Asian Military Review - March/April 2009

VOLUME 17/ISSUE 2

ASIA PACIFIC’S

MARCH/APRIL 2009 US$15

LARGEST

CIRCULATED

DEFENCE

MAGAZINE

AIRBORNE RADARS AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE GROUND ISR HOMELAND SECURITY NAVAL GUNS AFV UPGRADES

www.asianmilitaryreview.com

Protected vehicle systems

Air defence systems

Future soldier systems

C4ISTAR

Innovative defence technologies As one of Europe’s leading suppliers of technology for ground forces, Rheinmetall Defence equips the world’s armed forces with an extensive array of vehicle systems with optimised protection concepts, C-RAM-capable air defence, precise weapon systems and ammunition, network-enabled sensors and optronics, state-of-the-art infantry technology, and high-performance simulation and training systems. Our unrivalled ability to integrate individual components into system solutions makes Rheinmetall Defence a powerful partner–for naval and air force applications, too.

More information at: www.rheinmetall-defence.com Come and visit us at Imdex Asia 2009, Singapore Expo, Hall 2, Stand No. 314.

Rheinmetall AG · Corporate Sector Defence · Rheinmetall Platz 1 · 40476 Düsseldorf · Germany

Weapon systems and ammunition

Simulation and training systems

Contents MARCH/APRIL 2009 VOLUME 17 / ISSUE 2

10 AFVs:

A longer life Front Cover Photo: The Australian Army has fitted slat armour and remote weapon stations to its GDLS-Canada ASLAV-Personnel Carriers, for service in Afghanistan and Iraq. The 50 or so ASLAVs deployed in Iraq were fitted with a survivability package consisting of new spall liners supplied by Canadian firm Armatec, a locally developed bar armour system and the same Kongsberg M151 Protector remote weapon station fitted to the US Army’s Strykers. GDLS - Australia studied the bar armour fitted to Strykers and a prototype system designed for the AM General High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle before developing its own light weight system based on the Humvee design (Photo: U.S. Navy)

Ian Kemp Militaries engaged in fighting the Global War on Terror are upgrading vehicles with additional armour protection, remote-controlled weapon stations and situational awareness tools.

Carrying this extra weight, especially in the punishing terrain of Afghanistan, has required a raft of improvements to platforms often originally designed for Western Europe

Australia: Serious about defence

Homeland Security Roles For Asia-Pacific Militaries

04

16

John Mulberry Australia is in the process of a major overhaul of its military machine with the Australian Defence Force either acquiring or set to acquire a number of major new capabilities over the next decade. The Defence Material Organisation has a lot on its plate including over 230 current major projects and a capital expenditure budget of more than A$4.6 billion in 2008-09

Gordon Arthur Modern terrorists have turned homelands into frontlines with the use of asymmetric threats, including Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear weapons. Armed forces throughout the Asia-Pacific region, once focussed almost exclusively on deterrence and war-fighting missions, are increasingly being tasked with the homeland security role

A Grounding in Surveillance

Eyes of the Tiger

Naval Guns: Fire from the waves

22

28

34

Adam Baddeley Ground based surveillance systems lack the inherent individual capability offered by their airborne counterparts. They more than compensate for this shortcoming by their terrestrial persistence and sheer numbers, their lower cost enabling affordable collective, wide area coverage. Today’s ground sensors are seeded across the battlefield; accompanying armoured columns in conventional warfare, dismounted patrols on counterinsurgency operations as well as protecting bases, high value facilities and securing borders and against infiltration by terrorists

Tim Mahon Airborne radars take many forms and come in many shapes and guises. Ranging from agile electronically-steered combat radar for fast fighter and ground attack aircraft to rather more ponderous – but no less powerful or effective – arrays mounted on larger airframes for maritime surveillance or airborne early warning and control. Airborne radar has been the subject of intense scrutiny and immense investment in the last thirty years, with results on the pace and effectiveness of aerial combat that would be difficult to overstate

Thomas Withington Even with the dominance of the missile in the land attack role, there remains an important role for the naval gun. Sea-based terrorist attacks such as that on the USS Cole, coupled with the use of small boats for maritime piracy and the ever present risk of air and missile attack ensure that naval vessels still require hard-hitting guns

MARCH/APRIL 2009

01

THE ARMED FORCES HAVE WILLIAM STENHOUSE. After a tent fire in Iraq destroyed a reserve of equipment, the Armed Forces urgently needed a thousand uniforms delivered to the heart of a remote desert. At a strategic Defense Distribution Center in Southwest Asia, Agility’s William Stenhouse was in the perfect position to help. His team processed, tracked and airlifted a whirlwind 1,223 orders in 24 hours. With William by their side, service members are always supplied wherever they go.

THE ARMED FORCES HAVE AGILITY.

Photo by LCPL Park, USMC

William Stenhouse DDKS Project Manager Agility, Kuwait

agilitylogistics.com

Editorial

Index of Advertisers AGILITY BAE SYSTEMS BRIDEX EADS ELBIT IAI IDET IMDEX ODF RHEINMETALL SINAGPORE AIRSHOW 2010 TEXTRON THALES

02 13 39 19 07 4th Cover 33 3rd Cover 21 2nd Cover 41 15 25

Expecting the unexpected is astonishingly and inherently difficult. Typically, these new threats are far outside the norms of defence planning, permitting only reactive and typically ineffective responses to often significant strategic surprises. 9/11, the Iraq insurgency and global counter terror operations all challenged US conventional wisdom, despite being the products of long term trends.

Advertising Offices Australia Charlton D'Silva, Mass Media Publicitas Tel: (61 2) 9252 3476 E-Mail: cdsilva@publicitas.com France/Spain Stephane de Remusat, REM International Tel: (33) 5 3427 0130 E-Mail: sremusat@aol.com

What these threats have in common is that they sought to circumvent the strengths of their adversary, in this case the US, by conducting their ‘war’ outside formal norms, using terrorism, other flavours of political violence and social action. In response, the US has had to integrate several non-conventional approaches and blend them to create an effective response. This however, has had to be done over time, with several false starts, incurring costs in both blood and treasure.

Germany/Austria/Switzerland/UK Sam Baird, Whitehill Media Tel: (44-1883) 715 697 Mobile: (44-7770) 237 646 E-Mail: sam@whitehillmedia.com India Xavier Collaco, Media Transasia India Limited Tel: (91) 11 2686 8775 E-Mail: xavier@mediatransasiaindia.com Israel/Turkey Liat Heiblum, Oreet - International Media Tel: (97 2) 3 570 6527 E-Mail: liat@oreet-marcom.com Italy Emilio Zerboni, Media And Trade Tel: (39) 031 267 797 E-Mail: e.zerboni@mediaandtrade.com Russia Alla Butova, NOVO-Media Ltd, Tel/Fax : (7 3832) 180 885 Mobile : (7 960) 783 6653 Email :alla@mediatransasia.com, allbbo@online.sinor.ru Scandinavia/Benelux/South Africa Karen Norris, T K Associates Tel: (44) 1435 884 027 E-Mail: tony.kingham@worldsecurity-index.com Singapore/Malaysia Dr. Rosalind Lui, TSEA International Tel: (65) 6458 7885 Mobile : (65) 9886 3762 E-Mail: drrosalind@tsea.com South Korea Young Seoh Chinn, Jes Media Inc. Tel: (82-2) 481 3411/13 E-Mail: jesmedia@unitel.co.kr USA (East/South East)/Canada Margie Brown, Margie Brown & Associates.

Tel : (+1 540) 341 7581 Email :margiespub@rcn.com USA (West/South West)/Brazil Diane Obright, Blackrock Media Inc. Tel: +1 (858) 759 3557 Email: blackrockmedia@cox.net

M

uch mirth was generated by the use of the terms; ‘knownunknowns’ and ‘unknown-unknowns’ by the US Department of Defense. This amusement masks the very serious goals behind the language, namely how to anticipate and prepare for strategic shocks that change the environment and which can’t be solved by the application of classical instruments of military power.

Hedging against every possibility is never possible. But that shouldn’t stop us trying. Militaries have to prepare for complex future shocks, and you can’t find something if you are not looking for it. To do so requires bureaucratic conservatism to be swapped for imagination and for the leadership to commit to ongoing predictive analysis of trends and strategic developments that may translate into future threats. This is particularly true for those threats and events dubbed ‘Black Swans’; critical but unusual events whose onset is so rapid it becomes difficult to respond with the conventional tools to hand.

Traditionally traditions change. Yes, that will draw some resources away from those traditional capabilities. If conventional defence capabilities are inappropriate to deal with a clear and present danger and those same military forces are tasked with addressing that threat, unless they want to be sidelined in ‘a’ or ‘the’ strategic debates of the future then, the rationale for change is surely inescapable.

New institutions will have to be built and cultural change embarked upon. This however is the only way for countries to either to anticipate and avoid ‘Pearl Harbours’ or respond promptly and effectively to their aftermath.

Adam Baddeley, Editor

Editor: Adam Baddeley E-mail: adam@baddeley.net

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

Operations Office: President: Egasith Chotpakditrakul International Marketing Manager: Vishal Mehta Assistant Art Director: Subrata Jana Production Manager: Kanda Thanakornwongskul Group Circulation Supervisor: Porames Chinwongs Media Transasia Thailand Ltd. 75/8, 14th Floor, Ocean Tower II, Soi Sukhumvit 19, Sukhumvit Road, Klongtoeynue, Wattana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand.

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

MARCH/APRIL 2009

Audit Bureau of Circulations

Subscription Information ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW can be obtained by subscription. Subscription rate for one year (8 issues) is U.S.$ 100.00 Readers should contact the following address: Subscription Department, Media Transasia Ltd. Room No. 1205-1206, Hollywood Centre 233, Holywood Road, Central, Hong Kong.

Tel: (852) 2815 9111, Fax: (852) 2851 1933

03

REGIONAL M I L I T A R Y

Serious about defence Australia is in the process of a major overhaul of its military machine with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) either acquiring, or set to acquire a number of major new capabilities over the next decade. Both the new Labor government and its Liberal predecessor recognise that Australia needs a strong defence capability for the 21st Century, although they sometimes disagree on the details of that capability. A new Defence White Paper, outlining where the new Labor government will diverge from previous Liberal policies is expected to be released shortly.

by John Mulberry

The army is using its new Bushmaster vehicles extensively in operations in Afghanistan. (Australian DoD)

04

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

REGIONAL M I L I T A R Y

ecent years have seen a steady increase in the Department of Defence’s budget, both to support ongoing commitments and to recapitalise the ADF. Those commitments are far flung and have tested the capabilities of Defence to the limits. Australia plays a major role in the region’s stability, with missions in East Timor and the Solomon Islands. However, the government of John Howard also perceived Australia’s commitments as reaching further and the ADF has been active in both the Iraq conflict and international operations in Afghanistan.

For a relatively small defence force such as the ADF, these commitments have stretched its available resources and capabilities to the maximum. Current operations have also been useful in terms of identifying gaps in capability and in many cases the Defence Material Organisation (DMO) has acted swiftly to fill short term requirements and lay the foundations for longer term solutions.

Despite often being derided in the local press, the DMO has proved to be a more adaptable and reactive organisation than some of its peers around the world. In fact, many nations see much to emulate in the way that the DMO does business. As with any government organisation however, there have been failures and waste.

Currently, the DMO is in the process of

R

The DMO has acted swiftly to fill short term requirements and lay the foundations for longer term solutions shepherding over 30 large-scale procurement projects through the procurement process as well as a multitude of smaller programmes. These projects are all at various stages of development and some have been more successful than others. Projects are split in to four distinct areas joint, air, land and sea and all represent major investment in the ADF and its capabilities.

Joint developments One of the programmes in the headlines recently is Joint Project 129 (JP 129) a programme to upgrade the ADF’s Airborne Surveillance for Ground Forces. The current Phase 2 of the project is centred on the acquisition of a tactical unmanned air vehicle (TUAV) system to provide airborne surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance to support land operations.

According to the DMO, capability is broken down to include Near Real Time (NRT) reconnaissance capability for a deployed Joint Task Force; an integral, responsive and accurate target acquisition system capable of providing a NRT sensor-to-

Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon, meets the crew of the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters newly arrived in Darwin. (Australian DoD)

MARCH/APRIL 2009

decider-to-response asset link; and a battle damage assessment capability. As such, the ADF’s concept for the JP129 capability is to provide two TUAV systems, each comprising four air vehicles, two ground stations, a catapult launcher and associated tactical support systems.

The reason for the project being in the headlines is that late last year, the DMO cancelled the contract it had signed with Boeing Australia on 16 December 2006 to supply a system based on the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) I-View 250 UAV. The new Labor Defence Minister, Joel Fitzgibbon, announced the termination of the contract for JP129. In a statement the Minister said that since contract award, Boeing Australia and IAI had experienced a range of technical issues that made it unlikely they would be able to deliver the full scope of the contract within a timeframe acceptable to Defence.

At the same time, he said that Defence had an imperative to field a TUAV capability as soon as possible and that there were a number of lower risk alternative systems on the market. The DMO is in the process of examining those alternatives as Asian Military Review went to press. However, the field of competitors is believed to have been narrowed to two. In December, a procurement team visited the US, the UK and Israel to evaluate the two systems; AAI’s Shadow TUAV and Thales/Elbit’s Watchkeeper/ Hermes 450.

Another area of large scale investment in terms of the Joint environment is updating the ADF’s military satellite communications (MILSATCOM) capabilities, primarily through various phases of JP2008. Phase 3E of JP2008 is providing a terrestrial infrastructure and through-life support for a netted, broadcast and full duplex satellite communication service to the ADF’s priority platforms and units.

The prime contractor is BAE Systems, which was tasked with delivering a number of elements including 26 land terminals, 15 maritime terminals, a primary injection facility and theatre broadcast software. All 26 land terminals have already been delivered and accepted. The Primary Injection Facility, which provides the theatre broadcast capability, was successfully installed into the Defence Network Operations Centre with testing and delivery achieved in March 2007.

05

REGIONAL M I L I T A R Y

Phase 4 of JP2008 looks beyond the current MILSATCOM capability provided by commercial leasing of satellite time and a Defence payload on the Optus C1 Ku-band satellite. The ADF’s wideband satellite communications requirements under Phase 4 are being provided through a partnering arrangement on the US military’s Wideband Global Satellite (WGS) Communication System programme.

Australia took a final decision to enter into the partnership with the US on its WGS Communication System last year. The US already had an approved programme for a five-strong wideband satellite constellation and offered Australia the opportunity of partnering in the programme through a contribution equivalent to the cost and sustainment of a sixth satellite. The ADF now has access to the satellite constellation with capacity and coverage available to Australia increasing progressively as the number of satellites increases over the next few years.

Air issues In the air environment, one of the largest and most controversial projects is the procurement of a next generation fighter for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

Australia is among those nations to have committed to the US F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme. However, concerns about the aircraft’s suitability as a next-generation fighter in meeting the RAAF’s unique requirements, continue to be raised both in the Press and in Parliament.

There are also concerns over whether Lockheed Martin will be able to deliver the aircraft in the timeframe required by the RAAF. The White Paper is expected to detail the acquisition of the F-35 in two tranches. The first tranche of 70 aircraft are likely to be needed from 2014 while a second tranche of 25 aircraft would come on stream later in the decade.

However, the RAAF does not believe that 95 aircraft will do the job. The recently

Australia took a final decision to enter into the partnership with the US on its WGS Communication System last year 06

One of the RAAF’s C-17s performs air drop trials over New South Wales. (Australian DoD)

appointed new head of the Air Force, Air Marshal Mark Binskin, told the Australian Strategic Policy Institute late last year that, “no matter how you model it, the modelling keeps coming back to 100 [aircraft].”

To bridge the gap between the JSF and the retiring F-111 tactical strike aircraft, the previous Liberal government also announced the procurement of 24 Boeing F/A-18F Block II Super Hornets under a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) arrangement with the US. On taking office, the new Labor government immediately announced a review of the procurement, which ultimately concluded that the project must go ahead. The first four aircraft are scheduled for delivery in the second quarter of 2010.

According to the DMO, the acquisition of the Super Hornet under Project 5349 Phases 1 and 2 is being ‘expedited due to Government direction to establish an initial operating capability by the end of 2010.’

Phase 1 incorporates acquisition of the aircraft, support systems and ongoing support. Phase 2 provides for weapons, explosive ordnance and related facilities. The expedited schedule means that Phases 1 and 2 will run concurrently.

Only a little less controversial has been the ongoing saga that is Air 5077 Phase 3, more commonly known as Project Wedgetail. The project, to provide the ADF with an Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) capability through the provision of six aircraft and associated supplies and support has faced numerous delays.

The RAAF was the launch customer for the Wedgetail, a modified Boeing 737 airliner, which was originally scheduled for delivery in November 2006. However, there have been major integration problems,

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

largely stemming from the installation of AEW&C mission equipment.

Last November, the government was forced to admit that that the A$4 billion project, which is already 28 months late, would face a further delays. The first training aircraft is now expected to be delivered in late November this year, rather than by Boeing's earlier, revised delivery date of July 2009.

The RAAF has found more success in the air mobility environment with two of its other key projects. The first of these is Air 5042, the procurement of an air to air refuelling (AAR) capability. Although this programme has also faced a number of setbacks, the first phase of flight testing of Airbus’ A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft (to be known as KC-30B) was successfully completed in February last year. In December however, EADS said that delivery of the first aircraft was likely to be delayed although the company said that it remained on track to meet full operational capability in 2011.

Project Air 8000 Phase 3 has also been deemed a success for the DMO. The project incorporates the relatively simple acquisition of a heavy airlift capability through the procurement of Boeing C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft through a US Foreign Military Sales deal. All four C-17 aircraft entered into service with the RAAF by March 2008, ahead of the predicted schedule. However, the DMO says that significant project activity remains; including ensuring the delivery of long lead-time logistics support provisions, role equipment, training devices and infrastructure upgrades.

An Initial Operational Capability for the C-17 was actually achieved in September 2007. Following the arrival of the last air-

REGIONAL M I L I T A R Y

craft in March 2008, all four aircraft have begun operating in an air logistics support role. The addition of further roles, including air drop and high-dependency patient aeromedical evacuation began in 2008 and the process will continue into 2009.

Vertical take off Also within the air domain, but largely a capability for the ADF’s land forces, are two helicopter programmes: Air 87 and Air 9000. Of the two projects, Air 87, the procurement of an armed reconnaissance helicopter (ARH), has been the most challenging. The project was established to replace the Bell 206B-1 Kiowa and UH1-H Iroquois gunship helicopters with a new reconnaissance and fire support capability.

The proposal for the replacement was initially endorsed in 1994 with a request for proposals issued in 1998. The Australian government shortlisted three solutions in 1999: the AgustaWestland A129 Scorpion, the Boeing AH-64D Apache and the Eurocopter Aussie Tiger helicopter. After a run-off between the three, Australia selected the Aussie Tiger attack helicopter to fulfil its requirement and signed a contract in December 2001.

There have however, been a number of delays to the programme. The ADF took delivery of the first two of 22 ARHs at Oakey, Queensland on 15 December 2004.

Delays in weapons integration and a number of other factors have meant that Army Aviation will not get an initial operational release for the aircraft until March 2010 and full operational capability won’t be achieved until December 2011.

Less problematic has been the procurement of a new multi-role helicopter (MRH) through Air 9000. Under the project, the ADF is replacing the Army’s existing Black Hawk and Navy Sea King fleets with the MRH-90, based on NH Industries NH-90 multi-role helicopter. The programme is scheduled to deliver 46 MRH-90 aircraft for the Australian Army and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) as well as associated training and support.

The first two aircraft were accepted into service in Brisbane in December 2007. As part of the contract, 42 of the helicopters are being assembled in Brisbane, by Australian Aerospace, a Eurocopter subsidiary. In December, the first aircraft from the Australian assembly line was accepted. The

08

An M1A1 Abrams rolls onto the C-17's ramp during a trial run of a load/unload at RAAF Base Darwin. (Australian DoD)

first four aircraft, which were manufactured in France, and air transported to Australia, are based in Townsville, Queensland with the 5th Aviation Regiment for training.

Land largesse Both armour and logistics are the focus of land procurement for the ADF. A number of projects are focused on upgrading the survivability and mobility of the Australian Army through the procurement or upgrade of its armour systems. At the same time, the DMO is also upgrading the ADF’s ability to extend its lines of operation through a phased procurement of new logistics vehicles.

Among the most serious armour developments is Land 907, which has seen the Army replace its Leopard AS1 main battle tank (MBT) with the M1A1 Abrams.

Australia has taken delivery of 59 Abrams, seven M88A2 Hercules armoured recovery vehicles, 14 heavy tank transporters, and eight tactical fuel trucks as part of Land 907. At the same time, BAE Systems Australia is upgrading 350 of the Army’s M113A1 vehicles through project Land 106 to improve protection, lethality, mobility and habitability. The upgrade replaces most of the vehicle, retaining only the hull, hatches, rear door and communications

Among the most serious armour developments is Land 907, which has seen the Army replace its Leopard AS1 main battle tank with the M1A1 Abrams ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

systems with deliveries of the upgraded vehicles, well underway.

In terms of protected mobility, the Australian Army is seeking enhancement through the acquisition of up to 700 Thales Australia Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles (PMVs) under project Land 116.

The fleet will consist of seven variants: Troop; Command; Mortar; Assault Pioneer; Direct Fire Weapon; Ambulance; and Air Defence.

The design process for the Bushmaster included the use of mock-up and prototypebased developments, prior to starting production in late 2003. Delivery of the vehicles commenced in 2004 with all vehicles planned to be in service by 2012.

A logistic vehicle update is being conducted through Land 121, also known as Project Overlander. The programme is a multi-phased project that will provide the Field Vehicles, Modules and Trailers (FVM&T) and the associated support items that the ADF needs to meet future mobility requirements.

The scale of Project Overlander is significant and will see the delivery of several thousand vehicles, modules and trailers over the next decade. Previously, FVM&T replacement programmes were undertaken on a fleet by fleet basis and this is the first attempt to amalgamate the ADF’s entire FVM&T requirements into a single project.

In October last year, Australia signed an A$350 million contract with Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific to supply 1,200 G-Wagon trucks to the ADF. These vehicles will be the first to be delivered under Land 121. The ADF is buying six different versions of the G-Wagon. Planned variants include; a 4x4 general purpose station wagon; a pair of

REGIONAL M I L I T A R Y

4x4 cargo variants; a 6x6 cab chassis variant; a 6x6 dual cab truck; and a specialist 6x6 surveillance and reconnaissance vehicle.

However, in November Fitzgibbon announced that it had cancelled a contract with BAE Systems to provide 2,400 FMTV medium-heavy trucks, in a variety of variants. The government said that the deal, signed in the run-up to the General Election, by its Liberal predecessor did not meet the ADF’s requirements and the DMO is now recompeting the tender.

Sea change The Navy has not been left out of Australia’s spending spree and a number of major capital investments are being made.

Among the largest of the projects is Sea 4000, which will see the RAN take delivery of three new Air Warfare Destroyers (AWDs) equipped with the Aegis air defence system.

According to the DMO, the AWD programme will deliver, “an affordable, effective, flexible and sustainable Air Warfare Destroyer capability for the security of Australia.” The project is being delivered by the AWD Alliance, a team that includes the DMO, Raytheon Australia as the Combat System Systems Engineer, and ASC AWD

Shipbuilder as the shipbuilder.

Last year, the government chose the Spanish Navantia F-100 design as the basis for the new destroyers. With the ship design in place, the AWD Alliance has not lost time in issuing a variety of contracts for various elements of the new vessels, including sonar and combat systems.

Named the Hobart class, the new AWDs are scheduled to enter service in the middle of the next decade.

As well as the new destroyers, the Australian Government has approved a A$3 billion project to build two Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) amphibious assault ships. These Canberra class LHDs are also based on a Navantia design, this time the Strategic Projection Ship. The hulls of the two ships are to be built by Navantia at its Spanish shipyard, with the superstructure and fitting out done in Williamstown, Victoria by BAE Systems Australia. The Canberra class ships will be the largest warships ever operated by the RAN, displacing up to 27,000 tonnes.

Alongside these new capabilities, the DMO is in the process of managing major upgrades to the RAN’s existing fleet including the ANZAC and Adelaide class frigates and the Collins class submarine. The latter

The RAAF is set to receive 24 Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornets as a stop gap before the Joint Strike Fighter comes online. (Australian DoD)

MARCH/APRIL 2009

The AWD programme will deliver, “an affordable, effective, flexible and sustainable Air Warfare Destroyer capability for the security of Australia” in particular has faced problems since entering service but the submarine’s new Combat System and replacement heavyweight torpedo are expected to carry the boat through until a decision on a replacement is made in the next decade.

Major challenges There is no doubt that the ADF is in a period of major recapitalisation and that the DMO is integral to that effort. For a relatively small organisation, numbering a total of some 7,500 personnel it has a lot on its plate, including over 230 current major projects, some 180 minor projects and a capital expenditure budget of more than A$4.6 billion in 2008-09.

The DMO will continue to be under pressure to deliver capability to the ADF. The major projects above are a snapshot of the wide range of capabilities that are currently being invested in. The concern will be that not too many more projects suffer the kind A MR of setbacks experienced these projects.

09

L A N D W A R F A R E

AFVs: Giving them a longer life Insurgents in Afghanistan and Iraq typically have the initiative in selecting the time, place and method of attack. They frequently use a combination of weapons including the detonation of one or more improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to initiate the ambush, followed by volleys of rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) and sniper fire. Coalition vehicles are obliged to ‘absorb the hit’. To ensure that they can do so without suffering casualties, militaries engaged in fighting the Global War on Terror (GWOT) are upgrading vehicles with additional armour protection, remote-controlled weapon stations and situational awareness tools. Carrying this extra weight, especially in the punishing terrain of Afghanistan, has required a raft of improvements to platforms often originally designed for Western Europe, including new power packs, suspension upgrades and the installation of environmental controls to ensure that vehicle crews and systems continue to function in temperatures that often exceed 50°C.

by Ian Kemp

General Dynamics Land Systems developed the LAV-H High Capacity demonstrator to show the upgrade potential of ‘all existing LAV fleets’. It illustrates options available to the Australian Army for the ASLAV Phase 4 mid-life upgrade. (GDLS)

10

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

L A N D W A R F A R E

his can be costly. British Army Lieutenant General Dick Applegate, Chief of Materiel (Land), told the UK House of Commons Defence Committee that the Ministry of Defence spends, ‘around £650,000 ($910,000)’ on each legacy vehicle, principally the BAE Systems Warrior infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) and FV432 armoured personnel carrier (APC), to upgrade them to the required operational standard for service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Increased protection, including electronic counter measures to defeat IEDs, accounts for much of this expenditure. The results are however impressive.

Following the extensive modernisation of the FV432 to produce the Mk 3 Bulldog, these platforms will likely soldier on beyond 2020, extending their service lives to over fifty years.

The prospect of a much extended service life is not limited to British vehicles. The last of the US Army’s remaining 16,000 BAE Systems tracked M113-series vehicles are not expected to be retired until about 2050. More than onethird of these have been modernised by the original manufacturer to the M113A3 standard, which includes a more powerful turbo-charged diesel engine, improved transmission, steering and braking package and spall liners. The Army is continuing to upgrade vehicles sent to Iraq with additional side armour, belly armour, slat armour, installation of BAE System’s Transparent Armoured Gun Shield and other improvements. Returned vehicles are also reset. This process returns vehicles to an asnew condition and provides a welcome opportunity for further technology insertion. The scale of the US reset effort was demonstrated by a single $91.4 million contract modification, awarded to BAE Systems in January 2008, covering up to 1,074 M113s by the end of that year.

Since the first tracked M113 APC was fielded by the US Army in 1960, more than 80,000 APCs and numerous variants have been built for the US and export customers in over 50 countries. Germany, Israel, Malaysia and Singapore are only a fraction of the export customers to have developed upgrade packages for the M113. Extensive combat experience with its fleet of more than 5,000 M113s has led the Israel Defence Force to emphasise survivability in its upgrades. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems installed its Toga passive armour on an undisclosed number of M113s in the early 1980s. In the mid-1990s, it upgraded others with an explosive reactive armour (ERA) package. The Israeli Ministry of Defence

T

Germany, Israel, Malaysia and Singapore are only a fraction of the export customers to have developed upgrade packages for the M113 awarded Israel Military Industries (IMI), working with Rafael, a contract in mid-2004 to install the Light-Vehicle Armour System (LVAS) on 50 M113s. According to the manufacturers, each L-VAS module consists of layers of steel, rubber, ceramics and ERA that can withstand multiple direct or lateral hits by explosive warheads or 14.5mm and 20mm AP rounds. The full L-VAS suite for an M113 weighs about two tonnes. IMI has developed similar modification packages for the wheeled Renault VAB and the tracked Russian BMP 1 and BMP 2 IFVs. Since the mid-1990s, BAE Systems has been offering the Mobile Tactical Vehicle Light (MTVL) which can be supplied either as an upgrade to existing M113s or as a new build vehicle. A plug is inserted to lengthen the vehicle’s hull to 5.84m and a sixth road wheel is added. The result is a 30 percent increase in volume and a 70 percent boost in payload.

Through a series of automotive enhancements, including new powerpack; cross-country mobility is also increased by 50 percent. The Canadian Army is the launch customer for the MTVL, selecting the Detroit Diesel 6V-53TIA series Detroit Diesel Electronic Control (DDEC) IV engine, which allows the user to electronically tune the engine to a rating of up

to 400hp. Under the M113 APC Life Extension programme, 341 M113A3s have been upgraded to either the M113A3 or MTVL standard and some are fitted with either remote controlled weapon stations or manned machine gun turrets. Now designated Tracked Light Armoured Vehicles (TLAVs), many of these vehicles are deployed alongside Canada’s 8 x 8 LAV IIIs in Afghanistan.

On 15 November 2007, BAE Systems Australia formally handed over the first four of 350 M113A1s that it is upgrading for the Australian Army under LAND 106. Under the July 2002 contract, 329 vehicles are being upgraded to the stretched 18 tonne M113AS4 standard and 21 vehicles to the 15 tonne M113AS3 configuration. In October 2008 the company received a further A$220 million contract to upgrade 81 additional M113s. The project is of considerable importance as the Army uses the M113 as its primary infantry combat vehicle. The upgraded M113s will equip the 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR) and 7RAR, the latter recently formed as part of the Hardened and Networked Army modernisation plan. The two units are also the infantry component of the Army’s mechanised 1st Brigade.

Upgraded vehicles are designated as either the M113AS3 or M113AS4. The AS3 variants retain the original design with five road wheel stations on each side and have a Recommended Gross Vehicle Mass (RGVM) of 15,000Kg. Similar to the MTVL, the AS4 variants have been stretched by 666mm, with an additional road wheel station per side and the RGVM increased to 18,000Kg. Seven variants of the M113AS are being produced: APC

Australian Army GDLS-Canada ASLAV-25 reconnaissance vehicles and ASLAV-Command vehicle have been fitted with slat armour for operations in Iraq. (Australian DoD)

MARCH/APRIL 2009

11

L A N D W A R F A R E

LAND 106 involves upgrading virtually every aspect of Australia’s well worn M113A1s (M113AS4 APC); Armoured Fitters (M113AS4 AF); Armoured Recovery Vehicle Light (M806AS4 ARVL); Armoured Ambulance (M113AS4 AA); Armoured Mortar (M125AS3 AM); Armoured Command Vehicle (M113AS4 ACV); and Armoured Logistic Vehicle (M113AS4 ALV).

In 1964, when the Australian Army fielded the first of more than 760 M113A1 vehicles, its planned service life ran to 1995. The following year the first Australian M113A1s were deployed to South Vietnam and the Army soon copied the US practice of mounting an armoured shield to protect the gunner manning the M2 12.7mm calibre heavy machine gun. From 1967, vehicles were being equipped with the Cadillac Gage T50 one man turret armed with either a 12.7mm calibre, 7.62mm calibre medium machine gun or twin 7.62mm calibre weapons. Little more was done to the APC for the next 25 years. In 1992 however, the Army decided that by improving the M113’s firepower, night vision capability, survivability and habitability the vehicle could remain in service until 2010. Cabinet approval for the A$40 million Phase 1 Minimum Upgrade, covering 537 vehicles was originally given in November 1993. This evolved through a series of contractor proposals and strategy revisions until July 2002, when the government awarded the then Tenix, an A$388 million contract for the Major Upgrade Project, covering 350 vehicles. Tenix chose as its partner in the project Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft (FFG), which had developed the M113 G2 and G3 Advanced Upgrade Concepts for the German Army in the 1990s and was later adopted by other NATO armies. With BAE Systems’ acquisition of Tenix in 2008, the original M113 manufacturer (BAE Systems acquired United Defense in 2005) is now able to contribute directly to the project.

LAND 106 involves upgrading virtually every aspect of Australia’s well worn M113A1s. Mobility is improved by replacing the original engine with a EURO III-compliant four-stroke DaimlerChrysler-MTU engine, coupled to a six-speed transmission with new driveline, suspension, track and road wheels also fitted. Improved driver’s controls provide

12

The upgraded BAE Systems Australia M113AS4 armoured personnel carrier will be at the heart of the Australian Army’s mechanised capability at least until 2020. The LAND 106 project has been extended to cover 431 M113s the majority of which are being upgraded to the stretched M113AS4 configuration shown. (Australian DoD)

a pivot turn capability and natural steering input in reverse. Protection is enhanced by reinforcing the hull to better resist mine blasts, fitting internal spall liners, moving the fuel tanks from inside to outside the vehicle and fitting appliqué armour kits. The acquisition of a more extensive armour package was cancelled due to budget restrictions but the upgraded vehicle has a weight margin to accommodate additional armour in the future.

Firepower is bolstered by replacing the old T50 turret with a new electrically-powered, one man turret designed by BAE Systems Australia, fitted with an M2 Quick Change Barrel 12.7mm calibre HMG and featuring day/night sights. The initial prototype was redesigned to meet the subsequent requirement for additional appliqué armour to protect against 14.5mm AP projectiles and RPG-7 type weapons. The redesign has improved the vehicle’s stealth characteristics by reducing the turret’s profile, radar cross-section and infrared signature. Fightability improvements include heat mitigation measures and better external stowage of equipment. In June 2006 the Defence Materiel Organisation awarded an A$11 million contract to Honeywell Germany to supply its TALIN 500 Inertial Navigation Unit for the M113 project; this integrates a global positioning system (GPS) with the inertial navigation and functions as a backup for both the commander and driver.

The first stage of the project, completed in 2004, involved the development and preliminary testing of two demonstration vehicles.

The next step consisted of the design, construction and testing of the first 14 Initial Production Vehicles (IPVs). By December 2007, 16 vehicles – 14 M113AS4 APCs, one

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

M113AS4 AF vehicle and a M806AS4 ARVL – were delivered to 1 Brigade. Design and development of the remaining four variants will continue through to the end of 2009. Deliveries are scheduled to continue at the rate of two per week through mid-2011, with work being undertaken at the government-owned Joint Logistic Unit (Victoria) facility in Bandiana as well as company facilities in Williamstown and Wingfield.

ASLAV Under Phase 4 of the LAND 121 Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV) project, the Defence Materiel Organisation is investigating a mid-life update to enhance the survivability and situational awareness of the Army’s General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) Canada ASLAV fleet. The Army received the last of 144 LAV II vehicles ordered under Phase 3 in August 2004 and under a subsequent contract, GDLS Australia has further upgraded those 113 Phase 2 ASLAVs, delivered between 1995 and 1997, to match Phase 3 vehicles.

Upgrades include a new electric drive for the turret, an enhanced thermal sight with laser range finder and an improved fire control system for the 25mm turrets, the integration of a GPS-based navigation system and an enhanced suspension system. Following experience in Afghanistan and Iraq, Phase 3 also included the Behind Armour Commander’s Weapon Station Project, which delivered 59 systems for selected ASLAV variants.

The 50 or so ASLAVs deployed in Iraq were fitted with a survivability package consisting of new spall liners supplied by Canadian firm Armatec, a locally developed bar armour system and the same Kongsberg

L A N D W A R F A R E

Carrier Vehicle hull, the 25 tonne LAV H is intended to demonstrate the potential for upgrading LAV II/IIIbased systems including the Stryker family of vehicles. The vehicle a new M151 Protector remote weapon station fitted features This Australian Army GDLS-Canada ASLAV-25 reconnaissance vehicle to the US Army’s Strykers. GDLS - Australia Caterpillar C7 engine has been fitted with slat armour on the turret and hull. (Australian DoD) studied the bar armour fitted to Strykers and a and Allison 3200SP prototype system designed for the AM transmission, enhancements to the driveline, equipped the Australian contingent in General High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled hydro-pneumatic suspension, brake system Afghanistan since 2005. To improve survivVehicle before developing its own light weight and steering to retain the mobility of the series ability, the Common Remotely Operated while significantly increasing its payload Weapon Stations (CROWS), developed by system based on the Humvee design.

Under Phase 4 of the ASLAV project, the capacity. A scalable, open vetronics architec- Australia’s Electro Optic Systems and its US Army plans to provide a mid-life upgrade to ture provides operators with access to more partners for the US Army, was installed in the entire fleet. Various survivability meas- information about the vehicle’s system status theatre in 2007. The CROWS mounts an inteures are being considered for this Phase and improved external situational awareness. gral colour day camera and a cooled thermal including additional mine protection, Enhanced survivability features include a imaging camera which provides a 24-hour all improved ballistic protection, battlefield man- shallow ‘V’ design beneath the crew compart- weather surveillance capability. Combined agement system, improved signature man- ment to deflect IED and mine blasts, ‘baseline with a laser range finder and full stabilisaagement and defensive aids suite. Additional structure improvements’, redesigned appliqué tion, the CROWS also provides a first or secelements that may be included are an upgrad- armour modules and hatches, redesigned rear ond round hit capability. At the suggestion ed or new powerpack and other automotive door and surrounding armour, and internal of Bushmaster crews, a new cooling system enhancements to carry the weight of the and external IED protection kits. Various sus- for the vehicle’s on-board drinking water improved survivability package. The sched- pended, blast mitigation seats are also being tank has been developed. In July 2006, the uled year of decision for Phase Four is evaluated. A number of elements from LAV H Netherlands became the first export cusbetween Fiscal Year 2010/11 to 2012/13, lead- package, if not the full upgrade, are likely to be tomer for the Bushmaster when it bought 25 fielded in Canada’s LAV II/III fleets and US vehicles for service in Afghanistan and subing to an in service date of 2012 to 2014.

It is likely that some of the enhancements Army’s Stryker family before the Australian sequently acquired a further 29. Dutch vehicles are fitted with an optional add-on packthat the Army is looking for, will be found in Army must decide on the ASLAV Phase 4. age which boosts ballistic protection from the the LAV H (for High-Capacity) technology baseline standard to STANAG 4569 Level 3. demonstrator unveiled by GDLS at the Bushmaster October 2007 Association of the US Army Australian Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon At defence exhibitions, such as DSEi 2007 Exposition. Based on the Stryker Infantry announced in October 2008, the award of a and Eurosatory 2008, Thales Australia has contract to Thales demonstrated further enhancements to the A Canadian Army M113 Tracked LAV deployed in Afghanistan; Canada has Australia for additionBushmaster including a roof-mounted small recently upgraded 341 M113s including 183 to the stretched Mobile Tactical al 293 4x4 Bushmaster arms detection system, laser warning system Vehicle Light (MTLV) configuration shown. (Canadian DND) Infantry Mobility and a suite of cameras to provide 360 degree Vehicles (IMVs) to situational awareness.

The projects cited in this article illustrate meet Protected Mobility Medium that armoured vehicle upgrades can be requirement of Land grouped into two broad categories: method121 Project Overlander ically planned upgrades, which may be limPhase 3. The additional ited or extensive, intended to extend the useBushmasters bring the ful life of a vehicle and urgent upgrades to total ordered for meet specific operational requirements dicAustralian Defence tated by the threat and the nature of the terrain. Comprehensive service life extension Force to 737.

The Army projects, such as LAND 106, can extend a deployed a small vehicle’s life by twenty years or more. number of Upgrades in response to urgent operational Bushmasters in Iraq, requirements usually focus on immediate from May 2005 until capabilities that are nonetheless, typically the end of 2008 and adopted for future vehicle upgrade projects AMR the vehicle has also and new designs.

It is likely that some of the enhancements that the Army is looking for, will be found in the LAV H technology demonstrator

14

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

HOMELAND S

E

C

U

R

I

T

Y

DEFENDING OUR - HOMELAND SECURIT FOR ASIA-PACIFIC MILI The 9/11 attacks by Osama bin Laden’s followers were chillingly symbolic, dramatically changing the strategic course of the US and ushering in the global phenomenon of homeland security (HLS). Modern terrorists have turned homelands into frontlines with the use of asymmetric threats, including Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) weapons. But what does ‘homeland security’ mean? The term gained prominence when 22 agencies were amalgamated to form the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on 25 November 2002. HLS has no statutory definition per se, although the DHS defines its mission as, “a concerted national effort to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce America’s vulnerability to terrorism, and minimise the damage and recover from attacks that do occur.” The DHS mandate covers six sectors: intelligence and warning; border and transportation security; domestic counterterrorism; protecting critical infrastructure and key assets; defending against catastrophic threats and emergency preparedness and response. Armed forces once focussed almost exclusively on deterrence and war-fighting missions, are increasingly being tasked with these HLS roles, throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

by Gordon Arthur

16

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

HOMELAND S

HOMES H Y ROLES TARIES

istorically, the Asia-Pacific has not been a preserve of terrorists.

The Bali bombings on 12 October 2002 however, produced a landmark change in that perception. Weak regimes, globalisation, ethnic tensions, tenuous government control and financial woes offer fertile ground for the seeds of terrorism, and Southeast Asia is now often labelled the second front in the War on Terror. Non-traditional HLS threats such as piracy, narcotics trafficking, transnational crime, cyber-terrorism, pandemics and terrorism mean that the region has to confront a new security agenda. Global HLS expenditure in 2007 was an estimated $70 billion and expected to grow to $178 billion by 2015. The AsiaPacific region, will account for more than 16 percent of this figure. Asia encompasses an astonishing spectrum of security threats, and this article provides a snapshot of the most pertinent ones. It is impossible to mention every country but prominent national case studies are cited to illustrate each threat in turn.

Maritime terrorism and sea piracy – Singapore and Malaysia

Malaysian and American vessels are pictured participating in CARAT, an annual naval exercise conducted bilaterally between the USA and five Southeast Asian nations. (Gordon Arthur)

Since 2001, serious concern has centred on terrorist attacks like that on the French oil tanker Limburg off the Yemeni coast in October 2002. This maritime threat is entirely plausible, especially with the hardening of land and aviation targets. The fear is that terrorists could attack vessels that are either underway or berthed, or use the hijacked vessels themselves as weapons. A sunken oil tanker in the Malacca Strait for example, through which 60,000 cargo ships pass annually, could be devastating. Such terrorist attacks would have both global economic and military ramifications, since sea lanes of communication (SLOC) are crucial to powers like Japan, China and the US. Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister stated, “As a maritime nation and the world’s busiest trans-shipment port, maritime security is a vital component of Singapore’s national security.” Spurred by 9/11, Singapore has become a role model after creating one of the most advanced HLS regimes in Asia. Inshore fast patrol boats and mine countermeasure vessels of the Republic of Singapore Navy’s (RSN) Coastal Command closely support the Police Coast Guard. RSN vessels regularly crisscross port facilities and perform random escorts for

MARCH/APRIL 2009

E

C

U

R

I

T

Y

tankers. The Air Force conducts maritime surveillance, while fighters routinely overfly oil tankers. The Singapore Army is also active in HLS, spearheaded by the 2nd People’s Defence Force (2 PDF). Its 6th Singapore Infantry Regiment, a dedicated Protection of Installation (POI) battalion, has conducted round-the-clock POI operations at ports, oil installations, Changi Airport and military bases since 2001. Singapore has an acute sense of vulnerability, especially since 13, Jemaat Islamiyah (JI) members were arrested in December 2001 for plotting attacks against local military and civilian targets.

Singapore relies on co-operation with maritime neighbours Malaysia and Indonesia to stamp out sea piracy, and trilateral coordinated patrols commenced in July 2004. Interestingly, Malaysia created a coast guard (Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency) in 2005 by diverting a number of military assets to this new agency.

Due to greater policing, regional piracy attacks dropped from 220 in 2000 to 70 in 2008. Malaysia also has indigenous terrorist problems in the form of organisations like Kumpulan Mujahideen Malaysia (KMM) and JI. The US funded the Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter terrorism (SEARCCT) in Malaysia, and greater counter terrorism cooperation with America has occurred since 2002. However, suspicious of outside powers, Malaysia has rebuffed American and other requests for joint naval patrols in the Malacca Strait.

Global terrorism/disaster relief – Indonesia Although Singapore and Malaysia launched an effective response to maritime terrorist threats, Indonesia is a weak link in the security chain.

With a lack of patrol boats and requisite technology, the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) is poorly equipped. One analyst contends that only 30 percent of the TNI-AL fleet is fully operational, while the Air Force does not fare much better, with approximately half its fleet grounded.

Constrained by slashed budgets since 1997, the Indonesian military lacks funds and

17

HOMELAND S

E

C

U

R

I

T

Y

sophisticated weapons. Security measures are further diluted by military and police rivalry over territorial jurisdiction. Indonesia is edging closer to establishing a coast guard, but it is clear sea piracy requires greater multilateral cooperation between littoral states.

The US claims terrorism is the greatest threat to international security today, as global jihadists leverage existing local terrorist networks and communal conflict. This transnational web of terrorism is deeply embedded in Indonesia, with destructive terrorist attacks like the Bali bombings, Marriott Hotel bombing (August 2003) and Australian Embassy attack (September 2004) in Jakarta. The US is taking a special interest in Indonesia and there have been successes in disrupting JI cells.

Although the military no longer plays such an overt political role in the post-Suharto era, there are still ingrained instincts that prevent full cooperation with the US. Disaster relief is another HLS responsibility for militaries. Indonesian civilian and military agencies were overwhelmed by the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami, and they relied heavily on foreign civilian and military contingents. US forces serve as a ‘911 emergency force’ in the Pacific, able to offer vital support in the wake of natural disasters. The US Marine Corps has even drawn up contingency plans for H5N1 bird flu or SARS pandemics. American-backed The military often provides support to civilian agencies such as customs and coast guards.

(Gordon Arthur)

military exercises like CARAT always incorporate humanitarian assistance and disaster relief cooperation.

Transnational crime/separatism – Thailand

Militaries are well equipped to support HLS with helicopters, Special Forces and UAVs, for example. Here a robot belonging to an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team in Singapore proceeds towards a suspected bomb. (Gordon Arthur)

Drug trafficking is possibly the largest international crime problem, worth an estimated $400 billion per year. In the 1990s, two-thirds of the world’s opium was cultivated in the Golden Triangle, with Thailand being an important trafficking route. Because drugs have power to manipulate and corrupt judicial and military authorities, Thaksin Shinawatra declared, “The drugs problem is a threat to national security.” A special Royal Thai Army (RTA) unit, the Phra Nuang Task Force, was formed to patrol Thailand’s rugged land border with Myanmar, where autonomous fiefdoms like the United Wa State Party, traffic narcotics. On occasion, the RTA has sealed the border and sporadic border clashes have occurred. The weapons most often employed by terrorists are not Weapons of Mass Destruction, but rather ‘weapons of individual destruction’ such as small arms and explosives.

Cambodia is the most important source of illicit weapons in Southeast Asia, with shipments typically being routed through Thailand.

As promised, the Thai armed forces vacated the political stage after their bloodless coup in September 2006. However, Thailand, a close ally of the USA, has shown an inclination to use military forces in its four southern provinces where separatist groups like the Pattani United Liberation Organisation, are waging a violent anti-government campaign.

Although violence surged after January 2004, fears that transnational terrorist groups might be establishing links with these separatist groups have proved unfounded.

Unfortunately, the Thai government’s often heavy-handed military response has exacerbated rather than attenuated the problem, punctuated by incidents like the Tak Bai demonstration in October 2004, where 85 detainees died.

Border security/illegal immigration – Australia and New Zealand Up to 900,000 people are smuggled across international borders annually, including 250,000 in Southeast Asia. In the post-9/11 era there was suspicion terrorists could form links with people smugglers to infiltrate their members, so

18

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

amidst mounting fears, John Howard’s Australian government adopted a hard-line position against illegal immigration. Alexander Downer announced in February 2002, “At a time when national security is a serious concern for all countries, the people-smuggling problem takes on particular significance…It’s a direct threat to national sovereignty.” A milestone occurred on 26 August 2001 when Australia despatched the Special Air Service (SAS), to prevent 434 asylum seekers aboard a Norwegian freighter from entering Australian waters. The Australian Defence Force (ADF) mandate does not formally include countering illegal immigration, but it has nonetheless been increasingly in the border control and domestic security roles. Canberra deems border protection a serious enough threat to warrant military intervention, but this trend has caused concern in the defence establishment, because it diverts resources away from ADF warfighting tasks.

The Australian Army established the Incident Response Regiment (IRR) in its Special Operations Command in May 2002.

The IRR contains around 300 military and civilian experts ready to respond to CBRN/WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) incidents.

Australia is a regional leader in the fight against terrorism, and it works hard to strengthen Asia-Pacific cooperation – for example, SAS training of Filipino Special Forces.

New Zealand (NZ) is not encountering illegal immigration problems, nor has it suffered terrorist attacks. However, it too has developed new HLS capabilities. The Army established the Counter-Terrorism Tactical Assault Group (CTTAG) as part of its elite SAS regiment.

CTTAG is tasked with responding to terrorist incidents in support of the police. NZ does not have a coast guard, so the Navy and Air Force conduct routine maritime surveillance.

US forces serve as a ‘911 emergency force’ in the Pacific, able to offer vital support in the wake of natural disasters

Networking the Future Multi-dimensional threats require multi-dimensional solutions: securing our skies, defending our seas, protecting our soil.

Times have changed: our business is securing the future. www.eads.com

HOMELAND S

E

C

U

R

I

T

Y

Insurgency – the Philippines The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are engaged in a perennial counterinsurgency against communist groups like the New People’s Army, and Islamic insurgents like the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the south. The declaration of America’s Global War on Terror was a strategic opportunity for Manila to combat militancy at home. In 2003, the Philippines was granted the status of a major non-NATO ally, this solidarity with America promising upgraded training and equipment to defeat the Muslim insurgency and eliminate terrorist bases.

Interestingly, the first overseas deployment for American troops after invading Afghanistan was to the Philippines. By early 2004, a total of 650 US troops (including Special Forces) had reached the Philippines and joint training took place in Basilan.

However, this arrangement was suspended due to public opposition, so the US now offers limited military assistance and intelligence support. While American help has improved AFP morale and capabilities, some politicians and military personnel criticise this greater reliance on US patronage. The Philippines is an important pillar in the American fight against terrorism, and in 2005 it was the fourth largest beneficiary of American military aid.

The AFP has achieved some notable successes – in 2007 the AFP and police killed 127 ASG members and captured 38.

Militancy – Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka India is one of the most terror-afflicted countries in the world, with Islamist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba taking 2,300 lives in 2007.

Preoccupied with the Jammu-Kashmir problem since 1947, India has combated Pakistan-sponsored infiltration across the Line of Control, and given its military draconian powers such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. Added to prolonged conflict in Kashmir, is extreme leftist Naxalite and Maoist violence in eastern and central India, and by nationalists in the northeast. A lack of equipment and training for the police and military exacerbate India’s security problems. Indicative of India’s HLS woes were the November 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks,

A lack of equipment and training for the police and military exacerbate India’s security problems 20

Singapore is at the forefront of HLS preparedness in Asia-Pacific. Here, members of 2 PDF jump from their vehicles as they participate in a capability demonstration. (Gordon Arthur)

which Army commandos helped resolve.

HLS has always been high on Pakistan’s agenda. Pakistan accorded support to Islamic jihadist groups after the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, plus its military and intelligence services trained militants to infiltrate Kashmir and undermine the more powerful Indian Armed Forces. Pakistan only began backing away from this policy after January 2004, with the Indian Defence Minister reporting Kashmiri violence dropping 50 percent in 2007.

Pakistan is currently the third largest recipient of US military assistance as it battles serious religious violence and more frequent terrorist attacks in Baluchistan, the Northwest Frontier Province and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Suicide attacks totalled 22 throughout 2002-2006 but jumped to 47 in 2007 alone. Military personnel ousted extremists from Islamabad’s Red Mosque in 2007 and fought militant leader Maulana Fazlullah in Swat. Pakistan has nearly 100,000 troops in the FATA, and more than 1,000 Pakistani soldiers carrying out antiterrorist operations have died since 2001.

Sri Lanka’s military is also engaged in a longstanding war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which employs threetiered tactics – terrorist attacks, guerrilla insurgency and conventional warfare. The LTTE carried out a daring aerial attack on Katunayake Airport in March 2007, and notably, the LTTE has a Sea Tiger naval arm that regularly attacks Sri Lankan Navy vessels, with approximately 30 sunk to date. The Navy responded by sinking three LTTE supply ships in September 2007 and another in October of that year. South Asian nations have shown a strong penchant for the use of military force to reinforce and maintain HLS.

Home-grown terrorism – Japan Japan suffered the world’s first terrorist chemical attack when the apocalyptic Aum Shinrikyo cult sprayed nerve gas in June 1994, killing seven people. The group had also spread anthrax and botulin in a biological attack in Tokyo in 1992, though its failure led the doomsday cult to pursue chemical weapons

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

instead. However, Japan’s defining terrorist moment occurred on 20 March 1995 when the Aum Shinrikyo cult unleashed Sarin gas in Tokyo subways. These alarming attacks killed twelve and affected 1,000 more. JGSDF personnel and anti-chemical teams were dispatched to train stations in the wake of these attacks.

Japan’s experiences should give grave cause for concern, for they prove WMD can be used by well-funded terrorists.

As the second largest economy in the world, Japan has a vested interest in keeping SLOCs open, so it encourages maritime security cooperation in Southeast Asia. Another brush with terrorism was the abduction of 14 Japanese citizens by North Korean secret agents. Japan is still wary of state-sponsored terrorism, and units such as the JGSDF’s 1st Airborne Division are trained to counter guerrilla assaults. Likewise, South Korea is concerned about North Korean Special Forces infiltrating their borders. China has also got in on the HLS act, catalysed by the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The PLA conducts annual counter terrorism training with Russian and Indian counterparts, and China asserts that Uighur separatists in Xinjiang Province pose a threat to domestic stability.

US regional influence The US may be the most powerful nation in the world, but since 9/11 it could arguably be termed the most fearful too. Any discussion of Asian HLS must take into account America’s forward-deployed posture as it operates in all corners of the globe, something many Asian nations feel uncomfortable with. In actual fact, the US treads relatively lightly in Southeast Asia, preferring to promote bilateral military ties in low-profile ways via financial, technical and military counterterrorism support. One way of providing support is via bilateral military exercises such as Cobra Gold, Balikatan and SEACAT.

Asian prospects These examples illustrate common regional HLS threats and permit several observations.

Firstly, there have been HLS improvements

HOMELAND S

Japan’s defining terrorist moment occurred on 20 March 1995 when the Aum Shinrikyo cult unleashed Sarin gas in Tokyo subways since 9/11, especially with countries monitoring and disrupting terrorist networks within their borders. Bilateral cooperation has also improved, although any advances stem from a very low baseline. Secondly, unresolved tensions are sustaining intra-regional suspicions that militate against more productive counter terrorism exchanges and proactive intelligence sharing. Many Asian nations uphold the traditional view that neighbouring states rather than international terrorism are the greatest enduring threat to national security. As long as this view is maintained, cooperation will be limited to bilateral exchanges with few coordinated region-wide counterterrorism initiatives.

Thirdly, countries such as Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines have identified

Another specialist capability of the military is CBRN protection and response. Here, U.S. 2nd Infantry Division soldiers in South Korea prepare for decontamination after a simulated chemical attack. (Gordon Arthur)

E

C

U

R

I

T

Y

more closely with this war on the “greatest threat to peace in our time.” President George Bush’s rhetoric pits ‘freedom-loving people’ against the ‘axis of evil,’ but not all Asian nations place as much importance on this fight.

In light of this, and despite the fact terrorism will stay with us for the foreseeable future, the US will experience difficulties sustaining interest over time in its crusade against terror.

Fourthly, the challenge for militaries is how to add this new HLS agenda to their missions, especially since no existing tasks have been removed to accommodate it. Militaries and governments must therefore balance existing defence priorities with new HLS missions in terms of manpower and equipment. Finally, ineffective border controls remain problematic, particularly in archipelagic states like Indonesia and the Philippines. Ironically, although many countries are acutely aware they are strategically dependent on littoral states for security of strategic waterways, they are reluctant to fully engage in multilateral AMR security initiatives.

C4ISR TECHNOLOGY

FLIR’s Star SAFIRE III stabilised system has been standard fare on the US Army’s aerostats since 2007 (FLIR)

22

Much has been made of the utility of airborne surveillance. A bird’s eye view is invaluable and provides a unique perspective but is nonetheless very costly to acquire, sustain and protect.

by Adam Baddeley

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

C4ISR TECHNOLOGY

A Grounding

in Surveillance n contrast, ground based surveillance systems, while lacking the inherent individual capability offered by their airborne counterparts, more than compensate for this shortcoming with their terrestrial persistence and critically, sheer numbers due to their lower cost enabling collective, wide area coverage.

Today’s ground sensors are seeded across the battlefield; accompanying armoured columns in conventional warfare, dismounted patrols on counterinsurgency operations as well as protecting bases, high value facilities and securing borders and against infiltration by terrorists as well as purely criminal smuggling.

No single technology satisfies disparate demands for target detection and discrimination across radically different environments and geographies. Demands have seen a combination of manned electro-optical systems and radars in both the dismounted role and vehicle platforms, as well as static towers and aerostats, in parallel to coverage derived from covert, unattended devices equipped with a bewildering range of sensors. These are now all connected to command and control nodes, specifically designed to offer data fusion for multiple Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) inputs.

I

Thermal imaging Every soldier is a sensor, courtesy of the ‘Mk1

Eyeball’, two of which are issued to each future soldier at birth. The advent of comprehensive communications to the infantryman, allowing reliable reachback into a battle management architecture for any ISR that he collects, is encouraging militaries to deploy increasingly capable EO/IR (Electro-Optical/Infra-Red) assets down to dismounted users, many of which have a combined surveillance and targeting role.

Carl Zeiss have recently launched a number of hand held optical surveillance devices.

The OPUS-H, comprises a combination of uncooled infra-red (IR) and visual channels, somewhat unusually, the latter uses a real biocular channel rather than a CCD channel, saving on battery life. The system can see out to over 20Km, has a seven times magnification and also uses a Class One laser rangefinder (LRF), GPS and digital compass.

The system weighs 2.9kg and uses eight AA batteries and has a typical life of 3.5 hours.

The TLS40 variant eliminates the IR channel, allowing target location using 7x42 binoculars, suitable for lower-end militaries and paramilitary usage.

Selex Galileo’s Linx, Handheld AllWeather Target Acquisition System has an IR detection range of 1.35km versus a moving man and 2.85km against armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) and uses its TV camera to detect a moving man at 2.3km.

Simrad Optronics’ hand held LP10TL system has a range of 20km and a magnification

Integrating ISR systems onto a platform allows greater mobility, heavier more capable sensors as well as functionally unlimited power MARCH/APRIL 2009

of seven or 12 times. The system is also used as the primary sensor in the FOI 2000 Forward Observation System which comprises Leica Vectronix’s Gonio Light electronic goniometer, Diehl Avionik Systems’ Mk 11-7 north finding gyro and FLIR Systems FTI Long-Wave Infra-Red thermal imager with 320x240 focal plane array module.

Further down the surveillance food chain is the FELIN soldier modernisation programme’s Spybowl, developed by Exavision.

An ‘optronic ball’, its four different facing cameras ensure that when it is emplaced by hand or thrown like a ball or grenade it always provides a 360 degree view of the scene when it comes to a halt.

FLIR’s hand held systems are based on its MilCAM Recon III, a multi-sensor dual long and mid wave solution, with over 1000 delivered to date. In June 2008, the company was selected to provide the US Special Operations Visual Augmentation Systems Hand Held Imager-Medium Range Systems. The Army also selected its larger hand-held SeeSpot III+ thermal imager for surveillance and observation missions. The same sensor is also part of the US SOFLAM targeting solution.

Vehicle mounted optics Integrating ISR systems onto a platform allows greater mobility, heavier more capable sensors as well as functionally unlimited power.

DRS Technologies’ Long Range Advanced Scout Surveillance System (LRA3S) is in widespread service across the US Army, seeing significant use in Iraq and Afghanistan. Designed as a bridge to the Future Combat Systems (FCS), the LRA3S boosts the surveillance range of reconnaissance forces beyond the direct fire range of adversaries. The system is described as capable of real-time detection, recognition, identification and geo-location of distant targets,

23

C4ISR TECHNOLOGY

even in extremely poor visibility, via its second generation FLIR. The system is installed on the M1114 and the M1127 Stryker reconnaissance vehicles, with 48 of the latter in each Stryker brigade, installed in a 10m high extensible mast.

FLIR Systems have also developed vehicle mounted options for its Talon and Star SAFIRE solutions on the Cougar, M1117

Armored Security Vehicle (ASV), RG31 and uparmoured HMMWVs. FLIR also provides the M36 Thermal Sight on the ASV. Selex Sensors and Airborne Systems’ Land Mobile Surveillance Unit is designed to provide covert reconnaissance based on a small shelter on a small tactical vehicle, such as a Land Rover or Pinzgauer. The key sensor is Selex’s 640x512 Sigma imager which

The LRA3S sensor can be easily be dismounted from its more normal HMMWV or Stryker mounting (US DoD)

24

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

has sixteen times electronic magnification and laser rangefinder in a rugged enclosure and integrated on a mast, with full 360 degree azimuth rotation. The system is based on a solution previously sold to two Eastern European countries.

Force Protection Applications in the force protection role have seen large numbers of sensors operated in combination, in the static role, allowing much greater individual capability than is the case with mobile devices.

FLIR Systems’ Star SAFIRE III has been selected for a number of force protection systems. In September it was awarded a $96.6m contract to support the Base Expeditionary Targeting and Surveillance Systems – Combined programme. The Star SAFIRE III stabilised system has also been standard fare on the US Army’s Rapid Aerostat Initial Delivery Systems (RAID) since 2007. The company’s ThermoVision Sentry is used for perimeter security on airbases via the US Air Force’s Tactical Automated Security System programme. The Marine Corps also use the sensor as part of its Ground – Based Optical Surveillance System programme. The company’s ThermoVision 2000 which has a 20km range, was selected by Malaysia in April 2008 as part of a counter-insurgency border network. The Ranger III X-R Plus sports a 640x480 focal plane array and was selected by the Border Protection Force of a Gulf nation in 2007, building on earlier sales of 40 Ranger II systems.

Chess Dynamics have teamed with GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms to create the Spyder Nano Situational Awareness System. This consists of ten, small daylight colour CCTV cameras, to a which further ten uncooled TI cameras for a night vision capability can be added and stitched together to create a seamless 360 degree panoramic view. Above this bank of cameras are two further high performance sensors – the Pirahna36 colour TV camera with low light mode and a third generation cooled, medium wave TI and laser range finder on a powered pan and tilt system for when greater investigation of a location or target is needed by the operator.

The Oregon Camera Systems SC5500 is designed for 24 hour site security. Operated from a pneumatic mast, the systems can track individuals out to over 8Km with a 2x magnification and narrow field of view.

SURFACE_RADAR_273X317,5_DN_uk

16/04/08

15:35

Page 1

YOU’D BE SURPRISED WHERE YOU FIND US

You’ll find us at the forefront of radar technology that completely secures air, land and sea.

With a new way of designing radars, we ensure a flexible system that can easily be integrated or updated.

Our radars are: Ready to plug – offering capability for network operations.

Ready to play – with automatic reconfiguration for high operational availability.

Ready to last – with an innovative e-services policy and thanks to a ‘zero spare’ maintenance concept.

This affords you an unprecedented level of customer control and makes for carefree, ultra-cooperative operations – just what you’re looking for!

Talk to us soon about your next challenge or visit our website.

www.thalesgroup.com

The world is safer with Thales

C4ISR TECHNOLOGY

UGS Unattended Ground Sensors (UGS) derive their sensor data from a variety of sensor types; seismic, magnetic, passive infra red piezoelectric cable, contact closure, camera systems and acoustic devices with some or all types deployed according to the specific mission it is tasked with fulfilling.

Thales has renewed their UGS capability via the Miniature Intrusion Sensor (MIS) which, along Textron Systems' Terrain

L-3’s REM-Sense continues to be the main front line solution for the US military

Commander, is part of the Australian Defence Force’s Project NINOX solution. The MIS system has as its core a seismic sensor but the same device also acts as a host into which additional sensors can be connected. These comprise magnetic, PIR and piezo-electric cable. The system weighs just 1.25Kg and can last for a month on its own internal power.

Finland’s border with the Soviet Union and now Russia has long prompted it to seek persistent security along its eastern boundaries. It is not a signatory to the Mine Ban Treaty and has significant border surveillance assets on its 1340km border, characterised by dense forest and limited human habitation. As part of a programme to renew its capability Finland has acquired Selex’s Hydra UGS which L-3’s REM-Sense continues to be the main front line solution for the connects a range of US military (L3) networked sensors over a 500m radius.

Ensuring aggregated sensor information gets to the soldier quickly is vital Hydra’s imaging senotherwise ISR collection is wasted (US DoD) sor node can transmit video at 16 frames per second and can store up to two hours of video on its on-board archive, if communication is interrupted.

Each acoustic sensor can detect cars at 50m and aircraft and helicopters at 3km.

Unit costs are driven down by economies of scale.

Military sales have never been high.

Combined however

26

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

with recent increased demand for UGS for homeland security applications, unit costs are being cut, with militaries finding that technologies and systems suitable for border security can be equally applicable to many of the operations they now have to conduct.

As part of Project 28, the 28 mile virtual fence along the US-Mexico border in Arizona that is the cornerstone of the US Secure Border Initiative programme, prime contractor Boeing is testing magnetic, seismic and acoustic UGS. In April 2008, Boeing announced a $4.8m contract with US firm McQ for its Omni Sense UGS. The system is designed to send Sensor Reports to a server showing an infra-red picture of the target along with sensor health and status information.

The company’s more recent iScout UGS was developed with the US Army Research Lab and is based upon a sensor package which incorporates combinations of seismic, acoustic, magnetic and thermal detection in a package about the size of a pack of playing cards and weighs 570g. With two AA batteries, the system lasts for up to ten days and uses a Spread Spectrum 900 MHz Radio to communicate to a hand held device or to a gateway for long range communication.

The US Army is seeking to deploy its FCS UGS system in the next few years as part of Spin Out 1. Developed by Textron Defense Systems, the system comprises two distinct elements. The larger more capable FCS Tactical UGS is designed to detect vehicles, personnel, aircraft as well as radiological effects, with a fidelity of information to enable targeting as well as detection over wide areas.

In contrast, the second element; Urban UGS, are designed to be lightweight, low cost and disposable to be used in buildings as well as caves, tunnels sewers and alleys.

For the export market, the company has recently brought out its Terrain Commander 2 designed to operate for up to half a year with an auxiliary battery pack and able to detect light trucks at 2500m with long range EO/IR solution that is able to detect vehicles at up to 1500m both at day and night.

In the meantime, L-3’s REM-Sense continues to be the main front line solution for the US military. The system incorporates the standard UGS sensor types and can include a 320x240 Thermal Imager and a Field Processing Unit which includes Iridium satcom for reachback. Elements of the system comprise the US Army’s AN/PRS-9 Battlefield Anti-Intrusion System, the

C4ISR TECHNOLOGY

France’s DGA have funded EADS to develop the FURET 2, an innovative operational demonstrator for the fusion of tactical intelligence Sensor fusion

Chess Dynamics have teamed with GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms to create the Spyder Nano Situational Awareness System (AJB)

AN/GSR-8(V) Remotely Monitored Battlefield Sensor Systems II and the Marine Corps Tactical Remote Sensor System.

Rheinmetall’s multi-sensor BSA solution comprises a magnetic sensor, microphone and geophone, placed roughly 20m away from the control unit which also houses the IR line camera, the pyro-electric sensors (passive IR) and an additional microphone as well as an RF link to the user, placed up to 10km away.

IAI Elta offers the EL/I-6001 UGS with a combined acoustic and seismic sensor that can detect people at 50m with an optional EO Sensor cable of recognising people, at 100m.

SpiderTech’s perimeter security solution embeds its Smart 3D vector sensor around 50cm beneath the ground, with power and communications via a buried cable with each sensor covering a 40m diameter area with up Textron’s FCS Tactical UGS, provides a fidelity of information sufficient to enable targeting as well as detection over wide areas (AJB)

to 250 such sensors in a network.

An UGS type approach is being pursued with QinetiQ’s Optasense System, which consists of up to 40Km of buried, single mode, fibre optic cable – a standard Telecoms solution, which doesn’t have to be terminated to function. The sensor is passive and has no electro-magnetic signature. An interrogator unit is attached to the cable and can immediately detect the presence of a heavy vehicle within 100m, low flying aircraft and someone walking at over 20m as well as classifying vehicles.

Radar Ground surveillance radar provides high volume coverage, at much further distances than the electronic ‘eyes’ of an EO/IR system, not to mention the ‘ears’ of UGS, providing a natural complement to both, offering a long range ‘trip wire’ that can cue high fidelity systems to investigation when a target come within detection range.

Aselsan’s ASKARAD radar is typical of many of the systems being operated today including in the border observation role by Malaysia. The X-band -8 to 12.5 GHz radar can be vehicle mounted or dismounted and in the latter role can be broken down into three, 35Kg manpack packages to ease deployment. The system is capable of detecting individuals at 15km, armoured vehicles at double that and can geo-locate targets with an accuracy of less than 10m.

The Bulgarian Tcherno More HP-100M radar has a range of up to 8km and is capable of detecting a moving person at 2500m and larger targets and longer ranges with a detection range accuracy of 25m. The 15W system carries its own power supply which is sufficient for operation for roughly ten hours.

MARCH/APRIL 2009

With the expansion in the number of sensors, fusing the data to create a common sensor picture becomes more important, speeding access to intelligence data and improving data consistency. This is true of the battlefield as well as areas of high density sensor deployment such as camps and barracks, which could result in the operator at the command post being swamped without the right tools.

Thales’ Local Area Control System (LACS) is designed to manage multiple sensors and has been acquired both by Finland and France, the latter to supports its SPECTRE battlefield experimentation initiative. At a wider level, the company’s Comm@nder Intel system is designed to be a source of intelligence fusion for all types of tactical ISTAR. The system is designed to link each sensor and support task collection from sensors and tactical commands and provide analysis and data fusion and situational assessment tools.

The software uses NATO MIP protocols, STANAG 2022 and JDL data fusion models and APP-6A tactical symbology. Information is displayed using XML and web services.

France’s DGA have funded EADS to develop the FURET 2, an innovative operational demonstrator for the fusion of tactical intelligence.

Raytheon’s Persistent Surveillance and Dissemination Systems of Systems (PSDS2) was developed for current US operations and fielded within 110 days of the request being issued. PSDS2 takes multiple sensor inputs –EO/IR, acoustic radar and Humint reports and geo-locates the activity – every pixel or input has a GPS co-ordinate.

Analysts for example see an overlay of a sector and are able to pick out where each sensor input is – giving surveillance an immediate tactical context. Inputs are recorded so for example a truck bomb can be tracked backward to see where it came from, a ‘forensic’ capability vital in a counter A MR insurgency campaign.

27

AIRBORNE R

A

D

A

R

Eyes

of the

In today’s increasingly complex and crowded aerial combat environment, the competitive edge sought by any self-respecting air arm – whether it be an air force, naval air arm or a paramilitary force such as a coast guard or border security organisation – is typically brought about, by the quality of the sensors embarked or in use, rather than the effectiveness of any individual weapon system. Indeed, since we arguably now operate in the age of information warfare, sensors can almost be regarded as the weapon system of choice. None, however, is capable of making a greater difference in aerial warfare than a modern, effective, multi-role airborne radar.

by Tim Mahon

The mechanically scanned PS-05/A radar onboard the JAS-39 Gripen. The latest version being developed, the MK-5, incorporates AESA technology (Saab)

28

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

AIRBORNE R

irborne radars take many forms and come in many shapes and guises. Ranging from agile electronicallysteered combat radar for fast fighter and ground attack aircraft to rather more ponderous – but no less powerful or effective – arrays mounted on larger airframes for maritime surveillance or airborne early warning and control (AEW&C).

Airborne radar has been the subject of intense scrutiny and immense investment in the last thirty years, with results on the pace and effectiveness of aerial combat that would be difficult to overstate.

Airborne radar has its supreme incarnation in electronically scanned array radars for agile fifth-generation combat aircraft. In many ways it is the radar itself that causes such aircraft to enjoy the sobriquet, “fifth generation.”

Were these aircraft to embark previous generation radar and data processing systems, they would merely be dangerously effective as opposed to laying claim to mastery of their environment.

The fundamental function of airborne radar for combat aircraft is to investigate and report to the pilot and crew, pertinent information on the airspace through which the aircraft is flying, in order to identify, locate and provide targeting information for airborne and terrestrial objects of interest. The demand to make increasingly rapid scans of the airspace, with higher and higher frequencies, has placed significant demands on the capabilities of servo motors which drive a mechanically scanned antenna.

Such radars still in service include the highly successful APG-65 series designed by Hughes Aircraft (now Raytheon Corporation), the APG-70 development for the F-15 and its ultimate incarnation, the APG-73, as installed in the F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet aircraft. A graceful solution to providing an alternative to mechanical scanning has been the development of actively phased array antennas, in

A

tiger

CAPTOR is currently being demonstrated aboard the Eurofighter Demonstrator Aircraft MARCH/APRIL 2009

A

D

A

R

which the radar beam is electronically steered through both azimuth and elevation, rather than mechanically.

One example of a modern, active electronically scanned radar (AESA) in such an application is the CAPTOR radar (previously named ECR-90 for Electronic Combat Radar 90) developed by the four nation Euroradar consortium. CAPTOR is currently being demonstrated aboard the Eurofighter Demonstrator Aircraft in its CAESAR form (CAPTOR Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar) and is intended to be the standard combat radar fit for the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, currently entering European service in increasingly significant numbers.

Euroradar consists of EADS Defence Electronics (Germany), Galileo Avionica (Italy), Indra (Spain) and Selex Sensors & Airborne Systems (formerly BAE Systems Avionics, United Kingdom). The radar system is essentially based on a much modified version of BAE Systems’ Blue Vixen radar, developed for the Sea Harrier aircraft.

Employing AESA technologies, CAESAR overcomes one of the issues of so called passive phased arrays – which are totally dependent on large central, fixed transmitters and are therefore almost impossible to develop for airborne applications – by relying on a number of transmit/receive modules, each of which acts as its own power amplifier in the transmit path. AESA radars thus offer the user far greater power and flexibility, with an average radar consisting of in excess of 1,000 such modules.

AESA radars enable combat aircraft to perform much more difficult track-whilescan tasks more effectively, more rapidly and with far higher target discrimination than has hitherto been possible. The characteristic of so-called ‘graceful degradation’ – under which an AESA radar can continue to provide adequate, if not superior, functionality even if up to ten percent of its modules are damaged or have failed – allows for far greater maintenance intervals, with a consequent positive effect on the logistics footprint and full life costs – considerations high on the list of every military operator as defence budget austerity continues to be enforced.

This technology has been aggressively pursued over the last fifteen years or more, with a consortium established in 1995 to develop an AESA combat aircraft radar demonstrator involving Thales

29

AIRBORNE R

A

D

A

R

(France), EADS (Germany) and Selex Galileo (Italy). This generic demonstrator, known as the Airborne Multi-Role Solid State Active Array Radar (AMSAR), packed over 1,000, gallium arsenide transmit/receive modules into a 60cm diameter array operating in the X-band. Building on this experience, the Euroradar consortium in 2002 embarked on the current programme to develop both mechanically and electronically-steered versions of CAPTOR (respectively designated CAPTOR-M and CAPTOR-E), the latter of which has now emerged as the CAESAR systems, currently undergoing flight testing.

In France, meanwhile, similar initiatives have been undertaken to provide the Rafale multi-role combat aircraft with equally modern and capable radar functionality. Thales has pursued its own advanced AESA technology programmes since the early 1990s

Thales has pursued its own advanced AESA technology programmes since the early 1990s and has developed a considerable depth of expertise in passive antenna, electronic scanning in its ground-based radar product line.

Combining these areas of expertise and working in close cooperation with Rafale manufacturer Dassault, in order to ensure the radar is an integrated part of the aircraft’s overall avionics suite, Thales delivered AESA radar prototypes for flight testing from 2003.

By 2005 the concept of the AESA radar in a Rafale installation had been fully validated and the company launched an industrialisation phase of the programme in 2006, aimed at ensuring series production could be entered into quickly and efficiently. The resulting AESA Radar à Balayage Electronique 2 (RBE2) radar, as it is known, The APG-65 is no longer in production but remains in widespread service (Raytheon)

30

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

will be delivered to Dassault from the beginning of 2010 and the French Délégation Générale pour l’Armement procurement agency has agreed to a roadmap that will see Rafale aircraft with a new sensor suite including the RBE2 radar delivered to the Air Force and Navy.

Thales claims that operational benefits of the RBE2 include the capability, “to track all targets in its environment without losing them – irrespective of the movements of the targets and/or the host aircraft.” This is coupled to a significant increase in detection range for airborne targets and a vastly increased degree of reliability. Echoing Euroradar comments on longevity of systems and long maintenance intervals, Thales states that maintenance of the active front end - absent battle damage or other catastrophe – should only be necessary “every ten years or more, thereby contributing to increased aircraft availability and reducing replacement part costs.”

Additional improvements brought to the combat pilot’s environment through use of AESA radar include increased resistance to electronic countermeasures, better detection and discrimination of ground based targets and enhanced synthetic aperture radar

AIRBORNE R

Saab is also promoting the concept of the Erieye radar on an even smaller platform – the Saab 340 (Saab)

(SAR) imagery.

However, it is not just the glamorous fighter pilots who are enjoying the advent of modern, capable radar systems in the first decade of the twenty-first century. Far more mundane – but equally vital – roles are being performed by maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft around the world on a daily basis and their sensor needs are at least as great as those of their “Top Gun” brethren.

Over 90 percent of the world’s goods travel by sea. Many nations are utterly dependent on imported oil, virtually 100 percent of which is transported by sea.

Nations are becoming increasingly protective of their own immediate Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs), which in some cases now extend to 200 nautical miles from the coast. In some areas – notably, at the time of writing, the waters off the coast of Somalia – piracy has become a real problem, one that is threatening to embroil more than one nation in costly and potentially dangerous conflict.

In others, illegal entry of refugees or criminals has become a daily threat to homeland security. For all these reasons, and more, maritime patrol and border surveillance has become a theme of urgent requirements development common to an increasing number of sovereign nations.

The United States Navy (USN) still oper-

ates a fleet of 161 P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft, although the average age of these is now around 23 years and some 40 of them have been grounded since late 2007 due to airframe structural fatigue concerns. The same aircraft is also in service in significant numbers with others including the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (116 aircraft), the Pakistani Navy (10) and the Republic of Korea Navy (16). Although the aircraft is approaching the limit of its useful service life, operating nations are keen to retain its current levels of capability until the availability of its putative replacement, the P-8A Poseidon, the first flight test aircraft for which is due to be delivered in late 2009. Poseidon will carry the Raytheon APY-10 (APS-137 follow-on) radar and associated data processing and signals intelligence package.

Designed for maritime, littoral and overland surveillance, and anti-submarine and anti-surface vessel warfare, the AN/APY-10 Multi-Mission Maritime and Overland Surveillance Radar system, represents extensive modification of the legacy AN/APS-137 radar, resulting in reduced size, weight and power, increased mean time between failure, added target tracking capabilities, additional colour weather avoidance functions and room for technology growth, with planned technology insertion ‘spirals’ likely to take place on a three year cycle from initial operating capability onwards. According to the company, the AN/APY-10, which will be able to detect an object with a one metre square radar cross-section at a distance of 29 nautical miles, or a 10 metre cross-section at

A

D

A

R

40, is “…the only system of its type to provide ultra-high resolution imaging modes for both maritime and overland operations.”

In USN service the P-8A will operate in concert with the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)of the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance System and in Australia, too, the P-8A has been selected as the preferred contender for the manned component of a replacement for the ageing AP-3C fleet, which is due to finally retire by 2018. The Australian Poseidons will also operate in conjunction with an as yet unnamed UAV. Meanwhile the Indian Navy signed an agreement for the purchase of eight P-8I customised Poseidons at a total cost of $2.1 billion in January his year. These aircraft will replace the Tupolev Tu-142M and Ilyushin Il38 aircraft currently operating in the maritime patrol and anti-submarine role for the Indian Navy (IN) and represent Boeing’s first significant military sale to India. The IN is meanwhile launching a second maritime patrol aircraft competition for six-eight aircraft to replace the Britten-Norman Islanders currently providing short-range capabilities.

Discussions regarding the possible radar fit for such an aircraft are likely to centre on technology transfer issues as much as cost and performance criteria.

The United Kingdom is also focused on large fixed-wing aircraft for maritime surveillance purposes, with the Nimrod MR4 inching ever closer to entering service. The MR4’s powerful Thales Searchwater 2000 radar has the capability of scanning an area the size of the entire United Kingdom every ten seconds and offers very rapid signals

In 2007, a series of successful test flights with the Captor Active Electronic Scanning Array Radar were conducted in Germany (Eurofighter)

Nations are becoming increasingly protective of their own immediate Exclusive Economic Zones MARCH/APRIL 2009

31

AIRBORNE R

A

D

A

R

The Thales RBE2 AESA radar for the Rafale aircraft packs over 1,000 separate antenna components into a surprisingly small diameter package for mounting in the radome (Thales)

processing capabilities. Such capabilities, however, come at a significant cost and are not within the budget of every potential operator. The case for smaller, more flexible aircraft with modern but perhaps not quite as sophisticated sensor functions has caused a number of integrators and manufacturers other than ‘the usual suspects’ to come to the fore in recent years.

Prominent among these is Sweden’s Saab, which has begun to have success in the area of maritime patrol and other special mission aircraft with the sale to Pakistan of six Saab 2000 turboprop aircraft carrying the Ericsson Erieye airborne radar system in 2006. The Erieye, manufactured by Ericsson (now Saab Microwave Systems) is capable of detection ranges out to 350km in very hostile electronic warfare environments and is based on AESA technology. This appears to have been advantageous to the Saab team in the Pakistan sale, since the user had also been In US service, the APG-73 USN and USMC F/A18C and D aircraft and early versions of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet (Raytheon)

The Northrop Grumman AN/APG-77 multifunction radar equips the F/A-22 and shares technology with the AN/APG-81 on board the JSF (US DoD)

considering the E-2C Hawkeye, but expressed a preference for the AESA technology, which it considered more compliant with its developing requirement.

Saab is also promoting the concept of the Erieye radar on an even smaller platform – the Saab 340 – having successfully sold a number equipped with Erieye in an AEW&C role to the Swedish air force. Six aircraft will be operated, of which four will carry the Erieye, the remainder being fitted for but not with the radar.

Nor is Saab the only company outside the radar ‘giants’ to be active in the radar field for special mission aircraft. Danish company Terma has recently supplied the Spanish Coast Guard with three sideways looking airborne radar (SLAR) systems, designed to detect marine oil pollution and similar threats. With a range of up to 40 nautical miles and sophisticated on board processing facilities, the Terma SLAR solution will provide superior imagery and instant interpretation capabilities for the selected platform, which will be the CASA CN-235-300 multimission aircraft. Terma has also supplied similar systems to Air Atlantique in the United Kingdom for offshore surveillance and monitoring activities.

Looking more generally at the market over the next few years, it is apparent that there is a high level of activity among manufacturers of every shape and size as technology provides potential solutions to formerly

The Erieye… is capable of detection ranges out to 350km in very hostile electronic warfare environments 32

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

intractable problems. Large and small companies alike will continue to chase airborne radar contracts with military and civilian agencies throughout the region. There is great debate, for example, about the potential sale of AEW&C platforms to China, which currently lacks a significant capability in this area. Politics aside, the probable demands for technology transfer, licence manufacture or joint development may well make this a touch nut to crack, though ultimately a lucrative one.

Raytheon Electronic Systems, Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin all compete for the lion’s share of the North American radar market, while in Europe the dominant players are Selex/BAE Systems, EADS and Thales. There are, however, significant numbers of equally capable companies that, though smaller in size and perhaps less powerful as far as brand image is concerned, nonetheless represent technological innovation and a focus on value for money from the client perspective, that make their offerings serious contenders indeed in the multi-billion dollar airborne radar market.

Companies such as Saab, Terma, Telephonics in the United States, the Phazotron Joint Stock Company in Russia and Israel Aircraft Industries will continue to seek increased market share in the Asian market, which seems poised for growth.

As military doctrine in the region continues its shift towards to adoption of networkcentric warfare, so the necessity for increasingly sophisticated and networked sensor platforms, becomes more pronounced.

Consequently, the future for airborne radar manufacturers in the Asia-Pacific region seems to be a bright one, albeit an increasingA MR ly competitive one.

NAVAL W E A P O N S

Fire from the waves

The past 64 years has seen a marked decline in the use of gunfire during naval engagements. The Second World War heralded the decline of the naval gun as the primary means of vessel-on-vessel engagement. The development of the aircraft carrier, together with German advances in the field of Anti-Ship Missiles (AShM) meant that, following the end of the War, the naval gun’s remit was reduced to the roles of engaging shore-based targets in support of amphibious operations, providing short-range air and missile defence and defeating small vessels and boats.

by Thomas Withington With a choice of either 25 or 30mm (one or 1.1-inch) armament, OtoMelara’s MARLIN-WS modular gun gives customers a flexible design. Moreover, the weapon can also be linked to a customer-specified electro-optical system. (OtoMelara)

34

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

NAVAL W E A P O N S

rior to the development of weapons such as Raytheon’s BGM-109 Tomahawk Land Attack Missile, the US Navy's (USN) ship-based shore bombardment ranges were largely limited to the 38km (19.4 nautical miles(nm)) of the Mark-7 406.4mm gun, the main armament of its Iowa-class battleships. Nevertheless, even with the dominance of the missile in the land attack role, there remains an important role for the naval gun. Sea-based terrorist attacks such as that on the USS Cole, coupled with the use of small boats for maritime piracy and the ever present risk of air and missile attack ensure that naval vessels still require hard-hitting guns.

Customers have an extensive range of products to choose from in a variety of calibres. Several companies produce naval guns, including BAE Systems, Denel, Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace, MSI Defence Systems, Nexter Systems, OtoMelara, Rafael, Raytheon, Rheinmetall, Singapore Technologies Kinetics and Thales Nederland.

They range from small calibre systems of between 7.62mm to 40mm, for employment against short-range and low-altitude threats; medium calibre, 40mm-76mm weapons capable of engaging air, surface and shore targets and heavy calibre weapons of over 76mm and primarily designed for shore bombardment.

Small calibre weapons play a valuable part in defeating the so-called asymmetric threat and are equally at home against sui-

P

BAE Systems has developed an impressive portfolio of naval gun systems including the Mk38 Mod.2, Mk45, Bofors 40 Mk3, Bofors 57 Mk3 and Mk110 products cide-bomber crewed fast craft or small boats filled with pirates. They are also tasked with providing 'close in' defence versus both AShMs and low-flying aircraft. Medium and heavy calibre weapons provide the allimportant Naval Surface Fire Support (NSFS) against land-based targets. NSFS plays a vital role in the opening stages of any opposed landing; destroying targets ashore such as hostile artillery positions, which may impede operations. Troops landing on beaches are unable to immediately deploy their organic artillery and consequently, are dependent on Close Air Support and NSFS to attack such targets.

BAE Systems has developed an impressive portfolio of naval gun systems including the Mk38 Mod.2, Mk45, Bofors 40 Mk3, Bofors 57 Mk3 and Mk110 products. The Mk38 Mod.2 Minor Calibre Gun is designed to engage fast-moving and small-sized surface threats. The design of this 25mm weapon is based on the Rafael Typhoon Mk25 system and can be fitted on vessels displacing 50 tons or over. The Mk38 Mod.2 uses the Alliant Techsystems (ATK) M242 Bushmaster Chain Gun as its armament,

MARCH/APRIL 2009

which has a maximum range of 2.5km (1.3nm). According to BAE Systems, it can sustain a 180 rounds-per-minute (rpm) rate of fire. Two of these systems already equip the USS Princeton, a Ticonderoga-class Guided Missile Cruiser (CG).

Heavy calibre naval guns are less numerous than their small and medium calibre counterparts. The Mk45 Mod.4 weapon equips the US Navy's Flight-8A Arleigh Burke-class destroyers launched after March 1999. The Mod.2 variant equips the Ticonderoga-class CGs, although these are being retrofitted with the Mod.4 version. The Mod.4 variant has a longer barrel, enabling improved land attack capabilities with greater reach. The Mk45 gun has also been purchased by the Australian, Danish, Greek, Japanese, New Zealand, Spanish, Republic of Korea, Thai and Turkish navies. BAE Systems is also involved in supplying the next generation of heavy calibre guns to the USN, namely the 155mm Advanced Gun System (AGS). The AGS will equip the DDG1000 Zumwalt-class guided missile destroyers (DDG) with a weapon that can fire up to ten rpm in support of land and surface attack mission, and that will have a range of up to 119km (64nm).

BAE Systems also produces what is OtoMelara’s 76/62 Super Rapid medium-calibre naval gun can be installed on any vessel of any size and is the only medium calibre naval gun capable of sustained fire, according to the company’s literature. The 76/62 Super Rapid’s rate of fire is up to 120 rounds-per-minute.

(OtoMelara)

35

NAVAL W E A P O N S

arguably the most famous brand in naval guns; the Bofors 40 Mk3 and Bofors 57 Mk3 weapons. The former, a 40mm weapon, can fire up to 330rpm at a range of 12.5km (6.7nm). Meanwhile, the Bofors 57 Mk3 weapon has been selected for the United States Coast Guard’s (USCG) Bertholf-class National Security Cutters and also for the USN’s forthcoming Zumwalt-class DDGs. Although this medium calibre weapon has a reduced rate of fire at 220rpm, compared to the Bofors 40 design, it has a greater range of up to 17km (9.1nm). Also equipping US surface combatants will be the BAE Systems Mk110 57mm medium calibre weapon, which has a 200rpm rate of fire and a 15km (8nm) range. This weapon has also been selected for the USCG’s Offshore Patrol Cutters.

Denel of South Africa builds the 35DPG, 35mm small calibre gun, which has a range of up to 4km (2.15nm) against air targets and up to six kilometres (3.2nm) against surface threats. This weapon equips the four Valourclass frigates which the country purchased as MEKO A-200SAN vessels from

ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.

On display at last year's Euronaval exhibition in Paris was Kongsberg’s Sea Protector remote controlled weapons station. This small calibre weapons mount uses a 'soft mount’ to dampen weapon recoil. Sea Protector can host a range of guns including the M2 12.7mm, FN Herstal M240 7.62mm and M249 5.56mm machine guns. According to the Norwegian firm, it is in service with 13 navies across the world.

The UK's MSI Defence Systems produces the DS25/30 series of naval guns. These weapons are equipped with gyro-stabilisation and are constructed from materials and utilise design techniques that reduce their radar, infra-red and magnetic signatures.

The company won a $22 million contract to integrate the DS30 30mm small calibre gun system onto the Royal Navy's Type-23 Dukeclass frigates. Billed as one of the most advanced weapons of its kind, the DS30 will provide the Senior Service with the wherewithal to engage small enemy craft, including fast inflatables and speedboats. Across La Manche, France’s Nexter Systems’ Naval

BAE Systems’ Advanced Gun System is a next generation heavy calibre weapon which is designed to support US Navy and US Marine Corps operations in littoral and coastal regions. The gun features an automatic munitions handling system. (BAE Systems)

36

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

The NARWHAL mount has already been tested on a Subahi-class patrol vessel, used by the Kuwait Coast Guard Remote Weapon Highly Accurate Lightweight (NARWHAL) gun mount is available with a variety of different accompanying weapons. These include the company’s M621 20mm, DCNS/Nexter twin M693 20mm, MS11 25mm, or single Nexter M781 30mm weapons. The NARWHAL mount has already been tested on a Subahi-class patrol vessel, used by the Kuwait Coast Guard.

One of the biggest names in the world of naval guns is Italy's OtoMelara, part of the Finmeccanica group. The company builds a comprehensive range of naval guns, comprising small, medium and heavy-calibre systems. Its portfolio includes the Mod.517, M583, MARLIN-WS, Single Fast Forty Gun Mount, Single-30 series, 76/62 series, 40L70 Compact Naval Gun Mount, 127/54 Compact Dual Purpose Automatic Gun Mount and the 127/64 Light Weight Naval Gun Mount.

NAVAL W E A P O N S

Designed for small vessels and offering low recoil, the S20 Pintle Mount uses Rheinmetall's Mk20 DM5 Automatic Cannon as its armament In terms of small calibre weapons, OtoMelara's Mod.517 gun offers a 12.7mm system which equips the NLE Transportboat2000 coastal patrol vessels operated by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Navy and the Acuario and Polaris class CombatBoat-90 patrol vessels used by the Armada de México (Mexican Navy). The company also produces the M584 Modular Gun System which can be outfitted with either a 25mm or 30mm weapon, namely the Oerlikon Contraves KBA or the ATK M242 Bushmaster 1, in the case of the 25mm design; or the Mauser Mk30-2 or ATK Mk44 Bushmaster 2 for the 30mm version. The UAE Navy was the M584’s launch customer with the weapon equipping its Baynunah-class corvettes, each carrying two M584s. Also using the same modular approach is the company's MARLIN-WS (Modular Advanced Remote Controlled Lightweight Naval - Weapon System) 25mm and 30mm gun system. In October 2008, OtoMelara signed contracts to supply the 30mm variant of the MARLINWS to the Koninklijke Marine (Royal Netherlands Navy) to equip its Holland-class patrol ships for delivery by 2011. Offering a rate of fire of up to 450rpm, OtoMelara's Single Fast Forty, Multipurpose Naval Mount can engage high-speed fixed and rotary wing aircraft along with surface threats. Meanwhile, the company's Single-30 30mm design provides an even higher rate of fire of up to 700rpm and can be alternatively fitted with a 25mm cannon.

In terms of 40mm calibre weapons, OtoMelara produces the Twin 40L70 Compact Naval Gun Mount which has a rate of fire of 600rpm. This rapidity gives the weapon a good capability against AShMs, hostile aircraft and surface threats. The Twin 40L70 can also be outfitted with a pair of Single Fast Forty guns, increasing the rate of fire to 900rpm. Around 20 navies have purchased the Twin 40L70 weapon so far.

In the medium segment of the spectrum is OtoMelara's 76/62 Compact Naval Gun Mount. Firing 76mm ammunition, this

weapon can, according to the company's literature, be deployed on any type and class of vessel as both a multipurpose anti-aircraft and anti-surface ship system. Capable of firing up to 100rpm the sustained fire of the 76/62 series of guns (which also includes the company's Super Rapid variant) can have a devastating effect against manoeuvring surface targets.

Like BAE Systems, OtoMelara also builds heavy calibre weapons. Its product portfolio includes the 127mm 127/64 Light Weight Naval Gun Mount which is to be installed on Deutsche Marine (German Navy) F125-class frigates in place of the Rheinmetall 155mm Modular Naval Artillery Concept (MONARC) concept weapon. Intended to provide robust indirect fire against shorebased artillery, this gun has a range of 100km (54nm). Other heavy calibre products include the company's 127/54 Compact Gun Mount; a 127mm weapon designed as the primary gun for frigates and destroyers.

Rafael's Typhoon Mk25 Naval Stabilised Weapons Station forms the basis of the Mk38 Mod.2 weapon being developed by BAE Systems which has been installed on the USS Princeton and also on the USS Port Royal Ticonderoga-class CGs. The company expects to deliver around 300 of these weapons to a range of future US Navy and USCG vessels. The Typhoon Mk25 is derived

from Rafael's Overhead Weapons System (OWS-25) which equips Tzva HaHagana LeYisra'el (Israel Defense Force) Achzarit, Puma and M113A2 Ultra armoured vehicles.

The Typhoon Mk25 has also been sold to the Sri Lankan Navy, the Heil HaYam HaYisraeli (Israeli Sea Corps) and the Royal Australian Navy where it equips Armidale-class patrol vessels. The navies of Greece, India and Singapore have also been customers.

Another famous name in the naval gun world is Phalanx; the 20mm small calibre Close In Weapons System produced by Raytheon. Since its entry into USN service in 1980, the six-barrelled 4,500rpm Mk15 Phalanx has sold well across the world with over 850 systems being sold to 21 countries.

A US Navy upgrade was initiated in May 2005 to take the weapon to Block 1B status which will add the ATK 20mm Mk244 Enhanced Lethality Cartridge as well as extending the weapon’s barrel life, increase its engagement range and offer a new search and track radar, plus a stabilized Forward Looking Infra-Red system. Bahrain, Canada, Egypt, Japan and Portugal are also procuring the weapon in Block-IB configuration: either as a new-build product or as an upgrade for their existing Phalanx systems.

Germany's Rheinmetall produces a range of naval guns including the S20 Pintle Mount, Mk20 DM5, MLG25, MLG27,

BAE Systems Mk38 Mod.2 Stabilized Minor Calibre Gun has sold well with around 90 systems in service worldwide. The weapon uses the Rafael Toplite electro-optical fire control system and can be remotely commanded by the crew in the vessel’s Combat Information Centre. (BAE Systems)

MARCH/APRIL 2009

37

NAVAL W E A P O N S

MLG30, MK30-1/2, Millennium 35mm Naval Gun System and the 155mm MONARC. Designed for small vessels and offering low recoil, the S20 Pintle Mount uses Rheinmetall's Mk20 DM5 Automatic Cannon as its armament. The company notes that this weapon can perform well in all weathers and in extreme conditions. It can also be employed as a secondary armament for larger vessels and for the defence of shore installations. The company’s MLG25 gun has been designed as a self-defence armament for all sizes of surface combatant. The weapon has a non-deck penetrating, compact design, enabling it to be installed in a variety of locations. Meanwhile, the 27mm MLG27 can be used as the primary armament on small vessels and as the secondary armament on larger combatants. The weapon is versatile and can hit air, shore and land-based targets. It is also highly capable against fast-moving surface craft. The MLG27 has a range of up to 4km (2.1nm) for surface targets and up to 2.5 km (1.3 nm) against aircraft. Also in Rheinmetall's small calibre portfolio is the MLG30 30mm gun which has a particularly devastating effect against small targets through its use of air burst ammunition and has a similar range to the MLG27.

Rheinmetall has also designed the Millennium 35mm Naval Gun System which has a fearsome 1000rpm rate of fire and a range of up to five kilometres (2.7nm). The company also produces guns which can be used in either a single or twin-mount configuration such as the MK30/1 calibre weapon which has a three-kilometre (1.6 nm) range and the MK30/2 gun which, the company claims has the highest rate of fire of any 30x173mm calibre weapon on the market.

In terms of heavier weapons, Rheinmetall developed the 155mm MONARC concept weapon in conjunction with Krauss Maffei Wegmann, Thales Nederland and ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, to investigate the feasibility of mounting the gun turret from a PzH2000 Self-Propelled Howitzer onto a frigate. The system, which would have a range of up to 40km (21.5nm), was to be installed on Germany's F125-class frigates.

This initiative was eventually abandoned because of reported problems in integrating the technology onto the ship. MONARC was ultimately replaced by the OtoMelara 127/64 Light Weight Naval Gun Mount.

Singapore Technologies is known for its

38

The Millennium 35mm Naval Gun System, Rheinmetall claims, is the only medium calibre naval gun which is capable of attacking fast moving air threats, which it can engage at up to 3,5 km (2.4 nm).

(Thomas Withington)

expertise across the defence spectrum, and the company's Naval Remote Weapons System (NRWS) can fire either 25mm or 30mm ammunition and also comes equipped with a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun.

Weighing around 1,500kg, the NRWS is primarily designed for smaller naval craft.

Thales Nederland is also producing rapid fire, small-calibre weapons, with the Goalkeeper system. The weapon has a 1.5km (1.04nm) range and is deadly to AShMs and can score a kill within 300m of the ship. The Goalkeeper's rate of fire is a devastating 4200rpm. Goalkeeper has been supplied to the Royal Navy and the Royal Netherlands Navy and is primarily designed for larger vessels due to its 9,902kg weight and 2.5m deck penetration. Goalkeeper has also been installed on the Daehanminguk Haegun (Republic of Korea Navy) Chungugong-class and Gwanggaeto the Great-class destroyers, along with the country's Dokdo-class amphibious landing ships.

Despite the reduction in role for naval guns over the last sixty years, the basic physical principles of naval gunfire remain the same; bullets or shells are sent into the air either by their own explosive charge or

The EMRG uses magnetic energy to throw a projectile at speeds of up to Mach Seven to a range of 273.6km (147.7nm) which would destroy the target with kinetic energy alone ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

by separate propellant charges. These techniques are as old as gunfire itself. Looking towards the future, the US Navy is redefining the basic design principles of the naval gun. This is done through the Electromagnetic Rail Gun (EMRG) which performed its first test firing in February 2008. Doing away with chemical propellant, the EMRG uses magnetic energy to throw a projectile at speeds of up to Mach Seven to a range of 273.6km (147.7nm) which would destroy the target with kinetic energy alone.

An electric current runs through the gun's barrel to create the magnetic energy necessary to launch the projectile. Before we see such a revolutionary weapon employed on a naval vessel however, there are a number of hurdles still to overcome. Not least of these is the EMRG’s voracious appetite for power; around six million amps, which would place huge demands on any ship's electrical system. By comparison, a car's ignition requires around 300 amps to turn the engine. Still, the programme is aiming to have a working EMRG ready for service by 2025. The ranges and kill potential of such a weapon could prove to be a comparatively inexpensive alternative to anti-ship missiles which have ranges of up to 180km (97nm), in the case of the MBDA Exocet AShM. The EMRG could well trigger a renaissance of the gun and reverse the dominance of missiles in anti-ship missions. Time will tell if the Navy’s EMRG efforts are successful, but until then, naval customers across the world will have no shortage of small, medium and heavy calibre naval guns with which to furAMR nish their ships.

REGIONAL NEWS A N D

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

AUSTRALIA

Australia and Indonesia sign defence cooperation agreement In January, the Chief of the Australian Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Angus Houston, met with his counterpart, Commander in Chief, Indonesian Armed Forces, General Djoko Santoso, in Jakarta to sign a Joint Statement on Defence Cooperation.

According to Australian officials, the statement is an outcome from Indonesian Defence Minister Sudarsono's visit to Australia and was agreed with the Minister for Defence, Joel Fitzgibbon, in March 2008.

The statement builds on an already strong defence relationship; the Joint Statement reaffirms Australia and Indonesia's commitment to taking a cooperative approach to security issues under the umbrella of the Lombok Treaty.

“Australia is committed to working with Indonesia as a partner to build a secure and peaceful region. The signing of the Joint Statement demonstrates the strength of the relationship between our two countries and

CHINA

Beijing publishes defence white paper The Chinese government has published its latest National Defence White Paper and analysts immediately rushed to examine the White Paper for hints of any changes in China's military stance.

The document is composed of 14 chapters and six appendixes that describe China as actively adapting itself to new trends in world military developments and advancing the modernisation of its national defence and armed forces from a higher starting point.

According to a defence ministry spokesperson, Hu Changming, speaking on the day of the White Paper's publication, it is 'updated, practical, consistent and systematic’.

The White provides a new starting point after 30 years of reform and opening-up. It focuses on the complicated and changing situation and elaborates on the new characteristic of interaction between China and the rest of the world. In addi-

40

provides a clear direction for future cooperation,” ACM Houston said.

The Joint Statement focuses Australia's defence engagement with Indonesia in the areas of counter-terrorism, maritime security, intelligence, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and peacekeeping.

The statement also outlines activities for future defence engagement, including military training and postgraduate education, study visits and exchanges, combined exercises and maritime surveillance and patrol.

KC-30A MRTT reaches another milestone EADS announced in January that the first A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) had achieved another significant milestone in its military certification process, as this new-generation refuelling platform is readied for delivery to the RAAF. The A330 MRTT was validated as a receiver aircraft for in-flight refuelling after multiple contacts with an EADS A310 test-

bed platform, which is equipped with the company's advanced Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS).

The multiple contacts of the fly-by-wire boom were made with the A330 MRTT's Universal Aerial Refuelling Receptacle Slipway Installation system, located on the aircraft's forward fuselage above the cockpit. These tests and evaluations confirmed its stable flying qualities as a receiver aircraft, and also included tests of the military avionics system during refuelling operations.

EADS’ A330 MRTT has been selected by the air forces of Australia, the UK, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and was chosen last year by the US Air Force for its recapitalisation of the Service's aging tanker fleet.

The news of the successful completion of this stage of the tests for the RAAF comes after EADS was forced to announce in December that the delivery of the first aircraft was likely to be delayed, although it is still expected to meet full operational capability in 2011.

tion, it also gives a scientific judgement of the current regional and international security environment and a detailed update on recent developments in defence capacity.

The White Paper is based upon the practice of 'defence and military building'. It updates the People's Liberation Army's military training, political work, equipment China’s latest defence White Paper continues to emphasise a building and logistic sup- defensive posture (US DoD) port through the main military activities of policy which is purely defensive in nature last year including fighting against the and the military strategic guidelines of freezing rain disaster, relief operations after active defence' Hu stated.

However, the White Paper also devotes the Wenchuan earthquake, and security a whole new chapter to each service and tasks for the Olympic Games.

It maintains the same structures and arm, “namely the Army, Navy, Air Force style of previous editions of the White and the Second Artillery Force to better Paper and reiterates China's principles and elaborate on their respective historic develpositions on major issues with an emphasis opment, structures and organisations, and on the 'unswerving adherence to a defence force building,” he added.

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

REGIONAL NEWS A N D

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

INDIA

India receives first Phalcon The Indian Air Force's (IAF’s) newest aircraft, the first of three Phalcon Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) systems, arrived in New Delhi in mid-January.

The aircraft arrived at Delhi's Palam technical area airport on a stopover from Israel and was inspected by senior Air Force officials, including the head of the IAF, Air Chief Marshal Fali Major, before heading out to a base in Agra.

The induction of the Phalcon will be a tremendous force multiplier for the IAF according to officials. The Russian Il-76 aircraft are integrated with an Israeli manufactured AEW&C mission suite. The system is capable of fulfilling a requirement for tactical surveillance of airborne and surface targets and intelligence gathering to a radius of over 400 km.

The heart of the system is the solid-state phased array Elta EL/M-2075 radar mounted on a radome above the fuselage.

The electronically steered beam provides a 360 degree coverage around the aircraft.

India signed a $ 1.1 billion deal for the three Phalcon aircraft with Israel in 2004.

The first aircraft was initially scheduled to be delivered last year but was delayed by several months. The deliveries of the three aircraft are to be completed by next year.

BAE Systems Indian JV approved BAE Systems announced in January that following approval from the Indian government's Foreign Investment Promotions Board, Mahindra & Mahindra and BAE Systems will set up a joint venture (JV) in India focused on land systems for the Indian market.

This is a key step in setting up the JV, and in accordance with current Foreign Direct Investment regulations, the equity split will be 74 percent with Mahindra & Mahindra and 26 percent BAE Systems.

Mahindra & Mahindra and BAE Systems will now finalise detailed planning and structural arrangements with a view to commencing JV operations by mid-2009.

Headquartered in Delhi, with manufacturing in Faridabad, the JV will initially employ 50-60 people. Initial work is likely to include the up-armouring of Rakshack

42

vehicles, Axe vehicle production, and starting the process of developing a mine resistant ambush protected vehicle suitable for India.

India completes MiG-27 upgrade According to a report by Indo-Asian News Service (IANS), New Delhi has completed the upgrade of 120 Soviet-era MiG-27 fighters in the Indian Air Force's (IAF'S) fleet. The upgrade has included better navigational systems and a more pilot friendly cockpit, officials said..

The project was initiated in 2002 under a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding between the country's Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE) under the aegis of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd Nasik and the IAF. The upgraded aircraft are equipped with an Inertial Navigation and Global Positioning System providing more accurate navigation. They also have advanced avionics that have been interfaced on a MIL-STD1553B Dual Redundant Bus. 'To enable weapon aiming, accurate ranging sensors such as Laser Designator Pod and Laser Ranger and Marked Target Seeker are integrated. A digital map generator has been integrated to improve situational awareness.

The digital video recording system provides mission analysis and debrief support,' a senior DRDO told IANS.

The avionics system is built around a modular Core Avionics Computer developed by DARE. It builds on open system principles and houses functional modules using contemporary processors and devices.

These functional modules are also powering the mission computers on the IAF's Jaguar and Su-30 MKI aircraft.

The upgraded aircraft has a pilot friendly cockpit with state-of-art multi function display and head up display (HUD). The pilot flies 'Head Up' with all the necessary navigation and attack guidance symbology presented on the HUD and superimposed on the outside world-view.

Indian Army purchases further MILAN ATGMs In December, the procurement section of the Indian Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Indian defence contractor Bharat Dynamics Ltd for the supply of the Milan anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) to the Indian Army. The $120 million contract will see BDL manufacture a further 4,100 Milan2T ATGMs under a production licence agreement with MBDA. BDL has already manufactured well over 30,000 Milan missiles, in its various variants, under licence to MBDA in an unbroken business partnership that dates back to the 1970s.

With the recent contract this partnership has now been further consolidated. Most of the components will be locally sourced and produced in India with BDL also responsible for final assembly. MBDA will be contributing elements of the missile pyrotechnics.

Antony Call for further exports

India is acquiring a further 4,100 Milan-2T ATGMs (MBDA)

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

Indian Defence Minister AK Antony has called for a major push by India’s defence industry to improve exports and reduce the country’s dependence on oversea equipment. India currently imports roughly 70 percent of its defence equipment needs and according to Antony, only exported $100 million of defence goods in 2007. The Indian government wants to turn this on its head and has the goal of 70 percent of its equipment needs being met domestically.

He believes the way forward is to continue with the earlier Defence Procurement Procedures (DPP) reforms, new offset rules and the decision to allow foreign investors to take up to a 26 percent stake in a local, private defence companies.

REGIONAL NEWS A N D

JAPAN

Japan selects EC-135 for JMSDF training needs Tokyo announced in January that its defence ministry had selected the Eurocopter EC-135 T2+ as one of the training helicopters for the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF). The selection was made in competition with AgustaWestland The EC-135 T2+ is the latest production version of the EC-135 and is powered with 473 kW (634 shp) Arrius 2B2 engines. The JMSDF is expected to initially procure two of the twin-engine helicopters. This could lead to a further contract bringing the number to a total of around 15 aircraft.

Analysts believe that the deal potentially signals a change in Japanese procurement practices, which are heavily reliant on sales from the US. The move is being seen as interesting in the context of Japan's forthcoming F-X fighter competition. A number of companies are lining up to take a shot at the contract including European conglomerate, Eurofighter.

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

Under the F-X competition, Tokyo is seeking around 50 aircraft to replace its ageing McDonnell Douglas F-4s.

The Eurofighter Typhoon is in competition with the French Dassault Rafale as well as with US developed Japan mulls anti-piracy deployment (US DoD) aircraft such as the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet or F- under the legal aegis of the MSDF acting as 15E and Lockheed F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. an alternative to the Coast Guard. A new law explicitly adding the anti-piracy role to the Japanese military’s remit is also being Japan on Somalia pirate prepared. patrol Numbers have not bee confirmed but is Japan is preparing to deploy Maritime SelfDefense Force (MSDF) forces as part of likely to consist of one or more destroyers, international efforts against piracy off the beginning as early as March. In January, coast of Somalia. The deployment, still to Korea also announced plans to send a simbe formally confirmed, is being undertaken ilar force to the region.

MALAYSIA

PAKISTAN

In January, French shipyard DCNS delivered the Royal Malaysian Navy's (RMN's) first-ever submarine. Officials marked the on-time delivery of the first of two diesel electric Scorpene submarines that have been ordered by Kuala Lumpur.

The RMN took formal delivery of Scorpene submarine KD Tunku Abdul Rahman at an official handover in Toulon attended by RMN Chief of Staff Admiral Dato'Sri Aziz Hj Jaafar.

KD Tunku Abdul Rahman is the first of two Scorpene submarines ordered by Malaysia in June 2002 and developed jointly by DCNS and Spanish naval shipbuilder Navantia. In addition to the submarines proper, the contract also includes associated logistics and training.

This is a major milestone for the RMN, following the completion, in late December 2008, of KD Tunku Abdul Rahman’s final sea trials, demonstrating full operational and combat system capabilities. The trials included successful firings of Black Shark heavyweight torpedoes and missiles.

KD Tunku Abdul Rahman is scheduled to arrive in Malaysia early in the second half of this year. The second of the series, KD Tun Razak, is scheduled for delivery in late 2009.

The boats have RMN crews of just 31 and offer an endurance of 45 days for a displacement of 1,550 tonnes and an overall length of 67.5 metres.

Local press reports have revealed that Pakistan has taken delivery of 120 Chinese C-602 anti-ship missiles (ASMs) from China.

The purchase price for the ASMs was not stated, but marks further collaboration between Beijing and Islamabad.

The C-602, also known as the YJ-62, is a long-range subsonic ASM. The missile was first promoted internationally under the C-602 designation at DSEi in 2005, by China National Precision Machinery Import and Export Corporation.

The missile is a conventional cruise missile design, with midbody wings which deploy following launch. The engine inlet is mounted slightly forward of the cruciform tail fins. It is 6.1m long, without the 0.9m launch booster, and weighs 1,140kg. The solid propellant booster weighs an additional 210kg. The missile is powered by a small turbojet or turbofan engine.

Its turbojet engine is believed to give it a maximum range of 280km with a warhead weight of 300 kilograms. Speed is in the order of Mach 0.6-0.8 with a minimum range of 40-60 km. The cruise height is 30m above sea level, but in the terminal phase the missile descends to between 7 and 10m.

Unlike some other Chinese missiles, the C-602 employs a cylinder-shape launcher similar to those found on Western ASM systems. The missile is fitted with a strap-down inertial guidance coupled with GPS, and active radar for the terminal phase.

DCNS delivers first Scorpene to Malaysia

Pakistan gets 120 Chinese ASMs

MARCH/APRIL 2009

43

REGIONAL NEWS A N D

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

SOUTH KOREA

Korean stalled T-50 modification programme gets go-ahead According to international reports, Seoul has taken the delayed decision to develop its T-50 Golden Eagle supersonic trainer aircraft into a light combat aircraft.

Officials from the Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA) told reporters in December that they had signed a deal with the aircraft's manufacturer, Korea Aerospace Industries, to upgrade and modify the aircraft as a potential replacement for the Republic of Korea Air Force's (RoKAF's) A-37 attack aircraft and F-4/5 fighters.

Under the deal, worth $305 million, KAI will produce four prototypes of the new light fighter variant, to be designated the FA-50, by 2012. The FA-50 will be equipped with an advanced tactical data link systems and precision missile guidance equipment, as part of the modifications.

SINGAPORE

RSN commissions last two Formidable Class frigates Singaporean commissioned its last of its Formidable class frigates, RSS Stalwart and RSS Supreme, at Changi Naval Base in January. The commissioning ceremony for the two vessels marks the successful completion of the Formidable class frigate programme for the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN).

The ceremony was presided over by Minister of Defence Teo Chee Hean and was the culmination of eight years of collaboration between French shipyard DCNS, the RSN, the Defence and Science Technology Agency (DSTA), and Singapore Technologies Marine (ST Marine).

DCNS was contracted back in

44

According to officials, the new equipment will allow the aircraft to fire a range of weapons expected to include the Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser, AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles and Joint Direct Attack Munition.

If the modification programme proves successful, DAPA expects to sign a follow-on production order. Officials told reporters that the RoKAF could have a requirement for up to 60 of the new light attack aircraft. As well as purchasing aircraft for its own requirements, Seoul is hopeful that there could be a potentially large export market for a light attack aircraft.

The South Korean government’s 30 percent stake in KAI is to be put up for sale, according to reports. No decision is imminent, with potential buyers currently being reviewed. Current private investors; Doosan Infracore, Hyundai Motor Company and Samsung Techwin each own 20 percent of KAI and the acceptance of foreign investment is considered unlikely.

2000 to build six Formidable Class Frigates as part of the New Frigate Programme, which was outlined

by Singapore's Ministry of Defence through the DSTA. The first frigate, RSS Formidable, was built at the DCNS shipyard in Lorient, France.

The five following frigates were built in Singapore by ST Marine.

RSS Stalwart and RSS Supreme will now join the remaining four Formidable class frigates. The 3,200 tonne, 114 metre long Formidable class vessels, are the RSN's most powerful warships.

The design boasts significant anti-air, anti-surface and antisubmarine warfare capabilities.

The frigates also have an effective stealth design, which reduces visibility of the frigates on radar screens, enhancing their survivability during combat.

THAILAND

Thai military gets third ERJ 135 Embraer announced in early January that it had signed a contract with the Royal Thai Army for a second ERJ 135 jet. It is the third such aircraft for the Government of Thailand and will be used to carry civilian and military officials.

At the end of 2008, Embraer delivered one ERJ 135 to the Royal Thai Army and another to the Royal Thai Navy. The new aircraft is scheduled for delivery this year.

According to the company, the ERJ 135 is a 'jet of exceptional quality and performance, and offers military customers a combination of modern equipment and low maintenance cost. They will be used in Thailand to transport government officials and to handle Medical Evacuation missions by the Royal Thai Navy.'

The initial deal was announced in November 2007, and also includes a significant logistics package, reflecting the expansion of Embraer in the defence and government segment in the Asia Pacific region.

Thailand is the first military operator in Southeast Asia to use the ERJ 135 aircraft both for transporting officials and for carrying out MEDEVAC missions. The aircraft for the Royal Thai Navy is based at the U-Tapao Air Base, and the Royal Thai Army's aircraft is based at Bangkok.

The ERJ 135 is a member of the successful ERJ 145 family, which has delivered over 1,000 units and accumulated more than 14 million flight hours. With a high level of commonality with the ERJ 145 jet, the ERJ 135 can handle a broad variety of missions states Embraer.

TAIWAN

Taiwan upgrades Patriot Raytheon announced in January that it had received a $154 million Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract award to upgrade Taiwan's Patriot Air and Missile Defense Systems.

The US Army Aviation and Missile Command, at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, issued the contract, which includes upgrade kits for radar and command and control components, a radar refurbishment, and related engineering and technical services.

The contract will upgrade Taiwan’s Patriot fire units from Configuration-2 to Configuration-3. The contract is in addition to two other awards Raytheon received last year for Taiwan Patriot support - one in March for upgrades and another in April for technical services.

Work under the contract will be performed by Raytheon IDS at the Integrated Air Defense Center, Andover, Massachusetts; the Warfighter Protection Center, Huntsville, Alabama; the Mission Capability and Verification Center, White Sands, New Mexico and by Raytheon Technical Services Company in El Paso, Texas.

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW