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It’s not the usual kind of fanfare you would associate with the launching of a nation’s cutting edge new submarine, but this is Japan – and they do things a little bit differently here. Amid balloons, party banners, the odd “rising sun” war flag here and there, and confetti (lots of confetti, there has to be confetti), the Japan Marine Self Defense Force (MSDF) launched its newest state-of-the-art toy – the submarine Kokuryu, which literally means “Black Dragon”. The submarine Kukoryu was made by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and is said to be made with leading edge technology, costing Japanese taxpayers...

Saudi Arabia 'plans to buy German submarines' A German newspaper has reported that Saudi Arabia plans to buy submarines from Germany. The news could intensify discussion on weapons exports during the current coalition negotiations in Berlin. The German weekly Bild am Sonntag said on Sunday that Saudi Arabia wanted to purchase five German Type 209 submarines for 12 billion euros ($16.5 billion). The paper said that in the long term, the kingdom was interested in buying altogether 25 of the vessels. The newspaper said it had information that the German chancellery had in the summer already signaled a willingness to...

China decommissions first nuclear submarine BEIJING: China has decommissioned its first nuclear-powered submarine after more than 40 years of service amidst the maiden display of its fleet of atomic submarines. The Long March No.1's nuclear devices were properly disposed of and scientists have decontaminated the warehouse where atomic items were stored during the past 40 years, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Daily reported today. The submarine will be used as an exhibit after it is released from military service. China yesterday displayed its nuclear submarines for the first time to showcase their "excellent safety" record as part of a naval...

NEW DELHI: India now seems all set to acquire a second nuclear-powered submarine on lease from Russia, at a cost of about $1.5 billion, to bolster its ageing underwater combat arm that took a major hit with the sinking of a conventional submarine in Mumbai in August. While the over 8,000-tonne new steel shark will have a miniaturized nuclear reactor at its core for propulsion, it will not be armed with long-range nuclear missiles because of international treaties like the Missile Technology Control Regime. But, much like the first leased submarine INS Chakra being currently operated by the Navy, it...

The Ministry of Defense's weapons development administration (Mafat) is targeting a global market worth $2 billion annually. The Ministry of Defense's Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure (Mafat) has set the next challenge for Israel's defense industry: do for unmanned submarines what it did for unmanned aerial warfare. If the defense industry moves quickly and purposefully in identifying this emerging market, and offers a well-functioning unmanned submarine, it could be riding the right wave in a decade from now: Mafat aeronautics division director Dr. Yuval Cohen estimates that the market will be worth $2 billion a year...

Exclusive glimpse behind the scenes of the Royal Navy's gruelling submarine command course known as Perisher 12 Oct 2013 11:53 THE RECORD is the first paper to go behind the scenes as officers are put through their paces to test their talent and nerve in the exhausting and body-aching submarine command course nicknamed Perisher. Dan Simmonds is put through his paces Brad Wakefield LIEUTENANT Commander Dan Simmonds gave the order to raise hunter killer HMS Talent to periscope depth before launching his torpedo attack. This was his most dangerous mission yet. Admiral Corder was standing feet away, his eyes flicking...

PLA Navy to modify purchased Lada-class submarines with Russia A Lada-class submarine designed by the Russian Rubin Design Bureau. (Internet Photo) Sources from Russia's Rubin Design Bureau based in St Petersburg said that the Lada-class mini submarines sold to the People's Liberation Army Navy will be equipped with Chinese power and electronic fire-control systems, reports the Kanwa Defense Review operated by Andrei Chang or Pinkov (Andrei Chang), a military analyst in Canada. The purchase was confirmed in a report by the US-based Strategy Page, but it is said that the four Lada class diesel-electric submarines will be modified specifically for...

The project, which got underway in October 2011, was implemented to save and preserve the historic WWII era submarine, which is located at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport, Hampshire. The project has so far seen the ship’s outer structure repaired and maintenance access around the site improved. Phase One of the project, which reached completion in summer 2012 focused on the construction of a cofferdam around the base of the submarine, ensuring easy access for regular maintenance. Phase Two, meanwhile, restored HMS Alliance’s exterior which had corroded so badly that sections of the submarine were in danger of...

Torpedoes and sandals: The daily life of a submarine's crew A half-billion dollars worth submarine carries IDF soldiers to covert ops thousands of miles away from home. What does keeping quiet has to do with missile precision? What do they do when a soldier needs surgery? And who's the lucky guy who gets a daily shower? Ynet gets rare glimpse into Israel's most covert unit Few IDF soldiers receive a personal thank-you from a major general when they return to their base after an operation. Thus, the importance of the submarine unit, one of the most covert units in the...

A daunting quest to save our subs "UP periscope" is the famed catchcry of submarine commanders in Hollywood war films, but even that basic command now poses a challenge for Australia's real-life Collins-class submarines. The periscopes on the Collins-class boats are riddled with electrical problems, are prone to breakdown and sometimes suck water into the submarine. Almost a third of their electrical components are obsolete and when they break, there are no spares, meaning they have to be sent to Germany to be fixed. A confidential Defence report, revealed in The Australian today, says the periscopes alone pose a "very...

Funding cuts would weaken U.S. submarine readiness: Navy (Reuters) - Top U.S. Navy officials warned Congress that any further delays or cuts in funding would undercut the readiness of the declining submarine fleet, already slated for reduction by nearly 30 percent to 52 ships from 73, before an expected 2030s' rebound. Even as missile threats grow, the Navy's ability to keep its attack and guided missile submarines deployed around the world will be lessened by 40 percent over the next 15 years, the officials told the sea-power subcommittee of the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee. They said military commanders...

Report: On 14 August 2013 an explosion took place on the INS Sindhurakshak while the submarine was docked at Mumbai. The blast followed by a fire occurred shortly after midnight. Many sailors on board the submarine reportedly jumped off to safety. "However, there is likelihood of some personnel being trapped inside.." an official defence ministry statement ... said.

Russian supersonic missiles behave like wolves August 8, 2013 Viktor Litovkin, special to RBTH Yakhont anti-ship cruise missile at the 3rd International Airspace Show in Moscow. Source: RIA Novosti Large-scale construction of the next-generation Project 885 Yasen-class submarine armed with Onyx supersonic missiles is starting in Russia. These ships will compete with the latest American Seawolf-class nuclear submarines and will be world leaders in terms of fire power. Large-scale construction of the next-generation Project 885 Yasen-class multi-purpose nuclear attack submarine, armed with Onyx supersonic cruise missiles, is starting in Russia. The ships will compete with the latest American Seawolf-class nuclear...

Casey James Fury simply didn't want to be at work, and in the process cost the Navy nearly a half-billion dollars and one attack submarine. Fury admitted to setting fire to the USS Miami, a nuclear sub, in May 2012 while it was in dry dock. Fury also admitted to starting a second fire at the dry dock three weeks later, according to federal court documents. In both cases, he told investigators that he started the fires because he was having extreme anxiety and was trying to get out of work, according to federal documents. On Tuesday, the Navy announced...

The Navy has decided that it will not repair the nuclear-powered submarine USS Miami after concluding that the cost of repairing damage from a fire set by a civilian worker is more than it can afford due to mandated budget cuts.

PLA said to have built world's largest conventional submarine Military Photos.net, a website dedicated to global military development based in the United States, has published photos to suggest that China's PLA Navy has recently constructed the world's largest conventional submarine. The submarine shown in the photo is claimed to be a Type 032 Qing-class test submarine, designed as a new diesel-electric ballistic missile submarine to replace the older Golf-class submarines. With a submerged displacement of 6,628 tonnes, the Qing-class is currently the largest diesel-electric submarine in the world. The development of the submarine began in 2005 and was completed in...

US expert issues warning over new missile submarines Taiwan should be “very concerned” by reports that China’s navy will soon begin the first sea patrols of a new class of strategic missile submarines, a US military expert said on Tuesday. “While these missiles may not be aimed at Taiwan per se, they are aimed at America’s capacity to resist Chinese aggression against Taiwan,” International Assessment and Strategy Center senior fellow Richard Fisher said. He was responding to questions from the Taipei Times following publication by the Washington Times this week of a report that US defense officials believe Beijing will...

The Russian Navy will receive 36 warships in 2013, an unprecedented number in Russia’s history, Navy Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Vice Admiral Alexander Fedotenkov said on Sunday, July 7, according to RIA Novosti. “During this year, 36 combat ships, fast attack crafts and support vessels will join the Russian Navy. This has never happened before,” Fedotenkov said at the International Maritime Defense Show in St. Petersburg. Russian Navy warships are now performing missions in all areas of the World Ocean, with over 60 combat ships currently at sea, he said.

Italy, Russia to Modernize Diesel Submarine Project ST. PETERSBURG, July 5 (RIA Novosti) – Russia and Italy have decided to optimize their joint next-generation diesel submarine project, a Russian naval design bureau said Friday. The S-1000, a 1,000-ton diesel submarine, is a joint project begun in 2004 by Russian submarine builder Rubin and Italy’s Fincantieri. Russia and Italy presented a mockup model of the S-1000 at an international arms show in France in October 2006. Andrei Baranov, deputy head of the Rubin Central Design Bureau, said that in its proposed configuration, the S-1000 is of “little interest” for potential clients,...

India may take a third Russian nuclear attack submarine on lease July 3, 2013, 10:48 pm By S Venkat Narayan Our Special Correspondent NEW DELHI, July 3: India has expressed interest in leasing another nuclear attack submarine from Russia to supplement the Akula class hunter-killer that was inducted last year. The two sides are now ready to start negotiations on the project, according to the head of the top Russian design bureau for nuclear submarines. Tentatively christened INS Chakra III, the new submarine will be a variant of the Akula class of stealthy nuclear-powered submarines that are capable of spending...