Asian Military Review - June/July 2009

VOLUME 17/ISSUE 4

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Contents JUNE/JULY 2009 VOLUME 17 / ISSUE 4

The Modernization of Indonesia’s armed forces

Front Cover Photo: The six strong Ecuadorian Esmeraldas class corvettes displace 685 tons and are powered by four MTU diesels giving them a cruising range of 7040km and a maximum speed of 37 knots. Equipped with two triple MBDA Exocet MM40 launchers and a single Albatros quad antiaircraft missile launcher, OTO Melara 76 mm/62 gun and two 40 mm/70 anti-aircraft guns, the vessels can also land a Bell Model 206B helicopter.

Below the surface engagements are handled by the class’ Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei A244 anti-submarine torpedos (USN)

24 Gordon Arthur With a manpower level of around 410,000, the Indonesian military occupies a unique place in the country’s hierarchy, one that harks back to its role in the struggle for independence from Dutch colonial masters. For its population, Indonesia’s military is not big. However, its influence stretches far beyond its size, to touch most aspects of Indonesian life. The primary problem for this Southeast Asian nation is not the size of its military, but rather a lack of funding. Indonesia knows it needs to spend more on its national defence, but herein lies the problem – there is little cash available

Eyes in the sky: Airborne reconnaissance systems

Corvette’s capabilities back in demand

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John Mulberry The potential for airborne reconnaissance systems to become a battle winning capability for armies in the region is high but what systems would most suit local needs? The last decade has seen a proliferation in the type and variety of airborne reconnaissance assets available to commanders. Nonetheless, in the coming years it will be a difficult decision for procurement officials in the region as they try to strike the right balance of airborne reconnaissance systems

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C2 on the run: Dismounted situational awareness

Adam Baddeley Many soldier programmes have ambitiously looked at the art of the possible rather than the art of the practical, exploring what is potentially achievable by technology, rather than paring down to what is actually required by the soldier. This particularly applies to C4I systems which have been too complex for the conduct of fire team missions. Today, more modest Situational Awareness systems are being sought, informing users only of their immediate surroundings

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Thomas Withington The corvette's renaissance is being underpinned not so much by the need to escort convoys, but the need to fight thoroughly modern menaces such as pirates, drug traffickers and terrorists. The market for corvettes over the next ten years could be worth up to $4.5 billion based on an average vessel unit price of around $215 million. The size of this potential market indicates that the corvette is still a vessel in high demand and the sheer versatility of these vessels is the secret of their appeal

A new 5.56mm generation or a changing of the guard?

Ian Kemp A combination of new weapons and upgrade programmes will ensure the dominant position of the NATO 5.56mm calibre for decades to come although as events in the US show, it is not entirely without competition. Experience in the Global War on Terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq is the dominant factor influencing small arms acquisition today. Compact carbines, such as the M4, are the weapon of choice in urban areas. New day and night sights, pointers and other accessories are being fielded to improve observation, target acquisition and engagement

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Russia’s advanced submarine capabilities

Tim Mahon Today’s Russian submarine fleet is a pale imitation of its glory days at the height of the Cold War. The reduction in size, however, is not indicative of a reduced capacity to project power. An emerging priority is the construction of nuclear powered attack submarines, armed with nuclearcapable cruise missiles, while maintaining a strategic ballistic missile fleet. Diesel electric modernisation is also taking this fleet into shallow-water deployment. Russia’s sub-surface expertise is greatly sought after in the region, both by those developing their own modern domestic designs and direct acquisition

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Editorial

Index of Advertisers AV INC DEFENCE & SECURITY DEFENCE SIMULATION & TRAINING DIMDEX DSEi DSM DYNEEMA ELISRA IDEAS 2010 L3 WESCAM LIMA MAN DIESEL SEOUL AIRSHOW SINGAPORE AIRSHOW THALES

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ith the success of Israel-sourced Hermes UAV’s by Georgia against Russia in August last year and the failure of Russia to deploy an effective reconnaissance platform - unsuccessfully using ageing manned strike aircraft instead, it was no real surprise when Russia’s defence ministry confirmed in March that they were acquiring Israel Aerospace Industries UAVs in a $50m deal. Ultimately this could be expanded to include up to 100 drones for the Russian army and marks the first ever defence sale by Israel to Russia.

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Relations between Israel and first the Soviet Union and subsequently Russia have been poor for a long list of reasons. In this context, for Russia to admit the failure of its own domestic industrial base to meet its military needs and to have filled that gap with Israeli technology only serves to reinforce Israel’s lead in this field and to illustrate its ability to meet the need of a diverse client base.

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

Export sales by Israeli companies, rarely come with an announcement of the recipient’s identity for a whole host of reasons; often based on concerns by the government over how their own population and those of their neighbours may see such an acquisition. Publicly disclosing they have such capabilities could also create an unwelcome arms dynamic and escalation amongst those same neighbours.

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

This confidentiality often masks the sheer volume of sales by Israel. If one digs around it is amazing just how much military equipment Israel has exported to the Asia. The range is considerable: Tavor small arms to Thailand, Gulfstream based airborne early warning aircraft to Singapore and drones to South Korea.

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

A number of countries have become serial acquirers of Israel technology.

Considerable sales to India have been achieved, across all the Services and in support of other domestic agencies. India’s requirement for modern electronics and cutting edge specialist ISR equipment has largely been met by Israel.

This has been done almost from a base of almost zero and against considerable competitive opposition, overcoming an entrenched Russian military industrial presence and Western alternatives. The sheer number of Israeli UAV’s now is delivered to India for example is a significant revenue stream in itself. Add Russia and many Western nations to its list of customers and it’s no wonder that Israel is accelerating its lead in UAV development over much of the rest of the world.

Many reasons are given for the success of Israeli exports not just in UAVs. The absence of political interference and low cost are two leading ones. Such comments are often suggested by industrial detractors seeking to excuse their failure. Companies, whatever their country of origin don’t win contract after contract on these two factors alone - although they help - but offering flexible and effective systems that are reliable does.

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

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Eyes in the sky: Airborne reconnaissance systems Lord Wellington’s often stated desire to see what was around the next hill continues to be one the main requests from commanders on operations. Rather than sending a cavalry troop as a reconnaissance force, however, modern reconnaissance forces today tend to be either fast, mechanised ground forces or, more frequently, some form of aerial reconnaissance.

by John Mulberry

The Raven B has been successfully marketed in to Asia as well as being in extensive use with the US military (USAF)

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ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

AIRBORNE S

erial reconnaissance forces have been an integral part of operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan and the value of the intelligence they provide has been indispensable to coalition forces operating in the two countries. Traditionally, such aerial reconnaissance has been provided either by helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft, but the two operations have seen the birth of a new aerial reconnaissance asset, the unmanned air vehicle (UAV).

In fact there has been an explosive growth in the number and variety of UAVs available to the military commander and also to the individual soldier. For military planners in Asia, the question for future operations is what is the right balance of systems to have and how can UAVs, helicopters and fixedwing aircraft mesh together to provide the right reconnaissance force?

UAVs are often seen as the modern commander’s panacea for the ‘around the hill’ conundrum. The systems have proliferated at every tactical level and manufacturers such as Thales boast that often soldiers will no longer go out on mission without aerial support from UAVs. That signifies the level of capability that such systems can now give commanders.

Militaries throughout Asia are scrabbling to develop their own UAV capabilities or to purchase systems from Western companies.

Smaller UAVs give Asian armed forces a perfect entry level aerial reconnaissance capability that is far less expensive than a rotary or fixed wing manned asset.

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There has been an explosive growth in the number and variety of UAVs available to the military commander Raven A system. The Raven B is a lightweight solution designed for rapid deployment and high mobility and can be operated manually or programmed for autonomous operation, utilising the system's advanced avionics and precise GPS navigation.

The UAV has a wingspan of 4.5 ft and a weight of 4.2 lbs and can be hand-launched.

The Raven B provides aerial reconnaissance,

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day or night, at line of sight ranges of up to 10 km. The small size of the system means that it is man-portable and the control system has been developed with the average soldier in mind.

A number of other systems also manufactured in this class have had success in Asia. In particular, Elbit Systems has been making inroads with its Skylark I system. The Skylark I is also a small man-pack UAV system suited to very close range, over the hill missions. The latest version of the system is the Skylark I LE, with the LE standing for long endurance, which significantly improves the performance of the system.

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A soldier’s asset At the bottom end of that UAV capability are the small UAVs that are often used by small units, including special forces. A number of capable systems are currently on the market.

Among the leaders is AeroVironment’s (AV’s) Raven B, which, as well as being used by the US, has been sold to a number of customers in Asia.

During the 1990s, the company expanded its focus from contract-based research and development to include the development of production products, which eventually led it to develop its first small UAV, the Pointer.

The system was success and following Pointer the company began to develop a number of different UAVs, mainly for the US military. The latest production model is the Raven B, an enhanced version of the battle proven

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Tactical developments However, even with systems like Skylark that have had there operational performance enhanced there are limits to the utility of such systems. Both their range and their endurance are limiting factors as is the size of the payload they are able to carry.

Such systems can see around the next hill or along the perimeter of the camp but do not give the commander any strategic depth to his reconnaissance.

Fortunately for the commander, larger tactical UAVs have also proliferated which have far greater range and can carry more sophisticated electrooptical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors that are often up there with the kind of sensors available to reconnaissance helicopters. Again there are a variety of manufacturers of such systems, but again also it is the US and Israel that have a head start in their development.

Israel in particular, through IAI Malat and Elbit, has come to dominate this sector when it comes to offerings to the Asian market. IAI started out in a strong vein with its Scout and Searcher UAVs, which have been purchased by a number of countries in the region.

The Searcher Mk II s a multi mission tactical UAV system used for surveillance, reconnaissance, target acquisition, artillery adjustment and damage assessment.

The UAV can carry a number of payloads including synthetic aperture radar/ground moving target indicator (SAR/GMTI), signals intelligence (SIGINT) and EO/IR. The airframe has a low-noise integrated 4 stroke engine for low audio detection and is built from composite materials to reduce radar detection. It also has two proven simultaneous

Automatic Takeoff and Landing (ATOL) systems for maximum safety.

For its part, Elbit

The Schiebel Camcopter S-100 is a rotary UAV system that has aroused notable interest in Asia (Schiebel)

Systems has made rapid gains on IAI in the region recently with its proven Hermes 450 system, which is also operated in Afghanistan by the British Army. The UAV is equipped with Elbit Systems' CoMPASS EO/IR/LD gimbaled electro-optical payload and can adapt to a wide range of payloads, including SAR/GMTI radar and dual payload configurations – which is the basis for the British Army’s next-generation Watchkeeper tactical UAV. The Hermes 450 has a high level of autonomy and is controlled by the Hermes Universal Ground Control System (UGCS) that facilitates, according to the company, ‘highly automated mission operation and control of the air vehicle and EO/IR/LD payload.’

However, in the tactical UAV space countries in Asia are not only relying on buying in foreign systems. Most of the countries in the region have ongoing UAV research and development programmes. India recently announced another successful test of its indigenously developed Nishant UAV.

The Australian Army has opted to purchase the Tiger helicopter to fulfil an armed aerial reconnaissance role (Australian DoD)

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Local aspirations However, Nishant has a had a long gestation with work on the system beginning in the 1990s and the Indian Army has had to rely on Israeli systems while Nishant has been under development.

With India keen on developing its own capability, Pakistan has also been throwing money at the UAV problem and there are a number of compa-

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

nies in Pakistan, such as Integrated Defense Systems and Satuma, that have developed entry level UAV capabilities.

Elsewhere in the region, Malaysia last year stated that it would concentrate on developing a domestic tactical UAV rather than seeking to purchase a complete system from a foreign source. Efforts in Malaysia are concentrated in the work of Unmanned Systems Technology a joint venture that was set up in 2007

by CTRM, SCS and Ikramatic. It is the developer of the Aludra tactical UAV which has been through a number of iterations. South Korea and Japan also plan to develop their own tactical UAVs.

Strategic imperative The growth of the UAVs potential, however, does not stop at the tactical level. Beyond this a number of UAVs now have the potential to deliver strategic reconnaissance to the ground commander. The best known of these systems are the US military’s Predator and Global Hawk systems. The medium altitude long endurance (MALE) and high altitude long endurance (MALE) assets can stay on station potentially for days collecting valuable intelligence and reconnoitring forward positions.

The size of the systems mean that they can carry multiple payloads including EO/IR and SAR to see through cloud cover – an important consideration on many battlefields. Their higher altitudes of operation also mean that their field of regard is greater allowing them to see more of the battlefield giving them their strategic view.

The USA’s Predator and Global Hawk are closely guarded technologies that are only being given sparingly to close allies such as Germany and the UK. However, South Korea has stated its keenness to get its hands on the Global Hawk, which it believes would be a true asset in terms of monitoring its troublesome northern neighbour. Australia is also assessing the capabilities of both Mariner (the navalised version of Predator) and Global Hawk to meet a maritime patrol requirement.

Seoul may be successful in its drive to purchase Global Hawk, but in the short term it is unlikely that these high-level US systems will

India recently announced another successful test of its indigenously developed Nishant UAV

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copters purchased under the auspices of its Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter programme.

Meanwhile, the major helicopter manufacturers continue to pitch variants of their lighter helicopter Embraer's Super Tucano has found a role in COIN operations as an frames to fulfil niche ISR platform (Embraer) Rotary needs In the future, it is likely that UAVs may reconnaissance capabilovertake manned aircraft as the main form of ities. AugustaWestland has sold several vari- pilot’s seat that extends the maximum airborne reconnaissance for ground forces. The ants of its Super Lynx platform in to the region endurance by more than two hours. In the shift in the US Army’s Armed Reconnaissance and is likely to also pitch the Future Lynx, COIN role this gives the aircraft a loiter time of Helicopter project to also consider unmanned being developed for the UK armed forces, close to seven hours. Both versions are fitted technologies heralds the shift to come. when the aircraft matures. Eurocopter also has with a variety of sensors including a video However, complex UAVs with real technolog- a number of lighter reconnaissance capable sin- camera/recorder; forward-looking infrared; ical advantage may still be some way out for gle engine airframes and Boeing is pitching and provisions for night-vision goggles.

US manufacturer Beechcraft offers the ATmilitary commanders in Asia and in the mean- variants of the Little Bird with renewed vigour.

6B, which is a dedicated attack variant of the time both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft US-built T-6 Texan II. In the COIN configurafor reconnaissance continue to be a real A fixed perspective requirement in the region.

Recent years have also seen a new growth in tion the aircraft offers fully integrated sensors, Rather than having dedicated reconnais- the light observation aircraft/counter insur- data-link, cockpit protection and multiple sance helicopters the majority of armies in the gency operations (LOA/COIN) market. The weapons configurations. The aircraft has maxiregion rely on a force of utility helicopters that space is dominated by smaller turboprop driv- mum range at altitude of around 850 nm (withcan also double as reconnaissance platforms. en aircraft that commanders recognise to have out external fuel) and at sea level has a maxiVery few countries have the budget to stretch a utility in slow airborne reconnaissance of the mum range of 1,491 nm (with external fuel). to separate fleets of transport and reconnais- battlefield. Such turboprop aircraft have the The AT-6B is equipped with a sensor suite that sance helicopters. Those that can stretch their added bonuses that they are much cheaper to can include a variety of electro-optical, budgets usually opt for some form of attack both purchase and maintain than more sophis- infrared, laser and hyper-spectral sensors, for example the Wescam MX-15Di. helicopter in preference to a lighter reconnais- ticated fighter aircraft.

Locally, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) sance platform.

For armed forces looking for such aircraft to However, both the Apache Longbow and fulfil the reconnaissance mission there are now has developed the KO-1 Forward Airborne the Tiger attack helicopters provide an excel- a number of aircraft from which to select. One Controller (FAC) aircraft, which was devellent reconnaissance capability alongside the of the biggest players in the market is Embraer, oped in cooperation with the country’s Agency ability to strike at targets. India is contemplat- which has made its Super Tucano synonymous for Defence Development. The aircraft is based ing the purchase of an attack helicopter while with the light attack mission. The Brazilian on the indigenously developed KT-1 basic countries such as Singapore have had Apaches manufacturer introduced the original Tucano trainer. The KO-1 (the O stands for observafor some time. The Australian Army is in the airframe some twenty years ago, but steady tion) was originally rolled out in December process of inducting its Eurocopter Tiger heli- evolution of the aircraft means that it continues 2006 after a successful development effort spanning several years. The variant can carry to be a potent platform.

The Super Lynx is a cost effective ISR capability for many The Super Tucano is a external fuel tanks and conventional weapons (AgustaWestland) single-engine, multi-pur- on its five external hard points and can also pose military aircraft that carry a variety of sensors.

Goodrich ISR has been an active supplicombines turboprop efficiency with fourth-gener- er of low to medium altitude and LOng ation avionics and arma- Range Oblique Photography (LOROP) payment systems. It is offered loads in the region for a number of years, in in two versions, including a range of platforms.

In 2004, the Royal Malaysian Air Force cona two-seater with endurance of more than The Apache Longbow and four hours with a standard load of weapons, the Tiger attack helicopters and a single-seater with provide an excellent an additional 80-gallon reconnaissance capability fuel tank behind the proliferate in the region. Once again, Israel has stepped in to the breech and both IAI and Elbit are offering MALE systems with the kind of capabilities of Predator. IAI’s work is concentrated on its Heron platform, which it has scaled to become a true MALE with the Heron TP. Similarly, Elbit has begun work on scaling its Hermes 450 to produce a family of Hermes platforms from the tactical to the strategic.

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As part of the UK’s Joint UAV Experimentation Programme, a DB-110 sensor was integrated on a General Atomics Predator tracted for two of the company’s CA-270 EO/IR solutions. The systems, which provide for high manoeuvrability and resolution imaging and large focal plane arrays, have been operational since 2007 and internally equip two RF-5E aircraft. These aircraft had been retired in 1999, but were taken back into service for this role; illustrating that advanced ISR solutions can effectively rejuvenate obsolescing, legacy platforms.

Malaysia uses the company’s Windowsbased, Digital Display Station portable rack mounted ground exploitation system. This same solution is currently being delivered under a 2007 contract with Thailand to provide ground infrastructure for a CA-295 sensor to replace film systems on board a Learjet 35.

In other fast jet programmes, Goodrich podded CA-270 and CA-295 solutions have been ordered for Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-15J aircraft, interfacing with an indigenous ground control station sourced from Toshiba. The company also provide the current film based cameras for the Japan Ground SelfDefense Force LR-2 aircraft, variants of the King Air 350 turboprop which could also be updated to the CA-270 standard.

A key sensor that is replacing the CA-295 in Goodrich’s offerings is the advanced DB-110 reconnaissance system of which over 30 are now operational or in production, including with the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force and the UK where it is the core of the RAPTOR pod, used on the RAF’s Tornado GR.4 strike aircraft and has seen operational service over Iraq. Poland, Greece and Pakistan also use

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with DB-110, installed on the F-16.

As part of the UK’s Joint UAV Experimentation Programme, a DB-110 sensor was integrated on a General Atomics Predator and can be installed on other long endurance UAV Despite the collapse of its ARH programme the US Army still wants to fill a gap in its airborne ISR requirements much as Asian armed forces (US DoD) platforms.

The DB-110 is a derivative of the SYERS-2 assets available to commanders in the region. multi-spectral sensor which is the US Air There is no doubt that the evolution of Force’s most advanced real time sensor. The UAVs in to credible aerial reconnaissance platDB-110 system offers three fields of view: forms has done much to shift the balance in long range stand off surveillance, medium favour of commanders who have the availabilrange operations and direct over flight mis- ity of such assets. Their size and lower cost sions at low altitude. The system has demon- mean that they are available much more widestrated detailed simultaneous visible and IR ly than more expensive platforms and the imagery at ranges in excess of 72nm Imagery development of indigenous UAV capabilities is sent both to a cockpit display and to in the region continues at pace. ground stations via datalink throughout a However, there still continues to be a place full 360 degree azimuth. for the more expensive reconnaissance systems. In part, that is a reflection of continued restrictions on the most advanced UAV techThe future Such aircraft are a much smaller price to pay nologies, including payloads, but also the for airborne reconnaissance than the most greater versatility of manned assets. expensive modern helicopters or fighter air- Helicopters also offer battlefield transport craft and it is likely that some countries in Asia, capability while both attack helicopters and especially those facing asymmetric insurgen- fixed wing LOA aircraft offer a strike capabilicies, will take up the offer of such aircraft. In ty of their own.

In the coming years it will be a difficult deciaddition, like attack helicopters these reconnaissance platforms also offer the capability to sion for procurement officials in the region as engage targets directly with their own they try to strike the right balance of airborne reconnaissance systems. There will be a large weapons.

It is clear that the current generation of gen- increase in the number of UAVs procured in erals in Asia have a far greater number of tools the region, but also expect to see continued to choose from when they want to see what is interest in the purchase of both reconnaissance A MR around the next hill than previous generations. capable helicopters and LOAs. The last decade has seen a proliferation in the type and variety of airborne reconnaissance The Scan Eagle is one of a number of potential UAV capabilities being sought in Asia (Boeing)

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

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Corvette capabilities back in demand

The Heil HaYam HaYisraeli (Israeli Sea Corps) operates three ‘Sa’ar-5’-class corvettes; the INS Eilat, INS Lahav and INS Hanit. The force is contemplating the acquisition of new corvettes as the Sa’ar-5 vessels become more challenging to maintain. (US Navy)

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The world of naval literature is usually dominated by the tall ships of yesteryear and occasionally by the submarines of the twentieth century. The corvette rarely shares the limelight with its sail-equipped or subsurface counterparts in the pages of novelists, or in the minds of auteurs.

by Thomas Withington

JUNE/JULY 2009

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orvettes were the indispensable naval platform that helped to protect the convoys. In some ways they are odd vessels; bigger than an offshore patrol craft, but lacking the size of a frigate; a bridge between a navy's brownand blue-water capabilities. Before the days of the steam turbine and steel hull, a corvette was larger than a sloop, but smaller than a frigate and usually characterised by a single gun deck. Their tasks would include small-scale combat, 'showing the flag' of a country around the world, or supporting larger fleets of bigger ships.

After 1945, the corvette suffered something of a decline. While the Voyennomorskoy flot SSSR (Soviet Navy) and Soviet client states remained enthusiastic users of the vessel, the western powers tended to eschew this small ship in favour of larger ocean going combatants with robust Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW) capabilities, along with Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs).

The catalytic event for the modern corvette was on 20th October 1967 when an Egyptian Navy ‘Komar’-class fast missile boat attacked the Heil HaYam

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HaYisraeli (Israeli Sea Corps) destroyer Eilat with four P-15 Termit (NATO reporting name ‘SS-N-2 Styx’) AShMs. Suddenly, the potential of the fast, light but heavilyarmed craft was clear. However, the vogue for such vessels was not permanent.

During 24th March 1986, United States Navy Boeing RGM-84 Harpoon AShMs fired from the USS Yorktown ‘Ticonderoga’-class cruiser badly damaged a Libyan Navy ‘Nanuchka’-class corvette. The attacks on the Eilat may have shown that a large combatant could be vulnerable to missile fire from a smaller vessel, but the events off the coast of Libya underlined that a small ship like a corvette is no match for naval aviation, AShMs, and larger surface combatants.

These events notwithstanding, the modern corvette is enjoying a renaissance.

Today's vessels typically displace between 490-2,800 metric tons, with a length of between 55-100m. The vessel's armament can include 12.7-40mm weapons plus 5776mm main armament. The ships will carry surface- and air-search radars and have a rudimentary AShM or SAM capability, plus a basic ASW suite. The wherewithal to accommodate a naval helicopter

The BRP Apolinario Mahini is a ‘Jacinto’-class corvette operated by the Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas (Philippines Navy). She was formerly operated by the Royal Navy and was transferred to the Philippines in 1997. (US Navy)

14

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

The corvette's renaissance is being underpinned not so much by the need to escort convoys, but the need to fight thoroughly modern menaces such as pirates, drug traffickers and terrorists may also be included. The corvette's renaissance is being underpinned not so much by the need to escort convoys, but the need to fight thoroughly modern menaces such as pirates, drug traffickers and terrorists.

These 'asymmetric' threats may not warrant the attentions of the larger destroyers, frigates and cruisers which can instead be tasked with land attack, ballistic missile defence and the air defence of a naval task force. However a well-equipped corvette is fast, manoeuvrable and robust enough to provide an important, unfair advantage against the pirate on their speedboat or the terrorist trafficking explosives in a dhow.

Corvettes have another important utility. They can patrol a country's Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ) and help to protect its coastal assets. Several countries around the world have EEZs which are thousands, if not millions, of square miles in size. The

N A V A L P L A T F O R M S

sheer range of these may be too big for traditional offshore patrol vessels which might not be able to stay at sea for days or even weeks at a time. In contrast a corvette can deploy offshore for protracted periods to keep an eye on the EEZ, and are equipped with adequate radar and Electro-Optical (EO) sensors to keep tabs on what is going on and have the speed and punch to react to any trouble. The jurisdiction of a country over its ocean is deepening. Once the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea entered into force on 16th November 1994, the extension of EEZs up to 370km (200nm) into the ocean was recognised. Further extensions of internationally recognised EEZs cannot be ruled out, and seafaring countries around the world will need to ensure that they have the vessels capable of patrolling these areas, while larger combatants are deployed on high-tempo operations further afield.

Several navies in Asia are significant corvette operators. They include the Bhartiya Nau Sena (Indian Navy). Its’ four ‘Kora’-class corvettes, which were commissioned between 1998 and 2004, are outfitted with Zvezda Kh-35U (NATO reporting name 'SS-N-25 'Switchblade AShMs) which are also on the Navy's ‘Veer’-class corvettes. India's Project 28 vessels will be equipped with the Novator Design Bureau 3M-54 Klub (NATO reporting name SS-N27 ‘Sizzler’). The Project 28 vessels displace 2,500-tonnes and all four vessels will be commissioned by 2013. In addition to the SS-N-27 AShM missiles, they will carry an OtoMelara 76mm Super Rapid gun, Israel Aerospace Industries Barak SAM system and two AK-630 Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS).

The Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Laut (TNIAL/Indonesian Navy) has acquired Sigma-class corvettes from Royal Schelde in the Netherlands. The four Sigma vessels, which are known locally as the ‘Diponegoro’-class, were delivered by

March 2009. The first three examples of the class have entered service, although currently they lack their MM40 Exocet BlockII AShMs, which they will acquire by 2010.

In terms of other weaponry and sensors, the vessels carry MBDA Mistral TETRAL SAMs, an OtoMelara 76mm main gun, two Denel Vektor 20mm cannons, EuroTorp 3A 244S torpedoes, a Thales MW08 C-band target identification radar and Thales TACTICOS Combat Management System (CMS). Looking towards the future, Indonesia is in the market for an additional two corvettes displacing around 2,400tonnes. Construction of these new vessels was scheduled to begin circa late 2008, although funding difficulties has delayed this programme. The TNIAL is one of Asia's 'corvette heavy' forces, with three ‘Fatahillah’-class vessels and 16 ‘Kapitan Patimura’-class ships, in addition to the Diponegoro craft.

The Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas (HDP/Philippines Navy) could eventually exercise a requirement to purchase four 2,000-tonne corvettes with a length of 90m.

The HDP plans to use these vessels chiefly for ASW. However, the aspiration to acquire these corvettes may remain just that. The Gross Domestic Product of the Philippines is set to reduce by 0.6 per cent in 2009/10 according to The Economist Intelligence Unit, which may leave the defence budget insufficient funds to push the corvette acquisition forward. Until then, the navy will have to rely on its ageing ‘Jactino’-, ‘Rizal’- and ‘Miguel Malvar’class corvettes.

Looking towards Europe, the Bulgarian

Navy has a requirement for up to six corvettes to replace its ageing Russiandesigned ‘Pauk’- and ‘Tarantul’-class vessels. To this end, this requirement was partially satisfied with the purchase of four ‘Gowind’-class corvettes from the French shipbuilder DCNS which was announced in October 2007. The delivery of the first Gowind ship is scheduled for 2011 at the earliest. These vessels will be outfitted with MBDA MICA SAMs, and the option of eight MM40 Exocet, Boeing RGM-84 Harpoon or Saab Bofors Dynamics RBS-15 AShMs. January 2008 saw the Deutsche Marine (German Navy) acquire the first of its five strong ‘Braunschweig’-class corvettes.

These ships carry an EADS TRS-3D multifunction radar, Thales Mirador EO sensors, RBS-15 AShMs, an OtoMelara 76mm Compact gun and two Rheinmetall MLG 27mm cannons. The vessels displace around 1,840 tonnes. The German government has not ruled out the acquisition of further corvette acquisitions in the future and is reportedly interesting in acquiring around six so-called 'K131'-class frigates which would be commissioned around 2020.

Poland, meanwhile, has moved forward with its ‘Gawron’-class corvette programme. The Marynarka Wojenna Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej (Polish Navy) is procuring two ships in the class, although the original programme called for the acquisition of two craft, with the option for five more. Like the German Braunschweig class, the Gawron vessels also deploy the RBS-15 AShM, OtoMelara 76mm gun, along with the Raytheon RIM-162 Evolved

One of the Bulgarian Navy’s ‘Pauk’-class corvettes; the Bodri. The Bulgarian Navy acquired two of these ships between 1989 and 1990. Her sister ship is named Reshitelni. The Pauk class vessels typically displace around 500 tons. (US Navy)

The Bulgarian Navy has a requirement for up to six corvettes to replace its ageing Russian-designed ‘Pauk’- and ‘Tarantul’-class vessels JUNE/JULY 2009

15

N A V A L P L A T F O R M S

The five vessels in the Visbyclass are all to be equipped with eight Denel Aerospace Systems Umkhonto-IR SAM launchers Sea Sparrow SAM for air defence, and the Eurotorp MU-90 torpedo.

At the upper end of the corvette classification, and moving into the realm of the small frigate is the Armada Español’s (Spanish Navy) Buque de Acción Marítima or ‘BAM’ vessels, also known as the ‘Meteoro’-class, which displace 2,600 tonnes with a hull length of 95m (311ft).

The ships carry a potent array of armament including a single 76mm gun and two 25mm cannons. The Meteoro ships can also accommodate a helicopter up to NH Industries NH-90 size. The first two vessels, the Meteoro and Rayo, will be commissioned this year, with the Relámpago and Tornado following in 2010.

Turkey is pouring investment into corvettes, around $1.2 billion worth, into its ‘Milgem’ -class ships. With a plan to construct a class of twelve examples (eight classified as ‘Ada’-class corvettes and the balance classified as ‘F-100’-class frigates), the vessels will be designed for general purpose missions and also ASW. The vessels will be equipped with an indigenous CMS designed by Aselsan and Havelsan of Ankara known as GENESIS. The vessels will displace around 1,700 tonnes and will be 95m long. The first of the class, TCG Heybellada was launched on 27th September 2008 and will be commissioned by 2011. They will also join the ‘Eilat’-class corvettes of the Heil HaYam HaYisraeli, and the Republic of Singapore Navy's ‘Victory’-class corvettes, in operating the RGM-84 Harpoon AShM as their primary anti-surface weapon, two classes which also both use the Barak SAM system.

The legacy of the Soviet Union has given the Voyenno-Morsky Flot Rossii (VMFR/Russian Navy) a huge corvette fleet of around 49 vessels spanning four different classes. The present day fleet received a shot in the arm in late 2007 when it commissioned the first of its Project 20380/’Steregushchiy’-class corvettes. A further four vessels named Soobrazitelny, Boiky, Sovershenny and

16

An Armada Española (Spanish Navy) ‘Descubierta’-class corvette, steams with its flag flying. The ship is one of six vessels in the class. She was commissioned into service in 1980. These ships will soon be supplemented by the ‘Meteoro’-class corvettes currently under constructon. (US Navy)

Stoiky are to follow by 2012 and the size of the class could rise to 24 ships. These vessels will carry 3M54 Klub AShMs, two AK630 CIWS, a single Kashtan CIWS, RPK-9 anti-submarine rockets and two mounts for 14.5mm (0.57in) machine guns.

Visitors to the 2007 Defense Systems and Equipment International exhibition in London would have struggled to miss the Marinen (Royal Swedish Navy) ‘Visby’class corvette moored up alongside the exhibition centre; the sleek shape of the vessel betraying its low-observability characteristics. But the ship's futuristic shape hides impressive capabilities Displacing 650 tonnes, the Visby-class carry a BAE Systems Bofors SAK-57 57mm (2.2in) gun, which also equips Marinen’s Göteborg and Stockholm classes of corvettes. The five vessels in the Visbyclass are all to be equipped with eight Denel Aerospace Systems Umkhonto-IR SAM launchers. In terms of sensors, they carry an Ericsson Sea Giraffe ABM-3D surveillance radar, Saab Ceros-200 fire control radar and EDO Condor CS-3701 tactical radar. Combat management is provided courtesy of a Saab 9LV CMS. It is over sixty years since the last Flower-class corvettes left Royal Navy service. However, the force may acquire corvettes as part of its future force composition. The Navy needs to acquire successor vessels to the Type-22 ‘Broadsword’and Type-23 ‘Duke’-class frigates under the Future Surface Combatant (FSC) programme. The FSC plans to acquire three

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

distinct types of vessels; C1 Force ASW Combatants, C2 Stabilisation Combatants and C3 Ocean-Capable Patrol Vessels. The latter are expected to displace between 2,000-3,000 tonnes and could be built around a corvette design however, the FSC has yet to be declared as a formal acquisition programme by the Navy.

Looking towards Latin America, the Marinha do Brasil (Brazilian Navy) has commissioned its first ‘Barrosso’-class corvette which supplement the four ‘Inhaúma’-class corvettes that were commissioned between 1989 and 1994. Brazil will soon be joined as a Latin American corvette operator by the Armada Bolivariana de Venezuela (Venezuelan Navy) which has ordered four ‘Guaicaipuro’-class corvettes, due to be commissioned by 2020.

Significant corvette acquisition activity has also been noted in the Middle East and North Africa. The Algerian National Navy (ANN) is modernising its three ‘Ras Harnidou’-class missile corvettes which were commissioned between 1987-88, to extend their service lives. The first vessel in the class to receive the refit was the Salah Rais in 2000 it was followed by the Rais Hamidou in 2009 and Rais Ali in 2010.

As part of the upgrade, the ships are receiving SS-N-25 missiles as a replacement for their former P-15 AShMs. The ANN also operates four ‘Djebel Chenoua’class corvettes, and a planned refit for these vessels reportedly includes the installation of Chinese Yingji-82 (NATO

N A V A L P L A T F O R M S

One of the sister ships of the BRP Apolinario Mabini in the ‘Jacinto’-class of corvettes operated by the Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas (Philippines Navy) is the BRP Artemio Ricarte. Despite operating around three classes of corvette, the fleet is in need of new vessels. (US Navy)

reporting name ‘CSS-N-8 Saccade’) AShMs. Although news on the capabilities of the Republic of Iran Navy is scant, it has been revealed that the force has taken delivery of a new corvette, the 1,200-tonne IS Mowj.

It is unknown whether this single ship is the first vessel in a new corvette class or a ‘one-off’. It is conceivable that Iran might procure a new class of corvette in response to other corvette building programmes around the region such as the United Arab Emirates ‘Al-Baynunah’-class vessels.

Moreover, with the US Navy maintaining an active presence in the Persian Gulf, Iran may see the new class of corvettes as one way to at least partially redress the country's naval imbalance with America.

Looking back to the 'Tanker War' of 19841988, Iran was able to cause a high degree of death and damage with its fast gun boats and the relatively small size of the new corvette, around 65m (213ft) in length, could provide good manoeuvrability in the confines of the Persian Gulf.

As part of the much-needed enhancement of the Iraqi Navy, in 2005 it was reported that the force would receive two ‘Assad’-class corvettes from Fincantieri SpA in Italy. The corvettes were scheduled for delivery during the 1980s, although they never arrived because of United Nations sanctions imposed during the Iran-Iraq war. However, although the vessels languished in Italy for twenty years, and four examples were sold to Malaysia, this probably saved them from the same fate suffered by the other corvettes in Iraqi

service which met a watery grave during Operation Desert Storm in 1991.

Kuwait may soon become an entrant to the Persian Gulf corvette club. The country has a requirement for a corvette-type ship up to 70m (229ft) long equipped with AShMs which could lead to the procurement of around four vessels. An earlier attempt to procure corvettes was abandoned because of budgetary concerns. The country has a strong requirement for a corvette ironically to perform the traditional mission of ship escort. Kuwait is dependent on ships to export its oil.

During the Tanker War, Kuwaiti-flagged oil tankers were regularly attacked. Should tensions with Iran boil over into war in the future, Kuwait will almost certainly need vessels which can protect its oil tankers from similar attacks.

The Heil HaYam HaYisraeli is in the market for up to three corvettes to enhance its fleet. The favourite design to fulfil this order is thought to be a vessel based on Lockheed Martin's design for the US Navy's Littoral Combat Ship, known as LCS-1 and named USS Freedom. This

[Kuwait] has a requirement for a corvette-type ship up to 70m (229ft) long equipped with AShMs which could lead to the procurement of around four vessels JUNE/JULY 2009

would have enabled the Israelis to procure a vessel under construction at a relatively reduced cost and it could also reduce the unit cost to the US Navy should the force have chosen to procure additional examples of the LCS-1. However, the LCS programme is in flux. This could force the Israelis to look elsewhere for an alternative design. Time is not on Israel's side, given that the country’s ‘Sa'ar-5’-class corvettes, which were acquired between 1993 and 1994 are becoming harder to maintain due to spare parts shortages.

Libya is also in dire need of new corvettes. The country's navy operates two ageing Soviet-vintage Nanuchka-class corvettes. The requirements for a new class of corvette could see Tripoli acquiring at least two, but possibly more vessels.

France is currently lobbying Colonel Muammar Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi hard to secure any future order for new corvettes.

Meanwhile, Oman is due to receive three ‘Project Khareef’-class 2,500 tonne displacement corvettes by 2010. These vessels will deploy MBDA MICA SAMs, MM40 Exocet AShMs, two MSI Defence Systems DS30M 30mm cannon and an OtoMelara 76mm Super Rapid gun. Finally, the first of the UAE Navy’s four Al-Baynunah-class corvettes is expected to be launched towards the end of 2009. A design change called for the type's OtoMelara WS 30mm main gun to be replaced by a Rheinmetall MLG 27mm weapon. The vessels are also being equipped with the Raytheon Mk.31 Rolling Airframe Missile and RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow SAM to give the ships an anti-aircraft capability, plus the MBDA MM40 Exocet Block-III AShM, Sagem EOMS EO system, Sea Giraffe 3D surveillance radar and Terma Scanter 2001 surface surveillance radar.

Based on the requirements of Indonesia, the Philippines, Germany, Kuwait, Israel and Libya, the market for corvettes over the next ten years could be worth up to $4.5 billion based on an average vessel unit price of around $215 million. Clearly the size and scope of these requirements may change if defence budgets come under strain during the global financial downturn. However, the size of this potential market indicates that the corvette is still a vessel in high demand and the versatility of these vessels in performing a myriad of missions beyond the realm of traditional naval war-fighting may be the secret AMR of their appeal.

17

SOLDIER T E C H N O L O G Y

Many soldier modernisation programmes (SMP) have ambitiously looked at the art of the possible rather than the art of the practical, exploring what is potentially achievable by technology, rather than paring down to what is actually required by the soldier. This particularly applies to C4I systems for the dismounted soldier, where a number of programmes have embarked upon efforts to issue over-complex systems to each soldier, more akin to higher level battle management systems (BMS) and largely unnecessary for the conduct of squad and fire team missions. Today, programmes and solutions are moving toward more modest Situational Awareness (SA) systems informing users of their immediate surroundings, less ambitious but far more achievable.

by Adam Baddeley

When all said and done the SA piece of the puzzle is just one part of the whole (EADS)

18

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

SOLDIER T E C H N O L O G Y

C2 on the run: Dismounted situational awareness he dominant view in dismounted SA is that at the section, squad and fire team level, there are two combat roles: ‘rifleman’ and ‘commander’. At this level, voice will remain the primary means of command and the ‘world’ that they inhabit and fight within is limited. In many countries today, there is the view that to give a display to every soldier is a distraction and at the lowest level, an input/display capability should only be given to the fire team leader.

An alternate view is that it is also possible to envisage a situation where the section commander doesn’t need an input display either and like the infantryman he will remain an emitter, only automatically sending data on his location upwards. In this scenario, it is really only the platoon commander that needs that display and the platoon commander would then communicate by voice to his subordinate units.

Currently however, the generally accepted practice however is that the section commander and the section second-in-command are equipped with the C2/SA display to allow for redundancy and the flexibility to enable two fire teams in a section to have C2/SA access. That having been said, the type of display and the functionality they are given would not necessarily mean that they would have the same level of functionality as the platoon commander.

Beyond the infantry section, more display based SA access will also be necessary to equip fire support teams – heavy weapons, snipers and other role specific specialists. There is still some debate whether forward air controllers (FAC)

T

or artillery spotters should have access to the infantry’s dismounted SA as an aid to Combat Identification (CID) to decrease the incidence of fratricide. The big question is when SA ends and CID begins and how the two should interoperate. Whether this is done by interpretation, using the SA system side by side with a CID device or permitting formal CID data to be released into a low level, fundamentally insecure SA system is a complex issue. If CID data is released, this then prompts a whole series of further issues such as how that information is communicated from the soldier to other platforms, particularly aircraft conducting Close Air Support.

For the interface between CID and SA systems, there is an emerging consensus that it would be very much simpler to have a human gateway for information, glancing at a separate screen, allowing that person to use informed discretion in ‘Danger Close’ situations. The FAC, responsible for calling in close air support is considered to be the most likely recipient for dismounted SA, not least because they will usually

be within communications range of a soldier system network to receive that information.

Computing and Displays The basic display for SA is a hand held display. Typically these are a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) form factor, although ruggedisation results in something considerably and necessarily larger than high-street COTS designs, witnessed by the Terralogic Toughnote DA05-M or the TDS Recon

Beyond the infantry section, more display based SA access will also be necessary to equip fire support teams

In Spain, EADS is leading testing and evaluation work, using Cobham’s IDSS computer for SA (EADS)

JUNE/JULY 2009

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SOLDIER T E C H N O L O G Y

ruggedised PDA solution.

The next step down in size relies on producing a virtual, magnified image on the soldier’s eye. Programmes like Germany’s Infanterist der Zukunft-Enhanced System (IdZ-ES) led by Rheinmetall, the Netherlands’ VOSS programme now in competition and Elbit’s Dominator based on the Israel Defence Force’s Israeli Advanced Soldier (IAS) programme, use a small hand held, ‘joystick’ display that appears as a 1520 inch screen to the eye. Other programmes, notably the US Land Warrior programme, have opted for a helmet mounted display (HMD). This approach has been criticised –some believe unfairly- for severely limiting one of the senses, although this is mitigated somewhat by the use of an alternative, outof-line-of-sight display, which allows the user to have an unobstructed view but then look away, into a display to garner the information he needs.

The inherent problem of combining all functionality into a single display has led to multiple options being considered. One option would be to have a small line of sight display for alerting and a larger held screen display for interfacing, although this has not been widely explored. More popular is the idea of issuing a larger tablet or sub-laptop size display to senior commanders, which will be used out of combat for planning.

Non-PDA devices rely on an external computer device at the core of their solution.

At the heart of Israel’s SMP system is the IAS modular computer. Output is via a high–glare resistant 8” LCD display with an 800 x 600 resolution, with dimensions of 15cm x 12cm x 3cm and weighing 700g exclude battery pack. In France, the FELIN (Fantassin à Équipements et Liaisons Intégrés) solution comprises the IHM or Man machine interface, a 2.8 x 3.5”screen which drops down from the left breast and linked to vest mounted power and computing modules. A second viewing device is the OVD, a HMD which provides an 800 x 600-pixel screen display.

Cobham’s Integrated Digital Soldier System (IDSS) gives leaders the option of two, Soldier Data Terminals (SDT): a larger Planning variant and a smaller Tactical solution, both designed to be held in one hand.

IDSS uses the company’s BattleHawk suite of software which allows users access to a range of functionality including the blue force and red force picture, white board

20

Cobham’s Integrated Digital Soldier System gives leaders the option of two, Soldier Data Terminals: a larger Planning variant and a smaller Tactical solution sketching and the option of an HMD. IDSS is radio agnostic and rather than a separate navigation module, Cobham have developed the Radio Interface module which replaces the device’s battery with a digital compass, GPS chip and additional functionality with the whole systems running off an alternate central power source.

The IDSS also shows that this level of SA functionality is not just limited to soldiers. As part of a Royal New Zealand Navy’s Contract Navy 141, Cobham supplied IDSS equipped with the firm’s WaveHawk maritime software with communications provided by a mix of Thales AN/PRC-148(V1) and Raytheon DH500 radios. These equip boarding party members, linking these teams back to the RIB-type craft they travel in and back to the frigate or patrol vessel it came from.

Software complexity in the SA system has to be balanced with the need to interface with higher level C2 systems. In Germany, IdZ-ES Testing is being used to pilot the Bundeswehr’s new Battle Management S y s t e m , FührungInformationsSystem des Heeres (FüInfoSyS H), requiring the system to have interfaces into vehicle mounted BMS. A key finding from the early stages of the evaluation was that FüInfoSyS H produced over 200 separate screens, far too many for the dismounted leader.

France has opted for an extension of its existing BMS for FELIN fielding, known as Systeme Rheinmetall’s work on the IdZ-ES suite has examined the use of HMDs (AJB)

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

d’Informtion Terminal Combattant Débarqué and linked into higher level systems through legacy PR4G VHF radios.

Communications between individual FELIN systems is provided by the 830-862MHz RIF radio, which is capable of throughput of 1.16Mbps.

The UK has already fielded a dismounted SA system for its forces in Afghanistan with the Enhanced Low-Latency Situational Awareness (ELSA) system. As part of the Future Integrated Soldier Technology (FIST) programme, the UK will announce details of the first increment of the C4I element later in 2009 and illustrates the complexity of decisions facing ministries.

In its FIST decision, the UK MoD has selected between three SA systems and five radios. Selex Communications teamed with Rheinmetall Canada, combining the new SRR400 radio with the latter’s back mounted IC4U (Interconnected Command Control Communications Computer Unit) system and ‘dumb’ PDA display, with the potential option for a helmet mounted or monocular

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SOLDIER T E C H N O L O G Y

display. The IC4U system and SA software is the same as that used in Germany’s IdZ-ES. Thales is offering its Miltrak software both with its ST@R Mille radio family and the Raytheon DH500. An earlier version of Miltrak, coupled with the Selex EZPRR radio, forms the UK’s ELSA system, now in its second tour in Afghanistan. Cobham Defence Communication’s IDSS, developed from the system used in FIST’s 2007 APX phase C4I trials, is teamed with the Harris’ RF-7800S Secure Personal Radio. In addition to the radios already named, ITT is offering its SpearNet, recently selected for platoonsized trials later this year with Spain’s Comfut SMP system. The MoD however notified bidders that it may choose a combination of radio and C2 system outside of any teaming arrangements for trials.

In October 2008, in support of this decision, the candidates were extensively tested in combination with different radios by the Irish Guards, from the fire team up to platoon and elements at company level.

Offerings by Sagem, based on FELIN and Elbit System’s Dominator ensemble were discarded earlier in the selection process.

FIST’s Main Gate in scheduled for September with a final contract for 3000 SA systems and 12000 radios expected. The SA system is further divided between a fire team system and a ‘leader’ system with additional functionality on a 2:1 basis. Industry expects the cost to potentially reach an all-in figure of £100m. Testing of a ‘company slice’ of roughly 60 systems could take place by the end of 2009 followed by the next phase of trials in

Software complexity in the SA system has to be balanced with the need to interface with higher level C2 systems mid 2010 leading to potential fielding the following year.

The US has already fielded a battalion sized Land Warrior solution, developed by General Dynamics in sustained operations for over a year in Iraq from 2007. A brigade sized unit is in the final stages of training prior to deployment. The US recently made its down select to three companies for its next generation Situation Awareness system, the Ground Soldier Ensemble (GSE) to replace Land Warrior. General Dynamics, Raytheon and Rockwell Collins are now developing candidate GSE prototypes, for which the Army has an ultimate requirement for 11,538 systems which will begin fielding from 2012.

A feature of a number of soldier modernisation amongst new nations in Europe is that while much of the C2 hardware is inevitably sourced from outside their borders, the development of software is very much within the capabilities of domestic firms. The Slovak Republic’s Prokrocily Individualny Bojovy System (PIBS) or Advanced Individual Combat System, started in 2004 uses software developed by the Magic Corporation. In trials started in 2007 the software was hosted in a ruggedised

The US is building on its deployment of Land Warrior to Iraq with its new GSE programme (US DoD)

22

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

Sagem’s work on FELIN uses a version of the military’s standard BMS (Sagem)

PDA with communications provided by a Thales Solar 400E radio and hosted within a Tactical Electronic Vest. The next phase of testing of PIBS will see Slovakia move over to an Elbit Dominator architecture, still retaining the same software from earlier trials. Next door, the Czech Republic put a considerable amount of work into C4I. However, following trials and the formal submission of reports in the Spring of 2009, the country’s ministry of defence however, has dropped its planned SA modernisation plans for the future soldier in favour of a complete revamping of its small arms, due to concerns about the maturity and cost of the proposed C4I system. Slovenia is seen as one of the most advanced in terms of the deployment of SA systems and C4I, with all battalions of the Army’s 1st Brigade being equipped with mounted and dismounted systems by the end of 2009. The software being used is the overall IS Pink suite with a sub project known as KISB supporting dismounted options for squad leaders, forward observers, Special Forces and patrols. The system is based around a PDA sourced from Swedish firm Login and protected to IP67.

The PDA uses commercial GPS and COTS navigation software sourced from Australian firm Ozexplorer. The PDA communicates using a GSM card, WiFi Blue tooth and Thales BattleLAN systems back to the unit’s armoured vehicles and then into the wider C2 network. Beyond this Slovenia is working on a HMD known as OTIS, designed for peacekeeping operations.

SOLDIER T E C H N O L O G Y

Soldato Futuro in Italy provides squad leaders with an 8” Larimart sourced wearable display which contains all SA, navigation and other functionality with wired link to the power supply and a Selex sourced IPR communications link.

The Netherlands VOSS solution has continued with the Dutch preference for highly incremental systems. The VOSS programme will initially acquire tactical vest which will provide a hub for the C4I system and other modules such as power. This approach is All SMP systems need an input device to control the SA system and must be simple, such as that selected for Italy’s Soldato Futuro system (AJB)

being defined by the need for maximum ergonomic and human factors considerations, following the experience of prolonged operations in Afghanistan which reinforces the view that no matter how technically good any SA system is, if it is too heavy or awkward to use or carry, an exhausted soldier can’t function.

Geo-location Situational Awareness relies on the ability to precisely identify the individual, or group’s location before that information can be shared. The first choice for geo-location is GPS. Jam-proof military GPS or Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) however, is only available from the US. Even if access to this technology is possible, not all soldiers will receive it. In the UK’s FIST concept for example only team leaders will have access to military GPS with rifleman relying instead on a civil GPS chip.

Consequently, non-GPS navigation is an indispensable part of the mix, providing options should the GPS signal fail due to jamming or more likely a natural interruption in the signal due to going inside a building, cave or under extensive foliage in a forest or jungle. No single solution is the

Situational Awareness relies on the ability to precisely identify the individual, or group’s location before that information can be shared JUNE/JULY 2009

Elbit’s Dominator solution uses a range of display options (AJB)

answer. Digital compass solutions, while useful would give direction only. Such devices are also affected by metal and how each individual soldier holds their weapon.

In combination with other inertial location technology such as accelerometers, evaluations have shown that when the soldier returns back into GPS coverage the positional error rate is less than five percent drift of distance traveled.

Rockwell Collins has previously developed its Dead Reckoning Augmented GPS Navigation (DRAGN) while Vectronix is also a leader in this field. Another solution is to use time of flight of the communication systems used using an ad hoc networking waveform form. One example is the ITT developed Soldier Radio Waveform for the US, which can provide automated geo-location by measuring each signal’s ‘time of flight’ to establish distance and utilising numerous signals from radios on individual soldier establish their position through triangulation.

On Israel’s IAS, led by Elbit, navigation is provided by the Soldier Navigation System.

This integrates three MEMS gyros, three MEMS accelerometers, a magnetometer triad and altimeter, weighs 150g and has dimensions of 90 x 60 x 20mm. The system is designed to support operation without GPS for up to three hours with high accuracy, position deviation being one to two percent of distance travelled and keeping within less AMR than one degree of walking direction.

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The Modernisation Of

Indonesia’s

Armed Forces

With a manpower level of around 410,000, the Indonesian military occupies a unique place in the country’s hierarchy, one that harks back to its role in the struggle for independence from Dutch colonial masters. For its population, Indonesia’s military is not big.

However, its influence stretches far beyond its size, to touch most aspects of Indonesian life. The primary problem for this Southeast Asian nation is not the size of its military, but rather a lack of funding.

by Gordon Arthur

Indonesia will continue to fly its F-5E aircraft until the defence budget allows their replacement and retirement.

(Gordon Arthur/Andrei Chang)

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REGIONAL M I L I T A R Y

t is essential to understand the role the military plays in Indonesia, that of guardian of the nation. The populace supported the military during the independence struggle, forging a strong bond that President Suharto described as ‘fish and water’. At the same time the military was forced to engage in smuggling and opium trading in order to support itself. Thus was born a dependence

I

on business activities that has continued down to this present day. Its mantra was Dwifungsi (Dual Function), where the military was a stabiliser (stabilisator) and dynamiser (dinamisator) of development. To purportedly provide people with security and economic development, the military was actively engaged in politics. The unique relationship between society and military has been exploited, with numerous foundations and enterprises established over the years to

enable acquisition of weapons and sustainment of military operations. However, these business activities reduce professionalism and lead to rampant corruption, collusion and nepotism.

Indonesia is thus caught in a Catch 22 situation.

The military relies on business to fund up to a staggering 75 percent of its activities, for it is estimated the government can only support around 25 percent of its total budget! This makes it difficult for the government to intervene in military affairs or to curb its legal and illegal business enterprises, plus the military resents any audit of its accounts. A culture of brutality also developed, as illustrated by the events of East Timor.

Years of underinvestment has left the force with tremendous weaknesses in equipment and quality of personnel Even though Indonesia is still coming to terms with itself as a democracy, it is money that has always been the problem. Defence spending has been a low priority, with defence generally subverted beneath economic development. Defence spending was around two percent of GDP in 1988, and although expenditure rose in real terms, it only reached 1.1 percent of GDP ten years later in 1998. In 1999 it dropped to 0.9 percent in the aftermath of the 1997 financial crisis. This crisis had a double-whammy effect because ersatz capitalists in the military businesses were not qualified to adequately respond, and there was correspondingly less money available to upgrade equipment. In 2003, defence expenditure actually grew in financial terms through till 2007, and it has been fluctuating between 1 percent and 1.4 percent. This compares unfavourably with Malaysia (2.2 to 2.8 percent) and Singapore (4.7 to 5.1 percent) for the same period. At one stage it was predicted GDP growth would be 5.5 percent in 2009. Obviously, this figure has gone

●

Fourth most populous and most populous Muslim country in the world ● Located on tectonic plates that produce numerous earthquakes and volcanic activity ● 300 distinct ethnic groups and 742 languages/dialects ● 54,716km of coastline ● Inflation rate of 11.1% ● Lies along strategic sea-lanes such as the Malacca Strait These factors pose difficulties for the Armed Forces of Indonesia (Tentara Nasional Indonesia, TNI). The threat matrix does not just include neighbouring countries, for there are the very real threats of piracy, terrorism and insurgency to contend with. The military also needs to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) in the aftermath of frequent natural disasters. The military follows the concept of Total People’s Defence, which states the country cannot afford a large military and that it must instead rely on territorial guerrilla warfare led by a military cadre in the event of an invasion. This concept has three phases – conventional military resistance against an aggressor, a protracted period of guerrilla war, and finally expulsion of the aggressor. The article will give a brief overview of each TNI branch, before attention is given to various developments and trends in Indonesian defence.

Indonesian Army (TNI Angkatan Darat, TNI-AD)

out the window with the onset of the worldwide financial tsunami. Years of underinvestment has left the force with tremendous weaknesses in equipment and quality of personnel.

In 2000, a sergeant earned $900 per year, while corporals earned a mere $400, rates that are hardly conducive to attracting the best candidates.

Apart from its financial woes, Indonesia faces innumerable challenges. Some selected statistics make interesting reading: ● 17,508 islands (6,000 are populated) in the world’s largest archipelago ● Population approaching 240 million

JUNE/JULY 2009

Indonesia shares 2,830km of land borders with Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and TimorLeste. Conscription is mandated by law, but a draft has never been required. The regular TNI-AD is around 310,000 in size, supplemented by 400,000 reservists. The army has twelve military area commands (KODAM), a strategic reserve command (KOSTRAD, with around 40,000 troops), and a special forces command (KOPASSUS). The Army Aviation Command has helicopter and aircraft squadrons with around 100 craft.

The legacy trap is clearly seen in vehicles of the TNI-AD. Many armoured vehicles were acquired in the 1960s, and despite upgrades they are long overdue for replacement. These include 275 AMX-13 and 100 Scorpion light tanks. Other older armoured vehicles are the AMX-VCI, Saladin, Ferret, V-150, BTR-152 and BTR-40. One option for replacing them is the new Panser Anoa 6x6 Pindad from PT Pindad, with 150 ordered so far. While large numbers of replacement vehicles are required, the budg-

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et never allows them to be purchased in sufficient numbers. Instead, only incremental dents are made in legacy inventories. Three Mi-17 helicopters were delivered from Russia in August 2008, with three more awaiting delivery. These will offer HADR applications.

Indonesia’s Special Forces continue to modernise their inventory, recently adding improved CNRN capabilities with Remploy been selected to provide its CR-1 personal protection suits in 2008.

Indonesian Navy (TNI Angkatan Laut, TNI-AL) The TNI-AL has 74,000 members and 130+ vessels and is organised into two commands – Eastern Fleet Command in Surabaya, and Western Fleet Command in Jakarta. Indonesia lies adjacent to maritime routes such as the Malacca Strait, through which 60,000 cargo vessels ply annually. The TNI-AL has the immense responsibility of protecting thousands of kilometres of coastline, and thanks in large part to neighbours Singapore and Malaysia, piracy attacks dropped from 220 in 2000 to 70 last year. The TNI-AL also fields the Korps Marinir (KorMar), an amphibious warfare force that doubles as a quick reaction force. There are currently 13,000 Marines, though in 1999 a plan was mooted to increase the force to 23,000 with two Marine forces plus an independent brigade. Because of budget shortfalls, troops rarely train with armoured vehicles, meaning KorMar would be quite ineffective in defence.

A strategic procurement programme was announced for 2005-09 in order to modernise the naval fleet, in which $1.6 billion was allocated for the TNI-AL and $600 million for the Air Force. The Navy requires 22 corvettes, with two of four 1,700-tonne Sigma-class corvettes ordered from the Netherlands already in service. Two more are being built indigenously by the PT PAL shipyard. The new Dutch-built corvettes have Thales TACTICOS command systems and MW08 3D radar. They are equipped with a 76mm Oto Melara gun, MBDA Exocet

Two Project 636 Kilo-class submarines from Russia are awaiting delivery to supplement its duo of Cakra-class submarines from Germany 26

missiles and Tetral airdefence system. These new corvettes are essential in replacing Kapitan Patimura-class vessels from the former East Germany.

The TNI-AL is plan- This Poprad system mounts six Grom missiles. This system is mounted on ning to acquire 60 a Dzik light 4x4 vehicle, while Indonesia’s systems are based on Land patrol vessels within Rover Defenders. (Gordon Arthur) the space of a decade, these being badly need- reduced to just four serviceable aircraft by the ed to replace obsolete vessels and to tackle the end of the embargo. This state of crisis saw rampant problem of piracy. Two Project 636 Indonesia’s F-16 and A-4 Skyhawk air combat Kilo-class submarines from Russia are await- power reduced to almost zero by 2005. The ing delivery to supplement its duo of Cakra- fleet of 20 C-130 Hercules was reduced to just class submarines from Germany. These Kilo- six serviceable aircraft. One analyst estimated class submarines are part of a $1 billion pack- only 30 percent of the TNI-AL fleet was operage with Russia, which also included 22 heli- ational, and half of the Air Force fleet was copters and 18 BMP-3F vehicles for the grounded because of these sanctions.

Marines. A $40 million deal for 20 further This harsh lesson showed Indonesia it BMP-3Fs was inked in late August 2008 using needed to diversify. It turned to Russia, a arms purchase credits from Russia. These are country that was ironically Indonesia’s leaddue for delivery in 2010, and will replace a ing supplier until 1965, when there was a number of old PT-76s. Indonesia is also con- sharp break in relations. In 2003, a $195 million sidering acquiring landing craft from Russia. contract promised two Su-27SK and two Su30MK fighters, plus a pair of Mi-35 helicopters. These were partially paid with palm oil, Indonesian Air Force (TNI but unfortunately the deal did not include any Angkatan Udara, TNI-AU) The second country in Southeast Asia to weaponry. The greatest problem for Indonesia acquire an air force capability was Indonesia. is funding arms deals, but a breakthrough The TNI-AU currently has 27,850 personnel occurred in 2007 when it was announced and more than 300 aircraft. After the TNI Indonesia would receive credit from Russian intervened in East Timor following its refer- banks. Thus, three Su-27SKM and three Suendum in 1999, the US and EU imposed arms 30MK2 aircraft plus associated weapons were embargoes against Indonesia. Although the ordered, enough EU lifted its ban in 2000, the USA did not do to field a full likewise until November 2005. These sanctions proved how dangerous it is for Indonesia to rely on just one nation for defence equipment. The severe impact of the sanctions cannot be overstated, as exemplified by the F-16A/B Block 15 fleet, with it being

Indonesia contributes to UN peacekeeping missions. This ‘blue helmet’ is with the UNIFIL contingent in Lebanon. (Gordon Arthur/Yves Debay)

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

REGIONAL M I L I T A R Y

The new Panser 6x6 Pindad Anoa APC carries ten passengers in addition to its crew of three. Ten had been produced up till late August 2008, with a total of 150 on order. (Gordon Arthur/Andrei Chang)

squadron. Three aircraft were delivered between December 2008 and February 2009, with the rest due in 2009 despite becoming mired in financial and parliamentary wrangling. Apparently, 16 Indonesian pilots are currently undergoing training in Moscow.

According to Lieutenant General Imam Wahyyudi, Deputy Chief of the Indonesian Air Force, the TNI-AU is very satisfied with its Russian fighters, and the eventual requirement is for 16+ aircraft.

Indonesia is also jointly working on two types of UAV with the Russian IRKUT company. The IRKUT-10 and IRKUT-2M UAVs will probably be used by Special Forces. Indonesia has also independently developed the operational Smart Eagle II and BPPT 02A Gagak UAVs. Gagak, a product of the Centre of Industrial Technology for Defence and Security, is currently undergoing flight testing.

Indonesia is set to be an important long-term customer for Russia, demonstrating their relationship has gone full circle.

In February 2008 it was announced Indonesia was talking with the US about a deferred instalment payment scheme for six new F-16C/D Block 50/52 fighters and the upgrade of six existing F-16s. As well as reinforcing its F-16 fleet, the TNI-AU wants to modernise its Hercules fleet to C-130J standard.

In the vital area of maritime patrol, Indonesia is using the CN-235-220M MPA. The first was delivered on 6 June 2008 with its Thales Ocean

Master 100 Mk II multifunction radar and maritime tracking radar. In March 2008, the TNIAU ordered 16 Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano aircraft from Brazil to replace its OV-10F Broncos. Jakarta is also ordering six further Mi-

35 attack helicopters.

Indonesian defence industry Like many Asian countries, Indonesia has worked hard to establish a defence industry, particularly since 1978. The Pindad small-arms factory was established in 1920 by a German company, but it has now progressed to armoured-vehicle production. PT Pindad has developed the Panser 6x6 Pindad that is inspired by the French VAB. In 1976 the aerospace company PT Nurtanio (now PT Dirgantara) was established, and one of its stars is the CN-235 transport aircraft. It is in Indonesian service, as well as being exported overseas. In terms of ships, PT PAL has launched the first of two Makassar-class LPDs with help from South Korea. Based on its commercial shipbuilding experience, PT PAL has also designed its own 35,000-ton helicopter carrier ship that accommodates six helicopters on its 190m-long hull. Design work has been completed, and it awaits the procurement phase.

Local ship production also includes patrol craft and OPVs, but so far production levels are not enough to meet critical requirements.

On 7 March 2007, the government declared it was allocating $866 million to acquire equipment from local defence companies under a strategic programme. Since local industry is not able to produce all the equipment required, this involves utilising overseas companies. Faced with the current eco-

A CN-235MPA maritime patrol aircraft of the TNI-AL. It was displayed at the Indodefence exhibition in Jakarta in November 2008. (Gordon Arthur/Andrei Chang)

JUNE/JULY 2009

One noteworthy innovation is a new 250kg GPS-guided bomb with a maximum range of 200km nomic crisis, PT Dirgantara joined PT PAL in asking the government and private sector for credit to secure short-term stability. On 7 April 2009, PT PAL announced it had renegotiated a loan with a government bank to provide security in 2009-10.

Indonesia is developing its own equipment.

One noteworthy innovation is a new 250kg GPS-guided bomb with a maximum range of 200km. It is 1.94m long, and tests will take place some time in 2009. Another new product is a 100-150km short-range cruise missile. The 3m-long missile has completed wind tunnel tests and is undergoing further development.

Powered by an Austrian 20kgf turbojet engine, it has a cruise speed of around 0.4 Mach.

Diversifying defence suppliers The embargoes of 1999 made it patently clear that Indonesia needed to diversify its range of defence suppliers. Poland has been one nation that has benefitted from this diversification. The most notable acquisition has been the Kobra Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) system. Talks began in 2003 with Radwar (part of the Bumar Group) for a system to supplement the Rapier SHORAD. A contract was not signed until 2005 because of difficulties in financing the transaction. In the end, 85 percent of the contract is being funded by a loan from the Polish government. The deal involves enough Kobras to equip two air-defence batteries, including the 3-D S-band Mobile Multibeam Search Radar (MMSR). There are six ZM Tarnow ZUR-23-2KG-1 twin 23mm guns and two missile-equipped Poprad vehicles in each battery. These entered service in November 2007. The Poprad can be positioned up to 40km from the battery command post or MMSR radar thanks to data transmission by RRC-9500

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It will be interesting to see how the US pursues relations in light of President Obama’s close personal links to the country

siles were test-fired in June 2008, with only one of the two firings being successful. There are question marks over the reliability of these Chinese missiles, so VHF radio. Indonesia bought four Poprad vehi- Indonesia is also consid- The home-grown BPPT 02A Pelatuk UAV shares the same basic meascles, 14 ZUR-23-2KG-1 mounts (two for train- ering the French MM40 urements of the Gagak. Currently undergoing testing, it is 4.38m long, has a 6.92m wingspan, and is powered by a 24hp motor. (Gordon ing), and 74 Grom missiles. A second purchase for outfitting its frigates. Arthur/Andrei Chang) The TNI-AU and is underway to equip two further batteries.

South Korea represents another new strate- KorMar purchased 26 QW-3 man-portable air- defending the nation, military officers often gic supplier. In 2003, the TNI-AL received an defence missile systems in 2008. This was the attend business meetings rather than train LPD from Korea, this now serves as a hospital first export sale of the QW-3, and apparently their troops in the field. The military is wary ship and disaster relief vessel. Two LPDs of the China has also been pitching its KS-1A and of democracy, but so too it is wary of Islamic 125m-long Makassar class have been acquired HQ-7 SAMs in competition with Russia’s Buk- extremism in case it upsets the state’s stabilifrom South Korea for LPD missions, and two M1 and TorM1. The TNI-AD opted for 18 ty. It is not beyond the realm of possibility more are under construction at the PT PAL Giant Bow twin 23mm air-defence guns, and that in the future the military could seize shipyard in Surabaya, with South Korea trans- the most recent purchase was that of the TD- power from a civilian government in order to ferring technology and giving technical assis- 2000B air-defence missile system. Probably a protect unity of the state. To prevent such a tance. South Korea has offered to upgrade lot of arms purchases are being done as barter military coup, the government must be careIndonesia’s two 1,300-ton Type 209 submarines trades for Indonesian products such as crude ful to act maturely in developing the country for $350 million each, and could offset the sale oil and gas. Other interesting products for economically and politically, and provide an adequate military budget to modernise by buying eight CN-235 aircraft from Indonesia are Chinese J-10 and JF-17 fighters. equipment. Interestingly, an election is schedIndonesia. The KT-1b Korean Basic Trainer uled for 8 July 2009. was purchased earlier this decade, while a The future On 22 November 2005, the US announced dozen more were ordered in 2006. South Korea The key identifiable problem with the is competing with Russia for the sale of two Indonesian military is that it has never been military ties with Indonesia would be restored missile frigates, with a decision slated to take funded to meet the tasks assigned to it. Thus after a six-year ban on arms sales. The US and place in 2009. Indonesia also needs a high- it has resorted to business enterprises to meet Australia are both highly concerned about grade aircraft trainer, with Korea offering its T- shortfalls. This process has reduced the pro- maritime security and counterterrorism in 50 and China its FTC-2000. No decision has fessionalism of the military, and interfered Southeast Asia, with Indonesia being a linchbeen made on the preferred design yet. with its ability to fulfil its primary task of pin. Military cooperation with such Western Another country Indonesia is drawing close defending the nation. Defence Minister nations is vital in developing Indonesia’s milto is China, as it seeks affordable defence Juwono Sudarsono asked for $41 million itary, and there is a lot of room for improveequipment. Indonesia and China had strained extra on top of the FY09 budget (approxi- ment. In 2007 there were 110 TNI officers relations for many years, but as China rises in mately $3 billion) that was passed on 6 training in Australia, whereas only 60 were in the international arena, diplomatic and defence January 2009. The extra funds were needed the US. The role of the USA and its level of ties between the two nations have strength- for operational readiness, and to support support for the country will prove to be an ened. The TNI-AL has opted for the C-802 anti- plans to replace Hawk Mk.53 and OV-10 important part of the equation. It will be interesting to see how the US pursues relations in ship missile for its locally built FPB57 NAV V Bronco aircraft. large patrol craft. Each Todak-class vessel will The military has been reluctant to imple- light of President Obama’s close personal receive two C-802 launch canisters. C-802 mis- ment internal reforms of its self-propagated links to the country. He has already made New Paradigm, sig- plans for a state visit some time in 2009.

This Chinese TD-2000B air-defence system was displayed at the 2008 Australia signed a Joint Statement on Defence Zhuhai Air Show. Indonesia, the first export customer, ordered two sys- nalling it does not want Cooperation on 12 January 2009, this assuring to completely give up tems reportedly equipped with QW-4 missiles. (Gordon Arthur) its socio-political role. A cooperation under the Lombok Treaty in glimpse of the curricu- areas like counterterrorism, maritime securilum at the Military ty, intelligence, HADR and peacekeeping.

Indonesia knows it needs to spend more Academy is enlightening, with 53 percent of on its national defence, but herein lies the the content devoted to problem – there is little cash available. The non-military subjects, newest challenge facing Indonesia is the cred22 percent to military it crunch that will squeeze military spending subjects and 15 percent even further and make bank loans more diffito sports. Whereas their cult to achieve. It seems circumstances have AMR main function should be conspired yet again to thwart the TNI.

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A new 5.56mm

generation

or a changing of the guard?

A combination of new weapons and upgrade programmes will ensure the dominant position of the NATO 5.56mm calibre for decades to come although as events in the US show, it is entirely not without competition.

by Ian Kemp

Developed to meet the needs of the German Army the Heckler & Koch 5.56mm G36 has proven an export success; (from left to right) standard G36 with AG36 40mm underbarrel grenade launcher, the compact G36C, G36V export variant with bipod) and the G36K carbine. (HK)

JUNE/JULY 2009

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rocurement decisions in the US ripple across the world and inevitably influence other competitions. This continues to be true with small arms. The US Army’s Project Manager Soldier Weapons issued a Sources Sought notice on 22 August 2008 for, ‘enhanced carbine and subcompact small arms technologies as well as production capacity of the US small arms industrial base’.

Interested manufacturers were asked to detail potential improvements in individual weapon performance in the areas of accuracy and dispersion out to 600m, reliability and durability in all environments, modularity, and terminal performance on a variety of target mediums.

The request was not limited to weapons firing standard 5.56 x 45mm NATO ammunition although other ammunition must meet International Convention standards. The 19 manufacturers which responded to the notice attended an industry day in November to discuss their products and proposals with Service representatives. Army officials said they hoped to have a requirements document approved by mid-2009 which could lead to a competitive request for proposals being issued as early as September 2009.

Candidate weapons must offer a significant improvement over the 5.56mm M4 carbine which is one of the four standard issue individual weapons in US Army and US Marine Corps service along with the 9mm M9

P

30

The Israel Defence Force is now being equipped with the Israel Weapon Industries 5.56mm Tavor family. (IMI)

pistol, M16 (A2 and A4) assault rifle and 5.56mm M249 Minimi light machine gun. The M4/M4A1 carbines and the M16A4 rifle are the fourth generation of the M16 series following the original M16 and improved M16A1, both fielded during the Vietnam War, and the M16A2 fielded in the 1980s.

M16A4s/M4s are ‘flat-top’ weapons that incorporate the MIL-STD-1913 ‘Picatinny’ rail on top and can be fitted with additional rails at the 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions. The M4 is 838mm in length with the stock extended (757mm retracted) and weighs 2.52Kg with-

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

out magazine fitted, while the M16A4 measures 990mm in length and weighs 3.987 kg with a loaded 30-round magazine.

Existing US small arms are still going strong. In June 2006, Colt Defense received a $242,468,789 firm-fixed-price multiyear contract from the US Army’s TACOM Life Cycle Management Command for M4 carbines. In November 2008, it awarded a $45.2 million delivery order to Colt for 37,415 M4 carbines for use by the USMC and US Army. The M16 family is the most widely used 5.56 mm weapon, in service with more than 50 countries. In addition to DoD orders, Colt received US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contracts in 2008 to produce the M4 for 13 countries including Afghanistan, Iraq and India while FN Manufacturing received an FMS contract to supply more than 23,000 M16A4s to Iraq.

Many existing M16 users are either making the transition to the M4 carbine or modifying M16 rifles to incorporate collapsing buttstocks, Picatinny rails and other improvements. In January, the Netherlands Ministry of Defence announced that Colt Canada would receive a contract to upgrade 25,000 C7 rifles and C8 carbines (license produced variants of the M16 rifle and Colt carbine originally developed for the Canadian Forces) which it had supplied in the 1990s.

The project will include railed forearms, vertical pistol grips, adjustable buttstocks, and Heckler & Koch developed the 5.56 mm HK416 carbine for the US Special Operations Command. The Norwegian Army is the first army to select the HK416 as its standard assault rifle. (HK)

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FN Herstal’s modular 5.56mm/7.62mm Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle (SCAR) was designed to meet the needs of the US Special Operations Command. The operator on the left is armed with the 5.56 mm Mk 16 Mod 0 SCAR-Light while the operator on the right carries a 7.62 mm Mk 17 Mod 0 SCAR-Heavy and has a Mk 13 Mod 0 40 mm Enhanced Grenade Launcher Module strapped on his rucksack. (FNH)

modified selectors and magazine releases, and Aimpoint sights. The project leverages work done by Colt Canada upgrading the Canadian Army’s weapons to the C7A2 and C8A3 configurations.

Experience in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) in Afghanistan and Iraq is the dominant factor influencing small arms acquisition. Compact carbines, such as the M4, are the weapon of choice in urban areas. New day and night sights, pointers and other accessories are being fielded to improve observation, target acquisition and engagement. In the US, British and other armies these are being augmented by a more generous allocation of 5.56mm and 7.62mm marksman/sniper rifles to achieve precision engagements at ranges out to 800m. Most forces now typically equip one in four carbines/assault rifle with 40mm underbarrel grenade launchers (UGLs).

Efforts are underway improve the fire control systems for UGLs and field new ammunition including airbursting rounds to defeat targets in defilade.

USSOCOM leads the way It is the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), frustrated by the US Army’s decades-long search for an M16/M4 replacement, which has fielded new individual weapons for use in the GWOT. Since 2005, some US special operations forces (SOF) have been using the Heckler & Koch (H&K) 5.56mm HK416 carbine, which was developed under a USSOCOM contract. The company capitalised on experience gained developing the Germany Army’s 5.56mm G36 assault rifle, the 5.56mm XM8 rifle for the US Army (in a project cancelled in 2005) and the modernisation of the UK’s 5.56mm SA80 small arms family. Customers have the option of purchasing a new upper receiver, buffer and

drive spring to refurbish M4s or buying a completely new build HK416. The weapon is used by SOF units in France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Turkey and in April 2007 the Norwegian Army selected the HK416 to replace its 7.62mm H&K G3s as the Army’s standard assault rifle even though the weapon was not one of the original shortlisted contenders.

In January 2004, the USSOCOM launched the Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle (SCAR) project and only 11 months later selected FN Herstal’s candidate from numerous worldwide competitors. The requirement was influenced by the experience of US SOF operators in Afghanistan who appreciated the advantages of the M4A1 carbine when operating in caves and other close terrain but also identified the need for a more powerful cartridge than the 5.56mm NATO SS109/US M855 round in certain situations.

The SCAR family comprises the 5.56mm Mk 16 Mod 0 SCAR-Light and the NATO 7.62 x 51mm Mk 17 Mod SCAR-Heavy, which share 90 percent ‘ergonomic compatibility’ and 60 percent parts commonality, and the 40mm Mk 13 Mod 0 Enhanced Grenade Launcher Module (EGLM) which can be used as a stand alone weapon or fitted to either SCAR variant. Each SCAR rifle can be fitted with three different barrels – a close quarter combat (CQC) barrel designed for use at combat ranges up to 200m, a standard barrel for combat at 300 to 500m and a long barrel variant optimised to engage targets between 500 and 800m – thus allowing the soldier to select

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the appropriate barrel length for a specific mission. The Mk 16’s barrels are 254mm, 355.6mm and 457.2mm in length while the Mk 17 has 330.2, 406.4 and 508mm barrels. Both weapons are fitted with Picatinny rails at the 3, 6, 9 and 12 o’clock positions that are compatible with ‘nearly’ all of the components of the M4 carbine Special Operations Modification (SOPMOD) kit and the 12-gauge M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System.

Development was expedited by bringing USSOCOM project managers, budget officials and SOF operators together at FN Herstal’s facilities in Liege, Belgium ensuring that users could provide immediate feedback to weapons engineers.

FN Herstal has delivered more than 8,000 Mk 16 and 4,000 Mk 17s; USSOCOM has indicated the project could total 84,000 5.56mm and 15,000 7.62mm weapons. USSOCOM’s FY09 budget request describes the Mk 16 and Mk 17 as ‘threshold’ weapons and states that ‘spiral development within the program seeks the objective of a single weapon capable of complete caliber modularity’. In May 2008 FN Herstal launched the SCAR rifles and the EGLM (as the FN40GL) on the export market.

A new 5.56mm generation The EGLM leverages the work done by FN Herstal developing the 5.56mm F2000 Modular Assault Weapon System. Modularity is a primary design feature of the F2000 bullpup design; the weapon is fitted with an x1.6 optical sight which can be removed to expose a Picatinny rail while the forward handguard can be removed so that attachments such as a 40mm grenade launcher, laser aiming modules and a 12 gauge shotgun can be mounted. When the grenade launcher is fitted a computerised fire control system replaces the standard sight unit which enables the user to fire both the 5.56mm and 40mm weapons. The F2000 is 694mm long and weighs 3.6 Kg with an empty magazine. FN Herstal received the first major order for its F2000 through the US FMS programme in 2005 when the Saudi Arabian National Guard ordered 55,000 weapons, including 3,600 fitted with the grenade launcher. The following year Slovenia became the first NATO country to adopt the F2000 as its standard assault rifle with the purchase of 6,500 weapons.

Heckler & Koch’s G36 rifle, which entered service with the Germany Army in 1995, has become one of the most popular new generation 5.56mm weapon. Although the G36 is

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conventional in layout, H&K has made extensive use of polymer-based plastics to reduce weight and emphasised modularity in the design. The standard rifle measures 998mm with the butt extended, 758mm with the buttstock folded and weighs 3.6 kg without magazine. German special forces use the G36K carbine which measures 860mm in length (615mm folded). The G36’s integral carrying handle incorporates a x3 optical sight with x1 red dot sight mounted above. The rifle’s semi-transparent 30 round, plastic magazines can be clipped together on the rifle to facilitate rapid magazine changes. The G36E export version features a x1.5 optical sight in place of the standard sight. A light support weapon is available with a heavier barrel and bipod. The G36 is also in service with the Spanish Army, the Portuguese marines, the Norwegian Coastal Ranger Command, the Latvian Army and various SOF units. The AG36 40 mm underbarrel grenade launcher used with the G36 was bought by the British Army and was further developed to become the US Army’s new M320 replacement for the M203 grenade launcher.

In recent years the Israel Defence Force (IDF) has begun fielding the Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) the 5.56 mm Tavor TAR-21 (Tavor Assault Rifle - 21st Century) bullpup assault rifles selected by the IDF in 2003, following an evaluation against the M4 carbine.

The company IWI worked closely with the IDF Ground Forces Command since 1993 to develop a replacement for the IDF’s M16s and M4s, and IWI 5.56 mm Galil assault rifles.

Great emphasis was given to ergonomic design, ease of maintenance and growth potential. Extensive use is made of polymer materials. A red dot reflex sight, which incorporates a red dot laser target designator, is fitted to the standard weapon. This version is 720 mm long, with a 460 mm long barrel, and weighs 3.635 kg with a loaded 30 round magazine. Other versions include the 640 mm long CTAR-21 Commander Tavor, the 520 mm long MTAR-21 Micro Tavor and the STAR-21 Sharpshooter Tavor which is basically essentially the standard rifle fitted with a bipod, a rail to accommodate a variety of sights and a butt pad. In 2004, the Indian Army ordered more than 3,000 rifles to equip SOF units and is considering the local production of the Tavor. The Republic of Georgia has received an undisclosed quantity for its special forces with additional orders expected.

Singapore Technologies Kinetics (STK)

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In 2004, the Indian Army ordered more than 3,000 rifles to equip SOF units and is considering the local production of the Tavor developed its 5.56mm SAR 21 bullpup design in the late 1990s for the Singapore Armed Forces. In the standard model a 1.5 x optical sight is integrated in the carrying handle and an infrared dot or visible red dot can be mounted in the handguard. Variants include the SAR 21 sharpshooter with a x 3 sight, SAR 21 P-rail with the standard sight mount replaced by a MIL-STD-1913 rail, the SAR 21 Modular which features rails in 3, 6, 9 and 12 o’clock positions in place of the standard forestock, SAR 21 GL which can mount STK’s single-shot CIS 40GL 40mm grenade launcher or the M203, and an LSW with a heavier barrel and bipod.

The sale of M16 rifles and M4 carbines to Afghanistan and Iraq have begun the transition away from the Soviet-era 7.62mm AK small arms series. The 7.62 x 39mm AK series, and its many licensed-produced and pirate copies, remains the most widely used rifle globally although the Russian Army fielded the interim 5.45 x 39mm AK-74 from the mid1970s as a replacement. A new 5.45mm design was classified as the AN-94 in 1994. This features a two-round burst capability with a cyclic rate of 1,800 rds/min, as a means to minimise dispersion thus ensuring the incapacitation of soldiers wearing combat body armour. On fully automatic the rifle has a rate of fire of 600 rds/min. The AN-94 has yet to go into series production presumably because of budget constraints. The Izhevsk Arms Factory, was selected to produce the AN-94, offers the Kalashnikov Hundred series to export customers: 5.56 mm NATO calibre AK101 and NATO 7.62 mm AK103 assault rifles; and the 5.56 mm NATO AK102, Russian 7.62 mm AK104 and the 5.45 mm AK105 ‘short assault rifles’.

Mid-life updates Heckler & Koch completed a five-year, £112 million upgrade of the UK’s 5.56mm SA80 bullpup small arms family in 2006 when it returned the last of 178,000 L85A2 rifles and 12,000 L86A2 Light Support Weapons (LSWs) to the Ministry of Defence. The upgraded weapons are expected to remain in service until about 2020 and will conse-

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The Australian Army’s F88S Austeyr features a Picatinny rail which allows the original x 1.5 sight/carrying handle to be replaced with various day and night optical sights. (Australian DoD)

The standard version of FN Herstal’s 5.56mm F2000 Modular Assault Weapon System is being carried by the soldier on the left while the weapon on the right is fitted with the 40mm grenade launcher. (FN)

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The US Army soldiers in this patrol are armed with both the 5.56mm M4 carbine (left) and the M16A4 rifle (right) with rigid stock and longer barrel. (US Army)

quently be incorporated in the Future Integrated Soldier Technology system.

Although the only significant external difference on the A2 weapons is a larger cocking handle, all weapons have been extensively rebuilt with many of the internal working parts replaced with redesigned components of superior quality material. Following requests from units on operations, the foregrip of the L85A2 is being replaced with a Picatinny quad rail and a down grip which incorporates a bipod. The Sight Unit Small Arms Trilux, which is fitted to most rifles and all LSWs, is being replaced with the Advanced Combat Optical Gun Sight (ACOG) which incorporates a red dot close quarter battle sight.

Nexter is upgrading the French Army’s 5.56mm FAMAS F1 bullpup rifles as part of the Fantassin à Équipement et Liaisons Integrées (FELIN) soldier system project.

The company produced approximately 400,000 weapons for the army and export customers Djibouti, Gabon, Senegal, and the United Arab Emirates. Production was superseded in the mid-1990s by the FAMAS G2 (for second generation) which uses 30 round NATO standard magazines instead of the 25 round magazine developed for the F1.

The FAMAS is one of the few bullpup rifle designs which does not incorporate an optical sight as a standard feature. In the first stage of the FELIN project Nexter is converting 19,000 rifles to the low-profile configuration while the full FELIN configuration incorporates a man-machine interface, a second grip and a new day and night sight.

The Australian Defence Force has used the F88 Austeyr, a license produced SteyrMannlicher 5.56 mm AUG-A1 assault rifle, since 1989 and the weapon is also in New Zealand service. The AUG became the first bullpup design to enter military service when it was fielded by the Austrian Army in 1978. The modular design allows the AUG to be converted to four variants by changing the barrel: a 626mm long compact weapon featuring a 350mm barrel, a 714mm long carbine with 407mm barrel, the 805mm long standard assault rifle with 508mm and a 915mm long light support weapon which features a 621 mm heavy

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barrel with bipod. A x 1.5 optical sight is integrated into the carrying handle. An A2 model was introduced in 1997 which allows the standard sight to be replaced with a rail to accommodate more powerful day sights and night sights. Export customers include Malaysia, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Taiwan.

In September 2008, Australia’s Defence Materiel Organisation awarded Thales Australia, which produced the F88, an A$11.3 million contract to produce the F88SA2 from March 2009; this incorporates a longer top rail with a side mount for a torch, a lighter optical sight and a ‘reduced visibility’ colour scheme.

This will be followed in 2010 by the F88SA3 will feature an improved trigger assembly and modifications to enable the F88 to fire a wider variety of 5.56mm ammunition.

Concurrently, the project office for LAND 125 Soldier Combat System has awarded Thales Australia a A$6.5m development contract for the Enhanced F88 (EF88) that will address weight and power usage, as well as improvements in surveillance and targeting technology. “If early design iterations are anything to go by, the enhanced Steyr will be a very different looking and highly capable weapon,” said Project Director LAND 125 Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Heath. “It will have an ‘open architecture’ that will allow soldiers to configure their weapon for specific tasks in a way not previously possible.” In addition to the standard EF88, specialist variants with be produced for commanders, marksmen and grenadiers. Full production is scheduled to begin in 2011.

The Australian Army’s Land Development Branch has defined a small arms replacement project, LAND 159, which is intended to replace current weapons, including the F89 Minimi LMG, with an infantry combat weapon, personal defence weapon and support weapon based on new technology from 2020.

The New Zealand Defence Force announced in February that approximately 3,000 F88s will be modified with accessory rails and will consider rechambering to a more powerful cartridge. The NZDF believes the weapons have another 10 years of service life.

Whatever the service life of individual weapons, modernisation programmes for existing weapons, such as the M16/M4 and AUG/Austeyr, and new generation weapons, such as the SCAR and Tavor, will ensure that 5.56mm remains the dominant AMR calibre for decades to come.

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Russia’s Advanced submarine capabilities Today’s Russian submarine fleet is a pale imitation of its glory days at the height of the Cold War, when over 200 sleek behemoths cruised the world’s oceans, playing occasional games of cat and mouse with NATO submarines. The Russian Navy today maintains a fleet of some 60 submarines, of which ten are nuclear powered strategic missile vessels and 30 nuclear powered attack vessels – the ‘hunter-killers’ of the submarine world. The reduction in size, however, is not necessarily indicative of a reduced capacity to project power and exercise influence.

The almost ubiquitous Kilo class submarine, though an old basic design, has been upgraded and refitted to maintain its operational relevance in twenty-first century submarine warfare.

(Wikimedia Commons)

by Tim Mahon

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he strategic element of the submarine service will inevitably remain a priority for the Russian Federation Navy, but – according to comments made by at least one senior official recently to the state news agency RIA Novosti – a new focus on the continuing development of nuclear powered attack vessels may be underway. One emerging priority is to focus on the construction of nuclear powered attack submarines, armed with nuclear-capable cruise missiles, while not neglecting to maintain the strategic ballistic missile submarine fleet at the same time. “There is no longer any need to equip missiles with powerful nuclear warheads – we can install low-yield warheads on existing cruise missiles,” explained Vice Admiral Oleg Burtsev, deputy head of the Navy General Staff. He mentioned the new Granay class nuclear powered attack submarine, the first example of which will enter the Navy in 2010-2011. However, the maintenance of a strategic submarine-based ballistic missile capability is equally important.

“In this regard, we will build at least six Borey-class strategic submarines to serve in the northern and Pacific fleets,” said Admiral Burtsev.

Behind such positive comments lies the reality of the massive twin task facing the Russian submarine fleet. After the collapse of the former Soviet Union, the Navy entered a period of severe decline from which it only really began to emerge after over a decade in the doldrums. During that period, the submarine fleet shed two thirds of its former size, decommissioning almost 200 boats it no longer required or were unable to maintain. The two principal nonoperational tasks facing the fleet today are to dismantle those boats, while simultaneously modernizing and upgrading its remaining submarines. There has been some international assistance in accomplishing significant steps in the former task, with over 100 nuclear submarines having already been dismantled. It is a testament to Russian stoicism and perseverance, given the barriers to be overcome, that the second task – preparing the new ‘slimline’ submarine fleet for its multiple operational roles – has been achieved to at least acceptable standards in a relatively short timeframe.

The ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) remains an essential component of the Russian strategic nuclear triad. SSBNs are

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“There is no longer any need to equip missiles with powerful nuclear warheads – we can install low-yield warheads on existing cruise missiles”

Admiral Vladimir Morosin, commander in chief of the Russian Federation Navy, has a delicate compromise to achieve for the submarine fleet, balancing availability of funds against future availability of sufficient boats to avaoid a capability gap. (Image from US DoD)

Typhoon submarines, Bark was supposed to give these vessels a new lease of life as an interim solution until they could be replaced by new, smaller (and cheaper to operate) SSBNs – the Borey class.

The mainstays of the current fleet are the Project 667BDRM Delfin ‘Delta IV’ and Project 667BDR Kalmar ‘Delta IIIs.’ Eventually these, too, will be replaced by the new Project 955 Borey, the keel for the first of which was laid in 1996. Construction of the Boreys, however, was halted the following year when the Bark programme was cancelled. When a new SLBM – the Bulava-30 programme – was launched in 1998, the Borey had to be redesigned to accommodate the new missile. Built at the Sevmash shipyard in northern Russia, the first Borey submarine, the Yury Dolgurky, will start sea trials in June this year.

Two further Boreys – the Alexander Nevsky and Vladimir Monomakh – are currently under construction at Sevmash and are expected to be handed over to the Navy in 2009 and 2011 respectively. In early April the Defence Ministry authorised the commencement of construction of the fourth vessel in the class, which will begin in the second half of the year. The original intent

therefore a continuing priority for the Navy but, by comparison with the height of the Cold War when as many as 30 SSBNs may have been on combat patrol at any one time, open sources suggest that Russia is today unable to maintain more than one or two on patrol simultaneously, while there have been periods in which no SSBN coverage at all was possible.

The SSBN fleet is the component of the overall submarine force in the worst shape.

Since 2005 the force has halved, to approximately ten SSBNs available for service. The Project 941 Akula ‘Typhoon’ submarine – the After a ‘stop-start’ design and construction programme focused on world’s largest and most the development of new weapon systems, the first of the Project 955 Borey class SSBN will commence sea trials in mid-2009. expensive naval underwa- (HyeClub.com/Google UK) ter vessel – is now extinct from an operational perspective. A single example – the renamed Dmitry Donskoy – has been retained as a weapons test platform. The demise of the Typhoons is due, in part, to the failure to see through the development of the Bark solid-fuelled submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) in the 1990s.

Based on the R-39 ‘SS-N-20’ SLBM then deployed on the

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of the programme when conceived was to create a class of ten submarines, but current plans seem to be limited to the construction of a total of eight vessels by 2015, although Admiral Burtsev’s comments may indicate a further reduction in plans to a class of six.. It is uncertain whether the SSBN fleet will then consist only of the six eight Boreys, or whether some of the modernised Delta IVs may also be kept in service for a while longer.

The Borey is 170 metres in length, 13 metres in diameter and carries a crew of 107, including 55 officers. Diving to a maximum depth of 450 metres and with a top speed

when submerged of 29 knots, it will carry up to 16 Bulava-M ‘SS-N-X-30’ intercontinental ballistic missiles, each with up to ten independently targeted nuclear warheads and with a range of 8,000 kilometres.

By contrast, the nuclear-powered attack boat (SSN) fleet seems to be in a slightly better state, though the range of roles to be fulfilled by a relatively small fleet presents a new scale of challenges for Russian submariners. The main task of existing and future boats in this category will remain the location, identification and – when necessary – destruction of hostile submarines and surface vessels. Additional tasks, however –

The Akulas are widely regarded as the stealthiest, quietest, fastest and most up to date submarines in Russian service, and their ability to become a,“hole in the ocean” is favourably compared with the most modern American SSNs including strategic strike of land targets, covert reconnaissance and surveillance in the littoral area and special forces delivery and recovery – continue to be added by the central authorities, in an effort to derive maximum operational benefit from the continued investment, which they must struggle mightily to justify in current political and economic circumstances.

At the core of the SSN fleet is the Project 971 Schluka B ‘Akula’ submarine – a class whose genesis was as long ago as the mid 1970s. The first boat of class was launched in 1984 and construction continued through 13 vessels, with the last being commissioned in 1996. Further vessels, whose construction was halted in the 1990s due to lack of funds, are now being completed.

The Akulas are widely regarded as the stealthiest, quietest, fastest and most up to date submarines in Russian service, and their ability to become a,“hole in the ocean” is favourably compared with the most modern American SSNs. In addition to the Akulas, the SSN fleet will consist of an as yet undefined number of new build submarines. The Project 885 Yasen ‘Granay’ boat is a fourth generation design that combines a poweful anti-submarine and anti-surface vessel capability with a land attack option using long range cruise missiles capable of carrying tactical nuclear warheads to approximately 5,000 kilometres.

The first Granay boat, Severodvinsk, was originally scheduled to be commissioned in 2000, but, in a story that has been all too familiar for the Russian navy in the last twenty years, the construction programme has been halted several times for lack of The world’s first supercavitating torpedo, the Skhval, travels to its target inside a bubble of self-generated gas at over 200 knots.

(Wikimedia Commons)

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forces insertion. An export version has also been developed – the Project 1650 Amur – but no orders have yet been announced.

By 2020 it is probable that Amurs will have The sleek Akula SSN forms the backbone of the Russian hunterreplaced most if not all the killer fleet, and will serve alongside the new Granay class boats as they come into service from the end of this decade. (Federation of Kilos currently in the American Scientists) Russian fleet. Much, however, will depend on how successful the by Gidropribor, was developed almost soleNaval General Staff will be in maintaining ly for the export market and was offered to its hold on adequate budget allocations as the Russian Navy largely as an afterthought. continuing fiscal austerity bites into almost Based on the heavyweight UGST designed

by Morteplotekhnika, the TT-1 was slightly all Russian military development planning.

As far as submarine weapons are con- lighter at 1,700-2,000 kilos, depending on the cerned, the Russian Navy is perhaps slightly version, and carried a 425 kilo warhead. The less well served by its supporting industry. TE-2 was based on the 2,400 kilo USET-80 Torpedoes in the current inventory – both and shared both guidance and warhead sysheavyweight and lightweight – are some- tems with the TT-1, while the TT-3 was a folwhat dated, based on antiquated technolo- low-on to the 53-65KE and is being marketed gies and with war stocks not necessarily well as a ‘universal’ or multirole torpedo, but maintained. Where attempts have been without wire guidance. The current developmade since the late 1990s at developing more ment, the TT-5, is a fire-and-forget weapon modern and capable weapon systems, these with pump-jet propulsion, specifically have tended to fall between the two stools of designed for surface vessel attack, whereas being designed primarily for export or almost all previous Russian torpedoes have owing their origins to unorthodox, not to say been primarily anti-submarine weapons.

Perhaps the most interesting Russian subbizarre, inspiration.

The TT-1 torpedo, for example, designed marine weapon development in recent years was the WA-111 Skhval ‘Squall’, developed As economic chaos and budget austerity have added to the situation caused by treaty limitations

by Region DB and entering service in 1976. and the end of the Cold War, increasing numbers of former Soviet submarines have been dismanThe world’s first super-cavitating torpedo, tled for scrap. This Oscar class nuclear powered boat was scrapped at the Little Star Shipyard in the Skhval traveled to its target at astonishSeverodvinsk in 1996. (US DoD) ingly high speeds of over 200 knots, inside a ‘bubble’ of gas generated by a nose-mounted assembly. This reduced friction forces and resistance caused by water, thus allowing the very high speed. However, the same technology that made this performance possible also made it utterly impossible for the weapon to use any form of acoustic guidance – active or passive – and the high transit speed not only negated the possibility of wire guidance but also created enough noise to alert all potential targets over a wide sonar surveillance area. Since the weapon funding. The intent of the class – the eventual number of which has not yet been decided but is unlikely to rise much above ten on current indications – is that it will ultimately replace the Project 945 Barrakuda ‘Sierra’, Project 949 Granit ‘Oscar I’ and Project 949A Antey ‘Oscar II’ classes. This will leave the SSN fleet with only two types of submarines in service by the middle of the next decade, which should radically simplify and improve the costly logistics and maintenance support base required.

The diesel-electric submarine (SSK) fleet currently numbers something less than 20, almost all of which are reasonably modern Project 877 Varshavyanka ‘Kilo’ boats, which enjoy a strong reputation for quietness and combat effectiveness. Early in 2005, however, the St Petersburg Admiralty Shipyard launched the first submarine in a new class, the Project 677 Lada, designed by the Rubin Marine Design Bureau. Two vessels have so far been built and future vessels may be equipped with air independent propulsion systems, though there has, as yet, been no confirmation of this option. The fourth generation Amur is considerably smaller than its Kilo predecessor and is configured largely for shallow-water deployment and special operations such as surveillance and special

The world’s first super-cavitating torpedo, the Skhval traveled to its target at astonishingly high speeds of over 200 knots, inside a ‘bubble’ of gas generated by a nose-mounted assembly 38

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was therefore pretty much an underwater bullet, the original version was fitted with a tactical nuclear warhead. Soviet planners at the time saw the Skhval as an equaliser, offsetting NATO superiority in acoustic surveillance and submarine stealthiness.

However, there were some major disadvantages to the weapon. Its short range (7 kilometres initially, 13 for a later version) coupled with the problems inherent in igniting a powerful rocket motor in close proximity to the launching submarine (not to mention the dangers involved in storing and handling the weapon’s liquid rocket fuel) led to the apparent development of a guided version. Armed with a conventional warhead (and thus not running the risk of breaching the 1991 US-Soviet Presidential Nuclear Initiatives), the new version still travels to the target area within its supercavitating bubble, thus radically reducing transit times, then emerges to activate a standard acoustic homing system.

The conventional Skhval arms both the Akula and Oscar submarines and has apparently also been acquired by Iran and China.

However, it is likely that these export sales are of a conventional warhead version of the

Russian submarine expertise is greatly sought after by those powers seeking to develop their own modern boats original ‘straight-run’ Skhval, rather than the terminally guided version, according to Western observers.

When the United States introduced the submarine-launched Tomahawk, the then Soviet Union introduced the 3M10 Granat cruise missile, developed by the Novator Design Bureau. Introduced originally in 1984, the Granat remains in service today, intended for use against strategic land targets and carrying a nuclear warhead. In the mid-1990s a shorter-ranged version with a conventional warhead – the 3M54E1 – was unveiled, as was a slightly bizarre three stage missile – the 3M54 – that has a cruise speed of some 850 km/h but accelerates to over Mach 2 in the terminal attack phase.

All the versions of the Granat and the 3M54 use the same Akatsya-1 unified fire control system, developed by KB Novator.

Combined with the family of missiles, the

Russian submarine-launched torpedoes, such as this array shown at a recent public exhibition, are increasingly being replaced by autonomous intelligent munitions and short range cruise missiles as the anyi-submarine and anti-surface vessel role of Russian submarines becomes less important than land attack or littoral area surveillance. (www.warships.ru)

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ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

Although severely curtailed in the 1990s by financial problems and the chaos resulting from the transition from a command to a demand economy, the Russian submarine-building programme appears now to be back on track.

While not even approaching the construction numbers of the Cold War period, various new fourth generation classes are emerging, such as the Borey class seen here, a fourth boat having been authorised in early 2009. The class could eventually consist of as many as eight boats.

(Google uk)

system is known as Kalibr in Russian service and Club for the export market, where it is in service with China and India and may shortly be ordered by Algeria. The 3M54 also faces a domestic competitor in the export arena, the 3M55 Oniks developed by OKB52. Released as the Yakhont in 1992, India became involved in the development programme in 1998 and a version is now entering Indian Navy and Army service under the designation Brahmos. A submarinelaunched variant has always been planned, but seems to have taken a lower priority under current Indian development and procurement plans. The principal disadvantage of the 3M55 and Brahmos systems in submarine applications is the necessity to use dedicated launchers rather than existing weapons tubes.

Russian influence in the Asia-Pacific region is not, of course, limited to the physical influence exerted by its own submarines patrolling in theatre. Quite apart from the number of SSKs in service in the region with nations such as India, Russian submarine expertise is greatly sought after by those powers seeking to develop their own modern boats. In China, for example, the Project 093 SSN development programme is under way with Russian design assistance and – quite probably – will be equipped with Russian weapons, at least for the first few vessels in the class. Similarly the SONG SSK programme is the recipient of Russian and Israeli design assistance and is being configAMR ured to field Russian weapon systems.

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AUSTRALIA TO PURCHASE MORE CHINOOK HELICOPTERS In mid-April, the US government's Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Australia of a further seven Chinook CH47 heavy lift helicopters and other related equipment, services and support. The deal is estimated at a cost of $560 million.

Canberra has requested a possible sale of seven CH-47Fs with 14 (two per aircraft) T55-GA-714A turbine engines, seven M134D Dillon Aero Miniguns, 16 AN/ARC-201D Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radios, seven Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below Blue Force Trackers, two spare T-55-GA-714A turbine engines, mission equipment, communication and navigation equipment, ground support equipment, spare and repair parts, special tools and test equipment, technical data and publications, personnel training and training equipment, contractor technical and logistics personnel services, and other related elements of logistics support.

However, as Asian Military Review went to press it was unclear whether the new aircraft would augment the Australian Army’s existing fleet of Chinook helicopters or replace them.

Thales purchases sights for ADF Thales Australia announced this week that it has procured 350 third-party thermal weapon sights for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) as part of Land 125 Phase 2B, which is the country’s soldier modernisation programme.

The VIPIR 2, made by Qioptiq in the UK, is a compact and lightweight military standard thermal sight designed specifically for medium-range surveillance and target engagement.

VIPIR 2 utilises the latest in uncooled thermal imaging technology to provide a superior performance to weight/size ratio, while its fully ruggedised and qualified design offers image optimisation features and a 24-hour operational capability.

The company has also integrated the

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sights onto the F88 Austeyr rifle at the Australian Soldier Systems Development and Support Centre in New South Wales (NSW). The contract is an example of the type of work now being carried out at the Australian Soldier Systems Development and Support Centre.

Thales has already supplied 310 sights to the ADF, with the remaining 40 due for delivery by July 2009. Through life support for the sights will be carried out by Thales at its facility in St Marys, NSW. The integration work, carried out at the centre, involved designing and manufacturing a weapon mount to attach the sight to the F88's Picatinny Rail.

allows further integration of VoIP services, Battle Management System, vetronics services, inter-platform communications, wireless LAN services, video on demand and mounted soldier systems into one rugged, reliable system.

The company will supply over 700 complete systems, plus spares, to be installed in the ADF's Bushmaster armoured vehicles.

Installation is scheduled to begin in July, with in-service vehicles retrofitted at Thales's Vehicle Support Centre in Brisbane, and potentially at ADF bases around the country. In the future, the system will be installed during Bushmaster production at the Thales Bendigo facility.

Australia’s defence White Paper signals acquisition of multi-tier tactical UAV

Australia increases submarine manning levels

Australia is expected to acquire a Tier II tactical unmanned air vehicle (UAV) for the army as part of an anticipated fleet expansion beyond the existing Joint Project 129 tactical UAV requirement.

The newly released defence White Paper, the first issued in nine years, confirmed the need for a multi-tier approach to UAV capability for the Army. Officials said that there was a genuine requirement for multiple tiers of tactical UAV to support operational needs in the land environments. These will range from larger Tier II tactical UAVs with longer endurance and a wider range of payloads, supporting brigade and battalion-sized organisations; through to smaller Tier I man portable systems supporting company sized elements.

Australia already leases the Insitu Scan Eagle Tier II UAV to support intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance requirements for its forces deployed in Afghanistan.

Thales signs Bushmaster communications contract Thales has signed a contract with Australia’s Defence Materiel Organisation to provide the SOTAS IP vehicle communications system to the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

The SOTAS IP communications harness provides vehicle intercom, Ethernet Local Area Network and IP routing services, and

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

In April, Australia's Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Russ Crane, released a plan to improve the size of the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN's) submarine force. The plan was launched after concerns about the manning levels of the force were leaked to the press with sources saying that unacceptable strain was being placed on personnel.

“Our submariners remain a professional and ready force. By improving their working conditions we will ensure our Submarine Force remains sustainable now and into the future,” VAdm Crane said in a statement.

The Navy's Submarine Workforce Sustainability Program will follow a five phase strategy designed to stabilise, recover and grow the submarine workforce over the next five years. The programme focuses on getting more qualified submariners to sea and on improving support for them once deployed. The strain on seagoing submariners will be eased by increasing crew sizes on the Collins-class submarines from 46 to 58 people. A fourth submarine crew will be operating by the end of 2011.

The Submarine Workforce Sustainability Review was completed late last year. It made twenty nine recommendations aimed at improving submariners' work/life balance. The RAN is implementing all of the reports recommendations. Three recommendations are already being implemented, including new crewing arrangements, local area networks on submarines and

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relocation of the Submarine Communication Centre from eastern Australia to Fleet Base West in Western Australia by the end of 2009.

Testing of first Australian Aegis system begins Lockheed Martin announced in April that four antennas destined for Australia's first Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) have been installed at its Aegis Production Test Center. The installation marks the full system's transition from production to testing.

Testing on the first AWD Aegis shipset will begin in early May and complete in November. When testing concludes, the full Aegis Weapon System will be ready for

INDIA First Su-30 MKI crash In late April, the Indian Air Force (IAF) confirmed that it had lost the first Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter in a crash near Jaisalmer in Rajasthan that killed one of its two crew.

It is the first time that a Sukhoi-30 MKI, built for the IAF by Russia, has crashed.

The incident occurred on a routine exercise near Rajmathai village, about 70 km from the base According to district officials, one of the two crew, who were both wing commanders, was killed. The other pilot managed to eject safely from the aircraft.

A court of inquiry has been ordered into the incident by the IAF.

India set to get first Phalcon AW&C aircraft As AMR went to press the Indian Air Force (IAF) was set to get its first Phalcon Airborne Warning and Control (AW&C) aircraft on mid-May. The new fleet of AW&C aircraft will provide the IAF the means to track incoming missiles and look deep into neighbouring countries without violating their air space.

The first Phalcon was recently inspected by top Indian defence officials in Israel, who came here to check the specially modified Russian Il-76 aircraft. The other two aircraft would be delivered by mid or late 2010, if everything goes on schedule, according to defence sources.

The delivery of the aircraft, bought at

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installation aboard HMAS Hobart, the first of three AWDs under contract.

Lockheed Martin's Production Test Center replicates a ship's superstructure and allows for the first integration of all the subsystems of the Aegis Weapon System, including the SPY-1D(V) radar, illuminators, all computing hardware, and the cabling that will be used in the final ship installation. At the centre the company conducts testing concurrently with each subsystem's installation, as well as with the entire completed Aegis Weapon System, in order to ensure the system is ready for the rigours of sea before it ever leaves land.

“The land-based testing with HMAS Hobart's Aegis Weapon System continues

our enduring best practice of the 'build a little, test a little' philosophy which has underpinned the Aegis programme from its beginning,” said Orlando Carvalho, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin's Surface/Sea-Based Missile Defense Systems line of business. “This process is critical to the exacting reliability that Aegis continually delivers,” he added.

Upon completion of the testing, the Aegis Weapon System will be shipped to ASC Shipyard in Adelaide, Australia, when the shipyard is ready to install the system. The Hobart-class AWD will be the most advanced and complex warships ever built in Australia and will introduce the Aegis Weapon System to the Royal Australian Navy.

$1.1 billion, is almost a year and a half behind schedule. As per the tripartite deal between India, Russia and Israel, the aircraft should have been delivered by the end of March this year.

India and Israel are reported to be in advanced negotiations for the purchase of three more Phalcon AW&C aircraft that the IAF proposes to integrate with other air and ground assets. All six aircraft will be linked with the country's first military satellite proposed to be launched by the middle of 2010.

all competing to be selected. However, reports in late April suggested that Rafale had been kicked out of the competition because it did not meet all the necessary technical specifications.

Indian media had been reporting that a new government could take a fresh look at the deal after the April/May election, but defence officials said the trial process could begin by the end of May.

Indian MRCA competition stays on track Indian defence officials confirmed in April that they would soon begin flight trials of the aircraft competing for the Indian Air Force's Multi-Role Combat Aircraft project (MRCA). The defence ministry has received technical details of all the bids and has almost completed assessing them.

The commitment from the Ministry has allayed fears that the MRCA programme could be put on hold while the country gears up for national elections. India is looking to purchase up to 126 multi-role fighters in a contract that could be worth $10 billion to the winner and has the major aircraft manufacturers from Europe, Russia and the US all competing.

Boeing (F/A-18), Dassault Aviation (Rafale), Eurofighter International (Typhoon), Lockheed Martin (F-16), RAC MiG (MiG 35) and Saab (JAS-39 Gripen) are

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

IMI to supply munitions for Indian Bofors guns According to local reports the Indian government has signed a defence deal with Israeli manufacturer IMI as part of a larger effort to upgrade the ammunition for the Indian Army's 155mm Bofors artillery.

The deal with IMI is believed to be worth $240.3 million and is for the manufacture of 'biomolecular charge systems' to be used as ammunition for the guns local press reports confirmed defence sources as saying.

The charges will be manufactured at five factory plants to be set up in Bihar's Nalanda district. The factories will be built and integrated for India's Ordnance Factory Board by IMI. The Defence Research and Development Organisation will also be involved in the project for joint development of the ammunition. The deal is part of a wider expansion of the capabilities of the Bofors guns that is being undertaken by the Indian Army.

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NEW ZEALAND RNZN finally gets new IPVs Delivery of the Royal New Zealand Navy's (RNZN's) new inshore patrol vessels (IPVs) began in April after major delays.

HMNZS Rotoiti, the first of the four new IPVs, was handed over on 16 April by the manufacturer, BAE Systems, and commissioned on 17 April at Whangarei. It then sailed to the Devonport Naval Base in Auckland on 24 April. As AMR went to press, the other three IPVs were expected to be delivered by the end of May. “Delivery of the Project Protector ships has been the Government's highest defence priority since taking office,” New Zealand’s Defence Minister, Wayne Mapp, stated.

“A lot of hard work has gone into getting the ships out of the yard and into service.

When we came into government this project was in a mess which we are working hard to clean up. I thank Ministry and Defence Force

NZ has at last found some answers to its IPV problem

officials for the efforts they have made to resolve the issues. The Navy will now have a new fleet of very capable and sophisticated ships.”

The IPVs are part of the larger Project Protector recapitalisation of the RNZN fleet.

The programme has also seen the delivery of a multi-role ship, HMNZS Canterbury, and two offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) are also on order.

The IPVs are designed to carry out a variety of tasks for government agencies, including Police, Customs, the Ministry of Fisheries, the Department of Conservation, and Maritime New Zealand, and to have a secondary role in New Zealand disaster relief. Thee ships will give the RNZN a much higher pro-

46

file around the country's coastline according to officials.

“The IPVs will greatly enhance the Navy's ability to recruit and retain people, getting people to sea to do the jobs they are trained for - jobs that benefit the people of New Zealand,” Mapp stated.

Mapp said that he and Defence Ministry officials were now working towards the delivery of the two OPVs of the Protector fleet, currently located in Melbourne.

He said that there were a number of outstanding issues in respect of HMNZS Canterbury and the OPVs, which would now be referred to mediation as provided for in the contract. The mediation was intended to start on 25 May.

New Zealand appoints new joint forces commander In April New Zealand’s Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae, announced the appointment of Air Commodore Peter Stockwell as the Defence Force’s new Commander Joint Forces New Zealand (COM JFNZ). Air Cdre Stockwell replaced Major General Rhys Jones, who has been appointed Chief of Army, in the post on 1 May. “For his new position, Air Commodore Stockwell will be promoted to Air ViceMarshal and I am sure he will bring valuable skills and experience to the role.”

Air Cdre Stockwell’s most recent appointments include Deputy Chief of Air Force, Air Component Commander, and his current position is Assistant Chief Strategic Commitments and Intelligence.

Air Cdre Stockwell stated, “I’m absolutely delighted to be given this opportunity and am looking forward to the exciting challenges that the job will bring. I look forward to meeting as many as possible of our men and women deployed on overseas missions and congratulating them on the good work they do for New Zealand.”

The Joint Forces Commander is based at Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand in Trentham, and is responsible for the operation of all of NZDF’s offshore deployments.

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

MALAYSIA RMN signs contract with Tognum The propulsion and power solutions specialist Tognum will support the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) over the next five years with a package of specially tailored after-sales solutions after signing a $146 million deal.

For more than 30 years, the RMN has fitted its vessels with engines of the Tognum brand MTU. Currently, around 70 MTU engines are in operation with the naval forces. The new contract will expand the existing, successful cooperation.

The RMN will not only order spare parts for its engines and propulsion systems from the Tognum Group as in the past; the contract also includes future arrangements for maintenance and repair of the systems as well as the training of naval maintenance personnel on propulsion plants and electronic control systems which will be conducted by MTU specialists.

For this purpose, the local, independent distributor, MTU Services Malaysia, and MTU Friedrichshafen will enter a close cooperation.

Around 70 MTU engines are in operation with Malaysia’s naval forces (US DoD)

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SOUTH KOREA

RoKAF pilots will train on Havelsan-sourced, electronic warfare training systems from 2011 (US DoD)

RoKAF to get Turkish training system

opment of the former's K1A1 and K2 tanks.

In April Seoul signed a $97 million deal to purchase Turkish pilot training equipment.

The deal, which was negotiated by the Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA), will see South Korea receive electronic warfare training systems (EWTS) from Turkey's Havelsan by 2011. The DAPA started talks on the deal with Havelsan last September as part of 'reciprocal' defence cooperation between the two countries.

The EWTS will be used to train Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) pilots by simulating hostile threat environments, including missile interceptors, ground-to-air guided rockets, anti-aircraft guns and others.

Seoul and Istanbul have maintained strong ties on defence for several years and there have been a number of defence deals between the two countries. In 2001, South Korea signed a $1 billion license deal over its K-9 self-propelled artillery system with Turkey and in 2007 Korea Aerospace Industries signed a $350 million contract with Turkey to export 55 modified KT-1 Woongbi basic trainers.

Most recently, the two governments signed a $400 million contract on the transfer of tank development technology that will see Seoul help Istanbul to develop a main battle tank by 2015 through the transfer of technologies related to the design and devel-

Ulsan I CIWS contract retendered

48

Seoul’s Defence Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA) reissued a tender to procure close-in weapon systems (CIWSs) for the Republic of Korea’s first batch of Ulsan I class frigates.

The tender for the CIWSs was reissued after only one company, Raytheon tendered for the original contract. The DAPA told reporters that it was hoping to encourage other companies to become involved in the tender.

Under the reissued tender, companies were expected to submit proposals by 9 April.

South Korea looks to boost indigenous defence technology capabilities In April the Ministry of National Defence announced that it plans to make the country’s weapons technology world class by 2014 while working to develop the country’s indigenous technologies by 2024. It also said that simulation-based acquisition system would also be introduced.

At the 34th Defence Project Execution Committee meeting chaired by Defence Minister Lee Sang Hee, the Defence Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) reviewed and approved the plans for a Defence Technology Development

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

Plan that outlines the country’s goals between 2011 and 2025.

The plan is a set of bold steps that include a roadmap for the development of new weapons technologies based on the armed forces’ future capability needs. The plan consists of eight main objectives under a vision to secure, ‘world class defence technology capabilities’ that include the establishment of a defence research and development system to develop indigenous weapons technology by 2024, improving the efficiency of investment on defence research and development and reinforcing research and development infrastructure.

It especially aims to diversify research and development systems by introducing Simulation Based Acquisition and Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration systems to help establish a consolidated management system. The latter is designed to help quickly introduce existing technologies of the civilian sector to the military, and has been put to use by the US since 1994.

The plan also outlines the goals for the development and improvement of eight major weapons systems, including command and communications systems, while also calling for improving the competitiveness of the defence research and development sector by securing new infrastructure and strengthening cooperation between the civilian and military sectors.

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