Stewart M Fraser follows the changes in and procurements to europe’s navies as they give their sea power the once over.
The NATO members of western Europe have a long association with sea power and maintain the most powerful and balanced naval forces outside the US. Over the last decade these navies have been busier than ever especially those of France and the UK engaged in a variety of operations.
A number of states are in the process of major re-equipment programmes, introducing the first new generation of naval vessels designed after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The emphasis is on power projection, rapid deployment and operations in littoral waters.
Aircraft carriers
Between them, the British, French, Italian and Spanish navies operate six carriers. With the exception of the 41,000 ton French CVN Charles De Gaulle, they are all in the 14,000-20,000 ton STOVL class, conceived primarily for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations during the cold war, and operating small numbers of Harrier aircraft.
These ships were all involved in NATO and WEU embargo operations in the Adriatic. French and British carrier aircraft participated in combat operations in Bosnia and Kosovo, and British carriers have participated in air strikes against Iraq. Italy, France and Britain have all stationed carrier groups in the Indian Ocean in support of US-led operations in Afghanistan.
The utility of the aircraft carrier has persuaded Italy and the UK to expand in this area. Given the cost of the Charles De Gaulle, France has deferred acquisition for the present while Spain has concentrated on improving its destroyer and amphibious capabilities.
Italy plans to introduce a 26,660-ton carrier, the Andrea Doria, from around 2007. The new ship has been designed with multiple roles in mind. A mixture of AV-8B Harriers and both ASW and AEW versions of the EH-101 Merlin helicopter can be supported. The ship retains the ability to accommodate up to 450 marines, plus a CJTF or flag staff of around 140.
These 236m ships will be powered by four LM2500 gas turbines, for 28-plus knots on two shafts. Self-defence capabilities include a Sylver VLS system for 32 Aster-15 SAMs, using the EMPAR multi-function radar, two OTO-Melara 76mm Super Rapid 76mm guns, and three 25mm AA weapons.
The most widely publicised programme and cornerstone of the Royal Navy’s power projection force in the future, is the future aircraft carrier (CVF) project. At 40-50,000 tonnes, the two new carriers will be twice the size of the existing Invincible-class CVS.
Two competing teams led by BAE Systems (with Harland and Wolff and Rolls Royce), and Thales (with Raytheon, BMT and Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics and Surveillance Systems), are studying the three alternative configurations CTOL, STOVL, and STOBAR and key ship technologies. Most of the design details are fluid but integrated full electric propulsion with four gas turbines giving a range of around 8000nm is favoured.
A standard air group of 40 aircraft is planned with a 50 aircraft surge capacity and 150 sortie per day capability, configured on a joint service basis, with aircraft drawn from the RAF, RN and Army according to mission needs. It will normally be comprised of around 30 future joint combat aircraft (FJCA), six Merlin ASW helicopters and four future organic air early warning (FOAEW) aircraft. FJCA selection is due in 2002 and will determine the configuration of the carrier. The preferred contender is the US joint strike fighter in CTOL or STOVL form.
Amphibious forces
Of the NATO European countries, Britain, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, France, Greece and Turkey all maintain either dedicated amphibious forces or amphibious-trained army units, ranging from battalion-group to brigade strength. The emphasis on joint operations and expeditionary capabilities, together with the formation in the 1990s of multi-national framework units such as CAFMED and EUROMARFOR, and the ongoing development of the rapid reaction force, has increased demand for forces of this type.
Britain, with recent experience of amphibious operations in Sierra Leone, has a sizeable force improvement programme in place. Two new LPDs, HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, are being fitted out. Entry will be in 2002 and 2003 respectively.
The 16,000 tonne LPDs would operate eight landing craft four LCU MK10 in the well-deck and a further four smaller LCVP on davits. Military lift is 305 troops, with up to 650 for short periods, six Challenger 2-sized MBTs and around 70 soft-skinned vehicles. The flight deck could accommodate either two Sea King/Merlin-sized medium helicopters, or a single Chinook.
Contracts were placed with Swan Hunter in October 2000 for four Largs Bay-class alternative landing ship logistics (ALSLs). The ALSLs are austere LPDs, without their sophisticated command and control fit, and include a small well-deck plus Mexeflotes and LCVPs on davits. The 16,000 ton ALSLs will have provision for 350 troops, 500 lane metres of vehicle space, and 70 tons of general cargo.
The Netherlands and Spain have co-operated on the design of the Rotterdam/Galicia-class LPDs, built by Royal Schelde and Bazan. Each of these broadly similar 12,500 ton ships has a well-deck for four LCU or six LCVP and can accommodate around 600 troops, 30 MBTs, or 130-170 APCs. There is an aft deck and hangar for four EH-101 or six NH-90-sized helicopters. One ship of this class is in service with each of the Spanish and Dutch navies and another is planned to enter service with the Netherlands in 2007.
French plans centre on two 20,000 Mistral-class LPDs which are through-deck vessels with landing spots for six helicopters and hangar storage for up to 20. Two hovercraft will be carried in the well-deck and there is also accommodation for 450 troops.
Major surface combatants
Emphasis in this area has moved from the specialised ASW frigates of the cold war years towards larger AAW-oriented destroyer-sized ships with land attack capabilities likely to appear in future designs. In the aftermath of the collapse of the NATO NFR-90 frigate programme in the early 1990s, two distinct multilateral programmes emerged to fill the gap. Germany, The Netherlands and Spain opted to restrict the level of co-operation to the development of a common radar and combat system, built around the Thales Nederland active phased array radar (APAR), the existing MK 41 VLS, Standard MR2 SAMs and evolved Sea Sparrow missiles (ESSM). Other weapons, systems, propulsion and hull design were to be nationally selected.
The resulting De Zeven Provincien and F124 Sachsen classes are being built for the Netherlands (Royal Schelde four units) and Germany (Blohm und Voss/Howaldtwerke Deutsche Werft/Thyssen Nordseewerke three units), respectively, entering service in the 2002-2005 timeframe.
Spain has remained part of the Trilateral Frigate Agreement but opted not to procure APAR. Its four 5,800-ton F100 Alvaro De Bazan-class destroyers, built by Izar formerly Bazan four units are still being fitted with the standard/ESSM missile combination but the SPY-1D version of the AEGIS radar system will be acquired instead. Norway chose a modified version of the F100, the 5100-ton F85 Fridtjof Nansen-class multi-role frigate using the lightweight SPY-1F AEGIS, to replace its 1960s vintage Oslo-class ships.
The Horizon project partners the UK, France and Italy initially decided to pursue a much closer form of co-operation. Two parallel programmes were initiated, one dealing with PAAMS, the principal anti-air missile system and the other concentrating on all other aspects of the ship. Differences rapidly emerged, the UK choosing the BAE Systems Sampson over EMPAR favoured by Italy and France. The UK eventually withdrew from the ship programme though remaining part of PAAMS.
France and Italy are each to procure two ships of this class. They will displace 6,700 tons each, and use combined gas turbine and diesel propulsion, in a CODOG arrangement, for 29 knots. Aside from the PAAMS system they will be fitted with OTO-Melara 76mm weapons and an undecided anti-ship missile system. Each will also carry a single NH-90-class helicopter.
France is planning for a new generation of surface combatants, known as ‘fregate multi-missions’, nine to be configured for land attack and eight for ASW. Design drivers include a reduced crew of under 100, a high degree of commonality across the two variants, and a multi-mission variant of the Sylver VLS, capable of firing the projected 500km range SCALP naval land attack cruise missile. The land attack variant will have an enhanced NGS capability and accommodation for Special Forces teams. Both variants will have an NH-90 helicopter. Two new classes of surface combatants will enter service with the Royal Navy over the next two decades the Type 45 or Daring-class destroyer and the future surface combatant.
The UK national successor to the project Horizon frigate, up to 12 Type 45s are to be procured, entering service from 2007. The Type 45 will displace around 7,200 tonnes. Its maximum speed on two Rolls-Royce-Northrop Grumman WR-21 gas turbines will be around 29 knots, with a range of 7000nm.
In the Type 45, the PAAMS system comprises a 48 cell DCN Sylver VLS for Aster 15 and Aster 30 SAMs and the BAE Systems E/F band Sampson multi-function active array radar. Initial ships of the class will carry a BAE Systems Mk 8 4.5 inch gun and short-range 20mm/30mm weapons. Space and weight has been reserved for additional VLS cells, a surface-to-surface guided weapon system (SSGW), inner layer missile system (ILMS), and ASW torpedo launchers, while a Lynx HMA Mark 8 or Merlin HM Mark 1 helicopter will also be carried.
The FCS is not expected to enter service until 2013. BAE Systems and Vosper Thornycroft are working on different concepts monohull and trimaran respectively for this multi-function, general-purpose platform, of which up to 20 may be procured to replace the Type 22 frigates plus the Type 23s. The FSC would emphasise power projection and support of joint operations ashore.
Submarines
Both the UK and France are planning their future SSN forces. The six vessels planned to replace France’s existing Amethyste-class will be equipped with SCALP naval cruise missiles. At present, Britain has ordered three Astute-class SSNs with BAE Systems as the prime contractor. Propulsion is provided by the Rolls Royce PWR 2 reactor, also used in the Vanguard class SSBN, with two GEC turbines driving a single shaft with a pump jet propulsor system. The main sensor outfit is a Thomson Marconi Sonar 2076 integrated suite, with bow, intercept, flank and towed arrays. Six 533m torpedo tubes are capable of firing Tomahawk Block III land-attack cruise missiles, Boeing UGM-84 Harpoon SSMs, and BAE Systems Spearfish active/passive homing torpedoes.
The follow-on programme to the Astute class is the maritime future underwater capability. The preceding FASM project was intended to produce a traditional SSN, stressing whole life cost level affordability, joint and combined operations capability, littoral operations, multi-role capability, deployability and sustainability in support of expeditionary warfare. These basic requirements are likely to be the basis of MUFC, but greater emphasis might be placed on more exotic technologies so that, for example, the future submarine is as much a transport system for advanced drones and unmanned underwater vehicles as a conventionally configured SSN.
For smaller navies, the SSK is still useful for a variety of missions, and elsewhere in Europe, a number of countries are acquiring new vessels of this type. Germany and Italy will receive four and two Type 212A coastal submarines, an 1800-ton German design with AIP in addition to its diesel-electric plant.
Command-and-control systems are a big budget item
