Maritime forces continued to play a vital role this past year in diplomatic and military events around the globe. In every corner of the world navies and coast guards could be seen operating together, often as part of international coalitions formed to face down dictators, stand tall against pirates and criminals, and offer relief to those in distress. As many of those same countries lay claim to contested reefs, islands, and waterways, however, the world was also reminded that a primary purpose of navies is not only to cooperate, but also to protect sovereign national interests.
This review of international navies presents a snapshot of activities and developments during the past year. It is arranged by region, with nations discussed alphabetically under each subheading.
Jump to region: Europe, Middle East/Africa, Americas
Australia/Asia
Australia has several warship programs nearing completion, but the government hopes to ensure shipyards remain active until the next round of ship-and-submarine construction commences.
The planned 2014 commissioning of HMAS Canberra, the first of two new 27,000-ton large-deck amphibious ships, will help fill an amphibious gap along with the second ship of the class, the Adelaide, due in 2015. Three of the older Balikpapan-class landing craft are due to retire by the end of this year.
Australia’s three 6,000-ton Hobart-class air-warfare destroyers will give the fleet a dramatic boost of antiair capability as the long-delayed ships enter the fleet between 2016 and 2019. The Anzac-class frigates are also being upgraded with better sensors and air-defense systems but are due to be replaced in the 2020s by eight new frigates that are currently under development. The Armidale-class patrol boats continue to see extensive use, and leaders have warned that the class may need early replacement.
Throughout much of 2013 Australia leased the replenishment ship Cantabria from the Spanish Navy in an innovative deal that helped Australia meet underway-refueling and support requirements. Current plans call for up to three new replenishment ships by around 2020. A new class of up to 20 multi-role vessels is on the drawing board as well to conduct general-patrol, mine-countermeasures, and hydrographic-survey duties.
The existing fleet of six Collins-class submarines is not due for replacement until the late 2020s, though government and media reports indicate the boats are still suffering from a number of problems. Twelve new replacement submarines are planned, but the program is progressing slowly, raising concerns that the Collins class will be forced to retire before the new submarines are ready. Avoiding this 2030 submarine gap has now become one of the Australia’s top defense priorities.
The first of 24 MH-60R maritime helicopters have begun to enter service, and all are due in the fleet by around 2017. To help deal with future submarine threats and maritime patrol operations, Australia has also ordered eight P-8 Poseidon aircraft for delivery by 2020.
Bangladesh received two retired Project 053H2 (Jianghu-III-class) frigates from China in January 2014 as part of a 2012 acquisition agreement. In May 2013 the 41-year-old retired high-endurance cutter Jarvis (WHEC-725) was transferred to Bangladesh from the U.S. Coast Guard, where she has been renamed the BNS Somudra Joy.
China’s growing sea power and willingness to assert its maritime claims throughout the Pacific continue to cause consternation around the region. December 2013’s establishment of a Chinese air-defense zone over contested areas of the East China Sea capped a year of bold naval activities and demonstrations that included China’s largest-ever naval exercise in the Yellow Sea, involving more than 100 surface ships and 30 aircraft, as well as their largest-ever foreign naval exercise (with Russia) this past July.
China’s dream of an aircraft carrier moved beyond ceremony in 2013 as the Liaoning arrived at her new homeport of Dazhu Shan naval base, near Qingdao, following commissioning last September. The new carrier was deployed for training through the Taiwan Strait and into the South China Sea, escorted by modern destroyers and frigates. By early 2014 media reports were indicating that construction of China’s second aircraft carrier has now begun at Dalian shipyard, and delivery of the ship is expected in 2020. At least two more domestically built carriers are planned.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that a fourth Type 071 amphibious dock landing ship may have been launched this past year while others speculate that the first Type 081 large-deck amphibious ship may now be under construction. China is said to have acquired a small number of air-cushion landing craft from the Ukraine for testing, and additional LCAC-type units may be built domestically in China. A new 2,000-ton multi-role training ship has also reportedly entered service with amphibious roll-on/roll-off capabilities. New modern surface combatants continued to enter the fleet in 2013, as did the first new Type 056 missile corvettes.
China has made an effort to reorganize its various maritime security and coast guard–type agencies into a single organization that will conduct coast guard, fisheries, law enforcement, maritime surveillance, and other paramilitary-type duties not typically performed by its navy.
Submarines continue to be a mixed bag for the Chinese, however, and although shipyards have reportedly offered a new variant of the Yuan-class submarine for export, rumors persist that the People’s Liberation Army Navy may be looking to purchase Lada-class diesel attack boats from Russia. In 2014 China’s new 5,000-mile-range submarine-launched ballistic missile, the JL-2, is expected to reach operational capability on board its Jin-class ballistic-missile submarines (SSBNs). A number of other advanced weapons, including antiship missiles, are also under development, and this past year a new 150-mile-range air-launched missile with a top speed in excess of Mach 4 was unveiled for the export market.
India has been keen to emphasize its interests beyond the Indian Ocean in recent years, including parts of the African coast, Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca, and the South China Sea. This past year saw the launch of India’s first military satellite, the GSAT-7, for ocean surveillance and naval communications, while the defense ministry recently established a new joint cyber command that will be led by the Indian Navy.
Nearly all of the naval vessels currently on order are built locally, and this trend is expected to continue as India’s shipbuilding industry expands. The sixth and final Talwar-class frigate was delivered from Russia in 2013, and new 6,900-ton (full load) Kolkata-class guided-missile destroyers are under construction in Mumbai while new Kamorta-class corvettes are being built in Kolkata. The first of India’s new 344-foot offshore patrol ships, the INS Saryu, was commissioned in January 2013. This new class was designed and built domestically by Goa Shipyard, and up to nine are expected to be in service by around 2015. The Indian Coast Guard is also growing, and the Aadesh, one of 20 new 164-foot patrol vessels on order from India’s Cochin Shipyard, entered service on 13 December 2013.
Refurbishment of the Vikramaditya, India’s new 40,000-ton ex-modified Kiev-class aircraft carrier, was finally completed in Russia last November, following years of delays and cost overruns. The rebuilt carrier will be ready for operational service from her homeport in the southwest of India by the end of 2014. This past summer also saw the launching of India’s first indigenously produced aircraft carrier, the 37,500-ton Vikrant, expected to enter service by 2018. Until both carriers are ready for service, the more than 50-year-old Viraat is expected to soldier on for a short while longer.
More than 40 MiG-29K fighters have been ordered from Russia for service with the two new carriers, while the domestically produced Tejas light-combat aircraft, intended for both land and carrier operations, continues testing despite extensive delays. Joining these carrier-based aircraft will be up to 12 new land-based P-8I long-range maritime-patrol aircraft, the first three of which were delivered from the United States in 2013. A new generation of medium-range maritime-patrol aircraft are also being sought to replace the Britten-Norman maritime defender aircraft now serving the fleet. India is also considering acquisition of Japanese US-2 seaplanes to help meet airborne search-and-rescue requirements.
India’s SSBN program continues to move forward. The new K-15 medium-range submarine-launched ballistic missile has completed development trials and is set to begin integration on the first of the Arihant-class SSBNs now nearing completion. The Arihant’s nuclear reactor was activated for the first time in 2013, and as many as five of the SSBNs are eventually planned for service. India appears satisfied with the ten-year lease of an Akula-class nuclear-powered attack submarine from Russia and is reportedly considering lease of a second unit. Most of India’s Kilo-class submarines have now completed comprehensive modernizations in Russia. One of those submarines was the INS Sindhurakshak, which had only recently been updated when she was destroyed by a deadly on-board fire that broke out while at port in Mumbai. To supplement the Kilo class, India has ordered six French-designed Scorpène submarines to be built under license domestically, though program delays mean that the first of the class is not expected in service until 2016, while delivery of the sixth unit has been postponed until 2021 at the earliest.
Indonesia has announced plans to inaugurate a new Central Command organization alongside its current Eastern and Western commands. Two new locally built, Dutch-designed, 2,400-ton SIGMA 10514 corvettes are on order, with the first unit due for delivery around 2016 and the second unit by 2018. New 250-ton KRC-40 craft are planned for service as are three larger 460-ton KRC-60 missile-armed patrol boats for delivery by late 2014. Indonesian coastal-defense requirements call for acquisition of new mobile and stealthy antiship missile batteries with ranges in excess of 90 miles and a warhead of at least 330 pounds.
Three German-designed Type 209/1400 submarines are planned for service, and the first two of these will be built in South Korea for delivery beginning in 2016. Indonesia hopes to build the third unit domestically, for service by 2020.
Japan is working to enhance its surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities and plans to invest in long-range unmanned aerial vehicles to help ensure maritime domain awareness. The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force is expected to increase the number of surface combatants equipped for ballistic-missile defense duties and to increase the number of submarines in service to around 22. Japan’s new P-1 maritime patrol and antisubmarine aircraft is now beginning to enter service, and the first two jets were delivered in March 2013. The P-1s are not expected to be fully operational until 2016, so the current P-3 Orion fleet is being upgraded for one last decade of service. New helicopters are also on order, with additional SH-60K maritime helicopters and MCH-101 mine-countermeasures helicopters on the way.
In 2013 the Izumo was launched as Japan’s largest warship built since World War II. The 24,000-ton (full load) helicopter-carrying destroyer features a large landing deck and is able to carry up to 14 helicopters plus approximately 400 troops for humanitarian assistance or amphibious reinforcement operations. The Izumo is expected to join the fleet in 2015, and a second unit is planned for service by 2017. Japan has announced plans to establish a new amphibious brigade for ship-to-shore operations such as reinforcing or recapturing contested islands. In June 2013 the 18,000-ton helicopter-carrying destroyer Hyuga and the dock landing ship Shimokita hosted takeoff-and-landing exercises with U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys. Japan now plans to purchase tilt-rotor aircraft of its own, in addition to several dozen amphibious-assault vehicles.
To protect its regional interests, Malaysia has announced plans to establish a new fourth naval command and to construct a naval base at Bintulu in the South China Sea. The country is planning to establish a new marine corps, is examining expansion of the east’s coastal surveillance system, and is looking at purchasing new patrol boats and fast-attack craft to help conduct counterinsurgency operations.
The navy is considering upgrades to its fleet of MEKO-100 patrol ships that could include antiship and surface-to-air missiles and/or antisubmarine armament if funding permits. Two new domestically built 262-foot training ships are nearly complete, and the navy is considering the acquisition of additional sister ships. Six new French Gowind-class corvettes are also planned for service beginning in 2017.
Myanmar recently took delivery of two locally built frigates and received two second-hand frigates from China. Current plans call for the acquisition of additional frigates as well. Myanmar hopes to eventually establish a submarine capability and has reportedly sent a select group of sailors to Pakistan for submarine-familiarization training.
New Zealand has a number of new naval projects under way, and among them are plans to upgrade the combat-management and air-defense capabilities of its Anzac-class frigates. In 2013 New Zealand’s military announced plans for a major expansion of its naval aviation arm by acquiring ten new SH-2G Seasprite helicopters. Three of the new SH-2Gs are due to enter service in 2014, and all ten are to be delivered by 2016.
North Korea conducted its third underground nuclear test in 2013, and the country has reportedly been looking beyond China, to countries such as Iran, for energy supplies and oil. This past summer a North Korean–flagged tanker was stopped while attempting to smuggle Cuban weapons through the Panama Canal, supposedly for repairs and refurbishment in North Korea, which would violate the U.N. arms embargo.
Pakistan’s navy has continued to build on an increasingly close relationship with China and has taken delivery of a fourth Modified Jiangwei-II (F-22P)–class frigate. The country has also ordered two new 15,000-ton, 508-foot underway-replenishment ships to be built domestically. South Korea is also working with Pakistan to help enhance the county’s domestic shipbuilding capabilities.
The Philippines has been largely powerless to defend its claims to contested waters and reefs in the South China Sea, although the country is working to bring China to international arbitration. In an effort to strengthen its hand, the Philippines is looking to both the United States and Japan, and ten Japanese coast guard patrol ships will be transferred to the Philippines by 2015. The country is finalizing efforts to expand its operating base at Ulugon Bay on Palawan Island with new port and helicopter facilities, while other enhancements are planned elsewhere.
Sufficient funding remains unavailable for any major buildups, however. The navy hopes to upgrade its two 378-foot Hamilton-class ships recently acquired from the U.S. Coast Guard, and is looking to purchase two frigates by 2017. Two large sealift ships have been ordered from Indonesia, and the Philippines hopes to acquire a mid-sized dock landing ship that would be able to transport several hundred troops and up to three helicopters. The Philippine Marine Corps recently ordered unmanned aerial vehicles to assist with tactical reconnaissance and targeting, and has also received six ten-ton small-unit riverine craft from the United States to assist with counterterrorism operations, particularly around the southern Mindanao region.
Singapore’s second of two Archer-class submarines fitted with air-independent propulsion systems was delivered in December 2012, and in December 2013 Singapore ordered two new Type 218SG submarines for construction in Kiel, Germany, with delivery planned beginning in 2020. Eight new 1,200-ton guided-missile patrol combatants are planned for littoral operations to replace the current-generation Fearless-class craft in service. The first of these new combatants is scheduled for delivery in 2016 with the last expected to join the fleet in 2020.
South Korea’s first new Incheon-class frigate entered service in early 2013; five additional units have been ordered, and more than a dozen of the 3,000-ton warships are eventually planned for service. A new class of Aegis-equipped guided-missile destroyer is also under development. South Korea has ordered its first 3,000-ton KSS III submarines, the first class to be designed and built domestically. Up to nine of the KSS III boats may eventually enter service in the post-2020 time frame.
The 2010 sinking of the South Korean corvette Cheonan by a North Korean torpedo has led South Korea to request at least 20 retired and refurbished S-3 Viking maritime-patrol and antisubmarine-warfare aircraft from the United States, with deliveries expected to begin by 2020. In early 2013 the Republic of Korea Navy finalized a deal to purchase eight antisubmarine variants of the AW159 Lynx Wildcat helicopter for use on the new Incheon-class frigates. Deliveries of the AW159s are expected to begin around 2015. The country’s marine corps also plans to acquire a fleet of some 40 long-range transport and assault helicopters starting around 2018, and a second 19,000-ton Dokdo-class amphibious-warfare helicopter carrier is planned for South Korean service around 2018.
Sri Lanka’s navy hopes to maintain its littoral expertise while establishing a modest blue-water capability. Maritime security and awareness are top priorities, and counterpiracy operations will also remain important for economic security. Infrastructure and installation upgrades will be getting a large portion of any new funding, but the fleet still hopes to acquire two offshore patrol ships and several new inshore patrol boats.
Taiwan hopes to acquire at least two retired Oliver Hazard Perry–class frigates from the United States around 2015, and the first of 12 P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft was delivered to Taiwan in the fall of 2013. Eleven additional aircraft are to be delivered during the next two years. Taiwan is also said to be developing a new series of long-range land-attack cruise missiles and has unveiled a mobile coastal-defense variant of the 80-mile-range HF-3 antiship missile. Taiwan remains committed to acquiring a new fleet of submarines, but experts remain highly skeptical that submarine design and construction could be accomplished independently.
Thailand is working to upgrade its two Type 25T Naresuan-class frigates, and a contract to purchase Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles was announced for the class last year. The Royal Thai Navy also plans on acquiring two new frigates from South Korea for delivery starting around 2015. Two Oliver Hazard Perry–class frigates are also on offer from the United States. Despite recent cancellation of a plan to acquire submarines from Germany, Thailand still hopes to acquire at least one submarine by 2020.
Vietnam accepted delivery of its first of six Kilo-class submarines from Russia this past year. Two additional Modified Gepard–class frigates are planned for Vietnamese naval service as are six more Tarantul V–class missile boats to supplement the two units now in operation. The Vietnam People’s Navy is also exploring possible acquisition of two Dutch-designed 322-foot SIGMA-type corvettes with the understanding that at least one would be built locally in Vietnam. The country recently established a new joint aviation unit for search-and-rescue, transport, and maritime patrol operations, and the country’s Marine Police Unit was renamed the Vietnam Coast Guard in late 2013.
Europe
Belgium’s frigate Leopold I completed sensor modernization and upgrades last year that will significantly increase the 22-year-old warship’s capabilities, and similar upgrades are to be completed on sister Louise Marie in the near future. Two 171-foot French-built offshore-patrol vessels are on order for Belgian service in the North Sea; delivery is expected in 2015. New NH90 helicopters are also entering service to replace the aging Sea King helicopters.
Cyprus would like to ensure protection of its recently discovered offshore gas deposits, and the small republic is in the market for two offshore patrol vessels.
Denmark’s three Iver Huitfeldt–class frigates are all in service along with two Absalon-class flexible-support ships. Current plans now call for acquisition of a third Knud Rasmussen–class Arctic patrol ship, built to a slightly modified design, and retirement of the aging Agdlek-class patrol craft Tulugaq by the end of 2014. In December 2012 Denmark finalized an order for nine MH-60R Seahawk naval helicopters to replace the Mk 90B Lynx helicopters in service; deliveries are set to begin in 2016.
France’s defense budgets are expected to remain tight over the next few years, and a planned second aircraft carrier, known as the PA 2 class, was canceled in 2013. Despite this cancellation France intends to begin acquiring E-2D Hawkeye airborne early-warning aircraft for service from the carrier Charles de Gaulle beginning around 2025. New Rafale fighters also continue to enter the fleet, and four Falcon 50 transports are being converted to maritime-patrol aircraft by 2015. In October 2013 the French Ministry of Defense finalized plans to upgrade 15 Atlantique 2 maritime-patrol aircraft to ensure their effectiveness through at least 2030. Twenty-seven new NH90 shipboard antisubmarine helicopters are on order as well for delivery by 2021.
France’s 2013 intervention in landlocked Mali relied heavily on amphibious sealift as the navy’s newest 20,000-ton Mistral-class landing ship Dixmude moved a sizable portion of French forces and equipment to Senegal, where they were offloaded and transported inland for the fight.
The second of up to 11 Aquitaine (FREMM)–class frigates is expected to enter service in 2014, but the total numbers of surface combatants in the navy is expected to be reduced as older warships are retired without replacement. The French submarine fleet will remain the same size into the future with a total force of six nuclear-powered attack boats and four SSBNs as older nuclear-powered Améthyste-class boats will be replaced by Suffren-class SSNs beginning in 2017.
Germany has received its fifth and final Type 130 corvette, but the class has faced a number of technical challenges and will not be considered fully operational until sometime in 2014. Beginning in 2016 the first of four new 7,300-ton Baden-Württemberg–class (Type 125) frigates is due to enter service, and the final ship is scheduled for delivery in 2019. In September 2013, Germany received its newest of three 20,000-ton Type 702 support-and-replenishment vessels. The last of six Type 212A–class attack submarines is to be delivered in 2014, bringing to a conclusion another of Germany’s successful submarine programs.
Greece’s defense budget remains tight, and the acquisition of fixed-wing maritime-patrol aircraft is among the many unfunded priorities. In an effort to boost its surface fleet the Hellenic Navy is considering a lease from France of two Aquitaine-class frigates, or possibly two older La Fayette–class warships. Four German-designed Type 214 submarines have been built for Greece, which had hoped to acquire two additional units by 2018, though this now seems highly unlikely.
Ireland’s first of two new 295-foot, 2,000-ton patrol ships was launched this past November and is due for delivery in 2014. A second unit will enter service the following year.
Italy faces significant shortfalls in its defense budgets and is retiring a wide array of older surface combatants, submarines, and support ships through 2018. Personnel reductions will bring the navy to a force of 27,000 during the next decade, while training and support functions are to be streamlined. In early 2013 Italy formed the new San Marco Regiment, which includes three regiments responsible for naval-base protection, amphibious landings, and maritime boarding operations. The navy and coast guard have been challenged to deal with large numbers of illegal immigrants attempting to reach Italian shores from Africa, and both services are working to enhance their coordination and increase the number of ships and aircraft assigned to monitor these waters.
As many as ten modern Carlo Bergamini (FREMM)–class frigates are eventually planned for Italian service, with the first three warships to be delivered by mid-2014. At least one new multi-role support ship is planned for service by 2017 while Italy expects to acquire two more German Type 212A attack boats. Italy plans to order 15 F-35B short-takeoff/vertical-landing variants of the Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter for service on its aircraft carrier Cavour. The first of these new aircraft are to be delivered in 2017. Additional NH90 helicopters and Scan Eagle unmanned aerial vehicles are also on order.
Malta’s maritime squadron is upgrading its small fleet of aviation assets, and a new AW139 helicopter entered service in 2013. Up to two more AW139s may be ordered for delivery by 2015 to conduct maritime-patrol and search-and-rescue duties.
The Netherlands’ fourth and final Holland-class offshore patrol ship joined the fleet this past year, and a new class of frigate is expected to begin entering service around 2020. This past May, the Dutch Defense Ministry signed a contract to upgrade all four of its Walrus-class submarines by 2019. New NH90 NATO frigate antisubmarine helicopters continue delivery for shipboard operations as well, having replaced the last remaining Dutch SH-14D Lynx helicopters by 2013. There has been much recent debate concerning the fate of the Dutch joint-support ship Karel Doorman, but by November 2013 plans to sell the Karel Doorman abroad to save money had been reversed, and the ship is once again expected to enter Dutch service by 2015.
Norway’s sixth and final Skjold-class air-cushion guided-missile patrol craft has now entered service. Norway is receiving new NH90 helicopters for shipyard maritime operations and last year selected the AW101 helicopter to replace its fleet of Sea Kings for search-and-rescue beginning in 2017. The Norwegian fleet is expected to play an increasingly active role in future NATO missions, for which its fleet of five Aegis-equipped Fridtjof Nansen–class frigates are particularly well suited. On 5 June 2013 Norway announced the first live-fire ship-to-ship engagement test of its Naval Strike Missile (NSM).
Poland has announced plans to acquire three new diesel attack submarines by 2030 with at least two new units desired by 2022. The Polish fleet also hopes to acquire three new domestically built mine-countermeasures vessels by 2020. In an effort to keep costs under control, the planned armament fit for the long-delayed MEKO A-100–class frigate Slazak is being downgraded, and the vessel will be converted to a patrol ship for delivery sometime in 2016. To reduce logistics and maintenance expenses, Poland retired its last two remaining Tarantul-I-class guided-missile patrol craft in December 2013. The country recently received its first batch of mobile land-based NSMs from Norway for coastal defense, with 48 missiles planned by 2015.
Portugal’s second 1,600-ton (full load) Viana do Castelo–class patrol ship, the Figueira De Foz, entered service in November 2013. At least two additional units of the class are planned, but fiscal realities have placed further acquisitions on hold.
Russia aims to have 50 new warships in service by 2025, and the government wants to establish two new shipyards in the Black Sea region. Nearly all Russian warships are reportedly overdue for maintenance and repair work, while shipyards appear to be overwhelmed and simply unable to support the current scale of required effort.
In line with Russian efforts to increase presence and play a greater global role, the country has announced plans to establish a standing naval force in the Mediterranean Sea. The new force, to be placed under the operational control of the Black Sea Fleet, will likely consist of a mix of five to six support ships and combatants. In mid-2013 the Russian armed forces announced that regular aviation patrols have begun over the Arctic Ocean by Il-38 May and Tu-142 Bear maritime-patrol aircraft. Russia expects to continue expanding its Arctic presence and also plans for a new class of Arctic patrol vessel in the future.
Russia’s navy is awaiting two large (20,000-ton) Mistral-class amphibious helicopter-landing ships that were ordered from France in 2011, and the first unit is due for delivery this year, with a second unit planned for service in 2015. Both craft reportedly will be based with the Russian Pacific Fleet, and the option to build two sisters domestically remains on the table. Work continues on the first of a new Ivan Gren class of tank landing ship, and the vessel is expected in service this year after a decade of construction. Russia also launched a new class of intelligence-collection ship in late 2013, and work on a second unit was said to have commenced in November.
Military leaders again announced plans to return the Kirov-class nuclear-powered guided-missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov to active service by 2018, though analysts remain skeptical of the timeline. Preliminary design work has reportedly begun on a new class of guided-missile destroyers that are to eventually replace the Sovremennyy-class ships that have been in service since the early 1990s. Construction has begun on a fourth unit of the 4,500-ton Sergi Gorshkov (Project 22350) guided-missile frigate class, while the navy is reportedly unhappy with the high price of the new, smaller 2,000-ton Steregushchiy (Project 20380) frigate class and may modify the design on future units.
The first of six Severodvinsk-class SSNs was recently commissioned, and two of Russia’s Borey-class SSBNs have now joined the fleet as well, with the second unit, the Aleksander Nevsky, commissioned in December 2013. Reliability of the new Russian submarine-launched ballistic missile, the SS-N-32 (Bulava), remains highly questionable, and failures continue to plague the test program, impacting the utility of the entire Borey-class SSBN initiative. During the fall of 2013 the Oscar II-class nuclear-powered cruise-missile submarine Tomsk suffered a fire while undergoing pierside refit and modernization work.
Spain has completed a naval-base expansion required to host four U.S. Navy Aegis-equipped ballistic-missile defense ships at Rota. With all Álvaro de Bazán–class frigates in service and the large-deck amphibious-assault ship Juan Carlos I commissioned, the country’s only aircraft carrier, the Principe de Asturias, was retired from service in February 2013 due to budget shortages. Throughout most of 2013 the three-year-old Spanish replenishment oiler Cantabria was leased to Australia for service with its fleet. During the spring of 2013 the navy’s S-80 attack-submarine program hit a major snag when it was announced that excessive weight was forcing a reexamination of the boat’s hull design. All four units of the air-independent-propulsion-equipped S-80 class were due to enter Spanish service between 2015 and 2019, but those dates will likely slip by as much as two years while the design problems are corrected.
Sweden’s highest-priority naval-acquisition effort remains its next-generation Type A-26 submarine program optimized for surveillance operations and intelligence collection in the littoral regions. All five of the navy’s Visby-class guided-missile patrol craft have now undergone modernization for full operational service by 2014. The navy is looking to replace the Göteborg-class and Stockholm-class missile-patrol craft with a new boat design, and leaders hope that an organic mine-countermeasures capability can be added to the fleet, permitting retirement of Sweden’s dedicated minesweepers.
Turkey continues to achieve success in its quest for an independent military-industrial base. The navy’s second domestically designed MILGEM (Heybeliada)–class corvette entered service in late 2013, while design work on the new TF-2000 frigate program continues with up to eight TF-2000s planned for service starting around 2018. Turkey has plans to build a large-deck amphibious-assault ship and appears to have settled on a domestically produced variant of the 27,000-ton (full load) Spanish Juan Carlos I class that would enter service by 2017. Acquisition plans also include two new 7,000-ton tank landing ships for service by 2015. Turkey intends to build six German-designed Type 214 submarines at local shipyards as well, for service beginning in 2017.
Ukraine reintroduced its 43-year-old Foxtrot-class submarine Zaporizhzhya into service in early 2013 following a major refurbishment and extensive sea trials in 2012. Work continues on the single Type 58250 light frigate, and media reports indicate that the ship’s hull was 75 percent complete by late 2013, with delivery scheduled for 2016. The navy is also establishing a new riverine unit at Odessa naval base tasked with border interdiction and patrol duties around the Danube Basin, and coastal regions of the Black and Azov seas. The riverine flotilla is expected to begin operations in 2014 with three Project 58150 Gyurza-class riverine gunboats; six additional gunboats are planned for service by 2017.
The United Kingdom’s last Type 42 destroyer, HMS Edinburgh, was decommissioned in June 2013. These older warships have been replaced in British service by the Type 45 (Daring-class) destroyers. HMS Duncan, the sixth and final Type 45, was commissioned in September 2013. Up to 13 5,000-ton Type 26 Global Combat Ship frigates are planned for service beginning in the 2020s to replace the current Type 23 (Duke-class) ships. The youngest of the Type 23 frigates are expected to remain active into the 2030s. The Royal Navy also plans to acquire three new modified variants of the River-class patrol ships, with construction expected to begin in 2014 and the first unit due to deliver in 2017.
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary plans to acquire four new Tide-class replenishment oilers under the Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability program. The ships, to be named the Tidespring, Tiderace, Tidesurge, and Tideforce, will be built in South Korea for service beginning in 2016.
The future 65,000-ton aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth will be launched in mid-2014 for service around 2017, while sister Prince of Wales will follow by 2020; this will allow at least one British carrier to remain operational at all times, assuming both units remain active. The Queen Elizabeth class will carry the short-takeoff/vertical-landing variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, and at least 48 of the stealthy jets are scheduled for British service. The first five upgraded Merlin antisubmarine helicopters were handed over this past summer, and development continues on a new airborne early-warning helicopter to replace the ASaC.7 Sea King. Current plans call for the helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious to retire in 2014, while HMS Ocean is to remain in service for at least a few more years.
Either three or four SSBNs are planned for service starting around 2028 to replace the current fleet of Vanguard-class SSBNs. The Vanguard submarines will be undergoing extensive refits and service-life extensions beginning in 2015 to keep them operational until their replacements are delivered.
Middle East/Africa
Algeria ordered two MEKO A-200–class frigates from Germany in 2012 with deliveries planned for 2016. An 8,000-ton (full load) dock landing ship, under construction in Italy, was launched in January 2014 and is expected to enter Algerian service by 2015.
Bahrain has ordered six new 59-foot fast-attack craft from Turkey, and the first of these British-designed vessels was launched last fall. Six additional units may be ordered for Bahrain if funding permits.
Djibouti has received two 28-foot Defiant-series patrol boats donated by the United States. The country is working with the United States on construction of a new naval facility at Obock and expansion of its maritime-surveillance and coastal capabilities.
Egypt’s navy took delivery of the missile boat S. Ezzat, the first of a new class of Ambassador Mk-III guided-missile patrol craft. The heavily armed ship, delivered amid much political turmoil last November, was built in Mississippi and paid for largely with U.S. Foreign Military Assistance funding. The class is intended for defense of the Suez Canal region and patrol of Egyptian coastal waterways in the Red and Mediterranean seas. Three additional sisters of the class, the F. Zekry, M. Fahmy, and A. Gad, are due to enter Egyptian service by 2015.
Ghana has recently acquired new maritime-patrol aircraft and ordered six new patrol boats from South Africa in addition to seven Defender-class boats that were recently delivered from the United States. Its navy is also working to enhance ties with both neighboring countries and a number of foreign navies.
Iran’s navy has been increasingly active outside the Persian Gulf region. This past year Iranian warships visited China for the first time, as the frigate Sabalan and the large replenishment oiler Kharg traveled through the Strait of Malacca to Zhangjiagang, China, and later stopped at Sri Lanka. Additional voyages were undertaken by the frigate Alborz, the replenishment oiler Bandar Abbas, and a Kilo-class submarine that visited Mumbai, India, while other Iranian warships made port calls in Sudan. These trips helped the fleet gain confidence and culminated in an early 2014 announcement that Iran now plans to send a frigate and support ship to the Atlantic Ocean. Iranian naval units are also working to increase their presence in the Caspian Sea.
In the spring of 2013 a new frigate was launched at Bander-e Anzali on the Caspian Sea, and that summer the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy conducted multi-day maritime exercises in the region. Media reports indicate that a new domestically produced class of 500-ton submarines is now under construction, with the first unit launched for use in the Persian Gulf, while a second unit may be planned for Caspian operations. Refit and modernization continues on a number of older warships, and the 50-year-old frigate Bayandor was relaunched last year and fitted with a new 76-mm gun and Chinese C-802 antiship missiles. A similar upgrade was recently completed on her sister ship, the Naghdi.
Iraq’s navy is primarily responsible for offshore oil-platform defense, and the base at Umm Qasr is being expanded to handle larger, deeper-draught ships. Iraq’s largest vessels, two 197-foot offshore-patrol and oilfield-support ships, were delivered in December 2012 for service beginning in 2013.
Israel’s fifth Dolphin-class submarine was launched in Germany in the spring of 2013. The submarine, named the Rehav, is one of three lengthened and modified units fitted with an air-independent-propulsion system. The Rehav is due to enter service in 2014, and the sixth and final submarine of the class is planned for delivery in 2015. Israel remains interested in purchasing a new series of corvette-sized warships for service in the eastern Mediterranean Sea and to help protect its recently discovered gas fields and energy resources.
Jordan has a small naval force but hopes to fund two new 115-foot coastal patrol boats, each with the capability to undertake multi-day patrols, launch rigid-hull inflatable boats, and operate a boarding team for maritime-interception and law-enforcement duties.
Kenya continues to play an active role helping to bring order to neighboring Somalia and to reduce maritime piracy in the region. This past year the Kenyan fleet also received new rigid-hull inflatable boats from the United Kingdom.
Kuwait’s tenth and final 60-ton Mk-V patrol boat entered service last year under a 2009 order. The boats are each armed with a 27-mm gun and small arms.
Libya continues to rebuild its shattered navy with law enforcement and Exclusive Economic Zone protection the primary maritime tasks. This past year several patrol boats and a missile craft took part in international naval exercises for the first time since the old regime fell. France has been a primary source of new vessels and has helped modernize the Libyan tank landing ship Ibn Ouf. Libya is also reportedly considering the acquisition of French Gowind-class corvettes for the future.
Morocco’s new Aquitaine (FREMM)–class frigate Mohammed VI was delivered from France in late 2013 for service beginning in 2014. The vessel, which was laid down in 2010 and launched in 2011, displaces some 6,000 tons and is 466 feet long.
Mozambique’s new patrol boat, a 105-foot ex-Spanish conejera-class vessel, was transferred from Spain in 2011 but only completed refit in spring 2013, at which time she sailed for her new homeport to begin operations.
Mauritius has ordered a new 1,300-ton offshore-patrol vessel from India, and the ship was launched this past year with delivery expected in late 2014. The new ship will replace the Vigilant in service.
Namibia has received patrol ships from Europe, Asia, and the Americas in recent years, and in 2013 the navy ordered an assortment of some 19 small craft from South Africa. The boats, which range in size from 46-foot interceptors to fiberglass rowboats and 9-foot boarding boats, will be used for coastal defense, riverine duties, and humanitarian-assistance operations.
Nigeria has been working to reduce oil theft and attacks on shipping in its local waters, but the problems continue to escalate. The country has launched a new fisheries-protection squadron and is working to speed response times against illegal activities, while expanding its coastal-surveillance system through the integration of intelligence-collection assets. With a small naval aviation fleet, Nigeria aims to keep four helicopters operational at all times for maritime-support operations. The country plans to refit and upgrade many of its larger ships and craft, including the 3,300-ton Meko 360-class frigate Aradu. Nigeria has received new Shalag-class patrol boats from Israel and P 175–class boats from France and hopes to acquire a second retired 3,000-ton U.S. Coast Guard Hamilton-class high-endurance cutter for service in 2014. The retired U.S. survey ship John McDonnell is also expected to join the Nigerian fleet by 2015. Two 312-foot patrol ships were ordered from China in 2012 with deliveries expected by 2016, and additional 99-ton Seaward defense boats are being built locally. The government hopes to expand its domestic shipbuilding capabilities with Chinese assistance.
Oman’s first British-built Al Shamikh (Project Khareef)–class corvette is now in service, and two sisters are also planned for delivery. The Omani navy has selected a variant of Singapore’s Fearless-class craft under the Al-Ofouq program, and four of the modified vessels are expected by 2016.
Saudi Arabia has requested the purchase of 30 Mk-V patrol boats from the United States. The kingdom has also ordered 40 high-speed 36-foot boats from Spain and has requested a new batch of air-launched Harpoon antiship missiles to arm its air force jets.
South Africa has been getting more heavily involved in local naval patrols and counterpiracy operations, but the higher operational tempo has caused a strain on budgets and readiness. South African shipyards have seen considerable success with recent small-boat orders from local navies, and the South African fleet itself plans to purchase new inshore and offshore patrol ships, auxiliaries, and service craft in the coming years.
Somalia’s incidence of maritime piracy has seen a remarkable decline in the past few years. The international community was able to gain the upper hand in the Gulf of Aden through coordinated and aggressive naval patrols, increased awareness of active and passive security measures on board merchant ships, and an ongoing international effort to help stabilize the Somali security situation on the ground.
Syria held much of the world at bay this past year as the government’s apparent use of chemical weapons against rebel forces sparked calls for military strikes by several Western powers. This international pressure, applied largely by naval forces in the Mediterranean Sea, may have helped convince the Assad regime to give up its chemical stockpiles.
The United Arab Emirates recently began taking delivery of new warships under the Baynunah corvette program, and up to six Baynunah vessels are planned for service. The navy has also received warships from two new classes built in Italy. The Abu Dhabi was delivered in January 2013 and is the first of the 1,600-ton gun- and missile-armed corvettes. The smaller Ghantoot, also delivered in January 2013, is the first of a new type of 500-ton Falaj-2 class patrol vessel, also armed with guns and missiles.
Americas
Argentina’s maritime forces suffer from severe budget neglect, despite enthusiastic public support from political officials. The country has rented a Russian icebreaker to temporarily replace the Almirante Irizar, which was heavily damaged by fire in 2007 and is still years away from completing repairs. The plan to order five 1,800-ton patrol ships has now been reduced to four, and requirements for new maritime-patrol aircraft continue to languish. Although a nuclear-submarine program was launched with great political fanfare in 2011, little has been heard on the effort since.
Bolivia has announced long-term plans to expand the number of personnel in its military by as much as 30 percent. The country’s maritime forces aim to begin modernizing their command, control, and surveillance systems in the years ahead while also working to improve riverine capabilities.
Brazil is working to enhance coordination among its military services, modernize its blue-water maritime fleet, improve surveillance and patrol capabilities along its littoral and riverine waterways, and increase the size and capabilities of its marine corps. Fiscal realities, however, could wreak havoc on these goals.
Five new frigates are desired to replace the aging surface fleet, although Brazil may have to settle for second-hand warships if the domestic frigate program does not pan out. The navy’s third Amazonas-class offshore-patrol vessel was delivered from the United Kingdom in summer 2013, and the navy hopes to have a force of 12 offshore-patrol vessels within 10 to 15 years. New riverine boats have been built in Colombia for Brazil, and the last of these four boats are set for delivery by mid-2014. Brazil eventually hopes to fund several dozen newly built 500-ton patrol craft as well.
The country has set a goal to have 15 attack submarines in service by 2037 along with six nuclear-powered attack boats by 2047. In the near term, however, four conventionally powered Scorpène-class attack boats are on order for delivery around 2017, and an ambitious SSN program aims to deliver the first one to Brazil by 2025.
Within 20 years Brazil optimistically hopes to have a force of two full-sized 60,000-ton aircraft carriers along with nearly 50 carrier-based aircraft and helicopters. Currently, however, Brazil has new S-70 maritime helicopters on order, and the navy has modest plans to upgrade its fleet of Super Lynx helicopters by 2015.
Canada’s surface-fleet modernization efforts include refitting all 12 Halifax-class frigates by 2018, delivery of 6 to 8 Arctic offshore-patrol ships between 2018 and 2023, and introduction of 15 new surface combatants to replace the current generation of frigates and destroyers. In 2013 the Royal Canadian Navy selected a design for its next-generation joint-support ships to conduct underway replenishment, support peacekeeping forces ashore, and transport equipment. Two joint support ships are planned for service by 2020, and a third unit may be purchased in the future.
By early 2014 Canada’s submarine force was nearing its goal of having one submarine assigned to each coast with two boats held as reserve surge assets. Canada’s aviation fleet is beginning to look for replacements for its C-130E and DHC-5 search-and-rescue aircraft, and the maritime-helicopter community is nearing introduction of more than two dozen CH-148 Cyclone naval helicopters. Canada’s coast guard has acquisition plans as well, with new medium-endurance cutters and offshore-patrol vessels expected to join the fleet in the years ahead.
Chile’s third 262-foot offshore-patrol vessel is due to enter service in 2014, and additional members of the class may be ordered. A second retired Foudre-class dock landing ship is under consideration from France, and the Chilean fleet is investigating acquisition of a new icebreaker, as well as Arctic-capable maritime-patrol aircraft. Looking ahead to the 2020s new maritime helicopters are planned, as are replacements for the two 30-year old Type 209/1400 submarines. Chile is also considering modernizing a number of its surface combatants, including the three ex-Duke-class (Type 23) general-purpose frigates.
Colombia’s second 262-foot offshore patrol vessel has been delivered, and its navy is expected to acquire additional units during the next five years. All four FS 1500–class frigates were scheduled to receive new engines, radars, and other electronics by this year, and upgrades to the Type 209 submarines are scheduled for completion as well. This past year Colombia announced its intention to establish an Eastern naval force of 1,800 personnel with several dozen riverine craft. In September 2013 Colombia’s navy received the first three of eight new 2000TD amphibious hovercraft.
Honduras has ordered two new Dutch-built Stan Patrol 4207 patrol craft for service, and both units are expected to be operational by 2014.
Mexico’s navy has been increasing its presence and patrols along the southern coastline with Belize and Guatemala to help limit illegal activity and smuggling. The force has seen a number of new dual-use patrol vessels enter service in recent years. By 2018 as many as nine 250-ton (full load) Stan Patrol 4207 patrol vessels are expected to be in service, as are about two dozen 52-foot Polaris II–class patrol boats. New hydrographic-research vessels, amphibious logistics ships, underway-replenishment ships, and oceangoing tugs are also planned for the near future. Mexico has been offered two retired Oliver Hazard Perry–class frigates from the United States, although their transfer has not yet been finalized.
Nicaragua is reportedly in the market for new Exclusive Economic Zone patrol vessels, and the country is said to have been negotiating with Russia for the acquisition of two missile-armed craft and four smaller gunboats.
Panama is working to enhance its coastal-surveillance capabilities and is attempting to establish a network of interconnected surveillance radars. The navy has recently received two retired Ubaldo Diciotti–class patrol craft from Italy, and six new AW-139 helicopters are on order to assist with maritime patrol and search-and-rescue operations.
Peru is looking to modernize at least four of its six German Type 209/1200–class submarines, some of which are nearly 40 years old. Peru has ordered two 7,300-ton amphibious transport docks to be built locally with assistance from South Korea, and a second unit is planned for delivery by 2015. Peru’s second 344-ton (full load) Clavero-class river gunboat was delivered this past year as were new 5-ton patrol boats and smaller 4-ton harbor launches. The Peruvian navy also plans to acquire additional Griffon hovercraft for riverine service and patrols.
The United States’ maritime forces faced a challenging year due to across-the-board sequestration budget cuts. In November 2013 the future aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), first of a new class, was launched for planned service in 2016. The second and third units of the class, to be named John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) and Enterprise (CVN-80) are scheduled for service in 2020 and 2025.
The tenth Virginia-class submarine, the USS Minnesota (SSN-783), entered service in September 2013 and is the last of the Block II boats. Block III variants of the submarine will feature new sonar and two Virginia payload tubes in place of the previous vertical-launch tubes. The future Block V variants of the Virginia class are expected to be lengthened by 70 feet, expanding the Navy’s Tomahawk land-attack missile capacity once they begin to enter service in the mid-2020s. This will help make up for loss of TLAM shooters when the SSGN fleet is retired by the late 2020s. Looking even further into the future, development is under way to replace the current Ohio class of SSBNs with a 12-boat SSBN(X) program that is expected to begin operations by the early 2030s.
By December 2013 five guided-missile cruisers and 25 destroyers had been upgraded with ballistic-missile-defense capabilities. Fourteen of these 30 ships are assigned to the Atlantic fleet, while the remaining 16 are assigned for service in the Pacific.
Twenty-two Ticonderoga-class cruisers remain in service, and the long-term cruiser-modernization effort is well under way. Although the U.S. Navy had proposed early retirement for a number of the older cruisers, its efforts have so far been rejected by Congress.
As the destroyer-modernization plan adds new life and improvements to the older Arleigh Burke–class warships, the production line was restarted, and the first of these new Arleigh Burke “restart” ships, the future destroyer John Finn (DDG-113), was laid down in November 2013. When delivered in 2016, DDG-113 and later units will include enhancements that are part of the ongoing modernization effort for the earlier destroyers, such as ballistic-missile-defense capability. A new class of Arleigh Burke Flight III destroyers is also planned with production expected to begin in the post-2016 time frame. This past October the first of three new stealthy Zumwalt-class destroyers was launched. All three of the ships, optimized for land attack and littoral environments, are planned for service by 2018.
In January 2013 the Avenger-class mine-countermeasures ship Guardian (MCM-5) ran aground off the coast of the Philippines and suffered heavy damage. She was subsequently decommissioned and retired from service. Aging frigates of the Oliver Hazard Perry class continue to be retried, and seven were decommissioned in 2013. As frigates leave the Fleet, debate over the controversial Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program may be reaching something of a crescendo. The Department of Defense is reportedly ready to reduce the overall purchase of LCSs to 32 vessels, down from the previous goal of 52 ships. Despite these issues the third unit of the Freedom class and the second unit of the Independence class are due for service by 2015.
The USS Arlington (LPD-24), the eighth San Antonio–class dock landing ship, was commissioned early in 2013, and sister Somerset (LPD-25) is set to join the Fleet in 2014. Two more of the 17,000-ton ships are under construction in Mississippi. The first of the 45,000-ton (full load) America-class amphibious assault ships is due to enter service in 2014, with the second unit due in 2018. These ships are optimized for aviation operations and, unlike the older Wasp-class ships, will be unable to operate LCAC or LCU-type landing craft.
The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps plan to acquire a total of 340 carrier-based F-35C Joint Strike Fighters, while the Marine Corps also plans to purchase 340 F-35B short-takeoff/vertical-landing variants for use from amphibious-assault ships and austere runways. Initial operational capability for both the F-35B and F-35C is planned by 2019. The F-35 will be supplementing the F/A-18E/F in naval service, and nearly all of the planned Super Hornet aircraft will have been delivered by 2014.
Delivery of E/A-18G Growler electronic attack jets is also nearly complete, with roughly 100 of the Growlers in service by the end of last year. New advanced E-2D variants of the Hawkeye airborne early-warning jet are now entering service and are expected to reach initial operational capability by the end of 2014. The first squadron of Navy P-8 Poseidon long-range maritime-patrol and antisubmarine aircraft became operational in December 2013 as the aircraft deployed to the Pacific. A total of 117 P-8s are currently expected to enter service to replace the P-3 Orion. New helicopters are also on order, and deliveries of multimission MH-60S Seahawks are due to be complete by 2015, while the MH-60R continues to enter service as well with the antisubmarine-warfare helicopters replacing the SH-60s in service. By 2013 all Marine Corps UH-1 squadrons had converted to the more capable UN-1N variant of the aircraft, and the Marine Corps is also receiving new MV-22 Ospreys and AH-1Z Vipers. Within five years the new CH-53K variant of the Super Stallion heavy-lift helicopter is also expected to begin entering Marine service.
Eight national-security cutters are planned for U.S. Coast Guard service, and the fourth cutter, the future Hamilton (WMSL-753), was launched in 2013 for late 2014 delivery. Sister cutters James (WMSL-754) and Munro (WMSL-755) are expected for delivery in 2015 and 2016 respectively to replace retiring 378-foot Hamilton-class high-endurance cutters. The large icebreaker Polar Star, under refit since 2010, completed overhaul and returned to service this past year, while a new class of polar icebreaker is under development. Up to 25 new offshore patrol cutters are planned for service and 8 of the new Sentinel-class fast-response cutters had been delivered to the fleet by January 2014. Many new small boats continue to enter service as do new aircraft. Three new HC-144 Ocean Sentry medium-range maritime-patrol aircraft are to be delivered in 2014, and new HC-130Js are also on order. Variants of the MH-60 Jayhawk and MH-65 Dolphin helicopters are undergoing extensive modernization, and work on both types is due to be completed by 2015.
Uruguay plans to acquire new 1,600-ton offshore patrol vessels based on a Portuguese design for construction locally in Uruguay. New maritime helicopters and coastal patrol craft are also planned to increase coastal security.
Venezuela’s last of four Spanish-built 2,400-ton Guaiqueri-class offshore patrol ships were delivered in 2012, and the final 1,400-ton Guaicamacuto-class patrol ship is expected by 2016. Plans for a new fleet of Kilo-class submarines and a large amphibious-assault ship have so far come to naught, so the Venezuelan navy may have to settle for its four new 600-ton Cuban-built transport and utility craft with a roll-on/roll-off bow ramp, the last of which was delivered in 2013. The Venezuelan marine corps is expected to expand in the years ahead, and new equipment and artillery have been ordered from China to equip the force. Modest numbers of new service craft, small naval patrol boats, and coast guard craft are also planned for the future.