군수지원함 캐나다 Joint Support Ships 프로그램 재평가중

[위종민]

캐나다가 JSS 프로그램을 재평가중이라고 합니다. 프로그램의 변경 혹은 취소까지 가능하다고 하는군요.

캐나다는 210억 캐나다 달러 규모로 3척의 함선을 구매할 예정이었습니다. JSS는 해상 연료 및 물자 재보급을 담당할 예정이었구요. 또 병력/차량, 헬리콥터, 탄약 수송도 맡을 예정이었고, 상륙작전 시 사령부 역할도 할 예정이었습니다.

이 세 척의 배를 30년 간 운용하기 위한 400억 캐나다 달러 규모의 계약도 맺었었네요.

하지만 캐나다군은 JSS 이외에 강습 상륙함도 갖추길 원하고 있습니다. 800명 가량의 수송인원, 6기의 합니다. 헬리콥터 운용 능력, 후부에 웰 덱을 갖춘 함정을요. 2004년 측정된 바로는 영국의 HMS Ocean과 비슷한 함정을 두 척 갖추는 데 대략 150억 캐나다 달러의 비용이 든다네요.

예산의 압박 때문에 두 프로그램이 합쳐질 가능성이 있다고 합니다. JSS를 취소하고 연료재보급은 민수용 탱커를 이용해서 실시하는 방안이 논의되고 있네요. 최근 정권을 잡은 보수당은 JSS 사업의 우선순위를 그다지 높게 보지 않고 있다는 얘기도 있구요. 업계에서는 프로그램이 그대로 진행되길 바라지만, 어떤 변화에도 적응할 준비가 돼 있다고도... ^^

이런저런 이야기가 나오고 있는데, 어떻게 될 지 궁금합니다.

Canada Reviews Support, Transport Ship Programs

By DAVID PUGLIESE, OTTAWA

 

A plan to buy a fleet of troop and supply transport vessels for the Canadian Navy is being reviewed by senior military planners, a move some shipbuilding industry officials suggest could mean program modifications or possible cancellation.

 

Canada planned to buy three Joint Support Ships (JSS) for 2.1 billion Canadian dollars ($1.8 billion), a project the Navy says is needed to refuel and resupply warships at sea. The JSS, announced by the Liberal Party government in 2004, also would carry troops, vehicles, helicopters and ammunition, as well as act as a command center for ground forces sent ashore.

 

The program, which service leaders say is critical to future operations, also would include a second contract, valued at 4 billion Canadian dollars, to provide in-service support for the ships for 30 years.

 

But the Canadian Forces also wants to purchase an amphibious assault ship to carry troops and helicopters, a vessel that would duplicate some aspects of the JSS. Besides transporting 800 soldiers, said Gen. Rick Hillier, chief of the Defence Staff, the amphibious ship would carry up to six helicopters and have a well-deck to offload smaller boats.

 

With defense funding tight, industry officials said they have been told by military officials that the two programs could be modified or merged. One scenario presented to industry representatives involves the continuation of the amphibious assault ship program, while the JSS would be canceled or delayed indefinitely. Under that scenario, the role of refueling and resupplying warships at sea would be handled by a fleet of commercial tankers purchased by the Navy. Other industry representatives said the JSS is not a priority for the recently elected Conservative government and its defense minister, Gordon O’Connor.

 

Hillier declined to discuss the JSS. Canadian Forces officials said they cannot talk about the program or provide a status report.

 

But Melanie Rushworth, spokeswoman for the Department of National Defence, confirmed that all equipment programs are being reviewed by senior military officials. She did not have information on when that review would be completed, but said a large amount of work has already been done.

 

The Defence Department has not released details on how it would proceed with procurement of an amphibious assault ship or what such a program would cost. However, in 2004 it estimated that if Canada wanted to build two new ships similar to the HMS Ocean, a British Royal Navy assault ship, the cost would be about 1.5 billion Canadian dollars.

 

Industry Hopeful

 

Representatives from firms intending to bid on the JSS are cautiously optimistic the program will proceed with little or no changes. But they noted they are ready to adapt to any changes in the procurement.

 

Michael Smith, a program manager for air and naval systems for General Dynamics Canada, said a request for proposals on JSS is expected to be released to industry later this month or in May. General Dynamics is teamed with several Canadian firms, including shipbuilder Davie

Maritime of Levis, Quebec. General Dynamics Canada would act as the prime contractor and systems integrator on the project if the consortium won the JSS contract.

Smith said the consortium’s proposed JSS design could be adapted for an amphibious assault ship if necessary. “It would be a matter of adding a wet well to launch and recover landing craft,” he said.

 

Thomas Ruckert, senior naval sales executive for ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, Hamburg, said the JSS is a necessity for the Canadian Navy since its existing refueling tankers are more than 30 years old. He noted that Canada’s military shipbuilding market is growing, with an estimated 10 billion Canadian dollars in new work expected to come over the next 15 years, including the proposed construction of armed icebreakers.

 

“Our intention is to be here in the long term,” Ruckert said. “We are well aware the customer wants local construction.”

 

For JSS, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems is teamed with shipbuilder Peter Kiewit Sons of Marystown, Newfoundland, as well as other Canadian firms.

 

Bob Keen, BAE SYSTEMS’ managing director for Europe and the Americas, said there is a sense that there could be some changes in the JSS program, but he does not expect anything substantial. “We have the design and management capability to deal with whatever requirement emerges,” he said.

 

He said BAE is waiting for the request for proposals to determine how to proceed.

The JSS contract is supposed to be awarded either next year or in 2008. Delivery of the first ship would take place in 2012.

 

Besides supplying a naval task group, the Navy would like to see the vessels capable of providing helicopter support and be equipped with a small hospital. Also being examined is the installation of a joint force headquarters on the vessels, which would give commanders the capability to direct units on shore. The ships also will have a limited ability to operate in Arctic areas and be capable of integration with allied battle groups, in particular, with the U.S. Navy.

 

The three new ships are expected to be around 200 meters long and have a displacement of 28,000 metric tons.

 

But the long-awaited project has been plagued by delays over the years. In June 2000, senior defense leaders were pushing to fast-track the project, then called the Afloat Logistics Sealift Capability, with delivery of the vessels beginning in 2005. In 2003, Navy officials projected that the first ship would be delivered in March 2010. •

E-mail: dpugliese@defensenews.com.

[백선호]

노르웨이와 네덜란드도 비슷한 배를 원한다고 했는데 흠...

[ssn688]

캐나다는 수송선 운용을 민간회사에 위탁한다고 "전쟁대행주식회사"나왔는데, 운용을 위한 계약이란 게 그걸까요? 다른 위탁 선박은 좀 뷁스런 일화도 있더군요.