Technology

Here I will show you a look of the projects of all the navies and how the future will look like in the :

	In the air
	In the sea
	In ground forces

-NSSN Virginia Class

The Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics, Connecticut is the lead design authority for the US Navy's New Attack Submarine. The US Navy has awarded contracts for the first four vessels. General Dynamics Electric Boat is constructing the first of class, Virginia (SSN 774), to commission in 2006, and the third in 2008. Newport News Shipbuilding will construct the second, Texas SSN 775 (commission in 2007) and fourth (in 2009). The USN's total requirement is for 30 of the class.

-LPD 17

The Landing Platform Dock 17, San Antonio Class, is the latest class of amphibious force ship for the United States Navy. The mission of the LPD 17 ships is to transport marines, with helicopters and air-cushioned landing craft to trouble spots around the world. The first ship, the San Antonio (LPD 17), is currently under construction and is scheduled to be delivered in November 2002.

-SSN Astute class

The Royal Navy's Astute class submarine is a nuclear powered attack submarine which is to replace the five Swiftsure class submarines launched between 1973 and 1977 and are approaching the end of their operational life. The initial order quantity is three with an option for an additional two. The performance specification of the Astute is an extension of the performance of the Trafalgar Class Batch 1 fleet of the Royal Navy's Second Submarine Squadron based at Devonport.

-CV (F)

The UK Future Aircraft Carrier, CV(F), requirement is for two, 35 to 40,000, tonne carriers which will enter service in the years 2012 and 2015. Each carrier will be capable of embarking an air group of 40 aircraft, surging to a maximum capacity of 50 aircraft. The estimated cost of the two carriers is £2 billion over the next 20 years and the cost of the aircraft will be between £5bn and £7bn depending on which type is selected.The carriers will be twice the size of the Invincible class through deck cruisers and will accommodate more than twice as many aircraft.

-LPD Albion Class

On 18th July 1996, Michael Portillo, Secretary of State for Defence, announced a £450 million order with Vicker's Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd, VSEL, now part of BAE Systems for two new amphibious warfare ships known as Landing Platform Docks (LPDs) for the Royal Navy.The Landing Platform Docks are to replace HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid which were launched in 1963 and 1964. HMS Albion and Bulwark will be based at Plymouth and are expected to enter service in August 2000 and March 2003.

-CNGF (TYPE 45)

The Type 45 destroyer will be the UK Royal Navy's future anti-air warfare (AAW) destroyer to provide area defence for the fleet or task force. Following the demise of the three nation Common New Generation Frigate programme, the UK Ministry of Defence has decided to follow a national anti-air warfare solution, the Type 45 destroyer, to replace the UK's Royal Navy's eleven Type 42 destroyers, in service since 1978.

-Trimiran research ship

The Trimaran Research Ship is being built as a technology demonstrator ship for the Royal Navy's Future Surface Combatant (FSC) frigate requirement. The design and manufacture of a large sea-going demonstrator vessel, which will be used to quantify the structural and seakeeping performance of the Trimaran, is being funded by DERA, the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency of the Ministry of Defence.In August 1998, the UK Ministry of Defence awarded a contract to Vosper Thornycroft to construct the Trimaran, which will be called RV (Research Vessel) Triton. Delivery is scheduled for September 2000 with an extensive trials programme to begin soon after.

- Charles De Gaulle Class

The 38,000 ton, nuclear powered aircraft carrier, Charles De Gaulle,was constructed at the DCN Brest naval shipyard in Brittany. The ship was launched in May 1994 and began sea trials in January 1999. These include speed trials, trials of the SATRAP stabilisation system and aircraft landing trials. The first take-off and landing trials took place in July 1999, with Rafale, Super Etendard and E-2C Hawkeye aircraft. As a result of these trials, consideration is being given to lenghthen the landing deck by 4.4 m to enable the E-2C to land and clear the deck quickly. The carrier is due to be commissioned in 2000.

-U212/U214

The Type 212 submarine or U212 is a non-nuclear submarine capable of long distance submerged passage to the area of operation. The order for the German Navy for the first four of the submarines was placed in 1994 and the first ship will be commissioned in the year 2003. The Type 212 is being constructed by Howaldtswerke - Deutsche Werft GmbH (HDW) of Kiel and Thyssen Nordseewerke GmbH (TNSW) of Enden.Two submarines of the same design as the U212 are being built by Fincantieri for the Italian Navy The first is expected to launch in 2002 and commission in 2005

-Sachsen Class

The Sachsen Class (F124) is Germany's Air Defence Frigate being built by ARGE F124. The design is based on an extension of the Brandenburg F123 class design with the addition of anti-air warfare equipment and a capability based on an advanced sensor configuration, air defence weaponry and a stealth design.Construction of the first of class, Sachsen is underway at the Blohm and Voss shipyard in Hamburg and is due to be delivered in 2002. The second, Hamburg is to be delivered in 2004 and the third, Hessen in 2005.

-F-22 Raptor

The F-22 Raptor advanced tactical fighter aircraft is being developed for service with the United States Air Force from the year 2005.In 1981 the United States Air Force outlined the requirement for a fighter to replace the F-15 and the concept definition studies for the advanced tactical fighter began in 1983. The studies gave emphasis to agility, stealth and range. By 1990 Lockheed Skunk Works, teamed with Boeing and General Dynamics, had built and flown the demonstration prototype aircraft, designated YF-22. The first F-22 fighter aircraft was unveiled in April 1997 and was given the name Raptor.

-JSF

The Joint Strike Fighter, the JSF, is being developed for the US Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps and the UK Royal Navy. It is estimated that approximately 3,000 aircraft are planned for the US Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps and the UK Royal Navy with a further requirement for 2,000 export aircraft over the life of the JSF programme.

-ABL YAL 1A

The US Air Force Airborne Laser, (ABL), designated YAL-1A, is high energy laser weapon system for the destruction of tactical theatre ballistic missiles, which is carried on a modified Boeing 747-400 aircraft. The ABL is being developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory (formerly U.S. Air Force Phillips Laboratory) and the industrial Team ABL, comprising Boeing, TRW and Lockheed Martin

-RAH-66 Comanche

The Comanche RAH-66 is the US Army's new Reconnaissance and Attack Helicopter being developed by Boeing Sikorsky. The first flight of the Comanche took place on 4th January 1996. Full-rate production is scheduled to start in the year 2006 but the US Department of Defence has approved an operational capability program which requires six additional Comanche helicopters to be manufactured in the year 2001 for operational testing by the US Army.

-EUROFIGHTER

The four nation Eurofighter Typhoon is a foreplane delta wing beyond-visual-range and close air fighter aircraft with surface attack capability. Eurofighter has high agility at supesonic speed and 'supercruise' capability, that is it can fly at sustained speeds of over Mach 1 without the use of afterburner.An overall production contract for 620 aircraft was signed in January 1998 with 232 for UK, 180 for Germany, 121 for Italy and 87 for Spain. Initial orders have been placed for 148 aircraft - Germany (44), Italy (29), Spain (20) and UK (55). Production is underway on the first of these aircraft which are planned to enter service with the four participating nations in 2002.

-FOAS

FOAS or the Future Offensive Air System is the name given to a number of concept options being examined for the UK Ministry of Defence's requirement to replace the capabilities provided by the Tornado GR4 aircraft in about 20 years time.By the end of 1998 the UK MOD and British industry have spent more than £100 million on research into FOAS and the development of the related advanced technologies. British Aerospace is examining the best combined force mix, comprising manned aircraft, Uninhabited Air Vehicles (UAVS) and Conventional Air Launched Cruise Missile.

-A400m

The A400M (formerly known as the Future Large Aircraft) is a military transporter designed to meet the requirements of the air forces of Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom. The Airbus Military Company, a subsidiary of Airbus Industrie, is responsible for management of the A400M programmeDevelopment of the aircraft is scheduled to start in 2000, with entry into service in 2006. It is expected that the number of transporters required is about 280 aircraft, with Belgium requiring 12 aircraft, France about 70, Italy 32, Portugal 9, Spain 35, Turkey 20 and the UK 45

-MRTT

The Airbus Industrie MRTT is a wide-bodied multi-role tanker transport aircraft derived from the Airbus A310-300 civil passenger and transport aircraft. The MRTT is a highly capable multi-role aircraft for operation as a tanker, cargo or personnel transport. It is powered by either the General Electric CF6-80C2 or the Pratt and Whitney PW 4152 engines.

-EMB-145 ERIEYE

The EMB-145 AEW&C is a derivative of the Embraer ERJ-145 regional jetliner airframe, modified with the integration of an Airborne Early Warning radar and mission system. The aircraft incorporates a reinforced airframe, new navigation and communication systems, an enhanced auxiliary power unit (APU), increased fuel capacity and a revised interior layout.Erieye systems have also been ordered by Sweden and Brazil.

-1.42 Multirole Front-Line Fighter

This multi-functional front-line fifth-generation fighter was developed by the MIG [Mikoyan & Gurevich] aviation scientific and production complex of the MAPO military-industrial corporation. The first prototype was delivered early in 1994, and in December 1884 taxi-tests were conducted following which further work was suspended due to a shortage of funds. The 35-ton fighter features a single under-fuselage air intake with two AL41F engines of 20 tons thrust each, and a top speed of over 2,500 km/h.

-NH 90

The NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH) is one of two versions of the NH90 twin engine multirole helicopter being developed by NH Industries. The other version is the NH90 TTH Tactical Transport Helicopter. NH Industries, the prime contractor for the programme, is a joint venture company owned by Agusta of Italy (26.9%), Eurocopter Deutschland (24%) Eurocopter France (42.4%) and Fokker of the Netherlands (6.7%). The estimated requirement by the participating countries for naval NH90s is 182 (France 60, Germany 38, Italy 64 and the Netherlands 20) and 544 for the Tactical Transport version. Four prototypes have been built and flown and first deliveries are planned for 2003.