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Contents OCTOBER 2013 VOLUME 21 / ISSUE 6

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South Korean Defence Modernisation Moves Forward

Front Cover Photo: Harris is supplying the AN/PRC-152A triband handheld radio to the United States armed forces. This radio can use the proprietary ANW-2 waveform, along with SINCGARS and the new Soldier Radio Waveform © US Army

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Gordon Arthur Tensions on the Korean Peninsula spiked to their highest level in decades this year. North Korea accused “aggressive” military drills in the South of driving “tension on the peninsula into an extreme phase, creating such danger that a nuclear war may break out any moment”

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Special-Ops and Amphibious Systems Gordon Arthur The Pacific witnessed a bloody campaign of amphibious landings in World War Two, led primarily by the United States Marine Corps (USMC).

The USMC is the region’s most powerful amphibious force, but many other countries maintain a marine corps or amphibious-capable infantry

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38 Das Boot!

The Clamour for Submarines

Talk to the Hand!

Thomas Withington It may seem like a contradiction, but the submarine market in Asia is buoyant to say the least, with a number of major acquisitions ongoing. Nevertheless, as recent events have shown, the world of the submariner can be a dangerous place

Thomas Withington Handheld radios are experiencing a period of modernisation.

Improvements in terms of bandwidth are heralding increases in data traffic rates.

New products are available and the US Army is preparing to embark upon the latest phase of its Handheld, Manpack, Small Form Factor radio acquisition

30 Asia Pacific Tactical UAV Market Peter Donaldson The Asia-Pacific Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle market is one of the world’s most active, but with the evolution of national expertise through international cooperation preferred to large procurements of imported systems

The Rotary Club: Naval Helicopters Eyes Over Oceans

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Dzirhan Mahadzir In general, defence cooperation in the South-East Asia region can be broken down into two distinct types, the first being military cooperation and the other being defence industry cooperation.

Both of which are slowly, but noticeably, on the increase

David Oliver The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan over the last decade have essentially been land operations while naval operations, and capabilities, especially helicopters were largely relegated to a supporting role, alongside their anti-terrorism missions in the Indian Ocean

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Closer and Closer: South East Asian Defence Cooperation

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Editorial TURKISH

DELIGHT ontracts for major defence platforms from North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) members are about as rare as hen’s teeth, particularly given the budgetary environment affecting many of them which is having a correspondingly significant impact on defence coffers.

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Therefore, unsurprisingly, the world’s defence contractors are fighting tooth and nail to land those procurements still yet to be decided. Turkey is in the lucky position of having money to spend on requirements it needs; one of its most important being a new medium-to-high altitude ground-based Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) system.

SAM manufacturers have beaten a path to Ankara to sell their wares with panEuropean missile specialists MBDA offering its SAMP-T/ASTER-30 product, Raytheon touting its MIM-104F PAC-3 (Patriot Advanced Capability-3), Rosoboronexport offering the latest member of the S-300 SAM family and China’s CPMIEC offering its HQ-9.

Many analysts believed that the acquisition would be a two-horse race, with the MIM104F PAC-3 competing against the SAMP-T/ASTER-30. After all Turkey has been an enthusiastic NATO member since 1952. It has also been an enthusiastic buyer of Western, above all American, military equipment.

The surprise then was palpable when the news was announced in late-September that Turkey had chosen the HQ-9 to satisfy this requirement. It is not for this magazine to argue whether any of the SAM systems in the race were better or worse than any other. Nevertheless, the victory of the HQ-9 in the competition does illustrate that China is an increasingly important actor in the international arms bazaar, and its ability to win a major contract from a NATO nation is an undoubted coup.

By opting for the HQ-9, Turkey obtains an active radar-homing SAM with a range of up to 108 nautical miles (200 kilometres), a maximum altitude of 98,425 feet and a Mach4.2 top speed; a potent set of specifications for any air defence system. The challenge will be integrating the HQ-9 into other elements of Turkey’s Ground-Based Air Defences (GBAD), notably other lower-tier SAM and air defence systems, air defence communications and command and control facilities and GBAD sensors such as long-, medium- and short-range air surveillance radars. But if this occurs without too many hitches might it show that Chinese weapons systems could offer an increasingly costeffective and compatible alternative to their Western and Russian equivalents?

Thomas Withington, Editor

Editor: Thomas Withington E-mail: t_withington@hotmail.com

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FROM SHIP TO SHORE: SPECIAL-OPS AND AMPHIBIOUS SYSTEMS – ANTI PIRACY TO COUNTER TERROR An LVTP7 amphibious assault vehicle of the Royal Thai Marine Corps comes ashore during Exercise Cobra Gold. South Korea, Taiwan and the United States Marine Corps also use this family of vehicle © Gordon Arthur

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The Pacific witnessed a bloody campaign of amphibious landings in World War Two, led primarily by the United States Marine Corps (USMC). The USMC is the region’s most powerful amphibious force, but many other countries maintain a marine corps or amphibious-capable infantry.

This is logical since 42 nations border the Pacific Ocean which encompasses one-third of the earth’s surface.

by Gordon Arthur

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his article outlines the region’s main marine corps, as well as prominent examples of naval special forces. The latter are elite military units capable of conducting specialised missions like counterterrorism, reconnaissance, direct action and unconventional warfare. They are usually proficient in parachuting, diving, boating, demolition and close-quarters battle.

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Marine Corps Forces Pacific (MARFORPAC), headquartered in Hawaii, commands 86,000 marines, making it the Asia Pacific’s largest amphibious force. This figure includes I Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) in California. In Okinawa, Japan, are III MEF, III Marine Expeditionary Brigade, the 3rd Marine Division, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.

On mainland Japan is Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, while Marine Corps Base Hawaii hosts the 3rd Marine Regiment.

The most mobile unit is the 31st MEU, one of seven quick-reaction units but the only one forward-deployed. It engages widely in bilateral and multilateral exercises such as Cobra Gold, Balikatan and Talisman Sabre in Thailand, the Philippines and Australia respectively. The unit, comprising approximately 2,500 troops, can sustain itself in an austere environment for a 15-day period. Colonel John Merna, the 31st MEU commander, described his force: “A key capability of any MEU is its incredible flexibility. Every MEU is a maritime ready-response force and we can respond to any crisis or anything along the spectrum of warfare up to an amphibious assault.”

Any marine force is dependent on naval vessels (ranging from landing craft to helicopter carriers) and air assets (typically helicopters). For example, the 31st MEU currently deploys on the US Navy’s (USN) ‘Wasp’ class USS Bonhomme Richard and ‘Whidbey Island’ class USS

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Boeing CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters bring 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit members ashore in a 2013 helicopter raid. These elderly helicopters have since been replaced by the Bell Boeing MV22B Osprey © Gordon Arthur

Tortuga and Germantown amphibious support ships. This embarked “blue-green team” creates a 5,000-man Amphibious Ready Group.

The USMC is growing in capability thanks to new assets. The most significant is the Bell Boeing MV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft. As an example of its utility and range, the USMC despatched Ospreys from Okinawa to Thailand in February 2013. The aircraft, replacing the Corp’s elderly Boeing CH-46E Sea Knights, self-deployed with just a stopover in the Philippines.

The USMC’s presence is being adjusted under the USA’s strategic Asia-Pacific “pivot”. Okinawans have long complained of the inordinate burden of 19,000 USMC personnel living there, and the Joint Statement of the US-Japan Security Consultative Committee in April 2012 intro-

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duced the latest realignment plan to divert marines from Okinawa. The plan will see 9,000 marines departing Okinawa, with 4,800 redirected to Guam, 2,700 to Hawaii, 2,500 to Australia and 800 to the USA. The Australian deployment is significant as a Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) of 2,500 troops will be located near Darwin by 2017. The first 200-man roulement occurred from April-September 2012. The USA is pursuing a “places, not bases” policy, and Darwin represents a handy location near Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean and the vital Malacca Strait.

The USN has special forces in the shape of Sea, Air and Land (SEAL) teams, with

The USMC is growing in capability thanks to new assets.

The most significant is the Bell Boeing MV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft l

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some permanently deployed to Guam. Of interest, the USA has maintained the 600man Joint Special Operations Task Force – Philippines (JSOTF-P) headquartered in Zamboanga, southern Philippines, since mid-2002. JSOTF-P’s footprint is small, and American officials explain they are in the country at the behest of the Philippine government as a non-combatant advisory group in the fight against terrorism. One of JSOTF-P’s component commands is equipped with Mk.V Special Operations Craft and eleven-metre (36-feet) rigid-hull inflatable boats.

East Asia

Three East Asian countries maintain large marine corps. China’s 1st and 2nd Marine Brigades in the South Sea Fleet comprise 12,000 troops. Their primary role is to prepare for a Taiwan contingency (i.e. invasion), but potential special operations in the South China Sea are growing in importance. They are receiving new assets such as ZTD-05 Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAVs) and ZBD-05 Infantry

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A K1 main battle tank of the Republic of Korea Marine Corps disembarks from a Tank Landing Ship during Exercise Ssangyong near Pohang earlier this year © Gordon Arthur

Fighting Vehicles (IFV). China’s amphibious capability is currently nowhere near sufficient to entertain a full-scale invasion of nemesis Taiwan.

Of equal importance is expansion of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) amphibious vessel fleet. The 18,000-tonne ‘Type 071’ Landing Platform Dock (LPD) hugely improves the PLAN’s capacity for over-the-horizon amphibious operations. Also useful for peacekeeping and humanitarian missions, three LPDs have been commissioned to date. China is developing the larger ‘Type 081’ Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) displacing 22,000 tons. The LHD will accommodate eight helicopters, four hovercraft and 1,068 marines. Meanwhile, China is inducting four 550-ton ‘Zubr’ class hovercraft, with the first delivered in May 2013.

The Republic of China Marine Corps (ROCMC) also comprises two brigades.

Taiwanese marines equipped with assets such as M60A3 tanks and AAV7A1 AAVs are charged with defending key installations and responding to threats to outlying islands. There has been debate over the ROCMC’s role considering Taiwan is only ever going to defend against a qualitatively and quantitatively superior China. In 2005, the 66th Brigade moved to the outskirts of Taipei to help counter any potential People’s Liberation Army ‘decapitation strike’ against the capital.

Taiwan’s navy operates Landing Ship Tank (LST) and Landing Craft Utility (LCU) vessels to transport marines.

The Republic of Korea (ROK) is threatened by massive North Korean forces. The ROK Marine Corps (ROKMC) is a distinctive service rather than being merely a branch of the navy. As a peninsula nation, surrounded by sea on three sides, South Korea’s possession of a marine corps makes sense. The fledgling ROKMC participated in the Battle of Incheon, which forced North Korea into retreat in 1950.

Today, the ROKMC poses the same kind of behind-the-lines threat to any North

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A close-up of members of Singapore’s elite Naval Diving Unit, a formation tasked with counterterrorism, explosive ordnance disposal and special warfare. (Gordon Arthur)

Korean aggression. As well as amphibious assaults, 27,000 ROKMC personnel can accomplish missions such as conventional ground warfare, special warfare and facility protection. Many marines are performing their 24-month conscription period.

The corps is structured into two divisions and one brigade, with 5,000 marines in the latter guarding the maritime approaches to Seoul and port of Incheon on five north-

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west islands in the Yellow Sea. South Korean amphibious capabilities grew considerably when the first ‘Dokdo’ class LHD entered service in 2007. This vessel can carry 700 marines, ten helicopters, two hovercraft and ten tanks. A second ship is due later this decade. The ROKMC is well equipped with AAV7s, K1 tanks and K9 self-propelled howitzers.

In the 2017-20 period the ROKMC will

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gain an aviation group for the first time.

The navy possesses a highly capable Naval Special Warfare brigade thought to comprise two battalions and an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit.

Although it does not possess a marine corps, Japan must be mentioned. In light of terse confrontations with China over ownership of remote islands, Japan is creating an amphibious capability. The Western Army Infantry Regiment was formed in 2002 to conduct reconnaissance activities around isolated islands, and it will receive four AAV7s from the USA for trials. The Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF) has also been upping the frequency and complexity of exercises with the USMC. The Japan Maritime SelfDefence Force established the secretive Special Boarding Unit in 2001, but it has divulged negligible organisational details.

Southeast Asia

The Philippines’ chief threats emanate from the communist New People’s Army, armed organisations like the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Islamic terrorist groups. The Philippine Navy operates the Naval Special Operations Group (NAVSOG) of up to 700 personnel in SEAL Teams, Special Boat Teams, Naval EOD

Teams, and Naval Diving and Salvage Teams. Ten Naval Special Operations Units are scattered nationwide and all personnel have extensive combat experience.

Considering the country has 7,107 islands, the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) is an ideal formation to perform counterinsurgency, riverine missions, amphibious assaults, ground operations and anti-piracy tasks. The PMC boasts approximately 8,700 marines in twelve battalions organised into three manoeuvre brigades. Noteworthy is the fact that practically all marines have operational experience as a result of the country’s long-running counterinsurgencies.

The corps’ Assault Armour Battalion includes V-150 and LAV-300 armoured vehicles, plus a handful of geriatric LVTH-6s amphibious tracked howitzers.

Indonesia is another archipelagic nation where marine corps make good sense. The Indonesian Marine Corps (Korps Marinir), under navy authority, is composed of two groups (three battalions each) and one independent brigade totalling 20,000 personnel. The formation’s newest mechanised assets are 17 BMP-3F amphibious IFVs, with another 37 ordered last year.

The navy also runs a special operations formation called Denjaka that counts antiter-

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These are Philippine Navy Naval Special Operations Group operators. While not as technically well-equipped as their United States Navy counterparts, they are all battle hardened © Gordon Arthur

rorism among its missions.

The Royal Cambodian Navy created a 2,000-man marine force in 2007, while the neighbouring Vietnam People’s Navy maintains a naval infantry force believed to be two brigades strong. Furthermore, Thailand possesses a 20,000-strong Royal Thai Marine Corps (RTMC) that helps secure the kingdom’s 1,738 nautical mile (3,219 kilometre) Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand coastline against pirates, smugglers, insurgents and terrorists. The RTMC is also countering Islamic separatists waging a violent campaign in Thailand’s three southernmost provinces. The RTMC’s strength resides in two infantry regiments (totalling six battalions) and Amphibious Assault Battalion with AAV7s. Recently, the RTMC received new BTR-3E1 8x8 armoured vehicles. The navy boasts the Underwater Demolition Assault Unit (UDAU), which has seen action along the Cambodian border and in anti-piracy operations at home and in the Indian Ocean.

Neither Malaysia nor Singapore has a

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An LCM-8 mechanised landing craft ferries the headquarters element of the Australian Army’s 2 Royal Australian Regiment ashore from HMAS Choules during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2013 © Gordon Arthur

marine corps, though they do have amphibious capabilities. The Malaysian Army’s elite 10th Parachute Brigade includes the 9th Royal Malay Regiment that has an amphibious mandate additional to its parachute role. The Royal Malaysian Navy operates the Panglima Hitam special forces arm (formerly PASKAL), which is ready to respond to marine hijackings and to protect offshore oil and gas platforms.

The Republic of Singapore Navy operates the elite Naval Diving Unit (NDU).

As a state perched astride and dependent upon busy sea lanes, Singapore needs such a unit. The NDU’s bread-and-butter missions include diving, search and rescue, salvage, EOD, mine disposal, shipboarding and special warfare. To perform its missions, the NDU is divided into four branches: Dive School, Clearance Diving Group, Underwater Demolition Group and Special Warfare Group.

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Australasia

Australia is investing heavily in an amphibious capability. During Exercise Talisman Sabre 2013, the author embarked aboard the navy’s largest amphibious-warfare ship, HMAS Choules, to observe the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (2 RAR) conduct a company-sized landing. It was an important workout as the army trials its’ Amphibious Readiness Element. “This year, in essence, we’re using Choules and 2 RAR (2nd Royal Australian Regiment) as an interim to get all the mechanisms, to learn all the difficult lessons, to get the foundation behind us, to test that this training sequence leading up to certification is sufficient, and put it into practice next year,” explained Lieutenant Colonel Chris Smith, 2 RAR’s

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commander. This battalion is the focus of a five-year trial until 2017.

Australia’s amphibious-warfare capability will truly expand when a pair of 27,500-tonne ‘Canberra’ class LHDs are commissioned, the first next year. An LHD can accommodate a battlegroup landing force of 1,000, plus 110 vehicles and eight helicopters. New Zealand possesses only army special forces (Special Air Service and Commando Regiments), but these train for maritime operations and can cooperate closely with the navy. Like its trans-Tasman neighbour, New Zealand is creating a Joint Amphibious Task Force able to respond to South Pacific crises.

South Asia

India is expanding its expeditionary capability, with the Indian Army having three earmarked amphibious brigades totalling almost 10,000 soldiers. These are based in South and West India, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Indian Navy (IN) acquired INS Jalashwa from the USA in 2007, plus it is in the market for four new LPDs. The IN’s special forces unit is called MARCOS

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Reminiscent of World War Two’s bloody islandhopping campaign, US marines storm ashore from an utility landing craft at dawn during a CARAT exercise in Malaysia © Gordon Arthur

(Marine Commandos) and believed to contain 2,000 personnel. They can conduct special warfare and counterterrorism missions – for example, they helped defeat the Mumbai terrorist attack.

India’s neighbour re-established the Pakistan Marines in 1990. It has over 2,000 men but Pakistan wants to significantly expand it by 2015. A third battalion was commissioned in March to improve pro-

tection of Gwadar Port and naval bases.

Sri Lanka relied heavily on naval special forces during its long-running civil war, notably using the Special Boat Squadron.

Additionally, the Sri Lanka Navy is thought to have two-to-three battalions of Naval Patrolmen, whose primary task is base and port protection. Recently their remit has expanded to include amphibious and land combat missions.

Multinational counter-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden have seen warships deployed by Australia, China, India, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand. Ships generally have special forces contingents aboard when patrolling pirate-infested waters. In one successful mission in 2011, ROK Navy SEALs recaptured a hijacked chemical carrier.

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OUT WITH THE OLD: SOUTH KOREAN DEFENCE MODERNISATION MOVES FORWARD Tensions on the Korean Peninsula spiked to their highest level in decades this year. North Korea accused “aggressive” military drills in the South of driving “tension on the peninsula into an extreme phase, creating such danger that a nuclear war may break out any moment.”

by Gordon Arthur

The army’s K1A1 main battle tank, as shown here, is a capable platform, but it will be supplemented by the newer K2 in coming years © Gordon Arthur

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confluence of factors contributed to Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) histrionics, reminding the world that the Republic of Korea (ROK) must maintain a determined military stance against this unhinged regime. After all, Pyongyang has never lacked bellicosity, and the new unblooded 30-year-old leader appears intent on underscoring his credentials as a worthy commander. The DPRK launched a three-stage ‘rocket’ on 12th December 2012 and conducted a third nuclearweapon test on 12th February 2013.

United Nations condemnation drew an outburst, with the pariah state repudiating the 1953 Armistice Agreement (again!), refusing to answer the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) hotline, threatening to turn Seoul and Washington D.C.

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A ROK marine participates in a major bilateral exercise with the USA earlier this year at the height of tensions with North Korea © Gordon Arthur

into a “sea of fire” and launch attacks on US bases in Guam and Japan.

Kim Jong-un obviously thought it an opportune time to test the mettle of his nemeses. The ROK inaugurated its first female president on 25th February 2013, while the US military is suffering as sequestration bites. The USA did not back down, deploying nuclear-capable Boeing B-52H bombers and a nuclear attack submarine to the peninsula, and promising to strengthen anti-missile defences in South Korea, Japan and Alaska. Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter sought to assuage South Korean fears, saying the USA would continue to provide “the extended deterrence offered by the US nuclear umbrella.” A DPRK nuclear strike is not the primary threat, but a small-scale provocation could quickly escalate as North Korea engages in its favourite pastime of brinkmanship.

Such machinations as the torpedoing of one of its corvettes in March 2010, and a deadly artillery barrage on Yeonpyeong

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Island the following November, demonstrated to South Korea that it cannot relax its guard, even momentarily. These events stunned the military establishment but also hardened resolve, resulting in Defence Reformation Plan 307 being released in March 2011. This plan restructured the unified military command and sought more sophisticated weaponry (e.g. early-warning systems and missile defences). New rules of engagement were issued, with the replacement defence minister promising air strikes if necessary.

This year’s renewed tension came against the backdrop of South Korea preparing to take over full wartime Operational Control (OPCON) of all military forces on the peninsula in December

The KAI T-50 Golden Eagle is proving a success story. Fifty T-50 lead-in fighter trainers are in service and 22 TA-50 light attack platforms are on order l

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2015 under the Strategic Alliance 2015 roadmap. This transfer was to occur in 2012 but the aforementioned incidents demonstrated the ROK military’s unpreparedness.

The two allies implemented a CounterProvocation Plan on 22nd March 2013, and while neither side revealed its content, US Forces Korea (USFK) commented, “The completed plan includes procedures for consultation and action to allow for a strong and decisive combined ROK-US response to North Korean provocations.”

In 2005, South Korea embarked on a comprehensive modernisation programme entitled Defence Reform 2020. It promised $150 billion over a twelve-year period but it was starting to lag because of funding shortages. However, the events of 2010 reinvigorated defence budgets, with 2013 expenditure peaking at $30.7 billion. While North Korea remains the dominant threat, there are also territorial disputes with Japan, and China’s rising military posture looms in the ROK’s peripheral vision.

Going ballistic

South Korea needs a long-range strike capability owing to North Korea’s

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ROK Marine Corps AAVP7A1s come ashore near Pohang during the ROK-US Exercise Ssangyong in April 2013 © Gordon Arthur

expanding missile arsenal. The USA finally agreed last October that its ally could develop a 431 nautical mile (800 kilometre) range ballistic missile. The ROK already has an active missile development programme, the 431nm (500km) range Hyunmoo-2B ballistic missile having been deployed since 2009.

Cruise missile assets including the LIG Nex1 ground-launched Hyunmoo-3A (431nm range) and Hyunmoo-3B (539nm/1,000km range). The 809nm (1,500km) range turbofan-powered Hyunmoo-3C land attack cruise missile (LACM) is believed to have been fielded this year, bringing all of North Korea and parts of China and Russia within range of its 450 kilogramme (990lb) warhead.

Similar in capability to the Tomahawk, it is land-, air- or ship-launched. Also believed to have become operational this year is the supersonic ship-launched Haesong-2 cruise missile with a 431nm range.

South Korea has resisted US pressure to

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join the regional Theatre Missile Defence (TMD) shield. Instead, since 2006 the country has been developing the indigenous Korea Air and Missile Defence (KAMD) system due for completion in 2015. Key components include Lockheed Martin Aegis Combat Management System (CMS) equipped ‘KDX-III’ class destroyers, Israel Aerospace Industries-Elta Systems (IAIElta) EL/M-2080 Super Green Pine Block B early-warning radars and Raytheon MIM104 Patriot Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs).

The Air and Missile Defence Cell (AMDCell) control network integrating all the elements was due to begin operating in July 2013. Furthermore, the Ministry of National Defence (MND) is seeking Raytheon RIM-174 Standard Extended Range Active Missile SAMs for its KDX-III destroyers by 2016. South Korea has 48 older MIM-104D Patriot PAC-2 (Patriot Advanced Capability-2) GEM/T fire units purchased from Germany, and in April the MND approved a plan to upgrade to MIM104F PAC-3 to improve the system’s interception rate.

Indigenous air defence missile systems are coming on stream. Russia’s Almaz

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Design Bureau helped Samsung Thales develop the medium-range KM-SAM (also called Cheongung) SAM with a 22nm (40km) range, and it began replacing Raytheon MIM-23 Hawk SAM batteries this year. In development is the Cheolmae 4-H interceptor missile that will provide an upper-tier capability with its 81nm (150km) range. Separately, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has held advanced talks about selling the Iron Dome SAM system, but nothing concrete has emerged.

The ROK Armed Forces possess some 640,000 personnel, a figure dropping to 517,000 by the end of this decade. The country relies heavily on conscription, but the standard two-year service period decreases to 18 months next year.

Army

The role of the ROK Army (RO’KA) has changed little since the 1953 ceasefire between North and South Korea as it remains aligned to stop a massive DPRK ground invasion. However, it is being enhanced by sophisticated new equipment. The tank fleet relies on 1,500 K1 and K1A1 Main Battle Tanks (MBT), with

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The F-15K is the most potent Republic of Korea Air Force combat aircraft. It has already been acquired under the F-X Phase I and II programmes Š Gordon Arthur

Hyundai Rotem awaiting production of the new 55-ton K2 MBT. South Korea wants 397 K2s but it is expensive thanks to wizardry such as an 120 milimetre (4.6in) L/55 main gun with autoloader, missile approach warning system, Battlefield Management System (BMS) and Active Protection System (APS). Its induction has been delayed till March 2014 because of troubles integrating the 1,500hp Doosan DST engine and S&T Dynamics automatic transmission. Officials concede the first 100 vehicles will use imported MTU-890 engines and RENK transmissions.

The ROKA is cutting at least 20 of its 47 infantry divisions, but is beefing up the remainder with modern equipment.

Doosan’s K21 infantry fighting vehicle was fielded in 2009, with an initial 466 examples ordered. In November 2012,

South Korea selected Hyundai Rotem as preferred bidder to produce 600 wheeled armoured personnel carriers to give its infantry mobility similar to that of US Army Stryker brigades. The company will prepare six-wheel drive and eight-wheel drive prototypes, based on its existing KW1/KW2, with production running

between 2016-20. The ROKA requires 1,100+ K9 self-propelled howitzers to help counteract DPRK numerical superiority in artillery, with several hundred already in service. A locally developed multiplerocket launcher prototype with 43nm (80km) range is expected this year.

Army aviation is also being boosted.

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The KAI T-50 Golden Eagle’s first export market is Indonesia. This T-50B belongs to the Republic of Korea Air Force Black Eagles aerobatic team © Gordon Arthur

Deliveries of the first of 245 KUH-1 Surion helicopters from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) commenced with the issue of ten to the Army Aviation School in May 2013. Destined for both the army and marines, this 8-tonne craft designed with Eurocopter help will replace the Bell UH-1H medium-lift utility helicopter in a variety of roles. Up to 270 light attack helicopters are required to replace MD Helicopters 500MD and Bell AH-1S Cobra craft, so a 5-tonne Korea Attack Helicopter (KAH) platform is to be developed from 2013-18 in conjunction with a foreign partner. This opened the way for the ROKA to buy heavier attack helicopters to achieve a high-low fleet. The MND will receive 36 Boeing AH-64E Block-III Apache Longbow helicopters from 2016-18.

South Korea also has active Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) programmes.

LIG Nex1 is developing the MediumRange Infantry Missile (MRIM), an antitank system due to enter service in 2015.

In 2011 the country ordered Rafael Spike Non Line-Of-Sight missiles to defend the Yellow Sea islands, though they did not deploy until March 2013.

on Phase III, South Korea’s largest arms import to date, which will replace geriatric McDonnell Douglas F-4D/E and F5A/Bs with 60 new fighters from 2016-21.

The three contenders were the F-15 Silent Eagle (F-15SE), Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning-II Joint Strike Fighter and Eurofighter Typhoon, but a new round of bidding opened on 2nd July 2013 because prices for all three were above South Korea’s threshold.

Simultaneously, South Korea is developing a next-generation stealthy fighter to replace its Lockheed Martin F-16C/D fleet.

Indonesia is financing 20% of costs and will receive 50 KF-X fighters while 200 will go to South Korea. To date, a scale model has been exhibited, a 4.5-generation design more advanced than an F-16C but less so than an F-35. The technology development phase concluded in December

The first upgraded Lockheed Martin P-3CK Orion was delivered in February 2010. This is an older P-3C-III+ of 61 Air Group seen near Pohang © Gordon Arthur

Air Force

The F-X Phase II programme signed in 2008 gave the ROK Air Force (ROKAF) 21 Boeing F-15K Slam Eagle fighters, adding to the 40 previously obtained. All were delivered by April 2012. The focus is now

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2012 but the engineering and manufacturing phase has been delayed 18 months as South Korea’s new political administration contemplates the KF-X’s viability.

Last year, South Korea selected BAE Systems as preferred bidder to upgrade 134 F-16C/Ds. In April 2013 it opted for Raytheon’s RACR Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar to be installed. The first ten AESA sets are to be delivered in 2016. Influenced by American refusal to sell the Lockheed Martin AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-off Missile, in June the MND confirmed it would acquire the Taurus KEPD 350 for a longstanding requirement for an F-15K standoff missile.

The KAI T-50 Golden Eagle is proving a success story. Fifty T-50 lead-in fighter trainers are in service and 22 TA-50 light attack platforms are on order. In 2012 the ROKAF ordered 20 FA-50 light combat variants fitted with IAI Elta EL/M-2032 radar and Link 16 datalink terminals for pilot operational conversion, with a further unspecified batch ordered in May 2013. Indonesia ordered 16 T-50s in 2011, and the Philippines is on the verge of ordering twelve FA-50s.

The first of four Boeing 737 “Peace Eye” airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft entered service in 2011, with KAI integrating the Northrop Grumman L-band Multirole Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radars on the next three aircraft. The final two platforms were

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inducted last year. In December 2011, the MND announced it was purchasing two Dassault Falcon 2000 aircraft fitted with Electronics Intelligence (ELINT) equipment for service entry in 2017. Four Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules freighters have been ordered for delivery in 2014, although a decision to procure four aerial-refuelling aircraft has been deferred until next year.

Contenders will likely be the Boeing KC767 and Airbus Military A330 MRTT (Multi-Role Tanker Transport).

South Korea has been contemplating acquiring Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk high-altitude longendurance UAVs but it blanched last year after the offering price snowballed to $1.2 billion. The government has delayed any decision by at least a year, and has investigated alternatives like AeroVironment’s Global Observer and Boeing’s Phantom Eye UAV. Sensing an opportunity, IAI and Elbit are offering their Heron TP and Hermes 1500 respectively.

Navy

Developing a blue-water capability by 2020 is a priority for the ROK Navy (ROKN), and contributing to this aspiration are three newly commissioned 8,500-ton KDX-III destroyers with Lockheed Martin AN/SPY-1D(V) maritime surveillance radars and Raytheon RIM-66 Standard Missile-2 SAMs. These are some of the world’s most heavily armed warships. Additionally, there are plans to introduce six 5,600-ton ‘KDXIIA’ class destroyers also fitted with the Aegis CMS from 2019 onwards. These will reinforce six serving 4,500-ton ‘KDXII’ class destroyers.

Up to 24 ‘Incheon’ class frigates are replacing older ‘Ulsan’ class and ‘Pohang’ class vessels. The first 2,300-ton stealth frigate was commissioned in January 2013, and six from Batch I will be finished by 2015. A power projection capability comes in the shape of the 14,300-ton ‘Dokdo’ class Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH) vessel commissioned in 2007. A second LPH is due for completion in 2018. Hanjin Heavy Industries is also manufacturing four 4,500-ton landing ship tanks (LST).

The ‘Gumdoksuri’ class is a new patrol boat. Eighteen 500-tonne PKG-A examples armed with Haeseong anti-ship missiles suitable for defending the Northern Limit Line (NLL) are planned, and nine have been commissioned to date. The second phase will provide 200-tonne PKG-B patrol boats although details remain scant.

The ROKN is pursuing an ambitious submarine programme. The first phase involved nine license-produced ‘Type 209/1200’ conventional boats. In the next step, the navy ordered three 1,860-ton ‘Type 214’ vessels in 2000, plus six more fitted with Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) systems in 2007. The first of the latter batch should be completed by Daewoo

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ROKS Wang Geon (DDH-978) is a destroyer displacing 4,500 tonnes. Six vessels in this ‘KDX-II’ class have been commissioned © Gordon Arthur

Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) next year. Siemens PEM fuel cells provide a three-week underwater endurance. Simultaneously, South Korea is pursuing a next-generation, AIP-equipped, 3,000-ton ‘KSS-III’ submarine that will carry Hyunmoo-3 cruise missiles.

Development has been pushed back with the first of up to nine deliveries not expected until 2022 after DSME was awarded a two-boat contract in December 2012. South Korea will establish a new Submarine Command in 2015, while a new naval base being constructed on Jeju Island will give immediate access to the East China Sea. In January, AgustaWestland’s AW159 Wildcat received its first export order when the ROKN requested eight helicopters. Delivery of the first quartet will occur in 2015, with the second batch arriving the following year. Eight Lockheed P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft (to be upgraded by L3 and Korean Air) have been joined by eight ex-US craft modified to P-3CK configuration.

For all its advances, South Korea still gains reassurance from the US presence on its soil which has 28,500 personnel located on the peninsula, and the two sides routinely conduct bilateral exercises.

Via the Special Measures Agreement (SMA), South Korea pays $775 million annually to partially cover US expenses in stationing this force on the peninsula, although in current negotiations the USA is urging South Korea to shoulder half the financial burden.

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EYES IN THE SKIES: ASIA PACIFIC TACTICAL UAV MARKET

The Asia-Pacific Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) market is one of the world’s most active, but with the evolution of national expertise through international cooperation preferred to large procurements of imported systems. This makes it a challenging market for western industry. hrough Joint Project 129, Australia’s Army acquired two AAI Shadow 200 tactical UAV systems for $84 million to operate in Afghanistan. From up to 8,000 feet (2,438 metres), they can transmit imagery to ground stations 67 nautical miles (125 kilometres) away. The first arrived in August 2011 and the second in April 2012. The US Department of Defense (DoD) awarded AAI's Australian

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subsidiary Aerosonde a five-year operation and maintenance contract in December 2012, under which Aerosonde will eventually provide six instructors.

“This contract means we will now be able to train our soldiers to use the Shadow 200 right here in Australia”, said Jason Clare, then Minister for Defence Materiel.

With TUAV operations established, Australia is considering the acquisition of the Northrop Grumman/US Navy MQ-

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4C Triton HALE (High Altitude- Long Endurance) UAV.

China

China’s industry is eyeing export markets, according to a study published in June 2013 by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission. The combination of domestic demand and growing interest from Africa and Asia, could result in China becoming “a key UAV proliferator”. Policy analyst Kimberly Hsu paints a picture of an expanding, diversifying but shadowy industry and an in-service fleet around 93% of which are tactical systems.

In-service TUAVs with ranges around 81-108nm (150-200 km) are mostly from the Xi'an ASN Technology Group. These include the ASN 104/105 reconnaissance system thought to have entered service in the late 1980s, the multi-role ASN 206

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US Army personnel prepare a Shadow 200 unmanned aerial vehicle for a training flight at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center. This UAV type has been used to extensively support US combat operations in Afghanistan © US Army

thought to have become operational a decade later, the ASN 207 of the early 2000s and the naval ASN 209 believed to been in service since 2011. Israel Aerospace Industries' (IAI) Harpy lethal anti-radar UAV is said to have been in Chinese service since around 2000.

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) uses UAVs for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), communications and lethal missions, Hsu’s report states, citing publicity from state-owned, university-based and privately-owned firms as indications of requirements for armed UAVs and Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles (UCAVs). The report reflects worries that China’s long-range UAVs might conduct persistent maritime ISR and find targets for sea-skimming missiles and the feared DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missile, while tactical systems might threaten targets on and around Taiwan.

The extent to which the PLA uses UAVs today and its level of overall proficiency and integration are unclear, says the report, while new designs continue to

An RQ-7 Shadow unmanned aerial vehicle launches from Forward Operating Base Sharana, Afghanistan with US Army soldiers assigned to Bravo Company, Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Task Force Duke conducting a surveillance and reconnaissance mission © US Army

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be unveiled with scant technical or programmatic detail. While export prospects are underpinned by domestic requirements and restrictive US/Israeli export policies, Chinese UAVs are unknown quantities in terms of combat experience the range, reliability and security of their data links, sensor performance and loss rates, concludes Hsu.

India

Speaking to the Times of India in July 2013, Teal Group's corporate analysis director Philip Finnegan predicted that India’s forces would acquire 1,260 UAVs within ten years, with around 170 in the

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tactical category; 100 going to the army and 70 to the air force. Mini UAVs will be the most numerous, he said, quoting a figure of 980, the remainder being 50 Medium Altitude-Long Endurance (MALE) and 60 maritime machines.

India's largest aerospace manufacturer, state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), is creating a division to address domestic and export opportunities in cooperation with international industry and is reported to have sought expres-

India’s largest and state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), is creating a division to address domestic and export opportunities in cooperation with international industry l

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US Navy Lieutenant Jacob Baker, the logistics planning officer for Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Japan, removes the wing of a Scan Eagle unmanned aerial vehicle during the first aerospace industry exhibition at the Tokyo International Exhibition Center in Odaiba, Japan, 2009 © US Navy

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sions of interest from several leading UAV manufacturers. India has operated UAVs for about 15 years, beginning with IAI Searchers and Herons, and is developing its own tactical UAV and MALE systems through the Aeronautical Development Establishment.

In February 2011 first Nishant tactical UAV system, including four vehicles, completed a series of 'confirmatory trials’ with the army. But its operational status is unclear as reports of a 'final trial run' emerged earlier this year. Reading between the lines, Nishant seems to be in service in small numbers.

Indian forces fighting Maoist ‘Naxalite’ rebels across central and eastern India are reportedly experiencing severe difficulties with ISR. The newspaper India Today reported in May 2013 that the Central Reserve Police Force had requested up to 16 Nishants that would reduce its reliance on other organisations such as the National

Superior maritime intelligence, clearly.

The ScanEagle unmanned aircraft system provides persistent maritime intelligence, delivering high-quality imagery day or night. ScanEagle operates autonomously at low or mid altitudes for extended periods, dramatically enhancing situational awareness. The result is a multi-mission force multiplier for large and small vessels alike, delivering the intelligence critical for decision-making superiority.

www.insitu.com/maritime-intelligence

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Technological Research Organisation (a key technical intelligence agency), the army and the air force. The report says that DRDO offered to deploy “at least two” into theatre immediately and to work with HAL to deliver all 16 with their support equipment within 15 months of an order.

Indonesia

In April 2013, Indonesia's Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) announced plans to work with industry and the defence ministry to develop and manufacture the small Wulung tactical UAV. Wulung boasts an operating range of 38nm (70km), endurance of up to four hours and speeds up to 69 knots (128km/h).

According to the agreement, BPPT will be responsible for the air vehicle technology, Dirgantara will build it and PT LEN will implement the control system. If the programme succeeds, the air force intends to form a Wulung squadron, said

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BPPT head Marzan A Iskandar.

In February 2012, the Antara news agency reported that Indonesia's military would acquire a larger tactical UAV system with an operating range of 108nm (200km) and an endurance of 15 hours. Antara indicated that it would be an IAI Searcher Mk 2 system with four aircraft and ground control equipment. Ordered through Kital Philippine Corporation in 2004, the deal was delayed by political opposition.

Japan

While Japan has put a high priority on UAVs in its policy recommendations and its 2013 budget, the focus is on HALE systems in general and the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk in particular. It requested funds for overseas studies on the operation, maintenance and development of HALE UAVs and for research using an E (Endurance) UAV with a highperformance infra-red sensor capable of detecting ballistic missile launches.

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Malaysia

In the process of defining its long-term requirements for tactical UAVs, Malaysia is leasing systems while developing its own capabilities cooperatively. The Yabhon Aludra system, for example, which is now in operation under contract to the armed forces for ISR missions on the Sabah border, Malaysia's CTRM developed in conjunction with the UAE's Adcom Systems.

Now, however, Malaysia seems on the cusp of working with Pakistan following an offer to manufacture tactical UAVs jointly, the New Straits Times reported in January 2013. “Pakistan was convincing in terms of producing long-range UAVs, along with other strategic assets and equipment”, defence minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said. “With such offers, Malaysia need not depend solely on any country for such expertise.”

Pakistan

Pakistan has established a growing UAV

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A US Marine Corps RQ-7B Shadow unmanned aerial vehicle of Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3 is launched, Camp Leatherneck, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Oct. 20, 2011 © US Marine Corps

SATUMA says that the vehicle remains in production. While Integrated Dynamics provides a range of surveillance UAV systems, target drones and decoys and systems for civilian use and the full panoply of payloads and ground support equipment, the company emphasises its design, consultancy and turn-key project commissioning services.

Philippines

Working with local company OB Mapua, the Philippines Army is developing a small tactical UAV, known as Assunta, under the Self-Reliance Development Programme (SRDP). Officially launching the system in December 2012, Philippine Army chief Lt Gen Jaime de los Santos reportedly said that the system will be used to help identify 'rebel lairs' and 'bandit hideouts'. Powered by a 40cc twostroke petrol engine, the 14kg (30 lb) Assunta offers an endurance of two hours and a maximum speed of 80 knots (148km/h). The design emphasises simplicity of construction and low cost materials such as wood, foam, glassfibre and aluminium tubing. industry and is pushing towards self-sufficiency via a mixture of its own research and development efforts and international cooperation. Pakistan's industry is a mix of state-owned and private companies, the former including East West Infiniti, Global Industrial Defence Solutions (GIDS), Integrated Dynamics, and Surveillance and Target Unmanned Aircraft (SATUMA). Among the latter are Air Weapons Complex (AWC), National Development Complex (NDC) and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC).

SATUMA builds the Flamingo tactical UAV with a six-to-eight-hour endurance, a 216nm (400km) operating radius – limited only by its line-of-sight datalinks – and 30-kilogram (14 lb) payload capacity. The company’s smaller Jasoos II (Bravo+) tactical UAV has served with the Pakistan Air Force since 2004 as its workhorse in operations and training. It offers endurance in excess of five hours and payloads weighing up to 20 kg (nine pounds).

Singapore

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) have built significant operational experience with Israeli-built UAVs including IAI's Searcher tactical systems, the larger Herons that are to replace them, and Elbit's Hermes 450. The country is also developing its own UAV industrial capacity beginning with the Skyblade family of mini-UAVs developed by government and military engineers and Singapore Technologies Aerospace.

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The Skyblade III is in service with army scout teams, providing an operational radius of eight kilometres (four nautical miles) and an endurance of 60 minutes, feeding its pictures into the new highbandwidth wide area communications system. Designed for operation by two soldiers, Skyblade III has a maximum take off weight of five kilograms (eleven pounds). Measuring 1.4 metres (4.5 feet) long and 2.6m (8.5ft) in wingspan, it flies at up to 35 knots (65 km/h) and between 300-1,500ft (91-457m) altitude. The larger Skyblade IV shows clear progression in capability, with its 54nm (100km) operational range, six to 12 hours endurance, 15,000ft (4, 572m) ceiling, 70kg (154lb) take-off weight and twelve kilogram (26.4lb) payload.

South Korea

Late October 2012 saw Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) announce that the government had selected the company as a “priority negotiator” for a new generation corps reconnaissance UAV system.

Plans call for development to be complete by 2017, ready for deployment in the early 2020s. Few technical details have been released, but KAI says that the new vehicle system will offer an operational radius and endurance more than double that of the in-service RQ-101 Songgolmae (Peregrine Falcon) tactical UAV, also built by KAI, that entered service in 2004.

This pusher propeller driven aircraft has a maximum take-off weight of 300 kg (660lb), cruises at up to 81 knots (150km/h), has a service ceiling of 14,763ft (4,500m), an operating radius of 43nm (80km) and an endurance of six hours, according to KAI figures.

KAI estimates the value of the domestic market for this system at more than $1.86 billion, with the mass production stage alone worth around $326.65 million.

The company says that it intends to use the project as the basis for a 'diverse' range of UAV systems for export and that it is investing around $28 million of its own money. The Chosun Ilbo newspaper quotes a military source saying that about $467 million has been allocated to the project. A South Korean order for Elbit's

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electrically powered Skylark II was announced in December of 2012.

Taiwan

With most established UAV manufacturers reluctant to upset the PRC by selling advanced military technology to Taiwan, indigenous development seems its best option. Several types have been pro-

duced by the Chung Shan Institute of Science & Technology (CSIST), including the Chung Shyang II tactical UAV, which is reported to have been in service for more than two years with around 30 systems in the inventory. CSIST has also revealed smaller systems such as the hand-launched Cardinal II and the rotary wing Magic Eye. The organisation has

A South Korean marine corps gunnery sergeant and corporal operate an unmanned aerial vehicle performing air surveillance and reconnaissance during routine operations at the forward operation base of the South Korea Provincial Reconstruction Team for Parwan province, Afghanistan, Jan. 27, 2012 Š US Navy

also exhibited models of a number of advanced designs for UCAVs and MALE UAVs, but little detailed information has been released.

Thailand

Thailand wants to develop its UAV industry into a regional leader. Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong, head of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), said on 14 June that the RTAF would 'press on' with the development of the Tiger Shark tactical UAV (a Shadow 200 look-a-like) a joint effort between the RTAF Academy and the ATAF Research and Development Center, according to the National News Bureau of Thailand. Air Chief Marshal Prajin also wants to produce systems for export, promoting Thailand as ASEAN’s UAV hub.

The RTAF is believed to the customer of a $20 million order announced in September for the 220kg (484lb) Aerostar TUAV system from Israel's Aeronautics Defense Systems. This follows reports that the RTAF had been evaluating a variety of other small UAV systems including the 220kg G-Star, a variant of Israeli company Innocon's Mini-Falcon-2 developed with Thailand's G-Force Composites.

Vietnam

Vietnamese media reports the intention to buy UAVs from Belarus following the 16th May 2013 meeting between the countries' prime ministers, Nguyen Tan Dung and Mikhail Myasnikovich. The system in question is likely to be the Grif 1, a 100kg (220lb) vehicle with a 30kg (66lb) payload, 108 knot (200km/h maximum speed and eight-hour endurance first flown by developer JSC 558 Aircraft Repair Plant in February 2012.

Earlier in May 2013, scientists and engineers from the Vietnam Academy of Science & Technology (VAST) successfully flew two of five UAV designs built as part of a project begun during 2008. The five types are designated AV.UAV.MS1 and AV.UAV.S1 to S4. The largest of these is the S4, for which VAST quotes an operational range of 54nm (100km), a ceiling of 984ft (300m) and a maximum speed of 97 knots (180km/h).

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NAVAL

HELICOPTERS

THE ROTARY CLUB: NAVAL HELICOPTERS EYES OVER THE PACIFIC AND INDIAN OCEANS

The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan over the last decade have been largely land operations while naval operations, and capabilities, especially helicopters were largely relegated to a supporting role, alongside their anti-terrorism missions in the Indian Ocean.

by David Oliver

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HELICOPTERS raditionally, the shipboard helicopter’s main roles were firstly Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and secondly, Anti-Surface Warfare. (ASuW), but as these threats have diminished, the latest generations of naval helicopters have by necessity became multi-role.

With territorial protection, anti-terrorism and piracy being added to their traditional roles in the Asia Pacific region, there is a surge in naval helicopter procurement with European and American manufacturers competing head-on. The prime example of the new generation of multi-role naval rotary-wing asset, is the Sikorsky MH-60S Seahawk which combines the capabilities

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of the Black Hawk and Seahawk respective land and maritime helicopters in a package designed to support the US Navy’s personnel transport, Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP), long-range Search And Rescue (SAR), combat SAR and special forces’ operations requirements. The Royal Thai Navy, which has operated six S-70B-7 Seahawks for coastal patrol and SAR duties since the late 1990s, has become one of the first export customers for the MH-60S. Singapore has ordered two S-70B Seahawks armed with Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles and doormounted machine guns for the ASuW role in addition to the six already in service equipped for the ASW role.

Australia

The Taiwanese Navy operates the S70C(M)-1 Thunderhawk ASW and SAR helicopters while the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force is still taking delivery of Mitsubishi-built SH-60K naval combat rotorcraft. Australia is the first export customer for latest variant of the dedicated ASW Seahawk, the MH-60R, 24 of which are being delivered to replace the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) fleet of S-70B-2 helicopters. Australia is also the first customer for the naval version of the European NH Industries NH-90 multirole helicopter with six of the navalised version of the MRH-90 being delivered to replace the RAN’s AgustaWestland The AgustaWestland AW109 light utility helicopter has been procured for the New Zealand and Philippine navies © AgustaWestland

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One of the most successful naval helicopters in current service are the numerous variants the Sikorsky Seahawk such as this Royal Thai Navy MH-60S Š Sikorsky

Sea King utility helicopters.

New Zealand

Although New Zealand is also assigning a number of its eight NH-90s on order for naval duties, the type has been slow to penetrate the Asia-Pacific market.

However, New Zealand has also acquired ten Kaman SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite shipboard ASW helicopters for a bargain price. The aircraft were originally delivered to the RAN but after five years of software integration and flight safety problems, the programme which cost almost US$1 billion, was cancelled and

the aircraft returned to Kaman. New Zealand paid a reported US$204 million for eight flyable aircraft and two spares complete with a training and maintenance package, for delivery in 2014.

Yet another new type being delivered to the Royal New Zealand Air Force that has a limited maritime role, is the AgustaWestland AW109 Light Utility Helicopter (LUH). A basic variant, the AW109 Power, has been ordered by the Philippine Navy for a wide range of naval missions including economic zone protection, surface surveillance, SAR and maritime security. Three helicopters will be Korean Aerospace Industries is developing a naval assault variant of its KUH-1 Surion utility helicopter Š KAI

delivered in 2014 and will operate from both shore and ship bases.

South Korea

One of the few indigenous naval helicopters entering the Asia Pacific market is produced by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) which is developing a marinised variant of its KUH-1 Surion transport helicopter for the South Korean marines. The South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration has selected KAI as a primary negotiator for the US$713 million development of the amphibious task helicopter that will enhance the marines'

One of the few indigenous naval helicopters entering the Asia Pacific market is produced by KA which is developing a marinised variant of its KUH-1 Surion transport helicopter

ability to transport troops and equipment in the littoral environment. It expects to commence development of the variant this year, and complete it by the end of 2015 when production will commence.

Key modifications of this nine-to-16 seat twin-engine light utility helicopter, which is already in production for the South

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NAVAL

HELICOPTERS Korean Army and Police Force will include an integrated flotation system, an auxiliary fuel tank and specialised radio equipment.

The aircraft is likely to be operated from the South Korean Navy's ‘Dokdo’ class assault ships, which can carry up to 15 helicopters, two of the ships have been delivered out of a planned fleet of four.

In a surprise move, the South Korean Navy selected the AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat to replace its fleet of AgustaWestland Lynx Mk 99 shipboard ASW helicopters in preference to the Sikorsky MH-60R, while Bell’s possible Foreign Military Sale of 36 AH-1Z Viper naval attack helicopters to Korea lost out to the Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow.

Pakistan is also seeking to replace its current AH-1F/S Cobras when the AH1Z becomes available for export, probably in 2015.

V-22 Osprey

Bell, this time partnering Boeing, is actively marketing the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor for troop and cargo transport, long-range SAR and special forces operations with South Korea and Japan as prime export targets.

Another manufacturer focusing on the growing fleets of assault ships in the AsiaPacific region is the Kamov brand of Russian Helicopters. The Ka-27PS searchand-rescue model and the Ka-31 radar surveillance helicopter are already in service with dominant navies in the region, notably India and China. The Ka-31 is designed to defend groups of naval vessels operating outside the range of shorebased radar and Airborne Early Warning (AEW) planes from air attacks. It is capable of detecting air targets, including lowaltitude targets over land or sea, and surface targets and automatically transferring the data to ground- or ship-based command centres or air-defence systems.

Russian Helicopters has launched a new programme to develop a navalised version of the Ka-52 Alligator for the Russian Navy, designed to be deployed aboard its ‘Mistral’ class amphibious assault ships. The Ka-52K

is planned to have a tough anti-corrosion coating, folding blades and wings, as well as a number of avionics and weapons systems specially adapted for naval use. The maritime version of the Alligator, the Ka-52K will be of interest to countries that are actively developing their naval capabilities.

In addition to the Ka-28 and Ka-31, China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has fewer than 50 modern helicopters comprising the Hafei Z-9C ASW and SAR helicopter, a licence-built Eurocopter AS-365N Dauphin 2, and various versions of the CHAIG Z-8. Based on the Aerospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon, the Z-8 is used for tactical transport and SAR, while an AEW version is under development to operate from the PLAN’s aircraft carriers.

Indian Aspirations

By far the largest market for naval helicopters in the region is from the Indian

The Russian Kamov Ka-31 radar picket Airborne Early Warning helicopter is in service with the Chinese and Indian navies © Russian Helicopters

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Navy which has requirements for more than 200 new helicopters in the next decade. The service has already issued a Request for Proposals (RfP) for 56 light utility helicopters to replace its aging fleet of Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) Chetaks.

AgustaWestland, Bell Helicopter, Eurocopter and Russian Helicopters have responded to the RfP, which specified an aircraft with a maximum weight of 4,500kg (9,920lb) and folding blades for shipboard operations, with field trials to be carried out in India.

The RfP foresees the helicopter undertaking a number of roles, including SAR, casualty evacuation, logistics support, observation and surveillance, and electronic intelligence. It will also be required to carry light torpedoes and depth charges for prosecuting undersea targets, as well as unguided rockets and door-mounted machine guns. The RfP, in addition, calls

NAVAL

HELICOPTERS

Bell Boeing is actively marketing its V-22 multi-role tiltrotor aircraft to several Asia Pacific countries © David Oliver

for a major training and support package.

Leading contenders for the requirement are thought to be the Eurocopter AS565MB Naval Panther, a military variant of the popular Dauphin which is used by several nations in naval and coast guard operations. Other contenders include the AgustaWestland AW139, the Bell UH-1Y and Kamov Ka-32S. Despite the Indian government’s announced preference for indigenous helicopters, HAL has ruled out its Dhruv advanced light helicopter from the competition due to the challenges and expense involved in modifying it for shipborne

operations. Bids were due to be submitted

by January this year.

The NH-90 and Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk are competing for the Indian Navy’s 16-aircraft multi-role helicopter (MRH) requirement to carry out ASW and surveillance roles to augment the ageing fleet of AgustaWestland Sea King Mk.42 helicopters. The Navy completed trials of the participating helicopters in 2011 and has subsequently submitted its report on the trials to the Indian Defence Ministry.

A speedy decision was expected but for a second time in a year, the results of the MRH competition have been delayed with the Defence Ministry directing the vendors to extend the validity of their proposals for another six months. Without elaborating on the details of this decision, the ministry has asked Sikorsky and NH Industries to extend the validity of their proposals for the tender worth over US$1 billion for the 16 helicopters.

In June 2011, New Delhi issued a Request for Information (RfI) for the circa 120 aircraft, Naval Multi-Role Helicopter (N-MRH) requirement. This called for a large shipboard helicopter in the 9-12.5 tonne class to replace its ageing fleet of 30 Sea King ASW, ASuW and assault transport helicopters.

The Sikorsky/Lockheed-Martin MH60R Seahawk, based on the same airframe as the S-70B, is expected to be a contender

Kamov is developing a new naval combat variant of its Ka-52 attack helicopter for operations on assault carriers © Russian Helicopters

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HELICOPTERS

China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy use several variants of the three-engined CHAIG Z-8 including an assault transport version © Chinese Internet

(TEHH) that will be optimised for SAR, anti-terrorist and counter-piracy combat operations. These aircraft will be based on land but capable of operating from coast guard vessels. The Coast Guard issued an RfP in November 2012 for its TEHH requirement and bids were due in March 2013, but no date has yet been given for the announcement of the results of the bids.

Coast Guard Needs

as well as navalised versions of the Eurocopter EC-725 and the Sikorsky H-92 Superhawk.

At the same time the Indian Navy is in the process of evaluating interim upgrade packages to keep the Sea Kings operational until the end of the decade.

If these high value contracts follow the same protracted pathway of the Indian Army and Air Force’s long-stalled replace-

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ment for their Cheetah and Chetak fleets with 197 new light reconnaissance and surveillance helicopters, and the alleged bribery scandal surrounding the Indian Air Force’s AgustaWestland AW101 contract, the Navy’s Sea Kings and Chetaks have a long future of service in front of them.

In addition to the Indian Navy requirements, the Indian Coastguard has a need for 14 Twin-Engined Heavy Helicopters

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Few countries in Asia-Pacific region have dedicated coast guard aviation units, but one that does is Japan which has recently announced an order for eleven Sikorsky S76D aircraft with delivery to commence in 2015. They will join the Japanese Coast Guard’s fleet of AgustaWestland AW-139 and Eurocopter EC-225 SAR helicopters.

China’s equivalent to a coast guard is the China Rescue and Salvage service whose primary responsibilities include responding to marine accidents in Chinese waters, including life-saving, salvage of vessels and property, wreck removal, fire-fighting and spill clean-up. It also undertakes such important missions as the safeguarding of marine transport and exploitation of marine resources. To this end, it has ordered a small number of the recently certified Sikorsky S-76D. The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) was only established in 2005 and serves much the same role as a coast guard. It has signed a contract for three AgustaWestland AW-139 medium twin engine helicopters plus options for several additional aircraft to perform search and rescue, coastal patrol and law enforcement duties around Malaysia's extensive coast line alongside three Eurocopter AS365N3 Dauphins already in service.

Every country in the Asia-Pacific region, with the exception of Afghanistan, has extensive coastal waters to protect with thousands of islands in its seas, the helicopter will be an ever more important element of sea power stretching from the Arabian Sea to the Pacific Ocean.

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S O L D I ER

DISMOUNTED COMMS

Harris is supplying the AN/PRC152A triband handheld radio to the United States armed forces.

This radio can use the proprietary ANW-2 waveform, along with SINCGARS and the new Soldier Radio Waveform Š US Army

TALK TO THE HAND!

Handheld radios are experiencing a period of modernisation.

Improvements in terms of bandwidth are heralding increases in data traffic rates. New products are available and the US Army is preparing to embark upon the latest phase of its Handheld, Manpack, Small Form Factor radio acquisition.

by Thomas Withington

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DISMOUNTED COMMS communications specialists Harris, noted that more capabilities are being rolled out onto handheld tactical radios. This is taking the form of the functionality found in radios used by the special forces community increasingly migrating to individual soldiers: “Frequency ranges are expanding, along with data rates with a need to host multiple users on the same channel,” observes Mr. Spyra: “Wideband communications and more multiband radios are two other trends.” This article will profile recent innovations in the handheld radio world, both in terms of hardware and waveforms.

Datron

Datron World Communications took advantage of the DSEi exhibition to launch its new Spectre HH-2100V VHF handheld radio. Covering the 30-88 Very High Frequency (VHF) range, the Spectre HH-2100V is equipped with 100 programmable channels and has a power output of up to five watts. The radio can perform Global Positioning System (GPS) location reporting and includes digital encryption waveforms and full- or partial frequency-hopping to enhance security.

The radio can link back to the company’s

PRC2100V transceiver which can act as a manpack or vehicular base station, or as a retransmit point.

EID

One tactical radio manufacturer which has a strong presence in the Asia-Pacific region is Portugal’s EID. This year, it launched the TWH-101 squad radio. This 2.4 gigahertz radio uses WiFi and has a data rate if 120 kilobits-per-second (kbps) and a range of under one kilometre (0.6 miles), utilising EID’s TDMA proprietary waveform. The TWH-101 ensemble includes the TWH101R transceiver, TWH-101G gateway allowing the radio to link into a vehicle intercom, or a vehicular transceiver, plus a vehicle-mounted battery charger. Sales of the TWH-101 have already been concluded to some customers which the company has declined to name. The reason for the utilization of WiFi, rather than VHF or UHF to link these radios was; “to reduce size, enable short range communications, and to provide a cost-effective method of moving data as well as voice communications,” according to Eduardo Prata, EID’s administrator. By the end of the year, the company hopes to unveil a more powerful

EID of Portugal has developed the TWH-101 intra-squad radio which uses WiFi communications.

The radio has a range of around one kilometre (0.6 miles), and will soon be followed by the more powerful TWH-104 © Thomas Withington

hat war teaches lessons is a long-held maxim of military theory. The ongoing war in Afghanistan, plus the recent conflict in Iraq, has provided a myriad of lessons learned for the communications engineer vis-à-vis the design of handheld tactical radios. Speaking at the Defence Security and Equipment International (DSEi) exhibition held in London this September, Charles Spyra, director of international sales at military

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version of the TWH-101, known as the TWH-104 which will have an inbuilt Global Positioning System (GPS), among other features.

Elbit Systems

Israeli tactical communications specialists Elbit Systems took advantage of last year’s Eurosatory defence exhibition in Paris to showcase a number of its dismounted radios, including the VHF/Ultra High Frequency (UHF) PNR-1000A which has three selectable power outputs of 0.5, one and two watts, and data transfer rates of up to 320kbps, although this could increase to one megabit-per-second (mbps) in the future. Elbit’s SDR-7200HH, tri-band High Frequency/VHF/UHF radio uses both narrowband (30-512Mhz) and wideband (225-512Mhz) waveforms handling 115kbps and one megabit-persecond of data. For position reporting, an embedded GPS is also included.

Harris

Harris has recently made some important enhancements to its dismounted product

line including its new STNW-2 (Soldier Time division multiple access Networking Waveform-2). This UHF to to L-band (0.32 Gigahertz/Ghz) waveform provides a range of two-to-three kilometres (1.2-1.8 miles), with the STNW-2 hosting up to 60 radios on an individual net, and data being handle at a rate of two-to-three megabits-per-second, depending on the radio’s power output.

The STNW-2 can be ported into the company’s UHF/L-band RF-7850S Secure Personal Radio. This is a new transceiver which Harris recently launched on the market. It has a power output of 3.2 watts, and hosts both wideband (1.2 megahertz

As well as providing tactical radios to customers throughout the Asia-Pacific region, Harris continues to furnish the United States armed forces with handheld radios

and five megahertz) and narrowband (25 kilohertz) channels. The radio can perform simultaneous voice, GPS location reporting and data communications at a rate of one megabit-per-second. In terms of encryption, the radio includes both 256-bit Citadel and AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) algorithms. Harris is confident of soon receiving orders for this new product.

The RF-7850S is part of a new family of radios unveiled by Harris which also includes the RF-7800M-HH multiband handheld networking radio. This covers the VHF/UHF ranges with ten watts of power output, enabling ground-to-air and intersquad communications. The RF-7800M-HH is interoperable with a wide range of Harris’s other tactical radio products. It supports data communications at a rate of up to 1.6 mbps making it; “the fastest multiband handheld radio available,” according to the company. In terms of waveforms, the RF-7800M-HH supports Harris’s proprietary TNW (TDMA Networking Waveform) which supports narrowband communications and position reporting at a range of up to five kilometres (three miles), along with the ANW2 (Adaptive Networking Wideband Waveform) for high bandwidth data traffic. Although outside the scope of this article, the RF7800S/M-HH family also includes the RF7850A airborne mission radio.

As well as providing tactical radios to customers throughout the Asia-Pacific region, Harris continues to furnish the United States armed forces with handheld radios, in particular, the firm’s AN/PRC152A tri-band transceiver which handle the ANW-2, as well as the HAVEQUICKII and Single Channels Ground and Airborne Radios System (SINCGARS) ground-to-air/air-to-ground waveforms.

Although the AN/PRC-152A is a legacy system it is compatible with the radios which are being procured as a result of the now-defunct JTRS programme (see Harris’ RF-7850S Secure Personal Radio has both narrowband and wideband channels and can handle data at a rate of one megabit-persecond. An embedded GPS receiver is also included, and the company is confident of soon receiving orders © Thomas Withington

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DISMOUNTED COMMS below), as the radio has been certified to operate the 1.01.1 Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW). Interestingly, the AN/PRC-152A supports the APCO P25 protocol which enables the radio’s users to link with civilian communications networks.

HMS

The United States’ Department of Defense (DoD) Handheld, Manpack, Small Form Fit (HMS) was one of the key components of the erstwhile Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) programme which has now been placed under the auspices of the United States Army. Orders of 19,327 AN/PRC154 Rifleman Radios have already been placed with Thales and General Dynamics, although the army is re-opening the Rifleman Radio competition prior to embarking on full-rate production. The AN/PRC-154 covers the 225-450Mhz UHF band and L-band communications.

Providing five watts of output power, the radio has a range of circa two kilometres (one mile). It possesses 50 preset channels hosting up to three talk groups per preset, and has Type-2 communication and transmission security. Key to the AN/PRC-154 is the SRW which provides voice and data mobile ad hoc networking, providing secure relatively wideband networking in a small form factor transceiver. Moreover, the AN/PRC-154 can connect to the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) which provides secure digital communications to mobile forces with the handling of voice, data and imagery traffic.

WIN-T is being rolled out across a series of Increments progressively allowing at-thehalt and on-the-move communications.

On 16th August 2013, the US Army released a draft request for proposals regarding the next round of the Rifleman Radio acquisition, which aims to procure a new transceiver with a reduced size, weight and acquisition price, preferably below the US$5,600 Rifleman Radio unit cost which the DoD has budgeted for in 2014. The army plans to make a contract award to this end by late 2014, and over the longer term, plans to launch a programme to acquire next generation handheld radios by 2018. Whichever company is selected to provide the new Rifleman

The RF-7850M-HH multiband handheld networking radio from Harris has a data rate of 1.6 megabits-per-second. It also supports a number of Harris’ waveforms including the TNW and ANW-2 © Thomas Withington

Radio could be expected to produce up to 120,000 new radios to be delivered over the next five years.

ITT Exelis

Much like Harris’s AN/PRC-152A handheld, ITT Exelis’ Soldier Radio-Rifleman UHF/L-band radio also carries the SRW. The radio itself has two watts of output power and has a 1.2Mhz bandwidth when using the SRW, all in a radio which weighs under one kilogram (2.2lbs). It is worth mentioning the company’s handheld RO Tactical Radio. This system uses satellite communications to carry its traffic between handsets so as to avoid traffic

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being disrupted by high rise buildings, elevated terrain or thick forest canopy.

The ‘secret sauce’ in the RO Tactical Radio is its ability to utilise the DoD’s Defence Information Systems Agency (DISA) Enhanced Mobile Satellite Service’s Distributed Tactical Communications Systems which in turn uses the Iridium constellation. Without requiring any additional ground infrastructure beyond the radio itself, the user can reach other RO sets at ranges of up to 402km (250 miles) provided that they have a clear view of the sky. Each individual radio can host up to ten communications networks and uses simple push-

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VHF/UHF ranges with an optional extension into L-band and S-band (2-4Ghz). The BNET-HH has a peak output power of five watts and offers two megabits-per-second of data traffic across a 1.25Mhz channel using the BNET-TX waveform, and up to 100mbps using the BNET-RX waveform. In addition, the BNET-HH can handle several NATO waveforms. Other new handheld radios have been unveiled by South Africa’s Reutech Communications in the form of the UHF PCR4001-E Personal Role Radio which has a range of around one kilometre and sufficient battery life for up to 18 hours’ operation. Data can be handled by the PCR4001-E at a rate of up to 64kbps.

This radio is expected to equip the South African Defence Force, along with a number of undisclosed international customers.

Thales

Reutech has recently unveiled its PCR-4001-E handheld radio. Offering a data rate of up to 64kbps and 18 hours of operation with a single battery charge, this radio will soon enter service with the South African Defence Force © Reutech

to-talk procedures for the establishment of a channel, which can take less than two seconds. Each RO radio has an inbuilt GPS antenna and AES-256 level encryption. The RO Tactical Radio is an interesting product chiefly as it places HF-range communications in the hands of the individual soldier. Traditionally, handheld radios have tended to occupy the VHF/UHF segments of the spectrum.

This made them ideal for line-of-sight communications, but vulnerable to interference from obstacles. Using satellite communications bypasses such problems.

Around 8.000 of these radios have been supplied to the US armed forces since 2010 and they have been used extensively in Afghanistan. ITT Exelis may yet further extend the range of these radios to 900km (485 miles), and develop gateways to enable them to link to other radios carrying the SINCGARS and SRW waveforms.

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ITT Exelis’s SpearNet radio has eight preset channels and has a two kilometre (1.24 mile) lineof-sight range, although it has demonstrated a range of six kilometres using four hops. The radio has a light weight of under 700 grams (1.5lbs) with its battery © ITT Exelis

Rafael and Reutech

Away from the United States, Rafael Advanced Defence Systems of Israel has unveiled its new BNET family of radios which it will commence supplying to the Israeli Army from 2014. The BNET family includes the BNET-HH handheld which has an all-up weight of 1.2kg (2.6lb) including its battery. The radio covers the

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French defence electronics specialist Thales is forging ahead with its new TRC9110 VHF handheld radio which is entering production. The TRC-9110 forms part of the firm’s PR4G family, and covers the VHF segment of the radio spectrum.

Essentially the TRC-9110 provides similar capabilities and waveforms to those found in the vehicular and manpack members of the PR4G series. These VHF radios typically carry data at a rate of up to 38.4kbps, and include an internal GPS. The TRC-9110 will include the new GeoMux waveform which can accommodate voice, data and position reporting traffic, with data being handled at a rate of 100kbps. GeoMux joins the Mux (voice and data) and SuperMux (21.6kbps) waveforms which are already used by the PR4G family. It is expected to begin equipping PR4G radios from 2014.

Innovation is fast-moving in the handheld tactical radio world. As this article has illustrated, the need to push data down and up, to and from the individual soldier is triggering corresponding developments in bandwidth and waveforms. Although NATO will begin to withdraw from Afghanistan next year, US efforts regarding the Rifleman Radio underscore the fact that the evolution of the handheld transceiver will almost certainly continue to be as fast-moving as it has been to date.

D EF ENC E

R E L A T I O N S

CLOSER AND CLOSER: SOUTH EAST ASIAN DEFENCE COOPERATION

In general, defence cooperation in the South-East Asia region can be broken down into two distinct types, the first being military cooperation and the other being defence industry cooperation. Both of which are slowly, but noticeably, on the increase.

by Dzirhan Mahadzir

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DEFENCE R E L A T I O N S

ilitary cooperation in the region has been on the rise, not only between nations in South-East Asia but also between South-East Asian nations and extraregional countries, particularly the United States and Australia though in recent times China has made efforts to increase its military cooperation and engagement in the region. Defence industry cooperation between South-East Asian nations, on the other hand, has been limited though South-East Asian nations have been increasing industry collaboration and partnerships with countries outside the region in developing their defence industry and in-country production of military equipment for their use.

M

As a whole multi-lateral military cooperation involving and between ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nation) countries alone has been fairly limited, with the Malacca Straits Patrols initiative being the only operational cooperation.

Nevertheless, numerous dialogue and meetings session have occurred under the ASEAN ambit such as the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM), and a number of ASEAN military meetings at various levels, including one each for ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces, Army Chiefs, Navy Chiefs and Air Force Chiefs are carried out on an annual basis.

ADMM

It is notable that no field exercises have been held under the ADMM banner but instead have been held under the ADMMPlus, an offshoot of the ADMM which includes other countries outside ASEAN. The ADMM-Plus consists of 18 countries, namely the ten ASEAN countries as well as Australia, China, Japan, India, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia and the United States. The ADMM–Plus’s pur-

An RAF Eurofighter Typhoon F/GR.4 combat aircraft during the Five Power Defence Arrangement Bersama Lima exercise in 2011 © BAE Systems

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The Littoral Combat Ship USS Freedom docked at RMN Kuantan naval base during the CARAT Malaysia 2013 exercise Š Dzirhan Mahadzir

pose is to facilitate strategic dialogue between defence officials as well as practical cooperation between militaries with the goal of confidence building and promoting stable military-to-military relations in the region. At the inaugural ADMM-Plus meeting held in Hanoi, Vietnam, on 12th October 2010, it was agreed on that there would be five areas of practical cooperation to pursue under ADMM-Plus, namely maritime security, counter-terrorism, disaster management, peacekeeping operations and military medicine with Expert Working Groups (EWGs) established for them.

There are several reasons for the lack of an ASEAN countries-only multilateral military exercise, first off ASEAN has always stressed that it is a political and economic grouping rather than a military or security alliance with no intention of becoming a NATO style organisation.

Secondly the cost and complexity of hosting or participating in a multilateral exercise has meant that any involvement to this end would have to bring about substantial benefits or return in participation given the wide disparity in capabilities and sizes of ASEAN’s military forces.

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Where some ASEAN countries are on the lower end of the military curve, the benefits to members on the higher end would be of little return for the cost of participation. As a result, most ASEAN countries mainly conduct bilateral exercises with neighboring ASEAN members or with extra-regional countries while multilateral exercises are conducted with the involvement of non-ASEAN countries in such, particularly with the United States.

Malacca Straits

The Malacca Straits Patrol (MSP) began in July 2004 with the establishment of the Malacca Straits Sea Patrol and this was followed by the Eye In the Sky (EIS) initiative

The Malacca Straits Patrol (MSP) began in July 2004 with the establishment of the Malacca Straits Sea Patrol and this was followed by the Eye In the Sky initiative l

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in September 2005 as response to international concerns regarding piracy in the Malacca Straits. Originally comprising of Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia with Thailand later joining in 2008, the MSP works on the basis of coordinated sea and air patrols of the Malacca Straits by the nations involved rather than a joint patrol system. This is likely due to the legalities involved in apprehending pirates in the waters of another nation. The approach has been successful with the number of piracy incidents in the Straits of Malacca reduced to a single incident in 2012.

US Contributions

Outside of the Malacca Straits patrol, which is narrow in scope and involves only a small number of ASEAN nations, the only other multilateral defence cooperation efforts in the region center upon the ADMM and ADMM-Plus forums, the Five Power Defence Arrangement and multilateral regional exercises spearheaded by the United States. The recent ADMM-Plus Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR)/Military Medicine (MM) Exercise held in Brunei from 17th to 20th June 2013 marked the first time the group

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conducted a military field exercise under its aegis and drew a substantial participation from member countries with 3,200 personnel, seven ships, 15 helicopters as well as military medical, engineering and Search And Rescue (SAR) teams and assets from the 18 member nations. Both China and the United States sent a substantial contingent to the exercise. China provided the Peace Ark hospital ship plus engineers, medical and SAR teams along with helicopters while the United States sent the supply ship USNS Matthew Perry with medical teams and helicopters thus marking a rare moment where their two militaries participated together in a joint multinational field exercise. This was also the case for Japan and China, with the Japanese deploying the destroyer JS Shirane along with medical personnel and helicopters.

The ADMM-Plus is expected to carry out further exercises under its aegis as part of an effort to boost cooperation and confidence building in the region. An ADMMPlus Counter-Terrorism Exercise was carried out in early September 2013 in Indonesia, and from 29th September until 1st October, Australia will host a Maritime Security Field Training Exercise under the ADMM-Plus aegis in the vicinity of Jervis Bay and the East Australian Exercise Area.

This will involve personnel and ships from 14 of the 18 ADMM-Plus member states. An ADMM-Plus naval exercise in Indonesia’s Riau Islands province is scheduled for April 2014.

FPDA

Signed in 1971 between the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore, the Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA) continues to provide a useful platform for defence cooperation between the five countries involved despite its initial raison d’étre lying in the context of the Cold War. Five exercises are carried out under the FPDA, the annual joint exercise Bersama Shield and annual Suman Warrior land exercise while three other exercises, the joint Bersama Lima and Bersama Padu exercises, and the joint Suman Protector planning exercise are FPDA events conducted across a five year cycle. Bersama Lima is held in the first, second and fourth years, Bersama Padu is held in the third year, and Suman Protector is held in the fifth year. This year’s Bersama Lima exercise which will be held in November marks the beginning of that five year cycle.

In recent years the UK’s participation has declined in terms of the naval and air

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assets involved though this has much to do with the downsizing of both the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. Though RAF Eurofighter Typhoon F/GR.4 combat aircraft participated in FPDA exercises in Malaysia in 2011 and 2013, cynics have said that the Typhoon’s participation was prompted by the UK’s marketing of the jet for Malaysia’s Multi-Role Combat Aircraft requirement to replace the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s MiG-29N fleet. UK Defence Secretary Philip Hammond at this year’s Shagri-La Dialogue stressed that the UK remain committed to the region and the FPDA. Nevertheless, it is open to question, given the current size of the UK military, particularly the Royal Navy, how much of a presence and commitment the UK can sustain towards both the FPDA and the region over the long term. Still however, the FPDA will continue to endure given its usefulness for the countries involved.

Australia

Despite all the attention given towards the US Marines on exercise in Malaysia, the deployment of US Marines to Australia is expected to allow the US to increase engagement in the region © Dzirhan Mahadzir

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Malaysian soldiers and a US Marine exchange views during the CARAT Malaysia 2013 exercise © Dzirhan Mahadzir

US Rebalance or Pivot to Asia, it should be noted that the US has always been heavily engaged in South-East Asia since the Second World War. Multilateral exercises such as Cobra Gold, Cope Tiger and Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) and the Cooperation Afloat Readiness And Training (CARAT) series of initiatives have been in existence for a number of years before the announcement of the US Asia rebalance. However it should be noted that the rotational deployment of the US Navy’s Littoral Combat Ships to Singapore (currently only the USS Freedom is deployed, although eventually a total of four ships will be deployed) and the US Marine Corps training deployment to Australia will also form additional engagement and cooperation opportunities for the US with countries in South-East Asia. The LCS’s focus on maritime security missions such as the interdiction of suspect ships, VBSS (Visit, Board, Search and Seizure) and counter-piracy makes it ideal for engagement with Southeast Asian navies who face the challenges of preventing maritime terrorism and maritime crimes. Moreover the LCS’s capability to operate in shallow waters and it’s smaller size compared to other US Navy ships allows greater flexibility in operations and engagement in the region, particularly

when considering that a number of naval bases in the region are of limited size and not designed to accommodate larger American vessels. Meanwhile there has been talk of having the US Marine forces deployed to Australia and the Australian military conducting joint exercises together with South-East Asian countries either in Australia or in South-East Asia with Indonesia being a likely possibility in 2014.

Australia maintains a steady presence in the region in terms of defence cooperation. Apart from participation in the

FPDA, it has a series of bilateral military cooperation initiatives with countries in the region notably Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. The Singapore Armed Forces make use of Australian training areas to conduct large-scale land warfare exercises. In 2011, when Malaysia was preparing to deploy to Afghanistan using RMAF Lockheed Martin C-130H freighters, the Royal Australian Air Force provided free use of its C-130 mission training simulators in Australia for RMAF training. While the RMAF had a C-130 simulator, there was no mission module which replicated expected conditions in Afghanistan. Australia’s cooperation between its special forces and Indonesian special forces have been a source of controversy, particularly from human rights group who claimed that Indonesian special forces have been involved in a number of human rights abuses in operations in Papua though Australia’s commitment to assist Indonesia’s counter-terrorism capabilities in order to prevent further attacks on Australians in Indonesia have The Malaysian Second Generation Patrol Vessel – Littoral Combat Ship, based on DCNS’s ‘Gowind’ class corvette design will be built domestically by Malaysia’s Boustead Naval Shipyards with the assistance of DCNS © Dzirhan Mahadzir

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The AV-8 eight-wheel drive armoured fighting vehicle is being developed jointly by the Malaysian Army, Deftech of Malaysia and Turkey’s FNSS Defence Systems © Dzirhan Mahadzir

countered calls for the cessation of cooperation with Indonesian special forces.

China Reaches Out

China has made marked efforts to increase defence cooperation with countries in South East Asia although by and large exercises have been limited in scope due to most countries taking a cautious approach in light of Chinese claims to disputed areas in the region. Malaysia has agreed to conduct a joint bilateral military exercise with China in April 2014 though the type of exercise has yet to be determined. China has maintained a strong defence cooperation relationship with Thailand with the two countries having held joint special forces exercises in the past and China providing technical assistance to Thailand in developing indigenous Multiple Rocket Launch Systems.

China and Indonesia are currently in discussion over the joint production of the Chinese Aerospace Group’s C-705 antiship missile for use by Indonesia.

Defence industry cooperation between ASEAN countries have been next to nonexistent, differing requirements, a reluctance to share research and development with neighboring ASEAN members and the desire to develop their own indigenous

defence industry capability have all contributed to this situation. Though the ASEAN Defence Industry Collaboration (ADIC) initiative was signed in May 2011 at the Fifth ADMM in Jakarta, little progress has been made. The chief proponent of the ADIC was then Malaysian Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who pushed strongly for defence collaboration between ASEAN countries, however with Mr. Zahid Hamidi having left the Defence Minister portfolio, it would seem the ADIC appears to be stillborn as none of the ASEAN Defence Ministers appear to be keen to push the ADIC initiative strongly.

Industrial Efforts

On the other side defence cooperation with industrial partners outside the region is increasing. Such efforts centre upon the

Defence cooperation with industrial partners outside the region is increasing. Such efforts centre upon the development of the local industry and transfer of technology l

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development of the local industry and transfer of technology as part of the purchase of military equipment. Indonesia and Vietnam are working on joint shipbuilding with Damen Schelde for their respective warship procurements, similarly Indonesia is pursuing the same course of shipbuilding for its purchase of submarines from South Korea and on the aviation side its purchase of C-295 turboprop freighters from Airbus Military includes final assembly in Indonesia. Malaysia will be building its six-ship Second Generation Patrol Vessel–Littoral Combat Ship in country with the assistance of France’s DCNS whose ‘Gowind’ class corvette hull design will be used for the ship. At the same time, the Malaysian Army, Malaysia’s Deftech and Turkey’s FNSS Defence Systems are currently working together on the eight-wheel drive AV-8 Armoured Fighting Vehcile, the prototype being currently on trial in Malaysia with local production of 257 vehicles scheduled to commence next year. With ASEAN countries looking to develop their manufacturing capability and their skilled workforce capability, as a whole, future military sales to such countries will involve industrial cooperation requirements rather than just being performed as a pure sale.

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ASIA PACIFIC PROCUREMENT UPDATE

by Pierre Delrieu

INDIA TO DEVELOP NEW BATTLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

India’s Defence Minister AK Antony and his office announced earlier this summer that the Indian Army’s new Battle Management System (BMS) program would be acquired as a “Make India” program, and that Expressions of Interest (EoIs) have been sent to both private and stateowned domestic companies for consideration.

Pursuing its policy to boost local defence industries, the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) will invest $5 billion into the BMS, which will link infantry level troops on the battlefield to higher echelons of command, as part of the Army’s networkcentric warfare program.”

Sources in the MoD explained that the BMS program had been under consideration for more than four years but the final decision took time as policymakers were weighing whether to acquire elements of the system internationally or to nominate state-owned companies such as Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL), which have long been lobbying for the big-ticket program.

Since the long awaited decision was announced, EoIs were sent to more than a

dozen Indian defence companies, private and state-owned, inviting them to participate in the program.

Release of EoIs to Bharat Electronics (BEL), Computer Maintenance Corporation, Electronics Corporation of India, ITI, Rolta India, Tata Power SED, Wipro, Larsen and Toubro, HCL, Bharat Forge, Punj Lloyd, Tata Consultancy, Info Systems and Tech Mahindra highlights the Indian MoD's plan to utilise local defence firms.

However, if the development of India’s BMS is only attributed to domestic manufacturers, MoD sources have explained those companies will be free to collaborate with overseas defence manufacturers to acquire advanced technologies.

Several overseas defence companies have already expressed interest in the project, including Israel Aerospace Industries, Rafael and Elbit of Israel; Thales and Nexter of France; Germany’s Rohde and Schwarz; BAE Systems plus Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and General Dynamics, and Selex of Italy.

After evaluation of the different EoIs, which could take up to four months, the Indian government expects to select two manufacturers. These two

manufacturers will then be asked to develop four BMS prototypes for mountain, jungle, and desert operations which will be put through extensive field trials. These trials could take up to three years before the final bidder is selected and production begins.

The development of these prototypes is projected to cost about $67 million: 80 percent of which will be covered by the MoD, and the remaining 20 percent by the shortlisted domestic company.

The selected defence company will be awarded an estimated $5 billion contract to produce more than 500 systems in India.

The BMS system will integrate infantry surveillance systems, including Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and ground sensors, and provide the instant location of troops and platforms as well as a near realtime tactical picture to link troops in the battlefield with their command headquarters.

The BMS will be designed to receive and transmit voice, data and images from multiple sources including cameras, radars and battlefield optronics simultaneously providing all the soldiers on the battlefield with the same information received by their command headquarter.

Force. Among its 18 customers worldwide, India is the largest operator of the Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer with 123 aircraft ordered to date, of

which over 70 have been delivered to the Indian Air Force.

Hawk trainers already in service with the Indian Air Force are performing well.

Adding to the Indian Navy’s fleet of aircraft, the Hawk provides the ideal platform for pilots to transition smoothly to the Navy’s frontline aircraft.

The Hawk effectively integrates air and ground based elements offering the most efficient and cost-effective method of training pilots.”

INDIAN NAVY RECEIVES FIRST HAWK TRAINER JET

The Indian Navy has received the first of 17 Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers, becoming the third naval operator of the Hawk along with the US Navy and the Royal Navy.

The 17 Hawk aircraft ordered by the Indian Navy form part of a contract for 57 aircraft signed in 2010 of which 40 are for the Indian Air

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MISSION COMPUTER SUITES FOR INDIAN NAVY’S P-8I AIRCRAFT

BAE Systems through a contract with Boeing, is providing powerful mission computer suites to the Indian Navy for use on their P-8I maritime patrol aircraft, a variant of the US Navy’s P-8A Poseidon.

The MCDS suite – which can go on any aircraft or unmanned aerial system – consists of two high-performance servers and five dual-mission workstations that are lighter and less expensive than currently fielded mission computers. The suite proves its versatility through its ability to be tailored to individual users, enhancing mission performance and endurance. Additionally, the suite’s modular, open-systems architecture leverages commercial off-the-shelf designs for military environments, enabling low cost and rapid technology insertion.

“Our mission computer suite is the digital backbone for the P-8I aircraft, providing an interface to all sensors, communication links, countermeasures, aircraft subsystems, and weaponry on board,” said Gary Rubasch, Boeing P-8I program director in Greenlawn, New York, where the mission computers are developed. “Airborne sensors in surveillance aircraft require a scalable mission computer like our MCDS suite provides. It allows users to complete multiple missions without needing to purchase additional mission specific aircraft.”

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TENCATE RECEIVES ASIAN CONTRACT FOR ADVANCED NAVAL ARMOUR SYSTEMS

TenCate Advanced Armour has booked a three year contract with a Singapore-based shipyard to design, develop and manufacture lightweight ballistic protection for crew and mission critical equipment on a number of large

INDONESIA ACQUIRES EIGHT AH-64ES

Indonesia signed a $500 million contract with the US Army to acquire eight Boeing AH-64E Block-III Apache Longbow helicopters. The deal was announced during the US defence secretary Chuck Hagel’s recent visit to Jakarta, where he met with his Indonesian counterpart, Purnomo Yusgiantoro. While details of delivery and training

maritime vessels for a Middle Eastern end-user, ensuring increased survivability for the crew on board the vessels without impairing speed or performance. With this new order among a number of other recent commercial successes TenCate further strengthens its position in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) and APAC

(Asia Pacific) maritime markets.

Early 2012 TenCate opened a new marketing and sales office in Singapore and has since then been validated with new orders coming in from Asian shipyards and Asian vehicle manufacturers.

‘Over the years, TenCate Advanced Armour has gained much experience from maritime projects in Europe and we apply

South Korea awards Lockheed Martin Arrowhead MTADS/PNVS contract and acquires six Longbow FCRs news story). The sale, valued at $1.4 billion, would also have covered the supply of further equipment and services, including 120 Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, enabling the Apache to attack landing crafts or small warships.

Jakarta has greatly enhanced its ground attack capabilities in

eight squadrons had been revealed in early 2007 by the Indonesian Ministry of Defence and started with the purchase of Russian Mil Mi-35 gunships in 2003 and 2008. Furthermore, in addition to the Apache, the Indonesian Army announced its intents to procure Eurocopter AS 550 Fennec light military helicopters.

The procurement of the Apache is consistent with Indonesia’s intentions to improve mobility and having a flexible and responsive army is essential if the country wishes to pursue a maritime-oriented defence strategy within Indonesia’s archipelago. This is because the AH-64E Block-III Apache Longbow is designed to provide the necessary tactical air support for naval forces during amphibious operations.

During the 2010–2014 period, the Indonesian government has allocated some $16.3 billion for acquisition, in which 62% ($10.1 billion) is dedicated to air and naval force modernisations.

This Asian country has suffered periodic insurgencies in provinces such as Aceh and West Papua, creating a niche for counter-insurgency aircraft in the nation's air force.

According to the United States Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) the helicopters will help Indonesia protect and deter both external and other potential threats, defend its borders, carry out counter terrorism and counter-piracy operations, and control the free flow of shipping through the Malacca Straits, near Malaysia.

Chuck Hagel - US Secretary of State for Defence Chuck Hagel in discussion with Indonesian Minister of Defense Purnomo Yusgiantoro

are still being ironed out, the deal made with the Indonesian Army (TNI-AD), in preparation since last year, is expected to include radars, pilot training, and maintenance.

In September 2012, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) had informed the US Congress of Jakarta’s intent to acquire eight Apaches, with the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) deal initially including four Longbow LLC AN/APG-78 Longbow fire control radars (see

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recent years, and the Apaches will complement the 16 Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano light attack aircraft that Indonesia is about to add to its air force.

The Indonesian Army had reportedly been eyeing Apache gunships for some time under its so-called “Minimum Essential Force” (MEF), a capability upgrade and modernization program for the TNI to be achieved in three stages by 2024.

The 25-year plan to acquire some 135 helicopters to form

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this experience to a growing number of projects in Asia Pacific now. The TenCate Advanced Armour team in Singapore offers fully engineered and proven solutions and they understand the local requirements in Asia Pacific’ says Steen Tanderup, Managing Director of TenCate Advanced Armour EMEA & APAC.

SEACAT ANNUAL COUNTER-TERRORISM NAVAL EXERCISE

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) participated in the annual Southeast Asia Cooperation Against Terrorism (SEACAT) exercise, together with the United States Navy and navies from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.

This year’s exercise, which was held from 2 to 12 September 2013, marks the 12th in the series.

The Exercise SEACAT series, which started in 2002, aims to enhance maritime information-sharing and the coordination of maritime security responses in the region.

During the exercise, the participating navies conducted planning exercises at the Changi Command and Control (C2) Centre at Changi Naval Base. Other drills included the tracking of ships, and the boarding of a merchant vessel simulating its involvement in terroristactivities at sea.

Personnel from the RSN’s Maritime Security Task Force, including an Accompanying Sea Security Team, took part in the exercise.

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KOREA SELECTS GENERAL DYNAMICS’ ACOUSTIC PROCESSOR FOR P-3 AIRCRAFT UPGRADE PROGRAMME

General Dynamics Canada has been awarded a multi-year contract to provide next-generation acoustic processing systems as part of the Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN) Lockheed Martin P3C Orion Maritime Patrol Aircraft upgrade program.

Under the contract, prime contractor Korean Air Lines Co. Ltd. will acquire 10 Vpx ENhanced Open architecture Multi-static (VENOM) sonobuoy processors to replace the existing acoustic systems under the “Lot I”P-3C aircraft upgrade programme.

“Acoustic operators face considerable challenges detecting today’s stealthy submarine threats, and the sheer volume of sensor data that they must manage and analyze in order to develop a complete situational awareness picture can be overwhelming,” said David Ibbetson, vice president, General Dynamics C4 Systems – International.

“This new, advanced generation of acoustic processors helps operators handle their complex tasks more effectively and efficiently than ever before.”

The VENOM system is an advanced acoustic processor designed to provide underwater acoustic signal acquisition and processing capabilities, automation and sophisticated tools that help acoustic operators to quickly and accurately detect, classify and track submarines in complex undersea environments. The compact size and modularity of VENOM’s 3U VPX form factor makes it ideal for new or retrofit airborne applications.

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MTADS-PNVS

SOUTH KOREA AWARDS LOCKHEED MARTIN ARROWHEAD M-TADS/PNVS CONTRACT AND ACQUIRES SIX LONGBOW FCRS

Lockheed Martin has signed a $223 million deal to provide South Korea with 36 Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensors (M-TADS/PNVS) optronic units and spares, with delivery starting in 2015. The systems will equip South Korea’s recently acquired Boeing AH-64E Block-III Apache Longbow attack helicopter.

The Republic of Korea’s AH64Es will also be equipped with AN/APG-73 Longbow Fire Control Radars (FCRs), as the country concluded a $51 million deal with Longbow LLC; a joint venture involving Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. South Korea will acquire a total of six of the AN/APG-73 radars. This system is a Ka-band (33.4-36 gigahertz) radar with a range of up to four

nautical miles (eight kilometres).

As well as equipping the Republic of Korea Army, the AH-64E Block-III is being rolled out across the United States Army as both a new-build aircraft and as an extensively upgraded version of the force’s existing AH-64D models. All six radars will be delivered by 2016, and their assembly will be performed at Lockheed Martin’s Ocala and Orlando facilities, and Northrop Grumman’s Baltimore, Maryland facility.

The Republic of Korea becomes the AN/APG-73s tenth international customer and the battle-proven radar will provide the country’s Apache pilots with increased situational awareness, survivability and lethality, according to Tom Eldredge, Longbow LLC president and director of Longbow programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

Since if was first fielded in 2005, more than 1,200 Arrowhead M-TADS/PNVS systems have been delivered to both the US Army and international customers, with produc-

recently at the Lockheed Martin production facility. This C-130J is scheduled for delivery to the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) in 2014.

The RoKAF is a legacy C-130 operator.”

ROKAF FIRST C-130J TAKES MAIDEN FLIGHT

The Republic of Korea Air Force’s (ROKAF) first Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules aircraft took to the skies for its first flight

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tion of additional systems planned through January 2015.

Arrowhead is the advanced electro-optical fire control system used by AH-64D/E Apache helicopter pilots for fire control and pilotage in day, night and inclement weather.

The equipment contains stabilized electro-optical sensors, a laser rangefinder and laser target designator. It also includes a thermal imaging camera and a daylight television camera. It can rotate +/- 120° in azimuth, +30/-60° in elevation and can move independently of the Pilot Night Vision System (PNVS).

The movements of the Arrowhead can also be 'slaved' to the head movements of the helicopter crew to point where they are looking, which allows images from the system to be projected onto the crew helmetmounted display, overlaid upon their view of the cockpit. The Pilot Night Vision System element of the Arrowhead architecture contains an infrared camera slaved to the head movements of the pilot. The PNVS can rotate +/- 90° in azimuth and +20/-45° in elevation and has a high movement rate (120° per second), which allows it to accurately match the head movements of the pilot.

The production and final assembly of South Korea’s 36 M-TADS/PNVS systems will be performed at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Orlando, Florida.

In April 2013, the South Korean Army had announced a $1.6 billion deal with Boeing for 36 AH-64E Block-III Apache helicopters, saying that the aircraft were expected to be delivered between 2016 and 2018.

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AUSTRALIA COMPLETE CHINOOK MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN The Australian Army Aviation Detachment, has completed its mission in Afghanistan, and marked the End of Mission during a ceremony at Kandahar Airfield (KAF) on 14 September 2013.

The KAF-based RWG consisted of two Boeing CH-47D Chinook Medium Lift Helicopters operating throughout the Afghan summer months as part of the American-led Regional Command South Aviation Task Force.

Australian Army Aviation Task Groups have completed 11 tours in Afghanistan start-

EA-18G

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AUSTRALIA’S NEW F-35AS AND EA-18G GROWLERS

The Australian government announced its plans to purchase three Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning-II Joint Strike Fighter squadrons, totalling 72 planes, as former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and former Defence Minister Stephen Smith launched their government’s new defence white paper in Canberra on 3rd May 2013.

Australia’s Royal Air Force (RAAF) currently has three operational squadrons of ageing McDonnell Douglas/Boeing F/A-18A/B Hornets and 24 Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets.”

The newly-drafted white paper calls for the procurement of 72 F-35As, the conventional takeoff and landing variant of

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the Lockheed Martin F35A/B/C Lightning II, along with a decision on a further 28 aircrafts being deferred until circa 2030, when the Super Hornets will be approaching their scheduled withdrawal date.

“Lockheed Martin is honoured by the trust and confidence the Australian government showed in the F-35 program with today’s announcement,” said Trevor Thomas, head of the company’s corporate communications in the Asia-Pacific region, in response to the announcement. “Along with the first two Australian jets in production, which we will deliver in mid-2014, we will work closely with the government to support their purchase of their remaining 100 F-35 aircraft.”

Australia’s newly drafted

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ing in 2006 as the Aviation Support Element. It was renamed the Rotary Wing Group in 2008 and went on to complete eight rotations between 2008 and 2013.

Australia’s Middle East Area of Operations Commander, Major General Michael Crane said the RWG white paper also announced the acquirement of twelve newbuild Boeing EA-18G Growler Electronic Warfare (EW) aircraft, a $1.54 billion decision which replaces the country’s original intention to convert twelve of its existing F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft into the Growler configuration.

The purchase includes the aircraft, required mission and support systems, training, and ongoing support to effectively develop and operate this EW capability. The Australian Department of Defence plans to achieve the aircraft’s Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in 2018.

Planned for basing at the eastern Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base of Amberley, the twelve EA-18G Growlers will complement the existing F/A-18F Super Hornets and the future F-35As. The EA-18G Growler is an EW variant of the F/A-18E/F Block II Super Hornet that removes the internal gun, and has the ability to disrupt or jam a range of military electronics systems, including radars and communications via its four ITT Exelis AN/ALQ-99 ECM (Electronic Counter Measures) pods mounted beneath its wings. In US Navy service, the AN/ALQ-99 pods will eventually be replaced as part of the Next Generation Jammer initiative.

The contract made with Australia will also include the supply of three training simulators.

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operated steadfastly alongside their American allies.

“The Army Aviation’s detachment, assigned under Operational Control to American Combat Aviation Brigades over the past eight years has provided a meaningful enhancement to Australia’s strategic US alliance.”

NEW 40MM AMMUNITION FOR AUSTRALIA

Australian Munitions and Singapore Technologies Kinetics Ltd (ST Kinetics) have signed an agreement to cooperate in Australia and New Zealand for the development, manufacturing and marketing of ST Kinetics’ 40 millimetre (1.56 inch) low velocity, extended range, and air bursting ammunition. The two companies will focus on making new 40mm capabilities available to the Australian Department of Defence and establishing supply from within Australia.

They will also look to introduce an innovative supply chain

approach which includes reciprocation of supply.

ST Kinetics designs and manufactures a comprehensive range of 40mm weapons and ammunition, fire Control units and ammunition as systems. Its 40mm ammunition solutions include air bursting, camera surveillance and self-destruct rounds. The company’s 40mm ammunition is currently in service with the armed forces of Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.

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