Pacific 2010: LHD tracking well | ADM Dec 09/Jan 10
The Spanish design is already in the water and minimal Australianisation changes mean that the project has none of the normal risk issues associated with a paper ship.
But then how is Australian industry involved?
Katherine Ziesing | Canberra
The Royal Australian Navy's two Canberra Class Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) amphibious assault ships, for which BAE Systems Australia is the prime contractor, are being built in cooperation with Spanish shipbuilder Navantia - the designer of the vessels.
The First of Class launch in March 2008 of Juan Carlos 1 at Navantia's Ferrol yard was a pivotal milestone in the delivery of what will be the RAN's largest ever ships.
This ship, called the Buque de Proyección Estratégica (BPE), or strategic projection ship, was designed to support the Spanish Armada's Marine Force and to complement the role of Spain's single aircraft carrier, Principe de Asturias.
The Spanish LHD can operate as a de facto aircraft carrier in the event that the Principe de Asturias can't make it to the area of operation or is otherwise engaged.
Australia has no plans to use the LHDs in such a fashion at this time.
At a recent briefing, Graham Bentley, Director International Business Development at Lockheed Martin, explained that the company had not been formally approached by Australia about the carrier variant of the Joint Strike Fighter for the LHDs, despite talks on the issue quite some time ago.
And even if they were, the layout of the ship is based on an entirely different concept of operations that would not allow the JSF to find a home on the ship, as the available space is designed to carry helicopters, trucks and troops rather than jets.
"The Commonwealth is not buying an aircraft carrier; it's an LHD to carry helicopters and troops.
"It's just not on the cards," Bentley explained.
The Australian LHD Project is providing the design, production, testing and supply of two LHDs and associated supplies, including the Integrated Logistics Support Package.
The ships will be taken through ‘Acceptance' into Naval Service by Defence from January 2014 (LHD 01) and August 2015 (LHD 02).
Acceptance for the Logistic Support Package is scheduled for September 2015.
The construction of LHD 01 was on schedule at the time of ADM going to press.
There are currently 70 blocks under construction in the Navantia shipyards at Ferrol and Fene.
The keel-laying ceremony for the first ship by the Chief of Navy took place on 23 September 2009 as planned.
"Navantia constructs the hull (up to the flight deck) of each LHD in 105 separate blocks, distributing the work between the main shipyard at Ferrol and its nearby sister yard at Fene," BAE Systems Australia's General Manager for LHD, Graeme Ormiston, said.
"Production at both yards commenced on schedule in late September 2008.
"The build strategy requires each of these blocks, which weigh on average over 100 tonnes, to have the steelwork completed, painted and outfitted before transfer to the Ferrol slipway."
Build progress
"The build program is progressing well with 73 blocks already in construction and currently seven of the 105 blocks for LHD 01 erected on the slipway with ship launch scheduled for March 2011."
The actual structure of the Australian LHD is not very different to the original Spanish design of the BPE, with minimal changes to accommodate RAN requirements, most of which are internal.
These include:
• Fuel / oil tank modifications and the installation of a Ballast Water Treatment System to conform with new International Maritime Regulations for pollution control;
• Modification of the boat lifting systems to allow the launch and recovery of the new RAN Jet RHIB with a full complement of crew and embarked personnel;
• Added ballistic protection for protection of personnel;
• Changes to the existing hospital design;
• Damage control changes to help meet RAN expectations regarding the ship's ability to control and recover from a range of damage events;
• Changes to electrical shore power connections to match the current RAN standards and supply arrangements;
• Modification of the galley and accommodation layouts to meet the requirements of current RAN practice.
"Most evident differences will exist in the communications suite and mast arrangement which has been modified to RAN requirements," Ormiston explained.
"The upper deck layout is being remodelled for electromagnetic compatibility and RADHAZ zones to optimise the layout of upper deck equipment.
"Less evident changes exist in the LHD's classification to Lloyd's Naval Rules and modification of magazines."
The most fundamental differences are found in the Combat System area, with an Australianised suite of communication and combat system components fitted.
"Bridge and command spaces modifications are well advanced, and in the process of being agreed with DMO and the Australian Defence Force as part of the progressive design process," Ormiston said.
"These design changes also take into account the changing requirements of the modern New Generation Navy including gymnasium, air conditioning enhancements and meeting the needs of a mixed crew.
"The Commonwealth largely anticipated these changes from the Spanish BPE and therefore the cost, schedule and risk associated with delivering the project considered during contract negotiations in late 2007.
"Some minor changes to the contract do and will take place but only after the impacts have been carefully scrutinised by the Commonwealth and BAE Systems to minimise any schedule and cost impact."
But the things that make the purchase and build of the LHDs so effective from a MOTS perspective are the very issues that make the program so hard for Australian suppliers to access.
Having selected a MOTS solution, unless Australian suppliers can compete with an offshore designer and supporting supply line already in place with Navantia in Spain, contributing to the initial ship build is virtually impossible.
"The risk mitigation decision to select a proven design resulted in the selection of a largely overseas build option and has limited the opportunity for Australian SME engagement in the construction of the LHDs, but with 15 per cent of the build and the Combat System installation and integration program in Melbourne, local SME involvement will come from this phase of the project and will be increased through the support lifecycle," Ormiston explained.
"Also, in some cases where previously the Commonwealth would supply materiel for the LHDs, BAE Systems will be looking to source these items from extant or last known Australian suppliers."
Australian manufacturing work for LHD 01 is scheduled to commence in the 2nd half of 2010 and planning is well advanced and includes the development of build strategy, schedule, facility requirements, suitable cranes for the heavy lifts.
The capital investment proposal has been signed off for the further development of the Williamstown facility to support the arrival of these 27,000 tonne ships.
BAE Systems Australia is currently working with the Commonwealth to develop a sustainment concept for both ships.
Significant opportunities will then emerge for Australian SMEs to become engaged in the subsequent project of LHD sustainment.
BAE Systems anticipates commencing negotiations with interested SMEs from 2010 for long lead items.
Signed so far
Many of the major elements of the ship have been contracted with Saab signing contracts on the Combat System, Combat Management System plus the Microwave AMB Radar design, and L3 Communications (East) for the design and supply of the complete communications system, including both internal and external communications systems.
Northrop Grumman Overseas Service Corporation (Sperry Marine) has been selected for the Combat Navigation System; Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd for the Gun and Electro-Optical Sight (EOS) System; Sagem Défense Sécurité (Sagem) for the Infrared Search and Track (IRST) System; and Argon ST Inc for the Torpedo Decoy System.
BAE Systems plans to subcontract the additional electronic systems including the Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) System and Helicopter rectifiers (PO).
Plans are also underway to build and upgrade the infrastructure needed to support the LHDs.
Even though they will be the largest ships ever to serve the RAN, the 27,000-tonne LHD's are Panamax-sized vessels whose draft, even when docked down, is not uncommon among larger commercial shipping.
JP2048 Phase 4A/B is involved in the wider redevelopments of Garden Island, Sydney, where the Amphibious Assault Ships will be home-ported, and these relate mainly to power supply and other shore-services, a Defence spokesperson confirmed.
As announced in the Defence White Paper, Defence is also contributing to developments of a hardened boat ramp in Darwin, an extension of Berth 10 at the Port of Townsville to facilitate LHD loading operations, and naval fuel aviation facilities to support current and future operations and exercises in the region.
These activities cover the home port and primary operational ports for the future amphibious capability.
Training
And while the complexities of getting the platform and infrastructure up to scratch gains momentum, the training of the sailors and other specialists from the other services, who will operate the LHDs, is also being developed.
"The LHD Training Needs Analysis (TNA) Draft is about to be delivered to the Commonwealth for comment [Dec 2009]," Ormiston said.
"The TNA Report has been developed in conjunction with the RAN Stakeholders and is based on the current Navy skill sets and structure."
To accommodate New Generation Navy principles and training, BAE Systems proposes to deliver high-fidelity simulation for a blended training approach.
The proposed training product will engage individual trainees with interactive simulation and team orientated scenarios in a photorealistic 3D environment.
The Amphibious Warfare Competencies Project, being supported by Aurecon, is also ongoing, with some delivered aspects now being considered as they relate to future work on joint staff training, flight deck handling and dock control competencies.
Training on how the services will share the capability, as highlighted in the May 2009 edition of ADM, is still coming together.
The LHDs will see roughly 100 Army personnel permanently embarked for amphibious operations, confirmed a senior source close to the project.
"The BAE Systems approach to training aims to reduce training time wherever possible, save Defence money and free up the two LHDs for their operational commitments," Ormiston explained.
The BAE Systems LHD ILS Team (Training Section) recently won a Defence contract to conduct a TNA for the LCM 1E Landing Craft.
This TNA will analyse the competencies required for the operation and maintenance of the landing craft and compare them with current training competencies in order to identify the performance gap for both the Army and Navy crews.
The TNA commenced on 6 October 2009 and was due to be submitted on 15 December 2009.
Key LHD Dates
• Head Contract signed - 9 Oct 2007
• Navantia, Saab and L3 sub contracts signed - 21-23 Nov 2007
• Systems Requirements Review successfully completed - Feb 2008
• Initial Baseline Review successfully completed - Jul 2008
• Platform system long lead equipment procurement started - Feb 2008 (95 of 101 subcontracts signed to date, includes PODs, turbo and diesel generators, etc.)
• Design contracts were let in Sep 2008 for a Land Based Test Site to be built at Williamstown. Construction almost complete
• System Definition Review achieved - Nov 2008
• Preliminary Design Reviews for Platform, Communications, Navigation Systems, IFF, Combat Systems and Whole of Ship (WoS) achieved Nov 08 through May 2009
• Detail Design Reviews for WoS and IFF are planned for Dec 2009 and Apr 2010
• Navantia Cut Steel for LHD 01 completed on schedule - 23 Sep 2008
• Lay Keel for LHD 01 successfully completed on schedule - 23 Sep 2009
• Build Sequence 1 of 13 for LHD 01 -successfully completed on schedule - 23 Nov 2009
• Launch for LHD 01 scheduled for Mar 2011