AMR July August 2014 by Armada International & Asian Military Review

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VOLUME 22/ISSUE 4

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INFANTRY WEAPONS FRIGATES & DESTROYERS AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING SATCOM

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UNMANNED SURFACE VEHICLES AIR DEFENCE UAV DIRECTORY

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Contents JULY/AUGUST 2014 VOLUME 22 / ISSUE 4

14 I Can See For Miles And Miles Asian Military Review editor Thomas Withington takes the temperature of the global Airborne Early Warning market and finds it to be in good health, with demand particularly strong in the Asia-Pacific region.

Front Cover Photo: The open nose of a Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Fighting Falcon multi-role combat aircraft showing its Raytheon Advanced Combat Radar with which it is equipping the same aircraft of the Republic of Korea Air Force, as this month’s Pulse column explains © RACR (Raytheon)

Sanitising The Skies Retired United States Navy Captain and Louisiana based defence journalist Marty Kauchak delves into the world of medium-range ground-based air defence to uncover some interesting programmes in the Asia-Pacific.

Shipshape And Bristol Fashion UK-based naval affairs journalist Edward Hooton takes a detailed look at the myriad of developments in the frigate and destroyer procurement and upgrade markets in the Asia-Pacific.

We Are The Robots Bianca Siccardi, an aviation journalist based in Italy, outlines some of the recent developments in the world of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in the Asian Military Review’s annual UAV Directory.

Pushing The Boat Out United Kingdom-based defence journalist Claire Apthorp explores the Unmanned Surface Vehicles domain and discovers some interesting developments in the Asia-Pacific.

PULSE

Keeping A Low Profile Satellite Communications provide new capabilities for military vehicles, enabling them handle large quantities of communications traffic at vast distances, as Asian Military Review editor Thomas Withington explains.

Brothers In Arms The optical and armament technologies available for infantry troops are moving at a fast pace with numerous new technologies equipping the soldier, as United Kingdombased defence journalist Peter Donaldson finds out.

Thomas Withington, AMR’s editor, provides a digest of the latest developments in the military radar, communications and electronic warfare domains.

JULY/AUGUST 2014

Content & Edit July-Aug 14:AMR

Index of Advertisers AMR DIGITAL AVALON CASSIDIAN EMBRAER EURONAVAL GENERAL ATOMICS GSA SINGAPORE IDEAS PAKISTAN IDEX IMDEX SINGAPORE INDO DEFENCE L3 MMA L3 WECAM LAAD BRAZIL LAND FORCES AUSTRALIA LIMA MALAYSIA LOCKHEED MARTIN MAN DIESEL NARDA NORTHROP GRUMMAN RAYTHEON SAAB SEOUL AIRSHOW TEXTRON THYSSENKRUPP TRIJICON ZHUHAI AIRSHOW

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32 41 5 9 77 39 73 55 57 63 49 13 35 75 COVER 3 71 COVER 2 11 7 45 COVER 4 25 69 19 29 53 67

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Editorial

CARRYING HISTORY’S HEAVY BURDEN

ony Blair, the United Kingdom’s former prime minister and a key supporter of the United States-led 2003 military operation to remove dictator Saddam Hussein and his regime from its control of Iraq declared in mid-June 2014 that it was “absurd” to blame the actions of the US-led coalition in ousting Mr. Hussein as responsible for creating the current crisis in Iraq. The latest twist of this country’s unhappy history has seen the ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) Islamist insurgent group make significant territorial gains in northwestern Iraq and eastern Syria.

The advance of ISIS reached crisis point in June 2014 as the movement’s armed militias occupied several major Iraqi cities and appeared to be threatening the capital Baghdad. Despite training and mentoring from the US armed forces, and the provision of advanced defence equipment, the Iraqi armed forces, particularly the army, has shown itself to be unable to prevent the rapid advanced of ISIS.

Mr. Blair’s comments were greeted with widespread disbelief in the United Kingdom. Claire Short, a former minister for international development in Mr. Blair’s cabinet condemned his comments as “consistently wrong, wrong, wrong.” Such condemnations may have been a factor prompting Mr. Blair to pen an editorial in the Financial Times on 22 June 2014 in which he argued that; “the Iraq of 2014 bears, in part, the imprint of the removal of Saddam Hussein eleven years ago.”

It seems to your editor that the decision to disband the Iraqi military and the country’s security apparatus in May 2003 by the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), the caretaker government of Iraq following the removal of Mr. Hussein misguided at best, and cavalier at worst. This action created a security vacuum that Coalition troops were never able to fully fill. Undoubtedly a very significant number of individuals within the security apparatus had blood on their hands as a result of years of Mr. Hussein’s murderous rule, but the CPA’s main priority after the invasion should have been to establish law and order. Arrests and prosecutions of those responsible for state-sponsored killing and torture should have occurred once the security situation stabilised, much as they did in Germany following the end of the Second World War.

This security vacuum has brought widespread lawlessness which has allowed sectarian hatred, organised crime and corruption to flourish. Iraqi civilians, whom have been slain in their thousands since 2003, must now face the prospect of more bloodshed unless the ISIS can be stopped. Mr. Blair said in March 2003, on the eve of the invasion of Iraq, that he was “prepared to be judged by history,” regarding the rights and wrongs of his decision to support the removal of Saddam Hussein. Ten years after the invasion of Iraq, history appears to be teaching Tony Blair some hard lessons. Thomas Withington, Editor

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PULSE by Thomas Withington to 70 degrees of elevation surveillance. In air search mode, the radar has a range of up to 151 nautical miles (280 kilometres), whereas in weapons location mode it can detect targets at 54nm (100km) range. Up to 1000 tracks can be monitored by the radar in air surveillance mode while, when performing weapons location, circa 100 targets per minute can be monitored. The Giraffe8A can perform air surveillance and ground-based air defence. In X-band, the firm has launched the Giraffe-1X which it dubs a typical short-range air defence radar which can be mounted on a four-wheel drive vehicle. It can be used for camp protection against rocket, artillery and mortar fire. With a range of 40nm (70km) the Giraffe-1X can monitor up to circa 100 air targets or circa 200 surface targets. Using twelve stacked beams, this radar provides elevation coverage of 70 degrees. In the naval domain, the new Sea Giraffe-1X is a three-dimensional Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar performing surface detection and air surveillance, and is intended for small naval combatants given its antenna size of around one square metre (ten square feet). With a range of 54nm (100km), the Alongside the Sea Giraffe-4A, another of the new products Sea Giraffe-1X can monitor circa 100 air targets and 200 surface launched by Saab in May 2014 is the Giraffe-1X mobile air surveillance radar which can perform the tactical detection of air targets. Meanwhile, the new Sea Giraffe-AMB is a three-dimentargets as well as hostile rocket, artillery and mortar fire © Saab sional, C-band radar which can perform medium-range air and surface surveillance. It has an instrumented range of 97nm (180km) and can monitor around 200 air targets and up to 400 surface targets, offering 70 degrees of elevation. Finally the Radar Sea Giraffe-4A 3D radar has a AESA antenna and has Saab unveiled a host of new radars during a been purchased, with deliveries expected to compresentation at the headquarters of the compamence in the 2016, although Saab declined to name ny’s radar business in Gothenburg, on the west customers for the radar. In terms of performance, coast of Sweden on 12 May 2014. The new radars the Sea Giraffe-4A has a range of 189nm (350km) are using Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology for and 70 degrees elevation coverage. Moreover, their semiconductors. This material is particularly both the Giraffe-1X and Sea Giraffe-1X are ready good at tolerating high levels of transmit power for delivery in the 2016 timeframe, and the comamplification and heat which, in performance pany is currently seeking customers. Likewise, terms, equates to longer radar detection ranges and the Giraffe-8A is in industrialisation and could an improved ability to see small targets. be delivered from 2017. The firm launched several new products in the SIn April 2014, the Republic of Korea (RoK) band (2.3-2.5/2.7-3.7 gigahertz/GHz), C-band (5.25announced its intention to purchase up to ten air 5.925GHz) and X-band (8.5-10.68GHz) frequencies. surveillance radars to provide low-altitude cover“We believe that these new products will give us age for the detection of Unmanned Aerial the most complete radar portfolio in the world,” Vehicles (UAVs), according to local press says Anders Linder, the company’s vice presireports. The reports added that the country dent and head of its surface radar solutions is expected to spend up to $191 million on business unit. Saab’s new S-band family of the acquisition. The RoK government radars includes the Giraffe-4A and Giraffehopes to finalise the purchase by the end of 8A ground-based air surveillance, and the 2014, with a view to the deployment of Sea Giraffe-4A naval surveillance systems. The Giraffe-4A is a “true multifunction Saab has made sales of its Sea Giraffe-4A naval the radars from 2015. Although the govradar”, according to Mr. Linder, perform- surveillance radar, which is one of a host of new ernment is yet to commit to a specific ing air surveillance, weapons location and radar products launched by the company in May radar type, local media reports specified sense-and-warn functions. This radar pro- 2014. Deliveries of this radar are expected to that RoK officials had visited Israel apparvides three-dimensional air surveillance commence in 2016, although the customer has ently expressing an interest in that counnot been named © Saab try’s RADA Electronics RPS-42 S-band using 15 stacked beams which provide up

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(2.3-2.5/2.7-3.7 gigahertz) surveillance radar as a possible solution to this requirements. The RPS-42 can detect aerial targets at up to 30000 feet (9144 metres) altitude at a range of circa 16nm (30km). Coverage is achieved using four individual plates mounted in such a fashion so as to deliver 90 degrees of azimuth and 80 degrees of elevation coverage using AESA antennae. Looking towards Europe, the Aeronautica Militare (Italian Air Force) will declare the Initial Operational Capability for its new CARS (Combined Air Operations Centre, Air Operations Centre, Recognised Air Picture Production Centre and Sensor Fusion Post) located at Poggio Renatico air base in northeast Italy by the end of 2014, according to Colonel Arturo Cattel, commander of the Italian Air Operation Centre at the joint Italian Air Force/North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) base. Col. Cattel was speaking during an official visit by the author to the facility in May 2014. The CARS is designed for strategic air operations planning and execution, and for the command of tactical air operations using ThalesRaytheonSystems’ Air Command and Control System (ACCS) hardware and software as its core. The ACCS architecture is being rolled out across NATO’s continental European membership and is replacing a number of diverse legacy national and deployable air command and control systems currently used by the alliance’s membership. ACCS federates a nation’s radar pictures to form a single, national Recognised Air Picture (RAP). For Italy, ACCS will federate radar imagery gathered by multiple civil and military radars including the Italian Air Force’s Selex RAT-31 and Lockheed Martin AN/FPS-117 medium-range ground-based air surveillance radars and the MPR radar located at the Poggio Renatico base, which is earmarked to be replaced by a new RAT-31 radar in 2015. This RAP can in turn be shared at the NATO level with air commanders based at 15 ACCS sites currently in installation and test across

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NATO has procured two Vera-NG passive radars from Czech defence electronics specialists ERA. These radars will equip NATO’s Deployable Air Operations Centre, Recognised Air Picture Production Centre and Sensor Fusion Post © ERA

NATO, with at least ten additional ACCS sites planned in the future. The Italian Air Force expects to declare the Full Operational Capability for the CARS by December 2015. In addition, the base in Italy hosts the ACCS Deployable Air Operations Centre, Recognised Air Picture Production Centre and Sensor Fusion Post (DARS) which can be used to provide the command and control of tactical air defence operations for NATO out-ofarea operations, or for specific events such as a high-level political summit, or a major sporting occasion. The DARS is now operational and has enabled NATO to perform its first deployment of this expeditionary capability to Rivolto airbase, also in northwest Italy in March 2014. In the air domain, Raytheon has provided Pulse with new details regarding its roadmap for the integration of its new Xband Raytheon Advanced Combat Radar or ‘RACR’ (the ‘cover star’ of this issue) onto the Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block50/52 Fighting Falcon Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA). In 2013, the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) selected the RACR to upgrade its 118 F-16C/D aircraft and to replace the Northrop Grumman AN/APG-68 pulse Dopplar radars which they

currently use. The RACR employs an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) and the radar uses architecture developed for the company’s APG-79 and APG-82 radars equipping the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle MRCA respectively. According to Jim Hvizd, vice president of business development for Raytheon’s space and airborne systems business, the first RACR radars will be delivered to BAE Systems, the prime contractor for the overall RoKAF F-16 upgrade, for flight tests in 2016, with Raytheon expected to complete its contract in 2020. In terms of the work that it will undertake as part of the contract, “The scope includes AESA radar integration, production of test assets for the system design and development programme and production of the radar.” Finally, United States radar specialists SpotterRF announced on 20 May 2014 that its new Shield Mobile radar is now available for government and commercial customers. Designed to enhance perimeter security, this X-band radar is intended to supplement security cameras to provide detection of people at ranges of between 130-850m (426-2788ft) depending on the radar model, and vehicles at up to 1500m (4921ft), although Logan Harris, the chief executive officer of SpotterRF, says that “the C550 variant is able to track a small helicopter at a range of 0.8nm (1.5km)”. The Shield Mobile series includes three models, the C20, C40 and the C550, each of which scan their area of interest seven times per second and provide information regarding range, velocity, angle of elevation and bearing. Czech Republic passive radar specialists ERA have been awarded a contract by NATO to supply two of its Vera-NG passive radars to the alliance. The Vera-NG uses Passive Emitter Tracking (PET) and Passive Coherent Location (PCL). The former tracks an aircraft based upon the Radio Frequency (RF) emissions from its Identification Friend or Foe transponder, communications and datalinks, Distance Measuring Equipment/Tactical Air Navigation System, and its surveillance equipment. The process of PET detects these emissions and determines the location of the aircraft by triangulation. The advantage of passive radar is that the radar itself does not have to transmit a pulse to generate an echo from a target. It is this pulse transmission which can betray a radar’s presence to an Electronic Surveillance Measure, or to an anti-radiation missile. The PCL approach tracks disturbances that aerial targets cause to existing RF emissions already in the ether such as television and radio traffic, and cellphone transmissions. Once again, a process of triangulation allows the user to determine the position of the flying object. Vera-NG is capable of performing the three-dimensional detection of air targets across a 360 degree radius. It can then share its target information with other users via the ASTERIX (All Purpose Structured Eurocontrol Surveillance Information Exchange) and AWCIES (Air Command and Control System Wide Common Information Exchanges Standards protocols). On 12 May 2014, NATO signed a contract with ERA to acquire two Vera-NG systems. According to a written statement from the company, the first will be delivered by

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PULSE November 2016, with the second delivery occurring before April 2017. They will be deployed at the Aeronautica Militaire (Italian Air Force) air base at Poggio Renatico in northwest Italy where they will be used as part of the DARS (see above). Kazakhstan is due to receive several new air surveillance radars following an announcement by Thales on 23 May 2014 that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Kazakh defence electronics concern SKTB Granit. The two companies formed a Joint Venture called Granit Thales Electronics in 2012. This joint venture will yield the Kazakh Air Force (KAF) 20 Sband GM-403 transportable variants of the GM-400 radar. Available in the mobile GM-403 and fixed GM-406 versions, the radar has a range of 250nm (470km). All 20 radars are expected to be delivered by 2025 to the KAF. Details are scant regarding the radars currently used by the KAF to be replaced by the GM-403s, although it is thought that they could supersede the P-18 twodimensional Very High Frequency (VHF-133-144/216-225 megahertz) radars used for air surveillance which have a range of 135nm (250km), and a 114829ft (35000m) ceiling with up to 15 degrees of elevation.

Tactical Radio

United States-based defence electronics specialist Exelis was awarded on 10 April 2014 for a five-year indefinite quantity, indefinite supply contract to furnish the US Army with radio appliqués to run the Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW). The contract was awarded by the US Army Contracting Command. The SRW is one of several waveforms which will equip the new tactical radio architecture being rolled out across the US Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps as part of the extensively-restrucPakistan’s National Radio and Telecom Corporation is upgrading several tured Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) initiative. The SRW will thousand AN/PRC-77 Very High Frequency man-portable tactical radios. This work is being done for the armies of Pakistan and Saudi be delivered in the form of the company’s SideHat product. Arabia © Wikimedia Commons SideHat is a hardware enhancement which can outfit existing vehicle, hand-held, airborne and manpack VHF radios carrying the Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCArmée de Terre (French Army). The RIF-NG forms a key part of the GARS) waveform. SideHat enables these radios to carry voice, FELIN (Fantassin à Équipement et Liaisons Intégrés/Integrated imagery and data traffic across Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Infantryman Equipment and Communications) soldier system bands of 225-450 megahertz (MHz) and across the L-band. The being rolled out across the force, which is also produced by Sagem. SideHat carries the SRW 1.1.1.1 software release. According to The RIF-NG, which is an upgrade of the legacy RIF system origiTim White, communications director for Exelis’ night vision and nally accompanying the FELIN ensemble, is a UHF radio operating communications solutions, this allows SINCGARS-equipped in the 800MHz frequency band, and the company is delivering up radios to use “a secure second channel solution capable of runto 15,000 examples as part of the FELIN programme. The improvening the Exelis-developed SRW”. The contract will run for five ments currently being performed by Sagem will see the radio’s years, with one additional five-year option. However, Mr. White range being increased to circa 1.4km (0.8 miles), as opposed to the adds that at the time of writing (June 2014) “the specific numbers 0.8km (0.5 miles) range of the previous RIF system, and the ability or quantities (of the SideHats covered by this conof the radio to act as a relay to extend an Sagem is tract) to be delivered are unknown at this time.” infantry’s squad’s communications coverage. In Looking towards Europe, defence electronics addition, the company is installing RIF-NG sets delivering new specialists Sagem of France is delivering new RIFinto French Army Nexter VBCI (Véhicule Blindé RIF-NG Personal NG (Réseau d’Information du Fantassin de de Combat d’Infanterie/Armoured Infantry Role Radios to Nouvelle Génération/New Generation Infantry Fighting Vehicles) and VAB (Véhicule de l’Avant Information Network) Personal Role Radios to the the French Army Blindé/Armoured Vanguard Vehicle) platforms,

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PULSE

BAE Systems’ AN/ALE-47 countermeasures dispenser is seen here adorning a United States Navy Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft and will equip the Bell Helicopter AH-1S helicopter gunships of the Republic of Korea Army © US Navy

to allow communications between a squad of FELIN-equipped troops and the vehicle itself. Both the FELIN squad commander and the vehicles perform communications with higher echelons of command using their Thales PR4G F@stNet handheld and vehicular VHF radios. Military telecommunications specialists were well represented at the 2014 Defence and Security Asia (DSA) exhibition in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur during April 2014. NRTC (National Radio and Telecom Corporation) of Pakistan is updating the AN/PRC-77 Very High Frequency man-portable tactical radio with a new back end which will give the radio another 15 years of life, according to representatives of the firm speaking to Pulse at the exhibition. Modifications being performed on this radio by the company include the ability for it to handle between 19 and 65 kilobits-per-second of data and provide up to 1840 channels at 25 kilohertz-per-channel. Although NTRC provides proprietary encryption for the radio, users can add their own encryption if so desired. Currently, the firm is delivering upgraded AN/PRC-77s to the Pakistan Army, with over 10000 supplied to date, from a total order size of 33000 transceivers. It says that it can upgrade up to 1000 radios per year. In addition to the order from Pakistan, NTRC is supplying up to 7000 upgraded PRC-77s to the Saudi Arabian armed forces, with a contract to this effect recently signed. Deliveries to the kingdom are expected to be completed within the next five years. Beyond Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, the company adds that it is seeing interest in the upgraded AN/PRC-77 from Indonesia. US-based defence communications specialists Harris have

unveiled several new airborne radios, two of which, the RF-7850AUA and RF-7850A-MR, are geared towards international markets. The RF-7850A-UA Unmanned Aircraft Radio is designed to equip Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and offers both wideband and narrowband VHF/UHF communications in the 30512MHz range. Offering voice and data communications, the wideband characteristics of the RF-7850A-UA enable the radio to transmit video imagery to users on the ground, given that the radio can offer up to 1.2MHz of channel bandwidth. The radio allows UAVs to act as a communications relay for troops on the ground. The RF-7850A-UA offers combat-proven Citadel/AES encryption. By contrast, inhabited aircraft for nations outside the United States use Harris’ RF-7850A-MR Airborne Multi-channel Radio. This product is believed to be the first airborne radio to offer two simultaneous channels for voice and data. The dualchannel capability allows air crews to communicate with both ground forces and commanders at the same time. This is a multiband radio with Citadel encryption, offering access to both VHF and UHF frequencies for narrowband and wideband communications and channel bandwidths of up to 1.2MHz. The radio operates the Harris Adaptive Networking Wideband Waveform. According to Jim Kaszubowski, product line manager for international airborne radios at the company, “These radios are designed with the proven technology that we have used in our Falcon III family of radios for land forces. We have used a common core for the development of all of these radios.” As a result, Harris is able to migrate technology from platform to platform inexpensively. “These radios will be upgraded and modernised in lock-step with the radios which we produce for land forces.”

Electronic Warfare

US defence electronics specialist ATK was awarded a contract in early May 2014 to equip the Republic of Korea Army’s Bell Helicopter AH-1S Cobra attack helicopters with the company’s AAR-47 Missile Approach Warning System and BAE Systems’ AN/ALE-47 countermeasures dispenser. According to Bill Kasting, vice president and general manager of ATK Defense Electronic Systems, installation of the first of these systems will commence by October 2014. In terms of the completion of the installation, Mr. Kasting continues that the “contract period of performance is one year from the contract award on 16 April 2014, and ATK’s scope of work will include installation, integration, test, certification and logistics support.” The baseline AN/AAR-47 uses infrared sensing to detect an incoming missile’s exhaust, although later versions incorporate a laser warning sensor (AN/AAR47(V)2), ultraviolet light detection (AN/AAR-47A(V)2) and the ability to detect incoming Rocket Propelled Grenades and tracer fire (AN/AAR-47B(V)2). The AN/ALE-47 can be used alongside the AN/AAR-47 family, along with several other products, as well as a range of radar and laser warning receivers and jammers. Other AN/AAR-47 operators in the Asia-Pacific region include Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan.

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AIRBORNE

EARLY

WARNING

Beyond the Airborne Early Warning platforms offered by manufacturers in the United States, Saab’s Erieye radar has sold well around the world, equipping a wide range of countries and an array of turboprop and turbofan transports © Saab Group

I CAN SEE FOR MILES AND MILES Never before has the customer enjoyed such an enviable choice as regards Airborne Early Warning aircraft. Procurements and upgrades of such planes and helicopters are ongoing in several areas around the world, including the Asia-Pacific.

by Thomas Withington

ne key factor is driving forward the market for Airborne Early Warning (AEW) aircraft. Chiefly, they are being purchased on the back of new Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) acquisitions. It is one thing having a fleet of shiny new MRCAs, but quite another to have the ability to command and direct these aircraft to targets in the air and on the ground. In a nut-

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shell, an AEW platform allows the management of the air campaign and the detection of threats at range. The AsiaPacific according to Avascent, a consultancy based in Washington DC, is potentially the biggest market for new AEW aircraft in the next few years accounting for twothirds of all AEW spending by 2020. To this end, the company expects the global AEW market to grow from $1.2 billion annually in 2014 to $1.9 billion by 2020.

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India

In May 2014 local press reports in India stated that the country’s air force would complete its solicitation of bids from vendors to satisfy a requirement for new AEW aircraft by July 2014. India’s Centre for Airborne Systems, part of its Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), launched the tender for the new aircraft in March 2014. The DRDO is supplying the aircraft’s radar which will be placed in a ten metre (32 feet) diameter radome atop of the aircraft’s fuselage. Essentially India is seeking six aircraft to accommodate the radar and has invited several companies to tender for the procurement including Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Dassault, Saab and the United Aircraft Corporation of Russia. The winning design could enter service with the DRDO’s new radar in the 20202025 timeframe to complete the Indian Air Force’s (IAF’s) desired 20-strong AEW fleet intended to provide full surveillance of the country’s air approaches. Currently the IAF uses six Beriev A-50EI planes outfitted with the Israel Aerospace Industries

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EARLY Elta Systems L-band (1.215-1.4 gigahertz) EL/W-2090 Phalcon AEW radar. Beyond the tendering process which is expected to conclude in July 2014, the country is in the process of installing a second AEW system onboard three Embraer EMB-145J airliners which it has purchased. This S-band (2.3-2.5/2.7-3.7 gigahertz) radar will have a range of up to 162 nautical miles (300 kilometres) according to according to DRDO officials with whom the author conversed at the 2013 Korea Aerospace and Defence Exhibition.

Israel

The L-band Phalcon radar is not the only AEW radar product in the Elta Systems stable. Other wares include the L-band and S-band EL/W-2085 radar which provides full 360-degree coverage using Lband antennae positioned on the nose and tail of the aircraft, and S-band antennae on each side of the fuselage. The Aeronautica Militaire (Italian Air Force) has ordered two EL/W-2085 radars onboard the same number of Gulftstream G550 business jet, both of which are expected to be delivered to Italy by late 2015. Israel also operates the G550-EL/W-2085 combination and has four aircraft to this end. Business jets such

as the G550 are becoming attractive for AEW operators as they offer high performance speed, altitude and range, and high levels of crew comfort on long sorties, thus aiding concentration.

Swedish Sensibility

Brazil is one user of Saab’s S-band 280nm (450km) Erieye AEW radar. In May 2014 it was reported that the Força Aérea Brasileira (Brazilian Air Force) has received the first of five of its AEW aircraft, designated locally as Embraer E-99, which have been cycled through an upgrade to improve the radar’s signal processing via software enhancements. Once the aircraft have been upgraded they are returned to service and re-designated as the E-99M. The aircraft will soon be pressed into service providing air surveillance for the World Cup football finals

In May 2014 press reports stated that India would soon complete it solicitation of bids for new AEW platforms

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which Brazil is hosting from June 2014. All five aircraft are expected to complete the upgrade by 2017. Several Erieye radars are in service around the world notably with Brazil, Greece, Mexico, Pakistan, Sweden, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. The radar uses an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) comprising hundreds of Transmit/Receive (T/R) modules which enables it to perform a wide array of missions simultaneously, given that these T/R modules can be individually tasked to perform specific functions such as air-to-air and air-to-surface surveillance. Erik Winberg, responsible for marketing and sales of the Erieye radar at Saab, says that the company has one standard baseline design for the Erieye design which is continually improved, “by using the concept of spiral development … This process ensures that each customer obtains the latest technologies and that each subsystem remains mature.” One interesting dimension to Saab’s design philosophy, as far as the Erieye is concerned, is the use of a comparatively small airframe rather than the larger airliner and freighter airframes used by some of the company’s competitors. “(The radar is designed) to be used with medium size

Israel’s EL/W-2090 Airborne Early Warning radar outfits the Gulftstream G550 aircraft operated by the Israeli Air Force. Italy has also procured this aircraft and will take delivery of two planes © Thomas Withington

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The United States Navy is now taking delivery of the Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Airborne Early Warning aircraft which is equipped with the Lockheed Martin AN/APY-9 radar © Northrop Grumman

regional commuter-type airliners,” intended to minimise the customer’s operating costs, Mr. Winberg continues. Secondly, Saab’s home country of Sweden and its sparse population has had a further influence on the Erieye’s design philosophy: “Sweden is a small country with a small population. This means that we have to design smart solutions with high performance requiring only few people to operate and maintain. We call it ‘small footprint’ both with regards to organisational needs as well as operating costs.” Saab has been the dominant European provider of AEW platforms since the debut of its Erieye radar. However, Airbus is promoting its airborne early warning product based upon the company’s C-295 turboprop freighter equipped with an Elta Systems radar housed in a radome above the aircraft’s fuselage. Flight tests commenced in 2011 using a C-295 equipped with a radome and representative weights to mimic the radar’s installation. However, over the last year few reports have emerged regarding this initiative, and it is entirely possible that it may be stationary pending a customer which can bring the funds required to complete the radar’s installation, and testing onboard the aircraft, prior to its entry into service.

All-American AEW

Of course one of the most famous names in AEW is ‘AWACS’, translated as the Airborne Warning and Control System, which gave the United States Air Force (USAF), North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Armeé de l’Air (AdlA/French Air Force) a quantum leap in their abilities to detect hostile aircraft and to command and control air operations during the later stages of the Cold War. Since then the AN/APY-1/2 series of

Saab has been the dominant European provider of AEW platforms since the debut of its Erieye radar

radars which these aircraft accommodate have furnished other air forces not in such close proximity to the East-West Cold War cauldron with its Central European focal point, but with their own important security concerns nonetheless. To this end, Saudi Arabia and Japan followed the example of their Western allies, with the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) procuring the Boeing KE-

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3A, itself based on that company’s 707 airliner outfitted with Northrop Grumman’s S-band AN/SPY-1 radar. The E-3 series of aircraft which carry the AN/SPY-1/2 radar family are in service around the world in several combinations. The USAF and RAF both use the E3C; although confusingly the RAF also designate their aircraft as the E-3D. The AdlA have followed the RAF’s example, operating the E-3C, but designating the aircraft the E-3F. In addition to its E-3C platforms, the USAF also operates some E-3Bs, while the Japan Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) operates the Boeing E-767 which, unsurprisingly, is based on the company’s 767 airliner. Both KE-3A and E-3B aircraft have the AN/SPY-1 radar, while the E-3C uses the AN/SPY-2. Both radars are housed in the same distinctive mushroom-shaped radomes and have a range in the order of 215nm (400km). Moreover, both radars have been upgraded through the joint NATO/USAF Radar Sustainability Improvement Programme (RSIP). The RSIP adds commercial off-theshel computing components to the radar’s back end, alters some of the radar’s software language and improves its resistance to countermeasures, along with quickening its brain through enhance-

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EARLY ments to its signal processing. The RSIP is an important initiative, given that many E-3 customers expect their aircraft to continue service up to circa 2035. Northrop Grumman is leading the RSIP which will be completed by the end of 2015 with the final improvements being rolled out across the Saudi KE-3A fleet, with the AdlA, JASDF, NATO, RAF and USAF aircraft having already been augmented with the RSIP. Eventually, the AN/SPY-1/2 family may be replaced by Northrop Grumman’s L-band MESA (Multi-Role Electronically Scanned Array) radar which adorns Boeing’s 737-700 AEW platform. One attraction of using an L-band radar, according to official company literature, is that it is said to retain an improved performance in rain compared to other similar radars operating in higher bandwidths. The MESA is an altogether different crea-

ture from its predecessor, with the radar positioned in an elongated fairing above the fuselage resembling an avant garde dining table as opposed to a mushroom. For air-to-air work the radar has a published range of 324nm (600km) and 200nm (370km) for surface surveillance (many AEW radars can spot targets on the high seas as well as in the air), and the wherewithal to track up to 180 targets, while performing 24 intercepts. To date, several customers have purchased the MESA/737-700 ensemble including the Royal Australian Air Force which has six on order, the Turkish Air Force (four aircraft) and the Republic of Korea Air Force (ditto); the latter is expected to obtain its last aircraft in 2015. Although it is entering service, potential modifications are in the pipeline for the MESA radar. These include ensuring that its Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) sec-

Like the Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye series of Airborne Early Warning aircraft, Boeing’s E-3 family of Airborne Warning and Control System planes have sold well around the world, with several recently completing a major upgrade of their Northrop Grumman AN/APY-1/2 radars © USAF

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ondary radar is compatible with the forthcoming NATO and International Civil Aviation Administration Mode-5 and Mode-S IFF and Air Traffic Management protocols. Future modifications to this end could take the form of radar software modifications, and some changes to the radar’s hardware. Much as the E-3 family has sold well around the world, the same can be said of Northrop Grumman’s E-2C Hawkeye series. Although originally designed to provide AEW for United States Navy aircraft carriers, the Hawkeye has since been procured by a number of air forces and navies for use on land as well as at sea. At the heart of the E-2C is Lockheed Martin’s Ultra High Frequency (UHF/420430/890-942 megahertz)) AN/APS-145 radar which has a range of 297nm (550km). The E-2C is in service with the Egyptian Air Force, Marine Nationale

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A NATO Boeing E-3A AWACS aircraft is seen here resplendent in a livery celebrating 25 years of NATO’s AWACS operations © Wikimedia Commons

(French Navy), JASDF and the Republic of China Air Force (see below). In May 2013, Taiwan took delivery of its last two upgraded E-2T planes. Taiwan’s Hawkeye fleet is six aircraft strong. It includes four E-2Ts and a pair of E-2Ks. The upgrade of the four E-2Ts commenced in 2008 with the intention of taking the aircraft to the same status as the E2K. In the bewildering world of AEW aircraft and radar designations, the E-2K Hawkeye aircraft have a specification broadly analogous to the US Navy’s E-2C Hawkeye-2000. The latter service is now moving towards the induction of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, the latest configuration of the aircraft. The decision to commence the Full Rate Production of the aircraft was taken in February 2013, and will eventually yield the US Navy 75 aircraft by 2023 with 20 already constructed. An initial operational capability is expected to be declared for the E-2D in 2015. The key change for the E-2D is the new Lockheed Martin AN/APY-9 UHF radar replacing the AN/APS-145 used by legacy E-2 examples. According to published company sources, the AN/APY-9 can gaze at almost twice the area of the AN/APS-145, and has a sharper eye for anti-ship missiles and other such small targets, helped in no small part by the AESA antenna which the AN/APY-9 employs.

The United Kingdom’s Project Crowsnest will procure a new AEW solution for the Royal Navy’s forthcoming two ‘Queen Elizabeth’ class aircraft carriers. This will replace the service’s existing AgustaWestland Sea King ASaC (Airborne Surveillance and Control) Mk.7 helicopters, twelve of which serve with the Fleet Air Arm’s 849 Naval Air Squadron, and all of which use the Thales X-band (8.5-10.68 gigahertz) Searchwater radar. By the end of the decade the Royal Navy hopes to have its new AEW capability in service in the form of a mission system which can be installed onboard the Senior Service’s AgustaWestland Merlin HM2 maritime support helicopters. The UK

Ministry of Defence is expected to take the decision whether or not to commit to the investment necessary to procure the Project Crowsnest mission system in circa 2017 and could spend up to $782 million on the procurement. Coincidentally, the Searchwater radar is used by the three Sikorsky SH-3H helicopters employed by the Armada Española (Spanish Navy) to provide AEW coverage for the fleet’s SPS Juan Carlos-I amphibious support ship, while the Marina Militaire (Italian Navy) uses Selex’s HEW-748 radar to equip its four AgustaWestland AW-101 maritime support helicopters so outfitted to perform this mission. Both navies may well watch the UK’s actions closely regarding Project Crowsnest and may have similar requirements in the future. Other countries in the market for new AEW aircraft include Malaysia with local media reports noting that the country may eventually purchase up to four planes. Beyond the Asia-Pacific, the United Arab Emirates is known to have a desire for new AEW aircraft to supplement the Erieyeequipped Saab 340 turboprop transports that its air force already operates, although there is no word on when this acquisition could take place, or how many aircraft it could comprise.

Rotary AEW

New procurements are in the offing. Although covered only sparsely in this article (due to space considerations), the AEW domain includes helicopters outfitted with radars to perform this mission.

One of the world’s best-selling Airborne Early Warning aircraft is Northrop Grumman’s E-3C Hawkeye which is equipped with Lockheed Martin’s AN/APS-145 radar and is in service with Egypt, France, Japan, Taiwan and the United States © US Navy

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AIR DEFENCE

SANITIZING THE SKIES Enhanced and new medium-range Surface-toAir Missiles (SAMs) are entering service in the orders of battles of nations in the AsiaPacific and United States forces forward deployed across the region. There is also a US-led effort to integrate the region’s SAMs into common operating environments.

by Marty Kauchak

s the region’s air defence missile programmes evolve, new weapons are vying to obtain a foothold in this sector. The medium-range SAM missile market’s evolution is providing opportunities for regional defence companies. There are more than 200 Raytheon MIM-104 Patriot fire units deployed in twelve nations around the globe including the Republic of Korea (RoK), Japan and Taiwan. New and enhanced Patriot missile systems will provide defence of critical assets and manoeuvre forces against aircraft, cruise missiles and tactical ballistic missiles for these nations well into the next decade. Roopa Bhide, director for communications and advertising at Raytheon’s Integrated Defence Systems business, told the Asian Military Review that beyond the aggregate number of fire units reported in service, Raytheon does not disclose the number of units for its individual customers or in a specific region. Raytheon is the prime contractor for both domestic and international Patriot Air and Missile Defence Systems and system integrator for Lockheed Martin’s Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC)-3 SAMs. The PAC-3 missile forms a key part of Raytheon’s MIM-104F Patriot configuration. A 12 April 2012 NATO Fact Sheet lists the PAC-3 system’s specifications for countering ballistic missiles and other airborne threats as possessing a 13 nautical mile (25 kilometre) range, a 65617 feet (20000 metre) plus ceiling with a speed of 2700 knots (5000 kilometres-per-hour).

RoK And Taiwan

The RoK currently has 48 PAC-2 missiles (the PAC-2 is used by the MIM-104C/D Patriot configuration) supplied by Germany, and plans to add additional PAC-3 missiles. An RoK Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA) briefing on 12 March 2014 indicated that the country will also upgrade its fire control system to make it capable of firing both types of missiles. Dan Garcia, of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control’s international business development office, said via email that his business is supporting the DAPA feasibility study for the Configuration-3/PAC-3 upgrades to the nation’s existing Patriot equipment. “Lockheed Martin has provided the RoK government with information regarding the PAC-3’s increased lethality. The PAC-3 hit-to-kill capability is critical to defeating missiles armed with nuclear, chemical or biological warheads. Earlier this month, in March 2014, the DAPEC (Defence Acquisition Programme Executive Committee) decided to formally proceed with the Patriot Upgrade programme and procurement of PAC-3 missiles.” As this article was submitted for publication (in June 2014), The RoK’s request to upgrade its PAC-2 systems to a PAC-3 configuration through a US Foreign Military Sale had not been presented to the US government. Lockheed Martin also announced on 12 August 2013 that it remains on contract to deliver an unspecified number of PAC-3 missiles to Taiwan as part of an aggregate order of 168 missiles and related materiel for that nation and the US.

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Raytheon's MIM-104 Patriot surface-toair missile system is used widely around the Asia-Pacific region to provide protection against air-breathing threats and also, increasingly, for Ballistic Missile Defence © Raytheon

Japan and the US have maintained security arrangements based on Article Six of the Japan-US security treaty that stipulates that Japan and the US will take bilateral action in the event of armed attack. Scott Stuart, the vice president of integrated air and missile defence multi-national programmes at Raytheon’s Integrated

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New and enhanced Patriot missile systems will provide defence of critical assets well into the next decade

Defence Systems business, noted in an email that in support of this alliance, Japan has maintained Patriot weapon systems to provide a lower-tier defence shield for its population and critical assets that is configured to be interoperable with US forces in Japan. “The US/Japan alliance utilises the strength of the US in addition to main-

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taining adequate self-defence forces to provide the deterrence required to maintain a region of security. Raytheon’s relationships throughout the Asia-Pacific area are superb and we continue to work closely with the US to provide technical support for the Patriot system,” Mr. Stuart added. MHI (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries,

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Ltd) is the prime contractor for the Patriot system in Japan and manufactures the Guidance Enhanced Missile (GEM), the beefed-up version of the PAC-2 missile for the MIM-104D Patriot configuration, and related ground equipment for Japan under a license agreement with Raytheon. With respect to PAC-3 missile production, Mr. Garcia was asked about new opportunities for industry partners in the Asia-Pacific. He responded that “Lockheed Martin is always looking for opportunities for industrial participation. We currently have near-term interest for PAC-3 in the Middle East, East Asia and Europe.” A significant Patriot technical upgrade which is increasing the system’s lethality against current and projected air threats is the installation of Patriot PDB-7 software release. One major upgrade is the new Radar Digital Processor with a ruggedised commercial off-the-shelf processor. The enhancement increases the reliability of the digital processing system and related analogue components by ten-fold, resulting in a predicted 40 percent increase in overall radar reliability for the system’s accompanying Raytheon AN/MPQ-53/65 air surveillance and fire control radar which accompanies the Patriot system. More importantly, it enables future capabilities through software upgrades, including improved target detection and identification, multifunction surveillance and the full support of advanced PAC-3 missile enhancements. For its part, the US Army includes an unspecified number of Patriot fire units as part of its broader, forward-deployed, ballistic missile defence presence in the western Asia-Pacific region. The 94th US Army Air and Missile Defence Command (AAMDC) has theatre-wide responsibility for one Air Defence Artillery Brigade, three Patriot Battalions, one Lockheed Martin THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defence) battery and currently one Raytheon AN/TPY-2 radar detachment in Japan with a second radar deploying to Japan based on an announced agreement in late 2013. The AN/TPY-2 is a high resolution, mobile, rapidly deployable, X-band (8.510.68 Gigahertz) radar capable of provid-

Lockheed Martin is supporting the Republic of Korea’s Defence Acquisition Programme Administration’s feasibility study for Patriot Advanced Capability-3 upgrades to the nation’s existing Patriot equipment © Lockheed Martin

ing long-range acquisition, precision track, and discrimination of short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. THAAD is a key element of the US Ballistic Missile Defence System designed to protect troops and infrastructure against short- and medium-range ballistic missiles. Elsewhere in this sector, on 13 September 2013, the Singapore Ministry of Defence confirmed MBDA-Thales’ Eurosam Aster 30 Medium-Range SAMP/T (Surface-toAir Missile Platform/Terrain) had been selected to replace six batteries’ worth of Raytheon MIM-23 I-HAWK SAMs. Whereas the current US-made I-Hawk system has a maximum effective range of 22nm (40km), the Aster 30 will provide a

The Singapore Ministry of Defence has confirmed the selection of MBDA-Thales’ Eurosam Aster 30 Medium-Range SAMP/T to replace the Raytheon MIM-23 I-HAWK l

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range of 38nm (70km) for jet aircraft. The Aster 30 will complement the island nation military’s Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Spyder SR (Short-Range) Air Defence System which has a range of eight nautical miles (15km).

Asian Industrial Presence

A new entry in this market is Diehl Defence’s IRIS-T SLM (Surface-Launched Medium-range) SAM. The programme’s early linkage to the Asia-Pacific includes an Australian company on the industry team and that nation’s Defence Department for programme development support. On 14 January 2014, Diehl Defence successfully demonstrated its IRIS-T SLM in the presence of international experts and military representatives from 16 nations at the Overberg Test Range in South Africa. The IRIS-T SLM Ground Based Air Defence System is characterised by its modular design and open system architecture. In the current testing campaign, the IRIS-T SLM consisted of the new CEAFAR radar from CEA Technologies, Australia, a Tactical Operation Centre employing both the BMD-Flex command, control and communication system from Denmark’s

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S Terma and the Oerlikon Skymaster battle management system from Switzerland’s Rheinmetall Air Defence, as well as the IRIS-T SL launching station with Diehl Defence missiles. All elements were integrated into the system by Diehl Defence. The IRIS-T SLM demonstration firing was supported by the German Ministry of Defence and the Australian Department of Defence. Close to 90 visitors from around the world witnessed the live firing demonstration inside the test range control centre, and were informed in detail about the operational capabilities and the technical details of the ground-based air defence system during the test campaign. Charles Weston, the director of Public Relations at Diehl Defence, told AMR through an email exchange that the next system performance demonstration will be conducted early 2015 on customer request. Dr. Weston was asked whether additional Asia-Pacific industrial participation is envisioned for the programme. He responded that “CEA Technologies’ CEFAR radar is a possible multi-function radar solution for the IRIS-T SLM. However, depending on customer

requirements, other partners are feasible as well,” he responded. The IRIS-T SLM features 360-degree, omni-directional, multitarget capability, effective against a wide target spectrum (aircraft and missiles) up to 65617ft (20000m) in altitude. Dr.Weston further added that “the range of the IRIS-T SLM ground-based air defence system lies between 16nm (30km) and (40km).” As a shortlist of Asian industry participation in this sector includes MHI on the MIM-104 team and CEA Technologies in the IRIS program, China’s CPMIEC (China Precision Machinery Import-Export Corporation) is making an assertive effort to strengthen its position in the international arms bazaar. On 26 September 2013 NATO member Turkey stunned the defence community by announcing its selection of CPMIEC HQ-9 (specifically the FT-2000 export variant) to help it develop its SAM missile and ballistic missile defence programme. Since the September 2013 announcement, Turkey has put on hold its formal acquisition of the active radar-homing SAM which has a range of up to 108nm (200km), a maxi-

On 13 September 2013, the Singapore Ministry of Defence confirmed that the Eurosam Aster 30 medium-range SAMP/T had been selected to replace six batteries’ worth of Raytheon MIM-23 I-HAWK Surface-to-air missiles © MBDA

JULY/AUGUST 2014

A new entry in the medium-range air defence sector is Diehl Defence’s IRIS-T SLM surface-toair missile. The programme’s early linkage to the Asian region includes an Australian company on the industry team © Diehl Defence

mum altitude of 98425ft (30000m) and a Mach-4.2 top speed. Turkey’s Ministry of Defence and the military attaché’s office at the nation’s Washington DC embassy declined to respond to this author’s phone call and email requesting an update on this acquisition development.

Tying It Together

Alliances and partnerships in the AsiaPacific lag behind their counterparts in Europe and the Middle East in integrating their nations’ missile programmes into networks and supporting command and control structures. Initiatives in the AsiaPacific region are bolstering these readiness shortfalls. US Army Lieutenant Colonel Eric Bloom, the director of media operations at the US Pacific Command (PACOM), told AMR through an email exchange that his command works closely with its joint and combined partners through real-world crisis response, exercises, bi-lateral training opportunities and joint basing. One bilateral training effort occurs at the McGregor Range, New Mexico, which is part of the US Army Air Defence Artillery Centre and Fort Bliss, Texas. The training readiness event allows Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF) units and staff to test-fire Patriot, the Kato/Mitsubishi Electric Type-3 Chu-

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SAM medium-range air defence system and other air defence artillery weapons in an unfettered manner that would not be possible in that nation’s confined airspace. The Type-3 Chu-SAM is replacing the force’s legacy HAWK batteries, and complements the Patriot in the nation’s air defence network. Lt. Col. Bloom continued, “All of PACOM’s services conduct extensive training coordination with our partners in the region that build upon our relationship and improve interoperability.

These exercises and real world events provide opportunities for relationship-building and fostering trust.” In the area of Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD), PACOM is pursuing the establishment of an IAMD Centre of Excellence (COE) similar to what has been established in US European Command and US Central Command. Lt. Col. Bloom pointed out the COE creates a venue that allows for focused training and coordination amongst US allies and partners. “This

The Japan Ground Self-Defence Force fires the eighth and last Type-3 Chu-SAM surface-to-air missile concluding a recent annual service practice at the McGregor Range in New Mexico. The realisation of the Type-3 Chu-SAM has included local firms Kato Works Ltd. and Mitsubishi Electric © US DoD

Alliances and partnerships in the Asia-Pacific lag behind their counterparts elsewhere in integrating their nations’ missile programmes into networks and supporting command and control structures, such as this event enhancing US-United Arab Emirates air defence integration © US DoD

forum allows for a more detailed discussion on the improving technical challenges associated with partner interoperability as well establishing a common understanding for multi-lateral operations. In the end, the PACOM IAMD COE leverages subject matter expertise and senior leader engagement to define shared goals and efforts and increase interoperability,” he added. Beyond enhancements in training and systems integration, US PAC-3 units will remain an important part of the air defence component regarding the US ‘Pacific Pivot’ foreign policy realignment of the administration of President Barack Obama. Lt. Col. Bloom noted the THAAD battery deployment to Guam in 2013 is one example of the increase in regional capability. He continued, “The deployment of a second AN/TPY-2 radar to Japan is another. Continuing improvements to our Patriot force also highlight the importance and emphasis placed on the air and missile defence mission. Upgrades to our PAC-3 radars, hardware and software, training devices, and missile enhancements keep our Air Defence units modernised and ready.”

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FRIGATES AND DESTROYERS

SHIPSHAPE AND BRISTOL FASHION The prime surface combatants in modern navies are destroyers and frigates but these terms can be ‘flexible’, as while both ship types are distinctive yet complementary, they are indispensable for today’s maritime forces.

by Edward Hooton

apan’s ‘Izumo’ class ships, whose lead example was launched in August 2013, follows the official description of the ‘Hyuga’ class as a ‘helicopter-capable destroyer’, but most navies would agree with industry bible Jane’s Fighting Ships which describe both ship classes as ‘helicopter

carriers’. The destroyer was originally what would now be described as a standoff attack Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW) platform using torpedoes. It then became more of a fleet escort vessel to shield larger surface combatants, such as aircraft carriers, increasingly for the Anti-Air Warfare (AAW) role. The ASuW role became a sec-

ondary one together with Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Naval Gunfire Support (NGS) for troops ashore. Descriptions of modern surface combatants are flexible and generic because they reflect not only a navy’s requirements but a country’s industrial and economic posture. The modern (post-1980) Asia-Pacific destroyer tends to be a vessel with a fullload displacement of 3900-10500 tons and between 133 and 166 metres (436-544 feet) in length at the water line. It is primarily an AAW platform with a Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) system capable of providing area defence at ranges of 30-90 nautical miles (56-167 kilometres). For the ASuW role it now has a surface-to-surface missile system augmented by a heavy calibre (76127mm) gun which is the prime NGS weapon while for ASW role it embarks one or two helicopters augmented by shipmounted lightweight torpedo launchers. The sensors will usually be air and surface

The Republic of Singapore Navy’s ‘Formidable’ class frigates have been designed to reduce their radar, acoustic, visual and infrared signatures, be means of hull-shaping technologies that are increasingly being used on warships throughout the AsiaPacific region © DCNS

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Along with the Royal Australian Navy, the Royal New Zealand Navy operates the ‘Anzac’ class frigate. These ships are outfitted with Saab’s Sea Giraffe radar which provide the vessels with air and surface surveillance © Saab

surveillance radars augmented by a hullmounted active sonar.

Ship Definitions

The frigate emerged during the 20th century as a sea lanes escort vessel, primarily as an ASW platform with secondary AAW and NGS roles. It has since received a significant ASuW capability through the antiship Surface-to-Surface Missile (SSM) making it a mini-destroyer acting as a multi-role escort vessel for both major surface combatants and merchantmen. Modern Asia-Pacific frigates have displacements of 2000-6300 tons and are 102143m (334-469ft) long at the waterline and, given their ASW background, can augment hull-mounted sonars with towed array or variable depth sensors together with helicopters and torpedo launchers. Towed array sensors are more effective in ocean-going or ‘blue water’ environments with passive towed arrays operated by Japan’s ‘Abukuma’ class destroyers and the Republic of Korea’s (RoK) later ‘Incheon’ class frigates, while complex littoral or ‘green water’ environments are best suited for variable depth sonars such as those selected for India’s ‘Talwar’ class

and Singapore’s ‘Formidable’ class frigates; indeed the last is the only modern frigate class with no hull-mounted sensor. Towed array sonars with an active capability have been selected for India’s ‘Shivalik’ class and for Taiwan’s ‘Cheng Kung’ and ‘Kang Ding’ frigate classes. Frigates usually have 76mm guns, although Malaysia’s ‘Leiku’ class have only a 57mm gun, and a local-area, 5-7nm (9-13km) SAM system. Destroyers tend to be ‘blue water’ ships in navies with major mercantile interests who need long range protection while frigates can be ‘blue water’ platforms but they are more versatile and can operate in ‘green water’ (littoral) or even ‘brown water’ (coastal) environments. Diesel engines are frequently found in surface combatants all over the world because they provide considerable power while

Destroyers tend to be ‘bluewater’ ships in navies with major mercantile interests who need long range protection

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having excellent fuel consumption characteristics but they are slow to react if a surge of power is required. Many Asia-Pacific frigate operators rely upon diesel power but some, and most destroyer operators, augment them with gas turbines which are ‘thirsty’ but can provide power surges almost instantly, the Combined gas turbine/Diesel propulsion (CODOG) systems teaming the best of both in frigates operated by Australia, Japan, the RoK, Thailand and Vietnam. Australia and Taiwan are also unusual in having gas turbine-powered frigates while some Chinese destroyers and Indian frigates have the older steam turbine system which has similar performance characteristics to CODOG but is manpower intensive.

Frigate Investments

Many Asia-Pacific navies aim at dominance only as far as their Economic Exclusion Zones and, therefore, operate smaller frigates. Bangladesh, Pakistan, Malaysia, the RoK, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam all operate frigates in 20003000 ton range while Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK) has recently launched two 1300-ton ships. A similar doctrine

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appears to have shaped the design of frigates in two of the region’s major navies, China and Japan, with some of the former’s earliest modern frigate ventures being the ‘Jianghu III’ class while Japan produced the ‘Abukuma’ class. In Japan the destroyer has become the prime surface combatant while in many navies, such as Indonesia and Malaysia, there is a trend towards smaller surface combatants such as corvettes, while Jakarta is acquiring former Royal Navy ‘Broadsword’ class frigates. Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand are all seeking new frigates with the Thai choice being arguably the most interesting. The two ships ordered from Daewoo are reported to be based upon the RoK Navy’s ‘Kwanggaeto Daewang’ class of destroyer, with Raytheon RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow

Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand are all seeking new frigates

Missiles (ESSM), with delivery of the first scheduled for 2018. It is worth noting that the United States continues to offer the ‘Oliver Hazard Perry’ class multi-role ships although with the phasing out of their Raytheon RIM-66 Standard Missile-1 SAM they lack an AAW capability. The Asia-Pacific’s major powers aim for larger frigates, India with the 6300 ton ‘Shivalik’ class, China with 3900 ton ‘Jiangkai I/II’ class and the RoK with the 3250 ton ‘Incheon’ class. This reflects a desire to extend protection of national maritime lines of communications, a moti-

vation of both Australia and New Zealand whose ‘Anzac’ class frigates have bucked the trend by being, at some 3800 tons, smaller than their predecessors. China and the RoK continue to expand their fleets with the former adding six ‘Jiangkai II’ class frigates to the fleet in 2013 and more this year, while in November 2013 the RoK launched the fifth of its ‘Incheon’ class frigates with the fourth scheduled for delivery in October 2014. In the meantime there are several frigate upgrade programmes underway. Thailand is improving the AAW capability of its Chinese-built ‘Naresuan’ class ships and this work should be completed next year. In addition the ‘Cha Paraya’ class vessels (based upon the ‘Jiangwei I/II’ class ships) are receiving new ASuW missiles. Australia’s ‘Anzac’ class frigates

HMAS Perth is the first of the Royal Australian Navy’s ‘Anzac’ class frigates to receive the Anti-Ship Missile Defence upgrade. This initiative adds new capabilities to the vessels including a new radar and combat management system © Wikimedia Commons

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FRIGATES AND DESTROYERS

This artist’s impression of the Royal Australian Navy’s HMAS Hobart destroyer depicts it with the Lockheed Martin Aegis combat management system. The ship is typical of the new generation of air defence destroyers appearing in the AsiaPacific market © BAE Australia

will receive domestically-produced phased array radars and new communications systems while their ASuW and AAW capabilities have been improved through new weapons and electronics. New Zealand’s two ‘Anzac’ ships have received improved propulsion and are to get a missile decoy system, improved electronic support measures and a torpedo detection system. In October 2013 it was announced that the new MBDA Sea Ceptor SAM had been selected as the AAW weapon for these vessels. One of the most interesting upgrades is that of Pakistan’s ‘Sword’ class frigates, of which the first-of-class PNS Zulfiquar recently tested a land-attack missile, although it is unclear whether or not it was a modified China Haiying ElectroMechanical Technology Academy C-802

anti-ship weapon or a dedicated cruise missile design. The RoK’s new ‘Incheon’ class will have a similar capability using the domestically-produced Cheon Ryong SSM.

Destroyer Demand

Land-attack is one of two new roles for destroyers. The RoK’s ‘Sejong Daewang’ class will also carry the Cheon Ryong SSM while Australia’s ‘Hobart’ class are likely to carry Raytheon BGM-109 Tomahawk land-attack missiles. The RoK will probably seek a similar capability with its next generation of destroyers from the second half of the next decade. Given the DPRK’s nuclear ballistic missile sabre-rattling they will probably have, like Japan’s ‘Atago’ and ‘Kongou’ class ships, a Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) capability. Japan is working with the United States to produce

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advanced versions of the Raytheon RIM161 Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) SAM. Tokyo may add two more BMD destroyers to its six-strong fleet while three more destroyers with the Lockheed Martin Aegis Combat Management System (CMS) have been requested for the RoK Navy. The keel for the second ‘Hobart’ class destroyer, HMAS Brisbane, was laid in February 2014 and it seems likely they will also eventually have a BMD capability. The ‘Hobart’ class with their Raytheon RIM-66 SM-2 medium-range and RIM-162 short-range SAMs reflect a growing trend for major Asia-Pacific navies to seek destroyers capable of multiple roles. The trend is underlined by India’s new ‘Kolkata’ class destroyers which feature the Israeli-designed Israel Aerospace Industries/Rafael Advanced Defence

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Systems Barak SAMs in their tactical (Barak 1) and area defence (Barak 8) versions, and are likely to receive a towed array sonar which is absent from China’s contemporary ‘Luzhou’ and ‘Luyang II’ classes. Interestingly, like most Indian destroyers, they will be equipped with heavyweight torpedo systems which are designed to extend ASW capability but, in Russian hands, have been used in ASuW exercises. India certainly needs to improve its destroyers’ AAW capability for the existing Russian-built ‘Rajput’ class and the ‘Delhi’ class all feature ageing area defence systems. By contrast China, whose ‘Luyang II’ class ships appear to have radar and command systems on a par with the Aegis CMS in the ‘Atago’, ‘Hobart’, ‘Kongous’ and ‘Sejong Daewang’ class vessels, appear to have a modern SAM system in the form of their China Precision Machinery Import-Export Corporation HHQ-9 and Almaz-Antey Rif-M ensembles, the new generation of destroyers and frigates all featuring hull-shaping and special materials to reduce their radar signa-

ture, and similar means to reduce their infra-red and acoustic signatures. The major Asia-Pacific navies are beginning to replace their aging fleets. India, for example, aims to exchange the British ‘Leander’ class based ‘Godavari’, ‘Brahmaputra’ and ‘Nilgiri’ classes with the domestically-produced ‘Shivalik’ and the Russian-built ‘Talwar’ classes. New Delhi is interested in more ‘Talwar’ class ships and improved ‘Shivalik’ class examples. China’s expansion is likely to see all the ‘Luda’ class destroyers replaced by’ ‘Luyang II’ class or later designs while the ‘Jianghu’ class frigates are being replaced by ‘Jiangkai II’ class vessels, which will probably replace the ‘Jiangwei I’ class. The ‘Jianghu’ class ships, which form half the frigate force, lack any AAW capability, while the ‘Jiangwei’ class can perform local area air defence but their ASW role is as limited as the ‘Jianghu’ class. The RoK is replacing the ‘Ulsan’ class frigates with the ‘Incheon’ class with six displacing 3,200 tons followed by up to nine additional ships which will be

The KD Lekiu is one of two modern frigates which are operated by the Royal Malaysian Navy. Plans had been articulated for a second batch of these eponymous-named frigates, although these have now been scrapped as the navy will purchase corvettes instead © BAE Systems

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slightly larger, have gas turbines and an enhanced ASW capability through the introduction of towed array sonars. By 2026 there are planned to be 24 ‘Incheon’ class ships in service. Meanwhile, Japan is likely to expand its destroyer fleet in a policy driven by growing tensions with China over territories on the periphery of each nation. Currently, Tokyo maintains a force of some 40 destroyers and for both operational and economic reasons has long maintained a policy of steadily ordering key platforms, notably destroyers and submarines. It is extremely likely that the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force is now planning replacements for the nine ‘Hatsuyuki’ class ships which have only local area air defence missile systems. Bangladesh, now operating RoK and Chinese-built frigates, is reported to have ordered up to four ‘Jiangwei I’ class multirole frigates from China and is planning to buy more modified ‘Ulsan’ class ships from the RoK. Neighbouring Burma has acquired two second-hand ‘Jianghu II’ class frigates and is reportedly upgrading them with new SSMs. It reportedly has plans to build up to two ‘Jiangwei’ class frigates but this seems over ambitious. Pakistan is to buy another four frigates, believed to be either ‘Jiangkai I’ or ‘Jiangkai II’ class ships from China, and Thailand has ordered up to three new Chinese vessels. Vietnam is receiving four Russian-built ‘Dinh Tien Hoang’ class multi-role frigates and plans to build another four. Across the South China Sea, the Philippines has begun a procurement programme for two new frigates with South Korea’s Daewoo, Hyundai and STX together with Spain’s Navantia throwing their hats into the ring. The first ship is not expected until around the end of the decade but Manila has rejected the secondhand acquisition option. The Pacific Rim’s growing prosperity makes a growing demand for both destroyers and frigates certain. It will be met increasingly from domestic sources although third country manufacturers will remain prime suppliers in the foreseeable future for the provision of propulsion, sensor, communications and weapon systems.

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AMR UAV DIRECTORY 2014

WE ARE THE

ROBOTS

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) repeatedly prove their worth in combat operations around the world. This has sent the production rates for UAVs to record heights and the forecasts for unmanned aircraft acquisitions in the global market over the next ten years confirm this.

The Australian Department of Defence extended the presence of its IAI Heron Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance UAVs in Afghanistan until mid-2014. Three UAVs have been used to support the Australian Defence Forceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Operation SLIPPER mission in Afghanistan since 2009 ÂŠ Royal Australian Air Force

Prepared by Bianca Siccardi l

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REGIONAL UAV

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he inherent advantages of UAVs over inhabited platforms continue to pique the interests of armed forces worldwide and drive the market for such aircraft. UAVs have demonstrated their exceeding utility in United States- and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation-led combat operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan, performing reconnaissance and combat roles. Furthermore, in terms of cost-effectiveness, the employment of UAVs provides remarkable advantages in terms of safeguarding human life, as well as mission costs. Undoubtedly, the risks involved in the deployment of a UAV is far from being comparable to flying a multi-role combat aircraft, which can be up to ten times more expensive, as detailed in a 2012 study published by Deloitte, a London-based consulting company. According to Forecast International, a market research company based in the United States, the predicted value for the global UAV market will more than double in the next ten years, rising from $942 million in 2014 to an annual $2.3 billion in 2023. Being the largest defence spender in the world, the United States will maintain a dominant position in the market, while Europe is likely to be over-

taken by the Asia-Pacific region, which is expected to hold the second largest share of the UAV market by the end of the tenyear period. Presumably, Asia-Pacific countries will continue to sustain considerable investment in UAV technology in the coming years. Considering the persistence of unresolved strategic tensions in the area such as the insurgencies that some AsiaPacific countries such as Malaysia and the Philippines have to face, and the border disputes in which several regional nations are involved, UAVs have proven ideal for responding to such challenges. According to Forecast International’s market report, the Asia-Pacific will see a considerable jump in UAV-related spending. Countries like China, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea (RoK) and India have strong UAV development programmes in their domestic industry, and funding for UAV4 technology research in the continent is expected to reach $7.7 billion over the next ten years. AMR’s UAV Directory has been researched using a range of resources, notably our correspondents, industry experts and serving military personnel throughout the region, as well as open sources.

AUSTRALIA

FIELDED Heron I, Israel Aerospace Industries: Three of the four Medium-Altitude LongEndurance (MALE) UAVs have been based at Kandahar airfield as part of Operation SLIPPER, Australia’s contribution to the war in Afghanistan, since January 2010. They have performed a number of tasks including surveillance, reconnaissance, security and escort, and battle damage assessment. The Heron UAV deployment in southern Afghanistan has been extended until July 2014. Scan Eagle, Insitu/Boeing: These aircraft have performed five years of operations in Afghanistan during which time Scan Eagle UAVs have amassed about 32,000 flying hours in more than 6,200 missions supporting the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force and Special Operation Task Group deployed by the Australian armed forces. The Scan Eagle fleet has provided constant reconnaissance support to ground elements in Afghanistan since 2007. RQ-7B Shadow 200, AAI: The acquisition of RQ-7B Shadow UAVs was approved by the Australian government in July 2010. Operations with the RQ-7B tactical UAV in Afghanistan commenced in May 2012. Based at Tarin Kowt in Uruzgan province,

The Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton High-Altitude Long-Endurance UAV completed its first flight in May 2013. The Australian government announced its intention to acquire the UAV, specifically designed to conduct surveillance missions, in March 2014 © Northrop Grumman

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the type has been deployed to perform reconnaissance. The RQ-7B can carry optronics, a laser pointer, rangefinder and designator and communications relay payloads. The system replaced the Scan Eagle UAV in Afghanistan (see above). Skylark I, Elbit Systems: The Skylark-I is a mini UAV designed for tactical reconnaissance. During operations it sends realtime video to a portable ground station. Following the initial order in 2005, the Australian Army has ordered more Skylark-I UAVs from Elbit Systems in 2008. The multi-million dollar deal was the third from the Australian Department of Defence for the hand-launched UAV. Aerosonde III, AAI: The Aerosonde-III is a MALE UAV primarily deployed for unarmed reconnaissance. The Aerosonde was originally developed by Insitu and produced by the Australian-based Aerosonde Ltd., acquired by AAI Corporation in 2006. Four units were sent to the Solomon Islands for Operation ANODE with the Australian Army in 2003. TRIALS AND DEVELOPMENT MQ-4C Trit on, Northrop Grumman: Australia is to purchase seven maritime surveillance High-Altitude LongEndurance (HALE) UAVs under the Project AIR 7000, Phase 1B initiative which is the uninhabited element of the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) twophase Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft replacement effort. The Australian government announced its intention to acquire the MQ-4C UAV in March 2014. Operating at altitudes up to 54790 feet (16700 metres) over a maximum range of 9950 nautical miles (18427 kilometres) and remaining airborne for up to 24 hours, the MQ-4C could provide the country with unprecedented maritime surveillance capabilities. Australia’s MQ4C is expected to be based at the RAAF Edinburgh airbase, north of Adelaide. Patriot GU-90, Guardian Aerospace Systems: The GU-90 is a MALE platform. With an endurance of 16 hours carrying a payload of 44 pounds (20 kilograms) the GU-90 is suitable for roles such as reconnaissance; search and rescue; border patrol and target designation. The Patriot

Elbit Systems’ Skylark II is a mini UAV system for operation at battalion level. It is designed to fly covert missions at low-to-medium altitudes. This UAV currently furnishes Singapore, the Republic of Korea and Australia © Elbit Systems

UAS has been in development for two years and has completed its flight test programme, although details regarding its entry into service have not been disclosed.

NOTES: Prime minister Tony Abbott made an announcement in March 2014 confirming the government’s commitment to the acquisition of the MQ-4C UAV (see above), subject to the successful completion of the US Navy’s development programme currently under way. The initial envelope expansion testing of the MQ-4C Triton has been completed by the US Navy and Northrop Grumman, clearing the UAV to fly at a variety of altitudes, speeds and weights. This maritime patrol aircraft is based on the RQ-4B Block 30 Global Hawk, which first flew in May 2013 and will be equipped with the AN/ZPY-3 Multi-Function Active Sensor (MFAS) maritime radar, MTS-B optronics payload and AN/ZLQ-1 electronic support measures suite. The Australian government, which is currently drafting a new Defence White Paper for publication in 2015, has not yet announced a probable date for introduction of the MQ-4B UAV, nor the number of airframes to be acquired.

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CHINA

FIELDED BZK-005, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics: The BZK-005 has 40 hours endurance and is a MALE UAV used by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China. It is believed to have entered service in 2009. Chengdu Pt erodactyl I, AVIC: Also known as the Wing Loong, the Pterodactyl I MALE UAV is intended for use as a reconnaissance and strike platform and is capable of being equipped with Poly Technologies Inc (PTI) AR-1 short-range air-to-surface missiles. The first public acknowledgement of the programme was in 2010. The 20 hours endurance Pterodactyl I UAV, which closely resembles General Atomics’ MQ-1 Predator MALE UAV, has been approved for export by the Chinese government. AS N-205, Xian ASN Technology: The ASN-205 is a fixed-wing UAV, which first appeared in 2009. Intended as the successor to the Xian Technology ASN-104/5 series, the first indigenously-designed piston-engine UAV for army service which was deployed in the late 1980s. ASN-206, Xian ASN Technology: The

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ASN-206 is employed by the People’s Liberation Army among tactical units for reconnaissance and communications relay. AS N-207, Xian ASN Technology: The ASN-207 is a development of the ASN-206 (see above). Offering a longer range, as compared to the ASN-206, the aircraft is in service with the PLA. Its first public appearance was made in 2002. AS N-209, Xian ASN Technology: The ASN-209 is a MALE UAV developed in 2011 to perform reconnaissance. It can be launched from a warship helicopter deck and serve as a communications relay between the amphibious force and the supporting surface ships. The ASN-209 MALE UAV has an estimated range of 81nm (150km) and an endurance up to eight hours. WZ-6, Xian ASN Technology: The WZ-6 is a development of ASN-207 with a distinctive mushroom-shaped radome installed atop of its fuselage. It is deployed for reconnaissance missions. JWP02, Xian ASN Technology: This aircraft is a derivative of the WZ-6 (see above) and is presumably used in reconnaissance missions. BZK-006, Xian ASN Technology: The

BZK-006 is an enlarged development of the WZ-6 (see above). It can carry a total of four air-to-ground missiles. However, its capability of carrying air-to-air missiles is currently unknown. DCK-006, Xian ASN Technology: The DCK-006 is an unarmed reconnaissance version of BZK-006 (see above) with a twelve-hours endurance. It was first shown to the public in 2009. Harpy, IAI: The Harpy is an Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) sold to China in 1994 for $55 million. When the UCAVs were returned to Israel in 2004 under contract for maintenance, the United States demanded the cancellation of the contract. The UAVs were returned to China in 2005 without being upgraded. X200, Yotaisc Science and Technology Development: The Yotaisc is a rotary UAV. Its cruising speed is 81 knots (150 kilometres-per-hour) and it has five hours endurance. It was unveiled during the 2012 Singapore Air Show. Its derivative, the X200S which is designed for naval employment, is currently under development. TRIALS AND DEVELOPMENT WJ-600, CASIC: The WJ-600 is a MALE UAV currently under development for the PLA (People’s Liberation Army). It was unveiled in 2010 and is capable of conducting ground attack missions and can be armed with underwing KD2 air-toground missiles. According to the manufacturer the WJ-600 can be equipped with optronics, a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and electronic surveillance to provide all-weather reconnaissance. CH-3, CASIC: Offering twelve hours endurance the CH-3 is a 97nm (180km) range MALE UAV. According to the manufacturer, it is capable of reconnaissance, ground attack and electronic warfare. It can be fitted with Luoyang/CASC FT-5 precision-guided bombs or Poly Technologies Inc (PTI) AR-1 short-range Air-to-Surface Missiles (ASMs). It was unveiled in 2008. CH-4, CASC: The CH-4 is a UCAV capable of carrying two AR-1 ASMs and two FT-5 precision-guided bombs. The CH-4 has a 1890nm (3500km) range and can fly for up to 30 hours depending on payload.

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DIRECTORY

The aircraft could be considered as the Chinese military’s response to the US General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper UCAV. SH-1, CASIC: The SH-1 is a tactical UAV. No specifications for the aircraft appear to exist, although it is known to have been unveiled in 2010. Night Eagle, AVIC: The Night Eagle is a hand-launched mini UAV. It shares common design features with the Australiandeveloped Aerosonde series (see above). Soar Dragon, Xianglong: The Soar Dragon is a HALE UAV for reconnaissance and possibly for anti-shipping missions. It was first displayed as a model in 2006 and is similar in appearance and mission to the RQ-4B Global Hawk. AS N-213, Xian ASN Technology: The ASN-213 is a micro UAV with an in-flight morphing design. It weights 11lbs (five kilograms) and can reach a speed up to 97 knots (180km/h). The aircraft was first seen in 2008. ASN-229A, Xian ASN Technology: The ASN-229A is a UCAV with 20 hours’ endurance and 1080nm (2000km) combat radius. Whirlwing Scout, AVIC: The Whirlwing Scout is a compact Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) ducted fan UAV design. U8E, AVIC: The U8E is a lightweight VTOL UAV. An example of the design was shown at the 2010 the Singapore Airshow. SL-200, CASC: The SL-200 is a UAV originally designed for agricultural use, although it may have a potential for military use. The aircraft made its public debut in 2010. CH-802, Poly Technologies Inc.: The CH802 is a hand-launched micro UAV similar to the AeroVironment FQM-151 Pointer hand-launched mini UAV. It offers three hours’ endurance. V750, Qingdao Helicopter Manufacturing Co.: The V750 is a rotary-wing UAV which completed its first flight in May 2011. The V750 has a load capacity of over 176lbs (80kg), can fly at a maximum speed of 86 knots (161km/h) with a 81nm (150km) range. The current development status of this aircraft remains unknown as of June 2014. Tian Yi-3, LOEC: The Tian Yi-3 is a highspeed HALE UAV. The current develop-

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to be operational at the platoon level with the PLA. The aircraft has a 10lbs (4.7kg) weight. Z-8, PLA Research Institute: The Z-8 rotary wing UAV was shown publicly in 2001. The current development status of this aircraft remains unknown as of June 2014.

The Northrop Grumman MQ-5B Hunter tactical UAV is optimised to provide dedicated reconnaissance to armed forces. The aircraft can conduct battlefield surveillance using multiple sensors, including its optronics and signals intelligence payloads © Northrop Grumman

ment status of this aircraft remains unknown as of June 2014. Soarhawk, Sunward: The Soarhawk is described as similar to the piston-engine ADCOM SAT-400 medium-speed target drone. The current development status of this aircraft remains unknown as of June 2014. DUF-2, BUAA: The DUF-2 is a handlaunched mini UAV. The current development status of this aircraft remains unknown as of June 2014. Anjian/D arksword, Shenyang Aircraft Co.: The Anjian/Darksword UCAV is thought to be in early development. BL-60, BE: The BL-60 is a rotary UAV which retains design similarities to the Kaman K-MAX uninhabited helicopter. SVU-200, Sunward Tech Star-Lite: The SUV-200 rotary UAV performed its first flight in 2012. It is designed to have an endurance of over two hours. Daofeng/Blade SF-460, CASIC: The Daonfeng/Blade SF-460 mini UAV is currently at the prototype stage. The aircraft has three hours’ endurance and was first seen in 2010. Daofeng 300, CASIC: The Daofeng 300 weighs 68lbs (31kg), uses a civilian Single

Lens Reflex (SLR) camera and has three hours endurance. Blue Eagle-200W, Keyuan: The Blue Eagle200W MALE UAV has twelve hours’ endurance, 86 knots (160km/h) speed and can be equipped with air-to-ground munitions on six external hard points. T-100, Hubei Taihang Xinghe Aircraft Manufacturing: The T-100 is an electrically-powered mini UAV. The current development status of this aircraft remains unknown as of June 2014. T-120, Hubei Taihang Xinghe Aircraft Manufacturing: The T-120 is a reconnaissance UAV with speed up to Mach 1.5. The current development status of this aircraft remains unknown as of June 2014. TF-1C, Shenyang Aerospace: The TF-1C has a 648nm (1200km) range and up to twelve hours endurance. The current development status of this aircraft remains unknown as of June 2014. TF-5, Shenyang Aerospace: Mini UAV. The TF-5 has a 29lbs (13kg) weight, and is equipped with an optronics payload. The current development status of this aircraft remains unknown as of June 2014. TF-8, Shenyang Aerospace: The TF-8 is a hand-launched mini UAV. It is thought

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NOTES: The PLA has developed one of the largest and most complex UAV acquisition programmes in the world. The development of Chinese advanced uninhabited systems, including UAVs for strategic reconnaissance and strike missions could position China as a leader in the UAV market in the long term. According to the global UAV market forecast recently published by Forecast International (see above), the Chinese state-owned defence company Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) will lead the world in UAV production, manufacturing about $5.6 billion worth of UAVs through the next decade, up to half the global value. Also, considering the few export restrictions Chinese defence firms face as compared to top UAVexporting countries such as the United States, it could become a key UAV proliferator, especially to developing countries.

INDIA

FIELDED Heron I/II, IAI: The Indian government approved in December 2013 a $300 million budget to buy another 15 Heron-I UAVs and associated equipment from IAI and to upgrade the existing fleet with improved communication. The move will bring the total fleet of Heron UAVs to over 40 aircraft. These new MALE UAVs could be deployed along India’s borders with China and Pakistan, allowing the Indian Navy’s existing three squadrons to be redeployed to patrol the country’s eastern and western seaboards. Searcher I/II, IAI: The Searcher-I/II MALE UAVs are used for reconnaissance. India’s army and navy are understood to have acquired at least 18 and possibly as many as 70 of these aircraft. Lakshya, DRDO/ADE & HAL: The Lakshya UAV is designed to perform reconnaissance. Up to 100 Lakshya UAVs

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are now in service with the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Navy. Harpy, IAI: The Harpy UCAV has been in operation with the IAF since 2005. Harop, IAI: The Harop UCAV was unveiled at the 2009 Aero India Show. Ten of the aircraft were ordered by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2009 and deliveries started in 2011. Nishant, DRDO/ADE: The Nishant is a MALE UAV. Development began in 1990 and the aircraft successfully completed a series of trials conducted by the Indian Army in 2011, with whom it is currently in service.

TRIALS AND DEVELOPMENT Rustom 1, DRDO/ARDE: The Rustom-1 MALE UAV has twelve hours endurance. Its’ first flight took place in November 2009 with the prototype crashing. A later successful flight took place in October 2010. Additional trials are expected to begin in September 2014. Rustom MALE, DRDO/ADE: The Rustom MALE UAV is in development for Indian Navy, army and the IAF. It offers up to 15 hours endurance and 99lbs (45kg) of payload. Two prototypes have been developed thus far, one of which was displayed in its final configuration at India’s DefExpo exhibition in 2014. The first flight is scheduled to take place by the end of 2014. Netra SUAV, ARDE/Ideaforge Technology: The Netra is a rotary UAV designed for reconnaissance. It has a 656ft (200m) altitude and 30 minutes endurance. Kapothaka, DRDO/ADE: The Kapothaka is a mini UAV designed as a test-bed for reconnaissance, and launch and recovery concepts. Pawan, DRDO/ADE: The Pawan is a mini UAV comparable in size and capabilities to the Elbit Systems Hermes 180 and the Elbit Systems Silver Arrow aircraft. It weighs 264lbs (120kg), with a 81nm (150km) range and five hours’ endurance. Four prototypes planned are under the development programme, with engines to be purchased outside India. Gagan, DRDO/ADE: The Gagan is a tactical UAV currently under development. It is expected to have a 135nm (250km) range.

Global Hawk, Northrop Grumman: The Indian Navy expressed interest in acquiring up to eight MQ-4C Triton UAVs in 2011. Northrop Grumman has been cleared by the US government to conduct preliminary discussion with the Indian Navy on the MQ-4C Triton acquisition. RQ-16B T-Hawk, Honeywell Aerospace: The RQ-16B T-Hawk UAV was demonstrated at the Counter Terrorism and Jungle Warfare College at Kanker in Chhattisgarh, central India, in 2010. India’s security forces are likely to procure the RQ16B T-Hawk UAV. It is currently under consideration by the Indian military and Ministry of Home Affairs. TERP-II, MKU: The MKU TERP-II is a hand-launched mini UAV, with 90 minutes’ endurance, an optronics payload and a five nautical mile (ten kilometre) range. The prototype was showcased at the 2010 Defexpo exhibition. The current development status of this aircraft remains unknown as of June 2014. Lakshya-II, DRDO: The Lakshya-II UAV is an advanced version of a target drone used by the IAF and Indian Army. Successful flight tests occurred from 2010 until 2012. The UAV is still under development. Cheetak-based UAV, IAI/HAL: Following the IAF request for a replacement of its aging Cheetah and Chetak helicopters, discussions have been ongoing between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Israel’s IAI to produce an unmanned version of this light utility helicopter. Skylark, Elbit/BEL: India’s Bharat Electronics Limited and Elbit Systems of Israel presented a locally-developed version of the Skylark man-portable mini UAV at the Indian DefExpo defence exhibition in 2012. NOTES: In order to improve its border reconnaissance and communications capabilities, India could potentially spend over $2 billion to boost its UAV fleet in the next five years. The Indian Navy has expressed a need for MALE and HALE UAVs, while the army plans to have about 1600 mini UAVs in service by 2017, to enhance its surveillance of border regions. Furthermore, both branches of the military are eager to implement their short-range

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

capabilities. In spite of India’s strong domestic effort, the development and the introduction of indigenous unmanned technologies in the country’s armed forces seems to be held back. For the last decade, the country’s UAV development programme has been solely concentrated on the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) Nishant MALE UAV (see above), which had little success in terms of acceptance by the armed forces, who are still inclined to rely upon Israeli products. The DRDO Rustom HALE project (see above) has seen multiple delays due to the procurement of various components from foreign industrial partners and its debut flight, although scheduled for 2014, is not definite.

INDONESIA

FIELDED Searcher-II, IAI: The Searcher-II MALE UAV was fielded in 2012, after being delayed. It was originally ordered in 2006 from Kital. SS-5, PT Wesco Aerospace: The SS-5 is a mini UAV. One or more systems were reportedly deployed to Aceh in 2005 to assist military operations there. Aerosonde, AAI: The Aerosonde is a mini UAV deployed with paramilitary and police forces.

TRIALS AND DEVELOPMENT ALAP, Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT): The ALAP is a 55lbs (25kg) weight, 27nm (50km) range mini UAV. It is currently under development and is most likely to be manufactured by PT Dirgantara Indonesia for the army, navy and paramilitary forces. Wulung, Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT): The Wulung is a UAV with four hours’ endurance, a 38nm (70km) operational range, a maximum speed of 79 knots (146km/h) and a maximum altitude of 12000ft (3658m). The Wulung is made from composite materials and uses a twostroke petrol engine. A cooperative development agreement was signed by BPPT, PT Dirgantara Indonesia and PT LEN Industries in April 2013 for the aircraft’s realisation. The UAV will be used to sup-

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port military and paramilitary forces in the border regions of Indonesia. Srit i, Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT): The Sriti is a mini UAV designed to be launched from land or ship and, once airborne, it has a one-hour endurance. It is currently under development. Pelatuk and Gagak, Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT): The Pelatuk and Gagak are prototype reconnaissance UAVs developed by BPPT. The current development status of these aircraft remains unknown as of June 2014.

NOTES: In 2013, the Indonesian research and technology minister confirmed the intention of the government to build a UAV squadron for surveillance and reconnaissance missions. The project, funded by the Defence Ministry, has seen the direct involvement of the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (LAPAN) and the Agency for Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT). Both Indonesian companies have developed different classes of unmanned aerial vehicles. The development of national defence technologies will also contribute to Indonesia’s ultimate effort to reduce the country’s dependency on imported military equipment. For this purpose, the army and LAPAN signed a Memorandum of Understanding in January 2014 to develop UAVs and remote sensing for reconnaissance. According to the agreement, the army will help finance LAPAN’s research through a $287,000 investment.

JAPAN

FIELDED Forward Flying Observat ion System (FFOS), Fuji Heavy Industries: The FFOS is a rotary UAV. Three aircraft have equipped the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF) from 2004. RMAX, Yamaha Motor Company: The RMAX is a rotary UAV originally developed for agriculture. The aircraft was deployed to Iraq with the Japan Air Self Defence Force (JGSDF) in 2005 to assist counter-insurgency and peace-keeping missions there.

The Northrop Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout rotary UAV has the ability to autonomously take-off and land on any warship with a flight deck. The Japanese, Thai and Republic of Korean armed forces have all shown interest in the project © Northrop Grumman

ScanEagle, Insitu: The ScanEagle mini UAV was delivered to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, one of Japan’s leading defence companies, in May 2013 following a contract signed to this end in 2012. It will be employed by the JGSDF for reconnaissance and humanitarian missions. B-Type Machine II, Fuji Imvac: The BType Machine-II was deployed to provide reconnaissance over the damaged Fukushima nuclear power station on the eastern coast of Japan’s Honshu island in April 2011. TAyoutoK(C)Ogata Mujinki, Fuji Heavy Industries: The TAyoutoK(C)Ogata Mujinki (TACOM) is a mini UAV. The Technical Research and Development Institute (TRDI) of the Japan Defence Agency (JDA) started the TACOM programme in 1995 with prime contractor Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI). The Japan Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) and TRDI successfully completed the evaluation flight test in 2001. A prototype launched from a Mitsubishi/Lockheed Martin F-2 multi-role combat aircraft was lost at sea in 2010 and a second TACOM mini UAV on a test flight with the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) crashed south of Tokyo. The current development

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

status of this aircraft remains unknown as of June 2014. J/ AQM-1, Fuji Heavy Industries: The J/AQM-1 target drone entered services in 1987. It is currently in service with the JGSDF. BQM-34AJ, Fuji Heavy Industries: The BQM-34AJ navy target drone is a licensed development of the Northrop Grumman Firebee target drone.

TRIALS AND DEVELOPMENT MQ-8B Fire Scout, Northrop Grumman: The MQ-8B Fire Scout is a rotary UAV. Northrop Grumman and the US Navy conducted the first flight of an MQ-8B Fire Scout equipped with the AN/ZPY-4(V)1 multi-mode maritime surveillance radar in June 2014. RQ-16B T-Hawk, Honeywell Aerospace: Four RQ-16B micro UAVs were deployed to the Fukushima nuclear plant in April 2011 (see above). The UAVs conducted video surveillance and took radioactivity readings. RQ-4 Block 40 Global Hawk, Northrop Grumman: The Japanese Ministry of Defence (MoD) will deploy two RQ-4 Block 40 HALE UAVs from Misawa airbase, located in the northern part of the

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and the RoK’s presidential office in Seoul. The DPRK is believed to have about 300 reconnaissance UAVs and about ten Russian-made Yakovlev Shmel UAVs equipped to carry air-to-ground ordnance.

REPUBLIC OF KOREA

island of Honshu. Japan announced plans to buy three HALE UAVs, most likely to be RQ-4 aircraft, in the 2013 National Defence Programme Guidelines. ScanEagle, Insitu: The ScanEagle is a longendurance mini UAV. Delivered to the JGSDF in May 2013, following a contract signed in 2012, the JGSDF is currently testing and evaluating the ScanEagle system to prepare for entry into service. MQ-4C Triton, Northrop Grumman: Japan outlined a requirement for HALE UAVs to fill a perceived gap in its ballistic missile defence system. Northrop Grumman suggests the MQ-4C would fill this requirement. The MQ-4C Triton was expected to be operational in 2015 with a total of 68 aircraft to be procured. However, due to additional testing requirements and technical issues, the Initial Operational Capability (IOC) is now planned for 2017.

NOTES: The RQ-4B will be deployed by the United States Air Force to Japan for the first time in 2014. The two HALE UAVs will be stationed at Misawa airbase from May to October 2014, along with about 40 personnel, and contribute to the country’s security by performing maritime patrol missions in the region. The

RQ-4B flew over Japan in 2011, when the UAV was used to assist disaster relief following the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami which struck the eastern coast of Japan’s Honshu Island. The RQ-4B will also play a key role in monitoring the nuclear weapons programmes of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and China’s naval manoeuvres.

DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REBULIC OF KOREA

FIELDED Pchela, Yakovlev OKB: According to unconfirmed reports, the DPRK acquired the Russian Pchela reconnaissance mini UAV in 1995. Tupolev DR-3/M-141, Tupolev: There are unconfirmed reports that the country has procured the DR-3/M-141 reconnaissance UAV. NOTES: In April 2014 three UAVs crashed in the Republic of Korea. The flight paths of these UAVs, later identified to be Chinese Taiyuan Navigation Technologies SKY-09 aircraft, indicated they originated in the DPRK. Equipped with Japanesemade digital cameras, the UAVs captured images of significant military installations

JULY/AUGUST 2014

FIELDED Skylark II, Elbit Systems: The Skylark-II is an electrically-powered mini UAV. Orders for the first system occurred in December 2007, with the first delivery occurring in 2008. Harpy, IAI: The Republic of Korea Army (RoKA) purchased 100 Harpy UCAVs in 1997 which were fielded from 1999. RQ-101 Night Intruder 300, KAI: The RQ101 MALE UAV was acquired by the RoK army and navy for reconnaissance. It was entirely developed by Korea Aerospace Industries in 1990 and entered in service in 2001. Shadow 400, AAI: One Shadow 400 MALE UAV has been in service with the RoK Navy for evaluation since 2006. RemoEye, Ucon Systems: The Remoeye is a VTOL UAV used by RoKA troops in Afghanistan.

TRIALS AND DEVELOPMENT KUS-11 TUAV, KAI: The KUS-11 is a division-level aircraft for the RoKA with KAI awarded a development contract to this end in September 2010, with deliveries to commence in 2015. Night Intruder NI-11N, KAI: The Night Intruder N1-11N is a mini UAV. Development began in 2006 with a focus on maritime surveillance. KUS-9, Korean Air, KAI: MALE UAV. The KUS-9 is a tactical UAV optimised for operations in the RoK’s mountainous terrain. Its first flight took place in 2009. The aircraft is currently under development. KUS-15, Korean Air: The KUS-15 is a V-tail MALE UAV. It is likely to be operated by the RoKA as a surveillance and reconnaissance system at corps level. The aircraft is still at a non-flying developmental stage. Devil Killer, KAI: The Devil Killer is a mini UAV weighing 55lbs (25kg), with a 126 knots (400km/h) maximum speed and eight hours’ endurance. According to KAI officials, this prototype reconnais-

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sance UAV is capable of carrying air-toground ordnance. It is expected to be deployed by 2016. KUS-X, Korean Air: The KUS-X is a turbojet delta-wing HALE UAV. The current development status of this aircraft remains unknown as of June 2014. Urban Star, Kyung An Cable Company: The Urban Star VTOL UAV is currently under development. Rem oEye-002A, Ucon Systems: The RemoEye-002A is a hand-launched mini UAV. It has a five nautical miles (ten kilometre) range and an endurance of one hour. Publicly presented in 2009, the current development status of this aircraft remains unknown as of June 2014. Rem oEye-006, Ucon Systems: The RemoEye-006 bungee-launched mini UAV has a high-wing design. The design is said to have a low radar cross section. The current development status of this aircraft remains unknown as of June 2014. Rem oEye-015, Ucon Systems: Development of the RemoEye-015 tactical UAV was completed in June 2005. The aircraft has an endurance of over four hours and a 22nm (40km) range. The current development status of this aircraft remains unknown as of June 2014. Remo H-120, Ucon Systems: The H-20 rotary UAV is under development. It has a 340CC engine, an endurance of two hours and range of 27nm (50km). MQ-8B Fire Scout, Northrop Grumman: The RoK armed forces have shown interest in the MQ-8B rotary UAV. The aircraft is currently being tested by Northrop Grumman and the US Navy. RQ-4 Block 30 Global Hawk, Northrop Grumman: Northrop Grumman expects the RoK and the United States to sign a letter of acceptance for four RQ-4 Block 30 Global Hawk UAVs, following the country’s notification of a willingness to purchase the aircraft to the US Congress in December 2012. The RoK’s concerns regarding the price of the procurement, and the resulting withdrawal from the potential agreement, have apparently been overcome. At the time, the deal was valued at $1.2 billion. Smart UAV, KARI: The Smart tilt-rotor UAV was unveiled in December 2011.

With a cruise speed of 270 knots (500km/h), the aircraft’s fly-by-wire control system has been developed domestically, while its rotor and drive systems were built under an international partnership. The project was launched in 2002. Mass production is expected after current test trials are completed.

NOTES: Following the recent detection of crashed DRPK UAVs near the Demilitarised Zone which demarcates the DPRK and the RoK, the latter has decided to launch a joint programme with Israel in 2014 to develop new UAV technologies. The two countries have long cooperated, launching their joint research and development programme and bilateral cooperation in the area of industrial technology in 1999, investing around $34 million so far. The RoK also intends to resume its once-aborted programme to develop MALE UAVs to strengthen its monitoring capabilities of the DRPK’s missile and nuclear activities. The state-funded Agency For Defence Development launched the above-mentioned indigenous UAV development project in 2006, completing the first prototype in May 2010. However, the project was suspended in early 2011 due to its overlap with The RoK’s plans for acquiring HALE UAVs. The Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) aims to deploy the UAV by 2018.

MALAYSIA

FIELDED Eagle 150B, CTRM: The Eagle-150B is a conversion of CTRM’s Eagle 150 trainer aircraft into a platform which could function either as an inhabited aircraft or as a UAV. Three aircraft and related ground control stations entered service in 2002 but were withdrawn in February 2006. Aludra Mk1, CTRM: The Aludra Mk.1 commenced trials from October 2008 concluding in 2010. Operated on a lease contract with the Malaysian armed forces to perform reconnaissance missions, it has a maximum payload of 55lbs (25kg) and three hours’ endurance. Aludra Mk2, CTRM: Mk.2 version leased by the Malaysian Army from 2008. They will continue to operate two aircraft from Semporna in eastern Malaysia.

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

Yabhon Aludra, CTRM/Adcom: The Yabhon Aludra MALE UAV is a co-development with the United Arab Emirates firm Adcom System. It weighs 1100lbs (500kg) with an endurance of 30 hours. Two aircraft are being leased for counterterrorism surveillance via CTRM. ScanEagle, Insitu Pacific: A contract was signed in April 2012 for the acquisition of the ScanEagle mini UAV. The aircraft are operated by CTRM’s subsidiary Unmanned Systems Technology (UST).

TRIALS AND DEVELOPMENT Cyber Eye, Sapura: The Cyber Eye tactical UAV is designed for military applications as well as agriculture. The aircraft has been demonstrated to the Malaysian armed forces and sales have followed to Thailand, Australia and Europe. Cyber Shark, Sapura: The Cyber Shark VTOL UAV has been demonstrated to Malaysia’s deputy prime minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin during his visit to Sapura Secura Technology in Perth, Australia, in October 2013. Cyber Quad, Sapura: The Cyber Quad is a micro UAV available in two sizes. It has been proposed as part of the Malaysian Army’s soldier modernisation programme. Cyber Hawk, Sapura: The Sapura is a mini UAV with a six hours endurance. S-100, Schiebel: The S-100 rotary UAV has over six hours endurance in standard configuration. The aircraft has a proven capability for military and civilian applications and can operate during the day and night. The rotary UAV successfully completed a series of trials for Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) representatives in June 2012. Aludra SR-08, CTRM: The Aludra is a tactical lightweight micro UAV. The current development status of this aircraft remains unknown as of June 2014. Intisar 100, CTRM: The Intisar 100 VTOL UAV can be used for military and commercial applications. The current development status of this aircraft remains unknown as of June 2014. Intisar 300, CTRM: The Intisar 300 is a rotary UAV which has been tested for

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emergency services, reconnaissance and ship-borne tasks. The aircraft is equipped with interchangeable payloads. The Intisar 300 has successfully completed tests in emergency services and vessel reconnaissance roles.

NEW ZEALAND

FIELDED Kahu, SKYCAM UAV NZ: The Kahu mini UAV has a fully composite airframe and an endurance of up to two hours. With a 13nm (25km) range, it has been used in Afghanistan. Two systems have been acquired to date.

TRIALS AND DEVELOPMENT SwampFox, SKYCAM UAV NZ: The SwampFox UAV has a 50-minute endurance. It is designed to capture highresolution still imagery for aerial mapping.

PAKISTAN

FIELDED Uqab-II, GIDS: The Uqab-II is an indigenously-produced ground-launched tactical UAV. The first squadron has been introduced into Pakistan Navy service in July 2013 and is presently being used by Pakistan’s Security Forces. The Uqab-II is employed in support of Maritime Interdiction Operation in coastal areas. The aircraft has a 44lbs (20kg) payload, 54nm (100km) range and an endurance of more than six hours. Uqab, GIDS: The Uqab MALE UAV has been operational since 2008 with the Pakistan Army and Pakistan Navy. With six hours endurance, circa 30 aircraft are in service with the army and one squadron is in service with the navy. In 2011, a navy Uqab UAV crashed into an oil refinery in Karachi when the aircraft hit a bird. Burraq, NESCOM: The Burraq is an indigenously-developed HALE UAV. Development began in 2009 and the first aircraft was introduced into service with the army and air force in November 2013. It appears to be armed with two underwing missiles. Shahpar, GIDS: The Shahpar is a tactical UAV. Revealed for the first time to the public in November 2012, the aircraft has seven hours endurance, a 110lbs (50kg)

payload and 135nm (250km) range. The aircraft appears to be a Pakistani variant of the Chinese Rainbow CH-3 UCAV. The aircraft was introduced into service in November 2013. Falco, Selex: Pakistan purchased up to five Falco MALE UAVs from Italy, with the first aircraft being declared operational from early 2009. Local production of the aircraft commenced in August 2009. The aircraft has up to 14 hours endurance and 108nm (200km) range. Bravo+/Jasos II, AWC: The Bravo+/Jasos II tactical reconnaissance UAV has been operational with the Pakistan Air Force since 2004. It supports operations and training programmes. CH-3, CASC: Up to 20 CH-3 UAVs have been reportedly ordered from China and are equipped to carry the FT-5 precisionguided bomb. Luna, EMT: The Luna reconnaissance UAV was acquired for the Pakistan Army in 2006. The Pakistan Navy signed a contract in June 2012 to buy the UAV for its shore surveillance units. To this end, a total of eight aircraft along with two ground control stations have been purchased.

TRIALS AND DEVELOPMENT S-100C, Scheibel: The S-100C is a rotary UAV which was tested on a Pakistan Navy ship in March 2008 during which it performed a four hour mission. The Pakistan Navy recently expressed interest in the UAV. RQ-7 Shadow200, AAI: Twelve RQ-7 tactical UAVs were purchased from the United States to enhance the Pakistan Army’s reconnaissance capabilities for an estimated cost of $150 million. K1, AWC: The Pakistan Army has trialled The K1 UAV, although the aircraft’s specifications and development status are unknown. NOTES: Pakistan plans to deploy at least 20 indigenous UAVs equipped with reconnaissance and strike capabilities across the country’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in northwest Pakistan. The UAVs will be deployed along the Afghan border by the

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

Elbit Systems’ UAV command and control ground station includes mission command and control, payload operation and exploitation capabilities. This ground control station can be adapted for various types of unmanned aircraft © Northrop Grumman

end of 2014 before US troops withdraw from Afghanistan.

PHILIPPINES

FIELDED Hunter MQ-5, Northrop Grumman: The US Army has reportedly supplied MQ-5 MALE UAVs to the Philippines Air Force from US Army stocks.

TRIALS AND DEVELOPMENT Blue Horizon, UVision: Blue Horizon tactical UAVs have been reportedly obtained for trials and operational testing. The current development status of this aircraft remains unknown as of June 2014.

NOTES: In December 2013, the Philippines military admitted for the first time to the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in combat, showcasing the Raptor HALE UAV and the Knight Falcon mini UAV as

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to the RSAF in mid-2005, the aircraft has an 11lbs (five kilogram) weight, and a range of four nautical miles (eight kilometres). Skyblade-III, ST Aerospace: The SkybladeIII mini UAV was fielded by the army in 2011, equipping units at battalion and brigade level. Skylark, Elbit Systems: The Skylark is a mini UAV designed to perform tactical reconnaissance. The aircraft has a five nautical miles (ten kilometre) range, and was fielded by the RSAF in 2006. ScanEagle, Insitu Pacific: The ScanEagle mini UAV was successfully trialled by the Republic of Singapore Navy in March 2009. Trials involved the operation of the UAV from a Republic of Singapore Navy frigate and amphibious support ship. Fielded in 2012 aboard the navy’s ‘Victory’ class corvettes, the aircraft has 15 hours endurance and a 54nm (100km) range.

part of its force mix. The Raptor was first publicly deployed in September 2013, for reconnaissance missions. Because of the positive effects generated by the deployment of the two UAVs and considering the military’s desire to improve the capability of its land forces, particularly in jungle and coastal areas, the army has decided to develop a third, more technologically advanced UAV. According to the Marine Forces Imagery and Targeting Support System Acquisition Project, the country is evaluating the possibility of acquiring UAV technologies. The Philippines Department of National Defence (DND) invited companies to bid for the project in December 2013, as the equipment will be acquired through a competitive process.

SINGAPORE

FIELDED Searcher-I, IAI: The Searcher-I reconnais-

sance MALE UAV has been fielded with 119 and 128 Squadrons of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF). The RSAF operates at least ten systems, and the aircraft has been deployed to Afghanistan as part of Singapore’s deployment there since 2010. Hermes-450, Elbit Systems: The Hermes450 MALE UAV supplies real-time reconnaissance data to ground forces. Designed for long endurance missions, 116 Squadron of the RSAF operates the UAV with twelve platforms fielded since 2007. Heron-I, IAI: The Heron-I is a MALE UAV which was delivered to the RSAF in 2012 as a replacement for the IAI Searcher-II MALE UAV. Operated by the RSAF’s 119 Squadron, the number of Heron-I UAVs operated has not been specified. Skyblade-II, ST Aerospace: The SkybladeII is mini UAV designed for tactical reconnaissance and artillery spotting. Delivered

JULY/AUGUST 2014

TRIALS AND DEVELOPMENT Blue Horizon, Singapore Technologies Dynamics: The Blue Horizon MALE UAV was ordered in 1998 and acquired in 1999. A squadron with several Blue Horizon MALE UAVs is thought to be currently in service with the RSAF. Skyblade IV, ST Aerospace: The Skyblade IV mini UAV has a 54nm (100km) range and was unveiled in 2006. The current status of this aircraft remains unknown as of June 2014. FanTail 5000, ST Aerospace: The FanTail 5000 is a VTOL mini UAV. It has 30 minutes’ endurance, a four nautical miles (eight kilometres) range, and performs ground and naval reconnaissance. MAV-1, ST Aerospace: The MAV-1 UAV is a low-observable developmental mini UAV. The prototype was unveiled at the 2004 Asian Aerospace show and the first test flight was reported in 2005. The current status of this aircraft remains unknown as of June 2014. MQ-8B Fire Scout, Northrop Grumman: Northrop Grumman believes that it has interest from the Singaporean military regarding its MQ-9B Fire Scout rotary UAV. Skyblade 360, ST Aerospace: The Skyblade 360 is a UAV in development. It has a 20lbs (nine kilogram) weight and three hours endurance. The aircraft was first flown in

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May 2011. The current status of this aircraft remains unknown as of June 2014.

SRI LANKA

FIELDED Searcher, IAI: The Searcher-II/III MALE UAV is fielded with the Sri Lankan Air Force’s 111 Air Surveillance Squadron based at Anuradhapure, in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. The UAVs were used extensively during the Sri Lankan government’s long campaign against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam insurgent movement.

TAIWAN

FIELDED Chung Shyang II, CSIST: The Chung Shyang II is a tactical UAV performing reconnaissance. The programme was initiated in 2002 and unveiled publicly in 2007. The aircraft entered service with the 601 and 602 Airborne Brigades of the Republic of China Army in 2011. 32 platforms have been ordered. Taiwan is thought to be planning a UCAV variant of this UAV. The current development status of this aircraft remains unknown as of June 2014.

TRIALS AND DEVELOPMENT Mystic Eye, CSIST: The Mystic Eye is Taiwan’s first VTOL UAV. Unveiled in 2013, the aircraft is designed for shortrange reconnaissance missions and has up to one hours endurance. AI Rider, Gang Yu Corp: The AI Rider is an indigenous micro UAV launched in April 2011. With a 14 ounce (400 gram) payload and 13 minutes endurance, the aircraft is used by Taiwan’s military and academic institutions for surveillance. Kestrel II, CSIST: The Kestrel II is a mini UAV, itself an improved version of the Kestrel I mini UAV with a 65lbs (30kg) payload and eight hours endurance. Cardinal, CSIST: The Cardinal is a mini UAV. It is currently under evaluation by the country’s armed forces. Grey-Faced Bu zzard, National Cheng Kung University: The Grey-Faced Buzzard is a hybrid mini UAV. Development lasted three years before its maiden flight in 2010. The current development status of this aircraft remains

unknown as of June 2014. AL-4, Aeroland UAV Inc.: The AL-4 is a mini UAV ordered by an undisclosed non-military customer in Taiwan. Spoo nbi ll, National Cheng Kung University: The Spoonbill is a mini UAV. It completed its maiden flight in 2010 under manual remote control, flying 50nm (92km) across the Taiwan Strait. The current development status of this aircraft remains unknown as of June 2014. NOTES: In December 2013, an undisclosed source in the Taiwan military denied a media report according to which the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology (CIST) indigenous UAV development programme known as the ‘Long March’ failed to meet combat requirements and was suspended. The programme, launched in 2009 with a budget of $100 million, aimed to develop a HALE unmanned aerial vehicle with a combat range sufficient to conduct surveillance operations around Chinese military airbases. According to CIST, the UAV remains under development and will be able to carry a heavier payload and have a higher performance than other UAVs currently in service with the army.

THAILAND

FIELDED CyberEye, Sapura: The CyberEye is a MALE UAV which has ten hours endurance. The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) acquired three systems in early 2010 as part of the military’s effort to kickstart an indigenous UAV programme and to enable military personnel to acquire significant knowledge and experience of UAV operations and technologies. Aerostar, Aeronautics Defence Systems: The Aerostar tactical UAV provides high quality real-time reconnaissance. 22 Aerostar UAVs are operated by the RTAF. RQ-11 Raven, AeroVironment: The RQ-11 is a hand-Launched mini UAV. Twelve UAVs were acquired by the Royal Thai Army in 2010.

TRIALS AND DEVELOPMENT G-STAR, Innocon/G-Force Composites: The G-STAR mini UAV is based on

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the MiniFalcon2 mini UAV. One system is currently operated by the RTAF for evaluation.

NOTES: The Royal Thai Air Force is leading a UAV development programme aimed at improving its border and territorial surveillance capabilities. Project ‘Tiger Shark’, started in 2010 as a joint effort between the RTAF Academy and the ATAF Research and Development Centre. This effort has already seen the development of several UAV prototypes.

VIETNAM

FIELDED VT-Patrol, Viettel Corporation: The VTPatrol is a tactical UAV with a 27nm (50km) range.

TRIALS AND DEVELOPMENT R&D UAV/Irkut -200 Vari ant: Development has commenced of a new type of UAV based on the Irkut Corporation Irkut 200 mini UAV. A $10 million deal was signed between the Vietnam Aerospace Association and Russia’s Irkut in June 2012 regarding the supply of the relevant technologies to Vietnam.

NOTES: Vietnam tested six indigenously made UAVs in May 2013, reflecting the country’s interest in UAV technologies. After three days of tests, the UAVs developed by the Vietnam Space Technology Institute had completed 37 flights. In the same timeframe, the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) announced the completion of four indigenous UAVs, the AV.UAV.MS1 and AV.UAV.S2 mini UAVs and the AV.UAV.S3 and AV.UAV.S4 MALE UAVs. The programme’s research phase began in 2008. The test flights of the above-mentioned models, conducted in May 2013 in the South China Sea, proved the effectiveness of their autonomous flight control system as well as their optronics. Alongside the domestic effort to develop indigenous unmanned technologies, Vietnam is looking to purchase UAVs from abroad in the coming two-to-three years.

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BROTHERS IN ARMS One of the trickiest tasks faced by military planners is achieving the best mix of capabilities within the infantry section. The need to broaden the range of targets infantry can engage and the range of conditions under which they can engage them argues for a diverse mix of weapons.

by Peter Donaldson

uch a mix of weapons can perhaps include an assault rifle with an under-slung grenade launcher, a designated marksman rifle, a squad light machine gun, a heavier general purpose machine gun, a lightweight mortar, a shotgun, a multi-shot repeating grenade launcher, a lightweight rocket launcher and a compact anti-materiel rifle or similar. That’s ten kinds of weapon, a number chosen to match typical modern squad/section sizes. Just one of the problems with this unreal case is that every soldier incapacitated in battle would mean the loss of a unique capability, making the squad less than resilient. Going to the other extreme of issuing only assault rifles raises the opposite problem, limiting flexi-

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bility and firepower and increasing dependency on supporting arms. The emergence of very capable lightweight optronic systems further complicates the problem, but also offers potential solutions, particularly when connected to dismounted command and control. Better informed soldiers who can share information and cooperate more effectively and shoot more accurately ought to need fewer weapons, but could make good use of a variety of them. They are also likely to be more economical with ammunition and better able to direct fires from supporting assets. Interactions and feedbacks between these factors make this a complex problem that is never likely to yield a definitive solution, rather a menu of solutions tailored to different missions and environ-

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Selex ES’ LINX handheld targeting system represents a transformative technology for infantry, providing target acquisition through a target data record that provides target marker, azimuth, elevation, distance, geo-location and a target snapshot of the scene in IR and TV modes © Selex ES

ments. To explore the evolving relationship between these technologies, AMR quizzed a selection of optronics and weapons manufacturers, receiving considered responses from Selex ES, Meprolight and Israel Weapon Industries (IWI).

The power of integration

“The ability to integrate modern optronics and sensors with modern soldier radios and command and control systems provides the soldier with a powerful integrated

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suite of capability,” argues Marco Buratti, marketing and sales director of Selex ES’ Land and Naval Systems Division. “A recent example has been Italy’s Soldato Futuro (Future Soldier) programme in which optronics including weapon sights, target acquisition systems and helmet-mounted displays have been integrated with command and control capabilities including communications and information networks, based on software-defined radios and battlefield management systems. The capabilities afforded by these integrated systems is stimulating export markets outside the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and this is a key area of growth,” he told AMR. “The Asian market is seeking to benefit from technology leadership in soldier systems in NATO nations. India is investing heavily in land forces with soldier systems a key element. In the Asia-Pacific region we are seeing increased interest and demand from a number of countries.” Selex ES develops advanced optronics,

including its own proprietary infrared (IR) detector technology, and in digital communications, pulling them into its current and future soldier systems. Mr. Buratti emphasises that its latest generation of optronics deliver extended ranges and high image resolutions in smaller, lighter packages, achieving this through advances in detector technology, image enhancement algorithms and miniaturisation of the electronics.

Advancement and refinement

“Our own developments in running our cooled IR detectors at elevated temperatures with no loss of detector performance are opening up opportunities for a new range of soldier weapon and fire control sights that delivers very long range detection whilst retaining longer battery life than with normal cooled systems,” he told AMR. “We are also taking advantage of developments in consumer electronics and incorporating militarised versions of capabilities such as USB (Universal Serial Bus)

and 802.11 connectivity, video recording and image snapshot capture in compact and ruggedised form factors.” The relationship between infantry weapons and optronics is changing, in particular the balance of capabilities between handheld devices and those directly attached to weapons, with the further twist that many devices can be used in either mode. Weapon-mounted or not, however, their performance is improving rapidly. “The main technological goal is to achieve clear and accurate vision of the targets and surroundings during day, twilight and all levels of darkness,” says Zvika Lisichkin, marketing and sales manager for Israeli sight manufacturer Meprolight. “In addition, mobility and fast reaction are highly important.” The company’s weapon sights and other optronic systems are currently in service with law enforcement, military and civilian operators worldwide, including in Latin America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific as well as Israel, he says.

Meprolight’s MEPRO MESLAS, pictured here on an IWI Galil sniper rifle, is a programmable, multi-function 10x40 scope with a single-pulse, eye-safe laser rangefinder with a fire control system that calculates elevation angle for the shooter © Meprolight

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It is much more difficult to wrestle big improvements in performance from the weapons with which they are so closely associated. “The basic technology of infantry weapons hasn’t changed much in the past 100 years. However, new technologies are implemented in order to make it more versatile, lightweight, modular, accurate and, most importantly, ergonomic,” says Ronen Hamudot, vicepresident, marketing and sales, IWI, who also comments that the market for accessories of all kinds has grown immensely to accommodate such benefits. “The biggest market for IWI in the Asia-Pacific would be India, where we are competing in several bids including the multi-calibre assault rifles, LMG replacement and sniper rifles bids. All three bids hold an enormous potential for IWI and we are very optimistic that, eventually our rifles will be selected,” Mr. Hamudot told AMR.

First Hit Accuracy

The ability to put the first round on target is improving rapidly, says Mr. Buratti. “Modern target acquisition systems carried

With a range of 10 kilometres (six miles), the MEPRO 15-02 is a new eye-safe LRF designed for integration into handheld devices, multi-sensor platforms, and fire control systems, or mounted on RCWS, manually operated weapon stations and machine guns © Meprolight

by an individual soldier allow him/her to detect and geo-locate a target using a combination of day and night sights, laser range finder, magnetic compass and builtin Global Positioning System.” “In addition the connectivity afforded by modern battlefield communications networks allows the soldier to be provided

with real-time target data from other reconnaissance assets on the battlefield. His local weapon sights such as rifle optronics and grenade launcher fire control then deliver the precise weapon aiming guidance to accurately prosecute the detected and located targets with a high first-round hit probability.”

IWI’s newly launched DAN .338 sniper rifle is chambered for the .338 Lapua Magnum round (8.58x70mm) and pictured here with Meprolight’s MELAS fire control system. The weapon is capable of sub-MoA accuracy at ranges up to 1200 metres (3937 feet) © Israel Weapon Industries

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The speed and accuracy with which a solider can engage a target with an individual weapon can be increased by the precise matching of the optronics to the rifle, for example, while allowing for the numerous factors that affect its ballistics. These include ammunition type, barrel length, range, wind speed and direction, Mr. Lisichkin points out. “This can be accomplished by producing matching reticles for weapon types with markings for ballistic compensation, and fire control systems that can calculate all the factors and automatically provide the required adjustments.” As a firearms designer, IWI considers first-round hit probability a primary consideration, but Mr. Hamudot puts a slightly different emphasis on the approach to the problem. “We strive to shorten or even eliminate any intermediate [structure] between the optics and the weapon’s barrel in order to make it more stable.” “The Israel Defence Force version of the TAR-21 Tavor assault rifle is a good exam-

The accuracy with which a solider can engage a target with their weapon can be increased by the precise matching of their optronics

ple,” he continues. “The optic was integrated into the barrel of the weapon, which made it significantly more accurate.”

Rail flexibility

The flexibility provided by rail systems and optronics is changing how infantry squads use their weapons, says Mr. Lisichkin: “You can mount on the same weapon a reflex sight, a night vision (image intensified) sight and a thermal sight, which gives the commander the option to give different functions to each soldier in his unit for different operations.” Meprolight emphasises its use of the

lightest materials for the housings of its weapon sights, which contain “the smallest microbolometers possible” and fuse their thermal IR images with those of image intensifiers. The company recently introduced the MESLAS multi-function, fire-controlled sniper’s rifle scope. The 10x40 optics incorporate a single-pulse eye-safe laser rangefinder invisible to night vision devices, and a fire control computer. The rugged device offers optional measurements of temperature and humidity along with bore axis angle sensing to feed into ballistic calculations. A likely application is IWI’s DAN .338, the first of a new family of bolt-action sniper rifles that the company has recently launched. Chambered for .338 Lapua Magnum (8.58x70mm), the rifle delivers “exceptional” accuracy at ranges up to 1200 metres (3937 feet) and incorporates advanced ergonomics that “enable the weapon to fit perfectly with the sniper’s body”.

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Bursting With Potential

Of all the weapons available to infantry, it is perhaps low velocity bursting munitions such as 40mm grenades that are having their accuracy and consequently their effectiveness most profoundly transformed, as Mr. Buratti explains. “Target information from other reconnaissance assets including precise geolocation for non-line-of-sight targets is available to the infantry soldier via their command and control system, and this allows him to direct his local sighting systems onto the target quickly and accurately. The Scorpio grenade-launcher fire control system from Selex ES utilises primary optical/thermal sights to locate a target whereupon the target range is determined from the built-in laser range finder. The ballistics computer inside Scorpio then autonomously calculates the ballistics angles and provides the soldier with the precise elevation angle from which to direct the grenade launch.” The US Army wants a variety of new fire control capabilities for handheld infantry weapons, including a Grenadier Sighting System (GSS) for its M320 and M320A1 grenade launchers, under-barrel 40mm weapons that fit the M16 rifle and

The 25mm HEAB round is programmed with the target range derived from the laser rangefinder in the XM25 air burst grenade launcher’s fire control system and uses a turn counting technique to time its detonation. It is one of a family of rounds being developed for the weapon © ATK

M4 carbine respectively and that can be used in stand-alone mode. The service wants to be able to update the GSS when new rounds come along, multiple ballistic solutions and presets, night capability and long operating endurance. A draft Request for Proposals (RfP) is due out this summer, with a final RfP to follow in the autumn. Likely candidates include the FN Herstal FCU-850N/-1.5M, the Multi-Purpose Rifle System (MPRS) optic from Israel Military Industries (IMI), Selex ES’ aforementioned Scorpio and the Rheinmetall FelVis. At the same time, the service is continuing development of the ATK XM25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement System (CDTES) and a family of 25mm ammunition, which includes a High Explosive Air Burst (HEAB) round. The fire control system includes a laser range finder and a ballistic computer that provides the shooter with a compensated reticle and programmes the HEAB round. While the projectile is smaller than a 40mm grenade, the four-shot semi-automatic weapon offers a significantly greater effective range of typical hand-held grenade launchers. According to the US Army, the XM25, which is thought likely to become the M25

A soldier sights through the fire control system of an XM25 air burst grenade launcher. This fourshot, 25mm automatic weapon fires programmed air burst munitions to defeat adversaries positioned behind cover © ATK

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With 40x51 mm medium velocity rounds and a fire control system, Milkor’s popular six-shot M32A1 grenade launcher promises to provide serious competition in the air-bursting infantry weapons sector for the likes of the XM25 air burst grenade launcher © US Marine Corps

within months, is effective against point targets at 500m (1640ft) and area targets at 700m (2296ft). The M203, by way of comparison, has a maximum range of about 400m (1312ft), is effective against fire team-sized area targets out to 350m (1148ft) and against point targets such as light vehicles and crew served weapons out to about 150m (492ft). The same figures apply to multi-shot grenade-launchers such as the Milkor MGL with lowvelocity 40x46mm grenades, but with medium velocity 40x51mm rounds the effective range of weapon that accept them, such as Milkor’s six-shot M32A1, doubles. With 40mm airburst rounds available, future international competition between the M25 and multi-shot grenadelaunchers promises to be instructive.

Future Fire Control

PEO (Programme Executive Office) Soldier has also set out more general small-arms fire control technology needs

The US Army wants a variety of new fire control capabilities for its current and future handheld infantry weapons under the headings of enhanced target acquisition, better ballistic solutions, closed-loop fire control and accurate weapon orientation, all within tight size, weight and power constraints. In addition to better detection, location and acquisition of targets, the US Army wants systems to help with identification, prioritisation and damage assessment. Verifiable and updatable computations, environmental sensing at the soldier’s location and at the target and means of displaying the firing solution to the soldier without compromising the direct view on the ballistics menu. Desirable functions in

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closed-loop fire control include tracking of the last shot to allow corrections for the next, along with control and programming of ammunition. Elevation and cant sensors are wanted to help calculate the weapon’s orientation relative to the target to feed into the ballistic solution. These capabilities must be delivered, according to a 14 May 2012 presentation by PEO Soldier’s Individual Weapons manager Lieutenant Colonel Shawn Lucas, by technologies centred around a modular concept consisting of an optic, a rangefinder, a ballistic computer, a limited visibility unit and a suite of sensors in which each module can be upgraded or replaced independently of the others. A direct view optic that needs no power is a critical requirement. Finally, the system must also be net-ready so that soldiers can share data, enabling advanced target hand-off for example. Such capabilities will be characteristic of the next generation of dismounted soldier systems.

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PUSHING THE BOAT OUT

The deployment of Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) by naval forces is set to take off as military users increasingly realise the potential of the technology to maximise reconnaissance, remote monitoring, Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and coastal patrol missions.

by Claire Apthorp

he Unmanned Surface Vehicles for Defence and Security - Global Markets and Technologies Outlook report, published in 2013 by the Market Info Group, a United States-based market research company, puts the value of the USV market between 2013 and 2020 at $6 billion. Thus the prospects for USV manufacturers are

increasingly positive as interest in the technology grows.

Early Adoption

Singapore became the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to gain USV capabilities when it acquired the Protector USV from Israelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rafael Advanced Defence Systems in 2005. The Republic of

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Singapore Navy (RSN) deploys the ten metre (31 feet) long vessel in a range of peacekeeping and force protection roles, including maritime security and interdiction operations. This USV is an integrated naval combat system based on an unmanned, autonomous, remotely-controlled surface vehicle. Manoeuvrable and stealthy, the

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Protector can conduct a wide spectrum of critical missions, without exposing personnel and capital assets to unnecessary risk. The system is based on a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB), and is fitted with a range of sensor and navigation systems and an integrated naval combat system. The search radar and the Toplite optronic pod enable detection, identification and targeting, while the weapon system is based on Rafael’s Mini-Typhoon Remote Weapon Station (RWS), capable of operating various small calibre guns. The system can also engage targets with non-lethal means by way of water cannons. Rafael designed the Protector for antiterror force protection, but the system’s plug-and-play architecture enables users to reconfigure the USV to utilise mission modules for reconnaissance, naval war-

fare, maritime and port security roles. The company has continued to upgrade The Protector's capabilities since its release. In the 2005-6 time period the company made the decision to move from the commercial RHIB platform to a specially-designed hull for better compatibility with onboard systems, and to maximise the rigidity and ruggedisation of the craft itself. This was followed in 2010 to a more advanced eleven-metre (36ft) long version of the vessel, which features complete redundancy of all sailing functions onboard, to ensure that no single failure in the system can cause the USV to become stranded at sea. Dr. Noam B., product line manager for unmanned marine systems at Rafael, told Asian Military Review that the company is

currently working to improve the system’s autonomy. “Today Protector can basically perform the mission autonomously as far as the sailing is concerned, and this is something that is ongoing and developing as the demand for autonomy increases,” he said. “We are improving all the time the issue of obstacle avoidance, but as far as the mission module is concerned, that is something we do not do autonomously. There is a person in the loop at all times.” Other mission modules are being added, with a focus on integrating shortrange missiles to provide a very accurate strike capability adding Electronic Warfare (EW) capabilities and mine warfare. All of these things in turn will help drive demand for USV systems as potential customers realise the expanded capabilities as the technology matures.

Rafael’s Protector is an integrated naval combat system, based on an unmanned, autonomous, remotely-controlled surface vehicle. This craft is in service with the Republic of Singapore Navy where it is used for anti-terrorist operations and harbour protection © Rafael

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The Protector unmanned surface vehicle produced by Rafael can conduct a wide range of critical missions, without exposing personnel and capital assets to unnecessary risk, thanks to the wide array of sensors which the boat can carry © Rafael

“I wouldn’t say the USV market is very big yet, but we expect it to grow substantially within the coming years, with new customers and applications,” Dr. Noam B explained. “The two main things that are driving demand are the value of human life. We don’t want to put our sailors in danger so we prefer to operate things from afar; the other is the acknowledgement that you can perform all these missions remotely just as well or even better than when you have people on board with this high end system that provides a very accurate and detailed situational awareness picture.”

Indigenous Developments

Indigenous development in USV technology is on the increase in the Asia-Pacific. As early as 2006, China’s Shenyang Aerospace Xinguang Group is understood to have initiated development of a nine-metre (30ft) long USV known as ‘XG-2’, although little is known of the system’s capabilities. In 2010 Singapore’s ST Electronics unveiled its new Venus USV at that country’s Aerospace Exhibition. The Venus is a nine-metre long USV integrated with guidance navigation control, electronics and sensors. In 2012 the vehicle was integrated with four different payload types and displayed at the Euronaval exhibition in Paris to demonstrate its versatility for a range of missions. The payload types included a Thales towed synthetic aperture sonar for mine detection and classification missions; an ECA expandable mine disposal system for mine identification and neutralisation; an OtoMelara RWS for

force protection and a Thales dipping sonar for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW). Another Singaporean company, Zycraft, is developing a USV with an eye to future market growth. The company’s ‘Vigilant’ class USV completed phase one development in September 2013, during which the vessel notched up over 24 months of inwater testing in Singaporean waters and travelled a total of 2000 nautical miles (3704 Kilometres). It also participated in several Fleet Battle Experiments and demonstrated continuous unmanned operations exceeding 48 hours as well as travelling 100nm (184km) into the South China Sea.

Long Endurance

The Vigilant is a 16.5m (54ft) long vessel designed for long endurance. Its stamina allows it to operate base-to-base and inde-

pendent of a mother ship. Once launched from its base, the USV transits to the area of operations and can remain on station for a period of 30-40 days, reducing the necessity for frequent refuelling. The vessel’s hull is built using an advanced composite material called Arovex. This carbon nanotube infused carbon fibre material provides exceptional hull strength resulting in a lighter hull that uses less engine power to achieve the desired speed. As a result, it allows more meaningful payloads and more fuel to be carried for enhanced range and operational capabilities. “We firmly believe that long endurance is vital for USVs, because the last thing you want is to send a USV out for it to reach its destination, and then have to bring it back in order to refuel,” James Soon, the president of Zycraft, told Asian Military Review. “We have also built a Seakeeper stabilisation into the baseline configuration to ensure that the vessel – which is still quite small – is not subject to the action of the waves.” Although Vigilant has been demonstrated to an unnamed south-east Asian navy and the company is in discussions with several potential military customers, no firm contracts for the system have been signed as yet. Part of the reason for this slow uptake of USV systems in general is that there are many challenges still to overcome for their safe deployment. The lack of guidelines for the regulation of USVs on the water is

With the Vigilant USV concept navies do not need to build bigger ships simply to carry small USVs. Instead they can rely on the size of a bigger USV to have a high endurance and space to carry required payloads © Zycraft

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The Vigilant unmanned surface vehicle’s long endurance capabilities allow it to operate baseto-base and independent of a mother ship. The craft is produced by Zycraft of Singapore which has demonstrated the design’s capabilities to potential customers © Zycraft

one such challenge, to ensure they do not become a navigational hazard for merchant ships in busy shipping lanes. However, Mr. Soon believes that the USV market is on the verge of ‘breaking out’, and that the Asia-Pacific, along with the Middle East, is likely to be a hotspot for the uptake of the technology. “The RSN has certainly been the lead operators of USVs in the Asia-Pacific over the past ten years, and I think what they have done, along with news of the growth of USVs around the world, is facilitating great interest among the navies of the region,” Mr. Soon believes. “I think it may be no more than five years from now that we see one or two more navies having USVs as a staple part of their capabilities. Navies in this region are traditionally high-tech, with many wanting to be at the leading edge of the technology curve, and to be a lead organisation in the field of operating USVs would say a lot about the sophistication of that navy.” Besides, USVs have a lot to offer modern naval forces. A system such as Vigilant, which has three tonnes of available payload space, enough to carry an efficient radar system, optronics, and an EW system, is a relatively inexpensive way to overcome the challenge faced by many forces – that of resources spread too thin. “Ask any navy chief in the region and their constant refrain is that they never have enough vessels to do what they want to do, and that clearly leaves room for a USV,” Mr. Soon said. “If you don’t have enough vessels, but you want to have more presence and more sensors on the ground, the only way to do that is to acquire USVs to fill the gaps that manned boats leave behind.”

Such a concept of operations would see manned and unmanned vessels operating in concert, with the USV becoming a forward eye, looking out for possible developing situations, while the manned vessel becomes the response force. ”That way you don’t have an expensive warship burning up thousands and thousands of dollars of fuel running around trying to establish the surveillance picture,” Mr. Soon adds. “Instead, you have the warship stationed at the optimal location, send out the USV to engage at the operational parameters, and only engage the manned vessel at the developing hotspots. That way you are optimising the use of your limited resources.”

Driving Requirements

This potential for unmanned vehicles to take up some of the capability currently delivered by expensive manned vessels is a significant driver in investment by USV manufacturers. In October 2013 a new family of systems was launched at the Pacific 2013 Defence Conference in Sydney by Australian marine technology company Solar Sailor (now Ocius Technology). Developed with Australian manufacturer Steber International, the systems, known as BlueBottles, are being developed to ‘live’ at sea using available solar, wind and wave power for ocean monitor-

Australia, India, Taiwan and the Republic of Korea are in the midst of expanding their Mine Counter Measures capabilities l

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ing and surveillance. They can endure all sea conditions while providing a stable ‘roll-dampened’ platform for above and below water surveillance with low-cost optronics and radar. It can also provide a communications link between aerial and submarine assets. In particular, the company has its eye on emerging ASW requirements from regional navies, in particular Australia. “For Australia ASW is a big issue in our Defence White Papers and capability plans because Australia is an island and 85 percent of our trade comes by sea, so if an adversary’s submarine got undetected into our sea lanes it would be a game-changer during potential conflicts,” Robert Dane, chief executive officer of Ocius Technology, told Asian Military Review. “The ability of a USV to be out there 24-hours-a-day, sevendays-a-week, operating at low cost and with low energy requirements, to listen and detect conventional and nuclear submarines is something that is of great interest to the Royal Australian Navy.” Ocius Technology has teamed up with an unnamed European defence prime contractor that develops acoustic arrays for ASW operations. Mr. Dane said the company has been invited to speak with the Royal Australian Navy about the work they are doing with BlueBottle, and expects to make an announcement on developments toward the end of 2014. BlueBottles will be available in three configurations, a 2.5m (8.2ft) long ‘Blue Nemo’ system carrying basic oceanographic sensors plus camera and sonar; a 3.5m (11.4ft) long ‘Blue Buoy’ system carrying basic sensors plus a 40 Kilogram (88lb) payload and roll-dampened radar-camera; and a 5.9m (19ft) long ‘Blue Stinger’ carry-

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a robust electrical generating capacity to support modern mine sweeping equipment requirements. It features a glass reenforced plastic hull, twin diesel engines and is operated by the company’s control system, which provides direct control, semi-autonomous and autonomous modes complete with real-time video, radar, payload feedback, vehicle sensor data channels and proven safety systems. ASV also supplies its unmanned marine target drones into Asia. The company completed the second phase of a marine target drone programme with the RoK in April 2014, having delivered four nine metre length systems to RoK company GigaRF for the test and evaluation of a missile system by the Agency of Defence Development (ADD). Similarly, the company delivered three six metre (20ft) long

The C-Sweep USV fitted with a Saab Seaeye Submersible. Teaming this uninhabited underwater surveillance system with a USV represents one way in which humans can be kept safe from harm as far as the mine countermeasures mission is concerned © ASV

ing basic sensors plus an 80kg (176lb) payload and the ability to tow an array. “Military users have a range of different requirements, so we’ve built three systems for different missions: one for oceanography, one as a moveable buoy for harbour and asset protection, and one for travelling long distances for defence,” Mr. Dane said. “The possibilities are vast, for example, look at people-smuggling operations off the north coast of Australia …this area could be patrolled for a fifth of the cost of one ship as you don’t have any sailors on board and no fuel requirements, so they are very cheap to run.’

The USS Oriole (MHC-55) was one of two US Navy Osprey’ class coastal mine hunter vessels sold to Taiwan as part of that country’s efforts to expand its MCM capabilities © US Navy

Kangnam Style

Aside from Australia, India, Taiwan and the Republic of Korea (RoK) are in the midst of expanding their Mine Counter Measures (MCM) capabilities. India is pressing ahead with its plan to procure eight MCM Vessels (MCMVs) from Goa Shipyard Limited and the RoK’s Kangnam Corporation which are scheduled to arrive from 2016. Taiwan took delivery of two former United States Navy mine hunting vessels in August 2012, and the RoK is working on requirements for its Airborne MCM (AMCM) programme. While the focus remains on manned platforms for these programmes, USV manufacturers believe there is scope to enhance

capabilities with unmanned technology. “Asia is definitely a growth area for our company; there are quite a lot of MCM programmes underway in the region and we have had enquiries from potential customers, particularly for our C-Sweep MCM system,” Vince Dobbin, head of business development, Autonomous Surface Vehicles (ASV) told Asian Military Review. C-Sweep is a 10.8m (35.4ft) long rugged USV designed to offer a high degree of directional stability, substantial towing capacity for long-endurance mine sweeping missions (of up to 200nm/370km) and

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target drones to Singapore at the beginning of 2013 to a local company for operation on behalf of the RSN. There is no question that Asia’s USV market is on the cusp of significant growth as militaries in the region more closely refine their requirements and manufacturers continue to push the boundaries of what is possible with emerging technology developments. With naval forces looking to enhance capabilities without exhausting budgets, USVs offer a cost-effective asset for a range of maritime operations while keeping sailors out of harm’s way.

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KEEPING A LOW PROFILE From football matches to telemedicine, satellites have shrunken the globe, providing light-speed communications across continents. They are now helping military vehicles to stay in touch with the outside world far beyond the horizon.

by Thomas Withington

Thales provide a range of mobile SATCOM products. These include new products such as Modem-21 and SATMOVE, alongside the Venus mobile SATCOM system procured for the French Army and depicted in this photograph ÂŠ Thales

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raditionally, military vehicles have had three main means of communications to remain connected with other soldiers, echelons of command and their counterparts in other armed services. These have included High Frequency (HF) radio communications in the three to 30 megahertz (MHz) segment of the electro-magnetic spectrum, and Very/Ultra High Frequency (V/UHF – 30300MHz/300MHz-three Gigahertz) radio communications. Of these three segments of the electro-magnetic spectrum, only HF offers Beyond-Line-Of-Sight (BLOS) overthe-horizon radio coverage. This is because HF transmissions use the ionosphere, a band of the atmosphere existing at between 85-660 kilometres (53-373 miles) altitude acting as a trampoline from which HF signals can jump to reach their destination. However, while the ranges offered by HF communications are impressive, the amount of data, imagery and voice traffic that they can handle is limited. Both VHF and UHF communications can handle significant quantities of voice, data and imagery traffic, but at the expense of range as they only have a lineof-sight reach. In a nutshell, HF gives you range but not bandwidth while V/UHF gives you bandwidth but not range. Such fundamentals of physics come at a vexing time for the world’s armies. The realities of HF and V/UHF communications are unlikely to change any time soon, save for a major change in the laws of physics which, for the time being, appears rather unlikely. Yet armies have a need to handle increasingly large amounts of information due in no small part to the electronic Battle Management Systems (BMS) they use to command and control campaigns, and the large quantities of imagery gathered by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and soldier optronics. Satellite Communications (SATCOM) offer one means of addressing this radio communications conundrum. SATCOM allows the movement of large quantities of voice, data and imagery traffic at global ranges as the signals are transmitted into the heavens and bounced off a satellite to reach their intended destination. Today’s

soldiers have SATCOM terminals which they can carry and set up in the field to provide them with BLOS communications; they are also increasingly benefiting from personal SATCOM terminals, while headquarters can use fixed antennae for their satellite communications needs. All very good, but what about military vehicles? They too increasingly need SATCOM to enjoy high bandwidth communications. No wonder that several companies around the world are furnishing just about anything with wheels or tracks with mobile SATCOM terminals for use when the vehicle is either stationary or on-the-move.

New Waveforms

One product in widespread use is Thales’ Modem-21 SATCOM system which enables secure on-the-move communications. The company, it was revealed during a presentation of its products in Paris on 11 June 2014 attended by the author, has recently rolled out the third generation of its Modem-21 hardware, along with an accompanying third generation of SATCOM waveform to accompany this product. According to Georges Touloupas, vice president for mobile networks at Thales, this new waveform and version of Modem-21 offers a step change

Selex-ES launched its TacSat Razor mobile satellite communications antenna in early May 2014. The product boasts a high performance, while maintaining a low weight and a low power consumption © Selex-ES

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M Using UHF communications (see below for a discussion of the importance of UHF in mobile SATCOM) the TacSat Razor Antenna imposes a weight penalty of only one kilogram (two pounds) and uses a maximum of 20 Watts of power.

Multi-Bands

The United States Army is in the process of rolling out the WIN-T which will equip the force with mobile voice and data communications, on-the-move satellite communications is a key component of WIN-T © US Army

in capabilities and security. Mr. Touloupas says that the third generation waveform can equip legacy versions of the Modem21 equipment, but that this comes at the expense of some capability. For example, the new Modem-21 waveform has a higher rate of frequency-hopping transmission security compared to its predecessors. Enhanced data rates are also provided by this waveform in the order of 50 megabitsper-second (mbps), compared to the circa 30mbps of the legacy waveform. Modem-21 joins other Thales mobile SATCOM products such as SATMOVE of which an X-band (eight-to-twelve Gigahertz/GHz) system using a phased array antenna is currently in production, with a Ku-band (twelve-18GHz), “already available and ready to enter production in the near future”, according to Patrick Heuline and Pascal Augier, both product line managers at the company. SATMOVE has been deployed by French forces during their Operation SERVAL military intervention in the troubled West African country of Mali from January 2013. As noted above, SATMOVE makes use of a

phased array antenna. Such technology is becoming increasingly important in the provision of mobile SATCOM as it offers a means by which antennae can be reduced in terms of Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) consumption to enable an allimportant low profile design to reduce their physical conspicuousness and their demands on a vehicles’ power supply. Such antennae can also support a range of SATCOM frequency bands. Thales’ Italian counterpart Selex ES offers a range of SATCOM apparatus and infrastructure to military customers. Maurizio Viberti, responsible for defence communications systems marketing for the firm, says that its offerings in the mobile domain include “solutions on vehicular platforms designed to cope with the operational requirements of mobile command posts and mobile network nodes. These terminals work in different radio frequency bands and are capable of tracking their satellites in all terrain conditions.” On 7 May 2014, the firm launched its TacSat Razor Antenna which provides high performance SATCOM on-the-move.

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Israeli defence electronics specialists Elbit Systems provides its MSR-2000 family of low-profile antennae for SATCOM on-themove. According to the firm’s official literature, this vehicle SATCOM terminal is designed for Ku-band communications, although the customer has the option to use Ka-band (27-40GHz) if so desired. With an elevation coverage of between zero and 100 degrees, the firm says that the MSR-2000’s satellite auto-tracking capability allows the terminal to rapidly recapture a satellite signal should it be lost for any reason. Elbit Systems adds that this product is suitable for all types of military vehicle. The MSR-2000 family includes three specific products; the ELSAT-2000E, ELSAT-2100 and ELSAT-2300. Each of these terminals has different antenna physical dimensions, although all of them offer Ku- and extended Ka-band communications, and 10.7-12.7GHz receive and 13.7514.5GHz transmit frequencies. Back in 2012, Elbit Systems announced that it had won a contract from an undisclosed Latin American country to equip it with the ELSAT-2100 terminal. Elbit Systems is not the only Israeli company active in the mobile SATCOM domain. Commtact’s Mobile Satellite Terminal (MOST) provides full duplex (i.e. simultaneous two-way) communications in the Ku- and Ka-bands.

Shock Doctrine

General Dynamics has been involved in the provision of SATCOM systems to the military for many years. According to Tim Shroyer, engineering fellow for General Dynamics C4 Systems, the company provides “mobile terminals operating in the X, Ku- and Ka-band frequencies. The terminals are available in four different antenna sizes are used to support military users on land, at sea and inside aircraft.” Mr. Shroyer stresses that the company’s SATCOM terminals for vehicles are designed

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to cope with particularly stressful conditions: “Land vehicle dynamics are the most rigorous so our land SOTM (Satellite OnThe-Move) terminals are designed to operate under the worst of shock and vibration conditions experienced by military vehicles.” One method of dealing with such demanding conditions has been the use of advanced materials, Mr. Shroyer adds: “We have taken the carbon fibre and composite materials technology developed for our airborne SOTM terminals and applied it to our land terminals. That results in much lighter terminals that can withstand the rigorous shock and vibration requirements of a ground-mobile platform.” Work is moving forward in the United States to roll out mobile SATCOM via the announcement in June 2013 that the US Army’s Communications Electronic Research and Engineering Development Centre had begun developing an open systems standard to allow the installation of Commercial-Off-The-Shelf Distributed Aperture SATCOM systems into existing and future US Army vehicles. The intention is for the antennae procured to facilitate SATCOM to be designed to surround a vehicles’ hull (hence the ‘distributed’ appellation used for the initiative) rather than having a single, large antenna positioned on the vehicle’s roof. This open systems standard will then form part of the Distributed and Embedded SATCOM OnThe-Move Terminal Architecture (DEESTA) which provides standards for SATCOM terminal design to support the US Army’s Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) initiative. WIN-T is being developed to provide mobile voice and data communications to US Army vehicles at BLOS ranges. Alongside the US armed forces SATCOM initiatives such as WIN-T which are providing mobile SATCOM, several companies based in the United States offer secure SATCOM leasing services to countries around the world for which the development of a nationally-owned defence SATCOM infrastructure would not be cost effective. One such firm is ViaSat which also provides satellite communications services to the United States armed forces furnishing it with AN/PSC-

WIN-T is being developed to provide mobile voice and data communications to US Army vehicles at BLOS ranges 14 Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) terminals. Capable of use either as a manpack or as a vehicular SATCOM terminal, the AN/PSC-14 offers data rates of up to 422kbps using a secure link certified to US National Security Agency Type1 encryption standards, transmitted across the INMARSAT (International Maritime Satellite) constellation. Like ViaSat, Harris CapRock, also based in the United States, offers its customers mobile SATCOM services via its CommandAccess product. In service since 2009, and used by several North Atlantic Treaty Organisation members, CommandAccess essentially provides a smorgasbord of services which can include everything from the provision of vehicular or manpack SATCOM terminals up to the full installation of a complete national defence SATCOM infrastructure for a particular nation. For all intents and purposes

customers can choose what they require and are charged only for these services accordingly. Recent augmentations of the CommandAccess product include the provision of UHF SATCOM across BLOS ranges. Usually, when employed by tactical radios, UHF can carry impressive amounts of data, voice and imagery traffic, but is hampered by retaining a line-of-sight range. Harris CapRock’s adoption of UHF for BLOS SATCOM will give the customer a means to move large quantities of traffic over-the-horizon.

Wandering GNOMADs

Other products available from US suppliers include DRS Technologies’ Ku-38V low-profile Continuous On-The-Move (COTM) antenna. It provides high bandwidth voice, data and imagery communications using the Ku-band and employing a small antenna and terminal to reduce the physical size that it occupies on a vehicle. Those customers requiring an X-band mobile SATCOM terminal can instead opt for the X-38V. Likewise, L3 Communications’ TRM-1000 product combines the company’s MPM-10000 internet protocol modem with an antenna which can utilise the United States Army’s Wideband Global SATCOM

Elbit Systems’ ELSAT-2000E mobile SATCOM system is one of several vehicle SATCOM products offered by the Israeli firm. In 2013, a Latin American country purchased Elbit’s ELSAT 2100 mobile SATCOM terminal © Elbit Systems

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Exelis’ GNOMAD product line includes both manpack and vehicular satellite communications systems. One of the key attractions of the GNOMAD product, as far as vehicle communications are concerned, is that it can be connected directly to a vehicles’ standard radio © Exelis

(WGS) constellation which is currently in the process of replacing the erstwhile Defence Satellite Communication SystemIII constellation. Joining the TRM-1000 is Exelis’ GNOMAD family of SATCOM terminals which use a common base architecture equipped with an interchangeable antenna according to the application, be it manpack or vehicle-mounted. Operating in the Kuband, GNOMAD offers data rates of up to two megabits-per-second across commercially-available satellite links. The vehicleborne version of GNOMAD has a low-profile antenna to ensure that it does not excessively clutter a vehicle’s roof, and all versions of GNOMAD provide secure full duplex communications at rates of up to 50mbps. Another attraction of GNOMAD is that it can be connected to a vehicle’s

Exelis AN/VRC-92 or Harris AN/VRC104 and AN/VRC-110 vehicular radio transceivers, effectively affording these radios wideband BLOS communications via the use of GNOMAD.

Movin’ On

One trend which may be observed in the future is the increasing adoption of the Kaband for mobile SATCOM. As this article has illustrated, many mobile SATCOM

Given the caterpillarlike appetite of SATCOM users, there is an imperative to seek new segments of the radio spectrum l

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system users possess terminals operating in the X- and Ku-bands. The problems with the X-band is that military communications are only allocated around 500MHz of spectrum, meaning that it is hugely over-subscribed due to the sheer demand for SATCOM services. Ku-band offers a potential solution but this too is becoming oversubscribed, not only by the military but also by commercial customers who have an addiction to SATCOM. Given the caterpillar-like appetite of commercial and military SATCOM users, there is an increasing imperative to seek new comparatively under-used segments of the radio spectrum, and Kaband in this regard could provide some much-needed space for military SATCOM users in the coming years be they mobile or otherwise.

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ASIA PACIFIC PROCUREMENT UPDATE by Pierre Delrieu

INDIA’S AIR FORCE TO RECEIVE DELIVERY OF ADDITIONAL 40 PC-7 MK 2 AIRCRAFT WITHIN TWO YEARS

Less than two years after the signature of a $520 million deal between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Swiss manufacturer Pilatus Aircraft Ltd for 75 of the company’s PC-7 Mk 2 turboprop aircraft, Pilatus announced in a press release published 5 May 2014 that it was ahead of schedule and had already delivered 35 units since the fourth quarter of 2012. The manufacturer expressed its utmost confidence that the 75 aircraft ordered by the IAF will be delivered by the end of 2015. In addition to the aircraft, the initial deal, which was finalised in May 2012, included an integrated, groundbased training system and a comprehensive logistics support package. In its press release, Pilatus announced that, as of February 2014, the first PC-7 Mk. 2 Fixed-Base Full Mission Simulator was fully operational, installed at

the Dundigal Air Force Academy, located near Hyderabad, with a second simulator and additional Ground-Based Training Systems due to be installed by the end of 2014. The Pilatus PC-7 turboprop trainer is based upon the Pilatus PC-3 which is a singleengine, tandem-seat turboprop aircraft designed to perform basic training missions. Its endurance, low maintenance and reliability have allowed the Indian Air Force to maintain a very high availability rate on the flight line since the

introduction of this new platform. In an earlier interview, IAF Air Vice Marshal VR Chaudhuri explained that the Pilatus trainer aircraft offers better results than previous models, especially when compared to the Indian-built Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) HJT-16 Kiran Jet Trainer, also used by the IAF. “The Kiran would stay in the air for an hour and 45 minutes on 1200 pounds (545 kilograms) of internal fuel,” explained AVM Chaudhry, “(whereas) the Pilatus carries little less than 900lbs (409kg)

and stays in the air for four and a half hours; this provides tremendous flexibility.” According to the plane’s manufacturer, the PC-7 Mk. 2 has allowed the IAF to increase the basic training programme in terms of flight hours by 220 percent. The IAF has therefore already decided to press forward their plans to enhance the number of student pilots by 150 percent and has been looking into acquiring more units in the very near future, seeing the results of the PC-7 Mk. 2 in measuring up to their requirements and expectations.

65678 new rifles, and a licence to domestically produce up to 100000 additional examples. Initially, India short-listed several weapons including the Italian Beretta ARX-160, the Czech BREN CZ-805, the Israeli IWI (Israeli Weapons Industries) Galil ACE-1, the

Swiss SIG Sauer SG-551 and a variant of the American Colt M16A1 (the M4 carbine). In February 2014, the shortlist was narrowed further to the ARX-160, the M4 and the Galil ACE-1. These weapons have now commenced trials as of June 2014 and are being put through their paces in a variety of demanding conditions, with the trials expected to conclude in July 2014. There has of yet been no word on when the Indian Army will take a decision on which weapon will be selected, or the arrangements for the weapon’s licensed production.

INDIAN ASSAULT RIFLE PROCUREMENT TAKES SHAPE

The Indian Army has commenced trials regarding its procurement of a new assault rifle to equip the force. Currently, the Indian Army uses the INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) which is manufactured by the Ordnance Factories Board. The weapon uses 5.56x45mm North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) standard ammunition, has a 600 rounds-perminute rate-of-fire and an effective range of 400 metres (1312 feet). The INSAS has been in Indian Army service

since 1990 when it was adopted as the replacement for the 1A1 7.62mm self-loading rifle, also produced by the Ordnance Factories Board. The Request for Proposals for the INSAS replacement was issued in November 2011 for an initial requirement of

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INDONESIAN NAVY CHOOSES AS565 PANTHER HELICOPTER FOR ITS ASW REQUIREMENT

The TenteraNasional Indonesia-Angkatan Laut (TNI-AL), Indonesia’s Navy, announced on 28 April 2014 that it has decided to acquire 16 Airbus Helicopters AS565 Panther maritime support rotorcraft. The Indonesian defence ministry still needs to officially approve the deal, and is, until then, unwilling to disclose a timeline for the delivery of the helicopters. Speaking about the deal, Vice Admiral Untong Suropati, head of communications for the TNI-AL, explained that the aircraft will embark on vessels such as the country’s ‘Diponegoro’ class corvettes. PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI), one of the country’s main aerospace firms, will be involved in the production of the aircraft for the TNI-AL. PTDI was also involved in the Indonesian

LOCKHEED MARTIN SIGNS $80 MILLION DEAL TO SUPPLY INDONESIA AND US APACHE SENSOR SYSTEMS

Lockheed Martin announced in early May 2014 that it had been awarded a $80.6 million contract with the United States Army, which includes the production of nine Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS) destined to equip the Indonesian Army’s (TNI) Boeing AH-64 Block-III Apache attack helicopters. The contract also covers eight targeting and pilotage systems and spares for the US Army, as stated in the press release published by Lockheed on 5 May 2014. According to Lieutenant Colonel Steven Van

government’s decision to purchase the AS565, made under the company’s recommendations. In the past, PTDI has worked with Airbus to manufacture the CASA/IPTN CN235 tactical turboprop freighter, jointly developed with CASA of Spain (now Airbus) as a regional airliner as well as a military freighter. According to the Indonesian company, PTDI and Airbus Helicopters will produce all 16 aircraft in Bandung, the capital of West Java province in Indonesia and the country’s third largest Riper, product manager for the US Army Apache sensors, the “production lot directly supports the AH-64E production line”. Quoted in the press release, Lt. Col. Van Riper explains that being able to “bundle (the US Army’s) procurement with one of our Foreign Military Sales partners (Indonesia) increases (the US Army’s) buying power.” With this deal, Indonesia becomes Lockheed’s 13th international customer to purchase the company’s MTADS/PNVS system. The production of the systems will be conducted in Orlando and Ocala, Florida, and is scheduled to be complete by July 2016. The $500 million deal for the sale of eight AH-64D helicopters and AN/APG-78 Longbow fire control radars to the TNI had been confirmed in

city. PTDI may also work in collaboration with Airbus Helicopters to manufacture the airframes and the aircraft’s dipping sonar. Further details on the production arrangements will be officially announced once the contract has been finalised by the TNI-AL. The TNI-AL’s new maritime support helicopter acquisition is the latest step in Indonesia’s ongoing programme to develop its ‘Minimum Essential Force’ (MEF), which establishes the number, scale and nature of operational readiness and force structure that the country should, at a minimum, be able to deploy. The MEF also includes the development of a defence industrial base through Transfer of Technology (ToT), joint production and joint development. Divided into three chronological phases (2010-2014, 2015-2019 and 2020-2024) the TNI-AL’s procurement projects include, in addition to the ASW helicopters, the progres-

sive modernization of two corvettes for an estimated $100 million, the upgrade of two hydrographic and oceanographic research ships for another $100 million), the purchase of a new sail training ship for about $80 million and the procurement of two CN235 maritime patrol aircraft, valued at $60 million. The acquirement of Indonesia’s new helicopters reflects the proliferation of submarines in the AsiaPacific, outfitted as they will be to perform anti-submarine warfare. Lately, Vietnam received delivery from Russia of the first two of six ‘Kilo’ class conventional boats while Singapore has bought two ‘Type 218SG’ class conventional submarines from Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, extending its submarine fleet from four to six boats. Meanwhile, China is actively building up its naval capacities to include attack and ballistic missile submarines.

August 2013, following a bilateral meeting held in Jakarta, between US defence secretary Chuck Hagel and his Indonesian counterpart, Purrnomo Yusgiantoro. In addition to the aircraft, the agreement included pilot training and maintenance for both the helicopters and the radars, with a delivery scheduled in phases spread between October 2014 and 2017. This deal represents Indonesia’s largest military purchase from the United

States since the country lifted its embargo on lethal weapons sales to Indonesia in 2005 and marked a significant turnaround of the defence cooperation between Washington and Jakarta. The United States has expressed interest in improving and consolidating the relationship with Indonesia and to help develop the capabilities of the TNI in the light of China’s increasing presence and territorial assertiveness. Part of the TNI’s Apache fleet will be based in remote border areas such as the Natuna Islands archipelago, in the Riau Island Province of Indonesia, located in the South China Sea, off the northwest coast of Borneo— considered to be a highly strategic position.

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TAIWAN TO PURCHASE TWO OHP FRIGATES FROM THE US

Taiwan’s Republic of China Navy (RoCN) will be acquiring only two of four decommissioned ‘Oliver Hazard Perry’ class frigates as proposed by the United States. Yen Ming, Taiwan’s minister of defence, speaking before the island’s Legislative Foreign Affairs and National Defence Committee, announced the decision on 14 April 2014. The decision came a week after the US House of Representatives authorised the sale of USS Taylor, USS Gary, USS Carr and USS Elrod to Taiwan under provisions laid out in the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), days before the 35th anniversary of that legislation. The TRA was signed with an overwhelming bipartisan support within the House and the bill opened with a statement underlining the importance of the Act emphasising that it “has been instrumental in maintaining

JAPAN TO BUY THALES IMV BUSHMASTERS

Thales has secured a contract for the sale of four troop carrier variants of the Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicles (IMVs) to Japan’s Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF). The company announced the deal, valued at about $3.4 million, in a statement issued 7 April 2014, and specified that deliveries were to be expected before the end of 2014. It includes the provision of training, maintenance and repairs. This transaction marks the first acquisition of a Thales platform by the JGSDF and, with the conclusion of the sale of three Bushmaster troop variant IMVs to Indonesia’s Special Forces in February 2014 for about $2.5 million, is

peace, security and stability in the Western Pacific since its enactment in 1979”. The RoCN has wanted to acquire frigates from the US for years, and although the legislation to authorise the sale of four frigates was only introduced in November 2013, Taipei had clarified that it would only be seeking to acquire two vessels, based on technical and cost considerations. During his statement Mr. Yen told the Committee that the initial US offer, planned for four vessels, was the

“maximum number of warships to be made available” to Taipei and was not based “on the number of such vessels (Taiwan) needs to meet its current defence requirement”. With deliveries planned for 2015, the two decommissioned frigates, which will be retrofitted and stripped of all weapon and electronic equipment, will cost Taiwan an estimated $185 million, which represents about 1/57th of the island’s annual defence budget. Taiwan will have to invest several additional millions of dollars to refit the two frigates

with new electronics and weapons systems, presumably Hsiung Feng II and III anti-ship missiles developed by the Taiwanbased Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST) to target surface vessels. The American-built frigates, which entered service within the US Navy in the mid 1980s, will be introduced within the RoCN to replace two even older ’Knox’ class frigates, bought from the US in the early 1990s that remain in service.

the second Asia-Pacific order for the Australian four-wheel drive armoured vehicle. Whether or not Japan will be placing additional orders in the future is still unsure but, according to Thales Australia’s chief executive officer, Chris Jenkins, these new exports demonstrate “the ongoing significance and versatility of the Bushmaster vehicle”. The role of the four-newly acquired Bushmasters within the JGSDF has yet to be officially announced by the Japanese Ministry of Defence

(MoD). Japan’s MoD had outlined the procurement of “protected carrier vehicles” in its supplementary budget for the 2013/2014 fiscal year, made public in December 2013. The project was detailed within a section covering measures to facilitate the JGSDF’s capacities to maintain and operate various equipment and defence facilities in a stable manner, which also included the acquisition of new fire-control radars for the Japan Air Self Defence Force’s Boeing/McDonnell Douglas F-15J multi-role combat aircraft. Thales Australia’s Bushmaster, which was designed as a troop transporter, was selected to enter service in the Australian Army in 1998 and since then has been used in operations in

Iraq and Afghanistan. An elongated chassis allows the vehicle to carry up to eight passengers, in addition to the driver and gunner. The Bushmaster can reach a maximum speed of 100 kilometresper-hour (50 miles-per-hour), with a range of 800 kilometres (497 miles), and its basic armour protection can withstand 7.62 millimetre ammunition hits. To this date, the Australian Army operates more than 1000 Bushmasters, and exports include 86 vehicles acquired by the Dutch Army, 24 by the British Army and twelve units supplied to the Jamaican Defence Force in December 2013. In addition to Japan and Indonesia, potential Asia-Pacific export orders for Bushmasters include the Royal Thai Army.

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AUSTRALIA’S AIR FORCE TO ACQUIRE 58 ADDITIONAL F-35AS

The Australian government has announced its decision to acquire 58 additional Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning-II Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) to equip the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), bringing the country’s total F-35A order up to 72 aircraft. Australia’s prime minister Tony Abbott announced the deal, which was valued at $11.5 billion and is one of the largest defence-related purchases in Australian history, on 23 April 2014. This batch of aircraft comes in addition to the 14 units already approved for purchase by the Australian government, bringing the total order placed with Lockheed Martin to 72 aircraft, which will represent enough aircraft to entirely replace the country’s aging fleet of Boeing F/A-18A/B Hornet MRCA. Of the 14 aircraft ordered prior

to this new deal, two are due to be completed by July 2014 and will be based at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, to join the F-35 international training centre located there in early 2015 to begin pilot training. The RAAF is scheduled to receive delivery of its first F35A aircraft by 2018 and the first squadron will be operational by 2021. All 72 aircraft are expected to be fully operational by 2023. Mr. Abbott referred to the fifth-generation F-35 as “the most advanced fighter in production anywhere in the world”. Fifth-generation F35As are noted for their ability to provide a networked forcemultiplier effect in terms of situational awareness and combat effectiveness, with a combination of advanced sensors, networking, stealth and data fusion capabilities. The RAAF’s 72 new F-35As, which will be distributed across three operational squadrons, will replace three

squadrons of F/A-18As and an operational conversion unit. The RAAF’s 24 Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets, acquired in 2009, will also ultimately be replaced with the F35A. Two of the F-35A squadrons will be operated from the RAAF William town airbase in New South Wales, and the third one will be based at the RAAF Tindal air base in the Northern Territory. Once the first squadrons are fully operational, a fourth operational squadron will be considered, to be based at the

RAAF’s Amberley airbase in Queensland. This could bring the total of Australian-operated F-35A’s to about 100 once additional aircraft are purchased to this end. “The government remains committed to building a strong, capable and sustainable Australian Defence Force,” added Mr. Abbott, who explained that about $1.6 billion from the deal would be used to build and develop infrastructure and facilities at the RAAF’s future F-35A bases at Tindal and William town.

design, install and integrate the CMS and combat system trainer at the RNZN’s Devenport Naval Base in Auckland. The RNZN’s two Anzac class frigates, the HMNZS TeMana and the HMNZS TeKaha, will also be equipped with new sensor and weapon systems. The upgrade programme is expected to be a collaborative venture between Lockheed Martin’s Canada subsidiary, Saab and several Canadian companies and brings significant work to Lockheed Martin’s Canadian facilities in Kanata, Dartmouth and Montreal. Should the New

Zealand Ministry of Defence (MoD) decide to undertake the installation work package included in the contract, the deal will result in additional work for the SEASPAN shipyard in Victoria, Canada. The CMS is a commercial variant of a combat management system developed for the Royal Canadian Navy and uses an open architecture concept that allows users maximum flexibility to incorporate individual subsystems and components as and when they become available. During the signing ceremony, Des Ashton, New Zealand’s MoD acquisition deputy secretary explained that the Frigate Systems Upgrade (FSU) programme “will provide the ships with excellent systems that will enable them to perform their expected tasks through to the end of their (service) life in the

2030s”, and restore the frigates’ surveillance, combat and self-defence capabilities to match the RNZN’s contemporary needs. Rosemary Chapdelaine, president of Lockheed Martin Canada, explained that “this key export of Canadian-designed technology not only reinforces Lockheed Martin’s position as a world leader in naval combat systems integration, but further demonstrates our ability to successfully leverage purchases and investments in high-technology defence products to create jobs and economic growth in Canada.” Operated by the RNZN since the late 1990s as replacements for its four ‘Leander’ class frigates, the HMNZS TeMana and the HMNZS TeKaha are two of ten existing ‘Anzac’ class frigates, the other eight serving in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

NEW ZEALAND’S ANZAC CLASS COMBAT SYSTEMS UPGRADE AWARDED TO LOCKHEED MARTIN

New Zealand’s Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman announced on 1 May 2014 that New Zealand and Lockheed Martin Canada have agreed on a four-year, $164 million dollar deal to update the Royal New Zealand Navy’s (RNZN) two ‘Anzac’ class frigates (see Edward Hooton’s article ‘ShipShape And Bristol Fashion’ in this issue). The deal was signed on 29 April 2014 during an official ceremony held in Wellington and marks Lockheed Martin’s first export sale of its Combat Management System (CMS) initially designed as a modern and affordable solution for the international market. According to the agreement, Lockheed Martin will

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