BAE Systems Australia 社의 Nulka Decoy...

 

호주 BAE Systems Australia (BAES) 社가 개발, 생산하고 있는 [Nulka] active missile decoy 가 생산량 1,000개를

돌파하는 기념 행사를 가졌다는 소식이 있었습니다.

 

마침 지난 주 호주 일간 The Australian 紙에 보도된 美 해군 항공모함에 Nulka 장착 가능성을 보도하는 기사가 있어

소개 합니다. 기사에 의하면, 美 해군은 Nimitz 급 항공모함 10척에 대해서 Nulka active missile decoy 를 장착할 것

이라 합니다.

 

현재 Nulka decoy 는 호주 해군을 포함하여, 美 해군 및 캐나다 해군 함정 140여척에 장착되어 있으며, 제작사 BAES

측의 언급을 참조하자면, 향후 수년내로 Nulka decoy 장착 함정은 180여척으로 늘어날 것으로 알려져 있습니다.

 

아래 소개하는 사진들은 지난 8월말 호주 해군 Adelaide (Oliver Hazard Perry) 급 frigate 함 HMAS Melbourne 에서

Nulka 를 발사하는 모습입니다.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Nulka missile decoys to guard US carriers

Julian Kerr, The Australian, October 23, 2010 12:00AM

 

SPECIAL REPORT

 

CONFIDENCE in the capabilities produced by Australia's most successful collaborative defence program, the Nulka ship-launched active missile decoy, has been reinforced by plans to deploy it on US Navy (USN) nuclear aircraft carriers.

 

Although this decision has yet to be announced either in Australia or the US, details are included in USN 2010 budget papers.

 

Nulka brings together hovering rocket, autonomous systems and electronics technologies to lure enemy anti-ship missiles with active radar seekers away from their targets.

 

After launch, Nulka employs a broad-band radio frequency repeater to radiate a large, ship-like radar return while hovering in a ship-like trajectory calculated to provide the most attractive target for single or multiple missiles.

 

Conventional wisdom had suggested it was not possible for such a soft-kill system to protect something with the massive radar cross-section of a 102,000-tonne aircraft carrier.

 

However, trials carried out aboard USS Kitty Hawk at Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercises in 2008, and by USS Abraham Lincoln at RIMPAC 2006, have resulted in the decision to extend installation of Nulka to the USN's 10 Nimitz-class supercarriers.

 

The launching system software is currently being upgraded to suit Nulka for carrier operations as an integral element of their Ship Self Defence System. The first carrier installation is expected to be on USS Abraham Lincoln in 2012.

 

Nulka is already deployed by the USN on more than 100 ships, ranging from Ticonderoga class missile cruisers, Arleigh Burke class destroyers and San Antonio class amphibious ships to Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates.

 

The system also equips the RAN's FFG-7s and Anzac-class frigates, and is fitted to Canada's Iroquois-class destroyers.

 

The Nulka concept originated in the late 1980s in the laboratories of the Defence Science and Technology Organisation.

 

The system was then developed and brought to market by AWA Aerospace, purchased in 1996 by the future BAE Systems Australia (BAES), which is still the project's prime contractor.

 

The electronic payload was originally developed by the USN's Research Laboratory and is now produced by the US company Lockheed Martin Sippican. The solid fuel rocket motor, initially manufactured by ADI (now Thales Australia) in Australia, is now provided by the US company Aerojet.

 

Program management and system engineering is carried out by BAES at their new facility in Melbourne. Flight control units and the thrust vector controllers that position the decoy in the selected trajectory independent of ship movement, wind and weather, are manufactured at BAES' Adelaide facility.

 

Final assembly of propulsion units is undertaken by Thales at its facility at Mulwala in NSW.

 

The system is consolidated at Mulwala by BAES personnel and each completed Nulka round is placed in a hermetically-sealed canister manufactured by Milspec that acts both as a storage container and launch tube.

 

The canisters are then placed in Varley-manufactured shipping containers for delivery to customers.

 

The only element of Nulka specific to an individual ship is the trajectory that it follows in flight.

 

A range of trajectories or combinations of trajectories is pre-loaded into the flight control unit, which after initialisation selects the optimal flight plan drawing on data from the ship's combat system, concerning both the type of threat and the location of friendly ships.

 

Although Lockheed Martin is the principal sub-contractor to BAES, BAES Business Development Manager of Weapon Systems Peter Osbourne, describes the relationship as a partnership. His sentiments are echoed by the USN's Nulka program manager, Ed Settle, who says the joint effort "fostered an exceptional spirit of co-operation between the US and Australian navies".

 

Celebrations are taking place in late October to mark the delivery of the 1000th Nulka round.

 

 

  ⓒ Australian Gov. DoD

 

  ⓒ Australian Gov. DoD

 

  ⓒ Australian Gov. DoD

 

  ⓒ Australian Gov. DoD

 

  ⓒ Australian Gov. DoD

 

  ⓒ Australian Gov. DoD