Italy has launched the final FREMM frigate: the Emilio Bianchi. The launch, which took place at the Riva Trigoso shipyard, brings to a close one of the most important programmes of the Italian navy of the last few years, the FREMM-the European multi-purpose frigate, the jewel in the crown of Franco-Italian defence cooperation.

The tenth multirole frigate of the Fremm programme is an essential element in Italy’s naval strategy. It is for this reason that particular attention was paid to the launch in which not only Defence Minister, Lorenzo Guerini, took part but also the Chief of Staff of the Navy, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone.  The Emilio Bianchi is scheduled to be delivered in 2021 and the features of the ship make plain the reason for Italy’s strategic interest in this class. With a high degree of flexibility and capability to operate in variety of different situations, the Emilio Bianchi is 144 metres long, has a beam of 19.7 metres and a displacement at full-load of 6,700 tonnes with a maximum speed of 27 knots.

The Fremm programme arose out of the need to revolutionise the Italian fleet with the modernisation of an essential element of the maritime strategy of the country, i.e. the frigate group. Moreover, the confirmation of a partnership agreement with France (which already had a successful outcome with the destroyers Andrea Doria and Caio Duilio) uniting Fincantieri, Leonardo, Naval Group and Thales gave an impetus to a European defence capability that placed Italy in the avant-garde on the entire European and Mediterranean chessboard. A scenario that is becoming increasingly central on the international scene and cannot but be fundamental for Italy. Rome’s strategy cannot but pass through the Mediterranean because of the energy sector and trade as well as problems linked to the safeguarding of strategic national interests and the relationships with partner and rival states.

Over the last few months the Italian naval presence has become increasingly visible. In this regard, it should not be forgotten that the use of the Fremms has also become a symbol of the projection of Italian power in the hottest seas. It was the Federico Martinengo that was sent to Cyprus in the exercises involving the French and Cypriot navy as a signal to the Turkish navy that has been far too active in the blockades where ENI operates.  It was, again, a Fremm, the frigate Antonio Marceglia, that spearheaded operation Atalanta against the Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden recently. And with the European operation in the Strait of Hormuz, together with the possible renewal of the Eunavfor-Med activities off the coast of Libya, the role of the Italian fleet seems more central. And that of the Fremms in particular.

For Italy it is a question of pursuing two different strategies. On the one hand, there is the economic one which obviously results from the fact that that the construction and activities of these ships not only boosts the domestic economy but also creates the opportunity for these projects and models to be exported abroad. In this regard, the recent visit by Sergio Mattarella to Qatar along with the agreements signed in the defence sector, is a perfect example of how the programmes of the armaments industry are closely linked to the foreign policy of a country.  On the other, however, there is a strategic element indicating what Cavo Dragone himself called the rediscovery of the “maritimeness” of the country. The idea that Italy cannot abandon a primary role in a widened Mediterranean in which all the international and riparian powers try to gain the upper hand, where the areas in crisis are growing continually from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea via the Black Sea and from the Eastern Mediterranean to the Libyan coast, it is obvious that Italy is constantly required to  make an effort as an individual country and in terms of the obligations arising out of its membership of NATO and the European Union. Modernising the fleet is a signal that Rome, despite everything, understands the need to distinguish between government and strategy.

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It seems an important first step has been reached towards the renewal and extension of the underwater division of the Italian Navy. According to Il Sole 24 Ore, the Treasury, Defense and Economic Development ministers have come to an agreement in recent weeks to reach a contract that would ensure financial coverage of all the Armed Forces programs, and more specifically, funds were determined and approved by the Court of Auditors to have Fincantieri build four new U-212 NFS submarine units (Near Future Submarines).

The project will cost 2.3 billion euros, 1.3 billion for the first two units, with a “1+2+2” tranche solution in order to deal with the scarcity of available funds. The first boat, the construction of which should start immediately, will be supported, during the acquisition phase, by a simulator and by systems of logistical support.

Back in March 2018, the Defense ministry, then held by Roberta Pinotti, gave the green light to sign the purchase agreement for two U-212 NFS submarines that were inserted into the 2018-2020 Defense DPP (Multi-year Planning Document) and included in the 7.2 billion euros of investments that were released last June in agreement with the Ministry of Economic Development.

Now, the new path under Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini seems to be taking the same road while also increasing the number of ships from two to four so that they might make up for the retirement of the old third and fourth series Sauro-class submarines (Pelosi, Prini, Longobardo and Gazzana Priaroggia), which will probably take place by 2025.

At the end of October, it got the green light from the parliamentary commissions in charge of the draft of the ministerial order that contained the multi-year development, purchase and ten-year logistical support plan for the first two U-212 NFS submarines deriving from the U-212A series, or Todaro class in Italy, which currently has four units lined up: the Todaro, the Sciré, the Pietro Venuti and the Romeo Romei.

The financial resources were implemented by the Ministry of Economic Development using funds for the financing of infrastructural investments and development in the country, also called “the big fund”, and three ministries reached an understanding on the first of the two contracts for the purchase plan at the end of this past year.

The procedure now foresees the resolution of administrative paperwork that will allow the Navy and Fincantieri to sign the contract, which operates under a license by the German Thyssen Krupp Marine Systems.

U-212A submarines

The U-212 class submarines, or Todaro class for the Navy, come from the Italy-Germany Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on April 22, 1996, which included the construction of six boats (four for Germany and two for Italy). Then, on August 3, 1999, the planned option of the construction of another two U-212A class second series units was employed.

Currently, the Navy has four U-212A submarines in service. The Todaro, head of its class, was added in 2006, the Sciré the following year and the Romeo Romei and Pietro Venuti in 2016.

These units are medium/small-sized submarines with hunter/killer roles (called SSK) that, however, unlike other submersibles of the same category, have air-independent propulsion systems, called AIP, which allows the boats to remain submerged for longer periods compared to classic models that run on diesel-electric motors.

The U-212A submarines have an immersion autonomy that allows them to operate for almost two weeks without reaching snorkel level. This is 6-7 times longer than a conventional submarine without AIP, and today it seems they have reached up to three weeks.

The Todaros are units of medium size. They are 55.9 meters long with a maximum diameter of 7 meters. They have an underwater displacement value of 1,727 tons (1,522 on the surface). Their maximum speed underwater is 22 knots (12 on the surface), and the powertrain is composed of a MTU Piller diesel-generator motor and a Siemens magnetic electric engine with AIP system with fuel cells of 8+1 rechargeable battery modules.

The battle system, which revolves around the DBQS-40 sonar equipped with circular base, flank-array, towed-array, ASM interceptor and sound-detection system includes six 533-milimeter torpedo tubes for Whitehead A184 mod.3 torpedoes managed by the integrated command and combat management system.

These are medium/small-sized submarines characterized by the use of innovative technology that allows for very advanced performance and are particularly noteworthy in the area of stealth navigation, detection, the electroacoustic system and weapons launch. The boat is made of two cylinders of different diameters connected by a two-meter long truncated-conical segment. The fore section is a single hull; the aft section is a double hull due to the existence of a light hull that surrounds the oxygen and hydrogen tanks that are necessary for the AIP system.

The U-212 NFS submarines

The new U-212 NFS submarines are slightly different from the previous ones according to leaks from specialized sources. First of all, they are slightly longer to make room for new fuel cells that could thus increase the overall power of the propulsion system and offer higher spurts of max speed but also to house an extra antenna for providing new ECM-ECCM electronic warfare capabilities.

More than anything, they will have more contents from Italian industries. For example, the electronic warfare systems, including also the CEMS part, will be electronic. The propulsion will still be AIP, based on Siemens Pem cells but with ion-lithium batteries of Italian production rather than lead-acid batteries.

A new Florine-polymer covering will also be applied to the hull of the new U-212 NFS boats, which will reduce scale build-up and the hydrodynamic resistance through adjustments in prow design. The new batteries, the metamaterial-based paint, the new prow design and improvements to the fuel cells will all increase the autonomy of the new boats.

As for the battle system, the new submersibles will be designed to be able to launch both sea-sea and sea-land missiles, making them, for all intents and purposes, multi-purpose units like those already in service in “richer” countries. These units are also able to operate in close contact with the raiders of the Comsubin (Diver and Raider Command Group) and use AUV and UUV remote- and autonomous-control vehicles.

L'articolo Italian Navy Ready to Acquire New U-212 Submarines proviene da InsideOver.

The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is moving quickly towards the launch of its amphibious landing ship or LHD (landing helicopter dock) Type 075, currently under construction in Shanghai by the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Company (subsidiary of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation, CSSC). From various images taken of the new amphibious assault ship, initially published on the Chinese social media network Weibo and later on Twitter, it seems that the works are proceeding faster than initially planned and the launch could take place in the coming months. Compared to the satellite images from last June in which the Type 075 still appeared to be unfinished, in these recent shots the ship’s hull is complete and the works mainly concern two superstructures above the flight deck. Probably, similar to the British Queen Elizabeth and the Italian Trieste, the first LHD Type 075 will have twin islands, thus separating the ship’s control tower from that of the combat operations, both terrestrial and aerial.

The features of the Type 075

Once completed, the Type 075 should have a total displacement of between 31,000 and 40,000 tons, with an overall length of 250 metres and a maximum width of 30 metres. The most noteworthy feature, and a departure from past designs, seems to be that of the twin islands. This engineering characteristic, recently implemented in Europe, allows for more space on the ship’s flight deck. There it will be possible to accommodate five or six of the medium-to-large helicopters used by the Chinese armed forces, while the lifts, located in the stern and bow, will be able to access the hangars that will host further helicopters (the maximum capacity should be 30) and amphibious landing craft, which can be put to sea by a pump-action ramp. However, the ships of the Type 075 class could in future also be modified and transformed into light aircraft carriers, because the dimensions and characteristics of the flight deck and the hangars do not preclude the use of short take-off and vertical landing aircraft. At the moment, however, they do not seem to be developing any such jets to require the use of Type 075 as light aircraft carriers. On the other hand, this could not be ruled out in the short term, and it would bring the capacity of the PLAN closer to that of the US Navy, giving it more chance of exercising power plays around the South and East China Seas.

The first step towards large-scale amphibious landings?

The initial step will be to launch the first Type 075, which will allow China to modernise and improve their fleet of amphibious landing ships, currently comprised of the smaller Type 071. The plan seems to be to complete the construction of three new LHDs, and put them into active service, then to increase efforts in the following five-year period to try to reach a total of between six and nine Type 075. The Beijing government’s clear objective was recently stated in its defence white paper published in July, which stressed the need to equip their armed forces to a level sufficient to protect China’s political-economic interests. In this context the LHD are vital because they facilitate aerial and logistic support operations, as well as allow helicopters to take off to combat submarines. The main use, however, of this type of ship is to guarantee being able to carry out amphibious landings.

China’s strategy seems to be focussed on precisely this because, at present, as pointed out in the 2019 Pentagon report on Chinese military capabilities, Beijing’s armed forces would not be able to carry out landings of any size. According to this report, the shipyards’ efforts would be aimed at allowing the Navy to carry out landings of limited scope, perhaps in the small islands of the South China Sea. In future, when nine or ten LHD will be in use, the target could become more ambitious and a large-scale landing could be organised and implemented in Taiwan. The possibility of a military operation against the Taipei government has never been denied by Beijing – in fact, in the recent white paper they underlined the chance of direct intervention if the idea of “a single China” should be put under threat. Even the reorganisation of the Chinese Marine Corps, due to triple its manpower in the coming years, is an indication of Beijing’s willingness to equip itself with forces that can support government foreign policy.

Active support for Beijing’s policies

Comparison with US forces is unrealistic, but with the new Type 075 China is moving closer to a guarantee of being able to use its Navy for large-scale amphibious operations. Additionally, with the speed of the construction of the LHD in Shanghai, China is once again demonstrating its willingness to shorten timelines in order to have the military capacity needed to support President Xi Jinping’s foreign policy, which aims to have “total” control of the Asia Pacific region. This could already be possible in the next few years, especially if Shanghai’s shipyards could be configured to build more Type 075s simultaneously. If so, the signal to the world would be clear and unmistakeable.

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For some years now, poverty and human development have complicated the precise ranking of India in terms of the “four worlds” geopolitical archetype. With regards to population, the country carries the second largest national community, dwarfed only by the population of China. One of India’s strongest public attributes is its budding naval unit. This militaristic faction has been instrumental in dealings both of a political and economic nature. The administration is also focusing its energies on developing atomic-run submarines.

American and French Relations Aid the Indian Navy in Serving Its Purpose

As has been stated on the Navy’s official website, the “Indian Navy remains committed to ensuring safety of Indian maritime trade and merchant vessels operating in the region and contributing towards maintaining a stable and peaceful Indian Ocean Region.” One of the threats to Indian trade and the overall peace outlined in the Navy’s official statement is piracy. To combat the threat of theft en route across the sea, the Indian Navy has lately seen action in the Gulf of Aden, though the Navy has also patrolled areas of the Persian Gulf.

Recent agreements between India’s National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the United States and France have proved favorable for the navies on all sides of the accord. Vessels enlisted in the US Navy, for instance, have since refueled at Indian naval bases. The US Navy, in turn, reciprocates by permitting Indian warships to commonly refuel from their own reservoirs.

In addition to its anti-piracy endeavors, the Indian Navy has been engaged in assisting with Operation “GULFDEP,” taking place in the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, as well as Operation “MALDEP” in a sector of the Andaman Sea that stretches to the Malacca Strait. The Malacca Strait serves as the entry point to the Indian Ocean Region for ships of the heavily-fortified Chinese Navy.

The Indian Navy’s Preoccupation with Submarines

Many of the world’s leading navies have possessed nuclear-powered submarines for decades. China’s naval force, the People’s Liberation Army Navy, had acquired five Type 091 Han-class atomic subs by 1974. The US had functional nuclear submarines by the late 1950s, and Great Britain had its inaugural nuclear submarine by 1960. For the Indian Navy, however, building nuclear-powered subs is an endeavor which has only seen active development within recent years. In 2015, a long-dormant project involving the construction of half a dozen atomic subs was begun as per the NDA’s instruction. That same year, Russia produced the Kransnodar, a diesel-electric, Kilo-class sub, which attacked certain coordinates (where members of the Islamist militant group Isis were located) in Syria in 2017.

The Indian submarines being designed are intended to feature uncannily strong nuclear reactors. The Defense Public Sector Unit, Mishra Dhatu Nigam, has been developing a new alloy to be used in the hulls of the upcoming Indian subs. While in the midst of acquiring their own submarine fleet, India currently has two nuclear submarines on loan from Russia: the INS Arihant, and the Chakra. (Ties with Russia and France, together with those with the UK and Germany, remain India’s most crucial affiliations in the European arena.) It has also been reported that back in March, a multi-billion-dollar transaction took place between Russia and India, in which India received a lease on a superior nuclear attack submarine. It has been hailed as Chakra III and shall be constructed, at least in part, in a Russian shipyard. The Indian government may feel there is a sufficient need for such subs on account of recent terrorist and military activities.

The Pulwama Incident Showcases the Need for Efficient Naval Submarines

In mid-February of this year, a terrorist attack broke out in India’s Pulwama district. The militant group which took responsibility for the Pulwama attack was the Islamist faction Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). The extremist party is based out of Pakistan. In the eyes of India’s government, the blame fell upon the country of Pakistan itself.

Resulting from the Pulwama attack, the Indian Navy had quickly deployed a large portion of its fleet near Pakistani waters, which consisted of a variety of vessels including conventional and nuclear subs. At this point, Pakistan’s government was concerned that New Delhi would use this fleet to seek revenge for the deaths of the 40 CRPF officials who were killed in the Pulwama bombing.

India was maintaining keen surveillance over Pakistan’s military forces. The Indian Air Force (IAF) eventually executed a strike on a Jaish factory situated in Balakot. Twelve Mirage 2000 fighter jets were tasked with the job, which was referred to as Operation “Bandar.” It was the IAF’s first attack within Pakistani borders since the 1971 Indo-Pak War. Following this air strike, an Agosta-class Pakistani sub, the PNS Saad, disappeared from its native waters, evading Indian detection.

One of the PNS Saad’s features which allowed it to be sly and subtle in its maneuverability was its Air Independent Propulsion. This system is designed to permit the submarine to remain submerged longer than a typical sub. Once the Pakistani sub was unaccounted for, the Indian Navy quickly set out to search for the vessel and to prepare for a number of possible outcomes. The Indian Navy’s Scorpene-class sub, the INS Kalvari, assisted in the submarine hunt.

Finally, after more than 20 days of searching, India came in contact with the PNS Saad on Pakistan’s western end. It had been secretly deployed there in the chance that it would have some role to play should India’s military forces keep up bombardment after Operation Bandar. The Indian Navy has currently occupied sectors of the Arabian Sea, paying strict attention to Pakistani vessel movements and locations.

India’s recent hunt for the PNS Saad and growing naval activity have signaled the Navy’s readiness for effective nuclear attack submarines. The forthcoming Chakra III and the nuclear submarine fleet will aid in the Indian Navy’s preparedness for future submarine hunts and increase military mobility.

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