http://www.janes.comA special collection of articles covering Sea Vehicles and Systems.en-gbCopyright: (C) Jane's Information Group. All rights reserved.http://www8.janes.com/public/images/janes_rss.gifhttp://www.janes.comVisit http://www.janes.comhttp://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41504.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWThe Afghan National Army Air Corps (ANAAC) has taken delivery of another four Mil Mi-17 'Hip' transport/assault helicopters, the US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) announced on 19 November. The four Mi-17s will provide combat airlift, logistical and medical evacuation support to Afghan forces and government officials. With these aircraft, the ANAAC currently fields 25 Mi-17s, including six former Czech and three former Slovakian aircraft as well as another seven 'Hips' funded by the United... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41485.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWDefence Minister Carme Chacón told a 17 November meeting of her counterparts in Brussels that Spain would lead any operation to support security sector reform in Somalia as a cornerstone of its obligations as holder of the rotating EU presidency from January 2010. EU security and defence policy chief Javier Solana told reporters that any EU mission in Somalia would be co-ordinated with other international actors, including the United States, and would have to complement existing African Union... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41503.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWThe army is starting the Hellfire flight tests with an eye towards the deployment of the first Hellfire-armed QRC-2 Sky Warriors to Iraq or Afghanistan in August 2010. Sky Warrior QRC-1 aircraft - which, like QRC -2, consist of four UAVs and two ground stations - deployed to Iraq in August, flying alongside Sky Warrior Block 0 aircraft that were already in theatre. The first army unit (a combat aviation brigade) will be equipped with the programme of record Sky warrior aircraft - including 12... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdin/history/jdin2009/jdin80139.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDINThe activities of the two organisations have included the hosting of a defence energy conference in 2009 (which the spokesperson said raised levels of awareness about the issue in Australia); improvements in the ADF's transport fuel mix (which optimised use of existing fuel types); and a closer working relationship with the DoD's research and development arm, the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), as it "researches alternative and emerging fuel types and assesses their ... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41519.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWUK support services company VT Group is keen to acquire the UK Ministry of Defence's (MoD) Defence Support Group (DSG) should it be put up for sale under UK government moves to shrink defence procurement costs. With an annual turnover in excess of GBP200 million and 3,800 personnel, DSG provides in-house maintenance, repair, overhaul, upgrade and support services for the UK armed forces' air and land systems. Lester added that the value of DSG's price tag would probably fall "within quite a ... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41492.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWThe Airbus Military C-295M has been selected as the Mexican Air Force's new medium transport aircraft, it was announced on 15 November. According to an announcement by the Mexican Treasury Department (MTD), five C-295Ms configured as military transports have been ordered, together with a logistics, aircrew training and ground maintenance package. The C-295Ms will be operated from the military air base (BAM-1) at Santa Lucia, home of the Mexican Air Force's transport fleet. - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41522.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) has confirmed that it has held talks with companies interested in acquiring its troubled Greek subsidiary, Hellenic Shipyards SA. The parent company told Jane's that talks have yet to develop into negotiations, however. Wrangles concerning contracts with the Greek government relating to Type 214 and Type 209 submarines led TKMS to remark earlier this year that Hellenic Shipyards is facing a "very difficult situation financially". - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jni/history/jni2009/jni73271.htm@current&Prod_Name=JNIWith ageing single-role auxiliary vessels nearing the end of their lives, smaller navies are seeking to retain their blue water capability by replacing them with cheaper multipurpose logistic ships, combining strategic sealift and replenishment capabilities. The programme for a new support ship - the Joint Logistiek Ondersteuning Schip (JLOS - Joint Logistic Support Ship), more usually referred to as the Joint Support Ship (JSS) - started to take shape in 2003-04. - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41499.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWThe Indonesian government has commenced a programme to draw up a comprehensive list of armed forces requirements over the next decade and beyond in a move partly aimed at boosting domestic defence industry development. Commodore Sudi Haryono, director for technology and industry in the Indonesian Ministry of Defence's Directorate General of Defence Facilities, told Jane's on 19 November that the inventory is expected to be completed in the next few months. "For equipment in the inventory that... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41514.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWUK military chiefs now aim to use a portion of this money to buy "up to 30" more Boeing CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters by the middle of the next decade, to bring the UK Chinook fleet to "around 70" airframes. Under 'Vision 2020' a major shake-up in the basing of all the UK's military helicopters will occur and the Royal Air Force's (RAF's) AgustaWestland Merlin HC.3/3A transport helicopters would be transferred to the Royal Navy. Under 'Vision 2020' the basing of all UK helicopters ... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jni/history/jni2009/jni73257.htm@current&Prod_Name=JNIHS Ypoploiarchos Mikonios and HS Plotarchis Blessas should have been handed over in July and September 2008 following modernisation by Elefsis Shipyards in Elefsina, near Athens. New equipment fitted in the Batch 1 vessels includes Thales Nederland's TACTICOS combat management system, LIROD Mk 2 tracking radar and optronic gun-control system, Mirador electro-optical tracking system and Scout Mk 2 radar; and Northrop Grumman's Bridgemaster E navigation radar. - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41496.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWThe new Greek Defence Minister, Evangelos Venizelos, confirmed on 13 November that the three boats, located at TKMS' Greek subsidiary, Hellenic Shipyards, in Skaramangas near Athens, would be accepted and that the navy was eager to initiate sea trials for the trio. Jane's reported on 16 October that Hellenic Shipyards was in financial difficulty following the cancellation of the Archimedes programme (for the four Type 214 submarines) and the Neptune II programme (for the upgrade of three Type... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41505.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWThe Venezuelan shipyard Diques y Astilleros Nacionales CA (DIANCA) re-delivered the S-31 Sabalo , a Type 209/1300 submarine, back to the Venezuelan Navy on 11 November following a five-year mid-life upgrade. The upgrade included modifications to the diesel engine, mast and snorkel control systems, improved data distribution and the addition of multifunction displays (MFD). The chief of the Venezuelan Navy, Vice Admiral Carlos Aniasi, stated that the Sabalo will now undergo acceptance trials ... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41517.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWThe activities of the two organisations have included the hosting of a defence energy conference in 2009 (which the spokesperson said raised levels of awareness about the issue in Australia); improvements in the ADF's transport fuel mix (which optimised use of existing fuel types); and a closer working relationship with the DoD's research and development arm, the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), as it "researches alternative and emerging fuel types and assesses their ... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00