Gauntlet

Japan accidentally leaks image of new hypersonic anti-ship missile.

Source 1: https://twitter.com/Defence_blog/status/1281125899186962432/photo/1

Source 2:https://defence-blog.com/news/japan-accidentally-leaks-image-of-new-hypersonic-anti-ship-missile.html

Japan was also planning to develope the ASM-3. An supersonic anti-ship missile. By Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

Source 3: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASM-3#cite_note-5

Does anyone have some more information about the hypersonic anti-ship missile?

UK navy plans to create carrier strike groups with her two aircraft carrier's.

 https://www.forces.net/news/what-makes-carrier-strike-group

But the problems with the plan are already coming. Not enough funding it seems.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-53186611?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/c40rjmqdq1lt/royal-navy&link_location=live-reporting-story

The layout of the group might look like:

- Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier;

- Type 45 guided missile destroyers for anti-aircraft and anti-missile warfare;

- Type 23 frigate anti-submarine warfare. Might be replaced by type 26;

- Astute-class submarines. Probably for detecting ships and submarines;

- Tanker

2 minutes ago, Beer said:

 

Is there any more detailed technical description of the ships and their armament available anywhere? 

I got a reliable source in Dutch: https://marineschepen.nl/schepen/mks-180.html#specs

Another source: https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2019/04/german-navy-outlines-mks-180-multi-purpose-combat-ship-future-capabilities/

The specifications that we know are:

Length: 155

Maximum displacement: 9000 ton

Crew: 110 + 70 boarders

Weapon systems: 

127/64 LW Leonardo cannon. Vulcano might also be a possibility.

16 cell VLS for 64 ESM block 2

Naval Strike Missile

Rolling Airframe Missile

Sensors:

Thales AWWS most likely

Towed sonar

Helicopters:

2 NH90 

or

1 NH90 and Skeldar V-200 drones

I wonder what type of design they will go for. If we look at F125. The amount of sensors is stunning. And the redundancy design is also interesting. Maybe some aspects of the F125 might flow over to MKS180.

The Advanced gun cruiser by Kaasjager (cheese hunter). Source: https://www.deviantart.com/kaasjager/art/Advanced-Gun-Cruiser-beautyshot-512121046

Damen signed contract for MKS180.

Source: https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2020/june/8627-dutch-shipbuilder-damen-signs-contract-for-construction-of-four-mks-180-frigate-for-german-navy.html

Looks like a LD2000 LuDun-2000 ground-based air defense close-in weapon system. Which is a type 730 CIWS stuck onto a 8x8 military truck chassis WS-2400.  

Source: https://www.armyrecognition.com/china_artillery_vehicles_and_weapon_systems_uk/ld2000_ludun-2000_ground-based_air_defense_close-in_weapon_system_technical_data_sheet_specifications_pictures_video_12808161.html

Just out of curiosity. Will the results made public on the forums, including all the details? I am in now way to participate but nonetheless find it interesting to read about it.