Asian Military Review - March 2010 issue

MARCH 2010 US$15VOLUME 18/ISSUE 2

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AA SS II AA PP AA CC II FF II CC ’’ SS LL AA RR GG EE SS TT CC II RR CC UU LL AA TT EE DD DD EE FF EE NN CC EE MM AA GG AA ZZ II NN EEAA SS II AA PP AA CC II FF II CC ’’ SS LL AA RR GG EE SS TT CC II RR CC UU LL AA TT EE DD DD EE FF EE NN CC EE MM AA GG AA ZZ II NN EE

FAST ATTACK CRAFT

AIRBORNE C2

SMALL ARMS

EMERGINGSECURITY THREATS

MARITIMEPATROL CRAFT

ADFEVOLUTION

AIRCRAFTSELF PROTECTION

FAST ATTACK CRAFT

AIRBORNE C2

SMALL ARMS

EMERGINGSECURITY THREATS


ADFEVOLUTION

AIRCRAFTSELF PROTECTION

Asian Military Review: SAR/Coastguard Ad | Trim: 8.25” x 11.25” | Bleed: + .125” | Feb 2010 Issue

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MARCH 2010VOLUME 18 / ISSUE 2

Contents

Front Cover Photo:The Royal Australian Navy’s 14new Armidale class patrolboats were built with a 15 yearlife and will be replaced with alarger reconfigurable designthat will also replace six hydro-graphic survey ships. The 20strong, 2000 tonne OffshoreCombatant Vessels are beingplanned under project SEA1180, with a contract decisionto be made in 2018-21© Australian DoD

Abraham GublerEast Timor and the 9/11 attacks shook the

Government out of its disintetrest in the AustralianDefence Forces. Action is now being taken to transform

into a deployable force in an unstable world.

Contents

Australia’sWarfighting Evolution

01MARCH 2010

Fast Attack Craft:Threats andCapabilitiesTed HootonWhile many small navies mayregret it, the demise of the fastattack craft is in sight. Too slow torun, too big to hide, theyare vulnerable to air power but,like the scorpion, they stillhave a sharp sting

Maritime PatrolAircraft in AsiaTom WithingtonThe past year witnessedsignificant activity regarding theprocurement and upgrade ofMaritime Patrol Aircraft. AcrossAsia, Africa, Europe and theMiddle East, several nations areaugmenting their MPA fleets or, insome cases, procuring this essen-tial capability for the first time

Airborne Commandand ControlAdam BaddeleyBefore the advent of flight,commanders always sought the highground, to enable more effectivecontrol over their forces. Today, byclimbing aboard an aircraft to fulfilthat function, commanders arepursuing the natural technologicalextension of that process

36

18

24

Infantry Weapons:The FutureBeckons for AsiaRemigiusz WilkIn the world of small armsdesign, the winds of changeblow all the time. Programmesacross the region are due todeliver advanced newtechnologies during 2010

10

Emerging AndFuture SecurityThreats In TheAsia-PacificGordon ArthurThe world may have entered thesecond decade of 21st century, buta state of peace is more elusivethan ever. Interstate rivalries, insur-gencies, ethnic conflict, weaponsproliferation & terrorism are someof the threats being faced.

42

AircraftSelf-Protectingexpands in AsiaMartin StreetlyThe current and future state offast-jet Electronic Warfare in theAsia-Pacific shows that while lag-ging in some areas, regional airforces are well established usersof the technology and understandits force multiplication capabilities.

04

30

Editorialhe US is in a quandary with itsInternational Traffic in Arms Regulations(ITAR), continuing to impose rules whichpreserve US security while ensuring thatthe mechanisms to effectively identify and

restrict the export of dual use technology is appro-priate to the 21st century market place. Bundledup in the debate is the speed at which industryexport licensing requests under current rules are processed and doubts at thelikelihood of approval and the cumulative negative effects this is having onUS defence sales.

Ensuring the security of technology is an inalienable national right.However how that is done must also change over time. Non-UScompetitors are ofering ITAR free solutions and see this as a marketingplus, Thales Alenia Space’s satellite offerings being a notable example,which with the absence of US technology can be launched cheaply fromChinese rockets.

US companies too are beginning to vote with their feet and offering nonITAR solutions themselves. General Dynamics, through its UK subsidiaryhas successfully sold a brigade level C4I system to Libya, its role being tointegrate entirely non-ITAR systems source from Europe. In Canada,Lockheed Martin Canada has teamed with Saab to offer non-ITAR solutionsstipulated by America’s northern neighbour, who while willing to integrateits air defence network with the US, is not in this case willing to use itstechnology.

US technology is valued and sought after by legitimate users who arenonetheless exasperated at delays and impediments which can appear atbest unduly bureaucratic and at worst insulting. Odd though it may seem,overseas firms also have to obtain ITAR approval before they can competeon Department of Defense programmes based on the fact that they needUS defence data to frame their bids.

ITAR as it stands today is an obstacle to mutual trade. The US is notalways getting the best systems for its own use and other defence forcesmay not always get their first choice of US systems.

There have been many false starts for ITAR reform. Today there is agrowing momentum behind it, given greater impetus by the pressingeconomic squeeze that will push reform past its tipping point. This may beone thing the defence sector will be thankful to the current recession for.

Adam Baddeley, Editor

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03MARCH 2010

The current and future state of fast-jet Electronic Warfare (EW) inthe Asia-Pacific shows that while lagging in some areas, regional airforces are well established users of the technology, understand itsforce multiplication capabilities and are well placed to specify andcollaborate industrially on the next generation of such equipmentsthat will protect their future fast-jet procurements.

bbyy Martin Streetly

AA II RR BB OO RR NN EEELECTRONIC WARFARE

4 ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

AMR believes that China has exported nationally produced EW equipmentaboard aircraft such as the PAF F-7 shown here © USAF

Expands in AsiaSelf-ProtectionAircraft

Ever since the late 1960s, ElectronicWarfare (EW) has played anincreasingly important part in thecombat survival of fast-jets.Today, such provision ranges in

complexity from a combination of a RadarWarning Receiver (RWR) and a CounterMeasures Dispensing System (CMDS)through to a Defensive Aids Suite (DAS) thatincorporates an RWR, a Missile ApproachWarning (MAW) system, an active radar jam-mer, a CMDS and a control processor. In moredetail, a DAS may take the form of a federat-ed or an integrated architecture, while theCMDS is used to launch off-board expend-ables such as chaff (anti-radar), Infra-Red (IR)decoy flares (to counter IR-guided missiles) oractive (transmitting) expendable radar jam-mers. Again, the available counter-radar arse-nal is increasingly being supplemented byTowed Active Decoy (TAD) devices.

Looking specifically at the Asia-Pacificregion, fast-jet EW provision of one sort or

5MARCH 2010


The Raytheon/Lockheed Martin/Cobham AN/ALR-67(V)3 RWR is installed aboard (or has beenselected for installation aboard) Australia’s F/A-18A/B and F/A-18E/F aircraft © Raytheon



another is widespread being led by the airforces of Australia, China, India, Japan, SouthKorea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, Taiwanand Thailand. Australia’s fast-jet capability is currently

built around a mixed fleet of F-111 strike andF/A-18 multi-role aircraft. Of the two, thesoon to be retired F-111s are equipped withthe Dalmo Victor AN/ALR-62I RWR, Elta’sEL/L-8222 pod-mounted radar jammer andthe BAE Systems AN/ALE-40 CMDS.Australia’s F/A-18A/B aircraft are equipped

with the Northrop Grumman AN/ALR-67(V)2 RWR (being replaced by the digitalRaytheon/Lockheed Martin/CobhamAN/ALR-67(V)3 equipment), an internally-mounted BAE Systems AN/ALQ-126B radarjammer and a CMDS, while its F/A-18E/F’scarry the AN/ALR-67(V)3 RWR and thecounter-radar ITT/BAE Systems AN/ALQ-214(V) Integrated Defensive ElectronicCounterMeasures (IDECM) system (with pro-

vision for the BAE Systems AN/ALE-55(V)TAD). The Royal Australian Air Force’s sec-ond generation Hornets are also likely to bewired to accommodate the EA-18G’sNorthrop Grumman AN/ALQ-218(V) elec-tronic attack receiver system at some futuredate. Such a retrofit would provide the servicewith a dedicated EW platform with which tosupport whatever fast-jet will replace its cur-rent inventory.While undoubtedly a major player in the

region, EW provision within China’s People’sLiberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) remainsas enigmatic as many other aspects of thePeople’s Republic’s military. While it is clearthat PLAAF FC-1, J-7, J-8, J-10 and J-11 aircraftare all equipped with at least an RWR and aCMDS, trying to pin down the precise natureof such equipment is much harder. This said,AMR believes that most PLAAF EW equip-ment is produced nationally, with confirmedover time examples including the ChinaNational Electronics Import and ExportCorporation’s (CEIEC) GT-1 CMDS; theNortheast Research Institute of Technology’s(NEIET) SE-2 ultra-violet passive MAW and

TM series laser warners and the SouthwestChina Research Institute of ElectronicEquipment’s (SCRIEE) 2 to 18 GHz bandKJ8602/KJ8602A RWRs, 2 to 40 GHzKJ8602B/KJ8602BC RWRs and 6.5 to 40 GHzband KG300G pod-mounted radar jammer.Of these, the SE-2 has been associated with theFC-1 (designated as the JF-17 in Pakistaniservice), while usually reliable sources havemade mention of a fast-jet radar jammer des-ignated as the RKL-800 and an additional pairof CMDSs designated as the GT-4 and theRKZ-404E. Elsewhere, it is almost certain thatChina has exported elements of its indigenousfast-jet EW technology, with nationally pro-duced RWRs and CMDSs being likely to havebeen sold to Bangladesh (24 F-7BG fighters),Myanmar (60 F-7Ms), Pakistan (120 F-7P/-7MP) and Sri Lanka (four F-7BS). In additionand as already noted, Pakistan is co-produc-ing the FC-1 as the JF-17 and it is probable thatthe initial JF-17 production run is beingequipped with a percentage of Chinese avion-ic equipment that may include EW provision.

The RoCAF’s F-16A/Bs are wired to carry theRaytheon AN/ALQ-184(V) radar jamming pod.Shown here is the AN/ALQ-184(V)9 configura-tion that is equipped with a dispenser for theAN/ALE-50 TAD © Raytheon

A schematic that shows the elements that make up the ICMS DAS that is installed aboard Taiwaneseand (possibly) Indian Mirage 2000 multi-role fighters © Thales

HSW ANTENNAS

AMPLIFICATION UNIT

REAR OF UNIT

HIGH BAND JAMMER MAIN TRANSMISSION UNIT AND REAR

ANTENNAS AUXILIARYUNITS 1 AND 2

LOW BANDJAMMER ANTENNA

ANALOGSYSTEM UNIT DECOY LAUNCHER

CARTRIGEDISPENSER

RIGHT OF UNIT ANDADDITIONAL OF UNIT ANALOG AND DIGITAL

PROCESSING UNIT LOW BANDJAMMER TRANSMITTER

SELECTIVE ANDHIGHLY SENSITIVE

RECEIVER

AMPLIFICATION AND RF CIRCUITS

DISPLAY UNIT

COUNTER MEASURECONTROL PANEL

MANAGEMENT ANDCOMPATIBILITY UNIT

LEFT OF UNIT ANDADDITIONAL OF UNIT

HIGH BANDJAMMER ANTENNAS

CARTRIGEDISPENSER

DECOYLAUNCHER

DIGITAL SYSTEM UNIT

LOW BAND JAMMER ANTENNA

EW provision withinChina’s People’s LiberationArmy Air Force remains asenigmatic as many otheraspects of the People’sRepublic’s military

7

Indian fast-jet EW provision presents analtogether more eclectic picture mixingnationally produced equipment with elec-tronics sourced from Western Europe, Israeland Russia. A good example of the country’sapproach to fast-jet EW is its Jaguar strikefighters that most recently have been outfittedwith a self-protection capability that includesthe nationally produced Defence AvionicsResearch Establishment’s (DARE) TarangRWR together with the Elta Systems EL/L-8222 pod-mounted radar jammer. An EL/L-8222 application is also flagged for the coun-try’s Su-30MKI platforms. While not con-firmed, AMR also believes that India’s Mirage2000Hs are equipped with either the 6 to18/20 GHz Thales ABD detector-radar jam-mer system or a version of the Thales/MBDAIntegrated CounterMeasures Suite (ICMS).Designed specifically for the Mirage 2000, thebaseline ICMS configuration includes twoABD detector-jammers, the Serval RWR, theDDM MAW, an interface/system manage-ment unit and a SPIRALE CMDS.

A schematic that shows the component parts of the AN/ALR-56M RWR that is installed aboard F-16C/D aircraft operated by the air forces of South Korea, Pakistan and Malaysia © BAE Systems

MARCH 2010


1. Azimuth Indicator LRU-3 3. Analysis

ProcessorLRU-5

5. High BandAntenna(4 used)

7. DFReceiverLRU-4(4 used)

8. SuperhecReceiverLRU-7

4. C/D Receiver Power Supply LRU-10

6. Dual BladeLow Band Antenna

9. SuperhecControllerLRU-6

2. Control Panels LRU-1,2


Elsewhere within India’s national capabili-ty, AMR is aware of DARE’s 1 to 18 GHz bandSiva emitter location system (for use with theRussian Kh-31P anti-radiation missile) and anRWR for MiG-21 class aircraft from nationalcontractor Bharat Electronics. Looking to thefuture, the country’s Medium Multi-RoleCombat Aircraft (MMRCA) competition looksset to provide the world’s EW manufacturerswith what will probably be the region’sbiggest fast-jet countermeasures opportunityof the first half of the 21st Century. Here,research suggests that Lockheed Martin isoffering Raytheon’s AdvancedCountermeasure Electronic System (ACES –AN/ALR-69A digital RWR, AN/ALQ-187(V)2 radar jammer and AN/ALE-47CMDS) as part of its F-16INMMRCA submis-sion, while Boeing is proposing a suite thatincludes the AN/ALR-67(V)3 RWR,AN/ALQ-214(V) IDECM system and theAN/ALE-47 CMDS as part of its F/A-18INproposal. For its part, Italian contractorElettronica is offering its ELT-568(V)2 radarjammer for use on the MiG-35, whileDassault’s Rafale would come equipped withthe type Thales/MBDA Spectre DAS.Similarly, Eurofighter is understood to be pro-posing the incumbent Praetorian DAS on anIndian Typhoon with the possibility of inte-grating Selex Galileo’s Seer digital RWR intothe architecture.Moving south, Japan has followed the

China/India route and produces most of itsfast-jet EW equipment nationally. Here, exam-ples include Tokimec’s J/APR-2 (F-4EJ),J/APR-3 (F-1), J/APR-4/4A (F-15J/-15DJ),

J/APR-4B (J/APR-4A with an interface for theJ/APQ-1 MAW), J/APR-5 (RF-4EJ) andJ/APR-6/6A (F-4EJ Kai) RWRs; the internally-mounted J/ALQ-6 radar jammer (F-1, F-4EJand RF-4EJ) and the internally-mounted 1 to 18GHz band J/ALQ-8 radar jammer (F-15J/DJand interfaced with the J/APR-4A RWR).Elsewhere, Japanese contractor Mitsubishi haslicence built the Northrop GrummanAN/ALQ-131(V) pod-mounted radar jammerfor use aboard the Japanese Air Self-DefenceForce’s (JASDF) F-4EJs and F-15Js, with the lat-ter combination operating in the electronic‘aggressor’ training role. Again, JASDF F-15Jaircraft are fitted with the BAE SystemsAN/ALE-45 CMDS. As a final point concern-ing JASDF fast-jet EW provision, it is perhapsworth noting that the service’s RF-4EJKai (aconversion of the F-4EJKai fighter) reconnais-sance aircraft are capable of carrying the pod-mounted, 0.4 to 40 GHz band, ThalesAnalyseur de Signaux TACtiques (ASTAC)tactical electronic intelligence gathering sys-tem. Designed to detect, identify and locateground-based radar emitters in dense signalsenvironments, ASTAC is designated as the

TACtical Electronic Reconnaissance (TRACER)system in JASDF service, with the programmehaving Mitsubishi as its prime contractor.North of Japan, South Korea’s LIG NEX1

(formerly LG Innotek’s Systems Division) hasproduced the 2 to 18/20 GHz band ALQ-88Kand AK (‘suitable’ for use aboard F-4D/E andF-16C/D aircraft respectively) and ALQ-202pod-mounted radar jammers which arebelieved to have been procured by theRepublic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF).Elsewhere, RoKAF F-15K aircraft areequipped with a DAS that includes the BAESystems AN/ALR-56C(V)1 RWR and theNorthropGrummanAN/ALQ-135M internal-ly-mounted radar jammer, while its Block40/50 F-16C/D fighters are fitted with BAESystems’ AN/ALR-56M RWR. Interestingly,the combination of the AN/ALR-56C(V)1 andthe AN/ALQ-135M probably give the F-15K abetter EW self-protection capability than thatinstalled on the United States Air Force’s F-15aircraft. Here, the AN/ALR-56C(V)1 isdescribed as being a ‘complete’ system re-design (and one that represents the ‘best thatcan be done with analogue technology’), whilethe AN/ALQ-135M (which is co produced bySamsung Thales and Northrop Grumman)features PowerPC-based programming,microwave power module technology and anin-country reprogramming capability.Elsewhere within the RoKAF orbit, Israel’sElisra has been contracted to prototype and(eventually) produce up to 60 examples of anEW package for the FA-50 light strike aircraft.Turning to Southeast Asia, the Royal

Malaysian Air Force’s (RMAF) Su-30MKMmulti-role fighters sport an interesting DASsourced from the Swedish-South African SaabElectronic Mission Systems concern.Designated as the Integrated DAS (IDAS), thebaseline suite incorporates the company’s 0.7to 40 GHz RWS-300 RWR, MAW-300 MAW,LWS-310 laser warner and a BOP seriesCMDS. Elsewhere within the RMAF’s inven-tory, the service’s F/A-18Ds are understoodto be equipped with an internally-mountedAN/ALQ-126B radar jammer and NorthropGrumman’s 0.5 to 18/20 GHz bandAN/ALR-67(V)2 RWR.Moving back to the sub-continent, the

Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) F-16A/B fightersare believed to have been fitted with theNorthrop Grumman AN/ALR-69(V) RWR, aCMDS and Northrop Grumman’s AN/ALQ-131(V) Block I/II pod-mounted radar jammer.Moving forward to the service’s second gen-

A composite view that shows the sub-systems that make-up Saab Electronic Defence Systems’generic IDAS suite © Saab Electronic Defence Systems


[India’s] Medium Multi-RoleCombat Aircraft (MMRCA)competition looks setto… be the region’s biggestfast-jet countermeasuresopportunity of the first halfof the 21st Century.

eration F-16C/Ds, such aircraft are equippedwith AN/ALR-56M RWR, a CMDS and ITTElectronic Systems’ AN/ALQ-211(V)4Advanced Integrated Defensive EW Suite(AIDEWS). As such, AIDEWS incorporatesdigital radar warning, ‘advanced’ situa-tional awareness, low- and high-bandradar jamming and a CMDS. The PAF isalso known to want to procure 18 pod-mounted AN/ALQ-211(V)9 radar warn-ing/jamming units to replace its existinginventory of 21 AN/ALQ-131(V) pods. Interms of national capability, Pakistan’sAdvanced Engineering ResearchOrganisation (AERO) is known to havedeveloped the MOHAFIZ CMDS which isreported as being in service aboard ‘air-craft of the Pakistan Armed Forces’. Assuch, MOHAFIZ is noted as being capableof accommodating 2 to 18 GHz band chaffand IR decoy flare cartridges.Returning to the Malaya Peninsula, the

Republic of Singapore Air Force’s (RSAF) F-16C/D aircraft are equipped with the BAESystems/Symetrics AN/ALE-47 CMDSand theAN/ALR-56MRWR.Moving to theservice’s F-15SG multi-role fighters, usuallyreliable sources suggest that such aircraftare being equipped with an EW capabilitythat includes Elisra’s SPS-2110 equipment.Here, the ‘SPS’ prefix suggests an RWR andit is possible that Elisra is supplying a com-plete DAS package that includes an RWR, aMAW and an internally-mounted radarjammer. Elsewhere within the RSAF orbit,the service is known to have acquired atleast six AN/ALQ-131(V) radar jammersand is (according to United States sources)looking to upgrade the EW provisionaboard its F-16 fleet. Here, Elisra, Raytheonand ITT have all beenmentioned as possiblebidders if such an effort goes ahead.Moving on to Taiwan, the Republic of

China Air Force (RoCAF) operates a multi-role fighter force that includes the indige-

nous F-CK-1A/B, the F-16A/B and theMirage2000-5Ei/Di. Of these, the F-CK-1 is known tobe equipped with the Northrop Grumman 0.5to 18/20 GHz band AN/ALR-93(V) RWR andas part of the ‘Imposing Eagle’ upgrade (whichbrings the F-CK-1A/B up to 1C/D standard),the locally produced Tien Chien 2A (SkySword 2A) anti-radiation missile. For theirpart, the service’s F-16s are wired to carryRaytheon’s pod-mounted AN/ALQ-184(V)7radar jammer and are like to be equippedwiththe AN/ALR-69(V) RWR and a CMDS. Lastbut not least, the RoCAF’sMirage 2000s are fit-ted with a Thales/MBDA ICMS configuration.Moving back to Southeast Asia, the Royal

Thai Air Force’s (RTAF) fast jet EW provision

has made a quantum leap forward with theservice’s procurement of the JAS 39 Gripenmulti-role fighter. Previously, the RTAF’smost sophisticated interceptor was its F-16A/Bs which while not confirmed, are likelyto be equipped with the AN/ALR-69(V) RWRand a CMDS. For their part, the RTAF’s JAS39C/D aircraft are equipped with the SaabElectronic Mission Systems EWS39 DAS thatincludes (in baseline form) a system controlcomputer; BOP-B, BOP-C and BOL CMDSs,the 2 to 18/20 GHz band BOWRWR, an inter-nally-mounted radar jammer, missile andlaser warning sensors and provision for aTAD and an externally-mounted supplemen-tal radar jamming pod.

The combination of theAN/ALR-56C(V)1 and theAN/ALQ-135M probablygive the F-15K a better EWself-protection capabilitythan that installedon the United StatesAir Force’s F-15 aircraft


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The K1A carbine, together with the K2 assault rifle are thefirst modern firearms developed in South Korea.Surprisingly they are not the shorter and longer barrel ver-sion of the same weapon but two different designs; the K1uses direct impingement gas system while the K2 uses along stroke gas piston system. Both were intensively used inIraq and Afghanistan © South Korea MNDZ

SSMMAALLLLA R M S

In the world of smallarms design, the winds ofchange blow all the time.Hundreds of research anddevelopment programmes arecurrently running in China,India, Singapore, SouthKorea, Taiwan and otherAsian countries with theresults of many of them dueto be apparent in 2010.

bbyy Remigiusz Wilk

Infantry Weapons: The

FutureBeckons

for

Asia

The People’s Republic of China isthe largest – and most self-suffi-cient – manufacturer of firearms inAsia. China is also the only nationin the world to have decided to

introduce a new intermediate cartridgeacross their armed forces. From the 1990s, thePeople’s Liberation Army (PLA) started tofield new weapons using 5.8x42 mm ammu-nition, beginning with the experimental

bullpup Type 87 assault rifle, followed by theType 88/QBU-88 semi-automatic sniper rifle.In the mid-1990s, the bullpup Type 95 riflefamily was introduced, consisting of theType 95/QBZ-95 assault rifle, Type95B/QBZ-95B carbine and Type 95/QBB-95automatic rifle. The export counterparts ofthese weapons use the 5.56x45 mm cartridge.The Type 95 family is now standard issueweapon for the first line units in China. The

next element of the 5.8mm weapon system isthe Type 88/QJY-88 machine gun introducedaround 1999. The latest one is the Type03/QBZ-03 assault rifle, a classic designintroduced in early 2000s. It is China’s just incase weapon, because some of high rankingofficers and officials are still mistrustful ofbullpup designs. The Type 03 is used by sec-ond line units as well as paratroopersbecause of its folding buttstock.The problemwith China’s system is that it

in fact comprises two different 5.8mmrounds. These are the lighter DBP-87 bullet,replaced by DBP-95 loaded with a cleaner-burning propellant and with a non-corrosiveprimer for assault rifles and carbines and theheavier DBP-88 round, for snipers andmachine guns.According to the designer of the rifle fam-

ily, Duo Yingxian, in 2010 China plans toshow a new model, the Type 95G withimproved ergonomics, heavier barrel, modi-fied bolt and integrated underbarrel grenadelauncher. The major change is ammunition –the assault rifle will be fed by the 5.8x42 mmheavy round, used in the Type 88 sniper rifleand Type 88 machine gun. The Chinese havealso discovered the Picatinny mounting railand the Type 95G will most probably use thisuniversal rail system, which is already com-mercially available in China.

IndiaThe Indian Army introduced their first5.56mm rifle family with the INSAS (INdianSmall Arms System) built in the state-ownedOrdnance Factories Board (OFB) in the late1990s. The Indian Army initially wanted tobuy 528,000 rifles and 37,600 squad supportweapons. The 1B1 assault rifle with 464 mmbarrel and three-round burst fire option withfixed and folding stocks and the 1B2 auto-matic rifle with 535 mm barrel were intro-duced in 1998. The INSAS first saw combatin 1999 during the armed conflict in Kargil.The Army reported that the INSAS rifles hadsome reliability problems in that cold cli-mate, although the OFB stated that it hadfixed these malfunctions.

11

It is projected that by themiddle of this centuryaround two-thirds of theworld’s population will livein towns and cities

MARCH 2010

SSMMAALLLLA R M S

The K11 basically is a combination ofstandard 5.56x45 mm assault rifle andoverbarrel 20 mm bolt-action grenadelauncher, utilising programmable highexplosive grenades and fire control sys-tem. The idea of such weapon comesdirectly from the abandoned AmericanXM29 OICW programme © Agency ofDefense Development

The prototype of the MSMC (ModernSub-Machine Carbine) submachinegun fed by 5.56x30 mm cartridgedeveloped by the Indian R&D facilityARDE. The first trials of the MSMCwere held in 2006, then in the endof 2007, in January 2009 and finalones in December 2009. Barrellength is 300 mm, overall length500/700 mm with buttstock extend-ed/folded and weight 2.98Kg whenempty © OFB

The K11 basically is a combinationof standard 5.56x45 mm assault rifleand overbarrel 20 mm bolt-actiongrenade launcher, utilising program-mable high explosive grenades andfire control system. The idea of suchweapon comes directly from theabandoned American XM29 OICWprogramme © Agency of DefenseDevelopment


The INSAS design is strongly influencedby the AK assault rifle, combined with somefeatures of the 1A1 (Indian FN FAL) battlerifle. There are at least three other INSASvariants under development: the Excaliburrifle with 400 mm barrel, and full auto mode,the Kalantak carbine with 330 mm barreland MINSAS submachine gun fed by a5.56x30 mm cartridge. The Ishapore design-ers – similar to the Chinese Type 86 andSouth Korean XK8/DAR-21 attempts – alsowere trying to convert their standard assaultrifle INSAS to a bullpup variant, and manu-factured several prototypes, but the status ofthis development is still unknown. Newweapons may also be introduced withIndia’s future Future Infantry Soldier As ASystem (F-INSAS) programme.

The coming year in Asia will be dominat-ed by India’s enormous new weapon ten-ders. The small arms side of the F-INSAS(Future Infantry Soldier As A System) proj-ect is to buy over 43,318 Close Quarter Battle(CQB) carbines from abroad plus the manu-facture of another 116,764 of them in Indiaunder a transfer-of-technology agreement.The Request for Information was announcedin January. Moreover, India wants to pur-chase over 10,730 lightweight assault riflesfor their special forces and the OFB wants tomanufacture 218,320 modular carbines, easi-er to operate than full length assault rifles.Concluding in February was a tender for34,377 9x19 mm submachine guns (called9mm Machine Carbine) for the BorderSecurity Force to replace the 1A (Indian

Sterling L2A1) and 2A1 (silenced SterlingMark V). It is expected that every majorsmall arms company in the world will try toget a piece of the Indian firearms cake. Someof them like Israeli IWI (Israeli WeaponIndustries) with the X95/Tavor 2/Zittaracarbine and Singapore ST Kinetics with theSAR21 LWC already have close ties withlocal state-owned companies. Some manu-facturers have sped up development of newmodels of weapons to meet India’s dead-lines like the Ceska Zbrojovka’s SkorpionEVO 3A1 submachine gun and S 805 BRENA2 carbine.

India is also working intensively on theirown submachine guns for the 5.56x30mmcartridge. The first is the MINSAS, a scaleddown INSAS rifle adapted for the shortercartridge with an AKS-like folding buttstock.The barrel of the MINSAS is 330mm inlength, the overall length is 565/775 mm(buttstock folded/extended) and weighs 2.8kg. The second is the Zittara, the Israeli IWITavor 2 multi-calibre weapon in bullpupdesign, adapted to 9x19, 5.56x30 and 5.56x45mm ammunition. The barrel is also 330 mm

SSMMAALLLLA R M S

Singapore’s ACMS (Advanced Combat Man System) is currently being fielded by the Singapore ArmedForces. The soldier uses the SAR21 MMS (Modular Mounting System) carbine with weapon mountedcamera for capturing and sharing of target information © MinDef Singapore

The coming year in Asiawill be dominated byIndia’s enormous newweapon tenders

length with an overall length of 590 mmwiththe Zittara being 0.2 kg heavier than theMINSAS. The Zittara was intensively devel-oped by the Defence Research andDevelopment Organisation and called theMSMC (Modern Sub-Machine Carbine). TheMSMC is gas operated submachine gun witha 300mm barrel and characteristic T-shape,like many models which are magazine fedfrom the pistol grip. The pistol grip andhandguard are a one piece, polymer design.The MSMC has a retractable buttstock and isfitted with a top mounted Picatinny rail. Theweapon has an ambidextrous cocking han-dle, buttstock latch and fire selector whichmeans that is suitable for left- and right-handed users.

SingaporeFrom the firearms design point of view, oneof the most innovative nations is Singapore.The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) hasintroduced the SAR21 (Singapore AssaultRifle 21st Century), designed and madespecifically for ease of use by the SAF con-script soldiers. The external design is similarto the father of all polymer receiver bullpuprifles, the Steyr AUG. The SAR21 uses a longstroke gas piston, translucent magazine and1.5x scope as part of the carrying handle. Itcan be fed, depending on magazine well,from SAR-21 and standard M16 magazines.The rifle has an ambidexterious cocking han-dle, but unfortunately it cannot, unlike the

AUG, be configured for left handed shooters.The location of the fire selector is also uner-gonomic, because is situated to the rear ofthe rifle, near the butt plate. On the otherhand, the SAR21 was one of the firstweapons with an integrated laser aimingdevice. In the pre-Picatinny rail era, this wasan important feature, but nowadays, the uni-versal rail system is a far better solution. Itenables the easy attachment every piece of

opto-electronic and optic equipment as wellas hand grips, bipods and similar attach-ments.There are eight versions of the rifle:

including the recent SAR21 MMS (ModularMounting System) with system of Picatinnyrails in place of a handguard, SAR21 LWC(Light-Weight Carbine) and the newest, theSAR21A. The last was shown in prototypeform at the Singapore Air Show in February2010. The new model has ambidextriousselectors located under the thumb, but it isstill unclear if the rifle is adapted for lefthanded shooters or not. The barrel lengthremains unchanged although the overalllength has been reduced to 790mm and theweight down to 3.2Kg. The SAR21A has a bit

MARCH 2010 13

SSMMAALLLLA R M S

The new modular, multicalibre Taiwan XT97 weapon system was shown for the first time during theTADTE Expo in 2009. The XT97 will be fed by 9x19 and 5.56x45 mm cartridges, but in the future, design-ers also want to adopt the 7.62x51 mm ammunition. The change of calibre is realised by the replace-ment of upper receiver, bolt carrier and magazine © James Tung

The short-barrel Type 95/QBZ-95B carbineseems to be used only by the PLA Navy. Theoverall length is 609mm and weight 2.9Kg. Thecarbine operates using a short-stroke gas andhas a four setting selector switch for safe, semiautomatic, fully automatic and three roundburst © China-Defence

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW14

higher rate of fire 600 to 900rpm instead of450 to 650rpm. The new rifle will be intro-duced in 2011. During the Singapore AirShow it also presented a new model of theSAR21 LWC, developed for the Indian ten-der with a new hand guard with fixed handgrip as well as cocking handle relocated fromthe top to the side of the weapon.ST Kinetics has also developed the CPW

(Compact Personal Weapon) submachinegun, a multi-caliber family of weapons start-ing with the 9x19 mm cartridge. Most proba-bly this is another Singaporean design pre-pared for Indian requirements. The CPW istruly lightweight, weighing only 1.5 kg and isa compact weapon with low recoil, using adelayed blow back operation. The subma-chine gun’s has magazine is partially translu-cent and located in the pistol grip for easyround check. The weapon is fully adapted tothe left- and right handed users with everyselector as well as cocking handle is doubled.The CPW also has a sturdy built-in retractablebuttstock, providing a good support duringaimed fire. When retracted it is compactenough to be holstered without obstructing.

South KoreaThe newest weapon from South Korea isthe K11, basically a combined 5.56 mmassault rifle with overbarrel 20 mm grenadelauncher, utilising programmable highexplosive airburst grenades and fire controlsystem (ballistic computer with laserrangefinder). The bolt-action grenadelauncher is created in bullpup design andfed from a six round, translucent magazine.The assault rifle is just a variant of the well-known Daewoo K2 service rifle of ROKA(Republic of Korea Army). The K11 wasdeveloped from 2000 and in 2008 was offi-cially adopted by the South Korean armedforces and will be introduced to the Army

in 2009. Two K11s will be assigned to eachinfantry squad as a supplement not asreplacement to the K2 assault rifle with 40-mm underbarrel K201 grenade launcher.When this happens, South Korea will be thefirst nation to use an airburst weapon asstandard issue. The overall length of theK11 is 860 mm, weighs 6.1 kg empty andwill be produced by Daewoo.The idea of such weapon comes directly

from abandoned American XM29 OICW pro-gramme, but where the Americans failed,South Korea took a risk.The K11 is simpler than the XM29,

because the grenade launcher is not semi-automatic but bolt-action. It means the wholesystem is far lighter and also cheaper, but thelikelihood of firing a second round in exactlyin the same place under the same conditionsis reduced because hand reload is inherentlyslower and far less precise. Korea took a riskbased on the belief that their fire control sys-tem can very accurately place the 20mmround in a lethal radius. If they succeed therewill be a lot of followers. If not, their solutionminimises the risk to the K11 grenadier,because the second part of the weapon is astandard assault rifle, with which the soldiercan save the day and correct the situation ifthe 20mm grenade fails.

Other countriesIndonesia bought 10,000 Belgian FN FNCrifles in 1982 and two years later signed anagreement to licence produce this weaponwith PT Pindad. The locally manufacturedweapon is called the SS1 and has severalvariants: the V1 with folded buttstock, V2carbine, V3 with fixed buttstock, V4 sniper

SSMMAALLLLA R M S

China’s first line units use the Type 95/QBZ-95rifle, shown here with blank fire attachment onthe barrel. The bullpup design was introducedto the PLA in the mid-1990s and first publicallyshown during the Hong Kong take over in1997. Barrel length is 463mm, overall length745mm and weight 3.25Kg © China-Defence

The Taiwan T91 assault rifle was introduced in 2002. It is the newest member of the T65K2/T86-lineof weapons, strongly influenced by the AR-18 and M16. Like its predecessors, the T91 is a gas oper-ated short-stroke firearm. Over 140,000 T91s were purchased by the ROC Army and Military Policeby 2010 © James Tung

rifle and V5 compact carbine as wellmarinized versions the M1, M2 and M5Commando. In 2006 the PT Pindad showedan upgraded version of the assault rifle calledthe SS2. It is lighter, more reliable, has a newfolded buttstock with optional cheek rest,redesigned lower and upper receiver with atop Picatinny rail and M16A4 lookalikedetachable carrying handle with mechanicalsights. There are four variants of the SS2:

standard V1, carbine V2, sniper V3 and com-pact carbine V5. Over 25,000 SS2 have beenpurchased so far by the Indonesian Army.Japan’s Self-Defence Forces introduced

only minor modifications to the Type 89assault rifle used by soldiers sent on foreignmissions. The new models were shown as apart of the Advanced Combat InformationEquipment System (ACIES) future soldier pro-gramme which also includes a telescopic butt-

stock M4-like instead of standard fixed butt-stock (or folded in type 89-F/Para variant).Malaysia switched from the Colt M16A1

to the licence-manufactured Steyr AUG A1in 1987 with local production beginning in1988 and then in 2006, switched back to theColt M4A1 carbine which production bySME Ordnance and due to start in 2010. Thefirst 14,000 US-made firearms were deliv-ered to the Angkatan Tentera Malaysia(ATM) in late 2009.In Myanmar the local state-owned

Defence Industries converted to 5.56mmsmall arms in 1990, cooperating first with theGermans trying to create their own copy ofthe HK33 assault rifle then with the Israelis.The second collaboration lead to the intro-duction of a slightly modified 9mm UZI sub-machine gun known as the BA94 in 1994 aswell as introducing the whole family of IMIGalil-based rifles – the MA1 assault rifle,MA2 automatic rifle, MA3 carbine and MA4rifle with underbarrel grenade launcher. TheMyanmar’s Army EMER (Electrical andMechanical Engineering Corps) also created

their own assault rifle family based on theexport model of the Chinese QBZ-95 bullpupassault rifle known as the EMER K1 family.In the early 1970s, Bangladesh switched

from the G3 to BOF (Bangladesh OrdnanceFactories) designed weapons fed by an inter-mediate, 7.62x39 mm cartridge based onChina’s Type 63 semi-automatic rifle andType 56 assault rifle. A few years ago thegovernment signed an agreement with Chinato introduce the Type 81 rifle, firing the sameammunition to the Bangladesh Army.Production started in April 2008 in BOF fac-tory at Gazipur under the name of BD-08 andit is expected that about 10,000 rifles will bemanufactured every year.In late 2007 the Royal Thai Army made a

decision to switch from the M16A1 andHK33 assault rifles to the Israeli TavorTAR-21. In 2007 Thailand purchased 15,000Tavor assault rifles and 1000 Negev lightmachine guns, the next batch of 15,000TAR-21s and 550 Negevs was bought inmid-2008 and in 2009, a third batch of13,900 Tavors was contracted.

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SSMMAALLLLA R M S

Standard model of the SAR21 assault rifle in bullpup design. The unique feature of the weapon is abuilt-in Laser Aiming Device as well as a composite plate on the check rest which shields the shoot-er from any explosion in the chamber © MinDef Singapore

In late 2007 the Royal ThaiArmy made a decision toswitch from the M16A1and HK33 assault rifles tothe Israeli Tavor TAR-21

DOHA 2nd International Maritime DefenceExhibition & Conference - DIMDEX 20101,will be held in Qatar Exhibition Centre from

29 to 31 March 2010 for visitors from the MiddleEast and North Africa.Analysts forecast that during this decade 18

countries in these two regions will procure morethan 350 combat ships and boats. This market isvalued at about 17 billion US dollars. It explainswhy Doha will be hosting nearly 130 exhibitorsfrom 35 countries, with 20 of them occupyingnational pavilions.Russian defence productswill take an important

place at the exhibition. Rus-sia has always beenand remains one of the leadingworld’s shipbuildingpowers. Some 160 enterprises are working in thecountry, comprising not only shipyards, maritimeand naval research institutes and design bureaus,but also maritime ma-chine-building, instrument-making and electronic production plants. About200,000 persons are working at them. Russia’sshipbuilding industry can design and constructcombat and auxiliary ship of all types, as well asproduce all types of naval weapons and technicalfacilities.Russian designers are traditionally strongin practicing the systemic approach to technical

design. Russia retains leading posi-tions amongworld’s naval systems/weapons exporters thanksto high level of its science, design and shipbuildingtechnologies, important industrial infrastructure,qualified staff, and vast experience in foreigneconomic relations.Foreign customers have beenable to appreciate

these qualities of Russian shipbuilders long ago.For half a century already, since the beginning ofRussian naval exports, more than 2,000 surfaceships ofmain types, submarines,missile and patrolboats, auxiliary ships, as well as naval weapons,have been exported alto-gether.Last year naval systems made up 14% of the

total Rosoboronexport’s foreign military sales.Currently naval systems export orders haveexceeded a six billionUSDvalue.At DIMDEX 2010 Rosoboronexport offers for

export dozens of projects of warships, submarinesand boats, such as missile destroyers displacing8,000 tonnes, patrol boats,midget submarines, etc.The enterprise showcases Project Amur-1650

advanced submarine as a new product. Thesubmarine represents a newgeneration of vesselsof this type with a large expected export capacity.The submarine can carry outmissions in all regions

of theWorldOcean and deliver salvomissile strikesagainst underwater, surface and land-basedtargets. Many weapon systems and technicalfacilities installed on this submersible have beenalready tested and have proved their effectivenesson the latest versions of Kilo-class submarines, forinstance onProject 636, that are in firm demand ontheworldmarket.The exposition demonstrates materials on the

Gepard 3.9 frigate.The design of thismulti-purposefrigate of relatively small displacement adheres tostealth principles in ship architecture. The frigatecan be employed to fight against subma-rines,surface ships and air strike assets as well asperformall types of open sea op-erations to controland protectmaritime borders both at war and in thepeacetime. It has powerful weapons onboard toaccomplish the assigned combat missions. TwoGepard 3.9 frigates are to be handed over to aforeign customer in South East Asia this year.Great interest in the region is attracted toProject

21632 Tornado small mis-sile/gun ship speciallydesigned and constructed for operations ingeographical areas resembling theGulf. The ship can operate bothautonomously and

ROSOBORONROSOBORONMolniya

Molniya

Project 636

AMR Marketing Promotion

within naval groups against potential enemyforces. It is capable of delivering powerful strikesagainstmaritime targets, and rendering fire supportfor land forces.

Corvette type combatants of about 1,000-tonnedisplacement are represented by a family ofvarious-purpose vessels based on Project 1124M

Albatross small an-tisubmarine warfareship. Antisubmarine, missile and patrolships designed on the basis of a singleplatform provide the most optimalsolutions for different tasks, taking intoaccount also customer requests fortheir weapons configuration.

Russia is a recognised leader inmissile craft design.TheMolniya bigmissile boats have acquired anexcellent reputationwith theRussianNavy. Their export modification -Project 12418 arouses great interest.The boat corresponds by char-

acteristics to a corvette type ship.These

vessels are in great demand among foreigncustomers thanks to high speed, manoeuvrability,and powerful weapons. More than 10 such boatshave been already delivered and handed over tocustomers in South East Asia, the Mediterranean,and other regions.

Great interest in this region, as well as in otherparts of the world, is aroused by Project 12061Murena-E air cushion landing craft. ThreeMurena-Es have already been delivered to South Korea.Such craft currently are also under construction forone of theGulf countries.

A product line of well-armed fast patrol /interceptor craft is continued by Project 12200Sobol, Project 14310 Mirage, Project 12150Mangust boats.

Export nomenclature of Russian naval systemsincludes a wide range of fa-cilities for setting upshore-based integrated sea-surface, underwaterand airspace surveillance systems. They can adoptalready existing customer’s sensors, inte-gratingthem into a single system with multilevel control

posts. The Bal-E, Bastion and Club-M coastalmissile systemsareofferedasexclusiveelements forsetting up a coastal defence system.

“Presently we are focusing our attention not onlyon promotion of Russian-made weapons andsystems, but also on concrete potential customer’srequirements, - says Rosoboronexport deputydirector general Victor Komardin. - This is one ofthe main rules in our marketing policy.We receivedifferent requests. Some states have ambitiousnaval doctrines envisioning even creation of anocean fleet.Others limit their tasks to protecting thecoast, strugglingwith drug trafficking and seapiracy,and rendering support for customs services. Wetherefore try towork, keeping inmind requirementsof each customer. Such policy has allowedRosoboronexport to expand substantially thegeographic reach of our foreign deals includingnaval exports”.

working incustomer’s interest

EXPORTEXPORT working incustomer’s interest

Club-M Project 12200 Sobol

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

On the afternoon of October 211967, the Egyptian Komarclass No 504 in Alexandriaharbour launched a P-15Termit (SS-N-2 ‘Styx’) missile

at the Israeli destroyer INS Eilat 13.5 nauticalmiles (kilometres) away. The missileknocked out the destroyer’s engine andradio rooms leaving her ablaze. Afterobserving by radar that the target was sta-tionary No 501, also in Alexandria, fired twomore missiles which caused the destroyer tocapsize and sink.

This is one of the key events of modernnaval warfare on a par with the destructionof the Turkish fleet by Russian rifled cannonin 1853 and the sinking of the cruisers HMSHope, Aboukir and Cressy by a submarinein 1914. Two small (66.5 tonne displacement)vessels had used anti-ship missiles to sink alarger vessel and the excitement generatedled to a rash of orders from smaller naviesfor what were originally called missile-

SS UU RR FF AA CC EEC O M B A T A N T S

While many small navies may regret it, thedemise of the fast attack craft is in sight.Too slow to run, too big to hide, they arevulnerable to air power but, like the scorpion,they still have a sharp sting.

bbyy Ted Hooton

Fast Attack Craft:

ThreatsCapabilities

and

18

armed fast patrol boats armed and later fastattack craft. The concept had been developedby the Soviet Union, indeed the Komars(Project 183R) were P-6 motor torpedo boathulls adapted to carry Styx, to force US Navymajor combat units such as carriers andcruisers to stand off from the coast. TheRussians later built the 209-tonne sea-goingOsa (Project 205) class to push American car-rier task groups even further out to sea, andto engage them in co-ordinated missilestrikes. The Osas became the most numerousclass of fast attack craft with more than 400produced and widely exported, the Chineseversion being the Huangfeng class devel-oped just before the break between Moscowand Beijing in the 1950s.

Many of these ves-sels, including theChinese version of theKomar as the Hoku,

were exported withAsian customers

including India, Indonesia, North Korea andVietnam and with news of the Eilat their con-fidence in dealing with naval threats grew ata time when many former colonies wereentering the first decade of independence.Yet the Russian-designed systems sufferedfrom major drawbacks; the Osas’ M-503diesel engines were noisy and hot, a majordrawback in tropical climes and they neededto be run in for an hour before the shipsdeparted upon patrol. As they entered theupper part of their performance range theyproved unreliable with frequent break-

downs, often due to the rubber fuel pipesshaking loose. The Styx missile was no won-der weapon it was large, slow, with a largevisual signature making it vulnerable to gun-fire while the fuming nitric acid oxidiser forthe kerosene fuel is very corrosive makingthe weapon difficult to maintain. Despitethese problems Indian Osas using Styx sankthe Pakistani destroyer PNS Khaibar offKarachi on December 5 1971.

The most significant development afterthe sinking of the Eilat was the developmentby Aerospatiale (now MBDA France) of theExocet surface-to-surface missile whose firstsales were in 1969. Exocet was a new genera-tion missile which was lighter than Styx (735kg compared with 2,100 to 2,500 kilo-grammes) and with a solid fuel rocket motorwhich required no major maintenance. Whilethe warhead was smaller (165 kilogrammescompared with 454 kilogrammes) the Frenchmissile had more advanced electronics andits active radar seeker was more discriminat-


Built by the Huangpu Shipyard, the PLAN’s fourType 037-II Houjian Class FAC are based inHong Kong © Gordon Arthur

19MARCH 2010

The most significantdevelopment after thesinking of the Eilat was thedevelopment… of theExocet surface-to-surfacemissile whose first saleswere in 1969

ing than that of the Russian weapon makingit a true fire-and-forget weapon. At the sametime the CMN yard in Cherbourg beganoffering the La Combattante class fast attackcraft with the new missile in two versions;the 265-tonne Combattante II and the 425tonne Combattante III which were far moresophisticated than the Osas. They possessedThomson-CSF (now Thales) Vega weaponcontrol systems for both guns and missilesusually supported by a Triton search and aCastor weapon control radar to produce acombat system which gave these vessels asignificant capability against surface targets.In addition to the potent anti-shippingweapon the French ships usually had an OtoMelara 76/62mm gun which offers a signifi-cant anti-ship and fire support capability.This proved a winning combination withsales into the eastern Mediterranean and theMiddle East but surprisingly in the Asia-Pacific region the only sale has been of fourLa Combattante II to Malaysia as the Perdana

class, armed with Bofors 57mm guns.Other nations followed the French exam-

ple, notably German shipyard FriedrichLürssen, already famous for their patrol andmotor torpedo boats, yet they too had nodirect success in the Asia-Pacific region.However, their TNC 45 class and FPB 57designs were selected by the Singapore Navyand built by Singapore Shipbuilding in the1970s and 1980s respectively as the Sea Wolfand Fearless classes. The Sea Wolfs hadSignaal (now Thales Nederland) WM 28weapon control systems and were originallyarmedwith the short-range (19 nautical milesor 36 kilometres) Israeli Gavriel (also knownas Gabriel) missiles and Bofors 57mm gunsbut in the 1980s they received new electron-ics and McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing)Harpoon missiles, the latter with a similar


Helicopters are an extremely versatile asset for maritime security. This is an SH-2G Super Seasprite ofthe Royal New Zealand Navy © Gordon Arthur


Malaysia’s Tun Abdul Jamil is one of the fourLaksamana Class small missile corvettes original-ly built for the Iraqi Navy © Gordon Arthur

21MARCH 2010

range to Exocet but powered by a turbo-jetengine. The Fearless class were scheduled tocarry Gavriel but it was ultimately decidednot to embark these weapons and theybecame either anti-submarine patrol or off-shore patrol vessels.

Singapore also exported three Sea Wolfsto Thailand as the Prabparapak class wherethey have augmented three Breda-built BMB-230 (Ratcharit class) with similar electronicsbut the Harpoon missile and Oto Melara76mm gun. The only other European sale offast attack craft in the Asia-Pacific region wasby the Karlskrona yard of Spica class vesselsto Malaysia as the Handalans. These had thesame armament as the Perdanas but withPhilips Elektronindustrier AB or PEAB (nowSaab) 9LV 200 Mk 2 combat system with9GR 200 search and 9LV212 weapon controlradar. Singapore also suppliedBrunei with three Vosper-designed fast attack craft withBritish Aerospace (now BAESystems) Sea Archer weaponcontrol system and Racal DeccaTm 1229 search

radar, Excoet missiles and a two 30mmOerlikon gun mounting. These vessels, theWaspada class, were upgraded with KelvinHughes Type 1007 radar and Radamec (nowUltra) 2500 electro-optical director in the late1990s and remain in service.

The navies of Eastern Asia have tended tobe self-reliant when it comes to fast attackcraft. Taiwan produced the Lung Chiangclass, based upon the US Asheville classpatrol boat design, with electronics of US andItalian origin, armed with short-rangeHsiung Feng I missiles which are based uponthe Israeli Gavriel. The Israeli Dvora classpatrol boats became the basis for Taiwan'slater Hai Ou class fast attack craft, alsoarmed with Hsiung Feng, which remain

the backbone of the fast attackforce although they would beunable to operate beyond the

sight of land. South Korea modified theAsheville design to produce the Paek Ku(PSSM 5) class armed with a surface-to-sur-face version of the Standard 1 surface-to-airmissile but these have all been phased out infavour of corvettes and frigates. Japan pro-duced a class of 50-tonne hydrofoils armedwith a domestically-designed SSM-1 butthese vessels have also been paid off infavour of frigates.

The picture for fast attack craft in the1980s seemed extremely bright. In terms ofcapability they were extremely sophisticatedplatforms, in many respects equivalent to afrigate, for a fraction of the cost and gavemany young nations a greater degree of mar-itime security being capable of extending seacontrol beyond sight of the coast against sim-ilar countries. They also provided, as Indiademonstrated in 1971, a degree of power pro-jection being capable of taking the fight to theenemy and dominating the battlespace offtheir coasts.

If faced with a numerically superiorenemy task group, fast attack craft offeredthe opportunity of either a mobile or staticdefence; they could conceal themselves inislands, archipelagos or rivers and conduct

The navies of EasternAsia have tended to beself-reliant when it comesto fast attack craft


Spica class vessels were acquired by Malaysia asthe Handalan class © Karlskrona

22


hit-and-run missions or they could, as hadthe Egyptians, operate from heavily defend-ed harbours to act as coast defence batteries. Yet during the 1980s many Middle

Eastern operators of fast attack craft began toaugment and to replace them with larger ves-sels such as corvettes. There were several rea-sons for this but they all revolved around thesize of fast attack craft which are all under500 tonnes. Ships which start at this displace-ment have a greater degree of survivabilitywhich grows with size for there can be morecompartments where damage can be con-tained allowing greater fire-fighting anddamage control features to operate withgreater effectiveness. Smaller ships are clear-

ly more vulnerable to damage, especiallyfrom missiles, and such a strike will probablyinflict catastrophic damage. A larger shipalso means a higher mast which in turn pro-vides greater surveillance radar range andalso provides space for an improved anti-airwarfare capability in terms of longer-rangedmissiles.This became significant as the air threat

grew during the 1980s, not only from high-performance land- and carrier-based fixedwing aircraft but also from rotary wing ones.From the 1960s frigate-sized ships had beenembarking helicopters for anti-submarineoperations but during the 1970s some naviesbegan adapting these for the anti-surface ves-

sel role and specifically to engage fast attackcraft. Against surface vessels, the fast attackcraft might rely upon speed (more than 35knots) or concealment but against helicoptersneither option was practical. Worse, the fastattack craft could not detect the threat in timeto take avoiding action and lacked the meansof engaging helicopters which could fire mis-siles at them with impunity. The first sign ofthis occurred during the South AtlanticConflict of 1981 when a missile-equippedLynx disabled an Argentinean patrol vesselbut the point was brutally underlined duringOperation 'Desert Storm' when an Iraqi forceof fast attack craft trying to support the Khafjicounter-offensive in February 1991 was sav-aged by fixed-and rotary-wing aircraft onlyone or two of the six-ship force escapingdamage or destruction.The lessons have largely been learned and

many fast attack craft operators, such asSingapore and Malaysia, are either replacingor planning to replace their vessels withcorvettes which have all the advantages oflarger vessels. Brunei also followed this routeonly to find that they could neither man normaintain the resulting Brunei class corvettesleading to an unseemly dispute with BAESystems. The most significant navies sailing an

opposite course are Taiwan and Indonesia,although even the latter is seeking a substan-tially larger corvette force of up to 20 hulls. In

Singapore Technologies Marine have builttwelve Fearless class 55m patrol vessels for theSingapore Navy © Gordon Arthur

The JDS Kumataka (PG 826) is the fourth of six Hayabusa clas vessels commissioned between 2002-4 and armed with a four SSM-1B ant-shipping missiles © Gordon Arthur

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

the 1980s Indonesia began to build underlicence the Lürssen PB 57 patrol boats withgun armament as the Todak, Kakap andSinga classes and the recently appointedNavy chief-of-staff, Vice Admiral AgusSuhartono, has indicated the Kakap andSinga class patrol boats will receive newcombat systems and anti-ship missiles whichare believed to be Chinese C-802 (CSS-N-8'Saccade'), a weapon similar to Harpoon.

Taiwan began to produce the 180-tonneKwang Hua 6 class fast attack craft to replacethe Hai Ou but the programme has beenplagued with delays. These vessels have alight gun armament but the Hsiung Feng I isreplaced by the 70-nautical mile Hsiung FengII. There are signs the Kwang Hua has notproved a success because under the HsunHai Plan the Navy wants to fund the designof a 900-ton, twin-hull, vessel (officiallycoastal missile frigate) which would be 40-metres long and be armed with eight HsiungFeng 3 supersonic anti-ship missiles.


The United Arab Emirates Navy’s Baniyas, aTNC-45 Class design also operated by Sinagporeas the Sea Wolf class © Gordon Arthur

Singapore and Malaysia,are either replacing orplanning to replace theirvessels with corvetteswhich have all the advan-tages of larger vessels

23MARCH 2010


The previous year witnessed significant activity regarding the procure-ment and upgrade of Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA). Across Asia,Africa, Europe, the Middle East and North America, several nationsare augmenting their MPA fleets or, in some cases, procuring thisessential capability for the first time.

bbyy Tom Withington

Over Water Guardians:

MaritimePatrol Aircraft in Asia

MMAARRIITTIIMMEES U R V E I L L A N C E

In Africa; Ghana, Nigeria and Libyahave all purchased newMPAs. Lookingtowards Asia, Australia and NewZealand are planning to upgrade theirMPAs, with India and Malaysia expect-

ed to procure new aircraft; while Indonesia,Japan, Pakistan and the Republic of Korea(RoK) have all announced new MPA pur-chases. Like India and Malaysia, France andItaly could soon also procure new MPAs,with Portugal, Poland and Spain takingdelivery of new aircraft, with Poland andPortugal embarking on upgrades of theirexisting MPA fleets. In the Middle East, bothBahrain and Saudi Arabia are stronglyexpected to soon procure new maritimepatrol aircraft. Furthermore, in NorthAmerica, Canada may either complete theupgrade of its existingMPAs, or procure newaircraft, while the United States is engaged in

modernising its legacy MPA fleet and invest-ing in new aircraft. Finally, in terms of newmaritime patrol aircraft designs, severalproducts are now available from Europeanand Canadian manufacturers.Despite having a coastline of some 63,124

kilometres (34,048 nautical miles) Africasuffers a dearth of MPAs which are onlyoperated by a handful of states, namelyAngola, Mauritius, Senegal and SouthAfrica. However, the West African countryof Ghana is bucking this trend with theplanned acquisition of four LockheedMartin C-27J Spartan aircraft for approxi-mately $680 million under a deal which theUnited States Congress was notified of last

year. As well as using these aircraft for trans-port and medical evacuation missions, thecountry intends to employ them for maritimepatrol operations. This will be particularlyimportant for Ghana given its concernsregarding drug trafficking. Nigeria also hasmaritime security concerns regarding drugtrafficking and piracy, and has sought toaddress these in part with the purchase of apair of EADS ATR-42MP aircraft whichentered service with the Nigerian Air Forcelast year. These aircraft come outfitted withthe Selex Galileo ATOS (Airborne TacticalObservation and Surveillance) mission sys-tem to control the aircraft’s radar, Electro-Optical/Infra-Red (EO/IR) systems and

25MARCH 2010

Boeing’s P-8A Poseidon aircraft is based on the civilian 737 airliner and is being promoted as areplacement for the Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft. Firm orders have arrived fromthe US Navy, with India and Australia also expected to purchase the plane © Boeing.



Electronic Support Measures (ESMs). Nigeriais joined on the continent by Libya whichordered a single ATR-42MP aircraft in 2008.However, while Ghana, Nigeria and

Libya have all procured new MPAs,Australia and New Zealand are planning toupgrade their existing maritime patrol fleets.Under the Air 5276 Capability AssuranceProgramme, the Royal Australian Air Force(RAAF) is rolling new EO/IR systems,datalinks and video recorders across all 18aircraft in its Lockheed Martin AP-3C Orionfleet, with the modernisation to be complet-ed by 2011. These aircraft, which will leaveRAAF service by 2018, are strongly expectedto be replaced by Boeing's new P-8APoseidon aircraft (see below). Furthermore,following their Australian counterparts, theRoyal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) isintroducing new EO/IR payloads onto itssix-strong P-3K fleet.While Australia and New Zealand have

decided to update their MPA inventories,India andMalaysia are both in the market fornewMPAs. India looks set to receive eight P-8A Poseidons (locally designated P-8I) toreplace the Indian Navy's legacy TupolevTu-142 (NATO reporting name 'Bear-F') andIlyushin Il-38 (NATO reporting name 'May')MPAs. India’s P-8Is are expected to include asignificant quantity of domestic equipment,

although Boeing is remaining tight-lipped onwhat this might be. The first P-8Is are expect-ed to enter service with India around 2013,and the order could be worth up to $2 billionto Boeing. Meanwhile, reports circulatedtowards the end of 2009 that Malaysia mayrelease a Request for Proposals for a newMPA. Kuala Lumpur had been expected topurchase Fokker 50 MPAs to equip the coun-try's Maritime Enforcement Agency but thedeal collapsed because of a lack of funding,although the Agency later procured a pair ofBombardier 415MP amphibious aircraft toperform the mission. The Royal MalaysianAir Force is now expected to acquire up tofour new MPAs to replace the BeechcraftSuper King Airs that the service currentlyuses for maritime patrol operations.Candidate aircraft for this new requirementcould include the ATR-42MP, EADS-CASA/Indonesian Aerospace CN-235MPA,the Fokker 50 and a maritime patrol config-

ured version of the Saab 340. However, giventhe current status of Malaysia's publicfinances, it could be around 2012 before adecision is made on which aircraft meets theAir Force's requirements.Along with the expected procurements

discussed above, Asia has witnessed severalpurchases of new MPAs over the recent pastwith Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan and the RoKall taking delivery of new aircraft.Indonesia’s navy recently took delivery of itsfirst EADS-CASA NC-212 MPA whichcomes outiffted with the Thales OceanMaster surveillance radar, along with a CAEAN/ASQ-508 Magnetic Anomaly Detector,MBDA AM-39 Exocet anti-shipping missilesand Raytheon Mk.46 torpedoes. Indonesiahas a pressing need for maritime surveil-

While Australia andNew Zealand have decidedto update their MPAinventories, India andMalaysia are both inthe market for new MPAs

Italy’s Guardia di Finanza (Finance Police) operates the EADS ATR-42MP maritime patrol aircraft toprotect the country’s coastline against illegal smuggling operations © Selex Galileo


27

lance given that the International MaritimeOrganisation reported that in 2007 17 percentof the world's piracy attacks occurredaround the Indonesian Archipelago.Moreover, Jakarta also has maritime securityconcerns regarding the government’s sover-eignty over several islands.Japan is another country comprised of

scores of islands and is taking delivery ofthe Kawasaki Heavy Industries XP-1 MPAas a replacement for the country's 96Kawasaki EP-3C Orions which it will beginto replace this year. Meanwhile, Pakistan'sforce of six P-3Cs and Dassault BreguetAtlantique Br.1150 MPAs will be enhancedwith the arrival in service of the first Saab-2000 aircraft equipped with the Erieye radarsystem. Ostensibly designed to perform

Airborne Early Warning, the radar can alsobe used for maritime patrol. Finally, theRepublic of Korea may take advantage ofthe Indonesian Navy's procurement of newMPAs by purchasing eight of the country'slegacy EADS-CASA/Indonesian AerospaceCN235-200 aircraft. These planes will sup-plement the eight P-3C Orions already inuse with the RoK Navy.Much as it is in Asia, a similar level of pro-

curement and upgrade activity is ongoing inEurope. France and Italy have expressed arequirement for new MPAs, with Poland,Portugal and Spain procuring new aircraft

and upgrading legacy designs. TheAeronavale (French Naval Aviation) whichoperates 23 Dassault Breguet Atlantique-2MPAs is in the market for a new platform, fol-lowing the type's expected upgrade over thenext few years; France needs a new MPA toreplace the country’s 15 Nord 262E Frégateaircraft which are used for themaritime patrolmission. To this end, the Service may decideto fulfil this requirement via the purchase ofup to 20 MPAs designed around Dassault'sFalcon 2000 business jet. Italy also operatesthe Atlantique Br.1150 and is looking to even-tually replace these 18 aircraft. As a stop-gapmeasure Rome acquired four ATR-72MPAs toequip the Aeronautica Militaire (Italian AirForce), although a larger purchase of newMPAs will ultimately be required.Like Italy, Poland has taken delivery

of new MPAs, although it has stuck to alocal design in the form of the PZL MielecM28 Bryza-1R-BIS, the first of which wasdelivered to the Marynarka WojennaRzeczypospolitej Polskiej (Polish Navy) in

The Força Aérea Portugues (Portuguese Air Force) has taken delivery of five new EADS-CASAC-295 aircraft to perform the maritime patrol mission, and to supplement the six P-3C/P aircraft thatthe force already operates © EADS

Another enthusiastic user of the EADS-CASACN-235 is the United States Coast Guard whichwill operate around 32 of the aircraft which willbe locally designated as the HC-144 OceanSentry © EADS

MARCH 2010



March 2008. These aircraft are outfitted with aTelecommunications Research Institute SRM-800 maritime surveillance system which, inturn, is linked to an ARS-800 186-km (100-nm)surveillance radar. In addition, Poland ismodernising its LET 410 SP-MBA maritimepatrol aircraft's Swedish Space Corporation’sMaritime Surveillance System which will adda side-looking airborne radar, new missionmanagement software and new EO/IR pay-loads. Vietnam also operates this aircraft.Like Poland, Portugal is receiving new

MPAs, although in the form of five EADS-CASA C-295 platforms which were deliveredto the Força Aérea Portugues (PortugueseAir Force) from 2006. The C-295s will supple-ment the six P-3C/P Orions that the AirForce already operates and which are cur-rently undergoing a Lockheed Martin-led$141 million upgrade programme, followingtheir acquisition from the Netherlands in2006. The modernisation has seen new Anti-Submarine Warfare, EO/IR sensors andcommunications systems being rolled outacross the fleet. Spain, meanwhile, has fol-lowed Portugal's example in acquiring newMPAs, although it has elected to procure thesmaller cousin of the C-295, namely the CN-235, a pair of which were purchased at the

end of 2007 for service with the country'sGuardia Civile (Civil Guard). These aircraftare outfitted with the EADS-CASA FITS(Fully Integrated Tactical System) missionsystem which controls the aircraft’s sensors.During the same year that the aircraft arrivedin Spanish service, EADS-CASA also won acontract from the Türk Deniz Kuvvetleri(Turkish Navy) to equip the service with 19CN-235 MPA airframes.Although several European countries are

in the market for replacement MPAs, or aretaking delivery of new platforms and per-forming upgrades of older aircraft, twonations in theMiddle East, Bahrain and SaudiArabia, are planning to acquire a new air-borne maritime patrol capability. Bahrain hasreportedly been identified by Boeing as a like-ly candidate for Boeing's P-8A aircraft, along

with Saudi Arabia. Both countries share sig-nificant maritime security concerns vis-a-visthe Persian Gulf and also the Iranian Navy'soperation of Project 887 Paltus 'Kilo' classdiesel-electric submarines. Both countriesmay decide to purchase the aircraft over thenext two years and these could be sourcedfrom the company's existing P-8A productionline in Washington State, USA.With Bahrain and Saudi Arabia being

named as possible customers for the P-8APoseidon, the business development execu-

Spain’s Guardia Civilie (Civil Guard) gendarmerie operates two EADS-CASA CN-235 maritime patrolaircraft which were acquired in 2007. These aircraft are tasked with fighting narcotics trafficking andillegal immigration © EADS

Asia has witnessed severalpurchases of new MPAsover the recent past withIndonesia, Japan, Pakistanand the RoK all takingdelivery of new aircraft


tives at Boeing may also be wondering ifCanada could represent a future exportprospect. Canada has some major maritimesecurity considerations, not least the possibil-ity of a new year-round ice-free shippingroute being opened over the NorthwestPassage should the Artic ice cap continue torecede. To this end the country may decide toacquire a new MPA to replace the 18 P-3COrions (locally designated CP-140 Aurora)aircraft that the Canadian Forces AirCommand currently operates.

Looking south across the 49th parallel, theUS Navy is replacing its 170-strong P-3C fleetwith Boeing's new P-8A design. The Poseidonis based around the Boeing 737 commercialairliner, but uses the fuselage of the 737-800series and the wings of the -900 model. Thehybrid design provides a large fuselage ableto accommodate the aircraft's equipment andwings strong enough to carry ordnance andfuel, while also allowing the aircraft tomanoeuvre comfortably at low altitude. Theaircraft will provide the US Navy with a plat-form that can be steadily upgraded during itsservice life via a series of spiral increments. forexample, in August last year it wasannounced that Raytheon had been awardeda three-year contract to install the AdvancedAirborne Sensor onto the aircraft once it entersservice, replacing the existing Raytheon-Boeing Littoral Radar System used by theOrions. The USNavy expects to acquire a totalof 117 P-8As, with themaiden flight of the firstairframe occurring on 25th April 2009.In addition to obtaining the Poseidon air-

craft, the US Navy is upgrading its Orions tokeep their capabilities sharp until their retire-ment. The aircraft will receive an enhancementvia the Lockheed Martin Integrated TacticalPicture software upgrade which will fusetogether the data from the aircraft’s varioussensors, while a Link-16 datalink will allowthis information to be shared with other P-3s.Looking towards the future, a number of

new MPAs are entering the market place. InNovember last year, RUAG Aerospace rolledout its first Dornier 228NG (New Generation)variant of the Dornier 228. This aircraft hasbeen designed for several missions, includ-ing maritime patrol, with the possibility of afloat-equipped aircraft being constructedfrom 2012 to give the 228NG an amphibiousdesign. Other new MPA products enteringthe market place include Viking Air’s mar-itime patrol, and search and rescue variant ofthe Twin Otter, known as the Series 400which is outfitted with an EO/IR payload,track-while-scan radar; laser rangefinder andilluminator; a camera, underwing hardpointsand up to ten hours’ endurance; all for under$10 million. At the larger end of the scale,Bombardier of Canada has developed anMPA version of the Q400, which is a devel-opment of the company’s Q200 and Q300,both aircraft already used for the maritimepatrol mission.

MARCH 2010 29

The Armada de México (Mexican Navy) hastaken delivery of the EADS-CASA C-212Aviocar aircraft to perform maritime patrol.These planes are tasked with protecting thecountry’s oil installations and fighting narcoticstrafficking © EADS

RUAG Aerospace performs a service converting Dornier Do-228 aircraft for special missions. Thispicture shows a pair of Do-228s being converted for use as maritime patrol platforms bythe Netherlands © RUAG

M I L I T A R Y

With military action neededfor a range of missions inan increasing unstableworld, the ADF has had totransform itself into a

deployable and survivable force. While heldback by a range of equipment acquisition fail-ures and overly bureaucratic administration,the ADF has achieved an impressive record ofmission success. The force continues to evolveto meet the demands of regional and globalsecurity.

Next Generation NavyThe Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has strug-gled to retain its trained personnel in the face

of the difficult workload demands of the seaservice and a buoyant domestic economy.Initiatives like the Sea Change programmeand the New Generation Navy (NGN) havesought to alleviate these shortfalls by innova-tive ways to staff ships and replace existingcapability. With additional requirements bythe Government for the RAN to provide capa-bility the success of these changes will be cru-cial. While the RAN is currently modernisingits surface combat fleet it is in the submarine,amphibious and littoral warfare fleets wheremost change is underway.The SEA 1000 Future Submarine project

will replace the Australian built Collins classwith 12 larger and more capable submarines

from 2025. These boats will be designed tomeet the requirement for a conventional sub-marine able to perform over similar rangesand mission durations to one with nuclearpower. They are likely to displace around4,000 tonnes and will have a unique overalldesign while using sub-systems commonwith other boats. RAND Corporation is cur-rently carrying out a domestic design studyinto the capability of Australian and interna-tional industry to design the new vessel.Currently under construction via a mixed

method in both Spain and Australia is the firstof two 27,851 tonne Canberra class Landingships, Helicopter and Dock (LHD). Based onthe Navantia Juan Carlos I class, these vesselswill enable a significant increase in amphibi-ous lift and sustainment for the ADF.Operating together the two LHDs will be ableto deploy a 1,200 strong combined arms bat-talion group with tanks and medium artillery.Six Eurocopter MRH-90 helicopters carryingan entire infantry company can be simultane-ously launched from each LHD.The ADF will adopt a seabasing concept

with the LHDs with only the combat teamsdeploying ashore and the various combatservice support (logistics, medical, etc) andcommand elements staying afloat. To sustainthe two LHDs as they remain in support of thelanding group a new sealift ship of 10,000-15,000 tonnes will be acquired to ferry sup-plies to and form the seabase. This vessel willnot be dependent on port infrastructure andable to launch and operate helicopters andamphibious landing craft.An additional six smaller amphibious

East Timor in 1999 and the Al Qaeda attacks on America in 2001shook the Australian Government out of its comfortable disinterest inthe Australian Defence Force (ADF) that had permeated policysince the end of the Vietnam War.

bbyy Abraham Gubler


The acquisition of M1A1 Abrams tanks provide the Army with the highly survivable firepowerneeded to ensure an offensive capability against contemporary insurgent forces armed withimprovised explosive devices (IEDs) and anti tank weapons © Australian DoD

Australia’s war fightingEvolution

RREEGGIIOONNAALL

RREEGGIIOONNAALLM I L I T A R Y

Anzac class frigates like HMASToowoomba bear the burden of theRAN’s international security mission.It will be upgraded from 2010 with anew CEAFAR radar system beforebeing replaced in the 2020s with themuch larger SEA 5000 Future Frigate© Australian DoD

Australia’s war fightingEvolution

31

landing ships will be acquired to replace theBalikpapan class heavy landing craft. Theseships will be ocean going and capable of inde-pendent amphibious landings and resupply.Contract decision will be in 2015-18 and likelyoptions include vessels like the US Navy’s T-Craft transformable hovercraft, the FrenchCNIM Multipurpose Projection Vessel (MPV)and Australian designed options.To alleviate crewing demands and provide

enhanced capability, the Navywill replace thecurrent 14 Armidale class patrol boats, sixHuon class mine hunters and six hydrograph-ic survey ships with a fleet of 20 commonships under project SEA 1180. These 2,000tonne Offshore Combatant Vessels will have ahelicopter landing deck, hangar and reconfig-urable mission deck. This deck will be used toaccommodate containerised systems for themine hunter and hydrographic roles andappropriate smaller vessels, bothmanned andunmanned, for the various missions as per

need. Contract decision will be made in 2018-21 with a high likelihood that the vessel willbe designed and built in Australia. The firstcontainerised deployable minehunter systemswill be acquired under SEA 1778 for operationfrom the Canberra class LHD in 2015-17. Thiswill include both surface and underwaterunmanned vessels for deploying mine hunt-ing sensors, countermeasures and to tow var-ious mine sweeps.

Adaptive Campaigning ArmySince East Timor the Army has constantly sus-tained one to three battalion groups ondeployed operations, providing both high lev-

els of field experience and significant logisti-cal challenges. To evolve to meet the newoperational environment the Army has raiseda special operations command, transformedfrom a light infantry to medium armouredforce and expanded from eight to twelve bat-talion groups with supporting units.The latest initiative, the Adaptive Army,

has seen the traditional multi division, fieldcorps structure change to a rotating structure.Units are allocated to Forces Command tocarry out reconstitution and training betweendeployments. They are then transferred to the1st Division under command of the ADF’sJoint Operations Command for missionrehearsal exercises (MRE) at the expandedcombat training centre and the operationaldeployment. While modernising its artilleryand infantry systems with new more lethaland networked battle management systems(BMS) it is in armoured vehicles where themost significant change is happening.

Australian soldiers mentoring Afghan soldiersdefeat a Taliban force during Operation“Zamarai Lor” (Phastu for Tiger Scythe) at SorkLez in Afghainstan. Ten years ago such anengagement was unthinkable but internationaland regional security missions are the foresee-able future for the ADF © Australian DoD


M I L I T A R YRREEGGIIOONNAALL

The GDLS ASLAV armoured vehicle hasborne the brunt of operations in Iraq andAfghanistan. LAND 112 Phase 4 will providean extensive ASLAV mid life upgrade (MLU)to include a new armoured hull structure withenhanced protection, a defensive aid suite(DAS) and an improved powerpack to restoremobility despite weight increases. The newhull is in system design and development(SDD) stage before production approvalbetween 2011-13 for entry into service in 2014-16. The DAS will include a hard kill activeprotection system (APS) which will bedemonstrated from March 2010.

To replace the ASLAV and M113AS4armoured personnel carrier a new CombatVehicle System will be acquired under LAND400 with approval for go ahead of a tenderprocess expected in 2016. A total of 1,100infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) will beacquired to equip six battalion groups in botharmoured cavalry and mechanised infantry

roles. While a common vehicle is planned forboth roles there are differing views on what itshould be with the cavalry preferring a fastwheeled vehicle and the infantry a trackedvehicle able to survive multiple attacks with-out loss of mobility. The common require-ment is for an IFVwith an integrated BMS andpart of a large international supply base tolower support costs. LAND 400 will alsoacquired unmanned vehicles – both groundand air mobile – if they can replace currently

manned vehicle systems. Later phases of proj-ect will replace the various armoured and pro-tected combat support and infantry mobilityvehicles like the Thales Australia Bushmaster.

“The Army’s extensive fleet of 7,000Landrovers and trucks will be replaced by amixed fleet of armoured vehicles, traditionalfield vehicles and commercial trucks. ProjectLAND 121 Phase 3 has already selectedMercedes Benz to supply 600 4x4 and 660 6x6G-Wagen unarmoured light trucks with the

first deliveries in February 2010. The initialselection of BAE Systems to supply around2,500 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8 FMTV medium andheavy field trucks was rejected after recogni-tion that medium weight class trucks couldnot carry both their cargo and the high levelsof crew protection needed and the immaturi-ty of the 8x8 FMTV.

Subsequently Thales Australia has beenselected for further offer development to sup-ply 980 Copperhead utility versions of theBushmaster armoured 4x4. The second roundof offers for trucks from BAE Systems (replac-ing the 8x8 FMTV with a 8x8 Scania), MAN,Thales Australia (partnered with Oshkosh),MAN and Mercedes Benz was short listed inearly 2010. The MANHX family will competewith the Mercedes Benz Zetros and Actros toprovide 1,020 unarmoured trucks and 515with heavily armoured crew cabins. An addi-tional 1,060 G-Wagens or similar commerciallight trucks will be purchased under Phase 5along with 1,070 commercial medium andheavy trucks to replace the last legacy vehiclesfor domestic training duties only.

LAND 121 Phase 4 will acquire 1,300Protected Mobility Vehicles – Light (PMV-L)in the 6-8 tonne class. This project is followingthree possible procurement approachesincluding partnership with the massive USJoint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) project,

Strongly criticised by some as “unplanned” the rapid purchase of Boeing C-17As has more thanproved their worth as they can deliver loads over long distances to remote airfields. Here a RAAF C-17A operates from Tarin Kwot, Afghanistan © Australian DoD

33MARCH 2010

Six Eurocopter MRH-90helicopters carryingan entire infantry companycan be simultaneouslylaunched from each LHD



domestic design and/or production and offthe shelf acquisition. If the Australian optioncan provide a cost effective and capable vehi-cle compared to the JLTV it will be acquired.Responses to this requirement include a newvehicle designed by Thales Australia withPlasan Sasa called the Hawkei and Australianbuilds of the Oshkosh MATP or SandCat andForce Protection’s Ocelot.”

World’s Best Little Air ForceUnlike the other Services, the RoyalAustralian Air Force entered the new era ofregional and global instability with a secureworkforce and an already in place expedi-tionary structure. For the previous role ofdefence of northern Australia the RAAFwould deploy to a series of ‘bare bases’ acrossthe north from the peacetime training loca-tions near Australia’s major cities. This expe-ditionary force structure has been able totransfer its deployment destination from theoutback to the Middle East.The RAAF’s air combat force is evolving

from a mix of tactical fighters and dedicatedstrike aircraft to an all strike fighter force withthe impending retirement of GeneralDynamics F-111C, modernisation of theBoeing F/A-18A/B and acquisition of boththe Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet and theLockheedMartin F-35A Lightning II. This willenable better flexibility in mission sourcingand enable all fighter aircraft to provide the

kind of high assurance precision strike neededfor close air support (CAS) in contemporarycounter insurgency operations.The fleet of legacy Hornets have received

the most extensive upgrade in the worldunder AIR 5376 with new mission systems,weapons and airframe life extension.While onaverage over 20 years in age these aircraft nowhave new radars (Raytheon APG-73),advanced targeting pods (NorthropGrumman/RAFAEL Litening AT), advanced

radio frequency jamming pods (Elta EL/L-8212/22), cockpit displays, helmet mounteddisplays, mission computers, countermeasuredispensers, LINK 16 secure data links andRaytheon ALR-67(V)3 radar warningreceivers (the later currently being integrated).Their weapons include the proven lock onafter launch (LOAL) for high off bore sight(HOBS) capability MBDA AIM-132 ASRAAMand the long range Raytheon AIM-120CAMRAAM air to air missiles. For air toground use both the GPS guided Boeing

JDAM and laser guided Raytheon Pavewayprecision guided bombs are available with thenew Lockheed Martin AGM-158 JASSM (JointAir-to-Surface Standoff Missile) stealthycruise missile coming into service.To provide an assured capability and tech-

nology bridge the RAAF is currently convert-ing its No. 82Wing to 24 Super Hornets. Theseaircraft have the Block II mission systems withtechnology sourced from the same project asthe F-35A including the Raytheon APG-79Advanced Electronically Scanned Radar(AESA), tactically significant radar cross sec-tion (RCS) low observability (LO) and a rearseat for amission systems operator. The last 12Super Hornets will be fitted with the basicwiring to enable their conversion to the EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft to sup-port the F-35As through their life of service.The Super Hornets will operate with similar

Despite delayed by several years the deliver of the first two Boeing Wedgetail airborne earlywarning aircraft at the end of 2009 will be part of the significant transformation in ADF ISR andair combat capability © Australian DoD

The first containeriseddeployable minehuntersystems will be acquiredunder SEA 1778 foroperation from the Canberraclass LHD in 2015-17

M I L I T A R YRREEGGIIOONNAALL

weapons to the upgraded Hornets but withRaytheon AIM-9X Sidewinders and AGM-154JSOW glide bombs.In late November 2009, the Australian

Government committed to contracting for thefirst 14 F-35As with a decision on a secondbatch of 58 to be made in 2012. The first F-35As will be delivered from 2014 with the firstoperational squadron ready in 2018. AIR 6000Phase 3 will consider a suite of air to groundweapons for the F-35A including new gunammunition and decoys with Phase 5 toacquire a future air to air weapon for the F-35A and F/A-18F. Both weapons projects willbe contracted between 2014-17, with a newmaritime strike missile for the F-35A to beconsidered around 2020.The RAAF is also transforming its intelli-

gence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR)fleet from the legacy LockheedAP-3COrion to

a mix of manned and unmanned aircraft. Thiscomplexity of balancing the introduction ofnew systems while retaining all ISR capabilitytypes has resulted in further delay to theRAAF’s long held ambition of acquiring a highaltitude long endurance (HALE) unmannedaerial system (UAS) for maritime surveillance.While seven of the Northrop Grumman RQ-4N Global Hawk for the US Navy’s BroadArea Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) projectwas initially selected its introduction will haveto wait until the RAAF has acquired anotherthree types of new ISR capability.The first new capability is a theatre level

overland UAS in the form of leased flight

hours of IAI-Malat Herons commercially oper-ated in Afghanistan. The RAAF’s Heron capa-bility will be operational in 2010 as Australianpersonnel have been serving with a similarservice provision for the Canadian Forces. Thecentrepiece of the RAAF’s future ISR capabili-ty will be the eight Boeing P-8A Poseidonsacquired in partnership with the US Navy.While acquired as a replacement maritimepatrol aircraft with anti-submarine capabilitythey will be extensively used as airborne com-mand posts in both overland and maritimeroles. Because the P-8A baseline capabilitydoes not include a force level electronic intelli-gence (ELINT) capability the RAAF will keepseveral of the specially modified AP-3Cs inservice to sustain this capability. They willeventually be retired when the P-8A can bemodified for this role freeing the workforceneeded to operate the HALE UAS.

35MARCH 2010

The C-17A is able to carry heavy loads likethis mission to deliver new Bushmaster andASLAV armoured vehicles to the ADF inAfghanistan © Australian DoD



AA SS II AA NNA I R F O R C E

Before the advent of flight, commandersalways sought the high ground, to enable moreeffective control over their forces. Today,by climbing aboard an aircraft to fulfil thatfunction, commanders are seeking the naturaltechnological extension of that process.

bbyy Adam Baddeley

Airborne Command and Control:

The Commanding Heights

Altitude has always ensured abetter perspective on problems;sensors for example are nolonger as affected by human orphysical geography.

Inevitably, many of the issues that applyfor the smooth running of a command andcontrol (C2) apply equally to airborne as wellas surface based systems but there are keydifferences. Airborne C2 requires a range ofdifferent technological functionalities; hard-ware must be compact and rugged to fit inthe form factor of the aircraft’s cabin andoffer reliable performance in extreme environments. Requirements become moredifficult to match if the system consists of aremovable module to be operated from atransport aircraft for example, rather than adedicated suite. Power is a further require-

ment, C2 systems havetheir own electrical poweroverhead, that has to be drawnfrom often meagre aircraft systems.Airborne C2 is inevitably focused on

managing the airborne battle, providing airforces with Airborne Early Warning andControl capability (AEW&C). Traditionally,US manufacturers have dominated the air-

borne C2 segment in the region, althoughthat grip has eased in recent years.US sourced sales in the region relate to

three key platforms: the Boeing 737 AEW&C,the Boeing E-767 and the NorthropGrumman E-2 Hawkeye aircraft.The Hawkeye is in widespread use across

the Asia-Pacific region and continues to beupgraded. Taiwan operates six platforms,two of which are to the Hawkeye 2000 stan-dard with Taiwan recently signing a contractto update four earlier E-2Ts to that standard.Japan is also upgrading aircraft from its 13strong Hawkeye fleet in the same way. TheHawkeye 2000 features the new APS-145radar and new hardware, software and data

Heliborne systems such as the A2C2S providea more tactical ground focussed C2 capability© Raytheon

links within the aircraft, but can also inte-grate the US Navy’s CooperativeEngagement Capability, an ultra-high speeddatalink network previously hosted only onsurface vessels.Singapore has operated four Hawkeyes

but recently decided to switch to IsraelAircraft Industries’ EL/M-2075 Phalconsystem, operating from a G550 business jetwith conformal arrays with informationbeing managed by six onboard air warfareofficers. India too has opted to acquire thePhalcon but instead matched with it three Il-76 A-50 platforms. The Il-76 is a much larg-er platform, allowing the aircraft larger

radar and more operator stations.Other air forces in the region haveadopted a similar, larger platformapproach. Japan was the first with itsE767. The Boeing aircraft offers rough-

ly 50 percent more operators space and dou-ble the volume over the 707 based E-3 SentryAWACS family and integrates the Sentry'sAPY-1 radar and mission system.Upgrades to the radar andmission system

for the Sentry are being looked at the futureunder the designation Block 40/45 upgrade,also known as the E-3G which shifts the sys-tem to an open architecture for computingand new operator stations as well as new andimproved C2 tools and communicationssuite. This package has been linkedwith a UKrequirement known as the E-3D AdvancedGeneration Life Extension (EAGLE) whichwill link the Royal Air Force’s Sentrys withother ground and air platforms to enable col-laborative targeting. France has very recentlyopted for the Block 40/45 upgrade for its E-3Ffleet which in addition to other improve-

ments add four new consoles taking the totalto 14 with the upgrade de to be competed bythe end of 2015.Australia’s first AEW&C capability is the

oft delayed Wedgetail programme with thefirst two of six aircraft being delivered inNovember with the next four due to be com-pleted in 2011. The system is based aroundNorthrop Grumman's 1.2-1.4 GHz-bandMultirole Electronically Scanned Array(MESA) radar which can track air and mar-itime targets simultaneously. South Korea isalso buying the same aircraft under the PeaceEye programme. On aboard the systemshosts ten battle management consolesChina has developed an indigenous solu-

tion, the KJ-2000 AEW&C system, followingthe cancellation of its planned buy of the IAIPhalcon system, although it intends tomount this on the same Il-76 based A-50I air-frame. China has also developed installationsof the mission system on other, smaller class-es of aircraft including the Shaanxi Y-8.Pakistan has been linked to the combinationof that aircraft with the KJ-2000.Pakistan is more closely associated with

37


Airborne Command and Control:

The Commanding Heights

MARCH 2010

Thailand’s first steps toward airborne C2 arewith the Erieye system © Saab

Australia’s first AEW&&Ccapability is the oft delayedWedgetail programme

the Erieye, matched with the Saab 2000AEW&C aircraft platform with one aircraftdelivered and three further examples due fordelivery shortly. In 2009, Thailand signed acontract for Erieye based on the SwedishS100B/D Argus AEW aircraft.

India has recently opted for the EmbraerERJ-145 to host an AEW&C architecturedeveloped indigenously by India. The proj-ect is led by the Defence Research andDevelopment Organisation with industrialparticipation by companies that include theCentre for Airborne Systems and AstraMicrowave Products. The system is plannedto be fielded from 2011.

In addition to managing the air battle,commanders seeking advanced C2 andmobility will also seek to manage the surfaceengagement while aloft.

In contrast to its large body basedAEW&C solution in the region, Boeing hasalso demonstrated a more tactical airborneC2 suite to Australia, focussed on supportingspecial forces missions. The simulateddemonstration took place in 2009, linking theScan Eagle UAVs to a CH-47 based commandsuite, which was then linked down to smalltactical teams on the ground via theRF7800M-MP, sending imagery down to the

users and also enables functionality such aswhiteboarding.

Perhaps the best known solution is theUH-60L Blackhawk mounted ArmyAirborne Command and Control System(A2C2S), developed by Raytheon for the USArmy. The A2C2S can serve as an airbornetactical command post at the corps, division,brigade, or attack helicopter unit level. TheA2C2S consist of five user consoles with twolarge common displays. DRS' 18-inchRugged Airborne Display are amongst those

used in the A2C2S. The systems can alsooperate while on the ground using groundantennas to maintain links.

The US deployed the system with the 4thInfantry Division in Iraq, operating for over3000 hours and was then taken over by the3rd Infantry Division for a total of 17 monthsin combat.

Any airborne C2 systems must integratethe same C2 applications as the commanderwould access on the ground. In the exampleof A2C2S this principally means the Army

The Hawkeye is a staple of airborne battle management throughout the region although its hold on the market is weakening © Northrop Grumman



The first two of Australia's project Wedgetailaircraft have been delivered and acquittedthemselves well in the recent Arnhem Thunderexercise © Australian DoD

Battlefield Command System's Battlefieldand the Army Tactical Command andControl System.

The Blackhawk is not the only rotary wingairborne platform with Russian’s giant Mi-6Hook-D variant being used as an airbornecommand post. A more modest but highlycapable platform is the Mi-19 AirborneCommand Post Helicopter based on the Mi-17V platform with three pilots, two commu-nications operators and four to five tacticalofficers with an endurance of three hours.

Elbit’s HeliC3OM is a dedicated C2 sys-tems designed specifically for helicopters,providing them with shared situationalawareness with open standard links forfeeds from the found and other airborneplatforms to help them with their mission.The systems has been installed on a widerange of platforms in the IDF beginningwith the AH-64 but also reportedly AH-1Cobras, UH-60 Black Hawks, AH-64A/Dsand CH-53s.

While in tactical applications the helicop-ter is king, they lack endurance, speed andaltitude for more wide ranging tasks. In the

US that task is put firmly at the feet of theJSTARS has a flight endurance of 11 hours, or20 hours with in-flight refueling.

The UK’s primary airborne C2 aircrafttoday is the Raytheon developed Sentinel R.1which had its operational debut inAfghanistan with 5 Squadron RAF. InAfghanistan, the Sentinel’s C2 information isshared between operators on the ground andin the air, switching between wide area sur-veillance looking generally at ground trafficthen switching to a narrower field of view.

This acts as a ‘trip wire’ detecting abnormalactivity and using that to direct narrower,higher resolution often electro-optic assetsfor closer investigation. One role is in convoyprotection. By surveilling the area aroundthe convoy ASTOR can direct the convoycommander along routes as a real timeresponse to Taliban movements.

The Republic of Korea Air Force hasrequested a brief on the complete RAFSentinel capability including its groundinfrastructure.

CommsUnderlying airborne C2’s effectiveness isaccess to communications, providing datanetworks, transmitting video and imageryand making calls over secure networks. Forthe air battle that means the same data linksas the aircraft, notably Link 16 and a numberof propriety links that have been developedoutside of NATO.

Aircraft can’t have ‘antenna farms’, a termto describe large groupings installed on head-quarters and vehicles to ensure communica-tions. Clearly aircraft have more stringentrequirements for antenna placement. Largehigh altitude platforms are going to be differ-ent from rotary wing aviation as themodulation created by rotor case blockagewhich may require waveform changes.

Airborne platforms are focusing on theground picture will be equipped with theVHF and HF radios, common to the ground

The Republic of KoreaAirforce has requested abrief on the complete RAFSentinel capability

While investing in the E-767 aircraft, Japan is also upgrading aircraft from its Hawkeye fleet to the Hawkeye 2000 standard © US DoD


39MARCH 2010


forces they are seeking to detect. Unlikeground headquarters with access toground based high capacity communica-tions, the only prospect for broadband linksis via satcom.

Airborne applications of satcom requiresmall-aperture antennas to function effec-tively. These have lower gains, with largerbeam widths, which impact on uplink per-formance and on the downlink, use moresatellite resources. A larger beamwidthalso requires more precise control of thepointing mechanism to avoid adjacentsatellite interference.

US helicopters don’t rely on SINCGARSor EPLRS links for FBCB2 (Force XXI Battle

Command Brigade and Below). Instead,since 2002 it has opted to install its Blue ForceTracking - Aviation (BFT-A) system on itsrotary aviation fleet which uses commercialL-band or Ku-band transponders to sharesituational awareness information usingComtech MT2011-04 and MT2010-04 L-bandsatellite antenna and transceivers of CH-47,UH-60, OH-58 and AH-64 platforms.

A number of manufacturers providebroadband satcom for airborne applications.EMS’ eNfusion Broadband voice and datasystem uses the Inmarsat network. Installedon a C-130 Hercules, it consists of hatchmounted antenna and high-speed transceiver.Using Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband network

Data rates of up to 432 Kbps are possible.For rotary wing aviation, EMS have its

Helicom antenna systems mounted on thefuselage, it weighs 18.3Kg with over 1200systems in service.

In December, Boeing supplied the 500thCombat Track II kit to the US Air Force pro-viding secure UHF based situational aware-ness to large aircraft including transportssuch as the C-17 and C-130.

The Iridium based Flightcell DZM2enables basic voice and data to be sent overthe horizon via an existing world wide spacebased network which allows situational

awareness information to be added to virtu-ally any platform. Information and receivedis sent via SMS messaging in clear or encryp-tion using AES256.

The system is now deployed opera-tionally with the US armed forces on fixedand rotary wing aviation. The systems isalso been fitted to around 40 Colombianmilitary platforms.

Israel Aircraft Industries Elta SystemsEL/K-1891 Satcom network can be fitted onairborne as well as ground and shipbornemobile applications. The systems is alreadyoperationally on fixed and rotary wingplatforms. The system supports Ku bandwith options for Ka, Ca and X and onlyweighs 24Kg and requires 800Watt ofpower allowing it for example to be easilyfitted on a helicopter.


Airborne applications ofsatcom require small aper-ture antennas to functioneffectively

Ground infrastructure allows the air C2 picture to be managed by a combination of ground and air-borne analysts and commanders © Raytheon

Solutions such as the EL/K 1891 provide airborne commanders with the high capacity linksnecessary for airborne C2 © AJB

Solutions such as the EL/K 1891 provide air-borne commanders with the high capacity linksnecessary for airborne C2 © AJB

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RREEGG IIOONNAALLS E C U R I T Y

Emerging and

Future SecurityThreats in the

Asia-PacificThe world may have entered the second decade of the21st century, but a state of peaceful enlightenmentremains more elusive than ever. Inter-state rivalries,insurgencies, ethnic conflict, weapons proliferationand terrorism are just some of the security threatspresent in the Asia-Pacific region.

bbyy Gordon Arthur

For fifty years, the Pacific Ocean hasbeen the preserve of the US, espe-cially through the might of the USNavy. US dominance began withthe “liberation” of Guam and the

Philippines in the 19th century. Particularlysince the demise of the Soviet Union in 1989,US hegemony has been even more pro-nounced. Forward-deployed units are sta-tioned at Japanese, South Korean and Guambases. The alliance with Japan, “remains thelinchpin of our security strategy in Asia,” butfuture proceedings will be complicated by the2009 election of Yukio Hatoyama’s moreindependent-minded government. It was noaccident that President Obama visited Japanfirst on his inaugural tour of Asia.During the Cold War, Beijing furnished a

counterbalance to Washington and Moscowsuperpower. However, with a weakenedRussia, China has risen to the fore. Impelledby astonishing economic growth, China haspursued a robust military modernisationprogramme to remedy its, “short arms andslow legs”. China possesses the largestarmed force in the world, and in terms offuture Asian tensions, China’s ability to chal-lenge the US is perhaps the most prominent.Despite Obama’s promise of “pragmatic

cooperation”, China’s growth keeps the USAwatchful and American military officials reg-ularly lamenting the lack of transparency inChinese military spending. US disquiet ismirrored in the build-up of the US Navy’sPacific fleet - more submarines are nowbased in the Pacific than the Atlantic.Although China’s military spending snow-balls annually, it is currently just 17 percentof that of the US.

China is disinterested in global domina-tion, but feels the need to secure its bordersand protect economic interests. This includesvital sea lines of communication (SLOC) andenergy sources, with 95 percent of its oil cross-ing the Indian Ocean. Chinese concern is evi-denced in a naval task force first despatchedto the Gulf of Aden in December 2008. Thereare suspicions China is producing, “a string of

pearls” by establishing a series of IndianOcean port facilities in Pakistan, Sri Lanka,Bangladesh andMyanmar. However, this the-ory has not been backed by any credible intel-ligence, and initiatives appear merely com-mercial in nature. This is not to say Chinawould not bolster its Indian Ocean presence ifit feared its interests were threatened.The “Taiwan issue” is an added complica-

tion. China has threatened the use of forceshould this “renegade province” ever contem-plate declaring independence, and it backs upits threat with more than 1,000 ballistic mis-siles pointing at Taiwan. Tensions soared pal-pably in 1996 when China fired missiles intothe Taiwan Strait as a form of intimidation. USaircraft carriers despatched to the areauncorked the spectre of open confrontationbetween China and the USA. The two havealready had spats such as the 2001mid-air col-lision of an EP-3 surveillance plane andChinese fighter. For China to take a soft stanceon the Taiwan issue would create internal dis-satisfaction, while taking a hard-line risksopen conflict. Chinese leaders must thus walka delicate tightrope, giving rise to a potentialmiscalculation that might trigger hostilities.Ties between Taiwan and Mainland Chinaimproved after Ma Ying-jeou was elected in


China showed the DF-21C medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) at its impressive 60th anniversary parade in Beijing on 1 October 2009 © Gordon Arthur

Impelled by astonishingeconomic growth, Chinahas pursued a robustmilitary modernisationprogramme to remedy its,“short arms and slow legs”

43MARCH 2010

May 2008, though many Taiwanese do notapprove of this rapprochement.

Many Asian nations see arms build ups asa source of national pride rather than asymptom of a destabilising arms race. On theback of economic growth, India is anotherregional power growing militarily. The US iskeen on developing a strategic relationship,with India serving as a useful southern bul-wark against China. Other Asian border ten-sions are present, such as those betweenThailand and Cambodia that sporadicallyexplode into violence.

Another intractable area of concern isweapons proliferation. Asia is home tonuclear-weapon powers China, India,Pakistan and, most troubling of all, NorthKorea. The Korean Peninsular is a latentproblem that could conceivably degenerateinto armed conflict. The Democratic People’sRepublic of Korea (DPRK) is a pariah, and asecond nuclear test on 25 May 2009 con-firmed it as a fully-fledged nuclear power.This is in combination with a ballistic missileprogramme, with one missile leapfroggingJapan on 5 April 2009. The DPRK has petu-lantly resisted all international efforts to curbits nuclear inclinations, and also refuses todeactivate its Yongbyon reactor.

Furthermore, North Korea is a repeatoffender in proliferating missile technologyto kindred states such as Pakistan, Yemenand Iran. The greatest fear is terrorists get-ting hold of a nuclear device via such aregime, or alternatively creating a radiologi-

cal, chemical or biological Weapon of MassDestruction (WMD). For half a century theDPRK has posed a dilemma to its neigh-bours, but Japan is reacting by developing aTheatre Missile Defence (TMD) network inconjunction with the USA. This has the side-effect of irritating China, which relies on mis-siles for its deterrence effect. China thus seesthe need to proliferate its own missile num-bers in order to saturate US-Japanese missile

defences. Should North Korea develop a fullnuclear-weapon capability, its neighbourswould either have to disarm it or learn to livewith it, perhaps by responding in kind.

Terrorism and insurgencyAsia’s hottest spot at present is Afghanistanand Pakistan. American and NATO allies aremired in an Afghan counterinsurgency thathas claimed the lives of nearly 1,600 Coalitionsoldiers thus far. Western powers are some-what at a loss on how to proceed, as demon-strated by President Obama’s recent hesita-tion in deciding what policy to pursue. TheTaliban-led insurgency has also spread toPakistan, particularly as Pakistan cracksdown on resident insurgents. With no solu-tion in sight, a line from Barack Obama’s pres-idential campaign proves a fitting epithet here- “It won’t be easy and it won’t be quick.”

Pakistani insecurity is particularly worri-some, as it would be potentially catastrophic



South Korea has a massive technological supe-riority over its nemesis North Korea. This is anF-15K Slam Eagle of the Republic of Korea AirForce © Gordon Arthur

The USA maintains a strong military presence inEast Asia. This M1A1 Abrams tank of the USArmy’s 2nd Infantry Division is stationed inSouth Korea © Gordon Arthur

if terrorists accessed the nation’s nucleararsenal. Pakistan for many years sponsored ade facto insurgency in the disputed territo-ries on the Indian border. Violence in Jammuand Kashmir has lessened somewhat inrecent years, but 1,093 Indians died in insur-gent attacks in 2007. Islamic terrorism fromPakistan-based groups is a constant concern,as illustrated by the deadly 2008 Mumbai ter-rorist operation. The prognosis for bothAfghanistan and Pakistan is not good, withglobal implications such as the spread ofIslamic extremism.

Nowadays the greatest danger may not befrom a missile, but a shipping container con-taining a WMD. Nations have been balanc-ing new security agendas since the Cold Warended, and the latest ingredient added to themix is counterterrorism. Southeast Asia hasspecific home-grown terrorist threats in the

Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia.Indonesia has witnessed a number of attacks,including the 2003 Bali bombings. Should aterrorist group restrict the flow of cargo ves-sels through a chokepoint like the MalaccaStrait, there would be catastrophic economicresults for countries reliant on this SLOC.The death of Noordin Top in Java on 17September 2009, Southeast Asia’s most want-ed terrorist, dealt a blow to regional terror-ism. However, Indonesia in particularremains a fertile ideological breeding groundfor future jihadist generations.

Often a legacy ofWestern colonialism, sep-aratism and ethnic violence will doubtlesslybe a future security threat. There is ongoingsectarian violence in the southern Philippinesand southern Thailand, and Malaysia has alsoseen outbreaks. While Taiwan is China’s corenational-security concern, perhaps morevolatile is internal instability in Tibet andamongst Muslim Uyghurs in XinjiangProvince, exacerbated by a widening povertygap, corruption and unemployment.Indonesia has already been embroiled in vio-lence in Timor-Leste, and for many years a


45MARCH 2010

Japan takes regional threats such as a nuclear-armed North Korea very seriously. These Japanesedestroyers belong to arguably the strongest navy in Asia © Gordon Arthur

The Korean Peninsular isa latent problem that couldconceivably degenerateinto armed conflict

secessionist campaign in Aceh. Nepal hasbeen dealing with a Maoist insurgency,although it is currently in limbo. Listing thesefew examples shows thewidespread nature ofsuch conflicts. One positive point has been thesurprising victory of the Sri Lankan govern-ment in the decades-old conflict against theLiberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

In an increasingly digitized world, cyber-attacks by foreign powers or terrorists havebecome a very real menace. In May 2009,President Obama announced a new cyber-security strategy that included a new WhiteHouse office. He stated, “It is now clear thiscyber threat is one of themost serious econom-ic and national-security challengeswe face as a

nation.” In June 2009 the US military set up afour-star cyber-command to specifically dealwith this theat. Asia is a cyberwarfare centre ofgravity, with many attacks traced back toChina in what some believe is a state-spon-sored campaign. A cyber spy network centredin China was unearthed on 28 March 2009,with the system tapping into government andprivate organisations in 103 countries. InDecember 2009, South Korea reported a coor-dinated DPRK cyber-attack that stole secretdata from OPLAN 5027. Supervisory ControlandData Acquisition (SCADA) systems repre-sent a soft target in many commercial utilitycompanies. For example, a terrorist group orhostile nation could hack into an electricity

grid network and cause considerable econom-ic and strategic damage.

Perhaps the greatest criminal threat ispiracy, particularly in Southeast Asia.Should a phenomenon similar to the ram-pant piracy off the coast of Somalia occur inconstricted shipping lanes like the MalaccaStrait, it would be very serious. Piracy is usu-ally a by-product of economic hardship, withregional pirate attacks soaring after the 1997Asian financial crisis. Future economic reces-sions could again cause spikes in piracy.Other destabilising factors include transna-tional crime like drug and people trafficking,gunrunning and smuggling.

Competition over depleted resourcescould easily cause future conflict. One sim-mering territorial dispute centres on theremote Spratly Islands, with competing juris-dictions rivalled by China’s “historical”claim to the whole South China Sea. If sub-stantial oil and gas resources are discoveredon the Spratly seabed, a number of countrieswill stake serious claims. Similarly, manyeconomies rely on fishing, and as fishingstocks become exhausted this will promptincreasing national competition. Globalwarming will not be without effect - whole


India proclaims its nuclear weapons form a credible deterrence. This Agni-III intermediate-range ballistic missile was paraded in Delhi © Gordon Arthur

The Philippines has been fighting communistand Islamic insurgents for decades. Here,Special Forces of the Philippine Army conduct apatrol in Mindanao © Gordon Arthur


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IDAM-AMR ads.ai 3/1/2010 12:02:20 PMIDAM-AMR ads.ai 3/1/2010 12:02:20 PM


territories like the Maldives will face extinc-tion from rising sea levels. China, SouthKorea and India are currently acquiringAfrican agricultural land to ensure domesticfood security. There is already competitionfor land and mineral resources in Asia andthis can only increase.Global electricity demand will grow 77

percent by 2030, with many countries seeingnuclear-power generation as attractive.However, the proliferation of nuclear powerplants increases risks as more countriesaccess weapons-related technologies.Thailand was perturbed when Myanmar cutgas pipeline flows in August/September2009. Although Myanmar blamed disrup-tions on technical difficulties, it was probablyinspired by Bangkok’s criticism of Burmesehuman rights. The issue of using energy sup-plies as a political tool will have countrieslooking carefully at their long-term energystrategies. Even the issue of water is impor-tant - Singapore is reliant on Malaysia for 65percent of its water needs. Singapore alsoimports all its gas through Indonesian andMalaysian pipelines in order to generate 80percent of its electricity. Should Singapore’ssupplies be interrupted, this would consti-tute a tangible security threat.Interestingly, natural disasters stemming

from earthquakes, tsunamis or typhoons have

often given regional cooperation its biggestboost. In the aftermath of the 2004 Boxing DayTsunami, many nations collaborated well inrelief efforts. Humanitarian assistance in thehard-hit province of Aceh even broughtabout a suspension in hostilities between thegovernment and the Movement for a FreeAceh (GAM). Pandemics like SARS, swineflu or worse could also be listed as national-security threats.

Regional organisationsUnfortunately Asia is bedevilled by mutualnational-sovereignty suspicions that attenu-ate international cooperation. The onlyorganisations with any kind of cooperativesecurity track record are the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) andASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). However,the “Asian way” of non-binding decrees andnon-interference generally leaves tensions inthe status quo. Nevertheless, such “talking

shops” are a valuable way for Asian nationsto develop confidence-building measures.Globalisation also offers promise. With coun-tries increasingly interdependent, the eco-nomic devastation of going to war is a deter-rent. For example, China-Taiwan trade tiesare now worth $130 billion annually, withChina a more important trading partner thanthe USA for Taiwan. Indeed, the current US-rooted financial crisis has galvanised Asianresolve to focus more on their own region.The US continues to play a vital role, how-

ever, and sensing China’s powerful emer-gence, it has dedicated greater energy toregional bilateral ties. It is relying more onregional groupings like ASEAN too. The USAoffers a stabilising influence, even though fewcountries adhere to American foreign policy.The “War on Terror” has furthermore rein-forced American engagement with the region.China too is promoting multi-polarity todilute American dominance, one route beingthe Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.There is an apt aphorism: “The

Mediterranean is the ocean of the past, theAtlantic is the ocean of the present and thePacific is the ocean of the future.” One hopes itwill be a peaceful future rather than a violentone for the Asia-Pacific region. However, withunresolved tensions abounding on the KoreanPeninsular and Taiwan Strait, with sectarianflames smouldering below the surface inmany countries, and with open bloodshed inAfghanistan, Asia has the potential to be theworld’s greatest source of instability.

Pakistani insecurity isparticularly worrisome,as it would be potentiallycatastrophic if terroristsaccessed the nation’snuclear arsenal

Surrounded by Muslim countries, Singapore practises a forward defence posture. It recently fieldedthe Leopard 2A4 main battle tank © Gordon Arthur


AUSTRALIARAAF begins in-country C-17Globemaster III trainingThe Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) hasembarked on pilot training for the C-17Globemaster III, with the first class of stu-dent pilots arriving at RAAF Base Amberlyon 1 February.

The training will be carried out by BoeingDefence Australia, and will consist of 350hours of programmed training over 100 days,including 85 hours of computer-based trainingand 120 simulated flight hours with the C-17Globemaster III Aircrew Training System(ATS). Trainingwill culminatewith five flightsat the controls of a real C-17, with the studentpilots graduating as qualified RAAF pilots.

Provided via the US Foreign MilitarySales (FMS) route, the ATS consists of aLoadmaster Station, Learning Centre, vari-ous support systems and a WeaponsSystems Trainer (WST), and gives realistic,full-motion training for student pilots.

The ATS was developed by Boeing to saveC-17 operators time and money on trainingprogrammes, and allowing the use of theoperator’s own facilities, rather than beingcarried out in the country of origin. Australiais the first country to receive the ATS outsideof the US, and will be the first to qualify C-17pilots in-country.

Heron UAV to support Australiantroops in AfghanistanAustralian troops are to be supported by thecountry’s first Heron Unmanned AerialVehicle (UAV) in Afghanistan.

The one-tonne medium altitude, long-endurance Heron will be used in anIntelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance

(ISR) capacity to enhance protection forAustralian, Afghan and International SecurityAssistance Forces (ISAF) in Afghanistan.

The Heron is being leased by the DefenceMaterial Organisation (DMO) as part of a con-tract with MacDonald, Dettwiler andAssociates ltd (MDA), and will enhance theAustralian Defence Force’s (ADF’s) opera-tional ISR capabilities.

The increased use of UAVs for ISR intelli-gence is increasing in both Afghanistan andIraq. These are currently provided for the ADFby Air Force AP-3C Orions and Army’s ScanEagle tactical UAV. By giving ground troopsgreater situational awareness, and expeditingdecision making cycles for commanders,UAVs are increasing survival ability forground troops in the battlespace.

Personnel from the Air Force, and Army,including UAS pilots, payload operators, intel-ligence operators, imagery analysts, engineers,administrative and logistics personnel, havebeen trained by the Canadian Heron detach-ment in southern Afghanistan. InitialOperating Capability has been achieved, withthe Heron detachment expected to be fullymission capable within months.

The DMO contract is for an initial one yearperiod, with the option to extend.

Work begins on second RANLHDConstruction of the Royal Australian Navy’ssecond Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD)‘Adelaide’ has begun, with Navantia cuttingthe first steel in the Fene-Ferrol shipyard on 2February, seven weeks ahead of the original

start date of 23 March.Two LHD ships are being constructed as

part of the Australian Defence AmphibiousShips project, under contract with BAESystems and Italian shipbuilder Navantia,based on the LHD ‘Juan Carlos I’ currentlyunder construction for the Spanish Navy.

The two Canberra class LHDs, to benamed ‘Canberra’ and ‘Adelaide’ are due fordelivery in 2013 and 2015 respectively. Theywill be the RAN’s largest ever warships,each with the capacity to transport up to1000 personnel, 150 armoured vehicles, andwill have six helicopter landing spots withprovisions for a mix of troop lift and armedreconnaissance helicopters.

Work has begun on the first of the RoyalAustralian Navy’s ANZAC class frigates tobe upgraded by BAE Systems as part of theAnti-Ship Missile Defence (ASMD)Upgrade Project.

Under the programme being managedby the Defence Materiel Organisation(DMO), the ANZAC class frigates will begiven complete anti-ship defence systemoverhauls, to significantly enhance thefleet’s self-defence capabilities.

Systems to be incorporated include theleading edge CEA Phased Array Radar (PAR),the VampirNG Infrared Search&Track (IRST)system, the Sharpeye Navigation RadarSystems (NRS), and an upgraded CombatManagement System (CMS) including animproved Operations Room layout. Platformintegration of the systems will require signifi-cant structural modifications includingreplacement of forward and aft masts.

Both BAE Systems and Saab areinvolved in the programme under alliancecontracting arrangements.


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

The first in country training of RAAF C-17 aircrew began in February © Boeing

Asia Pacific Procurement UpdateAsia Pacific Procurement Update


INDIAIndia to buy US M777Howitzers?India has moved closer to purchasing BAESystems’ M777 Howitzers from the US aspart of a Foreign Military Sale (FMS).The American Defence Security

Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified the USCongress of the possible sale earlier thismonth. The deal has an approximate value of$647 million.India is currently carrying out a compre-

hensive upgrade of its Defence assets. Theproposed Howitzer purchase will be part ofthe Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan pro-gramme, which is will see the acquisition of amix of products including 155mm/39-callightweight and 155 mm/52-cal towedwheeled and tracked guns for 80 of theArmy’s 220 artillery regiments.The addition of the Howitzer to the

army’s Artillery will significantly enhancethe firepower of the Army considerably, pro-viding precision fire support to highlymobile mechanised forces.India’s request to the US includes Laser

Inertial Artillery Pointing Systems (LINAPS),warranties, spare and repair parts, supportand test equipment, publications and techni-cal documentation, maintenance, personneltraining and training equipment; as well asUS government and contractor technicalassistance and support. The Army’s mod-ernisation plan is due for completion by 2025.

India to purchase basictrainer fleetIndia is in the market for a basic trainer fleet,having dispatched a request for proposal to atotal of seventy-five foreign manufacturers.India’s fleet of Piston Trainer 32 (HPT-32)

Deepak basic trainer aircraft, produceddomestically by Hindustan AeronauticsLimited (HAL), were grounded in August2009 after a number of fatal accidents. Theproposed acquisition will seek to replace thisfleet with an initial order of 75 aircraft, whichwill form part of an overall requirement for180 aircraft.Contenders for the contract include the

Embraer Tucano, Pilatus PC-7 or PC-/9,Raytheon T-6 Texan, Finmeccanica M-311,Grob Aircraft CompanyG-120TP, EADS PZLPZL-130-TC-11 Orik and Korea AerospaceIndustries KT-1. All bids are due for submis-

sion by March 17, 2010.Under the proposal, 12 of the 75 aircraft

will be due for delivery within 25 months ofthe contact being signed, with the remainingaircraft to be completed within 48 months.The Indian Air Force (IAF) is keen to see

the contract completed quickly, to bring theirtraining capabilities back to 100 per cent fol-lowing the grounding of the HPT-32 fleet. Anumber of IAF personnel were killed inseries of crashes, believed to have beencaused by ‘flight safety hazards’ in the ‘tech-nically outdated’ fleet.

India prepares to inductAGNI-3 missileIndia has tested its long range missile AGNI-3 with the fourth successful flight completedon 7 February from theWheeler Island in theBay of Bengal, off the coast of Orrisa.The test flight, carried out by the Defence

Research and Development Organisation(DRDO), is part of a pre-induction trial, andcompletes the total launch operationsrequired before induction in the Indianarmed forces can begin.The missile, with range capability of 3,500

km, hit its target with pinpoint accuracy andmet all mission objectives, as tracked andwitnessed by two down-range ships locatednear the target. During the course of the flightthe missile reached the height of 350 km andre-entered into the atmosphere, successfullytolerating skin temperatures of nearly 3000degree Celsius.The two stage solid propellant system

AGNI-3 missile is 17 metres long, 2 metres

in diameter, with total payload capabilityof 1.5 tons.

India to induct Russian MiG-29Knaval fighter jetsFour Russian-made MiG-29K naval fighterjets are to be formally inducted into the IndiaNavy on 19 February ahead of their deploy-ment on the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carri-er, due in 2012.India has purchased a total of 16 MiG-

29Ks from Russia in 2004 as part of the $1.5billion Admiral Gorshkov acquisition deal.The first four jets will officially form the ini-tial Black Panther squadron at the inductionceremony, which will take place at the INSHansa facility.The jets arrived inGoa on 4December and

were reassembled at the INS Hansa facility.They will be initially operated from INSHansa until the delivery of the AdmiralGorshkov – to be renamed INS Vikramaditya– which is currently scheduled for 2012.Another deal with Russia is expected

shortly, which will see the acquisition ofa further 29 MiG-29Ks, as part of India’sarmed forces modernisation and enhance-ment programme.The MiG-29Ks flight operations on

Gorshkov will be in the Short Take OffBut Arrested Landing (STOBAR) configura-tion; the aircraft has arrester gear onits tail to assist hooking into the arrestor wireson deck, as well as stronger landing gear towithstand the trauma of arrested landing.Pilot training for STOBAR operations willtake place at the INS Hansa facility.

The M777 has seen widespread service in Afghanistan. India has now expressed interest inthe platform © BAE Systems


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JAPANJapan brings refuellingvessels homeJapan’s naval ships returned home earlier this monthbringing an end to an eight-year mission in support ofUS-led military operations in Afghanistan.Mashu, the 13,500-tonne supply ship, and Ikazuchi,

the 4,550-tonne destroyer, returned to Harumi Wharf inTokyo Bay with 340 personnel onboard, following theannouncement by Defence Minister Toshimi Kitazawain January that the mission was to come to a close.The two ships have been deployed in a refuelling

capacity for the past eight years, supplying water and oilto vessels used by international forces currently engagedin Afghanistan.Japan has been involved only in non-combat opera-

tions in Iraq as a result of the nation’s pacifist post-warconstitution. The decision to bring the ships home waspart of a pledge by new Prime Minister YukioHatoyama, to embark on a ‘less subservient’ relationshipwith the US.

SOUTH KOREAFirst Airborne Early Warning& Control aircraft arrivein South KoreaThe first Boeing 737 Airborne Early Warning &Control (AEW&C) aircraft has arrived in SouthKorea ahead of a modification programme that willsee a total of four 737s delivered to the Republic ofKorea (ROK) Air Force under a $1.6 billion contractwith Boeing Integrated Defence System (IDS).The ‘Peace Eye’ aircraft arrived at a Korean

Aerospace Industries (KAI) facility in Sacheon, eastof Seoul, following a flight from a Boeing facility inSeattle, US, in 4 February.The four aircraft are due for delivery by 2012;

the first delivery is due to take place next year, fol-lowing modification work which will include thefitting of Northrop Grumman’s L-band Multi-RoleElectronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar underoffset deals as part of the contract.When complete, the AEWS&C fleet will signifi-

cantly enhance South Korea’s Intelligence,Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities,ahead of the planned transfer of wartime opera-tional control from the United States to SouthKorea in 2012.When required, the Peace Eye fleet will act as

airborne command-and-control centre for the AirForce, transmitting information on airborne targetsto commanders; as well as guiding assets withincombat areas.


CHINAUS-Taiwan relationshipangers ChinaThe already tenuous relationshipbetween China and the US hascome under increased strain afterthe US entered discussions withTaiwan to sell arms as part of aForeign Military Sale (FMS).The arms package is worth an

estimated $6.4 billion, and includesBlack Hawk helicopters, advancedPatriot surface-to-air missiles andtwo refurbished Osprey-classmine-hunting ships. China hasstated it will suspend militaryexchanges and security talks withthe US if it continues with the sale.China has long opposed

military sales between the US andTaiwan, believing US interference

to jeopardise what Chinaconsiders its domestic affairs.Beijing’s response to the proposedsale has been to threaten the USwith severe repercussions, as wellas to impose sanctions on any UScompanies that enter contractwith Taiwan for the sale ofmilitary equipment.Taiwan is carrying out military

enhancements in order toreinforce its own national securityagainst its nearest and mostpowerful neighbour. The US remains committed to

its treaty to assist Taiwan in itsnational defence; a decision on theproposed sale must be madewithin 30 days of Congress beinggiven notice of the deal, whichoccurred 29 January.

The ROKAF’s four ‘Peace Eye’ aircraft will provide cutting edge airborne C4I © Boeing


TAIWANTaiwan considers USUH-60M Black Hawk Helicoptersand Patriot AdvancedCapability missilesOn 29 January US Congress was notified by theDefence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) ofa possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of 60 UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters to the Taiwan.Requested by the Taipei Economic and

Cultural Representative Office in the UnitedStates, the proposed purchase deal is worth anestimated $3.1 billion, and will include the sale of60 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters with 120 T-700-GE-701D engines, 18 spare T-700-GE-701Dengines, 69 AN/APR-39A(V)2 Radar WarningReceivers, 69 AN/ALQ-144A(V)1 InfraredCountermeasure Sets, 69 AN/AAR-57 CommonMissile Warning Systems, 69 AN/AVR-2B LaserDetecting Sets, 120 GAU-19/A .50 cal MachineGun Systems, and 310 AN/AVS-9 Aviator NightVision Goggles; as well as technical and otherrelated logistics support.The principal contractors will be Sikorsky

Aircraft and General Electric; and the deal mayinclude offsets and the assignment of two con-tractor representatives for a two year period fol-lowing the sale.Taiwan has also requested the possible pur-

chase of 114 Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC-3) missiles, and 3 AN/MPQ-65 Radar Sets, at acost of USD $2.81 billion.Also to take place under the FMS route, the

deal has been detailed as including 114 PatriotAdvanced Capability (PAC-3) missiles, 3AN/MPQ-65 Radar Sets, 1 AN/MSQ-133Information and Coordination Centrals, 1Tactical Command Station, 3 CommunicationRelay Groups, 3 AN/MSQ-132 EngagementControl Stations, 26 M902 Launching Stations, 5Antenna Mast Groups, 1 Electronic Power PlantIII (EPP), battery and battalion maintenanceequipment, prime movers, generators, electricalpower units, personnel training and equipment,trailers, communication equipment, tool and testsets, spare and repair parts, publications andtechnical documentation, Quality AssuranceTeam support services; as well as USGovernment and contractor engineering andlogistics support from Raytheon and LockheedMartin, as the prime contractors.Both deals are part of Taiwan’s efforts to mod-

ernise and enhance its military and defence capa-bilities, and address the growing military insta-bility in the Asian region.

THAILANDThailand edging closerto Gripen purchase andF-16 upgradeThe Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) hasreceived funding approval in princi-ple for the procurement of six SaabJAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft, and themid-life upgrade of its existingLockheed Martin F-16A/Bs.The proposed purchase of the

Gripens will form phase 2 of an agree-ment between the Thai and Swedishgovernments, with delivery of the air-craft planned for 2011. Phase one ofthe deal covers six JAS-39 Gripenfighters, including spare parts andtraining; and two Saab 340 turbopropaircraft, one of which will be outfittedas an S-1000 airborne early warningand control system (AEW&C), andthe other used as training and trans-port platform. Phase 2 will see a fur-ther six Gripen fighters, and a secondSaab AEW&C system aircraft. BothAEW&C aircraft will be fitted withSaab’s Erieye radar.The total deal has been allocated a

THB16.27 billion budget, with a finaldecision on funding will take place inMay 2010 following a detailed reviewof the proposal, for inclusion in theFiscal Year 2011 budget.The upgrade of the F-16 fleet has

been allocated a budget of THB6.9billion, and will see the upgrade andextensive modernisation of 18 air-craft in total, to extend the servicelife of the fleet by another 20 yearsuntil 2028; it is believed this will

enable the RTAF to retire their age-ing F-5Es, 16 of which have been inservice since the 1970s, and are inneed of replacement.

Thailand begins Gripendelivery preparationThailand has sent the first group ofAir Force technicians to Sweden toundertake initial maintenance typeconversion course on the Gripenfighter.Training will involve On the Job

Training (OJT) at the Swedish AirForce Wings F 7 in Såtenäs and F 17in Ronneby; as well as time spent atSaab’s Gripen manufacturing hub inLinköping.Thailand entered contract with

the Swedish government in 2008 forthe delivery of six Gripen fighterjets, due for delivery in 2011. A fur-ther contract was signed for theacquisition of one Saab 340 AEWErieye airborne surveillance systemand another Saab 340 aircraft fortraining and transport, which areexpected to be delivered towards theend of this year.It was recently announced that

Thai company Avia Satcom hasjoined with Saab in partnership todevelop and produce high technolo-gy aviation and defence products.The venture will initially focus on thedevelopment of a National TacticalDatalink for the Gripen, as well asCommand and Control systems, sim-ulators, training and electronic war-fare systems.


PAKISTANPakistan to receive USRQ-7 Shadow UAVsThe US is to provide Pakistan with 12RQ-7 Shadow unmanned aerial vehi-cles (UAVs)in an attempt to help thecountry build their own Intelligence,Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR)capabilities in the fight againstAfghanistan-based extremists.Funding is expected to come from

congressionally appropriated counter-

insurgency funds, to enable the USDefence Department to provide the 12UAVs along with training and othercapabilities to allow Pakistan to coordi-nate and operate the platforms toutilise their full potential valueUse of the RQ-7 Shadow by the US

armed forces has increased significant-ly in the global fight against interna-tional terrorism, and the US expects tobenefit from any intelligence gatheredby Pakistan operations.

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