Asian Military Review - April/May 2012 issue

MARITIME INTELLIGENCE,AS NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

The ScanEagle unmanned aircraft system provides persistent

maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR).

Able to operate off the deck of ships, ScanEagle is virtually

invisible and inaudible, operating autonomously at low altitudes

for extended periods. As navies face increasing threats to sea

lanes around the world, ScanEagle is a multi-mission force

multiplier with capabilities to help ensure maritime security.

www.insitupacific.com

www.asianmilitaryreview.com

VOLUME 20/ISSUE 2 APRIL/MAY 2012 US$15

A S I A P A C I F I C ’ S L A R G E S T C I R C U L A T E D D E F E N C E M A G A Z I N EA S I A P A C I F I C ’ S L A R G E S T C I R C U L A T E D D E F E N C E M A G A Z I N E

PERSONALPROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

INDIRECT FIRE

NAVALCOMMUNICATIONS

INDIAN MILITARY OVERHAUL

MALAYSIAN DEFENCEMODERNISATION

AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS

COMBAT JETS

LAYOUT 221X276.indd 2-3LAYOUT 221X276.indd 2-3 3/23/12 6:04:58 PM3/23/12 6:04:58 PM

Aerospace leadership. Military strength. Malaysia’s partnership

with Boeing builds both. The nation’s F/A-18D generated

$271 million in offset for 11 Malaysian companies and government

organizations. Moreover, joint ventures between Boeing and

Malaysian companies are providing technology transfer, training

and manufacturing practices. Acquiring Super Hornets would

expand Malaysia’s ties to a team of industry leaders making

a proven partnership an even greater strategic asset.


APRIL/MAY 2012VOLUME 20 / ISSUE 2

ContentsContents

01

Personal ProtectiveEquipment Combat Jets: Regional

CapabilitiesTom WithingtonWhile India’s MMRCA competitionwill dominate the headlines forsome time, it will not be long untilthe world’s fast jet vendors casttheir eyes to the next competition.In the case of the global multirolecombat aircraft, that ‘somewhere’is the Asia-Pacific region

Malaysia: ContinuingModernisationDzirhan MahadzirMalaysian defence planning anddeployments are centered upon thenecessity to divide its forcesbetween Peninsular Malaysia, Sabahand Sarawak as well as StrategicMaritime and Aerospace Routes andEconomic Exclusion Zone

AsianAmphibiousOperations

Rockets, Artillery& Mortars: Asia-Pacific ChoicesAdam BaddeleyWheeled or tracked, towedor not, indirect fire remainsthe queen of battles, theAsia-Pacific region being noexception in its desire torenew and expand itscapabilities in this area

04

30

12 22

44

Rahul BediIndia’s military is undertaking a massive modernisation drivevia imports, local weapon and systems development and acquiringnetwork centric competence to achieve badly-needed capabilityto operate in a hostile and an increasingly militarised andnuclearised neighbourhood

36India: Massive Modernisationbut Poor Procurement

l APRIL/MAY 2012 l

Adam BaddeleyNow vulnerable to attacks at anytime, combat troops wear bodyarmour almost continuously onoperations around the world.The key to future designs is inte-grating the different componentstogether so that they providethe most effective solution

MaritimeCommunicationsin the Asia-PacificRegionAdam BaddeleyEnsuring that each platformwithin a force structure remainsinterconnected in any weather,any conditions and at any dis-tance is a staple of any networkcentric concept being articulatedeither in War Colleges or as thebasis for procurements today

Ted HootonAsian navies have devoted asubstantial amount of effortto building up theiramphibious capabilities andyet they seem slow tomeet the changes in suchoperations over thepast 50 years

50

Front Cover Photo:The BAE Systems, 3745kg towedM777 ultra-lightweight 155mmhowitzer was first deployed incombat by Canada in Afghanistanin 2006, also entering service withAustralia in the same theatre withthe howitzer also replacing theM198 in US service in a numberof Marine Corps and Army unitsincluding Stryker Brigade CombatTeams © US DoD

Editorialhe International Institute for StrategicStudies’ (IISS) assessment for 2012 is thatthis is the year that nominal defence spendingin Asia will eclipse that of Europe. The IISSfigures show Europe’s defence spending was

$270 million in 2011, with Asia pegged at $262 million.

Depending on your point of view, this is either anhistorical inevitability or an aberration caused by the ongoing financial crisis centredon Europe and the US although for IISS’ part, they have been tracking a divergencein defence spending between Europe and Asia since 2008.

Exploiting domestic economic growth to address evident strategic uncertainty inAsia is equally as sensible as cutting back on defence spending in Europe during arecession.

Needless to say a big part of Asian defence spending is China, which makes up 30percent of the total, wracking up an 11 percent increase this year on its budget of$89.8 billion in 2011, perhaps fifty percent higher if international accountingstandards are used.

Before conclusions are drawn about the immediate implications from this, it isworthwhile highlighting other aspects of the IISS report which said that recentoperations in Libya highlighted existing gaps in targeting, tanker aircraft andintelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance amongst European countries. However,thumbing through the IISS report it is clear that whatever the shortcomingshighlighted by the same report, there is still clear numerical and qualitativesuperiority in Europe in these three areas compared to nations in Asia.

Measure for example the number of nuclear powered attack submarines in servicein Europe and being built, advanced combat aircraft, integrated C4I and indigenoussatcom and access to US technology and the picture becomes blurred. Perhaps thebiggest advantage the countries that make up Europe have is the willingness to pooland share capabilities to achieve common goals making the results of the spendingmore than the sum of its parts.

Many years of significant military spending in Europe has built up a legacy capabilityas have decades of active preparation for war against or in support of the thenSoviet Union – even for Europe’s neutrals, followed by over twenty years ofsupporting realignment toward expeditionary warfare. The cumulative investmentis considerable.

Defence spending can be presented as a financial race in which the first to the finishline wins. But defence capability can’t be judged in a photo finish or a set ofaccounts. There are many other variables. Ultimately it’s not who spends the mostbut who gets the most value out of its spending.

Adam Baddeley, Editor

Editor: Adam BaddeleyE-mail: [email protected]

Publishing Office:Chairman: J.S. Uberoi

Media Transasia Ltd, Room No. 1205-1206, Hollywood Centre 233,Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong. Tel: (852) 2815 9111, Fax: (852) 2815 1933

Operations Office:President: Egasith Chotpakditrakul

Sr. Manager International Marketing: Vishal MehtaDeputy Manager Marketing: Tarun Malviya Sales & Marketing Coordinator: Atul Bali

Art Director: Bipin Kumar Senior Visualiser: Sachin JainProduction Manager: Kanda Thanakornwongskul Group Circulation Manager: Porames Chinwongs

Media Transasia Thailand Ltd. 75/8, 14th Floor, Ocean Tower II, Soi Sukhumvit 19,Sukhumvit Road, Klongtoeynue, Wattana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand.

Tel: 66 (0)-2204 2370, Fax: 66 (0)-2204 2390 -1

Subscription Information

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW can be obtainedby subscription. Subscription rate for one year(8 issues) is U.S.$ 100.00 Readers should

contact the following address:Subscription Department,

Media Transasia Ltd.Room No. 1205-1206, Hollywood Centre 233,Holywood Road, Central, Hong Kong.Tel: (852) 2815 9111, Fax: (852) 2851 1933

AAuuddiitt BBuurreeaauu ooff CCiirrccuullaattiioonnss

Editorial

TIndex of Advertisers

AIRBUS MILITARY 47AIRSHOW CHINA 53AM GENERAL 9AMR SUBSCRIPTION 16BOEING F 18 2nd CoverCZECH REPUBLIC 23DASSAULT 25DATRON 19DCI 27ELBIT 33ELISRA 39EURONAVAL 57EUROSATORY 59GENERAL DYNAMICS C4 SYSTEMS 11GSA 55IDEAS 61IKEY 17INDO DEFENCE 63INSITU PACIFIC 4th CoverJEPPESEN 15LARSEN & TOUBRO 3rd CoverMBDA 21NEXTER 7RENAULT TRUCKS 3ROSOBORONEXPORT 43THALES 29TRIJICON 35

02 l ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW l

Advertising Offices

France/SpainStephane de Remusat, REM InternationalTel: (33) 5 3427 0130E-Mail: [email protected]

Germany/Austria/Switzerland/Italy/UKSam Baird, Whitehill MediaTel: (44-1883) 715 697 Mobile: (44-7770) 237 646E-Mail: [email protected]

IndiaVishal Mehta, Media Transasia India LimitedTel: (91) 124 4759625, Fax: (91) 124 4759550 E-Mail: [email protected]

Tarun Malviya, Media Transasia India LimitedTel: (91) 124 4759609, Fax: (91) 124 4759550 E-Mail: [email protected]

IsraelLiat Heiblum, Oreet - International MediaTel: (97 2) 3 570 6527E-Mail: [email protected]

ME Asia/ Pakistan/TurkeyKamran Saeed, Solutions Inc.,Tel/Fax: (92 21) 3439 5105 Mobile: (92) 300 823 8200E-Mail: [email protected] Butova, NOVO-Media Ltd,Tel/Fax : (7 3832) 180 885 Mobile : (7 960) 783 6653Email :[email protected], [email protected]

Scandinavia/Benelux/South AfricaTony Kingham, KNM MediaTel: (44) 2081 445 934 Mobile : (44) 7827 297 465E-Mail: [email protected]

South KoreaYoung Seoh Chinn, Jes Media Inc.Tel: (82-2) 481 3411/13E-Mail: [email protected]

USA (East/South East)/CanadaMargie Brown, Margie Brown & Associates.Tel : (+1 540) 341 7581Email :[email protected]

USA (West/South West)/BrazilDiane Obright, Blackrock Media Inc.Tel: +1 (858) 759 3557Email: [email protected]

SHERPA RANGE

The world over, vehicles from Renault Trucks Defense

offer the best protected land force mobility.

> www.renault-trucks-defense.com

Whatever the mission, wherever, whenever

Sh 213 286 AMR k i dd 1 19/03/12 17 02LAYOUT 221X276.indd 1LAYOUT 221X276.indd 1 3/23/12 4:41:25 PM3/23/12 4:41:25 PM

IINNDDIIRREECCTTF I R E O P T I O N S


Rockets,

Artillery& Mortars:Asia-PacificChoices

TubesA range of new additions to the tube artilleryworld, both towed and self-propelled as wellas the rounds they fire have occurred with anumber of developments having direct rele-vance to programmes and competitions inthe region.Nexter launched the new 13 tonne Trajan

155mm towed gun in September, using thesame 155 mm/52 calibre ordnance, loadingand aiming system of the CAESAR 6x6 self-propelled artillery system coupled with the

older carriage system of the 155/39mm/TR1 towed howitzer. The Trajan canreach targets at 42km, extensible to 55kmwith rocket assisted projectiles. AmongstNexter targets for the weapon is India withthe company teaming with Larsen & Toubrofor that goal. Enhancements to existing towed solutions

are also being implemented. Selex Galileowas recently awarded the contract for theLINAPS upgrade to the UK L118 105mmLight Gun’s navigation and fire control capa-

bility which includes accurate 3D self loca-tion with without GPS and the continuousdisplay of gun barrel direction and elevation. Rheinmetall Denel Munitions, Denel Land

Systems and General Dynamics LandSystems are jointly developing a 105mmmodule known as the T7 for use with theStryker vehicles to meet a US Army require-ment. The system concept uses the M1130base-bleed and M1131 boat tail projectiles,both being insensitive high-explosive pre-formed fragment (IHE PFF) shells based on

Wheeled or tracked, towed or not, indirectfire remains the queen of battles, theAsia-Pacific region being no exception in itsdesire to renew and expand its capabilitiesin this area. Coupled with the enduringneed to provide volume fires, the advent ofprecision munitions are seeing themission sets expand to include first-roundprecision, enabling the defeat of evenfleeting and persistent targets.

bbyy Adam Baddeley

Rockets,

Artillery& Mortars:Asia-PacificChoices

F I R E O P T I O N SIINNDDIIRREECCTT

05l APRIL/MAY 2012 l

the Igala M0125 round. Rheinmetall hasachieved ranges of 20 miles compared withthe 8.5 m compared with the towed 105-mmM119A2 light guns which currently equip theStryker formations.

In Seoul in October, Samsung Techwinshowed their news 105mm Wheeled SelfPropelled Howitzer. The Basic design showuses the ordnance from a M101A1 towed105/22mm and mounts it on the back of a 5-tonne truck. Using an automatic gun layingsystem and fire control systems as well as

direct fire with rapid aiming via joystick, thefirst round can be on target in less than aminute. Two further options are in develop-ment; the Advanced using the same chassiswith an armoured cabin and crew compart-ment and an additional option for 122mm,152mm and 155mm on an 8x8 chassis withammunition loading via a flick rammer. In

addition the company have delivered 532 K9155mm tracked self-propelled howitzershave been acquired, and a further order hasalready been lodged.

In October, the new Mandus Hawkeye105 mm soft-recoil howitzer, using a M102towed howitzer barrel mounted on a RenaultSherpa Light 4x4 chassis was shown publiclyfor the first time after the first firing whichtook place at Rock Island Arsenal. The designuses a soft recoil system to allow artillerypieces to be operated from such a small and

Nexter’s CAESAR has been adopted by militariesin a number of countries, including Thailand andSaudi Arabia © Nexter

unmodified chassis, which has 10.5 tonnegross vehicle weight. The range of theweapon is 11.5 km using conventionalammunition.At the Singapore Air Show, ST Kinetics

showed their 155mm Advanced Mobile GunSystem which consist of an 8x8 all wheeldrive platform coupled with a 155mm 52 cal-ibre gun turret module with a stated range of40km with ERBB rounds.Precision significantly enhances any indi-

rect fire platform. In October, ATK, workingwith the US Army successfully completedthe Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) low-cost,guided fuze, Engineering andManufacturing Development guided flighttesting. This comprised the firing of 48rounds with the PGK fired from the M109

Paladin 155mm Self-propelled Howitzer andthe M777A2 155mm Lightweight TowedHowitzer. The PGK’s design uses a GPS-based, fixed-canard guidance, hardenedelectronics and self-generated power supplywhich is then screwed into the fuze well ofstandard shells to improve their CEP. In thetesting a CEP of 30m was achieved.Also in October, the US Marine Corps

announced its intention to acquire a further1,037 Excalibur rounds for its forces inAfghanistan which has been fired at rates ofup to 32 a week over the past year with aCEP of 6m. The latest version of theExcalibur is the Ia-2 which has been clearedfor use in Afghanistan which extends therange of Excalibur from 24 to 37.5 kilome-ters, which is 50 percent further than con-

ventional artillery with rounds with the newround landing on average within 6m of thetarget. The US has ordered 1071 of the4200kg M777 howitzers, with delivery com-pleted by October 2013.The most advanced upgrade to the M109

is that being undertaken by the US under theUS Army's Paladin Integrated Management(PIM) programme with January seeing a fur-ther $313m allocated for engineering andmanufacturing development in support of aneventual upgrade of 440 vehicles to theM109A6 PIM vehicle along with the FieldArtillery Ammunition Supply Vehicle. Chileopted to upgrade its existing M109A5 ratherthan acquire new platforms in a $15.3maward in October.

MortarsThe precision and range of artillery roundsand solutions is being matched by mortars.One of Patria’s recent NEMO gun mortar

customers is Saudi Arabia who has recentlysigned a $130 million for 36 systems for deliv-

l ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW l06

In October, the US MarineCorps announced itsintention to acquire a further1,037 Excalibur rounds forits forces in Afghanistan

The new Mandus Hawkeye 105mm soft-recoil howitzer, uses aM102 towed howitzer barrelmounted on a Renault SherpaLight 4x4 chassis © AJB


Samsung Techwin have delivered 532K9 155mm tracked self-propelledhowitzers with a further order havingbeen made © AJB

INDIRECT

ery from 2012-13. The turrets will be integrat-ed with AFVs by General Dynamics LandSystems under a US Foreign Military Sales(FMS) contract, with six systems alreadydelivered to the US company for testing. Theorder was separate from an $886m deal forindirect fires systems which includes 36M777A2 howitzers; 54 M119A2 howitzersammunition and support.South Africa has also enhanced its long

range mortar capabilities via non-traditionalcalibres. In September, the first Denel LandSystems M6 60-mm long-range mortar sys-tem was delivered. In Korea, Hyundai Wiahave developed the XKM120 MountedMortar System, designed for mounting onvehicles such as the K200 tracked vehicles,K532 launcher as well as 6x6 and 8x8 vehiclesand weighs 1500kg. ST Kinetic’s Super RapidAdvanced Mortar System has a recoil load of26 tonnes with a high rate of fire of up to tenper minute with a system weight of 1200Kgwhen using extended range rounds. ElbitSystems recently added to its list of CAR-DOM customers with a $8.5m order from the

F I R E O P T I O N SINDIRECT

VBCI

VBCI

NexterSystems

LAYOUT 221X276.indd 3LAYOUT 221X276.indd 3 3/23/12 6:55:11 PM3/23/12 6:55:11 PM

Spanish Army for the CARDOMautonomous recoil 81mm mortar, mountedon the back of VAMTAC 4x4 vehicles.The USMC is pursuing its US Marine

Corps' Precision Extended Range Mortar(PERM) programme with a requirement for a16 km extended range GPS guided mortarfired from the 120mmM327 mortar as part of

the in service Expeditionary Fire SupportSystem. To meet the requirement, GeneralDynamics has developed the 120mm RollControl Guided Mortar (RCGM) low-costguided mortar that employs a standardM934A1 mortar warhead and M734A1 fuzecomponents. A key feature is the uses of thepatented Roll-Controlled Fix Canard technol-

ogy. A CEP of less than 10mwas demonstrat-ed and in October 2009 a rocket assistedround was fired from the M327 rifled mortarat ranges from 17 to 18 km.

RocketsMultiple rocket launchers (MRL), can extendthe range of indirect fire, far beyond that pos-sible with conventional tube artillery. Whilethe UK plans to cut back its self propelledand towed tube artillery, it is not making anycut to its Multiple Launch Rocket System(MLRS) batteries under the latest plannedcuts and is instead increasing their capabili-ties. In the Asia-Pacific the US MLRS is a par-ticularly important system with the HighMobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS),able to fire six rockets to a 70km range, beingparticularly important.The Singapore Army operates 18 HIMARS

in Bravo Battery of the 23rd Battalion,Singapore Artillery which became opera-tional in September last year, supplementingthe military’s Primus ST Kinetics 155mm self-propelled howitzer and Pegasus 155mmlightweight howitzer. Thailand’s desire for arocket artillery system is expected to lead toHIMARS being acquired by that country also.Under the 10th Malaysia Plan an additionalregiment of 18 Multiple Rocket launchers isdue to be acquired to add to two regiments ofASTROS II launchers in service with a smallnumber of self-propelled artillery platforms.At the end of November, a new Aerojet

scalable effects warhead was added toLockheed Martin's Guided Multiple LaunchRocket System-Plus (GMLRS+). The designwhich control the blast effect secure a direct

08 ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

The Elbit Systems ATMOS systemis offered in a variety of calibreoptions © Elbit Systems


Hyundai WIA hasdeveloped the 120mm

Autonomous MortarSystems to meet

domestic and exportrequirements © AJB


hit at a range of 49km in the test. In August,the GMLRS+ achieving a range of 120kmwith an improved production motor. Thecurrent design has a range of 50km.India acquired a number of Smerch multi-

barrel rocket launchers from Russia in the mid-dle of the last decade but is reported to havecomplained to Russia regarding through-lifesupport. It is also seeking additional batteriestogether with technology transfer.Hanwha has developed the 70mm MRL

for what is describes as the fast attack roleand is described as having ten times the costeffectiveness of a 120mm mortar system.Rounds are fired at four per second with amaximum range of 8km. Warheads includean electronic time delay, 1200 flechette round.Finland is seeking to add to tis rocket inven-

tory which includes the M270 and the Czech122mm RM-70. A missile, fired from heavyrocket launcher with a budget of $60m is nowbeing sought with a decision expected by 2015.

IndiaIndia provides a litmus test for many of thenew indirect fire systems coming online via a

range of acquisitions as part of its FieldArtillery Rationalisation plan which willaddress the structure of how 3600 artillerypieces in 220 regiments are equipped with abudget of $10-12billion. The key feature uni-fying the systems is the constant delays andprocrastination in their development, evenwithin the field of towed artillery. The firstplan to upgrade the in service FH77/B155/39mm artillery piece of which 410 wereacquired in 1987 was to have been done via

the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) which hadthe rights to do this transferred from the thenBofors but this was overtaken by the politicalscandal surrounding the government of thetime. A number of attempts to upgrade theweapon have been attempted but to datenone has gained traction. One of the morerecent problems was in 2009 when the pro-

gramme was started with the aim of upgrad-ing to 155/45mm ordnance then cancelleddue to over ambitious requirements by theArmy. The Indian Army has recently askedthe MoD and the OFB to produce two newFH77/B types, two using the same ordnancewith new fire control systems and two newlonger range 155/45mm variants. If this getsthe go ahead the weapons would be ready by2013. The OFB has recently completed pro-duction of 105mm ordnance and in a subse-quent collaboration with Elbit Systems con-verted 180 M46 pieces from 130mm to155/39mm. Plans to add a towed 155/52mmcalibre weapon have remained stalled andwill have to be restarted after the governmentcancelled the procurement late in 2011. Thepurchase of 145 155/39mm lightweightHowitzers under the FMS programme andworth $647m has been given the green lightby the MoD but has encountered domesticlegal issues with no clear schedule for theirprocurement. This acquisition of the gunswas to have been used to equip two newMountain Divisions to be deployed on India’sNorth East frontier with China.

NORINCO’s SH1 155 mm/52-calibre6x6 Self-Propelled platform is designedto provide a lower cost, export solutionto established designs © AJB

The Singapore Armyoperates 18 HIMARS in BravoBattery of the 23rd Battalion,Singapore Artillery


Because they go where others can’t.

© 2012 General Dynamics. All rights reserved. Pathmaker is a trademark of General Dynamics

When networks are overwhelmed, destroyed or nonexistent, Pathmaker™ Network Radios deliver

instant networked communications — anytime, anywhere. And our custom gateways extend the reach

and flexibility of Pathmaker Radios by connecting them to satellite, IP, cellular and legacy radio networks.

Because their radio is more than a tool, it’s a lifeline.

www.gdc4s.com/pathmaker


NN AA VV AA LL COMMUNICATIONS

12

Physically integrating communi -cations above deck is an issue,requiring designs to have to addresselectromagnetic interference in asingle mast structure C AJB Maritime

Commun ications

l ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW l

Today, navies are seeking improvedcommunications for all categoriesof warship, down to small patrolcraft, enabling them to remain incontact from over the horizon, via

high capacity links between vessels in a taskgroup and improving internal networkingwithin each ship, linking sensors, weaponsystems and command management sys-tems, shortening the sensor-to-shooter cycle

in a future conflict.To cope with the harsh environments

associated with maritime operations acrossthe globe, communication devices have anumber of common themes such as areduced magnetic footprint and exceptionalstrength to withstand shock, vibration andharsh operating environments. Whatever thesize of vessel there has been drive to reducetop deck weight as well as below deck weight

improving stability on larger vessels as wellas enabling the installation of advanced com-munications on smaller naval platforms suchas Offshore Patrol Vessels.

Line of SightLiterally Line of Sight, “wireless” communi-cations have come a long way since the use ofSemaphore at the battle of Trafalgar, withVHF and UHF communications now inter-

COMMUNICATIONSNN AA VV AA LL


Ensuring that each platformwithin a force structure remains

interconnected in any weather, anyconditions and at any distance is a

staple of any network centric conceptbeing articulated either in War

Colleges or as the basis forprocurements today. Many of those

concepts, were first established in thenaval domain before being transferred

to the land and air environments.

bbyy Adam Baddeleyin theAsia-Pacific

Mari timeCommun ications

HMAS Anzac's boarding partysteams toward a dhow while inthe Arabian Gul. Establishing linksbetween the boarding party, theirRIB and back to the command shiphave taken on a greater priority inrecent years C US DoD

Region

linking battle groups at sea. The navaldomain poses particular challenging for com-munications simply because of physics andnature. When wireless signals travel overwater, a highly reflective surface, this can cre-ate performance and reliability challengescomplicated by varying water heights fromtidal changes create when at sea creatingducting and fading.In the Software Defined radio (SDR)

world, the Rohde and Schwarz M3SR Series4400 VHF/UHF radio family was in Mayselected for the Royal Navy’s (RN) QueenElizabeth Class aircraft carriers designed forstationary air defence, civil and military airtraffic control and shipborne applications.The radio operates in UHF Band I for civilATC and supports military waveforms

including LINK 11 and LINK 22 and frequen-cy hopping waveforms. Rohde and Schwarzis teamed with Austal in its bid for the RoyalAustralian Navy's SEA 1442 Phase 4 mar-itime communications modernisation pro-gramme for the Service’s eight ANZAC-classfrigates which has an expected acquisitioncost of $300-500 million including the provi-sion of an upgraded radio system; communi-cations management and switching; a securevoice and tactical intercom and line-of-sightradio communications. Rohde & SchwarzV/UHF systems have also been selected for

the Royal Netherlands Navy’s Holland classpatrol vessels.The RN selected the Thales fully integrat-

ed communications system (FICS) an SDRbased solution for use on its six-ship RoyalNavy’s Daring (Type 45) class destroyers.For boarding parties, a number of solu-

tions are being pursued. The Royal NewZealand Navy will deploy Cobham DefenceCommunication’s Marine InterdictionOperations System (MIOS). Systematic’sMaritime Boarding system uses a Raytheonsourced WiFi Meshnetwork and ITT’sSpearNet radio. Harris has recently launchedits Tactical Video System For MaritimeInterdiction Applications in this role usingthe RF-7800 Secure Personal Radio and a RF-7400E-VP Tactical Video Processor combinedwith a helmet mounted camera for the board-ing party, linked back to the patrol craftwhich would be equipped with the Falcon C2View Application bulkhead mounted SPR


Rohde and Schwarz isteamed with Austal in its bidfor the Royal AustralianNavy's SEA 1442 Phase 4maritime communicationsmodernisation programme


Harris Government Communications SystemsDivision is supplying its Sea Lancet radio forthe US Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship © US DoD

and a RF-7800M wideband radio for links back to the command ship.A range of communications systems that were developed for land

operations, have also found naval applications. The Royal Navy has test-ed the use of the Bowman High Capacity Data Radio in its MTNC2 testin Norway, communicating high-volume sensor data between multipleplatforms to support co-operative engagement and other roles, with ITTExelis further developing the radio for international users with a SouthAmerican Navy having already tested it. Harris RF Communications RF-7800W has been used in trials with the Brazilian and Ecuadorian Navies.Under the SeaLancet programme for the US Navy’s Littoral Combat Shipprogramme, Harris Government Communications Systems Division hasprovided its OFDM based RT-1944/U, multi-band tactical radio whichsupports 32Mbps user data throughput adjustable to a 108Mbps link ratein high capacity point-to-point roles.The German MoD, working with Carl Zeiss Optronics has tested high

bandwidth laser-based communications for use on naval vessels. Rangesof roughly 20 km have been achieved, with an effective throughput of upto hundreds of Mbps. An added benefit of this transport medium is theabsence of a need for spectrum allocation so the day to day use of this tech-nology is essentially free of charge. The technology also has inherent secu-rity against interception and jamming and has low power requirements.Physically integrating communications above deck is an issue, requir-

ing designs to have to address weight in a single mast structure copingwith the electromagnetic interference generated by transceiver antennasand to do so while addressing the needs of other sensors such as radarsor electro-optical packages. This also has to be done while remainingcompliant with the overall demand for a low or ‘stealthy’ radar cross sec-tion. Thales’ Integrated Communication Antenna System features fourflat-panel receive antenna arrays and four dual VHF/UHF flat-paneltransmit antenna arrays linked to an Antenna Distribution Unit.Rather than hauling voice and data over scarce satcom transpon-

ders, navies are considering ways in which the range of LOS systemsmight be extended over the horizon, sometime just over the horizon tosupport links with surface combatants, small boats or the shore link-ing forces while being out of sight or beyond the range of some enemy

Selex Elsag launched its new navaltactical Voice Distribution System calledSETV1 in September © Selex Elsag

Your mission, optimized.Command efficiency with Jeppesen solutions

In today’s reality of limited resources, we help you do more with less.

Jeppesen, a Boeing company, delivers optimization and performance solutions so you make informed decisions with our intelligent information.

Our fleet management tools and interactive dashboards allow you to actively track your ships, monitor arrival times and analyze each voyage. That means reduced fuel consumption, fewer CO2 emissions and mitigated risks.

For more information+1 [email protected]

jeppesen.com

ORDER FORMYes, I would like to receive ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW for one yearPlease deliver the magazine at the address below:NAME:………………………………………......................................……. POSITION/RANK:………………...............................................…..…….......ORGANISATION/UNIT:…………………..…………......……………...……........………………….…….……………....................................……...........…..……........ADDRESS:…………………………………………………........................…………………………………..………….…….....................................................…..…….........CITY:………………………….............…....…. PIN:………….……...........………. COUNTRY:…….…....…………..………….…...............................…..…….......…..

TEL:…………………………...............…....…. FAX:………….……...…….....…. EMAIL:…….…....…..................………………….............…...........…..…….......…..

I would like to pay by credit card. Please charge my:American Express Diners Master Visa

Card Number:…………...........................……… Expiry Date:……........……...… Signature:.......................................…..……..................

Special

Subscription

Offer

Subscribe today to Asian Military Review Magazine, thelargest circulated defence magazine in Asia Pacific andreceive a SPECIAL SUBSCRIPTION OFFER. Pay only US$100for 8 issues, this is a SAVING OF OVER 16% (Cover price isUS$15 per issue). Simply complete this form with your signature /date and send it to us.

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW is ABC audited and largest circulated defence magazine in Asia Pacific. Published since1993, it is the preferred professional reading of Asian militaries & a reliable source of information for nearly all keydecision makers & advisors to regional defence forces. AMRprovides military professionals with information, opinion &facts allowing them to track & understand defence developments worldwide, in terms of equipment, training,organisation & doctrine issues critical to the creation & sustainment of effective military forces.

MAIL OR FAX THIS ORDER FORM WITH YOUR SIGNATURE, DATE& MAILING ADDRESS TO:

Media Transasia Limited,Room 1205-1206, 12/F, Hollywood Centre,233 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, SARTel: (852) 2815 9111, Fax: (852) 2851 1933Email: [email protected]: www.asianmilitaryreview.com

SUPER SAVER OFFER VALID FOR

LIMITED PERIOD

Category that best describes your rank or titleMilitary (Brigadier General and above or equivalent)Military (Major and above or equivalent)Military (others, including training institutions and libraries)Government (Joint Secretary and above or equivalent)Government (Section officer and above or equivalent)Government (others, including training institutions and libraries)Industry (Director, V.P., G.M. and above)Industry (Managers and above)Industry (others, including training institutions and libraries)Others (please specify)…………………………………………………………………………………………………….

What kind of organization do you work for?Army Navy Air ForceMarine Corp Para Military Government (MOD) Government (Others) Defence IndustryEducational/Training Institutes Law Enforcement/SecurityResearch & Development ConsultancyOthers (Please specify)….....................................................................

Would you like to receive information on homeland security and non conventional warfare:

Yes No

What best describes your job function?Combat Training and Education Logistics ProductionManpower & Personal- Finance Acquisition and Procurement Research & Development Sales General ManagementPR and Marketing Consultancy Administration Others (Please specify)….……………………………….

Are you involved in procurement of defence equipment:Yes No

If yes, what role do you playDefinig requirement Tendering & coordination with contractorsEvaluation of requirement Evaluation of equipmentSelection of specification Approval of purchaseRecommendation

SUBSCRIBER DETAILSMARCH 2010 US$15VOLUME 18/ISSUE 2



FAST ATTACK CRAFT

AIRBORNE C2

SMALL ARMS

EMERGINGSECURITY THREATS

MARITIMEPATROL CRAFT

ADFEVOLUTION

AIRCRAFTSELF PROTECTION

FAST ATTACK CRAFT

AIRBORNE C2

SMALL ARMS

EMERGINGSECURITY THREATS

MARITIMEPATROL CRAFT

ADFEVOLUTION

AIRCRAFTSELF PROTECTION


VOLUME 18/ISSUE 5 JULY/AUGUST 2010 US$15

SOLDIERCOMMUNICATIONS

ANTI-SHIPPINGMISSILES

SPECIAL MISSIONAIRCRAFT

COMBAT AIRCRAFT

ATTACK HELICOPTERS

SOLDIERCOMMUNICATIONS

ANTI-SHIPPINGMISSILES

SPECIAL MISSIONAIRCRAFT

COMBAT AIRCRAFT

ARTILLERY SYSTEMSARTILLERY SYSTEMS

ATTACK HELICOPTERS

EUROPEANINDUSTRY IN ASIAEUROPEANINDUSTRY IN ASIA

A S I A P A C I F I C ’ S L A R G E S T C I R C U L A T E D D E F E N C E M A G A Z I N E

ASIA PACIFIC’S LARGEST CIRCULATED DEFENCE MAGAZINE


Special

Subscription

Offer

LAYOUT 221X276.indd 1 3/23/12 4:57:07 PM

anti-ship capabilities. The US Navy hasrecently tested a cellular link between thehost vessel and a small naval boat searchinga vessel. The China's People's LiberationArmy Navy has also used a X'ian ASN-209UAV to test a communications relay in theSouth China Sea.

BLOSEnsuring that individual vessels can commu-nicate from over the horizon has obviousbenefits for vessel no longer operating as partof large fleets or requiring the maintenance oflinks back to the homeland and political andmilitary central control.

In August, an Asian Navy selected Orbit’sOrBand (AL-7107) Maritime Very SmallAperture Terminal (VSAT) maritime C-BandVSAT providing two-way satellite groundstation or a stabilized maritime antenna witha dish antenna within a compact 2.7m whichit sees as a distinguishing competitive feature

Royal Australian Navy ANZAC class frigateHMAS Warramunga is one of the eight shipsthat will benefit from the SEA 1442 Phase4 maritime communications modernisationprogramme © US DoD



of it as well as being 30 percent lighter thancompetitive solutions.

Harris Government CommunicationsSystems Division were awarded a contract forthe Royal Canadian Navy for multi-band ter-minals and the first international sale of ship-board mobile wideband terminals by Harrisunder the Canadian Short Term SatelliteCommunications Upgrade contract. Harrisare delivering terminals which offer both X-and Ku-band capabilities and provide signifi-cantly higher bandwidth than now availableonboard Canadian Navy frigates. The satcomlinks will be used primarily as welfare links aswell as augment support of strategic militarycommunications.

For Astrium’s latest foray into naval sat-

com, known as SCOTPatrol, the companyhas focused on delivering a compact lowweight solution that can be used as far downas Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) and isdesigned transmit large volumes of dataover Ku, Ka and X bands. The design wastaken from tis work on airborne terminalsSCOTPatrol benefits from an advanced 3-axis stabilised platform designed to rejectship motion from harsh sea conditions, sothat the antenna always remains accuratelypointed at the satellite without the “keyholeeffect” of two-axis systems. Astrium’s Mini-

SCOT terminals have been selected for theTurkish Navy’s Milli Gemi (National Ship)corvette programme. The company has alsoworked with France’s Délégation Généralepour l’Armament on the Marine Nationale’sTelcomarsat naval telecommunications sys-tem which is designed to provide affordablesatcom for 54 small naval vessels that wouldnot otherwise have access to Milsatcom.Astrium and Thales are working together onthe Yahsat programme for the UAE withAstrium responsible for the naval segment,using SCOTT terminals.

ITT Exelis’ Ku band GNOMAD satellitecommunications on-the-move solution isbest know for use by vehicles down to thesize of HMMWV, the company is also devel-oping a broadband solution for small vesselsbased on the design.

InternalSelex Elsag launched its new naval tacticalVoice Distribution System (VDS), called

For Astrium’s latest forayinto naval satcom, known asSCOTPatrol, the companyhas focused on delivering acompact low weight solutionthat can be used as far downas Offshore Patrol Vessels

Infra-Com is now fully operational on the bridgeof HMS Daring and Dauntless and is undergoingfinal trials on HMS Diamond. It will also beinstalled on HMS Duncan, Dragon and Defender© Link Microtek


Extend your communications network to locations not served by terrestrial or satellite connections with the Datron RT7700. The RT7700 is a tactical, software defi ned (SDR)

HF radio. IP addressable for fl exibility, and combining DSP-IF circuitry with powerful microprocessors, the RT7700 delivers HF voice and data communications around the

world – even to the middle of nowhere.

Designed for ease of use and optimized to support current and future voice and data requirements, the RT7700 includes the features you require to build a reliable

and cost-effective radio network. The RT7700 delivers the value you expect.

To learn more about the RT7700 and communications solutions from Datron visit us online at www.dtwc.com.

THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE NO LONGER EXISTS.

www.dtwc.com [email protected]



SETV1 in September. The technology isbased on the Sentinel Soft Switch used tomanage area communications systems onland manages tactical voice distribution overan IP network. SETV1 uses SELEX ElsagCOTS based low-cost naval Tactical VoiceTerminal (TVT) using a 5.7” screen throughwhich the VDS is capable of switching multi-ple voice and data calls interphone, intercom,radio circuit and open line calls. Selex Elsagare also providing a 500 headset TETRA sys-tem to link above-deck aviation teams andbelow-deck on-board communications formobile teams andmachinery space personnelon the two new aircraft carriers.

The Harris HYDRA (Hierarchical YetDynamically Reprogrammable Architecture)System is another competitor in this market.

The UK has opted to supplement conven-tional internal communications links on itsnew Type 45 vessels with a new and secureinfra-red system from Link Microtek. Thecompany’s Infra-Com design is inherentlysecure and interference-free voice communi-cations facility. This is linked into the ship’s

main communications system via a centralbase station while being immune to evensevere electromagnetic interference. The cov-erage of the multi-channel, full-duplex sys-tem is 10,000 square metres

Portugal’s EID produce the FullyIntegrated Information and CommunicationsSystems, with its Integrated CommunicationsControl System being the core sub-systemthat glues together all the on-board communi-cations equipment as well as switching units,voice terminals or external and internal linksboth digital and analogue. It has been

acquired by eight navies including the Brazil,Lithuania, United Kingdom and Uruguaywith 100 systems being acquired. In Spain,EID are providing internal communicationfits on the Álvaro de Bazán Class (F 100) classfrigates, Juan Carlos I Strategic ProjectionVessel, the SPS Cantabria combat supportvessel and S80A class submarines.

Saab’s naval Communications solution isbased around its TactiCall solution. TactiCallsupports all elements of both internal andexternal communication, including voice anddata communication and is installed on largenumber of vessels including the YS 2000Stealthy Corvettes for the Royal SwedishNavy and Niels Juel Class Frigates in RoyalDanish Navy service.

Babcock are currently upgrading aSandown-class minehunter, in UK service;HMS Shoreham Defense InformationInfrastructure (Future) (DII(F)), allowing it tointeract with other UK shore and groundbased networks over a common infrastruc-ture information sharing and collaborativeworking across defense networks.

SubmarineUnder the Defense Advanced ResearchProject Agency’s Tactical Relay InformationNetwork (TRITON) programme which isscheduled to be tested in the Navy's Rim ofthe Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in June thisyear using a QinetiQ North America blue-spectrum laser communications to providetwo way communications between fast attacksubmarines with ASW aircraft and satellites.

Sagem’s Series 30 family of search mastssystems, chosen for Brazil’s SSK, India’s sixScorpene SSK’s and France’s Barracudaclass SSN provide a host for a range of UHF,VHF and satcom communications and sen-sor systems.

Lockheed Martin’s Multifunction MastAntenna System programme will upgradeUS submarines adding Link 16, Iridiumand Mobile User Objective System (MUOS)UHF satcom.

Babcock and SEA have formed a team topursue the for the RN’s VanguardReplacement Programme (VRP) SubmarineCommunications Buoy (SCB) system initiallybidding for the system’s TechnologyDemonstrator Programme the ITT for whichwas issued in December. Key requirementsfor the towed design is the ability to operatecovertly at a controlled depth in a range ofconditions while recovering Very LowFrequency signals.


In Spain, EID are providinginternal communication fitson the Álvaro de Bazán Class(F 100) class frigates, JuanCarlos I Strategic ProjectionVessel, the SPS Cantabriacombat support vessel andS80A class submarines

In August, an Asian Navy selectedOrbit’s OrBand (AL-7107) C-BandVSAT © Orbit

GROUND BASED AIR DEFENCEby MBDA

www.mbda-systems.com

ASTER / SAMP-T

MISTRAL

VL MICA

SPADA

protecting your assetslock on to MBDA solutions


RREEGGIIOONNAALL P R O F I L E


Malaysia:Continuing

Modernisation

TheMain area covers the PeninsularMalaysia, Sabah and Sarawaklandspace along with its territorialwaters and airspace. These areasare to be protected to the utmost

from any form of external threat, according tothe National Defence policy. It should benoted that the exclusion of any mention ofdefending against internal threats is due to thefact that dealing with internal threats are theprovince of the Home Ministry and the RoyalMalaysian Police.The Offshore Economic Area is the

Economic Exclusion Zone and the nation’scontinental shelf. This area which lies in theSouth China Sea is rich with fishery resourcesand hydrocarbons and forms one of the maincontributions to the country’s economy. Thisclearly outlines that the protection of theSouth China Sea due to its importance to theeconomy is of priority.The Strategic Maritime and Aerospace

Routes of Malaysia are the air and sea routesthat connect Peninsular Malaysia andSabah/Sarawak, the Malacca Straits andSingapore Straits.The National Defence Policy outlines the

strategic dilemma faced by Malaysia indefence of the nation and its interests. It states,

“The physical separation of PeninsularMalaysia with Sabah and Sarawak by theSouth China Sea requires the nation to giveattention to the air and sea routes between thetwo areas. Any threat or disruption to the seaand air routes there can threatened the stabili-ty of the two areas and as a whole, Malaysia.”This in essence sums up the problem faced

by Malaysia, in that Peninsular and EastMalaysia are basically two separate territorialentities physically separated by a vast mar-itime body and in much of it, Malaysia doesnot have territorial sovereignty or control. Assuch, due to this fact, Malaysian defence plan-ning and deployments are centered upon thenecessity to divide it forces into two andmain-tain a sufficient military force in each area thatwould not be heavily dependent upon swiftreinforcement, assistance and support fromthe military assets and forces in the other area.This is very much reflected in the organiza-

tional structure of the Royal Malaysian Navyand Royal Malaysian Air Force who bear theresponsibility of securing the routes betweenPeninsular and East Malaysia and also the ter-ritorial waters, EEZ and continental shelfareas of Malaysia. The Royal Malaysian Navymaintains three area Commands; COMNAV 1whose area of responsibility is from the South

P R O F I L EREGIONAL

Malaysia’s 2010National Defence Policy

lays down the factthat the Malaysian

Armed Forces’primary role is to

defend the three vitalareas of Malaysia; Main

Area, OffshoreEconomic Area and

Strategic Maritime andAerospace Routes.

bbyy Dzirhan Mahadzir

Malaysian Army PT-91s© Dzirhan Mahadzir

Come to Visit the National Pavilion of the CZECH REPUBLIC with the Latest Products

of the Defence and Security IndustriesSCHEDULE: 16. – 19. 4. 2012 / 930 – 1630

LOCATION: Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

HALL 3, STAND 3149


China Sea side of Peninsular Malaysia andEEZ there to the lower end of the MalaccaStraits; COMNAV 2 which is responsible forthe waters around East Malaysia and the EEZthere and COMNAV 3 which is responsiblefor the upper half of the Malacca Straits andMalaysian waters in the Northwest of thepeninsular. Meantime, the Royal MalaysianAir Forces divides its operational commandsinto two, No.1 Air Division for PeninsularMalaysia and No.2 Air Division for EastMalaysia. The Malaysian Army in turn main-tains four divisions (in addition to the 10thParachute Brigade, Special Forces and severalindependent formations), each responsible fora particular region of Malaysia with the 1stDivision responsible for East Malaysia, the2nd Division for Northern PeninsularMalaysia, 3rd Division for Southern

Peninsular Malaysia and 4th Division forCentral Peninsular Malaysia but faces lessissues in the deployment of its forces due tothe fact that East Malaysia, consisting of thestates of Sabah and Sarawak and larger thanPeninsular Malaysia, is less developed andpopulated than the peninsular. The bulk of theArmy’s heavy equipment including the tankregiment and mechanised infantry battalionsare all stationed in the peninsular where theiremployment is far more suitable than in the

largely undeveloped East Malaysia.In contrast to the Army, the deployment

and maintenance of sufficient military forcesin both parts of the nation has been difficultfor both the RMN and RMAF, due to the factthat Malaysia’s maritime waters and airspaceare significantly larger than its landmass andowing to the small size of both forces. TheRMN has less than 40 vessels in it’s invento-ry capable of carrying out operational patrolswhile the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s front-line combat aircraft fleet consists of 18 Su-30MKM, eight F/A-18 Hornets and six MiG-29s with around over thirty secondary com-bat aircraft in the form of F-5Es, Hawks andMB-339s, the latter two primarily used fortraining and ground attack role.

This has resulted in the RMAF, in the caseof combat aircraft, having to rotate one ormore flight detachments of four aircraft fromthe fighter squadrons in and out of EastMalaysia rather than station a squadron per-manently there in contrast to its helicopterand fixed wing transports which are sta-tioned on a squadron basis there. TheRMAF’s long term strategic plan though, callsfor the Service to reach a targeted strength ofsix multi-role aircraft fighter squadrons, twoof which will then be stationed permanentlyin East Malaysia. However, the budgetaryconstraints facing Malaysia which in turnslimits funding for defence means that the sixsquadron target is unlikely to be achieved inthe near future and that the rotations of flight


The bulk of the Army’s heavyequipment including the tankregiment and mechanisedinfantry battalions are allstationed in the peninsular

Despite the RMAF obtaining 18Su-30MKMs, the number is stillnot adequate to match its strategicplanning © Dzirhan Mahadzir


Boustead Naval Shipyard's model of theSecond Generation Patrol Vessel - LittoralCombat Ship that it will build for the RMN. Sixof these ships will be delivered from 2017onwards © Dzirhan Mahadzir

MOST

D a s s a u l t A v i a t i o n • S n e c m a • T h a l e s

Rival late generation fighters offer your armed forces almost everything required. They’re almost on budget.They’re almost on schedule. They’re almost ready to fly the full range of missions needed to be truly effective.But what if ‘almost’ isn’t good enough? Rafale offers the most versatile, most cost-effective, most technologicallyevolved military performance available in a late-generation fighter today. Rafale. A most welcome alternative toendless promises, and almost endless delays.

PEMA2M

- Pho

to:

Das

saul

t Aviat

ion


detachments of combat aircraft to EastMalaysia will remain for a while.

The Royal Malaysian Navy’s minimumoperational target is to ensure that a minimumof six RMN ships are operationally on patrolat any given time, three around PeninsularMalaysia and three around East Malaysia, asstated by RMN chief Admiral Aziz Jaafar in2010. The RMN chief also that the RMN wasable to maintain such an operational tempo inthe near term but not in the long term unless itacquired additional surface ships.

However for both services, the Malaysiangovernment’s inconsistent approach todefence development over the years has ledto both Services being unable to significantlyexpand their capabilities in line with theirstrategic development plans though it has tobe said that several capability improvementsfor both services have occurred such as theintroductions of submarines into the RMNand the RMAF operating the Sukhoi Su-30MKM. However the problem is that whilefunding does enable the RMN and RMAF topurchase sophisticated equipment, that fund-ing does not enable the two Services to pur-chase enough numbers of ships or aircraft inline with the increasing requirements of the

Service and in most cases, the procurementcomes at the expense of other programmes.The Royal Malaysian Navy’s six ship SecondGeneration Patrol Vessel – Littoral CombatShip (SGPV-LCS) Programme may have beenapproved but the funding of that programme

which costs a total of MYR 9 billion ($2.8 bil-lion) likely means that the Multi-PurposeSupport Ship programme which has beenpending since the early 2000’s is unlikely togain traction unless the government allocatesadditional funds. And while the six SGPV-LCS will enter service from 2017 onwards,these ships will be entering into service at atime when a number of RMN ships reach theend of their operational lifespan thus whilethe RMN may have a more capable fleet, the



The RMAF's S61 helicopter fleet was supposed tobe totally replaced by the Eurocpter EC725s, butbudget constraints now mean 15 will continue toserve on © Malaysian Ministry of Defence

The AV8x8 AFV under development will replacethe Army's 4x4 Condor and 6x6 Sibmas AFVsCredit © Dzirhan Mahadzir

REGIONAL

fleet size will remain at a number insufficientfor Malaysia’s requirements.In a similar vein the RMAF will receive 12

EC725 from late 2012, but the RMAF’s origi-nal plans call for more than twice that number

to replace its 28 S-61 helicopters, with theMalaysian Armed Forces requiring the RMAFto have 27 medium lift helicopters in itsinventory, the RMAF has initiated a servicelife extension and upgrade program for 15 of

the S-61s. And should the RMAF obtain it’srequirement for 18 multi-role combat aircraftto replace the MiG-29s which will be phasedout in 2015, it still does not alter the fact thatthe RMAF will still only have two and a halfsquadrons of frontline combat aircraft, a peakstrength which has been in existence since the1980s and well short of the goal of six MRCAsquadrons. As such the key problem for boththe RMN and RMAF lies in obtaining enoughfunding for procurement to increase their sizeand not purely their capabilities.The Malaysian Army in turn, faces less of

the problem of size, given that tanks, AFVsand artillery costs much less than ships or air-craft though the army did face a significantwait for its wheeled AFV programme beforethe indigenous AV-8 8x8 AFV programmewhich was initiated in 2010 delivers. The sizeof the Army though (roughly 80,000 strong)makes the issuing of individual soldier equip-


The Malaysia Army’s 4x4 Condor APC will soonbe replaced by the indigenous AV8 8x8 AFV ©Dzirhan Mahadzir

P a r t n e r s h i p S p i r i t

The key to your defence and security strategy

For 40 years Défense Conseil International has beenworking in a framework defined by the Ministry ofDefence and in close collaboration with FrenchArmed Forces Headquarters and the DGA.

Défense Conseil International Group is specializedin transferring French military know-how and guarantee comprehensive understanding of itspartners' needs by providing tailored solutions inthe fields of consulting, technical assistance andcontract monitoring.

www.groupedci.com

© N

atco

m -

ww

w.n

atco

m.f

r -

01 4

7 30

31

32 -

Pho

tos

: Si

rpa

Terr

e, M

er e

t Ai

r et

DC

N –

DC

I -

Accr

oche

Pem

a 2B



ment costly, and as a result body armour forcombat troops is issued only to troops onoperational missions overseas where suchprotection is required. As such, the Army’sSAKTI (Soldier Advanced KombatTechnology Integrated) future soldier system,while still being experimental, is unlikely tobe issued on a widespread basis due to thecost. Similarly, deployment of Man PortableAir Defence systems are restricted to airdefence units and key units such as the para-chute battalions and special forces with theinfantry battalions having to rely on the airdefence units assigned to them rather thanhaving an integral capability. However, interms of tanks, AFVs and artillery, the Armyhas not had problems obtaining sufficientnumbers in line with its planning once fund-ing has been approved. Its key problemsthough lie in having the funding approved inthe first place. Despite having a requirementfrom 2004 for it’s 4x4 Condor wheeled APCand 6 x 6 Sibmas AFVs to be replaced by 2010,the funding to do so only came about in 2010itself and the government deciding that thereplacement will stem from the indigenousAV-8 8x8 AFV programme, the prototype forwhich is only due to begin trials later thisyear. The plus side to it is that the govern-ment has authorised sufficient numbers forthe Army in the form of an initial 257 vehicles,while the Army’s initial fleet of Condors andSibmas totaled close to 600 vehicles, this hasbeen offset by the fact that some of the unitsutilizing those AFVs have now converted to

mechanized battalions using tracked ACV-300 and Korean Infantry Fighting VehiclesAPCs, thus making an initial order of 257vehicles reasonably sufficient for the Army.

However in regard to the Army Air Corps,the same problems faced by the RMAF inregard to aircraft costs are also faced by theArmy. The Army plans called for a squadroneach of light observation, tactical transportand attack helicopters. Currently only thelight observation helicopter squadron with 11Agusta A109s has been achieved. The Army’s

initial plans for the tactical transport helicop-ter squadron was to have absorbed theRMAF’s S-61 fleet which the RMAF plannedto phased out totally with the EC725s.However, as a result of the RMAF only beingable to purchase half the numbers of EC725sthat it planned for, it had to retain the S-61swhich were to have been transferred to theArmy. The Army in turn has now opted tocontinue to rely on the RMAF for tactical hel-icopter transport and instead focus on obtain-ing funding for an attack helicopter squadronof 6-12 helicopters. However the costs of such

a purchase has resulted in the programmelying in limbo for the time being. Still though,with the Malaysian army’s operational rolecurrently largely being limited to bordersecurity and overseas peacekeeping andmed-ical missions in Lebanon and Afghanistanrespectively rather than combat operations,the lack of an attack helicopter squadron isnot a pressing issue.

However, for the RMN and RMAF, theinability of both to significantly increase thesize of their ship and aircraft fleet respectivelyis a pressing issue given the size of the areasthey have to cover and the need to maintainsignificant presence in both Peninsular andEast Malaysia. As it is, all three services tooksignificant cuts to their procurement fundingfor 2012; the Army requested MYR1.16 billion($372 million) in procurement funding for2012 but was allocated MYR541 million ($173million), while the RMN asked for MYR4.39billion ($1.4 billion) but only receivedMYR759million ($243 million) and the RMAF, havingasked for MYR2.49 billion ($799 million)received only MYR983 million ($315 million).However the Army as a whole is better posi-tioned to weather these cuts in contrast to theother two services whose operationaldemands have increased over the years, par-ticularly in regard to the Spratly Islands andthe South China Sea. As such, unless theMalaysian government commits to additionalfunding of the RMN and RMAF, both serviceswill continue to struggle with the problems ofinadequate fleet numbers for their tasks.

The Malaysian Army operatesAgusta Westland A109s in the lightobservation helicopter role and islooking for an attack helicoptercredit © Malaysian MOD

The RMAF will receive 12EC725 from late 2012,but the RMAF’s originalplans call for morethan twice that number toreplace its 28 S-61s


What are the main developments in the field ofTactical Communication?Pierre Suslenschi:“Tactical Communications are absolutely integralto modern forces. C4I solutions, new generationBattlefield Management Systems (BMS),surveillance systems and real time force trackingsystems all rely on Tactical Communicationsnetworks. Consequently, the vast increase inthe flow of data, images and videos requiresthe ongoing expansion of communicationbandwidth. In addition to this, recent conflictsshow that the old concept of the frontline isn’tvalid any more; theatres tend to be wider andtherefore Tactical Communications Systemshave to be even more far ranging and farreaching. Furthermore, forces need to maintainpermanent contact with their teams. It’s vital thatthe command chain is never broken.”

What is the impact of this requirementfrom a technological point of view?Pierre Suslenschi:“This new operational requirement impactswaveforms and radio platforms. Forces needwaveforms that provide a high data rate andad-hoc networking – this is achieved in UHF.While, in VHF, forces need new waveforms thatare able to simultaneously handle data, voiceand added value services such as blue forcetracking, while still being interoperable withlegacy systems. To answer to this need, Thalesdeveloped Geomux, a new waveform fullyinteroperable with the PR4G/Fastnet waveform.This represents a true revolution in TacticalCommunications and Software Defined Radio(SDR) advances. It allows multi-megabyte radioon UHF frequencies and increases user servicesin VHF. With FlexNet, Thales and RockwellCollins developed SCA-based SDR runningThales’ latest high data rate UHF and VHF

waveforms. Fully compatible with legacy radios,and particularly the PR4G radio, FlexNet ensuresperfect interoperability. Technology that hashelped critical decision makers achieve betteroutcomes in recent multinational operations.”

A complete rangeThales proposes a large range of tacticalradiocommunications products from thecommand post to the soldier.

FlexNet recently reached a 2 Mb/s datarateon a 35 km distance, confirming the reliabilityand efficiency of this unique SoftwareDefined solution.

This PR4G/Fastnet soldier radio includes thelatest Thales Geomux waveforms. Voice, IP dataand blue force tracking data are simultaneouslymanaged by the same device.

This vehicle-based HF radio provides a seamless,mobile communication link over distances upto 1,000 km.

This UHF Software Defined Radio is the perfecttool for dismounted forces with its 1.5 km range.Able to manage simultaneously voice, data andforce tracking, it enables soldiers to remain inconstant contact with headquarters and othersquad members.

Software Defined Radio. Fully equipped to helpLand Forces make the right decisionsLand Tactical Communications are entering a new era with the development of Software Defined Radio. This newtechnology will offer larger bandwidth, greater interoperability and higher reliability. Yet what will prove to be the realbenefits for forces? Will the operational gap be worth the investment? Pierre Suslenschi, Vice-President in charge ofTactical Radio Communications Solutions at Thales, answers these fundamental questions.

soldiers kept inconstant contactwith HQ

seamlesscommunicationon the move

To learn more about what we offer in Defence scan theQR code or visit our website thalesgroup.com


To stop fragmentation and shrapnelfrom rocket-propelled grenadesand mines, small-arms fire andeven knife attacks, not to mentionthe trauma caused by an impro-

vised explosive device (IED), body armordesign is based on three elements; thematerialsavailable for making a ballistic resistant plate;the threat and thirdly the laws of physics.The plate has to stop a speeding bullet,

but that plate also has to be able to be ablepass a series of durability tests such as heat,cold, diesel soak, petrol soak, salt water,accelerated weather, drop testing, in aprocess that the military has designed toreplicate the wear and tear that these platesare expected to see over the course of theirlife cycle. Bullets are becoming more lethalwith faster muzzle velocities with tougherinner cores designed to penetrate RolledHomogeneous Armor at increasing thick-nesses and a multi-hit capability is essentialwhen the IED threat comprises a number ofprojectiles traveling at a very high velocityenergies associated with the impact itself.The resulting body armour is made up of

three main components: an outer cover, with-out any inherent protection and often inte-grating with load carriage systems, secondly

Soft Armour panels or vest, effective againstknives and lower velocity rounds and shellfragments and easily mouldable into collarsand groin protection. The third category ishard protection plates, place in designatedside, back and side pockets which wouldoften include a ceramic content capable ofstopping or significantly slowing high veloc-

ity sniper and some armour piecing roundsas well as blunt force trauma.

Body armourBCB’s Exo Flex Body Armour is a fully artic-ulated design which features a pivotedshoulder harness that allows free, independ-ent movement of the shoulders and arms

BBOODDYYA R M O U R


Complete Solutions

Personal

Vulnerable to attacks at any time, combat troops now wear bodyarmour and Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) almost continuouslywhile deployed around the world. Weight remains the biggestsingle design issue and the key challenge in reducing burden is theintegration of multiple components into one ergonomic lighter-weightsystem for the most effective solution.

bbyy Adam Baddeley

ProtectiveEquipment:

By being securely fastened, bodyarmour designs become morecomfortable, more ergonomic andmore likely to remain in place inan IED blast © US DoD

A R M O U RBBOODDYY


The necessary weight and thermalburden of current designs has ledto the introduction of worn coolingdevices to offset the heat © US DoD

which also allows the use Level IV armourplates. The firm’s Spartan armour accommo-dates soft Level IIIA armour as well asarmour plates and other practical featuressuch as a Drag Handle, C4I wire channels fornon-clutter communications assembly aswell as the use of non slip suede material forweapon retention of the right shoulder whichworks as well when wet.Ceradyne recently received a US Defense

Logistic Agency Troop Support andSustainment order worth $127 million. Thiswill cover the acquisition of 300,000 ESAPIplates though to 2012. Production of theXSAPI ended in December with 160,000 setsproduced. Ceradyne is considered a worldleader in hot press boron carbide body armourtechnology having manufactured close tothree million hot pressed boron carbide platesof varying sizes and shapes for the DoD, sup-plying 70-80 percent of the total. The companymanufactures in excess of 50,000 B4C bodyarmour plates a month, and has a rejectionrate of less than .05 percent on hot pressedplates. Other suppliers have provided boroncarbide plates manufacture plates using aprocess called reaction bonded boron carbide.The US Army is for the future looking at

reducing the weight of the ESAPI plates by

ten percent. This has been a long standingchallenge for the DoD for some time. TheUSMC has had a two-year SBIR effort inplace for any one that could provide thattype of weight reduction in the body armorplate and still meet all of the requirements ofthe current equipment. Purchase is discre-tionary although to date it is understood thatthis has not occurred.BAE Systems recently released a new PPE

solution known as the Scalable SoldierProtection System, based on its internallydeveloped Ultra Lightweight Warrior pro-gramme in order to meet the requirement forthe US Army’s Soldier ProtectionDemonstration requirements for which thecompany has provided ten systems for trials.Serbia’s Yugoimport has recently devel-

oped the PBB VB-10 ballistic combat vest forits soldier of the future programme withstandard protection against NATO standard5.56mm round with the protection for addi-tion ballistic protection as required.The Marine Corps began fielding their

Improved Modular Tactical Vest inNovember to meet urgent needs with 108,000sets due to be delivered by April. The newsystems, which feature improved load car-riage, shoulder comfort and cummerbundstability, replaces the legacy Modular TacticalVest for all troops deploying to Afghanistanand will also replace the Scalable PlateCarrier. The IMTV uses standard enhancedsmall arms protective inserts inserts.UK firm Vestguard have won contract to

supply the Afghan National Army andAfghan National Police including a £55maward in 2007 for the UK and more recentlyvia the US DoD worth $120m in 2009. The US


Modern protective plates have to be to copewith armour-piercing small arms rounds © AJB

BBOODDYYA R M O U R

US troops on a threemile run while wearingtheir Interceptor bodyarmour © US DoD

BODY

order for a solution based on the VersatileOvert Tactical Vest.The US Interceptor Body Armor (IBA) is a

modular protective system consisting of anouter vest, ballistic plates, and attachable

components that increase the area of cover-age. These are suppliers by range of firmsincluding Point Blank Body Armor, BAESystems, KDH and Protective ProductsEnterprise. In FY12, the Army intends tocomplete the purchase of 966,000 IOTVs. TheArmy’s Soldier Plate Carrier System is pro-vided solely by KDH and provides ballisticprotection equal to or greater than that of theIOTV which is an integral part of the IBA butwhich decreases soldier load and optimummobility with the company recently provid-ing plate carriers in the new OperationEnduring Freedom camouflage pattern.In October, Ceradyne launched their

Mohawk seamless Ballistic helmet whichprovides a 50 percent improvement in per-formance over the current Advanced CombatHelmet (ACH) in regards to shell splinters aswell as improving performance in regards tosmall arms. A boltless design, it has nowentered US Army testing. In its design thecompany have made a clear decision to incor-

porate the need for helmet mounted acces-sories with the induction of a bus bar into theshell of helmet to enable a protected linkbetween a rear mounted power source andmultiple sensors such as night vision gog-gles, flashlight, IFF solution and recordingdevice. Ceradyne is supplying the Army andMarine Corps with the Enhanced Combat

The bulk of the Army’s heavyequipment including the tankregiment and mechanisedinfantry battalions are allstationed in the peninsular

Ceradyne has manufactured close to threemillion hot pressed boron carbide plates ofvarying sizes and shapes for the DoD, supplying70-80 percent of the total © AJB

A R M O U RBODY

NEW TOOLS FOR NEW RULES

DOMINATOR®. Equipped to Detect, Deliver,Decide, Disseminate.Elbit Systems' Dominator® is an Integrated Infantry Combat System (IICS)that equips warfighters with advanced, miniaturized hi-tech tools empowering them with capabilities to send, receive, view, transmit,all in real time. Outfitted with soldier-friendly gear includingCentral Terminal, Display, Eyepiece, Soldier Navigation and FireControl Systems, Target Acquisition Sensor,Broadband Communication, the Dominator®

is ready for the challenges of the future.Every soldier is a sensor.Every soldier is a platform.

LAND SYSTEMS & C4I

N E X T I S N O W ®

w w w . e l b i t s y s t e m s . c o m

Skylark® I-LE UAS

Tadiran PNR-1000APersonal Net Radio

LILY - Thermal Weapon Sights

SNAV - Soldier Navigation Defexpo 2012

Israel Pavilion

Visit us at


Helmet (ECH) which uses ultrahigh molecu-lar weight polyethylene rather than resin-impregnated para-aramids with First unitsequipped in 2QFY12.In Asia, both Tencate and DSM Dyneema

are developing their presence in the region,setting up facilities in Singapore. In February,TenCate Advanced Armour opened a salesoffice in Singapore with the goal of its forminga hub for local production established in theAsia-Pacific region. DSM Dyneema expect toopen their new R&D Technology centre inSingapore in November to support both PPEand vehicular implementations of their protec-tive technologies. The site will have three bal-listic shooting ranges to provide independentsupport and testing with partners. The compa-ny is particularly active in India, Thailand,Malaysia and Korea. Recent body armourinnovations include the Dyneema SB51 SoftBallistic armour ultra-high molecular weightpolyethylenematerial which provides an up to20 percent increase in protection compared tothe company’s SB21 material and meets NIJ0101.04 and NIJ 0101.06 standards. In October,the company launched their SB71, a unidirec-tional grade light weight ballistic material SoftBallisticmaterial thatwas specifically designedand developed for use in ballistic vests certi-fied under NIJ0101.06.Plasan work closely with Marom Dolphin

to tailor PPE solutions to the requirements of

the user and to meet ergonomics and comfortstandards while retaining protective effect.By taking this in-house approach, costs andtiming can be significantly reduced,described as giving the user a bespoke, opti-mised solution for the same costs as a ‘stan-dard’ off the shelf product.Tyr Tactical’s Lightweight Plate Carrier has

a range of ballistic options such as a ballisticyoke and ballistic throat piece which can bebuilt up to provide a range of protection stan-

dards according the mission requirements.Germany’s Infanterist der Zukunft systems

build in protection to the load carriage sys-tems, developed by Blucher Technologies inorder to reduce weight with elbow and kneeprotectors for example also having shrapnelprotection. Overall the system can be built upto NATO STANAGLlevel 4 protection.

CoolingSome Coalition forces in Afghanistan have

shed body armour due to weight issues, inorder to more effectively conduct missionsin temperatures of up to 50°C.The ability to wear and carry increasingly

high levels of personal protection has a strongimpact on the soldier’s load, not least the ther-mal load, particularly on extended dismount-ed operations. The higher the body tempera-ture the less effective a soldier becomes.Without the option of leaving armour behind,militaries have opted to field worn coolingsystems in conjunction with PPE while notcompromising on ballistic performance norimpeding use of webbing and load carriagevests, in order to reduce core body tempera-ture, an issue of particular relevance in theAsia Pacific. Whereas dismounted troopshave to carry these systems with them, plat-form crewmen can typically rely on morepowerful systems, often interconnected thewith an onboard climate control system.Furthermore, while body armour is an exportcontrolled device, cooling systems are not.WL Gore’s Active Cooling system distrib-

utes cooling air via a jacket with integrated‘blower’ worn underneath body armour, loadcarriage systems and even normal uniforms.Designed to provide up to 150W of coolingpower the systems is designed as having noappreciable burden. On a single charge thesystems can operates for over eight hours.Entrak’s ventilation wear uses as its core a


The Marine Corps beganfielding their ImprovedModular Tactical Vest inNovember to meet urgentneeds with 108,000 sets dueto be delivered by April

Dyneema® ultra-high molecularweight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibreis already incorporated into variouspieces of hard and soft ballisticarmour used in the law enforcementmarket © DSM Dyneema

BBOODDYYA R M O U R

BODY

washable 72 percent polyamide, 28 percentpolyester jacket with pockets for two coolingunits each weighing 265g which can operatefor 20 hours on its lowest setting and six hourson its highest with the sound generated at itshighest setting only approximately 40 dBA.BCB’s Mistral Standalone Cooling Vest has

a total weight including vest, fan and batteriesof 1.3kg The patented mechanism works byblasting air at one area of the body then rapid-ly changing to blast another, a process knownas spatial dither. This works in conjunctionwith a wicking undershirt to evaporate sweat.Mistral has been integrated with BCB’s bodyarmour range including its Spartan range andadds approximately 300 grams to the weightof the body armour including batteries.

GogglesEye protection is a key feature of modern PPEensembles as eye injuries account for over 15percent of combat related injuries, with the USDoD noting that this proportion increases withevery new conflict with industry analysisshowing that as much as 90 percent of injuries

to the eye being preventable with proper pre-cautions. In addition to the protection theymustoffer, that protectionmust be both optically cor-rect, be scratch and fog resistant and be able toblock harmful UV rays with users also request-ing different lenses for different light condi-

tions. TheUSArmy continues to add to their listof approved eyewear in the AuthorizedProtective Eyewear List. Currently, these are theArena Flakjak, ESS LandOps, ESS Profile NVG,Revision Desert Locust, Smith Optics OutsidetheWire, ESSCrossbow, ESSCrossbow,OakleySI BallisticMFrame 2.0, Revision SawFly, SmithOptics Aegis, UVEX Genesis UVEX XC, WileyX PT-1, Wiley X SG-1, Wiley X Talon. Whileother devices may meet the ANSI Z87.1 stan-dard for protection, they do not necessarilymeet military impact requirements. Revisionrecently launched their Batlskin head protectionsystem designed to provide a scalable systemsbased around a lightweight helmet and dualfoam impact liner with a three position visorand amulti-purposes frontmountwhich is alsoa universal NVG mount. The visor mount isdesigned so that in a blast or overpressure theeye protection remains in place.

A R M O U RBODY

Modular personal protection system P6 withtactical cover, military design. Protection level:NIJ3A according to NIJ Standard-0101.06© BSST/DSM Dyneema

www.trijicon.com

THE NEW TRIJICON SRS™

Dual Power Souces: Solar Cell & Single AA Battery ACOG® RuggednessNo “Tube-Effect” and Less Rail Space 1.75 MOA Dot for Quick Acquisition 10 Brightness Settings (including 3 NVG Settings) Made in the USA

© 2012 Trijicon, Inc. Fredericksburg, VA USA 1-540-286-1827 PML7007-4 Rev(1)


RREEGGIIOONNAALLP R O F I L E


India’s military is undertaking a massive modernisation drivevia imports, local weapon and systems development and acquiringnetworked centric competence to achieve badly-neededcapability to operate in a hostile and an increasingly militarisedand nuclearised neighbourhood.

bbyy Rahul Bedi

INDIA: MassiveModernisationbut Poor Procurement

P R O F I L ERREEGGIIOONNAALL


It is also attempting, albeit unsuccess-fully to overhaul the Ministry ofDefences (MoDs) bureaucratic and con-tinually-postponed procurement pro-cedures, to imminently replace and

upgrade its predominantly obsolete Russianand Soviet materiel in order to augmentIndia’s regional strategic profile in keepingwith its burgeoning economic muscle. Acquiring military goods requires clear-

ance, grudgingly forthcoming from 18 MoDand related departments and agencies.Consequently, procurements that were man-dated to be completed in 48 months invari-ably took twice as long in addition to foster-ing widespread corruption. Concurrently, urgently-needed equip-

ment via the MoD’s Fast Track Procurementroute with a 12-14 month timeline, rarelyever met that target; taking twice if not threetimes longer to execute. According to international management

consultant Ernst & Young, India was possi-

bly the biggest customer in the internationalarms bazaar having allocated $80-100 billionto acquiring materiel by the end of the coun-try’s 13th, Five-Year Finance Plan in 2022. A report by the Confederation of Indian

Industry and global financial consultantsKPMG last year revealed that India had inkedmilitary deals for $25 billion since 2007 ofwhich the Indian Air Force (IAF) accountedfor $17.46 billion, the Indian Navy (IN) $6.16billion and the Army a mere $420 million. India imports over 74 per cent of its mili-

tary equipment-a proportion that is steadilyrising as requirement proliferated-despitesuccessive administrations’ assertions thatthe country would be largely self-reliant inthis field by 2005. Defence Minister A K Antony conceded

this shortcoming was, "shameful and danger-ous" as efforts to indigenise these shortfallsthrough the country’s vast military-industri-al complex was handicapped by byzantine

policy directives, vacillation in decision tak-ing, technological shortcomings and limitedresearch and development. This compelledthe Services to remain import-reliant in orderto remain operationally alert. Collectively, India’s State-run Defence

Research and Development Organisation(DRDO), the country’s premier weaponsdesign agency and monopolistic 39 govern-ment-managed Ordnance Factory Board (OFB)units and eight Defence Public Sector Units(DPSUs) remain an industry-in-the-makingcapable at best of licensed manufacture but oflittle or no original product development. “It (India’s military-industrial complex) is

one with passable engineering skills but cir-cumscribed developmental expertise” saidretired Brig Arun Sahgal, Joint DirectorInstitute of National Security Studies in New

Delhi. It has been unable to produceeven a single cutting-edge product indecades, he ruefully added.

Fledgling measures to domesti-

T72MI ’Ajeya’ MBT that forms thebackbone of the army’s 59armoured regiments © V K Singh,Photo Division DPR, Indian MoD

cally privatise military requirements at theprompting of all three Services, discontentedwith DRDO-designed and with OFB andDPSU-built equipment, had made little head-way given the MoD’s unapologetic biastowards the State-run facilities. Hence, despiteover two decades of lobbying for expandedinvolvement in the defence field, the privatesector had emerged, at best a component andsub-assembly provider comprising some 6,000small and medium-size enterprises.

India’s defence establishment also believesoffsets-mandated at 30 per cent for all con-tracts in excess of Rs 3 billion ($60 million), ris-ing in some tenders to even 50 percent-to bethe near certain route to indigenously

strengthen the domestic military-industrialbase. Although overseas vendors have, overthe past four years, signed up Rs 80 billion($1.6 billion) worth of offset agreements, mosthave floundered primarily due to inadequatecomprehension and faulty implementation.

Materiel imports-concluded, ongoing andprospective-include varied combat aircraft,advanced and basic jet trainers, mid-airtankers, warships, submarines-both conven-tional and nuclear powered (SSNs)-landingplatform docks, one aircraft carrier, main bat-tle tanks (MBTs) and light wheeled andtracked tanks.

Some 600-800 light utility, heavy lift,attack and multi-role helicopters for theArmy Aviation Corps (AAC), IAF, IN andthe Indian Coast Guard to replace ageingplatforms, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs),assorted missiles and ordnance for all threeServices alongside a multitude of otherweapon systems including even small armslike assault rifles (ARs) and carbines, com-prise other multitudinous requirements.

The growing security and strategic chal-lenges posed by neighbouring nuclear rivalsChina and Pakistan, that often collaboratedto confront and undermine Delhi and toenable India’s military to execute the fullspectrum of war from insurgency to nuclear



Two ‘enemy’ infantrymen conceal themselvesbehind scarce desert shrubbery during theSudarshan Shakti exercise © V K Singh, PhotoDivision DPR, Indian MoD

A squadron of T90SMBT’s sweeping down asandy incline towardsthe ‘enemy’ © V K Singh,Photo Division DPR,Indian MoD

A mock up of the Agni IV intermediate rangeballistic missile with a 3000-3500km rangecarrying a 1000kg warhead on display at theRepublic Day Parade on 26 January 2012 inNew Delhi. © V K Singh, Photo Division DPR,Indian MoD

REGIONAL

conflict, had also prompted the recent importof airborne early warning and control(AEW&C), diverse military transport andlong-range maritime reconnaissance aircraftand carrier-borne naval fighters.Indian defence planners readying for a

‘two-front’ war against China and Pakistan,however quietly accepted the harsh realitythat their military which prided itself on itsextended war-waging ability, emerged woe-fully inadequate in the immediate and subse-quent response to the three-day siege ofMumbai by 10 Pakistani gunmen whoarrived from Karachi by sea in November2008 to launch the assault.Directly after the Mumbai attack in which

165 people died, it disturbingly transpiredthat India’s armed forces, especially theArmy, had ineffectual options available for apunitive response against Pakistan-whoIndia blamed squarely for the terror strike,highlighting once again the inadequacies ofits conventional deterrence potential that waslinked largely to equipment inadequacies.Testifying before the US Senate Select

Committee in Washington in early February,James Clapper, Director of US NationalIntelligence declared that India’s militarywas, “strengthening its forces in preparationto fight a limited conflict along their disputedborder and was working to balance Chinesepower projection in the Indian Ocean".India and China went to war in 1962-in

which the former came off worse-over their4054km long un-demarcated border that

remains one of the world’s longest runningfrontier disputes.Incipient tension between Beijing and

Delhi has proliferated in recent years withChina repeatedly asserting ownership over90,000 sq km encompassing India’s north-eastern Arunachal Pradesh province border-ing Tibet. India maintains Chinese demands

are ‘non-negotiable' and in turn claims fre-quent territorial incursions by People’sLiberation Army units patrolling their unre-solved frontier, an assertion Beijing ignores.And, since independence 65 years ago

India and Pakistan have fought three warsand an 11-week long military skirmish in1999 in Kashmir-divided between the neigh-bours but claimed in entirety by both-inwhich some 1200 soldiers from both sidesdied and one which threatened to escalateinto a nuclear exchange.Military tension between Islamabad and

Delhi fluctuate, but both sides consider theother a major military threat and strive toremain operationally alert, locking them in aperpetual and hugely expensive tit-for-tat

A report by the Confederationof Indian Industry and globalfinancial consultants KPMGlast year revealed that Indiahad inked military deals for$25 billion since 2007


Elisra’sInformationWarfare Solutions:• Fully integrated EW and SIGINT

(COMINT, ELINT, ESM, ECM, COMJAM) for all forces• All-in-one, light-weight, self protection systems against all threat types

(RWR, IR, Laser) for all aircraft platforms• IR-CENTRIC® - An IR based force multiplier for superior mission completion• Specialized radar systems• Command & Control (C2, ABM, BMD) solutions for all forces• Advanced wireless communications systems for all types of platforms,

guided weapons and LEO satellites, groundbreakingBattlespace Video Dissemination systems andSearch and Rescue Systems.

V I S I T U S A T

D E F E X P O

IND IA 2012

2 9 / 3 - 1 / 4

ISRAEL PAVILION

ELBIT SYSTEMS

STAND #11.10-B


arms and nuclear race.Meanwhile, India’s long-standing

weapons provider Russia heads its vendors'list having supplied it over $40 billion worthof materiel since the mid-1960’s and main-tains annual defence sales averaging $1.5 bil-lion. The Russian Centre for Analysis ofInternational Weapons Trade anticipates thatbetween 2010 and 2013 India would accountfor 54.4 percent of Moscow’s weaponsexports estimated at some $15 billion.Israel has exported varied weaponry, ord-

nance, missiles and force multiplier systemsin addition to a host of classified equipmentand components to India, averaging around$1 billion each year since 1999, is the coun-try’s second largest materiel supplier whilstFrance is a close third.But France is soon expected to edge out

Israel having recently secured the $10-15 bil-lion tender to supply the IAF 126 RafaleMedium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft(MMRCA), a number that is expected to rise toaround 200 valued in excess of $20 billion. TheUS, UK, Germany, Italy, Poland and Singaporeare some of India’s other defence suppliers.However, the US India's newfound strate-

gic partner is fast emerging as a leadingdefence equipment exporter having inked con-tracts over $13 billion since 2004 while deals ofsimilar amounts or more were in the pipeline,under either negotiation or evaluation.Of all the three Services, the 1.2-million

strong Indian Army remains most handi-capped by severe equipment shortages, obso-lete hardware and restricted night-fightingcapability to effectively operationalise itsnewly enunciated ‘cold start’ doctrine oflaunching a preemptive conventional offen-sive against primary rival Pakistan in a limit-ed war scenario to achieve negotiable militarygains in a nuclear weapons environment.Predicated to deploying significantly more

efficient platforms than currently in service,this strategy envisages converting static for-

mations deployed in a defensive role alongthe Pakistani frontier into ‘integrated battlegroups’ capable of undertaking swift, puni-tive strikes with minimum re-organisation.But making good these hardware short-

falls has, over the past year been seriouslyjeopardised by the stand-off between thearmy chief, General V K Singh and the MoDover a bitter and convoluted row over his agewhich is presently in court. This bizarre con-frontation has, in turn thwarted crucial deci-sions on the army’s long-delayed modernisa-tion and created fissures not only within theService but also between it and the MoD, thefinal arbiter of all procurements.Even a cursory assessment of the Army's

ambitious MBT, artillery and infantry mod-ernisation programmes reveal them all to bein a state of flux, afflicted by delays and anoverarching lack of timely planning andresource management.A significant proportion of the Army’s

mechanised forces-around 2000-2200 Russianand locally built T-72 and T72M1s ‘Ajeya’

MBTs that form the backbone of its 59-oddarmour regiments and some 2200 Soviet-designed ‘Sarath’ BMP-II infantry combatvehicles (ICVs) lack night fighting capability.The majority await upgrades that will pro-vide them with either full solution with ther-mal imaging fire control systems (TIFCS) orthird generation partial solution thermalimaging stand alone systems (TISAS).Other than providing 1500-1700 T72 M1s

with a night fighting ability under the fre-quently postponed 'Project Rhino' upgrade,the deferred MBT retrofit also includes equip-ping them with explosive reactive armour(ERA), fibre-optic gyro-based navigation andlaser warning systems, frequency hoppingradio sets and advanced nuclear, biologicaland chemical equipment, stabilising the tank’sgun control system by attaching a new ther-mal shroud on the MBT's 125mm 2A46smooth bore gun for greater accuracy and fit-ting the tank with a new integrated fire detec-tion and suppression system would completethe staggered retrofit package to keep theT72M1's in service till 2020 and even beyond.But until now, just 310 partial solution

TISAS had been acquired from Israel's El Opfor around $120,000 each and installed on theT72M1s, while an equal number were underacquisition. Efforts to replace the T72M1's780hp V12 air cooled multi-fuel injectionengine with a more powerful 1000hp powerpack fitted with a turbo-supercharger toowere unsuccessfully under development,also delaying the upgrade.The 657 Russian T90S MBT’s imported in

kit form and assembled 2001 onwards at theHeavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) at Avadi,southern India and another 1000 which are to

40


An infantry sniper hides behind a natural sandfeature awaiting the enemy attack © V K Singh,Photo Division DPR, Indian MoD

T90S MBTs were inducted into service in 2002-03following imports from Russia of 657 units in kitform and assembled locally at the HeavyVehicles Factory at Avadi, southern India © V KSingh, Photo Division DPR, Indian MoD


be built indigenously under licence werecapable of operating in the dark as were the248 locally designed Arjun MBTs, half ofwhich had already entered regimental serv-ice. Delivery of the remaining 124 ArjunMKIs would be completed by 2016-17, HVFofficials said.The MBTs also faced shortages of 125mm

rounds late last year after war wastagereserves dropped below ‘critical levels’,necessitating frantic imports of around66,000 Russian armour piercing fin-stabiliseddiscarding sabot (APFSDS) rounds ongrounds of ‘operational necessity’. MoDsources said the emergency procurementreportedly at ‘inflated prices’ also precludedthe mandatory 30 per cent offset obligation.Orders, meanwhile were also imminent

for an additional 250 Arjun MkII with 93improvements including 13 major ones overthe MkI including the capability to fire Israelianti-tank guided LAHAT missiles throughits 120mm gun, fitment of locally designedERA to counter APFSDS and high explosiveanti-tank rounds and rocket-propelledgrenade attacks and modifications to its hulland turret to give it a lower and hence lessvulnerable silhouette.Providing the Mk II MBT an alternate

power pack and transmission to replace theMkI’s German MTU 838Ka-501 diesel engineand semi-automatic RENK RK-304A trans-mission combination would complete theupgrade, but significantly hike the tank’sprice to Rs 370 million ($ 7.4 million) each aswell as its weight to around 65 tons adverse-ly affecting its transportation and limiting itseventual operational employment.The Army also wants its 12 Mountain

Divisions-two of them were under raising-equipped with some 300 light tanks to aug-ment its fire power in mountainous and hillyterrain above 3000m along the Pakistani andChinese frontiers.Towards this the MoD in October 2009

had dispatched a request for information tooverseas vendors for 200 wheeled and 100tracked light tanks weighting 22 tons but, fornow the project remains stillborn. QualitativeRequirements (QRs) to develop a FutureMBT to eventually replace the T72M1’s and aFuture ICV, both with private sector partici-pation were in an advanced stage of planningand review but no design had, for now beenconfirmed.The Army’s artillery profile was possibly

the most dire of all its combat and supportarms. Of its 180-odd field artillery regiments,

some 32 were equipped with 410 FH-77B 155mm Bofors guns imported in the late 1980s-presently reduced to half this number follow-ing cannibalization due to the non-availabili-ty of spares-and 180 Soviet 130mmM-46 fieldguns upgraded unsatisfactorily to 155mm/45 caliber status jointly by Soltam ofIsrael and the OFB. The remaining 148 or soregiments still operate Soviet D-30 122mmguns, the locally-designed and OFB built105mm Indian Field Guns, its Light FieldGun derivative and imported 130mm M46towed field guns dating back to the 1960’s.The proposal under the Artillery

Rationalisation Plan to acquire by 2020-25 amix of around 3000-3600 155mm/39 calibrelight weight and 155mm/52 cal towed,mount-ed, self-propelled (tracked and wheeled) andultra light weight 155mm/39 cal howitzersthrough imports and local, licensed manufac-ture for an estimated $ 5-7 billion to replace theexisting six calibres, has been continually post-poned for nearly a decade.Tenders for almost all these guns had

been issued, withdrawn and re-issued, sever-al rounds of inconclusive trials conductedand matters further complicated by the MoD

completely or partially blacklisting at leastfour top overseas howitzer manufacturerswithout providing any clarity on theirrespective status’.The seemingly uncomplicated import of

the easily transportable, airmobile 145 BAESystems M777 LWH and Laser InertialArtillery Pointing Systems for $647 millionvia the US’ Foreign Military Sales route toequip two newly raised mountain divisionsdeployed along the north-east frontier withChina, has become legally entangled inIndia’s notoriously slow courts and could beindefinitely delayed.But in a key step towards acquiring net-

worked centric capability, the Army recentlyinducted the ‘Shakti’ computerised combatcommand and control system to integrate itsartillery operations as part of the overarch-ing Tactical Command Control andCommunication system which is also underconstruction.The induction into the artillery in mid-

2007, however of the surface-to-surface(SSM) BrahMos supersonic cruise missilethat India has jointly developed with Russiato counter the longer range, subsonic HatfVII ‘Babur’ cruise missile by Pakistan, hasbeen highly successful.Codenamed PJ 10, the two-stage 8.4 m

long ‘fire and forget’ BrahMos that weighs3.9 tons, uses liquid ramjet technology and

l APRIL/MAY 2012 l 41

The locally designed and built Dhruv advancedlight helicopter © V K Singh, Photo DivisionDPR, Indian MoD

P R O F I L ERREEGGIIOONNAALL

Military tension betweenIslamabad and Delhifluctuate, but both sidesconsider the other a majormilitary threat and striveto remain operationally alert

42

carries a 250-300 kg warhead at a speed ofM2.8 is configured on Russia’s 3M55Oniks/Yakhont system (NATO reportingname SS-NX-26).Its many variants, that were being series

built at a dedicated facility in Hyderbad,southern India had been successfully test firedto a range of 292km range from sea andmobile, land-based platforms and the missileis also likely to be fitted onto the IAF’sSu30MK-Imulti-role fighters and the IN’s Kiloclass EKM 877 submarines sometime soon.Three BrahMos regiments are planned

with three batteries each comprising 67 mis-siles, five mobile autonomous launchers on12x12 Tatra vehicles, two mobile commandposts and related equipment, all capable ofsimultaneously firing 12 missiles at a similarnumber of targets within 30 seconds coveringa frontage of around 500-600 km.The Army is also in the process of

inducting two more regiments equippedwith the BrahMos Block II land-attackcruise missile (LACM) capable of hittingdesignated targets in cluttered urban envi-ronments with a high degree of accuracy.The LACM can be employed for “surgicalstrikes” on terrorist camps without causingundue collateral damage.

Ambitious plans under the FutureInfantry Soldier As a System (F-INSAS) pro-gramme to modernise by 2020 all the army’s359 infantry battalions and 66 associatedRashtriya Rifles (RR or National Rifles) para-military battalions deployed exclusively oncounter insurgency operations, were alsoyears behind schedule.

The F-INSAS prototype was to have beencompleted by 2012-13 through imports andlocally designed equipment includes a fullynetworked, all-terrain, all-weather personalequipment platform and enhanced firepowerand mobility for the digitalised battlefield ofthe future. But this has been delayed by atleast five years if nor more with the eventualupgrade postponed to well beyond 2020 fol-lowing an overall inchoate approach.

Besides, over 305,000 infantry troops andaround 56,000 RR personnel were short of

credible ARs, carbines, ballistic helmets, light-weight bullet proof jackets and night visiondevices (NVDs). Last November the MoD hadissued a global tender to 43 overseas vendorsfor 66,000 5.56 mmAR’s for an estimated $ 700million to replace the inefficient, locallydesigned Indian Small Arms System (INSAS)5.56mmARwhich the army had been coercedinto using since the mid-1990s. The eventualrequirement for the proposed AR is expectedto be around 2 million units for use not onlyby the army but also the federal paramilitariesand numerous provincial police forces in aproject estimated at around $3 billion.Other infantry shortages include some

160,800 5.56mm close quarter battle carbinesto supplant the outdated 9mm models still inservice, 15,000 general purpose machine guns,1100 light-weight anti-materiel rifles, 225mineprotected vehicles and 64 snow scooters foruse at heights above 21,000 feet in Siachen inthe northern Himalayas along the Pakistanand Chinese borders. There was also a pauci-ty of around 390,000 ballistic helmets, over30,000 third generation NVDs, 180,000 light-weight bullet proof jackets and assorted ord-nance including new generation grenades.

Efforts to replace obsolete assets like theChetak (Aerospatiale SA 316 Alouette III’s)and Cheetah (Aerospatiale SA-315B Lama’s)under the AAC Vision 2017 were postponedafter the MoD in November 2007 scrappedthe acquisition of 197 Eurocopter AS 550 C3Fennec light observation helicopters (LOHs)for $ 500-$600 million.

The MoD claimed irregularities in theselection procedure following nearly fouryears of trials, evaluation and negotiationand the contract is presently under re-assess-ment following trials featuring Russia’sKamov 226 and Eurocopter’s AS 550 models,but is unlikely to be concluded soon.

“There has been no reduction in the timetaken to conclude contracts. Every proposalcontinues to flounder in the labyrinth ofbureaucratic functioning,” former Major GenMrinal Suman India’s foremost expert ondefence procurement procedures said. Everydeal is getting embroiled in controversy dueto alleged infirmities of the selection process,he added as explanation for the deeplyflawed modernisation process.


In a key step towardsacquiring networked centriccapability, the army recentlyinducted the 'Shakti'computerised combatcommand and control system

Soldiers at a bunker during the SudarshanShakti (Vision of Strength) exercises in thewestern Rajasthan desert region beginning mid-November 2011© V K Singh, Photo DivisionDPR, Indian MoD


AMR Marketing Promotion

BMP-2 isnumberonechoice formanyarmiesacross theglobe.TheAPChasgotanessentially traditional layout for a tracked

combat vehicle,with theenginecompartment atthe front and twodoors for dismounting in the rearside. Theweap-onssuite includesa30-mmfull-stabilizedautomatic cannonwithacoaxial 7.62-mmmachinegun, anda turret-roof-mountedATGM.Troopscan fire individualweaponsthrough firingports in thesidesof thehull.

Themain gun of the combat vehicleattacks ground targets accurately atranges out to 2,000m using armor-piercingrounds and out to 4,000m using high-explosive/fragmentation projectiles andfragmentation/tracer rounds. It is also deadlyeffective against near-sonic aerial targets ataltitudes up to 2,000m and ranges up to 2,500m.Redundant weapon controls are available forthe APC commander as well.

Yet another BMP-2M upgrade version onoffer by Rosoboronexport features a fire controlsystemwith an in-built cutting-edgemulti-channel gunner’s sight, a newweaponstabilizer and an improved ballistic computerwith a firing condition sensor.The hi-endtechnologies and design solutions integrated inthe new vehicle raised its combat effectivenesssignificantly and expanded its performanceunder the condi-tions of poor visibility.

The gunner’s multi-channel individually-stabilized sight combines variablemagnification

optics, a thermal imager, a laser range finderand an ATGMguidance system, whichmakestarget acquisition faster and easier, cuts thereaction time and increases hit probability.

For instance, the thermal imager isespecially useful as far as BMP-2M’s op-erationin restricted visibility conditions is concerned,including in smokes, mists, precipitation anddust both day and night.The detection range oftanks increased to 3,000m, while the APC’ssignature was diminished.Moreover thecommander got a display to see the imagesfrom IR surveillance systems for ease of

aiming.This in-novation improved the firecontrol capability considerably.

Rosoboronexport alsodraws theattentionofcustomers to theguidedweapons installed in thisversionof theAPC.Mountedon topof the turret isa full-stabilizedplatformwith two launchers oflaser-guided supersonic antitankmissilesAtaka-T,with either shapedchargeor thermobaricwarheads.Themissiles are firedbothon themoveandat halt, with thedestructionof all existingtanksat rangesout to 5,000mguaranteed.

The comprehensive upgrade programincluded the installation of additional armoredskirts and grills to raise vehicle’s survivability.

The vehicle is powered by an upratedsupercharged UTD-23 diesel and has animproved running gear with improvedmobility,riding comfort and speed charac-teristics.

The driver has got an infrared systemTVK-1, which ensures visibility within 250m at night.The key advantage of the device is that it doesnot need to be re-placed during the day, and isequally effective for day and night driving.

The BMP-2 upgrade programwas carefullycarried out by the designers and engineers ofthe scientific school, where this brilliant piece ofarmament had been developed, whichguarantees the highest quality of thetechnological solutions im-plied.

BMP-2 COMPREHENSIVEUPGRADE PROGRAM:FFAASSTT && CCOOSSTT--EEFFFFEECCTTIIVVEE

CCOOMMBBAATTA I R C R A F T


INITIALLY launched in 2001, theMMRCA competition saw the Rafalepitted against its 4.5-generation com-bat aircraft rivals including theEurofighter Typhoon and Saab’s

Gripen-NG (Next Generation), Boeing’sF/A-18E/F Super Hornet, LockheedMartin’s F-16IN Super Viper and theMikoyan MiG-35. One-by-one candidate air-frames were eliminated, until the only twocontenders remaining were the Typhoon andRafale. The suspense finally ended on thefinal day of January. It was reported that theRafale’s factor for success was that Dassault’sbid offered the Indian Government a unitprice up to $5 million less expensive than theTyphoon. However, Dassault still has tonegotiate the contract, the signing of which isnot expected until March at the earliest.For Dassault Aviation, provided that there

are no hiccups during the contract negotiationprocess, India’s selection of the Rafale repre-sents a major success for the aircraft. TheRafale is the odd-one-out as far as European4.5-generation combat aircraft are concerned:It is the only such aircraft which has yet to winan export order. Saab won customers in theCzech Republic, Hungary, Thailand and, mostrecently, Switzerland for the Gripen.Eurofighter has netted Austria and Saudi

Neither the wisest shaman, nor the sharpestsoothsayer, could have predicted the outcomeof India’s MMRCA (Medium Multi-RoleCombat Aircraft) competition, but just afterlunch, Paris time on 31st January, DassaultAviation was claiming victory in arguablythe most lucrative current internationalcombat aircraft competition.

bbyy Tom Withington

Regional Capabilities

CombatJets:CombatJets:

A I R C R A F TCCOOMMBBAATT


Arabia as export sales. However, foreign pur-chases of the Rafale have been elusive. That isnot to say the aircraft has not come close toachieving sales. It was the favourite to win thecompetition in Morocco to procure new fight-ers to replace the Royal Moroccan Air Force’sageing Dassault Mirage F1CH/EH andNorthrop Grumman F-5E/F jets, although itwas beaten by Lockheed Martin’s F-16C/DBlock-50/52. Brazil has seemed a consistentlyclose prospect for the company, although thenews from the United Arab Emirates (UAE)late last year was disappointing for the compa-ny. In November, Crown Prince of Abu DhabiMohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan,the Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAEArmed Forces, referred to a French offer of anupgraded version of the Rafale priced ataround $2 billion as ‘uncompetitive andunworkable’. That said, Dassault Aviationmay yet achieve victory in the UAE. Alongwith India, other opportunities may exist inthe Asia-Pacific region for the Rafale, not leastof which could be the prospect of a sale to theRoyal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF). The force

has a requirement for up to 18 new multirolecombat aircraft, with RMAF personnel visitingFrance in 2011 to evaluate the aircraft. Nevertheless the win in India, providing

that the negotiations leading to the eventualcontract signature go smoothly, is highly sig-nificant for Dassault Aviation. In contrast tothe success that the company enjoyed withits Mirage family of combat aircraft theRafale has, at times, provided a stubborn jetto sell. With the prospect of outfitting theIndian Air Force with up to 126 new jets,becoming ever more likely, DassaultAviation may find that other customers takea renewed interest in the Rafale with thepotential of future sales a distinct possibility.Recent combat operations over Libya, inwhich the Rafale played an important role,have no doubt been important in showcas-ing the aircraft’s capabilities. NATO’sOperation Unified Protector mounted tosafeguard Libyan citizens against forcesloyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi also wit-

nessed the combat debut of the EurofighterTyphoon and the Saab Gripen. While theUnited States played an important role in boththe air and sea campaign over and aroundLibya, much of NATO’s effort was absorbedby its European membership. This providedan opportunity for potential customersaround the world to see the capabilities of theContinent’s 4.5-generation combat aircraft.Although Eurofighter may have lost out

in India, it still competing to fulfil a require-ment in the Republic of Korea to replace theair force’s McDonnell Douglas F-4EPhantoms. A day before Dassault Aviationreleased its news regarding the IndianMMRCA competition, the Republic ofKorea’s Defence Acquisition ProgramAdministration announced plans to sendinvitation letters to EADS, along with Boeingand Lockheed Martin, to compete in thecountry’s so-called F-X III competition.Ultimately, it plans to purchase around 60aircraft, which could be worth up to $7.39 bil-lion. Along with the Typhoon, candidate air-frames include the Boeing F-15SE Silent Eagleand Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning-II JointStrike Fighter. The decision on which aircraft

The F-35 acquisitionrepresents the final stageof a wider modernisationof the Royal Australian AirForce’s fast jet fleet

Along with its F-22A Raptor, Lockheed Martin’sF-35 is arguably one of the most advancedcombat aircraft in the world. Both Japan andAustralia will begin acquiring this aircraft laterin the decade © USAF

Seoul will select will reportedly be based oncost, industrial benefits, the aircraft’s capabil-ities and the ease with which it can operatewith the Republic of Korea’s existing plat-forms. The industrial benefit criteria may beespecially important, as the Republic of Koreahas military aircraft aspirations of its own inthe form of the country’s KFX fighter pro-gramme. The KFX programme aims to devel-op a Korean advanced combat aircraft, withsupport from Indonesia, which could enterservice in circa 2020.Although Eurofighter’s Typhoon is a can-

didate in this competition, the F-X III compe-tition may ultimately be a two-horse raceinvolving both the F-15SE and F-35. Since theKoreanWar of 1950-53, the Republic of Koreahas been a staunch US ally in the Asia-Pacificregion. Moreover, the United States contin-ues to act as an important guarantor of thecountry’s security vis-à-vis the threat fromthe People’s Democratic Republic of Korea,

north of the 38th Parallel. The acquisition ofan American combat aircraft to satisfy the F-X III requirement would be an importantreaffirmation of the close US-Republic ofKorea defence relationship.In recent years, the Republic of Korea’s abil-

ity to develop advanced combat aircraft hastaken an important step forward with theKorea Aerospace Industries (KAI) F/A-50.Developed as an all-weather multirole aircraft,and derived from KAI’s T-50 advanced trainer,the F/A-50 is being acquired by the country’sAir Force to replace the Northrop Grumman F-

5E/F jets operated by the service. A prototypeof the F/A-50, which was previously referredto as the A-50, took to the skies in 2011.Deliveries of the F/A-50 are expected to com-mence in circa 2014, and up to 150 examplescould yet be acquired. A number of advancedsystems adorn the F/A-50 including a Link-16compatible communications and an EltaSystems EL/M-2032 pulse Doppler radar.The Republic of Korea has yet to formally

select the Typhoon, F-15SE or the F-35, but anumber of countries around the Asia-Pacificregion are scheduled to receive the F-35 oncethe aircraft becomes available. Australia, forexample, could eventually receive up to 100F-35s with the first aircraft being handedover in 2014. The F-35 acquisition representsthe final stage of a wider modernisation ofthe Royal Australian Air Force’s fast jet fleet,which has seen the acquisition of new BoeingF/A-18E/F Super Hornets as a replacementfor the F/A-18A/B aircraft currently operat-ed by the force. As noted above, Australia isnot the only nation receiving the F-35. Japanwill obtain the United States’ key fifth-gener-ation fighter aircraft. Initially, Tokyo hasset its sights firmly on the F-35’s largersibling, the F-22A Raptor. However,political wrangling inside Washington

DC prevented Japan getting its hands onthis aircraft. The history of defence procure-ment in Japan following the end of theSecondWorld War has shown that the nationhas often enjoyed access to some of the mostadvanced aeronautical technology that UncleSam had to offer, but it was not to be the case


Dassault Aviation’s Rafale now looks set tosatisfy India’s requirement for new combataircraft. The jet was one of the star performersin NATO’s recent combat operations over Libya© Thomas Withington


A Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon‘bombed up’ and ready to strike targetsaround Tripoli during Operation UnifiedProtector. The Typhoon made its combatdebut during NATO’s campaign in Libya© Thomas Withington

For Dassault Aviation, provid-ed that there are no hiccupsduring the contract negotia-tion process, India’s selectionof the Rafale represents amajor success for the aircraft

on this occasion. That is not to say that the F-35 is an inferior aircraft to the F-22, just thatJapan will have to wait slightly longer for theF-35, than it may have done if Tokyo wasgiven the green light for the acquisition of theRaptor. In total, Japan’s Air Self DefenceForce (JASDF) is expected to receive up to 42of the aircraft to replace the JASDF’s F-4EJPhantoms. Japan’s first F-35s are expected toenter service in 2016.The above discussion illustrates that sever-

al nations around the Asia-Pacific area haveeither satisfied, or are close to satisfying,declared combat aircraft purchases. Othercountries have aspirations to follow suit,although have yet to unveil any formal pro-

gramme. Once such country is the Philippineswhich has a requirement for up to six count-er-insurgency (COIN) platforms to replace itsRockwell International OV-10A Bronco tur-boprop COIN platforms. These aircraft,despite their design being almost fifty yearsold, were used as recently as 2011 during airstrikes against the Moro Islamic LiberationFront insurgent movement fighting thePhilippines government. Alongside the pro-curement of a COIN platform, Manila couldmove ahead with acquiring up to twelve ex-United States Air Force F-16C/D Block-25 air-craft. With the exception of 13 Aermacchi S-211 jet trainers/ground attack aircraft, thePhilippines Air Force lacks a fast jet fleet.Like the Philippines, Indonesia is also in

the market for new combat aircraft and, likeManila, it looks set to satisfy this require-ment through the acquisition of up to 24 F-16C/D Block-25 models from USAF stocks.The acquisition would see Jakarta paying

around $750 million to cover the refurbish-ment of the aircraft, but for all intents andpurposes, apart from this cost the airframeswould be handed over to the Indonesiangovernment free-of-charge.In terms of the future Asia-Pacific combat

aircraft market, presently it is dominated byEuropean and American suppliers, with alsosome significant Russian participation.However, China is fast emerging as a develop-er of advanced combat aircraft in its own right.The emergence of the Chengdu J-20 last yearsent a shiver down the spine of a number of airforces and intelligence agencies around theworld. The aircraft is thought to be highlyadvanced and to retain low observable charac-teristics. Currently, the aircraft is still in themiddle of a major flight test programme,although it could enter service with thePeople’s Liberation ArmyAir Force by the endof the decade. Whether this aircraft will beoffered for export remains to be seen, never-theless, Chinese aeronautical engineersmay bekeen to hawk the aircraft to countries whichhave neither the cash, nor the political chance,of obtaining an advanced fighter aircraft froma European or American supplier. That said,should China choose to offer the J-20 for

export, it will undoubtedly face toughcompetition from Sukhoi’s PAK FA fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft


Alongside the Eurofighter Typhoon, Saab’sGripen also made its combat debut in theskies over Libya. The aircraft has won salesin Thailand, and possible acquisitions inthe Philippines and Vietnam representstrong prospects for the aircraft © Saab

Lockheed Martin’s F-16 continues to sell wellaround the world. The aircraft was a candidatein India’s MMRCA programme, and ex-USAFexamples may yet grace the air forces of thePhilippines and Indonesia © Thomas Withington

A Republic of Korea Air Force Boeing F-15K arrivesfor exercises in the United States. The country’s airforce has launched the FX III programme toacquire new combat aircraft © USAF


which is arguably in an already moreadvanced stage of development compared toits Chinese counterpart.

Whether China and Russia offer theirrespective J-20 and PAK-FA designs to cus-tomers around the region remains to be seenbut, if they do choose to pursue this course ofaction, they will face stiff competition fromEuropean and American suppliers. Saab, forexample, is keeping a close eye on the marketin this part of the world and, despite not hav-ing been selected for India’s MMRCA compe-tition; the firm still sees valuable opportunitiesin the region: “Beyond the next decade I seeopportunities around the Asia-Pacific region,”says Kaj Rosander, Saab’s Regional Director

for the Gripen in Asia. Saab has found a nicheas a company which can, according to Mr.Rosander, offer a 4.5-generation combat air-craft at a price comparatively less expensivethan its Rafale and Typhoon rivals. It is per-haps of little surprise then that orders havefollowed from ex-Warsaw Pact nations (CzechRepublic andHungary) and Thailand. For thisreason, a country like Malaysia could repre-sent a strong prospect for the Gripen.

To some extent, combat aircraft acquisitionprogrammes are like London buses; you waitaround for ages for one, and then severalarrive at once. The dynamics of the market inthe Asia-Pacific region with several countrieseither recently procuring, or in the process of

buying, fast jets has led some commentators toremark that a mini arms race is occurringthere. Certainly, tensions between the twoKoreas, India and Pakistan, China and Japanand a number of internal insurgencies contin-ue to fester and, at times, have wider interna-tional repercussions. Yet according to DouglasBarrie, Aerospace Analyst at the InternationalInstitute of Strategic Studies, many of thesecompetitions have their roots elsewhere: “Thedriver for most of these acquisitions is inven-tory replacement. There’s only so long thatyou can keep a combat aircraft in the air.” Thisis something that Joe Song, who overseasBusiness Development in the Asia-Pacificregion for Boeing Defence Systems has recog-nised: “What we've seen is a matter of naturalevolution in the modernization of fighter

fleets. This happens every 25-30 years and weare seeing Asia-Pacific states desire greatercapability at an affordable price and a certaindelivery schedule. Every country is experi-encing defence budget pressures. So afford-ability, proven capability and schedule cer-tainly becomes a big discriminator.” Allied tothis is a need to ensure that air forces aroundthe region have the most capable tools for thejob: “Various nations have started to shiftfrom ageing types tomodern combat aircraft,”notes Mr. Barrie. Moreover, Joe Song believesthat; “there is a concern about access to or pro-tection of critical resources. None of the Asiancountries, who all have large and sophisticat-ed economies, want to be denied access toeither territory or resources because it wouldhave serious economic consequences. So, hav-ing modern fighter fleets enables deterrenceand security against both maritime and air-borne threats in the Asia-Pacific region.”

While India’s MMRCA competition willdominate the headlines for some time, it willnot be long until the world’s fast jet vendorscast their eyes to the next competition. Thedefence budgets of Europe and NorthAmerica may be in the doldrums, but as theeconomist John Maynard Keynes once noted,even in a depression, somebody, somewheremust be spending. In the case of the globalmultirole combat aircraft, that ‘somewhere’is the Asia-Pacific region.

49

The F-35 acquisitionrepresents the final stage ofa wider modernisation ofthe Royal AustralianAir Force’s fast jet fleet

l APRIL/MAY 2012 l

A I R C R A F TCCOOMMBBAATT

Australia has been a customer of for Boeing’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, chiefly as a replacement for itsexisting ‘vanilla’ Hornet fleet. Recent discussions in Canberra have focused on whether to convert someof these aircraft to E/A-18G Growler electronic warfare status © US Navy

AAMMPPHHIIBBIIOOUUSSO P E R A T I O N S


The traditional amphibious opera-tion, of which several dozen wereconducted within the Pacific Rimfrom 1941, involved assembling atask force of troop-carrying attack

transports and tank landing ships (LST) lateraugmented by dock landing ships (LSD).The task force would deploy to the target,which would come heavy air and gun bom-bardment and the assault force would dis-embarking into the landing craft or amphibi-ous vehicles within sight of the shore but atdistances of some 10-20 nautical miles. Oncethe landing craft had formed up they and thevehicles would sweep onto the beaches, thelanding craft ramps would be lowered andthe troops would swarm ashore. Once abeachhead was established the LSTs wouldbe brought in to deliver vehicles and stores

which would help expand the beachheadand ultimately secure the target.

The threat of nuclear weapons annihilat-ing the task force as it assembled offshoredrove changes for the super powers but tech-nological changes over the past five decadeshave changed this amphibious scenario, evenfor Asia’s major regional powers. The mostsignificant is the development of the anti-shipmissile which has proved a very effective areadenial weapon; two launched from fast attackcraft in Alexandria harbour sank the Israelidestroyer INS Eilat in 1967 while in 2006 thecorvette INS Hanit was damaged in harbour

by a missile from an extemporised launcher.The anti-ship missile, in conjunction with

ever-more sophisticated mines, can be coun-tered but such is the level of threat that, in theabsence of surprise attacks such as in theFalkland Islands/Malvinas in 1982, they forcelanding operations to be launched from overthe horizon, the US Marine Corps opting for alanding craft deployment distance of 25 nau-tical miles (46 kilometres). This is one reasonwhy LSTs, such as the South Korean Alligatorclass, rely less on delivering men and materi-al through their open bow doors and increas-ingly upon extendable ramps which allowthem to despatch their cargoes onto the beachfrom greater distances.

The most obvious means of transport forassault is the helicopter and both LSTs andLSDs have received helicopter platforms,

Asian navies have devoted a substantial amount of effort tobuilding up their amphibious capabilities and yet they seem slow tomeet the changes in such operations over the past 50 years.

bbyy Ted Hooton

RegionalCapabilities

Asian

A Wasp class amphibious assault ship such asthe USS Iwo Jima, with full-length helicopterdeck is another solution to modern amphibiousoperations © DoD

AmphibiousOperations:

O P E R A T I O N SAAMMPPHHIIBBIIOOUUSS


India’s Magars, Indonesia’s Tacomas andChina’s Yutings (Type 072) were built withsuch platforms and can take one or twomedium weight (10 tonne) aircraft. However,this adaptation does not provide an over-the-horizon assault capability because only oneaircraft at a time can be operated and the hel-icopter platform here is used more to movesupplies to and from the ship.

The LSD, first used by the Japanese in1937, has a well deck in the stern to accommo-

date and the latest versions, such as China’sYuzhao (Type 071), have internal garagedecks accessed by side ramps for ease ofmovement of vehicles around the ship anddown to the well deck. They often providegood command and control facilities forwhole task groups making them a major fea-ture of amphibious operations. They continueto provide a potential over-the-horizonassault capability through another new tech-nology, the hovercraft or air cushion vehicle.The alternative name for the LSD isthe amphibious platform dock(LPD) and these vessels havealso proved quite versa-tile, indeed they haveproved valuable assetsin anti-piracy opera-tions both for com-

mand and control as well as for the intercep-tion of suspected vessels by both air and sea.

The hovercraft was developed in the mid1960s and uses an engine to create a cushionof air retained by ‘skirts’ to keep the vehiclejust above the surface of the sea or land whileother engines push it forward, aviation-typefins helping to steer it. The Landing Craft AirCushion (LCAC), as the US Navy officiallydescribes it, theoretically provides the solu-tion of moving large numbers of men andcargo, the Textron LCACs for the US Navycarrying a load similar to that of any landingcraft i.e 23 troops, one main battle tank orup to 70 tonnes of cargo. The can travel ofspeeds of up to 40 knots and at 35 knotshave a range of 300 nautical miles and cansmoothly transit from sea to land andeven cross swamps. But they are expen-

The most obvious meansof transport for assaultis the helicopter and bothLSTs and LSDs have receivedhelicopter platforms

Amphibious

sive in terms of capital and life cycle costswhile their size makes them vulnerable toshore fire, even anti-armour missiles.

Yet several Asian navies have acquiredthe capability. China has about 17, includingten domestically-produced Jingsah II andfour Russian imports, Pomornik (Project1232.2) Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC),South Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand havesmall numbers. The largest LCAC operatorin Asia is North Korea with 136 Kongbangclass based, reportedly, upon British tech-nology. With the majority being 21-metre-long Type II and 18-metre long Type IIIwhich can carry 50 troops at 50 knots and 40troops at 40 knots.

LSDs which use LCAC have true over-the-horizon assault capability but anotherfeature guarantees this; the full-length flightdeck. The two Canberra class ships, based onSpain’s SPS Rey Juan Carlos I and being builtfor the Royal Australian Navy are typical ofthe new breed of LSD which is now knownas an amphibious assault ship. TheCanberras will carry 978 troops and have ahangar to accommodate up to 11 medium-size helicopters, although some could bereplaced by helicopter gun ships and, aswith the Spanish ship, a Short-Take-Off andVertical Landing (STOVL) fixed wing com-bat aircraft could theoretically be embarked.

The flight deck can accommodate up to sixhelicopters at a time, there will be a 2,000square metre space for up to 150 vehiclesincluding main battle tanks while the welldeck can accommodate an LCAC or fourconventional landing craft. The only ships inAsia which compare with the Canberras areSouth Korea’s Dokdo class, which can carry700 troops, ten tanks, ten helicopters andtwo LCAC and Japan’s Oosumi class whichcan carry 330 troops, ten tanks and twoLCAC but only the stern portion of the flightdeck is used and can accommodate two hel-icopters, the forward portion of the flightdeck being used to accommodate vehicles.

The contradiction in Asia’s amphibiousforces is that while there may be a growingdemand for major amphibious assault shipswith full length flight decks this will not pro-vide them with the capability to storm thebeaches. In fact, the only Asian navywhich hasany presumption to traditional amphibiouswarfare is China and even then this has been

the last option in returning the offshore islandscurrently controlled by Taiwan, as well as thatisland, to Beijing’s control. The sole Yuzhaoclass amphibious assault ship, Kunlunshan,commissioned in 2008 and under extensiveevaluation since then may later be joined bysimilar vessels but there is no sign that this willbe in the near future. Indeed with most of theoffshore islands relatively close to the shoreamphibious assaults could be launched, as in1949, from land using the existing force of 80landing ships, 175 landing craft and 17 LCAC.

Asia’s third major power, India, may fol-low the Chinese (and Australian) example. In2007 the US Navy transferred to it the Austinclass LPD USS Trenton (LPD 14) whichbecame INS Jalashwa to augment a forcebased on 18 landing ships. The Indian Navy isnow considering the course it should chart toenhance its amphibious capability with theoptions being a domestically-designed LPDor a full amphibious assault ship. New Delhihas discussed a licence with Singapore’s STMarine for the Endurance class LPDs and RSSPersistence supported Indian Navy anti-pira-cy patrols in 2009. But if, as seems more like-


An artist's impression of the Spanish amphibiousassault ship SPS Rey Juan Carlos I with the carrierSPS Principe de Asturias. The Juan Carlos is thebasis of Australia's Canberras © Navantia

LSDs which use LCAC havetrue over-the-horizonassault capability but anotherfeature guarantees this;the full-length flight deck


ly, India seeks a modern full amphibious war-fare capability then there is a distinct possibil-ity it might follow the Russian example andacquire the French Mistral class, officiallyknown as Bâtiment de Projection et deCommandement (Projection and CommandShips) which can carry 450 troops (or 900 forshort periods), 13 tanks, two LCACs and upto 16 helicopters or they might even followthe Australian example and select theNavantia design, which is officially describedas Buque de Proyeccíon Estratégica (StrategicProjection Ship), the official names reflectingwhy India is interested in them.The amphibious forces of Asia are less for

traditional operations and more for strategicmovement although they also possess greatpotential for humanitarian relief in the eventof natural disasters such as earthquakes ortsunamis. Interestingly, in December 2011Australia’s Minister for Defence, Mr Stephen

Smith, and the Minister for Defence MaterielJason Clare linked an announcement of theacquisition of a British Bay class LSD, RFALargs Bay as HMAS Choules, by stating itenhanced the amphibious capability to pro-vide humanitarian and disaster relief duringthe cyclone season. Australia will alsoacquire and modify a merchantman this yearto transport troops and supplies in support ofdomestic and regional humanitarian and dis-aster relief operations.With great distances, numerous islands,

long coasts and limit road and rail networksthe strategic movement of troops and materi-al by sea provides the most effective use ofresources. Moreover these forces can be deliv-ered almost anywhere, even across beaches ifno suitable port facilities exist. This is the realreason why Asian navies, even the smallerones, retain some form of amphibious capa-bility and why so many use landing ships ofone sort although some navies, such as theIndonesian, have dedicated troop transports.These capabilities are invaluable when disas-ter strikes for they are the ideal means notonly of delivering humanitarian aid but alsoof directing such operations as well as provid-ing medical facilities for the more seriouslyinjured. This is reflected in the fact that of four11,400-ton multi-role LPD type ships deliv-ered between 2003 and 2010 the first, KRI DrSoeharso, is actually a dedicated hospital shipwhile retaining LPD characteristics.


Part of Wellington’s upgradeof the Royal New ZealandNavy, Project ‘Protector’,was the acquisition ofthe 8,870-ton multi-role shipHMNZS Canterbury

The French Mistral class amphibiousassault ship has been sold to Russiaand DCNS are now seeking Asiancustomers © DCNS


MOVING TOWARDS A SAFER TOMORROWAsia Pacific’s Premier Exhibition & Conferenceon All Aspects of Counter Terrorism & Security

www.globalsecasia.com

AMERICASChantal Regibeau

T: +1 410 346 6373

M: +1 443 254 2970

[email protected]

CHINAStephanie Zhu

T: +86 21 51082666 *202

M: +86 133 11968780

[email protected]

FRANCEDaniel Solnica

T: +331 4246 9571

M: +3317575 6154

[email protected]

INDIAVishal Mehta

T: +91 124 475 9625

M: +44 11 5885 4423

[email protected]

AFRICAAndre King

T: +27 12 428 2121

M: +27 12 347 8016

[email protected]

ISRAEL Dafna Poleg Abarbanel

T: +972 54 4984070

[email protected]

ITALY & SWITZERLAND Dario Mozzaglia

T: +39 010 583 684

[email protected]

TAIWAN Jie Tsai

T: +886 2 2570 6960 #302

M: +886 922 938 535

[email protected]

UK / EUROPE / MIDDLE EASTAndrew Marriott

T: +44 (0) 1892 519 462

M: +44 (0) 7799 890 438

[email protected]

ASIA PACIFICJoseph Ong

T: +65 6392 5328

M: +65 8383 8011

[email protected]



This is turn is driving the concept of multi-role ships and this can be conducted even bythe smaller navies as New Zealand hasdemonstrated. Part of Wellington’s upgradeof the Royal New Zealand Navy, Project‘Protector’, was the acquisition of the 8,870-ton multi-role ship HMNZS Canterbury. Inaddition to providing sea training this shiphas a limited tactical sealift capability and pro-vides military and peace operation support aswell as humanitarian relief embarking 250troops as well as vehicles and has four landingcraft and two medium-size helicopters in adesign based upon a roll-on, roll-off ship.Malaysia has a requirement for two or threeMulti-Purpose Support Ships (MPSS),although the nation’s financial problems havedelayed implementation of this programmeoriginally been scheduled for the 8th (2001-2005) Malaysia Defence Plan which has beenconstantly deferred despite the high priorityallocated it by the Royal Malaysian Navy.

The 2006 requirement for this vessel calledfor sufficient vessels to transport a battalion

battlegroup of the Rapid Deployment Forcewith each ship carrying 500 troops and 100vehicles up to 8,000 nautical miles. Theywould be transferred to land via a helicopterdeck capable of operating up to three medi-um weight aircraft simultaneously (with ahangar for up to four) and four LCMs. Whilethe requirement may have been modifiedthese are understood to remain the core ofwhat Kuala Lumpur is seeking.

Regional capabilities in Asia are, as men-tioned limited, in part because there are fewrequirements for amphibious assault. In addi-tion to INS Jalashwa the Indian Navy has 18landing ships and nominally is capable ofmoving some 4,200 troops, although anIndian Army division is trained for amphibi-ous operations and none of her immediateneighbours have anything more than a medi-um-size landing ship (Sri Lanka) and a fewlanding craft. Both the Koreas possess forces

which could be used for raids or minor land-ings; Pyongyang augmenting its LCACs with10 medium landing ships and 121 landingcraft while Seoul is building two moreDokdos and plans a class of four LST-2 toreplace the two World War Two vintage ves-sels and create the potential for two or threelanding groups. To the south ownership ofthe Spratly Islands are disputed betweenChina, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippinesand Vietnam and here conventional amphibi-ous operations might be possible on a smallscale. Indonesia has the four LPDs, 19 landingships, the largest regional amphibious forceapart from China, Malaysia lost its only LST,the Newport class KRI Sri Inderapura to a fire2009, the Philippines has seven landing shipsof which five are of World War Two vintage,while Vietnam has six landing ships of whichhalf are Second World War vintage.

It seems more likely that Asia’s amphibi-ous forces will retain their transport/humanitarian relief roles making trueswords into ploughshares.

An Austin class LPD has been acquired byIndia © DoD

AAMMPPHHIIBBIIOOUUSS O P E R A T I O N S

SOUTH ASIAIInnddiiaa and BBuurrmmaa have met in the Burmesecapital Naypyidaw to discuss further jointoperations along their mutual border. Themeeting also saw an agreement to establishliaison offices in Ukhrul in India and Somra inBurma. India and Saudi Arabia have commit-ted to set up a Joint Committee on DefenceCooperation to develop a security relation-ship between the two countries following avisit by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony toRiyadh. Robert Scher, a deputy assistant sec-retary of defense is reported to have said thatthe US is willing to work together with Indiaon a ballistic missile shield. India’s Special Forces have a new perma-

nent base in Marol, Mumbai with personnelfrom the National Security Guards stationed atthis regional hub. India has established a newintelligence organisation for the paramilitaryCentral Reserve Police Force, designed to sup-port operations against Naxalite insurgents. India and Israel Aerospace Industries

have signed a $1.1 billion deal for a four yearcontract for the supply and support of arange of military systems missiles, anti-mis-sile systems, unmanned aerial vehicles andintelligence-gathering systems. The first of the Indian Air Force’s Mi-17 V5

helicopters was inducted in February,acquired in a deal for eighty of the type

signed in 2008. India’s Defence AcquisitionCouncil has given the green light to the acqui-sition for Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)for the Indian Navy. The first flight of the pro-totype Naval LCA is expected in March. Thegovernment has also given the go-ahead forthe medium range maritime reconnaissance(MRMR) programme to acquire nine surveil-lance aircraft in a $1 billion plus deal. The air-craft will complement the longer range P-8IASW aircraft currently ordered from Boeing.India is to be the launch customer for theintentional version of Raytheon’s APY-10 sur-veillance radar, on board its P-8I aircraftbeing built for India. Additional featuresadded to the radar include the detection andtracking of airborne targets in a 240 degree sec-tor in front of the aircraft. India has taken delivery of the Chakra, for-

merly the Russian Navy’s Nerpa nuclear pow-ered attack submarine, formerly based in theRussian Far East. India will operate the subunder a 10-year, $650 million lease. Canada’sObzerv Technologies Inc has been awarded acontract to provide 46 ARGC-2400 cameras forintegration on a Bharat Electronics Ltd. CoastalSurveillance System for India’s Coast Guard.Elements of the large scale piping system forthe Indian Navy’s six strong P75 Scorpene sub-marine programme have been delivered toMazagon Dock Limited by Flash Forge IndiaPvt. Ltd. The equipment, validated by partner

DCNS India was ordered in June last year andis the first Indian manufactured sub-system tobe delivered to the programme.Two trainee pilots successfully ejected

from the Kiran Mk II basic trainer during amission from the Tambaram air base, the air-craft crashed into a lake. And finally, in caseyou missed it, India chose Dassault’s Rafaleover the Eurofighter Typhoon for theMMRCA programme.It has been reported that PPaakkiissttaann has

accelerated plans to build nuclear poweredsubmarines with plans for them to be induct-ed into the fleet in 2017-2020 and likely to beequipped with the Babur cruise missile. ThePakistan Air Force’s first F-16 Modernization(Peace Drive II) Programme aircraft has beendelivered by Turkish Aerospace Industrieson February 8th. The Peace Drive II pro-gramme, covering avionics and structuralmodernisation on a total of 41 aircraft startedin October 2010 and is planned to be complet-ed by September 2014.Two P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft

have been inducted in to the Pakistan Navy,replacing two aircraft destroyed on theground in a terrorist attack at their Karachibase in 2010.


Asia Pacific Procurement UpdateIn other news, Dassault’s Rafale won the penul-timate stage in a modest Indian Air Force com-petition © Dassault

Asia Pacific Procurement Update

RREEGGIIOONNAALL NNEEWWSSA N D D E V E L O P M E N T S

2012

11 - 15 JUNE 2012 / PARISwww.eurosatory.com

I N T E R N A T I O N A L E X H I B I T I O N

LANDDEFENCE & SECURITY

Under the patronage of

Presided over by

The most comprehensive answerAn opportunity to meet all major players

in the world of Security-Defence



SOUTH EAST ASIAIInnddoonneessiiaa is to sign a deal with Russia toacquire 60 BMP-3 vehicles from theKurganmashzavod factory. The $100m dealwill see a third of vehicles delivered in 2012.Indonesia has sent a military delegation,including Lt. Gen. Budiman, the deputyarmy chief of staff to the Netherlands toassess surplus Leopard II MBTs for pro-curement. A projected deal for 100 of thevehicles would cost $280m. Indonesia is reported to be appearing to

bring into service the Israel AerospaceIndustries Searcher Mk II UAV, originallyordered in 2006 via the Kital PhilippinesCorp. Indonesia has still not decidedwhether to accept the offer of four surplusC-130H Hercules transport aircraft, in stor-age since 2009, from Australia, replacingC-130B aircraft.The Indonesian Navy is to add 24 new

missile craft by 2024 and will be based inWestern Indonesia and North Sulawesi. TheNavy has already received two domesticallybuilt craft, with a third under constructionand another six to be completed by 2014. TheUS Navy has invited the Indonesian navy toparticipate in a series of joint exercisesincluding the Cooperation Afloat Readinessand Training or CARAT series.Lockheed Martin and PT CMI

Teknologi have teamed for the country’sNational Airspace Surveillance – Republicof Indonesia programme and will offerwith the intent to offer 40 new TPS-77 andFPS-117 long-range surveillance radars tomeet the requirement.TenCate Advanced Armour has opened

its sales office in Singapore. The Republicof SSiinnggaappoorree Navy and the RoyalMMaallaayyssiiaann Navy completed ExerciseMalapura on 7 March 2012 addressingsecurity in the Malacca Strait. Participatingships included RSS Formidable, RSSValour RSS Brave, KD Jebat, KDTerengganu and KD Selangor.India’s chief of the air staff visited

Malaysia in February to discuss closerdefence ties with his Malaysia counterpartsbased around the Su-30. India provided theRoyal Malaysian Air Force with Su-30training from 2008 to 2010.L-3 Communications has been awarded

a $19.5m contract to supply a tactical oper-ational flight trainer, brief/debrief stationand logistical support to 2015 to the RoyalMalaysian Air Force under the ForeignMilitary Sales Programme. RaytheonCompany has awarded an initial contractto Malaysian from Contraves AdvancedDevices for the supply of components forits Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM).Raytheon has proposed the ESSM and

other subsystems to Malaysia for itsupcoming Second Generation Patrol Vesselprogramme for the Royal Malaysian Navy.The PPhhiilliippppiinneess Navy has requested

that the second Hamilton-class cutter, dueto be transferred to its service later thisyear, retain its communication, sensor andradar equipment. The request by Navychief Vice Adm. Alexander Pama followedthe experience of dealing with the barebones state of the first Hamilton class cutterwhich arrived in 2011 and was renamedthe Gregorio del Pilar.The Philippines Coast Guard is to

increase operations in the South China Seaafter it completes an upgrade on three ves-sels which will join the single vessel, theEdsa which is currently patrolling the area.The US and Filipino officials have met in

Washington in January to discuss a largerUS military presence in the country withthe possibility of US ships and troops beingbased in the country and more regular jointexercises.Maj. Gen. Lauro Catalino de la Cruz has

been appointed as the new head of thePhilippines Air Force. The long awaiteddelivery of four PZL-Swidnik W-3 Sokolhelicopters to the Philippines Air Force isunderway. The contract signed in 2010 withthe AgustaWestland owned Polish firmwas signed in 2010 cover eight platforms.


Indonesian plans to acquire surplusDutch Leopard II MBTs have proveddomestically controversial © KMW



EAST ASIAThe US and Japan have released a JointDefense Posture Statement committing thetwo countries to relocating Marines withinOkinawa, and also to moving some ofthose forces to Guam while delinking themovement of Marines to Guam and landtransfers south of Kadena Air Base, hometo the U.S. Air Force's 18th Wing. Japanesetroop traveled to Camp Pendleton,California for the annual Iron Fist exercisewith US Marines from the 15th MarineExpeditionary Unit on San ClementeIsland. Japan has sent a further 120 militaryengineers to the U.N. peacekeeping mis-sion in South Sudan, bringing the country’scontingent to 190.Japan’s Mitsubishi Electric is to provide

components and assemblies necessary tomanufacture and deliver Evolved SeaSparrow Missiles for the Japanese Ministryof Defense. Japan has formally approached

the US to acquire six former US MarineCorps KC-130R inflight refueling aircraftin a $170m deal. China has said in February that it will

work with India and Japan on escortingmerchant vessels around the Horn of Africa.Noh Dae-lae, the head of South Korea’s

Defense Acquisition Program Adminis -tration has said that plans to acquire RQ-4Global Hawk unmanned aerial have beencancelled following a price hike from $442min 2009 to $899m in November 2011. Koreanow plans to open a new competition.South Korea has ordered 20 FA-50 air-

craft, in a $600 million and will beequipped with Link 16 and the EltaSystems EL/M-2032 radar. South Korea’sCoast Guard has selected Sikorsky’s S-92SAR helicopter to meet the requirementMulti-Purpose Helicopter Program. Oneplatform has been ordered with a require-ment for three more.Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine

Engineering has been awarded the £452million deal to build the Royal Navy’s fournew 37,000-tonne Royal Fleet AuxiliaryMilitary Afloat Reach and Sustainability(MARS) tankers, due to enter services from2016. UK firm Plextek has signed aMemorandum of Understanding withKorean firms Nuriplan to offer the Blighterfamily of ground surveillance radars intothe South Korean domestic market.The Tw$3.1 billion ($104.73 million)

plan to reactivate two Osprey class vesselminehunters for Taiwan’s Navy, part oflast years $6.4billion deal with Washingtonhas begun, ready for delivery in mid 2012.Taiwan’s Navy is expected to seek parlia-mentary approval in April to begin the pro-curement of eight 100-1500 tonne dieselelectric submarines in April. It was report-ed that three countries had offered to eitherbuild new submarines in conjunction withTaiwan or to sell existing HDW sub-marines to Taiwan.

Japan is seeking six surplusMarine Corps KC-130R refuelingaircraft © US DoD

THE 5TH INDONESIA’S OFFICIAL TRI-SERVICE DEFENCE EVENT

“Building Roadmap for Defence Industry, Present and Future”

incorporating with

Organised byHosted by

Ministry ofDefence PT. Napindo Media Ashatama

Jl. Kelapa Sawit XIV Blok M1 No. 10Kompleks Billy & Moon, Pondok KelapaJakarta 13450, IndonesiaTelp. +6221 8650962, 8644756/85 Fax. +6221 8650963 E-mail: [email protected]

Ministry ofTrade

Indonesian NationalDefence Forces

Indonesian Army Indonesian Air Force

Supported by

Indonesian NavyMinistry ofIndustry

Indonesian NationalPolice

Official Publication

7 - 10 November 2012JIExpo Kemayoran Jakarta

Indonesia

Supporting Publications

JIExxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppo Kemayoran JakartIndones

www.indodefence.com




AUSTRALASIAA re-examination of AAuussttrraalliiaa’’ss force pos-ture is to recommend an expansion of mili-tary capabilities in the North of the country,comprising a new naval base in Queenslandand new bases in the North West to protectoil and mineral wealth there. Australia andNNeeww ZZeeaallaanndd have signed an agreement forstronger defense relationship designed tocover capability development and procure-ment, regional burden sharing as well asestablishing closer links betweenAustralia's Defense Science and TechnologyOrganisation and New Zealand's DefenseTechnology Agency. Australia sent SuperHornets and Airborne Early Warning andControl Wedgetail aircraft to Guam forExercise COPE NORTH, the first time theRoyal Australian Air Force has participatedin this US-Japan biannual air defence exer-cise. Australia and France have signed astrategic partnership during a visit to Parisby Foreign Affairs Minister Kevin Rudd.Australia’s Mentoring Task Force – 3 has

returned from Afghanistan after a seven-and-a-half month deployment in the coun-try’s Uruzgan Province. The Australian gov-ernment’s latest figures put the cost of oper-ations in Afghanistan at $1.6 billion annuallyor $1 million annually for each soldierdeployed. Australia’s Sydney MorningHerald also reported that the government’s

Independent Review of the IntelligenceCommunity has put the annual costs of thecountry’s intelligence apparatus at $1 billion.The Australian Army has taken delivery

of two CH-47D s at its base at Townsville.The aircraft, ordered in 2011 following theloss of a single Chinook in Afghanistan inMay is due to enter service by mid 2012.Australia may put back its planned pur-chase of 12 Lockheed Martin F-35A JointStrike Fighters, originally due to be deliv-ered in 2015-17. An initial two aircraft willbe delivered to begin RAAF training on theaircraft in 2014. Australia has completedcontract negotiations under Land 121Phase 3A, the next step in the A$7.5 billionProject Overlander, for 2146 Daimler AGand Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific PtyLtd G-wagons, along with trailers andmodules. Main delivery will begin in July.The Australian press has reported that

the RAN’s submarine escape training facil-ity at HMAS Stirling, which has had a his-tory of problems has been inoperable sinceNovember due to faults with its recom-pression chambers and will not reopenuntil the Summer.US Ambassador Jeffrey Bleich to

Australia is reported to have outlined thepossibility of the US leasing or sellingnuclear submarines to the country toreplace the Collins class submarines tomeet plans to acquire 12 new, locally pro-

duced submarines in an estimatedA$30billion programme. The approachruns contrary to stated Australian govern-ment policy of a non-nuclear fleet.Naval Ship Management Australia a joint

venture of Babcock Australia and UnitedGroup Infrastructure has been selected aspreferred tenderer for the five year A$300mprogramme to provide maintenance andrepair of the Royal Australian Navy’s(RAN’s) eight Anzac frigates contract negoti-ations are expected to be finalised by June.Australia has awarded Raytheon a $80.8mdeal for the AN/AQS-22 Airborne LowFrequency Sonar system for use on 24aboard RAN MH-60R helicopters and marksthe first international sale of the system. Fauntrack way is to supply new

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) AircraftLanding Mat (ALM) from the Australianarmed forces. The contract is worth approx-imately $1.1 million dollars. AeroVironmenthas acquired exclusive global distributionrights for Australian firm’s Sentient KestrelLand MTI Tier I automated target detectionsoftware for use with small UAVs. BoeingDefence Australia and Thales Australiahave selected the Eurocopter EC135 for abid on Phase 7, Helicopter Aircrew TrainingSystem (HATS), of the Australian DefenceForce’s Project Air 9000 which will provideab initio training for the Australian Armyand Royal Australian Navy.

Naval Ship Management Australia is thepreferred tenderer for the five yearA$300m programme to provide mainte-nance and repair to the Royal AustralianNavy’s eight Anzac frigates © US DoD

Aerospace leadership. Military strength. Malaysia’s partnership

with Boeing builds both. The nation’s F/A-18D generated

$271 million in offset for 11 Malaysian companies and government

organizations. Moreover, joint ventures between Boeing and

Malaysian companies are providing technology transfer, training

and manufacturing practices. Acquiring Super Hornets would

expand Malaysia’s ties to a team of industry leaders making

a proven partnership an even greater strategic asset.


MARITIME INTELLIGENCE,AS NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

The ScanEagle unmanned aircraft system provides persistent

maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR).

Able to operate off the deck of ships, ScanEagle is virtually

invisible and inaudible, operating autonomously at low altitudes

for extended periods. As navies face increasing threats to sea

lanes around the world, ScanEagle is a multi-mission force

multiplier with capabilities to help ensure maritime security.

www.insitupacific.com


VOLUME 20/ISSUE 2 APRIL/MAY 2012 US$15


PERSONALPROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

INDIRECT FIRE

NAVALCOMMUNICATIONS

INDIAN MILITARY OVERHAUL

MALAYSIAN DEFENCEMODERNISATION

AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS

COMBAT JETS


Asian Military Review - April/May 2012 issue

Documents

Transcript of Asian Military Review - April/May 2012 issue