Dec. 04, 2009
NAVAL SEA SYSTEMS COMMAND PRESS RELEASE -- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Construction Begins on First Egyptian Fast Missile Craft
WASHINGTON - Under the program management of Naval Sea System Command's affiliated Program Executive Office, Ships, fabrication of the first Egyptian navy Fast Missile Craft (FMC) began Nov. 30, at VT Halter Marine in Pascagoula, Miss.
The Egyptian FMC program is being managed as a foreign military sale by the Auxiliary Ships, Small Boats and Craft Program Office (PMS 325). The Navy utilizes the foreign military sales (FMS) program to help build partner nation maritime security capabilities through acquisition and transfers of ships, weapon systems, communication equipment, and a variety of training programs.
"PEO Ships was uniquely positioned to assist Egypt with this effort," said Frank McCarthey, auxiliary ships, small boats and craft program manager. "Our foreign military sales office has extensive experience managing complex design and acquisition programs for our allies. In 2009 alone, PEO Ships has delivered more than 180 boats and combatant craft to foreign nations. Foreign military sales cases, like the Egyptian FMC, represent a commitment to continued cooperation between the United States and our partners."
The primary mission of the FMC is to conduct independent and joint operations, primarily against armed surface adversaries. The Egyptian navy has a requirement for a ship with the capabilities of an FMC to combat these threats, and to patrol and defend its coastal waterways of the Red Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and in particular, the Suez Canal.
To counter armed foes, FMCs will be equipped with effective anti-air warfare, anti-surface warfare, and electronic warfare capabilities. Each of the 63 meter craft will carry a 76 mm Super Rapid Gun, Harpoon Block II missiles, MK49 Rolling Airframe Missiles, and the Close-In Weapon System, Block 1B. These high-speed, agile ships will reach speeds of greater than 34 knots. They will provide berthing for a crew of up to 40 Sailors, and will be able to operate up to eight days independently at sea.
Egypt signed an FMS case for the purchase of three FMCs in September 2004. After extensive functional design and long lead item procurement and design efforts, the construction contract was placed with VT Halter Marine in September 2008. The first FMC is scheduled to join the Egyptian fleet in 2012. PEO Ships will continue to assist with acquisition and oversight efforts throughout the construction process, and will also provide follow-on technical and training support to the Egyptian navy upon delivery of the vessels.
PEO Ships is currently managing the design and construction of 21 major surface ships and a wide range of small boats and craft. Since its creation in November 2002, PEO Ships has delivered 35 major warships and hundreds of small boats and craft from more than 20 shipyards and boat builders across the United States. PEO Ships is committed to affordable and efficient shipbuilding and is focused on the necessity of getting ships into serial production, which is leading to significant cost and schedule reductions across the shipbuilding portfolio.
- NAVSEA -
Point of contact:
Alan Baribeau
Office: (202) 781-4123
NSSC_public_affairs@navy.mil
Alan.baribeau@navy.mil
Brazilian Air Force Joins P-3 Community
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) --
Logistics and air traffic control cadets from the Brazilian Air Force
Center of Instruction for Adaptation to Aeronautics (CIAAR) visited
Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville Nov. 17-22 to get a detailed look
at how the U.S. Navy performs logistics and air traffic control
involving the P-3 Orion.
The Força Aérea Brasileira (FAB) group, led by Maj. Gen. Jose Malta,
the school commandant, and Col. Marcos Pacheco, assistant defense and
air attaché at the Brazilian embassy in Washington, D.C., coordinated
the visit through the Navy International Programs Office (NIPO).
According to NIPO officials, the U.S. Navy and the United States
conduct this cooperative engagement to build interoperability with
maritime partner nations.
"FAB has a lot of aeronautical experience and operates many platforms.
In fact, FAB is the largest air force in South America," said Malta.
"Maritime patrol is a capability we have been losing over the years, so
now we are going to gain this back with the P-3."
"Hosting our Brazilian partners supports the CNO's (Chief of Naval
Operations') Cooperative Maritime Strategy. It clearly reflects Adm.
Roughead's commitment to work cooperatively with friends, partners and
allies in order to realize a shared vision of security, stability and
prosperity," said NAS Jacksonville Commanding Officer Capt. Jack Scorby
Jr.
"I was also delighted by the interaction between the FAB cadets and our
Sailors. It represents the Navy's commitment to develop and expand
trust, not only among current leaders, but between young officers and
Sailors who are the next generation of leaders," added Scorby.
To enhance its maritime patrol capabilities, FAB recently purchased 12
Lockheed Martin P-3A Orions. Paul Lange, foreign military sales program
manager for Brazil, Korea and Japan, works for Naval Air Systems
Command PMA-290 at Patuxent River, Md.
He explained that 'logistics' translates to the basic care and feeding
of a P-3, including flight line activities and the management of spare
parts and other materials required to maintain mission readiness.
"NAS Jacksonville is a center of P-3 excellence. As the FAB aviation
personnel await the delivery of their upgraded P-3s, they want to
increase their exposure to squadron-level maintenance and operations.
While they are setting up their own systems and procedures, it always
helps to see how the other guy runs their operation. So, we're pleased
to host them for their P-3 fact-finding tour and show them how we do
business," said Lange.
CIAAR air traffic controllers were hosted by NAS Jacksonville Air
Operations and Fleet Area Control and Surveillance Facility (FACSFAC)
Jacksonville.
"Our concern is maintaining safety for both military and civilian
aircraft," said FACSFAC Facility Officer Lt. Earl Drey. "We talked a
lot about how to adapt and optimize airspace for the P-3. The key is
directing the P-3 to and from its patrol area safely and
efficiently."
FACSFAC provides air traffic control services for fleet and local
squadrons from Florida to North Carolina. A close relationship is
maintained with the Federal Aviation Administration, because the
airspace FACSFAC controls is sometimes needed for commercial planes
during foul weather.
Military aircraft on training missions are given clearances to use
protected airspace, and then to leave once the training is
accomplished.
Malta and his group also visited Fleet Readiness Center Southeast
(FRCSE), where they toured the P-3 production line. FRCSE Executive
Officer Capt. Rob Caldwell spoke of the importance of FRCSE to the
warfighter. The organization performs two levels of maintenance –
intermediate and depot.
Aviation Machinist's Mate Chief (AW) Joseph Rechis and Aviation
Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Javier Ruiz, who work at the intermediate
level site, explained the maintenance process for the T56 engine that
powers the P-3.
P-3 Product Manager Rick Theilacker, explained the in-depth,
depot-level repair processes performed by FRCSE on the P-3. Currently
the Zone 5 Program is the major structural modification process that
disassembles the aircraft so planks, webs and spars can be removed and
replaced. This program extends the service life of the P-3 by eight to
10 years.
At Hangar 511, home of the VP-8 "Fighting Tigers," Maintenance Officer
Lt. Cmdr. David Brinson and Master Chief Aviation Maintenanceman (AW)
Kevin Holden briefed the Brazilians on the Naval Aviation Maintenance
Program (NAMP) and its role in ensuring the continued flight integrity
of the P-3 platform.
Brinson described how the NAMP addresses maintenance policies and
procedures for maintenance at all levels (depot, intermediate and
organizational).
"The P-3 is a resilient airplane that has treated us well. I'm happy to
see other countries recognize the ability of this aircraft," said
Holden as he guided the group through the hangar bay.
Aviation Electronics Technician Chief (AW) Patricia Derosia explained
the complexities of overseeing programs such as electrostatic
discharge.
"Our systems include sensitive circuit cards, so we take precautions to
protect them. Normal static electricity can damage these cards if
handled inappropriately," she Derosia.
Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class Richard Corrales explained
the tool control program and the importance of maintaining a detailed
inventory to ensure aircraft safety.
VP-8 Executive Officer Cmdr. Jiancarlo Villa joined Lt. j.g. Kristina
Romero, Lt. j.g. Chad Martin and Aircrewman 3rd Class Carl Gallaher to
welcome the guests aboard a P-3C and answer their questions.
"The P-3 has provided 40 years of faithful service and will continue to
provide the much needed reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare
capability to the 16 countries that currently fly the venerable Orion,"
said Villa.
Lange said, "The Department of Defense Foreign Military Sales program
allows foreign militaries to purchase our equipment and facilitates
interoperability between allies. A recent example is Germany, Japan and
Australia working anti-piracy operations in P-3s from a coalition base
in Djibouti, East Africa. The platform commonality factor simplifies
logistics and operations."
"This visit truly reflects our commitment to foster and sustain
cooperative relationships throughout the world. We stand ready to fully
support their logistics requirements for P-3s, S-70 or even the F/A-18,
which Brazil is considering purchasing," Lange added.
The visit concluded with an exchange of plaques between Scorby and
Malta.
NAVAIR delivers new Mi-17 helicopters to Afghan National Army Air Corps
NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. –
NAVAIR delivered four new Mi-17 helicopters to the Afghan National Army
Air Corps (ANAAC) in Kabul, Afghanistan just sixty-five days after the
order was placed.
Four Mi-17 helicopters, the first new helicopters Afghanistan has ever
received, were ordered on July 30. The first two were delivered Sept.
3; the second pair of Mi-17’s was delivered Sept. 16.
"The people on our Afghanistan team have consistently stepped up to the
plate and delivered vitally needed equipment to the Afghan armed forces
as quickly as possible," said Capt. James "Walleye" Wallace, Program
Manager, Tactical Airlift, Adversary and Support Programs, PMA-207.
"This delivery is another example of the superb leadership and
ingenuity that this team displays on a daily basis."
The Navy International Programs Office was a key partner in acquiring
the Mi-17s for ANAAC.
"The Mi-17 acquisition was an extremely challenging non-traditional
acquisition from contract award to helicopter delivery. In this, the
NAVAIR Afghan team performed superbly, delivering these non-Western
aircraft within a record 35 days from the contract being awarded into
Afghanistan," said Eugene Chan, Country Program Director - Afghanistan
/ Iraq, Navy International Programs Office.
The four Mi-17’s will provide combat airlift, logistical and medical
evacuation support to Afghan forces and government officials.
"I have to thank our Afghanistan aircraft team, the Cherry Point Fleet
Support Team (FST), NAVAIR Contracting, Legal, Finance, Logistics, the
NAVAIR International Programs Office, and the Navy IPO for their
dedicated work. Lt. Cmdr. Sid Lodhi, General Dynamics Information
Technology (GDIT) and the Cherry Point FST exposed themselves to the
real world challenges faced by our troops on a daily basis while they
were performing the final acceptance inspections on these Mi-17s," said
Rich Senkel, Deputy Program Manager, Foreign Military Sales, PMA-207.
"The four Mi-17’s were bought new from the manufacturers in Russia
through a contract with Defense Technology, Inc. The Mi-17 contract was
competitively sourced and DTI won the competition."
The four Mi-17s have less than ten hours of flight time each, said
Senkel, just enough to accomplish the Functional Check Flights after
delivery to Afghanistan. One of the pilots who flew the FCFs said that
these were the smoothest flying helicopters he’d ever flown.
"Although a non-standard platform and a stranger to the Department of
Defense acquisition and sustainment community, the Mi-17 is a familiar,
robust, and easy to maintain helicopter that is without argument, the
most visible and active symbol of emerging Afghan airpower," said
Wallace. "PMA-207 accepted the challenge to deliver the non-Western
aircraft and within 17 days we developed the plan, reviewed the
proposals and awarded the contract."
The PMA-207 Afghanistan team is leaning forward to support the mission
of the Combined Airpower Transition Force (CAPTF) to build a strong,
capable, and sustainable ANAAC that meets the critical security
requirements of Afghanistan added Wallace.
NAVAIR's PMA-207 manages the cradle to grave procurement, development,
support, fielding and disposal of the Navy's Tactical Airlift,
Adversary & Support Program Systems.
(Article supplied by AIR 1.0 Public Affairs)