground attack cruise missile foot United States of "tactical Tomahawk". Equipped with cruise missiles, 45 destroyer in the Red Sea cruise can blow to Iran hinterland. ◆ Prospect United Kingdom Royal Navy had global hegemony over three hundred years ago, the United Kingdom's national defense and the national political and diplomatic strategies are established in the Royal Navy, the cornerstone of this firm. But after the end of World War II, with the colonial architecture of the British Empire collapsed, national power of the weak, the Royal Navy also has experienced unprecedented lows, not only lost all major carriers, the fleet size has also repeatedly cut, from a "world fleet" become "the second fleet, former vanquished France and Spain Navy strength can give United Kingdom Royal Navy sweat. United Kingdom Royal Navy Chief of staff of the West will last February has freely admit that the Royal Navy has now do not have to carry massive sea combat operations. He pointed out that the Royal Navy are only 3 9 light aircraft carriers, Destroyers, frigates and 18 15 submarines. But in all the 27 frigate, there are two upcoming years were removed, the remaining real participation in combat operations at sea was only 10. In this critical situation, the United Kingdom plans to invest £ 152 million for Navy warship, reestablished in 2-3 CVF carrier as the core of the "global rebuilding fleet", brilliant. As the fleet of the Skyguard, "brave" level 45 antiaircraft Cruisers in the construction plan will be important, played an indispensable role. However, judging from the current situation, 45-level air defence destroyer construction plan still face tough challenges: first, although the first ship of the line vessel "courageous", has officially launched, but was delayed by about a year, and their service time is determined by the end of 2007 has been postponed to 2009, and in 2006 the Royal Navy's "Sheffield" level 42 destroyer will all over sods, 2010 existing all frigate will extra-service. Therefore, 45 destroyers of the development plan for the future must be to ensure that no further delay, to ensure that future United Kingdom Royal Navy destroyers will not appear for the discontinued crisis air defense; Secondly, the first ship 45 Destroyer "brave"Number of construction cost overruns have been serious, the Royal Navy's budgetary burden. Even if their construction plans in the future, smooth, smooth equipment deployment, but their combat abilities how strong it is, after all, is able to withstand the academic to the actual inspection to ensure value for money and no one would dare call it "it's pretty", after all, there are "Sheffield" level 42 destroyer painful lesson in front. In short, to be sure, in a grueling bumpy and setbacks, the United Kingdom Royal Navy had not failed, "brave" level 45 destroyer can ultimately make widespread pressure of the Royal Navy, we also need to wait and see.