Asian Military Review - March 2008

VOLUME 16/ISSUE 3

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AIR COMBAT SIMULATION PLATOON AS A SYSTEM GRIPEN FOR THAILAND BODY ARMOUR AND HELMETS SMALL SHIP BIG PUNCH

Weapons for Corvettes and OPVs

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Contents MARCH 2008 VOLUME 16 / ISSUE 3

Front Cover Photo: The F-16 has been the backbone of the Royal Thai Air Force for over 15 years, and is set to be replaced by Gripen.

However the number of Gripen to be procured comes nowhere close to matching the numbers of F-16s currently in service. The Gripen buy is at best an augmentation and the F-16 most likely still has many years in RTAF service.

(PHOTO: ADF)

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MILITARY REVIEW

The Platoon as a System

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William F. Owen Programs, such as India's FINAS, and Australia's LAND 125, may have acquisition costs beyond the reach of most Asian Armies. Rational and objective consideration of just what is achievable within the current budget constraints, may give some unexpected benefits, if the idea that the required level of soldier modernisation may not be what is needed.

Air Combat Simulation

David Oliver Training seems to be the single biggest factor in the possible transformation of Asian Air Forces. The military aviation sector remains the prime user of synthetic training systems and during the past year, some of the major commercial companies that provide flight simulation equipment have passed new milestones.

Body Armour 10 Ian Kemp Improving the protection of individual soldiers is not only a priority for most military forces but is also a subject that attracts attention from lawmakers, the media and the public in all Western countries.

Asian armies ignore this development at their peril.

Corvette Weapons 30

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Edward Hooton The growing importance of corvettes to Asia's navies, and thus export markets, is been underlined by the fact 'Ocean Patrol Vessels' (OPV) and similar small vessels can pack a significant array of weaponry.

Gripen For Thailand

Reuben F. Johnson The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has one of the longest and most colourful histories of any of the air forces in the region. Official histories of the service remind readers that it has been in existence for 92 years, having been founded only ten years after the first successful flight of a manner aircraft and a decade before the US Air Force (USAF) and its predecessor organisations were even created.

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Editorial t must be an issue of some annoyance to the Chinese communities in Asia that so many people in the west are intent on using and abusing the work Sun-Tzu to justify many bizarre ideas and concepts. My own exploration of this with one of two members of the PLA (what is the PLA? And is it one 'of' or one 'or' two members), seems to indicate that the Ancient generals writing does not seem to occupy any great place of reverence in modern Chinese Military Thought. For example the Unrestricted Warfare by Qiao Liang and Wang Xiangsui offers the west a slightly differing view of the traditional Chinese approaches to strategy.

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The supposed arcane intricacies of PLA military thought have always held some strange fascination for western military theorists. Why this is so has never been obvious but it would seem that a certain amount of intellectual insecurity may be the root cause. There is a widely held perception that western military thought has somehow traditionally failed. This perception is generally seated in the conduct and outcome of the First and Second World Wars. For the US this perception was exponentially reinforced by the conduct and outcome of both Korea and Vietnam. While these views could be said to reside in some basis of fact, they could also be alleged to be mostly emotional.

How did Sun Tsu fare in World War One and Two? The first translations in French had been available since 1722, so he was hardly unknown. The writings on Mao Tse-Tung seem to have had significantly more impact on the Communist victory of 1948, than any other writings. The PLA intervention in Korea could not be said to be a textbook case of operational success.

Neither could the North Korean conduct of the war initially. The 1979 Chinese invasion of North Vietnam would also seem to indicate substantial operational shortcomings.

US writers seem to want to attribute the success of the North Vietnamese to some aspects of Sun-Tsu, yet there is very little evidence that this was the case.

Sun-Tsu wrote in such general terms that it is far from clear what the actual intent and meaning of what he wrote was. While it may be true to imply surprise is good, there needs to be some understanding of the nature of surprise in order to achieve it. This is in sharp contrast to Mao who is remarkably clear and unambiguous. Again, it would seem that Mao's writing had far more impact on the conduct of the war in South East Asia than did Sun-Tzu. For those who say, that without Sun-Tzu there would be no Mao, I say that this case needs to be proved.

USA (East/South East)/Canada Margie Brown, Margie Brown & Associates.

Tel : (+1 540) 341 7581 Email :margiespub@rcn.com

William F. Owen, Editor

Editor: William F. Owen E-mail: William@mediatransasia.com Contributors: John Mulberry, David Oliver and Edward Hooten Publishing Office: Chairman: J.S. Uberoi Media Transasia Ltd, Room No. 1205-1206, Hollywood Centre 233, Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong.

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THE PLATOON AS A SYSTEM

The Platoon as a System.

Asia's alternative to Soldier modernisation

While there is much talk of soldier modernisation programs, such as India's FINAS, and Australia's LAND 125, the simple economics of many of these projects put the acquisition costs of these programs beyond the reach of most Asian Armies. Rational and objective consideration of just what is achievable within the current budget constraints, may give some unexpected benefits, if the idea that the required level of soldier modernisation may not be what is needed.

by William F. Owen

he Robo-soldier image of the 21st Century infantryman has done much to damage the perception of soldier modernisation programs, as it has to aid them. The first negative effect was to imply that technology could or would lead to startling and unparalleled increases in capability. The second was to suggest that this capability was, necessarily, very expensive. Both these ideas are broadly untrue.

Firstly there is little evidence that technology is, in its self, a rational provider of the massively increased capability that is sought. Yes, giving every man in the squad night vision does produce an increased capability to detect and hit targets at night. This can be measured, but it also comes at a cost.

Secondly the cost is the issue.

Armies such as Thailand's or Indonesia's simply cannot afford a soldier modernisation program. It is even

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doubtful that India will be able to equip a fraction of its infantry with a system anywhere near as capable as the Germany's IDZ or even Australia's LAND 125.

Germany's and Australia's programs are worth comparison since both are either wholly or partly fielded and both armies are involved in operations.

In sharp contrast, as of the time of writing, no part of either the UK's or US's soldier modernisation programs are in service in Iraq or Afghanistan, other than in the guise of urgent operational requirements (UOR) or rapid fielding initiatives (RFI).

The UOR or RFI are, in fact, threats to soldier modernisation.

Armies fighting wars always learn Background picture: Body Armour is now an essential item, and not to be neglected (PHOTO: UK MOD)

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and re-learn fundamental lessons about dismounted close combat. Lessons that were made clear in the past are ignored in peacetime to justify the next technological solution. A good example of this was the UK's decision to retire the 51mm mortar, with its ability to throw an HE Bomb 800m, and (I think this is what you mean) the 40mm under barrel grenade launcher (UGL) on SA-80, with its 400m range. Now, after two costly years in Afghanistan, the need for a light platoon mortar has suddenly been re-discovered. It should be noted that the whole issue of a platoon mortar fell or falls outside the remit of most soldier modernisation programs.

Soldier, and Squad

One of the enduring elements of the soldier modernisation programs has been the focus on programs as either being on the solider as an individual or

THE PLATOON AS A SYSTEM

as part of a squad.

The idea of squad capabilities is comparatively recent in the history of modern infantry. Though modern infantry platoons appeared early in the first world war, the British concept of a section, capable of independent action did not occur till 1936, when the platoon was re-organised with a Bren gun in each section. Prior to the platoon being considered the minimum manoeuvre element, it was the Company.

Across most armies, the section or squad is now assumed to be the "platform" on which the soldier modernisation concepts are based. Though many are loathed to admit it, the issue of carried weight and cost has made this decision the only viable solution. Soldier modernisation leads to increases in carried weight. This is not a problem if there is a commensurate increase in capability. It is currently physically and fiscally impossible to heap all the desired capabilities onto one man.

Those capabilities have to be spread across the 6-9 men that form most sections of squads. There is some valid logic to this if it is equated to the traditional weapons allocations used in the squad or fire team. Fire teams consist of generally 4 men. These are a team leader, an LMG gunner, a sharpshooter, and possibly a man equipped with a 40mm UGL, if the squad leader does not

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carry it. The sensor and communications fit, allocated to each man, should roughly equate to his intended role within the team. Thus the sharp shooter requires high magnification optics, and a long-range night sight.

The alternative to a team or squad based modernisation program is to consider the platoon, as the "platform" on which you will base your modernisation.

The Robo-soldier image of the 21st Century infantryman has done much to damage the perception of soldier modernisation programs, as it has to aid them.

The basis of the argument here stems on weather the relevant infantry doctrine sees the platoon or squad as being the basic minimum manoeuvre unit of dismounted infantry. This also has some bearing on the vehicle and fire support that may be present. A soldier who is mounted in a infantry fighting vehicle, with a stabilised 30mm automatic cannon, and part of a combined arms combat team, should, logically,

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

Above: LAW type projectors, such as Rafael's Matador can a less expensive option than guided weapons, and can be proliferated across the platoon (PHOTO: Rafael)

not need to dismount the heavier weapons systems that his less well supported colleagues in light infantry companies are forced to carry. This also begins to pose the increasingly complex issue of whether APCs and IFVs are areas of infantry modernisation.

Weapons

Weapons or lethality are often seen as the defining tools of Infantry. The problem with light weapons science and doctrine is that two issues muddy the field of study. The technical performance of the weapon is the first actual issue. This has to do with not just how reliable the weapon is, but what it weighs and what it can do. This also covers the ammunition the weapon uses. The second issue is the psychological effects the weapons create on both the enemy and the user. These, in many ways are just as critical as the physical capabilities of the weapon.

Strangely, the rifle, or individual weapon is probably the least critical part of the equation, from a technical standpoint. What is hugely important is the soldier's belief in his individual weapon.

Abstract and unscientific concepts such

THE PLATOON AS A SYSTEM

as "knock down" and "stopping power" occupy large parts of the soldier's emotional belief in their weapon. Weapons currently in service, such as the G-36 and M4 carbine, more than amply fulfil the current requirements. While weight savings may come from the use of smaller calibre weapons, such as the FN P-90 and Heckler & Koch MP-7A1, the soldier community is unlikely to develop a great deal of affinity for such weapons, unless their utility and lethality can be proved beyond reasonable doubt.

The easiest way to improve the capability of individual weapons is to procure optics and weapons mounted sensors that increase the capability the weapon already possesses. The ability to measure an increase in capability commensurate with an increase in weight is also measurable, in that the range targets can be hit, in varying light conditions is provable by testing.

Section or squad weapons are an area that in some ways is just as subjective.

While the terminal effects of rounds can be measured and well understood, the effect of suppression is less easy to measure. There is a general perception that belt fed weapons create suppression more effectively than, magazine fed weapons.

The evidence for this is far from overwhelming. We do know that belt fed weapons are generally much heavier than heavy barrelled, bipod equipped, magazine fed weapons of the same calibre and barrel length. Also magazine fed weapons are far cheaper to procure.

Conversely rounds carried in link or belt

Above: Kilogram for Kilogram the light mortar is the most efficient HE projector most infantry platoons currently posses (PHOTO: William F. Owen)

are significantly lighter than the same amount carried in magazines.

There is a worthwhile discussion as to whether belt fed weapons of the same calibre as the Individual weapon are in

Armies fighting wars always learn and relearn fundamental lessons about dismounted close combat. fact a good use of carried weight and capability. However, in armies where these weapons have already been procured the argument is somewhat futile, but the same things that increase capa-

Below: Protected Mobility, such as VBCI can exponentially benefit infantry in way modernisation programs find hard to match. (PHOTO: Nexter)

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bility for the IW will increase capability for any section weapons.

What is more, the widespread adoption of the MIL-STD 1913 rail system means that there are few if any sight and sensor integration problems. This also allows the swapping of sighting systems and sensors between weapons types.

By far the biggest strides in lethality can be made from using HE-Projection.

Both rifle grenades and low velocity 40mm are simple and effective ways of increasing the platoons HE-Projection, as are small lightweight anti-amour or antistructure weapons. The downside comes when larger weapons with greater terminal effect are seen as useful, without adding the capability to be more accurate.

The weight of an AT-4 can be usefully substituted by the heavier N-LAW or Alcotan-100 with 3 times the range and provably more accurate against moving

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targets. Capability has got to be measurably traded against weight. Increasing the weight of an existing weapons type, merely to achieve increased terminal effect is not the smart way to work, bearing in mind human beings have a finite weight carrying ability.

Most intriguingly, there seems to be a valid body of opinion that suggests that the platoon may be the focus for manoeuvring, protecting and sustaining guided weapons systems, such as Milan, Javelin and Spike. Not only do these provide both potent anti-amour and anti-structure capability, but they might also, combined with general-purpose machine guns, also form the fire support base for all platoon operations.

This is presently the informal practise of US Infantry Stryker Brigade platoons.

Communications

By far the most advertised and also expensive area of soldier modernisation has been the desire to make the dismounted infantryman a sensor and communications node in the net-centric battlefield. This is a very context specific idea. Most field trials have attempted to prove the "improved" situational awareness is critical to mission success.

Situational awareness is predicated on the knowing where your own forces are Below: Light guided weapons, such as Milan, can and do provide the infantry platoon with a very flexible weapons capability.

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and where that of the enemies is. This is then used to generate a common operating picture that should enable commanders to make better operational decisions.

The critical part of the equation that is often missing is that you can only share the location of known and detected ene-

Across most armies, the section or squad is now assumed to be the "platform" on which the soldier modernisation concepts are based.

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

Above: Providing simple, light and effective communications equipment may be all a modernisation program needs.

(PHOTO: US Army)

mies. While this may seem very obvious, the command culture of the infantry units concerned will have a substantial impact on how various levels of command use the information they have to hand. Add to this the complexities of operating in the so-called "asymmetric urban battle space," and the problems of making soldiers "digital warriors in the informational battle space" become near impossible to understand.

What we do know is that modern technology can give every soldier a cheap low powered method of communication that allows the platoon and section to do things faster, and more effectively. The utility of the Personal Role Radios (PRR) is generally beyond doubt. Where things become confused is when people try and suggest that every soldier should be capable of transferring and manipulating data. More logically the need to deal with data might only be required by squad and platoon leaders and more probably the task, as concerns Asian Armies can be limited to platoon commanders.

What most now have to realise is that the capabilities way in excess of those possessed by equipment like the PRC-77 man pack radio are now contained in 1kg multi-band, IP hand held radio, such as the PRC-148 and 710/710MB.

THE PLATOON AS A SYSTEM

These radios can easily interface with company and battle group level sets, so the integration issue is not as complex as some have suggested. The manipulation and transfer of data can be easily handled by ruggedised laptops and personal digital assistants, but this has to be considered in the context of how command and control is actually practised in the relevant army. If someone says that modern armies have to be able to transmit data, to the platoon level, it may be useful to ask why.

Sensors/UAVs

As previously stated, a weapon can be made far more capable by giving it a good sight. What holds true for weapons sights holds true for all night vision and electro-optics. NVGs mean you can drive at night and walk around buildings in near complete darkness. Thermal imagery allows you to detect enemies at far greater range than was previously possible. The ability to integrate GPS and laser range finders also allows the posiBelow: The provision of simple optics may substantially increase the capability of infantry (PHOTO: US Army)

Strangely, the rifle, or individual weapon is probably the least critical part of the equation, from a technical standpoint. tion of targets to be very accurately assessed in a far simpler way than was previously considered possible. This allows for the effective use of close air support and indirect fire. However, such skills come with a considerable training debt, so it is wrong to assume that the only investment will be in equipment.

Vehicles

The creation of the US Army's Stryker Brigade has done more to increase the capability of US Light Infantry than almost any other single act, since 1918.

The provision of capable protected, and armed mobility for infantry cannot be over stated as a proven and effective method of making infantry the decisive arm in both combined arms battle and operations against insurgents. It is not

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far fetched to suggest that there may well be an argument to be had in asking whether some funds for soldier modernisation, may not be better allocated to procuring fleets of vehicles able to lift and support light infantry units. Obviously this is not an "eitheror" argument. There needs to be a measured and rational examination of the problem, and it must be realised that all the money thrown at soldier modernisation programmes comes to very little if the soldier concerned is not in the right place at the right time to create the effect required.

Conclusion

A possible road map of an Asian soldier modernisation programme could well be focussed on merely providing each soldier with a good weapons optic and PRR. Both of these solutions are comparatively cheap and low weight. The rest of the programme could then be predicated on the incremental scaling of night vision systems and squad/platoon level radios. Almost all other possible improvements can then be handled by training and the procurement of effective protected mobility.

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Body Body Armour Armour and and Helmets Helmets

Protection worth its Weight!

The 2007 US Army Posture Statement notes: "Since there are no front lines in today's battlefields, we must now equip all of our units with night vision goggles, crew served weapons, communications equipment, and other critical items they need to survive. We must also provide them with every means available to protect them and to minimize the risks to which they are exposed."

Improving the protection of individual soldiers is not only a priority for most military forces but is also a subject that attracts attention from lawmakers, the media and the public in all Western countries. Asian armies ignore this development at their peril.

by Ian Kemp

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September 2006 article in the Marine Corps Gazette stated: "The Interceptor system, as it was designed and fielded starting in the late 1990s, has been an astonishing success story that has, in conjunction with world-class medical care on the battlefield, resulted in historically low casualty rates throughout the ongoing Global War in Terrorism." A popular UK newspaper reported in March 2007 that a Royal Marine commando survived a battle with Taliban fighters in Afghanistan because his combat body armour (CBA) withstood hit three times by small arms fire.

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Backgrould Picture: The Australian Army selected the Rabinex Insight RBH 303AU helmet for its Enhanced Combat Helmet after an evaluation of 11 designs.

(PHOTO: ADF)

Helmets A new Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH) was one of the first items the US Army procured when it launched its Rapid Fielding Initiative in 2002 to deliver new state-of-the-art equipment to war-fighters that would provide 'significant enhancements to their lethality, mobility, survivability, and operational quality of life'. The ACH is based on the Modular Integrated Communication Helmet first fielded by the US Special Operations Command in January 2001 after a four-year development programme. The ACH has replace the Personal Armor System for Ground

Troops (PASGT) helmet, a one piece structure composed of multiple layers of Kevlar ballistic fibre and phenolic, PVB resin, in service since the early 1980s. Develop by DuPont, the original Kevlar had a strength to weight ratio five times greater than steel. The MICH and ACH are made of a new type of Kevlar which provides a 6% improvement in ballistic and impact protection.

In tests the ACH has defeated a 9mm round at close range, which penetrate the PASGT helmet. According to the army the design, shape and internal suspension of the ACH provide greater situational awareness, comfort and fit compared to the PASGT helmet and it is also lighter. The ACH weighs approximately 3 lb for medium size and slight more than 3.6 lb for the extra large. The new Lightweight Helmet being fielded to the US Marine Corps since 2004 is made of the new Kevlar but retains the shape of the PASGT helmet.

The US Army's Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier is now examining the success of the ACH against the threats being faced on current operations. About 1,200 soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division deploying to Afghanistan in early 2008 have been issued with sensors that attach to their helmets to measure the impact from blasts, roadside bombs and other activities. Troops from the 4th Infantry Division, scheduled to deploy to Iraq later this year, will also receive helmet sensors. The sensors gather data on impacts ranging from kicks to the helmet, a vehicle crash, a nearby weapon firing and explosions. The sensors measure two specific actions: the energy wave generated by the 'event' and the 'acceleration' or jolt that follows.

PEO Soldier is using two different sensor models, one supplied by BAE Systems Mobility & Protection Systems and the other by Allen-Vanguard. The 101st Airborne Division soldiers are equipped with an external sensor mounted in a protective case, together weighing about 6 ounces, which attaches to the back of the helmet. The sensor remains in a 'sleep' mode until switched on by an event after which the soldier connects it to a computer using a USB port to save the data. The sensor has enough internal memory to store data on 527 events. The 4th Infantry Division soldiers will be fitted with an internal

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sensor that fits under the padding inside the crown of the helmet.

"With the number of IEDs [improvised explosive devices] that we're seeing in Iraq and the traumatic brain injury that's coming out of it, obviously somewhere down the line we are looking at correlating the blast and the injury," said Major William Schaffer, a PEO Soldier product manager. "But in the near term, we are looking at developing a more protective piece of equipment. The Advanced Combat Helmet we have out there is the best in the world, but we are always looking at ways to make our products better, and this is a great way to start."

In February 2007 the army began fielding the first of 430,000 new Nape Pads and US Marine Corps Systems Command followed with an order for 75,000. The Nape Pad was developed by Crye Precision which displayed the item during an industry day sponsored by PEO Soldier in 2006.The pad attaches to the ACH's existing rear strap to provide additional head support and protect the back of the neck from fragmentation.

"Protection of our soldiers is the army's priority mission," said Brigadier General R Mark Brown, commanding general for PEO Soldier and Natick Soldier Systems Center. "The new helmet neck pad, the eighth improvement in body armour in the last three years, is a great example because it will further reduce injuries and help save even more soldiers' lives."

US Body Armour Point Black Body Armor has supplied more than 1.3 million sets of Interceptor Body Armor (IBA) to the US Army alone over the past six years. The modular system consists of an outer vest, ballistic plates and attachments that increase area of coverage. The Deltoid and Auxiliary Protectors (DAP) were developed to and fielded to provide additional to the upper arm and underarm areas to reduce injuries to vehicle gunners caught in IED blasts.

In mid-2007 the army began fielding the Improved Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV) to replace the front-opening Outer Tactical Vest previously supplied with the IBA. Development of IOTV began with a body armour industry day in the second quarter of 2006 after which 17 vendors offered

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designs for improved body armour of which six were selected to provide prototypes for a user evaluation conducted in January and February 2007. Two suppliers, Specialty Defense Systems (155,000 vests) and Point Blank Body Armor (75,000), received contracts to produce 230,000 vests by April 2007 and further contracts are certain to follow. A medium size IOTV weighs about 30

A Royal Marine commando survived a battle with Taliban fighters in Afghanistan because his combat body armour (CBA) withstood hit three times by small arms fire.

Above: Since 2006 British troops In Iraq and Afghanistan have been equipped with the Osprey Improved Performance Body Armour for dismounted operations.

(PHOTO: UK Crown copyright)

Members of the 101st Airborne Division now serving in Afghanistan have a sensor mounted on the back of their Advanced Combat Helmets to collect blast data. (PHOTO: US Army)

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pounds with Enhanced Small Arms Protective Inserts (ESAPI) fitted, three pounds lighter than the OTV in the same size but provides an equal level of protection over an increased area. "The weight of the IOTV was reduced by eliminating overlap," said Major Carl Fulmore, Assistant Product Manager for Soldier Survivability. "With the IOTV, we were able to streamline previous improvements."

The IOTV has a higher cut in the underarm area thus eliminating the need to attach the auxiliary or underarm protector of the current DAP set. The deltoid protector can still be attached at the commander's discretion. Integrated side plate carriers decrease the vest's profile and a lower back protector extends the vest's coverage by 52 square inches. An internal waistband provides a snug fit and moves much of the weight from the shoulders to the waist. A single-stage quick release at the front of the IOTV allows a soldier to doff the vest in emergency situations and its attachments with one pull. The vest then falls to the ground in two pieces and can be put back together in minutes.

Medics could use the quick release to treat wounded soldiers, or they could use an opening on the left shoulder, which allows easy access while still providing protection to the patient.

The Marine Expeditionary Rifle Squad is the USMC project to "meet future requirements for a fully integrated combat system to improve the lethality, mobility, survivability, sustainability, training and education, and C2 capabili-

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ties for marine infantry". In the short term much of this capability will be delivered incrementally through the Marine Enhancement Program. The fielding of a Modular Tactical Vest (MTV) to replace the OTVs was a priority in the Fiscal Year 2006 (FY06) MEP. The USMC awarded a $33 million contract in November 2006 to Protective Products International to produce 60,000 MTVs which double as body armour and load-bearing vest. Improvements include a quick-release mechanism, better protection in the lower back and kidney area and the integration of side armour plates. Survivability projects in the FY07 MEP include Head borne Integration, Flame Resistant Organizational Gear and Flame Resistant Fleece.

The scale of US expenditure on improved personal survivability is illustrated by three contracts awarded in December 2007 to Ceradyne, ArmorWorks Enterprises and Simula Aerospace and Defense Group (a subsidiary of BAE Armor Holdings). Each received delivery orders worth from $46 million to $49 million as part of indefinite-quantity/ indefinite-delivery contracts potentially worth almost $2 billion to provide ESAPI plates. Standard SAPI and ESAPI plates have repeatedly shown their ability to defeat hits from assault rifle calibre ammunition which would have caused serious or fatal injuries if the plates had not been fitted. The DoD is now seeking an Extreme SAPI. However, the use of such plates has fatigue implications because of their weapon. The Program Manager for Infantry Combat Equipment, Combat Equipment and Support Systems Directorate at MARCORSYSCOM rates mobility as 'excellent' when marines are wearing the LWH and Interceptor OTV, which together weigh approximately 12.5 lb, and provide protection against 'indirect fire (IF) - torso and head only'.

When front and back ESAPI plates are fitted this 'adds direct fire (DF) - front and back of torso' but the increase in weight to 23 lb reduces the mobility rating to 'good'.

"‌combines all the outstanding features of the GS MK6 helmet with an even higher ballistic performance and only a minimal increase in the helmet weight"

Fitting side ESAPI plates increases the weight to 30 lb thus reducing mobility to 'fair' but added DF protection to the side of the torso. Adding upper arm/leg protection to protect against the IF threat increases weight to 36 lb and reduces mobility to 'limited'. The heaviest category of protection with lower/arm protection added against the IF weighs 40 lb and cuts mobility to 'poor'. Local commanders must make an intelligence risk assessment to determine

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Above: The US Army is equipping its soldiers with Nape Pads which attach to the rear strap of the Advanced Combat Helmet to protect the back of the neck from fragmentation. (PHOTO: US Army)

what level of protection is appropriate for a particular mission.

UK Developments Since 2005 the Defence Clothing Integrated Project Team (IPT) within the UK Ministry of Defence's Defence Equipment and Support organisation has fielded items such as wrap around combat spectacles that provide low impact protection and close fitting combat goggles that provide medium impact protection. In 2006 the IPT began delivering two items as Urgent Operational Requirements to enhance the protection of British troops on operations in Iraq: the Osprey Improved Performance Body Armour was fielded for dismounted operations and the heavier Kestrel Enhanced Personal Protective Equipment was introduced for use by 'top cover' sentries in vehicles, 'B' vehicle drivers and sentries in static locations.

Both modular items provide better protection for the wearer's neck and shoulders than the standard Enhanced Combat Body Armour and optional front and rear protection plates can be inserted that will stop multiple hits from

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"With the number of IEDs [improvised explosive devices] that we're seeing in Iraq and the traumatic brain injury that's coming out of it, obviously somewhere down the line we are looking at correlating the blast and the injury"

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

7.62mm ammunition. The MoD bought 15,550 sets of Osprey armour for operations and another 5,000 sets for predeployment training and maintenance stocks as well as 4,600 sets of Kestrel armour. Feedback from troops and commanders had stressed the importance of wearing the same body for training as worn on operations.

Then Minister of State for Defence Equipment and Support Lord Drayson told the House of Lords in 2007: "Four years ago, an eight-man fire team would have had roughly three SA80s; one Light Support Weapon; an individual MK6 helmet, webbing and Bergen; Enhanced Combat Body Armour; the old Clansman [combat net radio]; a [94 mm] Light Anti-tank Weapon; an Individual Weapon Sight; and a 51 mm mortar.

Now, such a team has a Light Support Weapon; a [5.56 mm Minimi] light machine gun; an Underslung Grenade Launcher; thermal imaging sights; the Mk 6A helmet, which is an improved defensive aid; all-round Osprey body armour, which has saved lives" The General Service (GS) MK6 high impact helmet was introduced into British service in the 1980s and has since been fielded by several other nations.

According to manufacturer the GS MK6A "combines all the outstanding features of the GS MK6 helmet with an even higher ballistic performance and only a Below: Protective Products International is producing 60,000 Modular Tactical Vests for the US Marine Corps as part of the Marine Enhancement Program. (PHOTO: USMC)

SOLDIER S Y S T E M S

minimal increase in the helmet weight".

According to the MoD the MK6A helmet provides 40% more protection than the MK6 that it replaces.

The UK's Future Integrated Soldier Technology (FIST) is intended to improve the effectiveness of the dismounted soldier across the full spectrum of operations. Among the conclusions of a three-year assessment phase, undertaken by a consortium led by Thales UK in conjunction with the Dismounted Close Combat IPT, is that some improvements are possible in the area of protection but that reducing soldier's load is also a major consideration. It also concluded that better situational awareness will also contribute to survivability.

Australia The Australian Defence Force is also fielding new personal protection to its personnel. In 2004 the 4th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (Commando) became the first army unit to be equipped with the Enhanced Combat Helmet (ECH) which is being fielded as part of the Soldier Enhancement version one (SEv.1) project. The Insight RBH 303AU helmet, chosen from 11 designs submitted by seven companies, is a modified version of the Rabinex RBH 303 helmet in service with the Israel Defence Force. The ECH is

replacing the US PASGT helmet which has been in Australian service for 20 years.

The new helmet provides better protection against small arms fire, high velocity fragments and blunt trauma while the internal harness provides both a more secure and a more comfortable fit. The ECH is produced in small, medium, large and extra large sizes with large size helmet weighing 1.3 kg, 300g less than the PASGT helmet. Rabinex received a sole-source contract to supply the ECH to the ADF for a seven-year period. The ECH is part of Project LAND 125 - Soldier Combat System. SEv 2 is planned to introduce individual survivability components. According to the project office: "The survivability acquisition approach is to have the Project Office act as the system

"Protection of our soldiers is the army's priority mission"

An Improved Outer Tactical Vest is now being fielded with the US Army's Interceptor Body Armor which is three pounds lighter than the previous Outer Tactical Vest and offers improved performance and comfort. (PHOTO:US Army)

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Above: The Plasan Sasa Full Coverage Ergonomic Vest now being fielded by the Israel Defence Force is designed to stop multiple hits from IED fragments and small arms fire. (PHOTO: Plasan Sasa)

integrator for three areas of enhanced capability: Advanced Combat Body Armour, Ballistic and Laser Ocular Protection and Enhanced/Integrated Hearing Protection".

Israel In 2007 the company began supplying the first of 12,000 helmets ordered by the Irish Defence Force in December 2005.

The helmets supplied to most military customers are based on the RabintexAdvanced Combat Helmet (R-ACH) which is designed to protect the wearer from fragmentation. The Rabinex Attack Helmet is intended to meet the needs of law enforcement agencies which are more concerned with the threat from bullets at short range. Rabintex has gone into partnership with Composix, of Ohio, to form Rabintex USA to market products to the DoD and other US customers.

Plasan Sasa began supplying its new Full Coverage Ergonomic Vest to the IDF in mid-2007. Although few details have been revealed the armour is designed to protect against multiple hits both from IED fragments and small arms fire. The company is working to develop composite materials that will offer improved protection while at the same time reducing weight. The success of such materials would support the current ambition, as exemplified by the US Army, to extend body armour to provide additional coverage to the neck, arms and legs without hampering the mobility that is vital to the AMR infantryman. â–

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AIR COMBAT SIMULATION

Air Combat Simulation.

The synthetic secret of success?

Training seems to be the single biggest factor in the possible transformation of Asian Air Forces. The military aviation sector remains the prime user of synthetic training systems and during the past year, some of the major commercial companies that provide flight simulation equipment have passed new milestones.

Background picture: Simulation is a critical part of achieving a cost effective mission capability.

(PHOTO: Rheinmettal)

by David Oliver eventy-five years ago, Ed Link opened the Link Flying School and began to develop the world's first flight simulator and lay the foundations of L-3 Link, while sixty years ago, one of the world's most successful flight simulation manufacturer was formed in Canada when Ken Patrick, an ex-Royal Canadian Air Force officer, founded Canadian Aviation Electronics Ltd., now known as CAE. Rockwell Collins boosted its position in the market when it followed up its acquisition of the flight simulation company NLX in 2003, with the takeover of the simulation assets of Evans & Sutherland in 2006.

Saab Aerosystems is a late entrant into the international market place with its modular Planning, Evaluation, Training, Rehearsal and Analysis (PETRA) system. Having designed flight simulators solely for the Swedish Air Force in the past, the PETRA system is a new tactical support and training

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system for the JAS39 Gripen. Saab has delivered the PETRA system to the Swedish FMV, the Czech Republic, Hungarian and South African air forces.

Thailand's acquisition of Gripen is sure to make it another possible customer.

Other players in the field include Spain's Indra Sistema and Israel's Elbit Systems. Both have a strong domestic market while Elbit has focussed on South America and the former East European markets whilst teaming with Lockheed Martin to build F-16I simulators.

Air Combat Simulators L-3 Communications was awarded an $18.8 million contract in 2007 from the US Air Force's Aeronautical Systems Center to build an F-16C Block 52 Aircrew Training Device (ATD) for the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) which will be delivered to the HAF in 2009.

The F-16C Block 52+ ATD, which will enable HAF pilots to conduct simulated air-to-air and air-to-ground combat exercises. During simulation exercises HAF

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F-16 pilots will be able to acquire and identify targets and accurately deliver a wide range of ordnance. The trainer will also allow pilots to practice take-offs and landings, aerial in-flight refuelling, lowlevel flight and emergency procedures.

These training exercises, which will occur within a virtual, geo-specific database, can be impacted by a variety of simulated weather conditions.

HAF F-16 pilots will view out-thewindow visual imagery on the trainer's nine-panel SimuSphere visual display that provides a 360 field-of-view. L-3's SimuView personal computer image generation system will power and correlate both out-the-window and cockpit sensor display imagery.

This contract follows the delivery by L-3 Link Simulation and Training of an F-16 Aircrew Training System for the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) has achieved ready-for-training status. The system is comprised of one F-16C Block 50+ Full Mission Trainer (FMT), an instructor operator station, computation-

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al systems and a newly developed visual system database encompassing Oman and bordering waters.

In 2007 Alenia Aeronautica delivered to the Italian Air Force a Eurofighter Typhoon simulator, Enhanced Aircrew Cockpit Procedure Trainer 3 (E-ACPT3), the first of two systems for Grosseto's and Gioia del Colle's Air Force bases.

The E-ACPT simulators are advanced training devices designed as 'ready-foruse' systems; already made are the ACPT1 prototype and the ACPT2 procedure trainer, the latter having been delivered to Grosseto Air Base in October 2006. The simulators were conceived to train pilots for the Typhoon procedures and at the same time to facilitate training for the most complex and realistic operational tactics, thanks to the possibility of being linked with each other and with simulators of other types of aircraft.

The new simulator's characteristics have been demonstrated during a practice of 'spread' simulation, carried out by military pilots of the bases of Grosseto, Gioia del Colle and Pisa, in which the EACPT3 and another two linked Alenia Aeronautica's simulators - another Eurofighter and a C-27J Spartan transport aircraft - successfully completed an operational mission in a virtual setting, also with the presence of other systems such as Alenia Aeronautica's unmanned aircraft Sky-X and Sky-Y. In the last four years, Alenia Aeronautica have completed a total of 2,500 simulation flight hours on its own Eurofighter's training systems with Italian Air Force pilots.

The Air Force's 'virtual' training procedure, in addition to Alenia's ACPT/EACPT systems is aimed at the completion of the aircrew training system for the Typhoon pilots and also the adoption of more complex systems such as the sophisticated Aircrew Synthetic Training Aids (ASTA) simulators developed by Alenia Aeronautica and Galileo Avionica together with other companies of the four Eurofighter consortium nations.

At the lower end of the air combat simulation market, the UK company The Fighter Collection, Ltd. has announced an agreement with Total Immersion Software, Inc. to provide a second development phase of the successful A-10C Desk Top Simulation (DTS) to the US Air National Guard (ANG) and US Air Force

Air Combat Command (ACC), that will be used for pilot training as part of the A10C Precision Engagement programme.

As the prime contractor, Total Immersion Software will be the lead system integrator and have responsibility for project management, co-ordination and liaison with the USAF ANG and ACC. Hardware requirements will utilise commercial, off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions. The follow-on design of the Phase Two DTS is a collaborative effort with TIS, TFC, the ANG, and ACC. The Fighter Collection will provide development services to update the DTS, which utilises its software simulation engine (TFCSE).

The US Air Force A-10C Precision Engagement (PE) upgrade programme provides enhanced precision target engagement capabilities to the A-10C Warthog aircraft with the addition of a targeting pod and the ability to deploy precision weapons such as the Joint Direct Attack Munition. The PE programme upgraded the A-10's cockpit, providing such improvements as two new multifunction colour displays, a Tactical Awareness Display with data

These training exercises, which will occur within a virtual, geospecific database, can be impacted by a variety of simulated weather conditions. link capabilities, a digital stores management system, and upgraded flight controls in the form of a Hands On Throttle And Stick (HOTAS) capability that provides the pilot with the ability to interface with the new cockpit systems and displays. The first A-10C aircraft was operationally fielded in the summer of 2007 and has since been deployed to Iraq.

The second phase of the A-10C DTS will provide support for the Situational Awareness Data Link (SADL), GPSguided weapons, new communications systems, and AGM-65E laser-guided Maverick among other features. The A-10C DTS provides low-cost, portable simulation training for pilots transitioning to the A-10C and maintaining

MARCH 2008

pilot proficiency.

Embedded F-35 airborne training The Lockheed Martin F-35 programme is one of the largest acquisition programmes in the US. The USAF will operate 1,763 F-35As, while the USMC and USN are planning to operate 680 F-35Bs and F-35Cs respectively. The UK plans to acquire 138 F-35Bs. All three variants conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) F-35A, short takeoff vertical landing (STOVL) F-35B and carrier suitable (CV) F-35C - share the same combat and survivability capabilities, but each version is specifically tailored for unique service-based needs.

A single training system will be designed, developed, tested and delivered by Lockheed Martin during the System Design and Development Contract. This system will include instructional system development, courseware, training devices, training infrastructure and integrated training centre.

Cubic Defense Applications, the defence segment of the US Cubic Corporation, is scheduled to deliver five prototypes consisting of airborne instrumentation and ground station planning and debrief software systems as part of F-35 System Development and Demonstration. The airborne training instrumentation will be installed in all F35 fighters, which are destined to replace multiple aircraft types in the United States and United Kingdom as well as Australia, and possibly Canada, Denmark, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Turkey.

Cubic and its partners, DRS Technologies Inc. and FAAC will use a P5 Internal Subsystem designed for Hornet and Harrier aircraft as the baseline for the F-35 Internal Subsystem.

FAAC will assist Cubic in developing the weapons simulations for the F-35 and its new-generation weapons systems.

Cubic's Individual Combat Aircrew Display System (ICADS) software will also be part of the F-35 combat training system that will be hosted on Lockheed Martin's Offboard Mission Subsystem (OMS) that handles a variety of functions. The development contract also contains a requirement for a fully encrypted and exportable data link, a

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first-ever component for a Cubic air combat training system.

Mission Training Centres The Boeing Company opened its first F-15E Mission Training Centre (MTC) for the US Air Force's 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, in 2007.

The centre provides two high-fideli-

The simulators were conceived to train pilots for the Typhoon procedures and at the same time to facilitate training for the most complex and realistic operational tactics Background picture: L-3 Link is supplying F-16 flight simulators to the Hellenic and Oman Air Forces.

(PHOTO: L-3 Link)

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ty, dual-cockpit F-15E simulators with a 360-degree visual system, a robust synthetic environment as well as instructor/operator and brief/debrief stations. The simulators, enhanced with a head-tracked area-of-interest display visual system, can be operated individually or linked to provide twoor four-ship training within the MTC. They also can be linked locally with two medium-fidelity F-15E Manned Combat Stations to allow local fourship training.

After a few months of operation, the MTC will join the Air Force's Distributed Mission Operations (DMO) training network.

Boeing supports this training capability with several key products, includ-

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ing the Visual Integrated Display System, Manned Combat Stations and the Big Tac Combat Environment Server, and also provides the key network elements to enable local networked and long-haul networked training.

Lockheed Martin provides the instructor/operator station, the non-combatant natural environment system and electro optical/infrared imaging system along with the geographic databases. SAIC provides the brief/debrief station.

Under the F-15E MTC contract, Boeing opened an additional F-15E MTC site in January 2008, at Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, and will open one at Royal Air Force Lakenheath in the United Kingdom in the near future. Mountain Home and Seymour Johnson each will receive a second F15E MTC in 2008.

Air Combat Training Systems Cubic Defense Applications is providing Australia's first-ever instrumented air combat training system under a new contract with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) worth nearly US$10 million.

Under this contract, Cubic supplied Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation (ACMI) pods and Individual Combat Aircrew Display Systems (ICADS) in time to support a major joint training exercise in June 2007. The ACMI pods track aircraft during training missions and record aircrews' weapons actions for after-action playback on ICADS, which allows aircrews to view training events from various perspectives during debriefing.

Under a separate contract, Cubic will be providing the Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) for ACMI operations at Williamtown and during deployments.

The CLS contract extends through the next five years, with a contract option for another five-year period.

Australia's new air combat training system is interoperable with US Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) systems to permit a comprehensive joint training program, and is also intended for deployment to multiple RAAF and joint training sites, including the RAAF's Tindal Air Base and Delamere Air Weapons Range.

The ACMI system played an important part in the Australia-US Joint Combined Training Capability (JCTC) proof of concept event during the

Talisman Sabre exercise in June 2007.

Spearheaded by the Australian Defence Force, US Joint Forces Command and US Pacific Command, with Cubic's ground combat training system, the Combat Training Capability-Live Simulation, Range Instrumentation and Information System (CTC-LIS) also playing a key role, the JCTC effort envisions networked military Live, Virtual and Constructive systems and training areas for interoperable bilateral training.

Air Defence units using the ADTS are able to train against live and virtual targets simultaneously creating high fidelity training scenarios.

The new air combat training system is also expandable, allowing the Australians the option to build on new features such as integration with electronic warfare training. The ACMI pods that Cubic delivered to Australia are of the same configuration as Cubic's Canadian ACMI system and its MOKKITS system, currently in service at US bases in Japan and South Korea.

At the end of 2007, Cubic picked up two significant contracts from Pacific Rim nations for its ACMI systems. The first was from the Japanese Air Self-

MARCH 2008

The Italian Air Force has taken delivery of two new Eurofighter simulators produced by Alenia Aeronautica.

(PHOTO: Eurofighter)

Defense Force. The system will soon be operational at Komatsu Air Base in central Japan.

The transportable system is fully interoperable with the Cubic KITS systems now being used by US pilots at Misawa and Kadena air bases in Okinawa, Japan, and Osan and Kunsan air bases in the Republic of Korea. (KITS is an acronym for Kadena Instrumented Training System, named after the first base where the system was fielded.)

The system is also fully interoperable with the Royal Australian Air Force ACMI system delivered in 2007.

The company also won a contract valued at over US$10 million to develop a new air combat training system for two Royal Thai Air Force bases. The ground systems feature Cubic's Individual Combat Aircrew Display System (ICADS) which allows pilots to monitor, control and debrief their training missions on standard PCs or laptop computers and includes many 2-D, 3-D and alphanumeric views of simulated battles.

Cubic has had a long history with Royal Thai Air Force, dating from the early 1980s when the Thai government purchased an early-generation combat training system. That system was in use at Korat from 1985 until 2000. The new systems will be delivered in March 2009 to two fighter wings at Korat and Takhli

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in Central Thailand.

Israel is also a leading supplier in the ACMI market. Last year Israel Aerospace Industries' MLM Division announced that it would supply EHUD ACMI systems for training and debriefing of air combats to two undisclosed customers, for a total value of US$41 million.

In the first country, IAI/MLM was awarded a contract for the supply of EHUD systems at a value of US$25 million. The contract was for the latest version of Air Defense Training System (ADTS) that allows for a close connection between fighter aircraft training in Left: New flight simulator systems are being developed for the new Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II combat aircraft.

(PHOTO: Lockheed Martin) Below: Saab's Planning, Evaluation, Training, Rehearsal and Analysis (PETRA) system has been delivered to Gripen operators. (PHOTO: Saab)

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AIR COMBAT SIMULATION

Although few of the current generation of fighter pilots have actually been in air-to-air combat, it is vital that they are prepared to do so in the future Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) missions and anti-aircraft batteries practicing interception.

The new system is a real-time training package that includes advanced ground-to-air and air-toground weapon simulations as well as virtual embedded training.

Air Defence units using the ADTS are able to train against live and virtual targets simultaneously creating high

fidelity training scenarios. The system provides the capability to monitor and control the exercise in realtime as well as post mission debrief.

In this project, BVR Systems Ltd. is IAI/MLM's main sub-contractor.

The customer from the second country, an Asian Air Force that already operates previous generation of EHUD systems, has decided to purchase newer, advanced EHUD systems. The systems chosen will allow for network training of aircraft in the air and will have full compatibility with previous generation EHUD systems.

IAI/MLM's EHUD ACMI system provides advanced air-to-air and airBackground picture: Boeing is opening new F-15E Mission Training Centres (MTC) at USAF bases in the United States and United Kingdom. (PHOTO: Boeing)

MARCH 2008

to-ground training and debriefing with real-time weapon simulations and scoring. These are combined with electronic warfare (EW) and a complete innovative mid-air and ground collision avoidance safety suite that warns against most flight hazards.

EHUD ACMI systems are operated by the air forces of Israel, Belgium, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, NATO Flight School, Portugal, Thailand and the United Kingdom.

Although few of the current generation of fighter pilots have actually been in air-to-air combat, it is vital that they are prepared to do so in the future, and the only way that they can be trained to fully utilize the advanced capabilities of their fourth and fifth generation combat aircraft and their weapon systems is with the latest high-tech air combat simulation systems.

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Gripen For Thailand From Big Kid On The Block To Playing Catch-Up

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has one of the longest and most colourful histories of any of the air forces in the region. Official histories of the service remind readers that it has been in existence for 92 years, having been founded only ten years after the first successful flight of a manner aircraft and a decade before the US Air Force (USAF) and its predecessor organisations were even created.

Background picture: Gripen is also seeking sales as part of the Indian M-MRCA (PHOTO: Gripen)

by Reuben F. Johnson

he Robo-soldier image of the 21st Century infantryman has done much to damage the perception of soldier modernisation programs, as it has to aid them. The first negative effect was to imply that technology could or would lead to startling and unparalleled increases in capability.

The second was to suggest that this capability was, necessarily, very expensive. Both these ideas are broadly untrue.

Its historians will tell you that the RTAF has only undergone two periods of major transformation in this almost century-long period of existence. The first was in the immediate pre-WWII period where the RTAF

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operated a mix of aeroplanes purchased from Europe and indigenously built models. By the late 1930s the RTAF was second in size and combat potential only to the air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The second period is in the postwar era and on into the 1980s, when the RTAF acquired a number of USmade models of aircraft, most notably the Northrop F-5 model. The peak of this period was the 1985 acquisition (deliveries in 1988) of the General Dynamics F-16A/B model - the first air force in the region to operate this model aircraft.

This made the RTAF the most advanced air force in the region at the time, but that technological superiority

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over its neighbours and adversaries has been eroded over time by several factors.

1) The F-5s and other older aircraft purchased before the F-16 acquisition are 30 years older or more. If their useful service life has not expired by this point then they are by now vastly inferior to the other aeroplanes now in service with other Southeast Asian air forces. Current plans now call for the F-5s to be decommissioned in 2011.

2) The Asian financial crisis of 1997 caused a number of nations in the region to defer defence acquisitions until such time as their economies had recovered. Thailand was affected as well by this regional economic disrup-

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tion, and even when some of these procurements were eventually made for the RTAF they were more modest than originally planned. For example, the RTAF had been at the time considering the purchase of new McDonnellDouglas F/A-18C/D model aeroplanes, but instead opted to increase the size of its F-16 fleet by acquiring 15 used F-16ADF models, all of which required some extensive renovation before entering service with the RTAF. 3) Other air forces in the region have greatly

increased the technological prowess of their armed forces since the late 1980s.

Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, India and China have all acquired both basic and advanced models of the Sukhoi Su-27 and Su-30 aircraft. Malaysia

purchased a mix of Mikoyan MiG-29N fighters and F/A-18Ds. India are modernising their fleet of MiG-29s and Dassasult Mirage 2000s to a 4+ generation standard, and are also preparing to purchase close to 200 medium multi-role fighter aeroplanes.

All of which has taken Thailand from the position of being the "big kid

on the block" with the newest and "shiniest" kit of any nation in the region - as they were in the late 1980s - to having to play catch-up to achieve a level of modernisation that is competitive with their neighbours.

But this is no longer a question of the RTAF simply running out to purchase the biggest, most advanced "fast mover" available to try an one-up everyone else in the

region. What Thai military planners now realise is that the fighter aircraft is just one component of a larger integrated air warfare

and combined arms order of battle. In order to modernise the air force what is required is to think about the acquisition of an entire new command and control structure in which this new

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fighter is the tip of the spear.

New Age Requirements: More Needed Than Just A New Fighter In documents obtained by Asian Military Review RTAF officialdom has laid out its requirements for a next-generation purchase of equipment by the force.

In a lengthy white paper entitled "Balanced Technology" the force lays out their rationale and requirements for its next round of acquisitions.

The authors of this posi-

tion paper, which runs in excess of 40 pages, state that great care must be taken in how the RTAF go about this procurement because "we could end up in a situation where a mission is no longer necessary because the situation changes, and we at the same time don't have the aircraft needed to be employed in another area where they are wanted."

They also point out the major requirement is not just the aircraft itself, but how well the aeroplane meshes with the overall structure of the new-age armed

forces the Thai military wants to become.

"In the future it will, except aircraft with the requested capacity, be required to have a Command and Control System C2 to efficiently command and control air missions which rely on Network Centric Operations;

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By the late 1930s the RTAF was second in size and combat potential only to the air forces of the Empire of Japan.

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Above: Gripen seen loaded with RBS-15 (PHOTO: Gripen) Below: The F-16 currently forms the base of the Royal Thai Air Forces fighter capability (PHOTO: ADF)

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

NCO, for the best possible results. If we first have to procure multi role fighter aircraft and later get equipment for command and control systems, will the budget be very high."

This is the rationale for what has become the decision to make sure that the weapons purchases for the RTAF's modernisation be "bundled" so that all platforms and the C2 system that they must work under are all purchased as part of one package.

But critics of the RTAF's procurement practices to date state that the fact that to date the force is not very well matched and that they now talk about needing this bundled package of armaments. In a December 2005 article in The Nation, a Bangkok-based newspaper that is known for being more harsh on the Thai government than other publications, one of the paper's correspondents writes that: "The top brass are trying to portray the upcoming shopping spree as a much-needed modernisation to meet new security challenges, many defence analysts are concerned about a repeat of sloppy military procure-

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ment‌The arsenal of the armed forces is notorious for its patchwork of mismatched weapons systems and substandard equipment bought hastily by military leaders approaching retirement. An infamous military joke is that soldiers get to play with faulty war toys after sending off their superiors with hefty retirement funds."

However, the paper goes on to comment that they give the MoD and the RTAF top marks for trying to avoid these past mistakes and - like their regional neighbour India - instituting specific procurement rules to avoid problems with kickback schemes and other "commissions" that have plagued past procurements. The article points out that "the [new] arms procurement contains many admirable clauses designed to ensure transparency, fair competition and technology transfer."

"The subsequent enforcement," says the paper, "will prove whether it

The Asian financial crisis of 1997 caused a number of nations in the region to defer defence acquisitions until such time as their economies had recovered. [the MoD] is sincere in modernising the armed forces, or setting the stage to commit the perfect scam, the kind that can never be proven."

With regard to characteristics and capacity of the new-generation multirole fighter aircraft that will replace the F-5 aircrafts, the RTAF white paper provides some detailed guidelines as to what the new aeroplane must be capable of and how it must be operated in service: 1. This fighter must be an aircraft with modern technology and capacity.

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There must be good preconditions for successive development in the future.

The aircraft must be at least as good as the aircraft used in, or that will be used, in neighbouring countries.

2. The aircraft has to be properly suited for the current geographical and strategic conditions for operation in the southern regions of Thailand, an an air defence fighter, and must be able to support and cooperate with other military branches and look after the country's national security interests at sea as well.

3. Systems to be procured shall form a foundation for the future development of the Royal Thai Air Force in various aspects. The supplier must also train the staff in today's and future technology. The nation must also receive technology transfer concerning the aircraft.

Royal Thai Air Force staff shall be properly trained in maintenance and service and thereby become independ-

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ent of the supplier. The Royal Thai Air Force must also be able to receive source code data from the supplier, which is an important foundation for competence within aircraft technology, weapon systems, communication systems or other systems concerned with future development of the aircraft. The overall objective is to become completely independent for all support and upgrading of the aircraft in the future.

4. The development of Command and Control System C2 plus control and warnings systems must be part of the procurement, which is a fundamental need and a necessity for the Royal Thai Air Force operations, and for cooperation between other branches in the armed forces in the defence of the nation.

5. The procurement of a multi role fighter aircraft that will replace the F-5 B/E type means an aircraft from the 4.5 generation which shall have air force capacities equal to what neighbouring countries have today.

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6. The requirement furthermore consists of command and control aircraft for airborne command, assisted by ground-based Network Centric Operations and the NCO system integrated with an airborne control and warning system (RTADS).

Sweden's Saab: RTAF's Modernisation Solution In order to fulfil requirements for Thailand the service initiated what has been known as the "RTAF 20th fighter programme." This was a competition to replace the F-5s current in service with twelve new-generation aircraft to be delivered in 2011.

The RTAF initially were studying three models of new fighters to replace their aging Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighters: the US Lockheed Martin F16C/D block 50/52, the Russian

Sukhoi Su-30MKIT - a variant similar to the Indian Air Force's Su-30MKI, and the Swedish Saab JAS-39C/D Gripen.

On 16 October 2007, information was leaked to the press was that the decision had been reached by the RTAF to acquire twelve Gripens. A source reported told the UK Reuters news agency that the F-16 had been the preferred model in order to maximise the commonality with the existing aircraft in Thai inventory, but that American legislation prevents sales to countries whose governments have been overthrown.

Saab officials tell AMR that this is an absolutely untrue, which is "easily seen by the fact that the Gripen has a US engine, and that there is no U.S. arms embargo on Thailand."

Other sources point out that

Below: Gripen's ability to integrate a wide range of differing weapons systems is another factor in Thailand's choice (PHOTO: David Karonidis)

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REGIONAL A I R

All of which has taken Thailand from the position of being the "big kid on the block" - to having to play catch-up to achieve a level of modernisation that is competitive with their neighbours.

Thailand recently awarded a US company, Rockwell Collins, was awarded a large contract in November for modernising six of the RTAF's Lockheed Martin C-130H military transport aircraft, with another six aircraft expected to follow suit. Thailand has also awarded a contract to Lockheed Martin to perform structural upgrade and life extension work on some of its older model F-16A/B models. "None of this would be taking place if there was a US law or policy preventing any defence exports to Thailand," explained a Saab official.

At a press conference on 17 October, the RTAF's decision to buy six JAS-39C/D model Gripens (with an option for six more) was presented

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Above: The inclusion of the Erieye AWACs provably makes the Gripen purchase part of an air defence system and not just platform procurement. (PHOTO: Gripen)

by Air Chief Marshal Chalit Pookpasuk. The total package calls for twelve JAS-39 Gripens, plus two Saab 340 Erieye AEW&C aircraft, and one Saab 340 without the Erieye on board, a training system, technology transfer contracts, and a number of the Saab Bofors Dynamics RBS-15 anti-ship missiles (ASM).

Due to budgetary restrictions, the current plan is for these aircraft to be delivered to the RTAF in two separate delivery programmes: The first deliveries will take place from 2008-2012 and will consist of six JAS-39 Gripen and one Saab 340 Erieye. The second will commence in 2013 to run through 2017 and will include the remaining six JAS-39 Gripens, another Saab 340 Erieye, and one Saab 340 from 2013 to 2017.

The RTAF's rationale for the selection of the Gripen/Erieye combination is spelled out in their "Balanced Technology" white paper very clearly: "Air force power consists of three important components: fighter aircraft that are generation 4.5 in technology and design, airborne early warning

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F O R C E

"The most important part of the entire deal is the NCO capacity that is offered by the ground-based C2 system and the Erieye aircraft. The Erieye's may have shorter range than some of the other options out there in Systems to be procured the market, but it has a more advanced active electronically scanning array shall form a foundation (AESA) radar. This makes for a very for the future developsynergistic combination in conjunction with the Gripen." ment of the Royal Thai The RTAF also has an ambition to Air Force in various become - as they describe it - an all Digital Air Force in the future. For aspects. The supplier these purposes the F-16 was considered must also train the staff not adequate, chiefly because of the in todays and future tech- problems that are always faced in trying to secure technology transfer from nology. The nation must the US. It is no secret that Saab and the Swedish government have always been also receive technology more open and user-friendly with transfer concerning the regard to technology transfer. aircraft.

Another plus for the Swedish package is that Thailand has no small interest in being able to more effectively defend its sea lanes and the RBS-15 ASM is the most effective solution available. F-16, for all of its positive characteristics, has not been able to offer the type of ASM capability that Thailand has been seeking.

An experienced industry observer encapsulated the Thai solution by telling AMR that "Saab is the only company that could offer the Thais everything - fighters, AEW&C aeroplanes and the network to link them altogether - all from one company in one country. What you could be seeing here is a new era in Asian military procurement: the end of the F-16 as the aeroplane of choice in Asia and the advent of a company like Saab that can offer a 'soup to nuts' capability to customers. These are customers that want a complete NCO network, Thailand has a long tradition of aircrew trained to operate current genwhich is what Saab can eration fighter aircraft. (PHOTO: ADF) AMR deliver." â–

and control aircraft, and a network system for central operation (NCO).

Following careful scrutinisation and investigation it has been obvious that the multi role aircraft JAS-39 C/D (Gripen) from Sweden is more useful for the country than other aircraft models. It suits our surroundings and environment while it at the same time can defend our independence and security. It can defend the Royal Institution and the citizens. It can increase the strength of the Royal Thai Air Force, which has undergone changes three times during 90 years and is a step towards a Digital Air Force for the future."

The procurement of the Saab package is being conducted in a government-to-government agreement in which it will be the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (the FĂśrsvarets materielverk or FMV) that is chief entity concluding the contract with the RTAF and MoD rather than Saab.

On 8 January 2008 the Thai cabinet approved the budget for the first phase of the contract.

This part of the deal is worth 19 billion Baht and is for the initial six JAS-39 Gripens - two single-seat C models and four two-seat tandem D models - along with the support, training, and spare parts. The offset package includes: one Saab 340 Erieye, one standard Saab 340, a Datalink system, and 92 Master-degrees scholarships for Thai students to study in Sweden. The first three aircraft will be delivered in January 2011 and an additional three in March 2011.

The Saab 340 and Saab 340 Erieye will be delivered in 2010.

What Matters Most Those familiar with the Thai decision tell AMR that on the surface switching from an almost

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all F-16 fleet to the Gripen does not seem to make much sense, but that in terms of the RTAF's long-term plans it actually does.

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NAVAL TECHNOLOGY

Small Ship Big Punch The growing importance of corvettes to Asia's navies, and thus export markets, is been underlined by the fact 'Ocean Patrol Vessels' (OPV) and similar small vessels can pack a significant array of weaponry. The existing and future number of Corvettes and OPVs in Asia is significant, as is their ability to manoeuvre weapons systems in a littoral environment that may limit the employment of larger platforms.

by Edward Hooten

et it is not just the smaller navies who are expressing interest in these vessels. It is clear the Royal Navy's future surface combatant fleet will have a corvette, irrespective of the name assigned to it.

The corvette has replaced the fast attack craft, which dominated the export market some 20 or 30 years ago, yet it is continuing to evolve into a multi-role platform, which further enhances its value. The weapon systems associated with corvettes are a yardstick for marking the importance of these ships.

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Surface to Surface The prime role of the corvette is AntiSurface Warfare (ASuW) and the main weapon for this is the surface-to-surface missile with radar seeker, Indonesia's Sigmas for example have the MBDA Exocet MM40. The Block I and Block II versions of this weapon have a launch weight of some 870 kilograms and a maximum range of about 40 nautical miles (70 kilometres). Indonesia has selected the Block II weapon that features an improved J-band (10-20 GHz) seeker and Global Positioning System or Galileo satellite navigation for improved target discrimination and

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

accuracy, especially against targets either close to shore or in harbours.

The improved Block III missile replaces the rocket motor with a turbo-jet that extends the range to 97 nautical miles (180 kilometres). This weapon has been selected by some Middle Eastern navies and is an option for those in the Far East. Yet while it retains the electronics of Block II it also provides the potential for a limited land-attack capability.

Saab's turbojet-powered RBS 15 missile is available and while it currently equips no Asian navy ships it is used by the Royal Malaysian Navy in

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missiles, has been selected for relatively few modern corvette designs but these do include South Korea's Po Hang class.

The later vessels of this class, those commissioned from 1989, have the earlier version of the missile and Singapore's Victory class and the Royal Thai Navy also use the missile. The latter's Pattani class Offshore Patrol Vessels are designed to accept surfaceto-surface missiles, although none are currently installed, and Harpoon must be regarded as the prime weapon.

The latest Block 1 D and Block 2 weapons weigh some 924 kilograms and have a range of up to 130 nautical miles (240 kilometres) and the latter are designed specifically for littoral operations. The weapon has improved seeker and GPS while the Block 3 weapon currently under development for the US Navy will have a data link for in-flight targeting. Israeli weapons (Block 2-I) apparently already have Left: The Rolling Air Frame missile is fast becoming the bench mark standard for small vessel close in defence (PHOTO: Raytheon) Below: The 27mm Rheinmetall cannon is adapted from the gun system used in the Tornado. (PHOTO: Rheinmetall)

this feature and possibly an improved seeker and, as with later Exocets, the newest versions of Harpoon also have a land-attack capability.

The Russian equivalent of the Harpoon, the 3M24 Uran (SS-N-25 'Switchblade') is used in India's Kora class and Tarantul I (Veer) class corvettes. This is a 603 kilogramme turbo-jet powered weapon with a range of 70 nautical miles (130 kilometres).

However, the longer-ranged Novatar 3K54TE Granat (SS-N-21 'Sampson') has reportedly been selected for India's latest corvettes, the Project 28.

This weapon is part of the Klub family and is unusual in being verticallylaunched as well as weighing a whopping 3,665 kilograms, yet its range is only 120 nautical miles (220 kilometres). This weapon uses inertial navigation and active radar homing as does the Chinese C-802 (CSS-N-8 'Saccade'), a weapon akin to Exocet and Harpoon, in Algeria's later Djebel Chenoua class.

The 715 kilogramme turbo-jet powered missile has a range of up to 65 nautical miles (120 kilometres).

All these weapons are sub-sonic, with a maximum velocity of about Mach 0.9, but Russia's latest Scorpion class use the ramjet-powered supersonic 3M55 Oniks or Yakhont (SS-N-

fast attack craft and must be regarded as an option for the Kedah (MEKO 100) class 'New Generation Patrol Vessels (NGPV)'. This 780-kilograms weapon also has a range of some 40 nautical miles, although this is extended in the Mk 3, whose launch rate is 800 kilograms, to 110 nautical miles (200 kilometres) through the introduction of higher-energy JP-10 fuel. As with the later Exocets the missile also benefits from GPS satellite navigation because it was designed specifically for use in Sweden's coastal archipelago, being used in that country's corvettes.

The Boeing Harpoon, which is globally one of the most common anti-ship

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The Sea Fox could enable a Corvette or OPV to have posses a mine hunting and clearance capability. This would redefine the operational employment of the vessel. (PHOTO: Atlas)

26). A similar weapon has been developed with India at BrahMos and is in volume production for the latter's forces, although at present none are known to be for corvettes. The 3,000 kilogramme weapon can travel in excess of Mach 2.2 but has a useful range of 160 nautical miles (300 kilometres) using inertial and active seeker guidance and India is known to be planning dual-use (antishipping/land-attack) roles for the missile. It is possible that one of these Russian-designed weapons will be selected as the prime armament of Venezuela's Patrullero Oceanico de Vigilancia de la ZEE (EEZ Ocean Patrol Ships) being built by Navantia for it seems unlikely that most Western manufacturers would supply these ships with modern surface-tosurface weapons without incurring Washington's wrath.

role at ranges up to 10.75 nautical miles (20 kilometres) while the high rate of fire (85 rounds per minute) provide a degree of AAW capability. But increasingly corvette customers select the Super Rapid version of the mounting with improved feed and hoist systems that permit 120 rounds per minute. This mounting has been selected by Brunei, India (Project 28) and Singapore.

The weapon systems associated with corvettes are a yardstick for marking the importance of these ships.

Guns The other element of the ASuW weapon suite is the medium calibre gun. The most common ordnance is the Oto Melara 76mm 62 calibre gun.

The 7.5 tonne Compact Mounting is in most of India's Koras, Malaysia's Kedahs and Assad (Laksamna) as well as Thailand's Tapis and Pattanis.

The 76mm gun offers the optimum between low mass and high effect with the 12 kilogramme rounds being useful not only against surface ships but also in the Naval Gun Fire Support (NGFS) Right: Exocet has been the traditional anti-surface missile for over 30 years (PHOTO: MBDA)

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Anti-Air The greater size of the corvette compared with the fast attack craft means there is better provision for AAW missions. The ships are too small for a wide or local area defence but many are capable of self-defence. The Israeli Barak system is typical and has been selected by Singapore for the Victorys

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and by India for the Project 28. The missile features command-to-line-ofsight guidance with Elta EL/M2221GM weapon control radars and is housed in vertical cell clusters which may be inserted in the hull or superstructure or distributed around the deck. The missile has a range of 6.5 nautical miles (12 kilometres) and can be used not only against manned or unmanned aircraft but also to help shield against anti-ship missiles.

A similar capability is in the Raytheon RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM), which is based upon the Sidewinder air-to-air missile but features both electro-optical and radarhoming sensors making it a fire-andforget weapon. It is housed in a rotatable 21-cell launcher which may be installed on the superstructure and the

The greater size of the corvette compared with the fast attack craft means there is better provision for AAW missions. missile has a range of 5 nautical miles (9.5 kilometres) while the latest version Block I HAS Helicopter, Aircraft and Surface is designed to engage a wider range of targets including small attack craft in a demanding environment.

Although the system is marketed it currently has not been selected for any corvettes in the region.

MBDA have had several surface-toair missile systems selected for corvettes. The Seawolf VL (Vertical Launch) has been selected for Brunei's

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Brunei class ships, which are now for sale to other customers, while the company's new VL Mica has been selected for a Middle Eastern customer.

Seawolf is a command-to-line-of-sight missile supported by the Type 911 radar and has a range of 3.2 nautical miles (6 kilometres) while VL Mica features a combination of command, inertial and either active radar or infra-red seeker. The missile is also in vertical cells, which may be arranged to meet the customer's requirements, and it has a range of up to 10.75 nautical miles (20 kilometres).

Derivatives of man-portable surface-to-air missiles with electro-optical Below: Sea Wolf has vertical launch capability. (PHOTO: MBDA)

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guidance have also been selected for some ships offering lightweight but more restricted capability. The Russian Strela 2 (SA-N-5 'Grail') is used in India's Kora class while Indonesia's Sigmas will have the MBDA Mistral in the Tetral remotely-operated launcher with four missile launchers.

Light (40mm and below) gun systems are used for point defence against air threats and for operations against smaller surface vessels. The Bofors 40mm L/70 gun has been used extensively by corvette designs in the past, with mountings from both Bofors and Oto Melara, and is used in Indonesia's

The 3,000 kilogramme weapon can travel in excess of Mach 2.2 but has a useful range of 160 nautical miles (300 kilometres) using inertial and active seeker guidance‌.

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Fatahillah and South Korea's Po Hangs. The latter uses the latest, Mk 3, version which features improvements to the elevated mass designed to provide a 10% increase in firing rate to 330 rounds per minute and this can also use the 3P (Pre-fragmented

Top: The MU-90 has considerable potential once integrated onto a small platform.

(PHOTO: David Karonidis)

Programmable Proximity) round which can be adjusted for proximity, impact or post-impact detonation.

AGM-84 Harpoon seen during launch. (PHOTO: US Navy)

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NAVAL TECHNOLOGY

Derivatives of manportable surface-to-air missiles with electrooptical guidance have also been selected for some ships offering lightweight but more restricted capability.

Russia's AK-630, with associated MR-123 ('Bass Tilt') radar, has been selected for India's Project 28 and is a compact mounting weighing only 3.7 tonnes (loaded) and the Gatling-principle 30mm gun of 5,000 rounds per minute and a range of up to 2.5 nautical miles (5 kilometres). The Western equivalent is the Raytheon Phalanx with on-mount Lockheed-Electronics AN/UPS-2 radar. This weighs between 5.6 and 6.12 tonnes with a rate of fire between 3,000 and 4,500 rounds per minute depending upon the version, the latest updates providing a capability against small surface vessels. However, of the most recent corvette designs only Israel's Eilat has this gun system, another version of which replaces the guns with RAM missiles as SeaRAM. However, none have yet been selected for an Asian navy corvette design.

Remotely operated stabilised gun mountings capable of accepting different guns are especially well adapted to the modern corvette market.

Rheinmetall have developed the MLG (Marine Leicht GeschĂźtz) and their MLG 27 a 27mm revolver gun which has been selected for the new Dutch Offshore Patrol Vessels and Germany's Braunschweig class. Weighing only 850 kilogrammes this mounting has a rate of fire of up to 1,700 rounds per minute up to 2 nautical miles (4 kilometres) and versions are also available with 25mm and 30mm guns. MSI Defence Systems have the DS family of mountings which can accept 25mm to 30mm guns, the latest

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being the DS 30M Mk 2 with Bushmaster II. The mountings weigh less than 1.5 tonnes and versions are available with man-portable surfaceto-air missiles and even surface-to-surface rockets. While both mountings are being actively marketed in Asia none have yet been selected for a corvette.

Anti-Sub The corvette also has potential for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and many now carry launcher systems for lightweight (32-40 centimetre diameter) torpedoes. These weapons have a passive sonar to detect the target while travelling at relatively low speeds in a search pattern and then an active sonar which can be used to engage it. The Raytheon Mk 46 has been selected for the Sigmas and Fatahillas as well as Royal Thai Navy ships. The weapon has a range of up to 5 nautical miles (9.25 kilometres) and a maximum speed of 45 knots.

Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei (WASS) produce the A 244/S which is used by Singapore's Victory class and will probably be used by India's Project 28. The weapon, which is licence-produced by Bharat Electronics Ltd in India, has a maximum range of 7.25 nautical miles (13.5 kilometres) and a maximum speed of 38 knots. WASS and DCN have combined their efforts to produce the MU-90 Impact which may also be used in India's Project 28s. This has a

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similar range to the A 244/S but a maximum speed of up to 50 knots and a more advanced guidance system.

One feature of a corvette's weapon system, which is likely to see greater expansion, is the addition of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV). The corvette is increasingly seen, even by major navies such as Britain's Royal Navy, as a prospective mine counter-measures platform using UUVs and the way is being shown by Sweden's Visbys which will operate the Saab Double Eagle for reconnaissance and the Atlas Seafox for mine destruction. Unmanned Surface Vessels (USV) may also be operated in the future both for the AsuV and the ASW roles, and an indication of the potential trend has been shown by Singapore.

The island state has acquired two Rafael Protector USVs, which are based upon a rigid inflatable boat and has an electro-optical sensor pod, Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation and is armed with a 12.7mm remotely operated machinegun. It has an endurance of eight hours and can be used for ship protection, electronic reconnaissance and mine countermeasures. One was operated by the Singapore landing ship RSS Resolution in the Gulf when that ship was deployed in 2004-2005 but clearly corvettes can also operate them.

The corvette is becoming an extremely versatile multi-role platform whose AMR potential is still to be reached. â–

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AUSTRALIA HMAS Adelaide Decommissioned

he Royal Australian Navy (RAN) guided missile frigate, HMAS Adelaide, was officially decommissioned at Garden Island in Western Australia in mid-January.

The frigate had notched up 27 years of service in the RAN. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Dr Mike Kelly; the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Russ Shalders, and the Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Nigel Coates, were among the guest at the ceremony.

HMAS Adelaide was the second of six former US Perry-class frigates to be decommissioned, the first being HMAS Canberra in November 2005.

The vessel was constructed by Todd Pacific Shipyard in the US, and commissioned into the RAN on 15 November 1980. The ship is to be gift-

T

ed to the NSW Government and sunk off the coast at Terrigal to provide an artificial reef and dive attraction.

RAAF receives final C-17 The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) took delivery of its fourth C17 Globemaster III transport aircraft at a ceremony at Boeing's Long Beach, California, manufacturing facility late last week.

The delivery of the fourth and final aircraft in the order was achieved on time and on budget. The new aircraft is now expected to join the three C-17s already delivered to form part of the RAAF's No. 36 Squadron, an airlift unit based in Amberley, Queensland.

The C-17 project's A$2.2 billion budget includes the construction of permanent facilities for No. 36 Squadron and its support agencies at RAAF Base Amberley.

The RAAF's C-17 capability was officially stood-up in September last year after successfully completing

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Above picture: Taiwan, Controversial Airstrip (PHOTO: Google Earth)

eight months of intensive Introduction-into-Service activities to achieve the Initial Operating Capability (IOC).

First flight of Wedgetail aircraft modified in Australia Boeing announced in late January that it had conducted a successful functional check flight of the first 737 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft modified in Australia for Project Wedgetail.

During the 2.5 hour flight on 23 January from Royal Australian Air Force Base Amberley, test pilots performed a series of functional tests that verified the airworthiness of the aircraft's systems and structures.

The flight followed major aircraft modifications performed by Boeing Australia, including the installation

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

and checkout of an advanced Multirole Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) antenna, ventral fins and mission system equipment.

The aircraft underwent an additional mission functional check flight prior to returning to the US, where it began a five month development and type acceptance flight test programme. The aircraft will then return to Australia to complete configuration updates and production acceptance testing prior to delivery.

Boeing is now expected to deliver the first two Wedgetail aircraft in March 2009 and the remaining four aircraft by the end of 2009 several years later than initially expected.

The Wedgetail project includes six 737 AEW&C aircraft plus ground support segments for mission crew training, mission support and system maintenance. Modification of four aircraft in Amberley is under way, with the first two completing modification in Seattle prior to entering the flight test programme.

Smart munitions GIWS, a joint subsidiary of Rheinmetall and Diehl Stiftung & Co., announced in January that it had received orders from both the UK and Australia for its intelligent artillery munition SMArt 155. The combined contracts are valued at more than EUR120 million.

The sensor fused munition SMArt 155, DM 702A1 was originally developed for the German armed forces and has been operative there since 2000.

Other customers include Greece and Switzerland.

SMArt 155 provides the artillery with greater operational accuracy while simultaneously reducing collateral damage and logistic burden when compared to current high explosive rounds. Moreover, it enables protection as well as an effective increase in the combat forces' capability to prevail at considerably higher cost effectiveness.

SMArt can be fired from any 155mm artillery system and is equipped with high performance sensors as well as intelligent signal processing. Once fired, the munition seeks its targets independently regardless of environmental conditions.

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INDIA

Submarine upgrade halted ndian officials have put a brake on the refit program of its Kilo class (Sindhugosh Class) submarines after it returned S62 INS Sindhuvijay to the contractor, citing unacceptable performance with its new sub-launched Klub missiles.

Several of the Indian Navy's Kilo class submarines have 9M36 Strela-3 (SA-N-8) surface to air missile launchers placed in the fin. These vessels are now being upgraded with the Strela systems being replaced by OKB Novator's subsonic Klub-S 3M-54E1 (SS-N-27 Sizzler) anti ship missile (ASM) with a 220km range.

The ASM capability is a new addition to the IN's submarine fleet and is the centrepiece of India's 'Improved Sindhugosh Class'. In addition to the Klub-S, the submarines are also being completely overhauled including its hull structure, as well as improved control systems, sonar, electronic warfare systems, and an integrated weapon control system.

However, the reported problems with INS Sindhuvijay's ASM integration are now likely to cause a major disruption to the project. The delay could prove expensive for both parties with upgrades reportedly costing $80 million per boat.

I

Artillery tender Indian officials said In January that they had issued a Request for Proposals (RfP) from leading international defence manufacturers to supply the Indian Army with new light guns. The procurement of the artillery systems is part of a larger modernisation of the army's artillery forces that is projected to cost as much as $2.5 billion.

The RfP is for the procurement of 140 light howitzer guns to supply the Indian Army's mobile forces and that can also be airlifted in to areas of difficult terrain.

Separately, the army is expected to issue an RfP for the procurement of 155mm artillery systems. Among the systems vying for the contract will be BAE Systems M777 gun.

As with the majority of Indian programmes, procurement officials are expecting to purchase part of the consignment off the shelf and negotiate the licence production of the rest of the systems in India.

The new tender re-launches the project that was halted last year in the face of scandal and mismanagement. India had

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been testing systems from Israel, South Africa and the UK, but said that the systems on offer did not meet the changed requirement. The delay is believed to have had significant implication for the modernisation plans of the army.

C-130 buy In late January, India's Cabinet Committee on Security gave final approval for the proposed Indian Air Force (IAF) purchase of six C-130J Hercules transport aircraft at a reported cost of US$1.02 billion.

The aircraft are being procured under the USA's Foreign Military Sales programme and mark a major turning point in relations between India and the US. The deal has apparently been pushed heavily by US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates as a way of strengthening ties and gaining US access to the lucrative Indian defence market.

The six C-130Js, which will be supplied by Lockheed Martin, are being made available in a special forces configuration that includes the AN/AAR-47 missile approach warning system and radar warning receivers. The aircraft will increase the operational capability of India's seven special forces battalions.

The last US aircraft to be procured by the IAF was the Fairchild C-119 in the 1950s.

40 more Hawks The Indian Air Force announced in January that it is to acquire a further 40 Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers from BAE Systems to add to the 66 aircraft it already has on order. The Indian Navy will get a further 17 aircraft bringing the total to be procured to 123.

India originally signed a $1.75 billion contract in March 2004 for the 66 aircraft with 24 to be built in the UK by BAE Systems and the remaining 42 built under license in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which is hoping to complete manufacturing the aircraft in 36 months. The first HAL built aircraft is scheduled to roll out in March this year.

Local officials told reporters that work on the follow-on batch of 57 aircraft, which will also be built in India could start in 2011-12. But analysts worry that this sets a very tight timeframe in which the company must deliver the aircraft. There are also worries about the build quality of indigenously developed components.

REGIONAL NEWS A N D

INDONESIA

Jakarta to receive radars ndonesia is in the process of taking delivery of seven new coastal radar systems that it originally signed a contract for in 2006. Under a US$16.2 million US Foreign Military Sales deal Jakarta ordered the radars to strengthen coverage in the Makassar Strait.

Meeting with local reporters Indonesia's defence minister Juwono Sudarsono said that the country would begin taking delivery of the systems this year. He added that the purpose of installing the system was to strengthen maritime defence and security in the Southeast Asian region.

The radars are being produced by US based Techno-Science under a contract with the US Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command. As well as the radars the project also includes improvements in the communications capabilities at the Indonesian Navy Headquarters Command Centre.

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MALAYSIA

India offers training help for Su-30s ndia's defence minister A.K. Antony announced in January that the Indian Air Force (IAF) will assist in training the Royal Malaysian Air Force's (RMAF) pilots to fly their new generation of Russian fighter aircraft as part of a pact to upgrade defence cooperation between the two countries.

In talks with his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak Antony also agreed to hold joint military exercises and strengthen joint efforts to combat regional terrorism.

Antony said the IAF and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited would train Malaysian pilots and technicians on the operation and maintenance of the eighteen Su30-MKM fighters that Kuala Lumpur recently procured from Russia.

So far Malaysia has taken delivery of six aircraft, but until now pilots have had to go to Russia for training.

Although the RMAF has some of the necessary expertise the assistance from the IAF will help realise the full potential of the aircraft.

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SOUTH KOREA

New Zealand signs munitions supply agreement outh Korea and New Zealand have sealed a munitions supply agreement that will enhance the formers ability to secure munitions during peacetime and war, the Republic of Korea defence ministry announced in late January.

The agreement came at the end of two-year negotiations through the Pacific Area Senior Officer Logistics Seminar, an annual seminar organised by the US Pacific Command, the ministry confirmed in a statement.

'The agreement for munitions supplies between Korea and New Zealand will not only help safely secure a source of munitions during war and peacetime through mutual cooperation, but it is also expected to help boost (Korea's) exports in the armaments industry,' the statement said.

Seoul is also seeking to further secure supplies with similar agreements being pursued with Israel, Turkey and the Philippines.

S

Fighter project under attack The Korea Development Institute (KDI) has issued conclusions to a report that call in to question Seoul's ability to develop a homegrown, next-generation fighter aircraft. The program, dubbed KF-X, aims to produce a multi-role fifthgeneration aircraft by 2020 to replace the country's F-4Es and F5Es, but the institute branded the project as unviable.

The Defence Acquisition Program Administration was quick to defend the project saying that the institute's report was for reference only and that the project would be carried out in view of other factors such as export prospects and technological capacity. However, the KDI report says the project would generate weak economic effect in proportion to the potential investment costs.

The report has led to a flurry of

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press reports questioning the South Korean ambitions giving the problems other countries have had trying to kick-start fifth-generation fighter projects. Some reports have estimated the development cost potentially as high as KRW10 trillion ($10 billion). The defence ministry is conducting a feasibility study this year after which it expects to launch the project to mass produce domestic next generation fighter jets by 2020 with the goal to build 120 units in a bid to secure proprietary technology.

First 214 Class submarine delivered The Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN) has taken over command of the first of three Class 214 submarines, that it is procuring from Germany, marking delivery of the boat.

The design and major components of the advanced diesel electric submarines equipped with outer-air-independent fuel cell propulsion systems was provided

by German based HowaldtswerkeDeutsche Werft (HDW), part of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.

The Class 214 submarines for the RoKN are being built under license from HDW at the Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea. The transfer of technology was a key part of the deal that was struck by Seoul and marks a major advance in military technology for the country.

The submarine, named Son Won II, will reinforce the RoKN's existing submarine which consists of nine 209 Class boats. The new 214 Class has a displacement of approximately 1,700 tons, is 65m long and operated by a regular crew of 27.

It has a combined diesel electric and fuel cell propulsion system.

Equipped with ultra-modern sensors and an integrated Command and Weapon Control System, it is optimally suited to its future reconnaissance and surveillance tasks.

After Germany and Italy, Seoul is the third customer to begin operating the boats.

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REGIONAL NEWS A N D

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

PAKISTAN

Air chief talks up capabilities

US plans to train security forces in Pakistan

he Chief of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mehmood Ahmed, in late Jaunary, said that the PAF will procure both airborne early warning radars and air-to-air refuelling (AAR) capabilities by 2009.

ACM Tanvir was speaking at a ceremony held to mark the 50th anniversary of the PAF's two combat groups and was keen to highlight the success of the organisation. He said that the PAF would get its first squadron of JF-17 Thunder fighters later this year and would also pursue the purchase of further F-16 fighters from the US by 2010.

The reasons for the PAF's desire to get an AAR capability remain unclear with its fighters not needing the capability with regard to local rival India.

Potentially the capability could be used for the refuelling of the country's maritime patrol aircraft or could be used in conjunction with an airborne early warning system to keep the aircraft on station longer.

According to US press reports, the US Department of Defense is planning to send military personnel to Pakistan to train its security forces. The plans are further evidence of renewed cooperation with Pakistan despite the difficult political situation in the country.

Reports say that mission would be limited to instructing Pakistani trainers in order to circumvent any opposition from within Pakistan over a US deployment to the country. The US trained personnel would then train local security forces.

The DoD is keen not to undermine stability in Pakistan, but sees a benefit in training Pakistani security forces, which have so far performed badly in tackling insurgents in the countries unruly frontier provinces.

In part the training reflects on the influence of Pakistan's new army chief of staff General Ashfaq Kiani who replaced President Pervez Musharraf in the role last November. The general is reported to want to get the military in an improved state to combat militants and sees the need for external advice and training.

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TAIWAN

Controversial airstrip aiwan's Ministry of National Defence announced, in January, the completion of a controversial airstrip on Taiping Islet in the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. According to Taipei, the 1,150 m wide runway was tested in mid January, when a C-130 transport aircraft became the first military aircraft to land on the island.

The new military airstrip could potentially inflame tensions in the region. A number of countries have laid claim to the Spratly Islands, which have both strategic and resource advantages.

No other nation has yet condemned Taiwan's move, but the airstrip is likely to become a sticking point on talks over the future of the islands.

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Government asks US to expedite approval of F16C/D sale In January, Taiwan's president Chen

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Shui-bian asked the US to approve a quick sale of 66 F-16C/D fighters to the island as the missile threat from mainland China grows. The president said that the country's legislative Yuan has already approved the funds for the aircraft and now was the time for the US to give final approval to the deal.

Washington is believed to have deferred a decision on the fighters because of Chen's stated plans to hold a referendum on the status of Taiwan alongside presidential elections in March. However, those plans were dealt a blow after Chen's party lost heavily in parliamentary elections in January.

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence says that it needs the aircraft to combat the growing threat from modern weaponry being developed by China. Also in January, pictures of new Chinese air-to-air missiles emerged on the Internet that indicate that Beijing is working on a new generation of weapons.

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

THAILAND

Second phase C-130 contract awarded hai Aviation Industries has awarded Rockwell Collins the second phase of a contract to upgrade the Royal Thai Air Force's (RTAF) fleet of C-130 transport aircraft with an integrated Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management system.

Under an initial phase contract Rockwell has already worked on upgrading the avionics of six C-130s and Phase 2 will include the avionics system upgrade for the final six aircraft of the RTAF's twelve strong fleet. The company said that Phase 2 would also include a System Integration Laboratory to support the RTAF's maintenance of the avionics system and pilot familiarisation with it.

Rockwell Collins will deliver the upgraded solution based on its Flight2 avionics system, which includes an Ethernetbased Integrated Processing Center with flight management capabilities and large format multifunction liquid crystal displays. The upgrade also includes the Rockwell Collins Multi-mode Receiver, TCAS II Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System, weather radar, autopilot, as well as communications capabilities consisting of SATCOM, High Frequency and Very/Ultra High Frequency radios.

The enhancement will allow the RTAF's C-130 fleet unrestricted access to civil airspace by providing required navigation performance compliance and Automatic Dependent SurveillanceBroadcast capability. The system also supports growth to Controller Pilot Data Link AMR Communications. â–

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