Asian Military Review - Sept/Oct 2010

VOLUME 18/ISSUE 6

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DISMOUNTED NIGHT VISION

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Contents SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 VOLUME 18 / ISSUE 6

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Front Cover Photo: The US Navy plans to buy 298 Sikorsky MH-60R multi-mission helicopters which feature a glass cockpit, improved mission systems, new sensors and advanced avionics in comparison with earlier generation Seahawks. Australia recent notified the US of a potential request for 24 MH-60R Seahawk helicopters and associated equipment, worth an estimated $2.1 billion © US Navy

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Blades Over the Sea Ian Kemp American and European helicopter manufacturers are vying for lucrative naval helicopter contracts in the Asian-Pacific market. For all but the few nations which can afford aircraft carriers, helicopters largely define ‘naval aviation’

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Regional Corvette & Frigate Programmes Tom Withington The Asia-Pacific region is a hub of activity as far as corvette and frigate acquisition and upgrade activity is concerned. Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand are performing upgrades to their frigates, while India, Pakistan and South Korea acquiring new ships.

Corvettes, are also proving popular in the Asia-Pacific region

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40 Dismounted Night Vision for Asia

Defence Geospatial Information

Adam Baddeley Owning The Night’ remains a key differentiator in terms of success or defeat on the battlefield.

Access to image intensification and thermal imaging devices individually and in combination, provide an immediate force multiplier within all environments and scenarios

Adam Baddeley Geographic or Geographical Information Systems — software to manage, analyse and visualise map and map-related information are everywhere, a necessary accompaniment to the expansion of data on the battlefield. GIS is not just a map, but an essential core architecture for situational awareness and intelligence

24 Regional Submarine Programmes

Land Based Air Defence

Ted Hooton Why are so many Pacific Rim nations looking at creating or expanding submarine fleets?

The answer is that the submarine is the modern capital ship.

Asia is demonstrating a demand not just for conventional diesel-electric submarines but nuclear-powered boats too

Tom Withington There are plenty of low-altitude air threats to engage the battlefields of today and tomorrow. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, attack helicopters and low-flying fixed-wing strike aircraft are just a small selection of the dangers that troops confront and which require mobile low-altitude air defence systems to protect soldiers and vehicles in forward echelons

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Integrated CBRN: Solutions for Asia

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Andy Oppenheimer Dealing with a military or civilian-based attack using weapons with a CBRN component not only requires the procurement of equipment for protection, detection and decontamination, and the training and exercise programmes on how to use it

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f there is a problem in intelligence collection, there must be an electronic answer, right?

For the Cold War such a truth was self evident; electro-optics, radars and other sensors on land, sea, air and space provided the information required. Then it all changed; 9/11 and subsequent campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan ensured that Human Intelligence (Humint), hitherto almost moribund or at least highly fragmented amongst many governments, was once more brought to the fore.

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The next step has not just been to rapidly dust off Humint. That has been done with mixed success. There is however, widespread if not universal recognition that the core lesson that Humint is important must not be forgotten. Now consideration has been given to how Humint - referred to as, “the heart soul and brain of 21st century intelligence” - can be given the primacy and effectiveness at the tactical and strategic level it deserves.

Central to this is a switch away from the perception and often the reality of Humint being a solely covert and clandestine activity. Considerably more space and resources will in the future be given to overt and open source Humint or Osint which, some experts estimate comprises as much as 90 percent of collectable human intelligence, while ‘secret’ intelligence only makes up less than one in twenty of the intelligence items available to battlefield commanders.

Germany/Austria/Switzerland/Italy/UK Sam Baird, Whitehill Media Tel: (44-1883) 715 697 Mobile: (44-7770) 237 646 E-Mail: sam@whitehillmedia.com

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Editorial

There are of course many ways to that ways to do Osint well, the US 9/11 Commission for example recommended the creation of Open Source Agency. Irrespective of the approach taken, the concept, doctrine and practice of Humint collection is changing significantly. Osint is not ‘secret’, it can be shared more widely and the expertise to understand trends and events will require input from academics and lay experts outside the traditional intelligence community even down to ordinary citizens and first responders.

Countries always want to improve their intelligence, whether against home grown threats, neighbours or on operations far from home. Today, doing so is not solely a function of financial and technical resources but the ability to sift through readily or publicly available data and reports. Experts cite two Asian states, China and Iran as the two countries who are most effective at integrating their Humint resources in this area. Outthinking opponents in the areas of intelligence collection is rightfully seen and demonstrably shown as being superior to outspending them.

Adam Baddeley, Editor

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

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NAVAL PLATFORMS

The great strength of the corvette and frigate is that they both offer a design, albeit of a different sizes, which can operate either independently, or as part of a task force. The Asia-Pacific region is a hub of activity as far as corvette and frigate acquisition and upgrade activity is concerned.

Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand are performing upgrades to their frigates, while India, Pakistan and South Korea acquiring new ships. Corvettes, meanwhile, typically displace between 450-2000 tonnes and provide nearly all the striking and sensor power of a frigate in a smaller platform.

These vessels are proving popular in the Asia-Pacific region with India and Indonesia receiving new deliveries and the Philippines in the market for such vessels.

by Tom Withington

Regional Corvette and Frigate Programmes:

Naval Expansion

Continues 04

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NAVAL

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The Royal Australian Navy conducted the world’s first maritime trials of the NH Industries MRH90 helicopter in October 2009 from the flight deck of HMAS Manoora Š ADF

hina meanwhile is emerging as an exporter of frigates, having delivered the first Sword class ship to the Pakistan Navy in April 2008. The Sword class are closely based on the Type 053H3/Jiangwei-II ships currently serving with the PLAN, of which the force operates around ten.

Deliveries of a total of four vessels are expected to be completed by 2013 with the final example constructed at the Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works on Pakistan's coast.

So far, the PNS Zulfiquar and PNS Shamsheer have been delivered. Both of these ships were built at the Hundong Zhonghna Shipyard in Shanghai, along with the PNS Saif which is currently undergoing sea trials. The arrival of the Sword class in Pakistani service represents a much-needed shot in the arm for a force which has languished of late. These new ships will reinforce the Type-21 Amazon class frigates, of which it obtained six from the Royal Navy.

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Future ship acquisitions are likely as the Pakistan Navy is said to have a pressing need for an additional eight frigates, although efforts to acquire second-hand ships to this end have so far met with little success, despite approaches to the UK, Greece and Belgium yielding no success. In the meantime, the Navy is expected to buy four Type-054/Jiangkai class frigates from China. Displacing 4,000 tonnes, these ships deploy YJ-83/C-803 antiship missiles. However, despite the planned Type-054 acquisition, the requirement for four additional frigates still stands, and although overtures to the UK, Greece and Belgium made little progress, Islamabad may now decide to obtain either German MEKO-class frigates or Oliver Hazard Perry-class ships from the United States.

South Korea is performing a similar enhancement of its surface capabilities, and much of this is focused on the modernisation of its Sejong the Great class of guided missile destroyers, commissioning these vessels,

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which are equipped with the Lockheed Martin Aegis combat system into service. That said the South Korean Navy is looking forward to commissioning its first FFX (Frigate Experimental) vessels by 2015. It is expected that the Navy should acquire between twelve and 30 FFX vessels which displace up to 3,000 tons. They will come equipped with anti-ship missiles and a 76-mm cannon, along with antisubmarine rockets.

While South Korea is looking forward to the induction of its FFX ships, the Republic of Singapore Navy has accepted its final Formidable class frigate, the RSS Supreme, into service as of January 2009. These ships displace around 3,200 tonnes and are equipped with MBDA Aster-15 anti-aircraft missiles, along with Boeing RGM-88 Harpoon AShMs. A total of six frigates comprise the class, which are heavily based on the La Fayette ships which were constructed

by French shipbuilder DCNS for the Marine Nationale (French Navy).

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NAVAL PLATFORMS

Two Sikorsky MH-60S Seahawk combat support helicopters embarked aboard the Military Sealift Command fleet dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Carl Brashear conduct a vertical replenishment with the aircraft carrier USS George Washington in the western Pacific Ocean Š US Navy

Pakistan's arch rival India is also experiencing challenges in modernising its frigate fleet.

The force is acquiring Project 1135.6 Talwar class frigates from Russia, with work commencing on the vessels at the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad. However, the cost of the vessels has escalated with original estimates at $1.41 billion; although the shipyard has now raised the price by $100 million blaming the declining exchange rate of the US dollar.

However, India is moving ahead with completing the class and in 2006 placed an order for three additional frigates. In terms of weaponry, the Talwar ships will also deploy the joint Indo-Russian BrahMos cruise missiles which have a top speed of up to Mach Three.

India's purchase of the Talwar class follows the Navy's earlier acquisition of four Kora class corvettes, all of which had been commissioned by 2004. Displacing up to 1,500 tonnes these ships are equipped with Zvezda Kh-35U (NATO reporting name SS-N-25 'Switchblade') missiles. The Indian Navy is now in the process of strengthening its corvette fleet with the introduction of four

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2,500 tonne Kamorta class corvettes which will occur by 2014. Although a little on the heavy side to be referred to as a corvette (and in some places referred to as a frigate) they will carry 3M-54 Klub (NATO reporting name SS-N-27 'Sizzler') missiles, an OtoMelara 76mm Super Rapid gun, Israel Aerospace Industries Barak air defence missiles and an AK-630 Close-In Weapons System.

OtoMelara 76-mm guns can also be found on the Sigma corvettes operated by the Indonesian Navy. Four of these vessels were delivered from Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding in the Netherlands. Their Italian armament is reinforced with MBDA MM40 Exocet Block-II anti-ship missiles, plus

The Sword class are closely based on the Type 053H3/Jiangwei-II ships currently serving with the PLAN, of which the force operates around ten l

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two 20-mm Denel Vektor cannons, a fourround MBDA Tetral launcher for that company’s Mistral air defence missile and EuroTorp 3A 244S torpedoes for undersea threats. Target acquisition for this impressive array of weapons comes courtesy of a Thales MW08 G-band three-dimensional (3D) radar and a TACTICOS Combat Management System from the same company. Although highly dependent on the country's public finances, Indonesia would like to supplement the acquisition of the two Sigma ships with an additional two corvettes in the future.

These vessels will join a navy which already deploys a number of different corvette classes including three Fatahillah class ships, 16 Kaptan Patimura class vessels and four Diponegoro class craft The Philippines is also in the market for new corvettes. The country would like around four such ships, displacing up to 2000 tonnes each for use mainly in the anti-submarine role.

At present, the force operates 13 corvettes and a single frigate, the BRP Rajesh Hurnabon; the former US Navy USS Atherton, a Cannon

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NAVAL PLATFORMS

The Indonesian Navy has enhanced its corvette fleet with the recent addition of Sigma class corvettes from Netherlands shipyard Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding. Jakarta is expected to augment this purchase with an additional two vessels © Indonesian Navy

class destroyer. Nevertheless, this acquisition will be highly dependent on the health of the government's budget. That said, new corvettes will be soon be essential to replace the ageing Jactino, Rizl and Miguel Malvar corvettes that the force currently operates.

Australia and New Zealand have embarked upon an initiative to upgrade their existing frigates. The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has accepted its first upgraded Adelaide class frigates back into service following their rotation through the Project 1390 In addition frigates, the deploys the operates six service since

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to the force’s Formidable class Republic of Singapore navy also Victory class corvette. The force of the ships which have been in the early 1990s © US Navy

initiative which is to ensure that the vessels remain capable of offensive operations until their retirement in 2020. The upgrade has seen the roll-out of the Rafael Advanced Defence Systems C-Pearl electronic support measure on these ships along with new weapons. To this end, these ships have received Raytheon SM-2 Block-3 Standard anti-aircraft and RIM162 Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles from the same company to protect the ship against incoming AShMs. In terms of electronics, these ships have also had new hull-mounted and towed sonar, plus a new combat management system; all four Adelaide vessels which experienced the upgrade namely HMAS Sydney, HMAS Melbourne, HMAS Darwin and HMAS Newcastle had resumed active service as of June 2010.

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New Zealand, along with Australia, is an operator of the ANZAC class of frigate, with the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) possessing two examples, and the Royal Australian Navy eight. The RAN has performed a deep upgrade of its ANZAC ships with the introduction of a new, CEA Technologies 3D active phased array radar and a Northrop Grumman CEAMOUNT continuous wave target illuminator. The target acquisition capabilities of these ships have also been enhanced with a Sagem Défense Sécurité Vampir-NG electro-optical infra-red system.

Furthermore, the RNZN has also elected to upgrade its two ships with new diesel engines, unspecified self defence systems, RIM-66 Evolved Sea Sparrow air defence missiles and a Saab Sea Giraffe three-dimensional radar, along with improvements to the ship's 9LV Mk453 combat management system.

In terms of the future health of the AsiaPacific corvette and frigate market, French shipbuilder DCNS is optimistic. Rear Admiral Benoît de la Bigne, the company's Naval Advisor for Surface Ships, believes that; “nations in this region are recognising the need to modernised and upgrade their naval defence systems to protect the resources and international trade that largely goes by sea.” He believes that this is being

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NAVAL PLATFORMS

driven by; “countries which are developing their economy very quickly, and they need to adapt their naval means to this growth.

Resource supply and security alongside environmental protection and civilian safety are compelling reasons for nations to modernise their naval fleets. Protection against smuggling, drug trafficking, piracy and terrorism are additional drivers.” This is causing navies to 'trade up' to larger and more capable warships; “from offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) to multimission corvettes and frigates,” continues Rear Admiral de la Bigne. In terms of design features, he believes that navies around the Asia-Pacific area will be looking to reduce manpower. “Customers are looking for ease of use and automation for smaller crews.” He cites the example of DCNS's Formidable class frigates delivered to the Republic of Singapore Navy (see above) which operate with a crew of 71.

Hein van Ameijden, President and Chief Executive Officer of Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding does believe that there is a market for frigates, particularly ships displacing over 6,000 tonnes around the AsiaPacific region, but that this market is largely closed to European suppliers, with countries instead electing to procure their vessels domestically in a similar fashion to South Korea with its FFX ships: “We don’t see a lot of potential in that part of the world as far as

Royal Australian The Navy’s HMAS Newcastle is one of the force’s Adelaide class frigates which has undergone an extensive upgrade with the addition of new weapons and self defence and sensor systems © US Navy

Like the Royal Australian Navy’s Adelaide class ships, the Royal New Zealand Navy has rotated its two ANZAC class ships through a retrofit programme to ensure that they can continue to provide a robust capability to that country’s navy © US Navy

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NAVAL PLATFORMS

The Philippines Navy operates a number of corvettes in three different classes, including the BDP Artenio Ricarte as part of the Jacinto class. However, Manila is now keen to enhance it’s corvette fleet with new vessels © US Navy

the open export market is concerned. In the market research we’ve done we see the focus in southeast Asia for OPVs and corvettes,” with this market open to exporters and at least as valuable: “We’re also moving towards bigger sized ships because the market has discovered that making a ship bigger does not necessarily make it more expensive.

This does not necessarily mean that the armament is heavier than it used to be, it has more to do with autonomy, endurance and long distance patrol. Economic Exclusion Zones (EEZs) are becoming more of an issue and I think that a consequence of the development of the EEZ concept is that a lot of countries like the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam for example now have huge areas

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that they need to patrol if they want to exert their sovereignty.”

The other market driver for the growth of the corvette and frigate market in the Asian and Pacific regions is the continuing development of China’s navy. Few countries outwardly advertise this motivation, wisely not wanting to antagonise this growing super

India’s purchase of the Talwar class follows the Navy's earlier acquisition of four Kora class corvettes, all of which had been commissioned by 2004 ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

power. India, in particular, is seriously enhancing its surface fleet, mindful of its need for resources to support its growing economy and the potential rivalry for naval supremacy that could develop between China and itself in the years to come in the Indian Ocean and Pacific regions. Is the Asian and Pacific frigate and corvette market indicative of a growing regional naval arms race? Perhaps it is too early to say, but should it continue for the next decade the world may witness an unprecedented growth in naval capabilities in a region where they have arguably languished since the end of the Second World War, except for a few Cold War-driven exceptions such as Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

ROSOBORONEXPORT

KASHTAN-M AND DUET RAISE FIRE SQUALLS

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Kashtan-M on The Steregushchy korvette

apid evolution of air strike weapons, especially of antiship cruise missiles, poses a serious threat to ships. It turns procurement of modern air defence systems into a very important objective for naval forces.

Specialists agree that the most effective ship protection can be provided by setting up a highcapacity multi-layered air defence system. And close-in weapon systems making part of it are designed to perform a special mopping up mission; they are known onboard major ships as "cleaners".Their mission is to reliably destroy targets that long-range and medium-range air defence systems have failed to shoot down.

Such close-in weapon systems are seen as the basic air defence assets onboard small displacement ships and boats.

Contemporary close-in air defence weapon systems are represented by 30 to 76 mm artillery gun mounts, surface-to-air missiles, or their combinations. Emergence of advanced air strike weapons with enhanced manoeuvrability and speed characteristics imposes more stringent requirements on modern close-in systems, including among others the following ones: fully automatic target acquisition, lock-on, tracking and engagement; short reaction time; rapid fire re-targeting capacity; day/night combat employment under any weather conditions;

high accuracy of fire; high muzzle velocity of artillery projectiles, and high cyclic rate of fire; compact size, small weight, modular and containerised configurations.

Russian-made close-in weapon systems marketed by Rosoboronexport meet these requirements best of all. Among them two naval weapon systems are worthy of special mentioning, namely: the 30 mm AK-630M-2 Duet twin-module artillery gun mount, and the Kashtan-M air defence gun/missile system.

DUET OF FIRE

The Duet is a new Russian naval gun mount derived from the well-known AK-630M artillery mount fitted on many ships of the Russian and foreign navies. Its first public demonstration took place in 2007.The Duet gun mount has inherited main components from its predecessor, for instance such as the 30 mm AO-18K anti-aircraft automatic gun module, having acquired, as a result, their high reliability proven during many years of operation.

Now, however, the Duet gun mount has the capability of defeating a wide range of air, surface and ground targets by a simultaneous fire from two anti-aircraft automatic gun modules.Whereas the highest cyclic rate of fire of the AK-630M mount has been limited to 5,000 rds/min, the new mount produces the maximum combined rate of fire approaching to 10,000

rds/min. The Russian Duet naval gun mount can conduct fire with great density surpassing that of all existing foreign analogues: it literally erects an impenetrable wall of fire before targets.

Probability of their penetrating it inevitably tends to zero. The gun mount has a large ammunition load (4,000 rounds) allowing it to conduct fire for a long time and repel several massive raids.

All functions and operations of the mount are executed with a high degree of automation.The Duet naval artillery mount has small reaction time and provides rapid fire re-targeting (fire transfer from one target to another) thanks to implementation of digital control algorithms and utilisation of high-performance servos.This enables the mount to cooperate with virtually all contemporary radar and electro-optical fire control systems of both Russian and foreign origin after implementing relevant adaptation works.

Besides small size and weight, the mount incorporates stealth design features introduced with the purpose of reducing ship's overall radar signature.The Duet’s mounting seats are fully identical to those of the AK-630M and allow its easy installation on the latter's place during ship repairs and upgrading.

UNITED IN A SINGLE MOUNT

Rosoboronexport markets another highly effective Russian-made close-in anti-aircraft weapon - a modernised version of the wellknown Kashtan air defence gun/missile system.

of a short-range air defence system intended to comprising one command module and one to At present the Kashtan and Kashtan-M are the defeat air strike weapons not intercepted by three combat modules. In such cases only world's weapon systems combining in a long-range systems. introduction of other types of air defence single turret mount a powerful artillery system, a Accommodation within the single turret weapons is considered superfluous. On large multi-mode missile system and an integrated mount of the control system for the missile and combatants displacing more than 4,000 tonnes radar/electro-optical fire control system. artillery weapons has allowed reduction in areas the Kashtan-M gun/missile system comprising Combined operation of two weapon types and volumes required for them by 2-2.5 times. up to four to six combat modules performs tasks within a single mount provides considerable Space needed for the Kashtan advantage over their separate system installation is equal to that arrangement. Aerial targets flying taken by just one artillery gun at a speed of up to 1,000 m/s are mount, whereas traditional intercepted at far-off distances (at accommodation onboard ship a range of up to 10 km and requires separate areas for the altitudes of up to 6 km) by guided artillery gun mount, launching units missiles armed with fragmentation of vertically launched surface-torod warheads. High-priority targets air missiles and external command can be engaged with two-missile and control post. salvo which permits to raise kill Rosoboronexport can probability to 0.96-0.98. Fire in a deliver close-in anti-aircraft close-in zone is conducted by two weapon systems both for AO-18KD anti-aircraft automatic installation onboard Russiangun modules at a combined rate of made ships and boats and as fire of 10,000 rds/min.The separate items, including those Kashtan-M has combat Duet intended for installation effectiveness surpassing that of all onboard foreign-made ships. If known counterparts.This weapon used for upgrading naval system actually has no rivals.

R E F E R E N C E D A T A equipment, the Kashtan-M air A millimetric-wave radar of the defence gun/missile system Kashtan-M combat module DUET SHIP-BASED ARTILLERY GUN MOUNT and AK-630M-2 Duet artillery management system provides Armament - two 30 mm AO-18K six-barrel anti-aircraft gun mount can substantially guidance of its surface-to-air automatic gun modules; Rate of fire, rds/min: enhance its protection against missiles launched against low with two automatic gun modules 8,000-10,000; both existing and prospective altitude antiship missiles, without with one automatic gun module 4,000-5,000; air strike weapons which are laying restrictions on their flight Maximum range of fire 4,000-5,000 m; still under development.These altitude, with an accuracy of up to Ammunition load 4,000 rounds; weapon systems are effective 2-3 metres. Joint processing of Weight of artillery gun mount against small-size above-water signals coming from radar and w/o ammunition load - not more than 3,000 kg; targets and can be also electro-optical target tracking Weight of complete ammunition load 3,836 kg. employed to engage shorechannels and surface-to-air based manpower and fire missiles as well as automatic KASHTAN-M SHIP-BASED AIR DEFENCE emplacements. selection of the most optimal GUN/MISSILE SYSTEM Rosoboronexport is a federal mode of operation enhance this Ammunition load, units: state unitary enterprise weapon system's jamming surface-to-air missiles 48/32 missiles; artillery rounds 1,000 rounds; authorised as the sole state resistance compared to that of air Engagement envelope, m: trade agency to export the whole defence systems controlled by slant range 500-10,000; range of military and dual-use merely radar or electro-optical altitude 2-6,000; end products, technologies and systems. For operation in adverse Maximum airspeed of engaged targets, m/s 1,000; services.The enterprise’s status weather conditions the Kashtan-M SAM guidance system radio command; warrants state support for all its is fitted with a thermal imaging Response time, s 6-8. export transactions. system.

Rosoboronexport is listed It also has another advantage: among leading exporters that of a fully automatic operation. operating in the world arms All combat procedures, including market. Russia is maintaining target acquisition, identification, military-technical cooperation prioritisation and designation, fire with more than 70 countries all initiation and combat damage over the world. Its share in assessment as well as fire transfer to Russia's military exports another target, are carried out without exceeds 80 percent. its crew participation.

Rosoboronexport highly The system’s modular design values its reputation of a grants more flexibility in setting up reliable partner, and air defence architecture (one strictly abides by the command module and up to letter and spirit of six combat modules) international depending on ship's type. military-political Small ships displacing from commitments made by Russia, 500 to 3,000 tonnes can be effectively including those in the arms control area. protected by an air defence system Kashtan-M AMR Marketing Promotion

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The Royal Australian Navy conducted the world’s first maritime trials of the NH Industries MRH90 helicopter in October 2009 from the flight deck of HMAS Manoora © ADF

The naval helicopter is of vital importance across the full spectrum of military operations from disaster relief to high intensity conflict as exemplified by the Haitian earthquake and the ongoing operations against maritime piracy.

by Ian Kemp

he roles for these aircraft include anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), airborne early warning and control (AEW&C), airborne mine countermeasures (AMCM), combat search and rescue (CSAR), amphibious assault, special warfare support, and a host of logistics functions implicit in the term ‘utility’. For all but the few nations which can afford aircraft carriers, helicopters largely define ‘naval aviation’.

Most naval helicopters are developed as part of a family concept in parallel with landbased military and sometimes civilian models of the same basic airframe. The lightest of these aircraft, such as the three ton

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AgustaWestland A109 or the Eurocopter AS555 Fennec, are able to operate from offshore patrol vessels while the Sikorsky CH53 Sea Stallion, the heaviest helicopter in naval service, operates from large amphibious assault ships or shore bases.

US Navy programmes covering the acquisition of almost 600 new model Sikorsky H-60 Seahawks to replace early generation Seahawks will ensure that Sikorsky remains the most prolific manufacturer of naval helicopters. The twin-engined Seahawk is a derivative of the UH-60A Black Hawk assault helicopter that Sikorsky developed for the US Army in the 1970s. Under the Navy’s Helicopter Master Plan it is reducing its fleet

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of eight helicopter types to two models of the H-60 series: the MH-60S Knighthawk and the MH-60R Seahawk. According to the Navy’s Fiscal Year 2011 (FY11) budget request, the MH-60S is designed for the combat support mission which includes ’vertical replenishment, day/night ship-to-ship, ship-to-shore external transfer of cargo; internal transport of passengers, mail and cargo, vertical onboard delivery; airhead operation, and day/night search and rescue. Armed Helo and Organic Airborne Mine Countermeasures missions have been added as primary areas for the MH-60S, to be completed as block upgrades to the platform”.

Through FY10 the Navy has bought 195 of its planned total of 275 MH-60S aircraft.

The MH-60R is a multi-mission combat helicopter which operates from frigates,

The MH-60R is a multi-mission combat helicopter which operates from frigates, destroyers, cruisers and aircraft carriers in the ASW and ASuW roles destroyers, cruisers and aircraft carriers in the ASW and ASuW roles. The Navy revised its original programme to remanufacture its existing fleet of 20-year old SH-60B and SH60F Seahawks to the MH-60R configuration in favour of buying 298 new build aircraft with 134 ordered by FY10. They will instead buy 254 new aircraft with deliveries begin-

Two Sikorsky MH-60S Seahawk combat support helicopters embarked aboard the Military Sealift Command fleet dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Carl Brashear conduct a vertical replenishment with the aircraft carrier USS George Washington in the western Pacific Ocean © US Navy

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ning this year. The MH-60R and the MH-60S feature a common glass cockpit to allow pilots to switch from one aircraft type to another with greater ease and reduce the logistics infrastructure.

To meet customers’ needs for a larger aircraft than the H-60, Sikorsky utilised proven H-60 technology to develop the civilian S-92 and the military H-92 Superhawk family of medium-weight helicopters. In the utility role the Superhawk can carry 22 troops in fold-up seats or 12 stretcher patients; rapid entry is possible through a rear ramp.

Sikorsky achieved its first military sale for the new aircraft in July 2004 when the H-92 was selected for Canada’s Maritime Helicopter Project to replace the Sea King.

Under a C$1.8 billion contract Sikorsky will produce 28 fully mission ready helicopters.

In March 2010, the first CH-148 Cyclone began an intensive series of open seas trials on board the frigate HMCS Montréal.

Sikorsky announced in May that the CH148’s General Electric CT7-8A1 engines, which are not performing as well as expected, will be upgraded to the CT7-8A7 standard which General Electric is currently developing. To prevent further delays to the CH-148 programme, Sikorsky will deliver the first 19 helicopters in an interim standard to allow operational testing and training, and upgrade these aircraft in 2013. Sikorsky is seeking to capitalise on delays in developing the naval variant of the NH90 by offering a variant of the CH-148 for a German Navy requirement for about 30 helicopters. The company has also established a manufacturing base for the S-92 in Asia following a June 1992 joint-venture with Tata Advanced Systems Limited to produce the S-92 in India for the export and domestic markets. A new manufacturing plant in Hyderabad will initially supply cabins to Sikorsky.

The US manufacturer faces stiff competition in the export market from the European NH Industries NH90 multirole helicopter, the AgustaWestland AW101 and the Lynx series.

NH Industries developed the 11 ton NH90 in two variants — the Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) and the NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH) — to meet the requirements of four European countries — France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands — for a twin-engine multi-role helicopter. The NH90 is the most successful European helicopter programme ever; 19 military customers in 14 countries had placed firm orders for 529 helicopters, including 111 NFHs, by June 2010.

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The NH90 was the first fly-by-wire helicopter to enter production; the first TTH was delivered to the German Army in late 2006, some two years behind schedule, and in April this year the Royal Netherlands Navy became the first customer to take delivery of an NFH.

Australian programmes

The Australian Defence Force has received 11 of the 46 NH Industries NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopters (TTH) ordered to meet the Project AIR 9000 Phase 2 Multi Role Helicopter requirement to replace the Australian Army’s 35 S-70A-9 Black Hawk and the Royal Australian Navy’s six Westland Sea King Mk 50 utility helicopters.

Six MRH90s helicopters will be operated by a maritime support helicopter squadron which will be tasked to provide airmobile and maritime support capability to the ADF from land bases as well as the Navy’s two amphibious transport ships HMAS Manoora and HMAS Kanimbla. The Navy’s two Canberra class helicopter carriers, scheduled to be commissioned in the second half of the decade, will each be capable of embarking up

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A Royal Thai Navy S-70B Sea Hawk helicopter prepares to insert Royal Thai Marines during a USThai Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise in May 2010. In 2007 the service became the first international customer for the newer MH-60S © US Navy

to 24 Army and Navy helicopters. The RAN in October began the world’s first maritime trials of the TTH from the flight deck of Manoora. The month long testing regime gauged the helicopter’s capabilities at sea through takeoffs, landings, munitions transfers and weight load carries.

The New Zealand Defence Force operates five new build Kaman SH-2Gs, delivered from 2001-2003, from the Navy’s two Anzac class frigates, two Protector offshore patrol vessels and the multi-role vessel HMNZS Canterbury which can also embark four of the eight NH90 TTHs soon to be delivered to New Zealand.

The NFH and the MH-60R are the only two contenders to replace the RAN’s fleet of 16 S70B-2 Seahawks which were delivered between 1989 and 1992. These were to have been partially replaced through the acquisition of 11 refurbished ex-USN SH-2Gs but the troubled project was cancelled in March 2008 after ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

the expenditure of $930 million. Through Project SEA 1405 Phases 1 and 2 the Service has enhanced the surveillance capabilities of its Seahawks and provided improved self-protection through the integration of Raytheon’s AAQ-27 forward looking infra red system, Elisra’s AES-21 electronic support measures and radar warning receiver, Northrop Grumman’s AAR-54 missile approach warning system and BAE System’s ALE-47 electronic counter measures dispensing system. The 2010-11 defence budget, presented in midMay, confirmed the Navy’s intention to proceed with the first phase of the Seahawk Capability Assurance Program (Phase SCAP1 of AIR 9000) to address immediate obsolescence issues and ensure the fleet remains operational until the end of the decade. A planned SCAP2 was cancelled in March 2010.

In the 2009 Defence White Paper, Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030, stated that as, “a matter

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of urgency, the Government will acquire a fleet of at least 24 new naval combat helicopters to provide eight or more aircraft concurrently embarked on ships at sea. These new aircraft will possess advanced ASW capabilities, including sonar systems able to be lowered into the sea and air-launched torpedoes, as well as the ability to fire air-to-surface missiles.” The in service date for these new helicopters is 2014. The Department of Defense publicly denied reports, late last year that the service chiefs favoured the direct acquisition of the MH-60R through the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force operates the largest force of Seahawks after the USN with more than 60 SH-60J and 28 SH-60K helicopters in service along with 19 UH-60J Black Hawks used in the SAR role.

The SH-60J entered JMSDF service in 1991 while the first of a planned 50 SH-60Ks, which features a larger cabin and improved avionics, was delivered in August 2005 although shifting funding priorities have resulted in contracts for only small batches.

Sikorsky and its European rivals are positioning themselves for the SH-60J/K replacement project expected to be launched toward the end of the decade.

AgustaWestland is seeking to build on the success of a 2003 contract to supply 11 AW101, designated by the JMSDF as the MCH-101, to

Japan’s new 18,000 tonne Hyuga-class helicopter carriers, formally designated DDH, is capable of carrying up to 11 helicopters

replace the service’s 10 CH-53E Super Stallion used for airborne mine counter measures and three CH-101 Antarctic support helicopters.

Assembled by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, these helicopters are the first examples of the AW101 family to be built outside of AgustaWestland’s production facilities in Italy and the UK. Japan’s new 18,000 tonne

Hyuga-class helicopter carriers, formally designated DDH, is capable of carrying up to 11 helicopters although the usual air wing one MCH-101 and three SH-60K helicopters. The lead Hyuga, commissioned in 2009, will be joined by Ise in 2011. The Service announced in 2009 that it will build a 19,500 tonne DDH able to carry up to 14 helicopters.

AgustaWestland’s five tonne Super Lynx is in service with three regional navies: South Korea bought 12 Mk.99 and 13 Mk.99A aircraft, the Royal Malaysian Navy operates four Mk.100s while the Thai Navy is equipped with two Super Lynx Mk.110. The company is actively marketing the six tonne AW159 Lynx Wildcat developed to meet the needs of the British Army (34 to enter service from 2014) and the Royal Navy (28 from 2015) and is confident the aircraft will enjoy the success of earlier members of the family.

The AW159’s two LHTEC CTS800 turboshaft engines offer improved payload, power and endurance over previous Lynx models.

The Republic of Korea requested the possible eight MH-60S helicopters, 16 GE T700-

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401C engines and related sensor systems through the US Foreign Military Sales programme in July 2009. The service has requirement for eight MCM helicopters with the AW101, NH-90 and Sikorsky MH-60S considered as the most likely options. The Republic of Korea Navy commissioned the 18,800 ton helicopter carrier ROKS Dokdo in July 2007 and plans to build two similar ships. With each ship capable of carrying 15 or so helicopters the service will be seeking to boost its utility force which now consists of 10 UH-60Ps. In March, two newly-delivered Republic of Singapore Navy S-70B helicopters and RSS Stalwart, one of six Formidable class frigates, participated in a US Navy-led exercise off the coast of California. It is the first helicopter in Singaporean service capable of ASW and ASuW operations. Singapore ordered six S-70B helicopters in January 2005 to operate from the new Formidable Class frigates and the service hopes to complete its original requirement for 12 airframes when funding permits.

The Indian Navy remains the only export customer for the Russian Kamov Ka-31 ‘HelixB’ which is fitted with a coaxial main rotor and thus does not need an anti-torque tail rotor.

The design builds on Kamov’s experience producing the Ka-27 Helix series for the home and export markets; more than 60 Ka-27/28 ASW models and about 15 Ka-29s utility aircraft are in service with the Russian Navy and

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s MCH-101 are the first members of the AgustaWestland AW101 family to be assembled locally by an export customer © AW

the helicopter has been sold to Cuba, former Yugoslavia, India, Syria and Vietnam. China bought eight Ka-27/28s to operate from its Russian-built Sovremenny-class destroyers.

The Indian Navy bought four Ka-31 AEW&C AEW helicopters in 1999 and a further five in 2001. The helicopters operated from the carrier INS Viraat and three Russian-built Talwarclass frigates. The service received approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security in August 2009 to buy an additional five Ka-31s as of mid-2010 a contract had yet to be awarded. These are likely to operate from the former Russian Kiev class aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, to be renamed the INS Vikramaditya, which is finally expected to be delivered by Russia in 2012 after a troubled refit programme which has gone over time

and over budget.

The real boost to India’s naval aviation capability will come with the introduction of the 40,000 tonne Vikrant class aircraft carrier in 2014-15 and a 65,000 tonne follow-on carrier in 2017-18. The Navy is seeking 16 9-tonne multi-role helicopters to replace a similar number of Sea King Mk 42B and 42Cs in the ASW and ASuW roles; service officials have indicated the eventual requirement could be for as many 60 aircraft. In March AgustaWestland received a €560 million contract to supply 12 AW101s to the Indian Air Force along with a training and five year logistic support package. The company is optimistic that this will give it an edge both for the forthcoming Navy competition and other requirements.

US Navy HH-60H Seahawks escort the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter destroyer JS Hyuga during the November 2009 ANNUALEX 21G © US Navy

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Su-30MKI

RUSSIA R

CONTINUES TO DOMINATE INDIAN MILITARY AVIATION

ussia is set to win another Indian order for 59 multi-role helicopters in addition to the 80 ordered earlier, retaining Moscow's traditionally dominant lead in selling military aircraft to India, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) chief, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik, recently told in an interview that the delivery of the first lot of 80 Mi-17 V5 helicopters, ordered in 2008, would begin from later this year while it is now processing another order for an additional 59 machines.

The IAF's recent request for 42 Sukhoi SU-30MKIs has already been cleared by the defence ministry, taking the number of the air dominance combat jets on order to a sizeable 272.

The IAF has also signed a contract with Rosoboronexport, Russia's sole arms exporting agency, to upgrade its fleet of Soviet-vintage MiG-29 fighters and II-76 airlifters while the Indian Navy has placed an order for 45 MiG-29K shipboard jets.

The order for the 272 SU-30s is the biggest aircraft deal in numbers with Russia

after that of the MiG-21s signed with the Soviet Union from 1968. An Su-30 costs around US$50 million each inclusive of some support packages and Transfer of Technology (ToT).

The total cost for 272 SU-30s works out to US$13.6 billion.This would make it bigger than the US$10 billion deal for the 126-plus medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) that the IAF intends to purchase.

As for the MiG-21s, India bought more than 400 of them and only around 140 of these aircraft, upgraded to MiG-21 Bis configuration with new avionics and BVR (Beyond the Visual Range) missiles, are to serve in the IAF inventory for another six or seven years.

The upgrade has been undertaken by Russian and HAL facilities.The MiG-29K deal touches nearly US$2 billion and the upgrade of the MiG-29s for the IAF will cost nearly US$1 billion.

An Mi-17 V5 helicopter reportedly costs around US$5 million, making for a total of nearly US$700 million for 139 machines.

India has also purchased six Il-78 midair refuelers and three II-76 aircraft for accommodating the Israeli Phalcon electronic radars, two of which have been delivered to India.The third Phalcon is due by end-2010.

Meanwhile, IAF has ordered two more Phalcons on the same II-76 platform.

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he answer is that the submarine is the modern capital ship and this was underlined on May 2, 1982 the British nuclear-powered attack submarine HMS Conqueror torpedoed and sank the Argentinean cruiser ARA General Belgrano. The shocked Argentinean Navy which had hitherto posed a major threat to Royal Navy plans to recapture the Falklands/Malvinas Islands, now retreated to its bases and its ships remained there until the conflict ended.

The importance of submarines was further underlined on March 26 when the South Korean corvette ROKS Chon An sank after an underwater explosion in territorial waters off the western coast of the Korean Peninsula.

An international investigation has produced convincing evidence that the ship was sunk by a heavyweight (533mm diameter) torpedo launched by a miniature submarine and another South Korean ship reported firing at

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such a submarine at about the same time.

These miniature submarines reportedly covertly patrol with a mother ship which carries them close to their operational area and recovers them after a patrol.

At present eleven Asian nations have submarines; Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore and Taiwan and all are planning to expand and to update their flotillas. In addition Vietnam is in the process of acquiring boats while Thailand and Bangladesh have aspirations for a submarine force.

The traditional Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW) role, sinking enemy merchantmen and warships, which shaped Asian history in the Second World War has been replaced by the Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) mission.

But the wartime reconnaissance role remains relevant and has been enhanced by the ability to deliver special forces while the appear-

The importance of submarines was further underlined on March 26 when the South Korean corvette ROKS Chon An sank after an underwater explosion

ance of dedicated or modified surface-to-surface missiles means that submarines can now strike land targets. The Asian submarine market, excluding that of China is estimated to be worth $50 billion over the next ten years with a demand for more than 90 boats.

Asia is also demonstrating a demand not just for the conventional diesel-electric submarine which uses diesel engines to charge batteries which power the electric motors.

Air independent propulsion (AIP) boats are entering service recirculating combustion

Why is Australia planning to spend up to $33 billion on a fleet of up to a dozen submarines and why are so many Pacific Rim nations looking at creating or expanding submarine fleets?

by Ted Hooton

Regional Submarine Programmes:

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products augmented into the combustion chamber or using electro-chemical devices to transform chemical energy into electrical power using hydrogen and oxygen to extend underwater endurance. There is also a demand for nuclear-powered ships which are true submarines capable of nominally unlimited underwater endurance, the limiting factor is the crew not the machine, as well as very high underwater speeds.

Asia’s two great powers and rivals, China and India, have the largest fleets. Beijing has a small force of nuclear-powered submarines but since the second of the Shang (Type 093) class appeared in 2007, Beijing appears to have been pondering its next step.

Meanwhile, the Chinese are focusing upon conventional boats producing the Yuan (Type 041) class which is reportedly an evolutionary development of the Song (Type 039) class which appears to be strongly influenced by the Russian Kilo (Projects 636/877) of which a

A model of a Type 091Hanclass SSN submarine of the PLAN © Gordon Arthur

The Soryu (SS-501), a Soryuclass submarine of the JMSDF © Gordon Arthur

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dozen were bought between 1995 and 2006.

Trials with the first-of-class have lasted four years and only two more are expected to join the fleet this year and next. But even modern Chinese boats seem old-fashioned and while they may have schnorkels they are believed to lack sophisticated weapon control systems, non-hull penetrating masts and AIP, although an AIP plant is reported under development in Wuhan.

India has ambitions for nuclear- and AIP powered submarines and has recently launched the domestically-designed INS Arihant. Although most observers anticipated a copy of a Russian Charlie I (Project 670) the ship reflects European design influence A cutaway model of a Scorpene-class submarine from DCNS© Gordon Arthur

with diving planes on the sail. She is intended as a ballistic missile ship although her two sister ships of which at least one is on the stocks, will be cruise-missile platforms.

Another three attack submarines are planned although as an interim measure, New Delhi has taken out a ten-year lease on the RFS Nerpa which was scheduled to join the Indian fleet in the summer.

New Delhi wants to complement the ‘boomers’ with 24 modern diesel electric boats but bureaucracy has proved a millstone. It was planned to meet the requirement through two projects; Project 75A and Project 75I with the DCNS/Navantia Scorpène selected for the former. DCNS are to supply kits of hull modules, electronics and propulsion elements for six boats, with an option on another nine which would be

PNS/M Saad, a submarine of the Pakistan Navy© Gordon Arthur

assembled by Mazagon Dock in Mumbai with deliveries planned between 2012 and 2018. Delays in accepting the French design made it necessary to renegotiate prices agreed in 2005 with the result that the programme has slipped at least three years. No decision has been made about six Project 75I boats which will incorporate AIP and a landattack capability and designs from DCNS, HDW, Navantia and Rosoboronexport are The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) second Scorpene submarine, KD Tun Razak, reached the Lumut naval base for an official homecoming ceremony on the 2nd of July © DCNS

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India has ambitions for nuclear- and AIP powered submarines and has recently launched the domestically-designed INS Arihant

being considered. The matter is made more urgent by the ageing Indian submarine fleet which could be down to five boats by 2015.

On the other side of Asia both Japan and South Korea maintain modern submarine forces thanks to excellent dockyard facilities.

Tokyo aims to maintain a force of 16 dieselelectric boats with one replaced each year, although the need for financial austerity means replacements may have to be made every two years. The yards are producing the Souryu class which incorporate the Swedish Sterling AIP propulsion but have modern combat systems and mast-mounted sensors.

Neighbouring South Korea has steadily

developed its submarine capability from midget boats through the licence-built German Type 209/1200 (Chang Bogo) class of the Korean Submarine First Phase (KSS-1) to the current Korean Submarine Second Phase (KSS-2) programme. This also involves

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licensed production of a HowaldtswerkeDeutsche Werft (HDW) design, this time the Type 214 with AIP propulsion and the first batch of three boats will be followed by a batch of seven. Work on the second batch is scheduled to begin this year, with the first being launched in 2013, while plans exist for a 3,500-tonne design, the KSS-3 although the world financial crisis has hit this programme which has slipped two years and the first boats are now scheduled to join the fleet in 2020. North Korea certainly needs to replace its 23 Romeo (Project 033) class boats, some of which are more than 35 years old but not even its closest ally wishes to sell such

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weaponry to feed the Dear Leader’s ego.

Currently the only other nation which will soon be operating AIP boats is, Pakistan which received the last of three Agosta 90B (called Khalid class) in 2008. The Pakistanibuilt boat, PNS Hamza, was built with a DCNS AIP module and another will be shipped to Pakistan this year for retrofitting while the third boat will also benefit from this. Pakistan then sought three AIP boats and in 2006 selected HDW as the favoured supplier with Type 214 but negotiations have been protracted apparently because Berlin is concerned about the implications of the sale of such boats in so volatile a region.

During the Spring, Pakistan opened negotiating with both DCNS and China for three or four boats, with the former offering its new Marlin class boat which was a Francophile solution to a dispute with Navantia over Scorpène. However, the visit of China’s vice president in June 2010 was an opportunity for Pakistan’s traditional friend, Beijing, to strengthen its negotiating position.

No details have been released but it seems likely that Beijing will supply four Yuan or

On the other side of Asia both Japan and South Korea maintain modern submarine forces thanks to excellent dockyard facilities

Song class boats.

South East Asia has an especially vibrant submarine market boosted by Malaysia’s acquisition of two Scorpènes which might be boosted by the acquisition of the Agosta 70 class FNS Ouessant which has been on loan for training in France and might be bought outright. Malaysia is now assimilating its latest acquisitions and has no immediate plans for any more boats but neighbouring Singapore certainly has.

The city state’s submarine service has always had the closest link with Sweden having bought four Sjöormens (A11) as the Challenger class of which two are to be replaced by Västergötland (A17) class which are currently being upgraded and receiving a Stirling Mk 3 AIP system. The Lion City has

not roared out its plans for the submarine service but events in Sweden may provide a clue for development has begun of a new submarine design, the 1,900-tonne A26 class.

Contracts for designing and building the boat have been awarded to Kockums while Saab will develop the combat system. But Sweden is currently seeking only two boats designed for operations in littoral as well as oceanic waters and Stockholm would undoubtedly welcome a new customer and investor with Singapore the obvious candidate and the added advantage of technological transfer.

Neighbouring Indonesia, which operates two HDW Type 209/1300 (Chakra class) boats, is seeking two replacement boats by 2014 but would like a force of four and ultimately six. The major problem for Jakarta has been funding with the world financial crisis playing fast and loose with the Indonesian Navy’s plans.

There are signs, however, that orders may be placed in the near future, possibly by the end of the year. Moscow would like to reenter the Indonesian market and is offering

The Natsushio (SS-584), a Harushio-class submarine of the JMSDF © Gordon Arthur

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Invisible.

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REGIONAL

S U B M A R I N E S

both Kilo (Project 877) or even Amur class boats, the latter being export versions of the Lada (Project 677) class. Interestingly, South Korea is regarded as the other contender and success would mark this country’s entry into the submarine export market having been cultivating Jakarta’s custom through refitting and upgrading the Chakras and is reported to be offering both KSS-1 and KSS-2, although the latter is probably the preferred design.

To the north, Vietnam has become the latest customer for submarines reflecting its continuing suspicion of China as well as its close relations with Moscow. Hanoi is currently modernising and expanding its fleet to bolster claims against China over potentially resource-rich islands in the South China Sea and Russia is happy to oblige with ships to

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A Challenger-class submarine of the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) at Changi Naval Base© Gordon Arthur

split Beijing’s military resources forcing its navy to focus southwards primarily against India but now also against Vietnam.

Hanoi currently has two Yugo class miniature submarines which may provide a cadre of crews but are no longer operational. It has now signed a $1.8 billion contract with Russia to supply six Kilo (Project 636) class submarines, which will be capable of carrying land attack missiles, and Moscow will also build a base for them, possibly at Da Nang.

The other big Asian programme is Australia’s Sea 1000 launched early last year and possibly based upon European-designed

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hulls with US combat systems, sensors and weapons. The current six-boat Collins fleet is based upon a Swedish design but has been plagued with manning and maintenance problems which means that there is rarely more than one boat on patrol at any time.

Project Sea 1000 is to provide Australia with a boat which, when compared with the Collins class, will feature greater range (more than 11,500 nautical miles or 21, 300 kilometres), higher speed (more than 20 knots), longer patrol endurance and increased capability. Canberra is seeking between eight and 12 boats and its first problem will be to find a suitable design in the 3,000-tonne class to meet long transit and patrol times when most yards offer designs a third of that displacement. Assuming one can be found it seems more realistic to expect the fleet to be cut to six boats, although there will continue to be manning problems, with design approval by 2015, construction beginning in 2016 and the first boat replacing a Collins in 2024.

Bangladesh and Thailand both have aspirations to submarines but the former not only has economic problems but also is giving priority to securing its economic exclusion zone with patrol boats and surface combatants.

Thailand would like to regain the submarine force it had until the mid 1950s and the Navy commander-in-chief Admiral Kamthorn Pumhirun is known to be seeking funding to meet this requirement. The economic situation and internal political problems make this a difficult goal and the Royal Thai Navy may have to turn to the surplus market. It is worth noting that the German Navy has just paid off six Type 206 coastal boats, with a submerged displacement of under 500 tonnes, and these might just be what both navies could use.

Finally, Taiwan has been seeking a fleet of up to eight boats to augment and replace its two ageing Hai Lung (Zwaardvis) class boats in Project Kwang Hua 8 but, as with North Korea, no-one wants to supply them. One of President George W. Bush’s wackier ideas was that Washington would provide them, a proposal made despite the fact that the US Navy regards diesel-electric boats as welcome as a rattlesnake in a lucky dip.

European yards will not provide designs for fear of losing trade with China Taiwan’s government and the CSBC Corporation, formerly China Shipbuilding, are examining ways and means of building submarine hulls but Washington will have to provide almost all the equipment giving the US President a final veto on the plan.

A I R

DEFENCE

Land Based Air Defence:

Asia Looks

Upwards

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A I R

DEFENCE

In terms of the battlefields of today and tomorrow, there are plenty of low-altitude air threats to engage. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, attack helicopters and low-flying fixed-wing strike aircraft are just a small selection of the dangers that troops may find themselves confronting. While the limelight is stolen by the high-end medium- and long-range Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs) which can engage theatre ballistic missiles, as well as high-altitude aircraft, there is still a need for mobile low-altitude air defence systems to protect soldiers and vehicles in forward echelons.

by Tom Withington he US Army and US Marine Corps (USMC) are two of the biggest low-altitude air defence users, having taken delivery of over 1,100 Boeing M1097 Avenger Short Range Air Defence (SHORAD) systems, some of which served during Operation Desert Storm in 1992 and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. Configured around an AM General HMMWV wheeled vehicle, Avenger is equipped with two pods each containing four Raytheon FIM-92C Stinger missiles mounted on a turret with 360° coverage, plus a Forward-Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) system for fire control. The missile provides air defence at altitudes between 200-3,800 metres and has the wherewithal to shoot when mobile. Moreover, an FN Herstal 12.7mm machine gun covers the threat envelope to 200m, and provides a useful secondary defence for ground targets. One of the largest

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users of the Avenger system is Taiwan which ordered 74 vehicles in 1996. Acquisitions have also been forthcoming from Egypt which, in June 2006, chose to purchase $50 million worth of Avenger vehicles, spares and logistics support.

The FIM-92 Stinger is a short-range air defence system that has sold well around the world, both as a Man-Portable Air Defence System (MANPADS) and as a vehiclemounted weapon. One of the largest Stinger customers wasTurkey which has since developed an indigenous launcher for the missiles under the auspices of the Pedestal-Mounted Air Defence System (PMADS) programme which is available in two different configurations from Turkish defence contractor Aselsan. These two versions include the Atilgan for the United Defence M113A2 armoured personnel carrier, which carries a twin four-round cell to accommodate the

Although designed as Man-Portable Air Defence System, Saab’s RBS-70 Bollide surface-to-air missile can also be deployed on a vehicle as part of the ASRAD system. The missile can also be used by warships for short-range air defence © Saab

One of the most widely deployed shortrange air defence systems is Boeing’s Avenger which uses Raytheon’s FIM92A Stinger missile and is mounted on an HMMWV vehicle. Beyond the United States, orders have been forthcoming from Taiwan and Egypt © DoD

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A I R

DEFENCE

MBDA’s Mistral short-range air defence missile has been a highly successful product for the company. The weapon can be used for both land, and sea-based air defence and in the latter case can be used in conjunction with a vehicle-mounted launcher © MBDA

same number of FIM-92 missiles, and the Zipkin which also has two cells, but which can be mounted on a long wheelbase Land Rover-sized vehicle. In 2005, Aselsan won its first export customer for the PMADS, integrating two Stinger launchers onto the Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW)/Dutch Defence Vehicle Systems Fennek armoured reconnaissance vehicles of the Koninklijke Landmacht (Royal Netherlands Army) to replace that force’s legacy KMW Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer Gepard 35-mm self-propelled anti-aircraft guns which were based on the KMW Leopard-I Main Battle Tank (MBT) chassis.

Along with the Royal Netherlands Army,

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one of the Gepard’s other users was the Bundeswehr (German Army) which is phasing out these vehicles to replace them with the Rheinmetall Air Defence Nächstbereichschutzsystem MANTIS Counter Rocket Artillery and Mortar system consisting of six 35-mm (1.37-in) gun which can fire up to 1,000 rounds-per-minute with deliveries expected in 2011. Earlier this century, Germany sold ten of its Gepard 1A1 vehicles to Romania Along with MANTIS, Rheinmetall, has developed an anti-aircraft weapon equipped with a 35/1000 35-mm guns known as the Skyranger. Skyranger can be teamed with the Rheinmetall ASRAD missile launcher.

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The Bundeswehr has been further strengthened with the addition of the Rheinmetall Advanced Short Range Air Defence (ASRAD) system which can accommodate either FIM-92 Stinger, RBS-70 Bollide, MBDA Mistral or Kolomna KBM 9K38 Igla (NATO reporting name ‘SA-18 Grouse’) missiles in a launcher which can be mounted on both wheeled and tracked vehicles. In the future, it is expected that ASRAD will also be able to deploy the Diehl BGT DefenceAIM-2000 Infra-Red Imaging System Tail/Thrust Vector Controlled (IRIS-T) missile. In the case of the German Army, ASRAD launchers will equip some of the force’s Rheinmetall Wiesel-2 tracked vehicles. Fire control for ASRAD can be provided by radar, laser designator or an infra-red search and track system. ASRAD is also available for export under the LeFlaSys designation

A I R

DEFENCE mounted on a four-wheel drive truck.

The Armée de Terre (French Army), for example, has deploted four Mistral launchers on the back of a Peugeot P4 jeep. In conjunction with Rheinmetall, MBDA has developed a turret which can carry up to four Mistral-2 and four MBDA Milan-ER anti-tank missiles on either side of the turret, with a Rhieinmetall electro-optical system providing fire control for air and ground targets and a 12.7-mm machine gun for local defence.

In addition to the Mistral SAM, the French Army uses the Euromissile/MBDA Roland2 SAM for short-range air defence. The

The FIM-92 Stinger is a short-range air defence system that has sold well around the world, both as a Man-Portable Air Defence System (MANPADS) and as a vehicle-mounted weapon

which, along with the missile launcher, includes radar and command and control vehicles. Greece has emerged as an export customer for the air defence system, purchasing eight from Germany in 2004.

MBDA’s Mistral SAM has been configured for a number of vehicles, via the company’s Atlas twin-round launcher which can be

French system is mounted on the chassis of a Nexter AMX-30 MBT, and the missile can engage aircraft flying at a maximum altitude of 3,500 m at speeds of up to Mach 1.5. When equipped with Mistral, the AMX-30’s turret includes electro-optical equipment, a search radar, and two Roland missiles in the ready-to-fire position. Spain has also outfitted some of its AMX-30s with Roland, and Germany has elected to deploy the system on the Bundeswehr’s Rheinmetall

Marder infantry fighting vehicle.

Away from the continent, but staying in Europe, having used the Thales Starsteak missile since 1997, the British Army made a repeat order for this weapon in 2004.

Starstreak can hit targets at a range of between 300-7,000 metres at speeds of Mach Three. Starstreak has also been leveraged into the Thales Thor Multi-Mission System which deploys four rounds in an unmanned turret weighing 500 kg. Along with the Starstreaks, Thor can accommodate either two Starstreak or FIM-92 SAMs, plus two surface-to-surface weapons such as Raytheon FIM-148 Javelin or Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Spike-ER anti-tank missiles. Staying in the UK, British firm BAE Systems has been involved with the production of a self-propelled air defence system in the guise of that company’s CV-90 Anti Aircraft Vehicle used by the Swedish Army which carries the Bofors TriAD turret equipped with a Bofors L/70 40-mm gun firing 330 rounds-per-minute along with a Thales TRS-2620 radar for fire control. Along with intercepting air threats, the turret can be used against surface targets.

Russia has long been a centre of excellence for robust short-range air defence systems and is a user of the Tunguska-M tracked vehicle which is outfitted with two twin-barrelled 2A38M 30-mm weapons and eight 9M311 (NATO reporting name ‘SA-19 Grison’) missiles, plus organic 1RL144 (NATO reporting name ‘Hot Shot’) target acquisition and tracking radar. Along with the Russian Army; Belarus, India, Morocco and Ukraine have purchased the system, with over 200 being exported, and around 256 being purchased by the Russian armed forces. Deliveries began to the Russian Army in the

Rheinmetall’s Advanced Short Range Air Defence (ASRAD) product can carry a number of different missiles including American, European and Russian designs. The launcher can be mounted on both tracked and wheeled vehicles © Finland MoD

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A I R

DEFENCE

Rheinmetall’s Skyranger 35-mm (1.37-in) cannon is an ideal complement to the company’s ASRAD system. The gun has a rate-of-fire of up to 1,000 rounds-per-minute, although it is also capable of single shot © Rheinmetall

early 1980s, and the Tunguska was used most recently in the 2008 South Ossetia war.

Another of the short-range air defence systems used by the Russian military is the KBP Pantsir-S1 (NATO reporting name ‘SA-22 Greyhound’). Like other systems surveyed in this report, it includes both missiles and guns, namely six ready-to-fire radar-guided 57E6/-E missiles with a range of up to 15,000 m which can intercept targets flying at mach three.

These missiles are joined by two 2A38M 30mm cannons which have a maximum range of 4,000m and a 5.000 rounds-per-minute maximum rate-of-fire. Although offered on a KAMAZ-6560 eight-wheeled vehicle, the Pantsir-S1 can also outfit a tracked chassis.

Fire control is provided by target acquisition and tracking radar. Deliveries of the Pantsir-S1 to the Russian armed forces began in 2008 as a replacement for the Tunguska-M1, with the Russian Army expected to be operating around 300 systems by 2018. Other orders have followed from Algeria, Jordan, Syria and a fourth undisclosed country.

Additional wheeled short-range air defence systems produced by Russian suppli-

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ers including the KB Tochmash Design Bureau of Precision Engineering 9K31 Strela1 (NATO reporting name ‘SA-9 Gaskin’). This product includes four infra-red guided 9M31 missiles in a ready-to-fire position mounted atop a four-wheeled BRDM-2 amphibious vehicle. The missiles can engage targets at altitudes between 900-4,200m. The 9K31 Strela-1 is one of the oldest low-level air defence systems in service today. It was originally designed to operate in a platoon of four vehicles, alongside a platoon of four ZSU-234 Shilka self-propelled anti-aircraft guns to provide mobile air defence to Red Army motorised rifle divisions and tank regiments.

Russia has also produced a tracked shortrange air defence system in the form of the KB Tochmash 9K35 Strela-10 (NATO reporting name ‘SA-13 Gopher’) with a four-round infra-red guided missile launcher mounted on an MT-LB amphibious vehicle. It is thought that around 350 9K31 vehicles remain in service with the Russian army, with other operators including several of the former Soviet states and Warsaw Pact members plus India, Jordan, Cuba, North Korea

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and Vietnam. The 9K31 has been used in combat and may have hit up to 27 coalition aircraft during Operation Desert Storm. The missile may have also been successful in hitting a United States Air Force Fairchild/Lockheed Martin A-10A Thunderbolt ground attack aircraft during Operation Allied Force over Kosovo and Serbia in 1999. Finally, the 9K35 Strela-10 is joined by the Almaz-Antey Morfei shortrange air defence system which is expected to enter service with the Russian Army by 2015.

Details on the Morfei are sketchy, although it is expected to be equipped with Fakel OKB 9M100 short-to-medium range SAMs, which have a range of around ten kilometres.

The Poprad Mobile Missile Launcher, produced by Polish firm CNPEP RADWAR SA is currently in service with Indonesia where it is used with GROM missiles produced by the MESKO company and has a height of effective target engagement of 3500m and a range of 5500m. The system mounts six missiles on the launcher with four spares located on the platform. The FYI Dzik vehicle on which it is mounted is also designed and made in Poland.

South Korea’s Daewoo Heavy Industries has made forays into the short-range air defence world via the company’s K30 BiHo

A I R

DEFENCE (Flying Tiger) product; a 30mm twin-barrelled, tracked chassis-mounted air defence gun which uses both radar and electro-optical tracking and fire control. The BiHo has an effective range of 3,000m and a secondary capability to attack ground targets. Although still awaiting an export customer, deliveries of the K30 BiHo to the Republic ofKorea Army commenced in 2002.

South Korea repeated the success of the K30 BiHo with the K-SAM Chunma (Pegasus) short-range air defence missile.

The K-SAM is based on the Thales/MBDA Crotale-NG (Nouvelle Generation/New Generation) missile system, of which the Republic of Korea Army acquired 48 in 1999. The K-SAM Chunma essentially combines the Crotale-NG missiles and launcher with a Daewoo Heavy Industries K-200 Korean Armoured Fighting Vehicle tracked chassis. The initial Crotale-NG order of 1999 was followed four years later with an order of an additional 66 vehicles for $470 million.

A further variant of the K-200 designed for air defence, the K-263, has been developed which uses the K-200 vehicle equipped with a 20mm anti-aircraft guns which can hit aerial targets at 1,200 m and engage ground targets at 2,000m.

Along with Korea, China has been pouring investment into short-range air defence development. Work performed designing the 713th Research Institute’s Project 850 Type-330 Close In Weapon System

MBDA’s Mistral SAM has been configured for a number of vehicles, via the company’s Atlas twin-round launcher which can be mounted on a four-wheel drive truck

developed for the People’s Liberation Army Navy, has resulted in the LD-2000 seven-barrelled 30mm anti-aircraft gun which is mounted on an 8x8 wheeled vehicle chassis. This gun has a maximum rate of fire of 5,800 rounds per minute and can engage targets at a maximum range of 3,000m. As an alternative to the 30mm guns, the LD-2000 can be configured to carry short-range SAMs. China’s short-range air defence efforts are being mirrored by the Islamic Republic of Iran which has developed the Mesbah-1 (‘Lantirn’) low-altitude air defence system.

Development commenced in 1992, with seri-

al production beginning in May this year.

This gun system has a rate-of-fire of around 4,000 rounds-per-minute. The Mesbah-1 bares some similarities to the Russian ZSU23-4 ‘Shilka’ 23mm air defence system, except that available pictures show the Mesbah-1 to be a trailer-mounted weapon.

Fire control is provided by three-dimensional radar and an electro-optical system.

To conclude, it seems that air-defence artillery has followed a similar path to field artillery in migrating from trailer-mountings onto vehicles for enhanced mobility.

Contemporary short-range air defence systems can be found on wheeled and tracked vehicles. with SAMs teamed with surface-tosurface weapons, in the case of Starstreak, and with guns, as illustrated by the PantsirS1, to provide a highly versatile weapon to defend deployed troops when they are either stationary or on the move. Some of these guns have the added value of a secondary anti-ground target capability when not in use for air defence.

The MBDA Rapier anti-aircraft missile has been the Royal Air Force’s and British Army’s standard area defence missile since the early 1970s. The British Army’s Field Standard C upgrade modernised the weapon, with the new version entering service in 1996 © DoD

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Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes (left) and Sergey Chemezov, CEO of the Russian Technologies State Corporation (right) at Farnborough-2010 in front of Boeing 787 Dreamliner which is partly made of Russian titanium

RUSSIAN TECHNOLOGIES STATE CORPORATION: THE LEADER OF RUSSIAN INDUSTRY T he federal law “On the Russian Technologies State Corporation” went public in November 2007. Several months after the law had come into force the new brand won the world-wide recognition: a Russian Technologies subsidiary, VSMPOAVISMA, and the US Boeing aerospace company signed a big-ticket deal. The first billion-dollar contract, secured by Boeing, has allowed the US company to get Russian highquality rolled titanium products for four years from 2011 until 2015.

It is a unique event in the history of RussianUS trade and economic relations. The parties signed an exclusive agreement, ensuring mutually beneficial cooperation between VSMPO-AVISMA and Boeing-Russia/CIS. Given that Russia's share in the global market of titanium products is about 30%, the deal marked commercial prospects for other foreign companies interested in similar projects with

participation of Russian Technologies: General Electric, Embraer, Airbus and many others.

By the way, in April 2009 VSMPO-AVISMA and Airbus Corporation have signed the biggest and longest-term contract in the history of Airbus/EADS cooperation with Russian industry. The agreement covers the supply of titanium to Airbus and other EADS Divisions until 2020.

In general, international cooperation is one of the priorities of Russian Technologies. The corporation is well aware that technology transfer and world advanced experience can help Russia significantly reduce the time required for the integrated development of enterprises and entire industries.

Within the framework of international cooperation in April 2009 they announced a joint Russian-Italian helicopter assembly from the ground up on the industrial site near Moscow. The joint venture on a parity basis

between the Corporation's division "Russian Helicopters" and AgustaWestland (a subsidiary of the Italian group Finmeccanica), will produce helicopter AW139 in Russia. The expected maximum production capacity will be at least 24 helicopters a year.

How has the Corporation made such a breakthrough into the world market? How has it gained such an influence?

At the initial stages of its establishment Russian Technologies took over a vast industrial potential, spanning from the auto to the aircraft industries. After getting on a par with the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) and the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), Russian Technologies is now among Russia’s principal companies, including such industrial giants as Gazprom and Rosneft.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has signed a decree transferring over 400 various enterprises to the balance sheet of the

corporation. In all, the structure of the Corporation today includes 562 companies, including subsidiaries and acquired companies.

By the year of 2010, the process of asset allocation on holdings (19 in defense industry and 7 in civil industry) was over. According to various estimates the Corporation accumulates from 25 to 30% of Russian industry.

The rapid soar of the new corporation was ensured by Rosoboronexport, the world-wide renowned state intermediary in the field of defence cooperation. Rosoboronexport has become the basis for Russian Technologies and the driving force behind organisational process and technological renovation. Its property has become the financial and economic basis for the State Corporation Russian Technologies obtaining no public funds.

Russia’s flagship special-purpose product exporter holds such assets as Russia’s largest automakers AVTOVAZ Joint-Stock Company, and KAMAZ Joint-Stock Company, arms, tank, missile, and helicopter manufacturers. All these strategic companies, boasting a total turnover of US $13 billion, were merged and managed for a number of years by Rosoboronexport Director General Sergey Chemezov.The results were rather impressive: Rosoboronexport demonstrated a stable growth of profits, which increased from US $3 billion in 2000 up to US $7.4 billion in 2009, while its contract portfolio equalled US $34 billion.

It is Chemezov who has come up with an ambitious idea of turning the engineering industry into one of the national flagship industries, capable of making Russia one the world’s leading industrial powers. The experienced businessman believes that arms trade is too lucrative a business for countries to give it up under the present circumstances.

However, what is more important is the fact that the world has embraced an innovative course of The first Russian fifth-generation fighter jet (PAK FA)

development.This fact results in the necessity to re-equip the Russian economy, first and foremost, its core – the engineering industry, which is now on the brink of a crisis.

Russian Technologies oversees the entire production and sales chain from the research and development up to arms exports. Under Russian law, Russian Technologies is entitled to sign various deals, buy and sell assets, and invest in Russian and foreign companies, related to hi-tech products. Contracts on defence-related and dual-purpose products and exports/imports of such products are still the sole prerogative right of Rosoboronexport.

In the sphere of high technology defense a great victory for Russian Technologies is the fifth generation fighter PAK FA. Many businesses of the Corporation worked hard so that the fighter "got on to the wing"- by about 70% the fighter consists of their products. These are new machines and devices, composite materials, radar systems and the main thing - engines ensuring a constant flight in afterburner for two hours at a speed up to 2,600 km / hour. It is expected that over the next few months, Moscow and New Delhi sign the first package of agreements on creation of the fifth generation fighter for the Indian Air Force on the basis of PAK FA. Thus the fighter's future export will be guaranteed, and the portfolio of the Corporation's contracts will increase.

Breakthrough also includes a project on composite materials, which provides a complete production cycle in Russia and PAN carbon fiber.

Industrial prospects of this technology is difficult to overestimate. It is already used in the aviation industry, for example, when creating Boeing 787.Today, this technology owned by only a few countries in the world.

The Russian Technologies State Corporation aims to facilitate hi-tech products development, manufacture, and exports. Financially and

economically Russian Technologies is based on Rosoboronexport’s assets without involving state funds. The new corporation will feature revenue-based financing and operate on the break-even principle.

The fact that strategic industries, Russian Technologies is responsible for, are being opened for private investors is extremely inviting.The private sector capital will enjoy the most favourable conditions possible. Most Western investors have already realised it and invested their money in certain Russian companies, for instance, VSMPO-AVISMA and AVTOVAZ. As recently as October 2009, OJSC KAMAZ, member of the Russian Technologies State Corporation, and Case New Holland (CNH), Fiat Group, signed in Moscow an agreement aiming to organize production of agricultural and special-purpose Italian machinery at the production facilities of OJSC KAMAZ.The state guarantees the reliability of business activities of such companies in Russia, while the state support, enjoyed by Russian Technologies, ensures financial preferences, tax and tariff concessions, reequipment credit interest rate subsidies, and other protective measures.

A number of experts claim that the Russian Technologies State Corporation is the only one capable of providing economic protection to almost the entire Russian engineering industry.The foundation has already been laid: an integrated structure comprising three dozen holding companies is being established. The holding companies in question integrate enterprises, which are able to manufacture hi-tech products and compete in the international market.

Russian hi-tech holding-companies enjoyed a well-developed and efficient marketing network, including 26 representative offices in Russia and 49 representative offices abroad. The priority is assigned to legal control over development, manufacture, and sales in the domestic and the international markets of science-intensive innovation-based products. The new Russian corporation seems to be likely to put the development commercialisation on the right track for the first time. Despite the defence-oriented activities of the corporation, such activities increasingly take on the air of commercial ones.

Technology, finance, and management are the three pillars, used by the Russian Technologies authorities to revamp the Russian industry and direct it towards an innovative course of development. Competitive Russian vehicles or materiel are just the beginning. The main aspiration of the corporation is to create a market demand for Russian hi-tech products, while increasing exports on a constant basis.

NIGHT V I S I O N

modernisation Soldier such as programmes Spain’s COMFUT are a significant driver for night vision acqusition © AJB

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NIGHT V I S I O N

Dismounted Night Vision for Asia:

Owning the

Night

‘Owning The Night’ remains a key differentiator in terms of success or defeat on the battlefield. Access to image intensification (I2) and thermal imaging (TI) devices individually and in combination, in handheld, head or weapon mounted formats and integrated with other optics, provides an immediate force multiplier within all environments and scenarios.

by Adam Baddeley

sian militaries are eagerly increasing and improving their inventories both as part of stand alone modernisation or accompanying other efforts such as soldier modernisation programmes and small arms enhancements for use both in a warfighting context as well as counter terror and counter insurgency missions.

Asian militaries have a number of night vision preferences that differ for example with NATO militaries, such as a number Asian militaries strongly preferring night vision devices with both eyes enables providing greater depth perception, rather than having a monocular enabling ambient vision with the other eye. Other factors more widely pursued in Asia relative to other markets includes a lower moment or lower centre of gravity, putting the weight of the device closer to the wearer’s head.

A major change in the availability of night vision equipment may be coming, by virtue of the US revaluating what level of technology it will allow to be exported. This is calculated on the basis of a figure of merit, a complex calculation which is the sum of multiplying the I2 tube’s Signal to Noise Ratio by its resolution.

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ITL’s Tarmir is a fused I2 and TI solution with a prototype due to be ready for realistic trials by the end of the year © AJB

For NATO members and countries such as Australia and New Zealand this is 1600 for other allies it is 1250, although it must be noted that typically those countries with access to 1600 capable solutions will equip their dismounted forces with a ‘1250’ capable tube. The 1600/1250 rule was established a decade ago. A lot has changed since then such SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

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as the widespread deployment in US service of I2 tubes with gating, which has been introduced to cope with detecting extremes of light and adapt instantaneously to eliminate the glare or temporary blindness caused from extreme light bursts, known as Halo and bloom. When or indeed if this will occur is unclear but it is at least being discussed.

The latest version of ITL’s N/SEAS I2 system is due for completion in the late Summer.

The second generation systems is designed to be 20 percent lighter, substituting magnesium composite for the current aluminum. It will be available in two versions, the first will be backwards compatible with existing N/SEAS mounts and accessories the other version a new physical design with enhanced ergonomics. The company’s Mini SEAS has been bought by Australia, Thaliland, Singapore and India.

The next generation systems from ITL will include the Tarmir, a fused I2 and TI solution with a prototype due to be ready for realistic trials by the end of the year. The system use an I2 tube with micro bolometer understood to be Photonis’ Onyx with the thermal feed presented to the user in colour.

The company’s 655g PS45 — the PS stand-

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NIGHT V I S I O N

and are seven years into a ten year programme to supply the Japan Ground SelfDefense Force with I2 solutions while the company’s PVS-14 has been selected by Singapore and Thailand. The company also provides their tubes in smaller numbers of other militaries in support of indigenous manufacturing efforts.

ITT are currently the sole provider of the AN/PSQ-20 ENVG, a dual-band night vision goggle which fuses the two into a single image, to the US military and entered service in 2008. ITT together with an expected three other teams comprising BAE Systems, Raytheon and DRS are competing for the next acquisition of the PSQ-20 which will be renamed, due to be announced later this year.

Schmidt and Bender are a newcomer to the night vision world, recently developing the prototype of their Night Hunter NVG,

In April, FLIR Government Systems supplied 60 ThermoSight ACTS units to an ASEAN military which will be used with ACOG Sights mounted on an M4 carbine

Vectronix’s Tarsius I2 goggle launched at Eurosatory 2008 are currently in trials around the world with the company expecting a significant order shortly © AJB

ing for Pocket Scope — has found service in a number of Asian militaries both in the hand held or weapon mounted role and operate for five hours with four CR2 batteries.

The company’s Coyote 75 and 100 TWS, launched in 2010 are uncooled designs, optimised for surveillance with options to use either 348x288 or 640x480 arrays with typical range to detect a human being 2.5 for the Coyoye 100. Reliability for both versions are in excess of 4000 hours MTBF, with start up time being less than five seconds. The Coyote family is also offered in binocular solution

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with a 384x288 array and weighs 570g.

ITL’s Explorer II is smaller lighter than its predecessors and has a Laser Range Finder with a range of up to 12km, far in excess of its detection ranges of 6km for a human and recognition at 2km. Other geo-location systems built into the design includes GPS and a digital magnetic compass. A further feature is an optional dynamic map display.

ITT are the leading provider of I2 solution to US armed forces in solution such as the PVS-14 and -7 Night Vision Goggles. In Asia, it provides its tubes to Japanese firm NEC

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which is designed to take any XR5 tube. Presseries production for trials models is scheduled for completion in November. The philosophy behind the development of Hunter was that the tube is not longer the limiting factors in NVGs but rather the optics, which is Schmidt and Bender’s specialisation, developing solutions supplying for example US SOF sniper scopes. The Night Hunter is a bi-ocular design with an in built intelligent power supply switching down from two to one channel when power is low, subject of course to manual override.

Meprolight’s new Noa Family of Uncooled Thermal Weapon Sights offer a 4x compact right up to a 7x optical magnification. An uncooled design, several hundred are in service in the US and Asia and uses a 320x260 detector with the ability to hit human sized targets at ranges of 1km, with batteries sufficient for eight hours of operation. In the I2 domain, Meprolight offers the MNV, a 4x or 6x magnification powered by two AA batteries for 60 hours of operation and weighs 1.25Kg. In terms of worn night vision, the company offer the MINIMON-I mini-monocular with integrated IR illumina-

NIGHT V I S I O N

tor and supports 18mm Gen II and III tubes.

In 2009, Greek firm Theon Sensors provided 50 examples of the NX-122A monocular I2 device, which can be either head or weapon mounted to the Greek military and are interchangeable with existing interfaces on the PVS-7 and PVS-14. The all in weight is 355g.

The company have also provided over 10,000 examples of their heavier NS-467C and NS685C solutions, both I2 designs to the Greek military over recent years.

Vectronix’s Tarsius I2 goggle launched at Eurosatory 2008 are currently in trials around the world with the company expecting a significant order shortly. Their Moskito, a binocular design integrates a laser rangefinder, image intensifier, digital compass, inclinometer and internal GPS. It has been selected for a number of soldier modernization programmes including the UK, FIST with 2700 being acquired, and Germany’s IdZ. Pulse Inteco have sold 800 of its Rantel-2 night vision monocular devices to Thailand, as part of the company’s acquisition of IWI Tavor assault rifles. A lightweight monocular weighing 330g without battery it has options of using x3, x4 and x5 magnification lens.

Elbit’s newest Thermal Weapon Sight is the Coral-CR, described by the company as the smallest cooled FLIR on the market and capable of identifying a human at ranges of 2Km. The proprietary name for ELCAN’s AN/PAS-28 is the PhantomIRxr. In consists of a single channel fed into a bi-ocular solution which increases range performance of up to 30 percent over a monocular solution.

For export, ELCAN offers the PhantomIR which uses a 320x240 detection delivering range of half that of the ‘XR’ variant. Mtech is the distributor for the PhantomIR in the region, with a number being sold through to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand and there have been initial sales to India in 2010 for small unit trials.

In April, FLIR Government Systems supplied 60 ThermoSight ACTS units to an ASEAN military which will be used with ACOG Sights mounted on an M4 carbine.

ACTS is designed so that the thermal sight can be attached without needing to rebore the optical sight.

FLIR have been exclusively associated with TWS. Recent acquisition have added an I2 capability with the clip on

Schmidt and Bender are a newcomer to the night vision world, recently developing the prototype of their Night Hunter NVG © AJB

MilSight TaNS and MUNS, the latter designed for snipers, the company’s Shock Mitigation System, allowing the unit to be used on 12.7mm weapons. TaNS runs on AA batteries and provide for detection of humans in moonlight at up to 1070m with day optics at up to 8x magnification.

Qioptiq have recently launched two new thermal sights, its Dragon thermal uses a 640x512 detector capable of detecting dismounted targets at 3500m in its LR variant and the Merlin I2 sight family with options for a range of different suppliers, the Short Range variant enabling detection ranges of 740m.

UK based Pyser-SGI’s MUNSTI Clip-On In line thermal sniper sight is uncooled and can be magnified to up to 17 times and enables detection ranges of up to 2760m. Users have the option of a 388x284 or 640x480 detectors. The more compact TISI

sight is designed for assault rifles and similar with the same options in term of detectors, but with optics supporting 3x and 5x magnification.

Canada’s General Starlight Company provides a number of night devices including the TIG 7 Thermal Imaging Goggles and the DSQ-20M Enhanced Night Vision Goggles which combined I2 and TI with the DXQ-20 due to be launched shortly. Pure I2 systems from the company include the PBS15 dual tube goggle and the bi-ocular PBS-7 goggle as well as a range of weapon mounted solutions. The company makes use of I2 tubes from Photonis including SUPERGEN,

Sagem’s Sword Light 25 is a designed for use on assault rifles © AJB

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Sagem also have the TIPS (Thermal Imager Pocket Scope) uncooled compact handheld surveillance devices, weighing less than 500g with image storage of 500 images and long video storage of roughly 2.5 hours.

TIPS runs on four AA batteries.

The O’Gara Groups’ Sensor Systems Division produces the AN/PVS-21 Low Profile Night Vision Goggle, designed to equip Special Forces with a more compact solution, with roughly 10cm less forward projection relative to other goggles and are able to be used while free falling or with static line parachutes with a reduced center of gravity.

Normally the AN/PVS-21 is submersible to 3m although with further adaptation for special users, this can be extended to 10m. Other

The MTN-1 fused night vision thermal monocular has been developed in Poland © AJB

Another new addition to the dismounted night vision market is Sagem’s Sword Light a thermal imaging sight designed to fit on assault rifles

advanced features include an integrated Head Up Display for sensor fusion.

L-3 Insight provides a number of 24 hours vision and targeting technologies for the dismounted soldier. The handheld or helmet mounted AN/PAS-23 Mini Thermal Monocular which can store up to 160 still images and has a detection range of 500m. The company also produces clip on devices, the most recent being the ClipOn Night Vision Device – Thermal 2 which is optimised to work with the 4x magnification Trijicon ACOG/RCO and can achieve recognition ranges of 1195m. Powered by two CR123 batteries this provides for over five hours of continuous operation and its waterproof to 20 metres. L3 Insight also produces subassemblies for the PVS-7 and -14 range of NVGs and also produce the Multi-Use MiniMonocular, an I2 devices which provides over two days of continuous operation with a single AA battery.

In April, FLIR Government Systems supplied 60 ThermoSight ACTS units to an ASEAN military which will be used with ACOG Sights mounted on an M4 carbine © AJB

XD-4, XR-5, ONYX and ICU. DEP launched its 2.5W Griffin image fusion module at Eurosatory. Weighing less than 99 grams, and only 7cm long it produces a contrast-enhanced image of I2 and uncooled 8-14micron TI feeds. Output from the sensors is presented to the user via the micro OLED display at rate of 30 fused frames per second and the module includes features such as autogating and noise reduction.

Another new addition to the dismounted night vision market is Sagem’s Sword Light a thermal imaging sight designed to fit on assault rifles and smaller, including for example, the Heckler and Koch MP7. An

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uncooled device in two variants Sword 25 and 35, the latter has a detection range of 1200m against humans and is powered by four AA batteries, can operate for up to nine hours with a start up time of less than one second and weighs 550g The Light Weight Thermal Imager Long Range (Qioptiq’s VIPIR 2+F) is in service with a number of militaries, including the UK© AJB

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The best-seller of Russian aircraft industry — Mi-17 helicopter. India has already ordered 80 of those and will soon add 59 more.

The United States are next on turn

RUSSIA TO SEND CHOPPERS TO AFGHANISTAN

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ussia will decide within two months whether to deliver around two dozen Russian Mi-17 helicopters to NATO forces in Afghanistan, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said.

"We are talking about a couple of dozen helicopters with the relevant equipment," Lavrov was quoted as saying Wednesday by Russian news agency RIA Novosti. "I hope that in a month or a month and a half there will be more clarity on the issue."

NATO Military Committee Chairman Giampaolo di Paola last month confirmed that the alliance had approached Russia over a potential helicopter delivery.

"We handed our proposals about how we would carry out the initiative to Brussels a few months ago," Lavrov said, adding that the proposal entails sending the first three helicopters for free. "We are now waiting for a definite answer from our partners."

Observers say the choppers would be used in the NATO police and military training missions in Afghanistan.

Sold by Russia's Rosoboronexport, the Mi17 (NATO codename Hip) is a medium-sized transport helicopter that can also be used as a gunship armed with bombs, rockets or gunpods. It can transport around 30 troops or some 10,000 pounds of equipment.

The Soviet Union specifically designed the Mi-17 for the Soviet war in Afghanistan.

Afghan forces are familiar with the chopper, which is popular worldwide.

India has already ordered 80 Mi-17 helicopters and will soon add 59 more, India's air force chief Pradeep Vasant Naik told recently.The United States uses a limited number of Mi-17s for training and has purchased dozens of units for allies in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The Mi-17 competes with the U.S. Black

Hawk and Sikorsky helicopters, and U.S. forces have mulled buying the Russian model for its NATO campaign because Afghans know the Mi-17 better than their U.S. counterparts.

The Mi-17 is easier to purchase since May, when Washington lifted sanctions against its producer Rosoboronexport that blacklisted it from tendering for U.S. arms deals.

The sanctions were imposed in 2006 after the U.S. government accused Rosoboronexport of violating the nuclear nonproliferation regime.

Sikorsky from Connecticut earlier this month filed a complaint with the Government Accountability Office over Navair's plan to buy 21 Mi-17s for use in Afghanistan, arguing its S-61 model is comparable, Fox News reports on its Web site.The article didn't reveal whether Sikorsky complained against the particular order mentioned above.

MAPPING T E C H N O L O G Y

It’s not just a map! © Itronix

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Defence Geospatial Information:

Putting

Asia on the Map Geographic or Geographical Information Systems (GIS) — software to manage, analyse, and visualise of map and map-related information — are everywhere, a necessary accompaniment to the expansion of data in the battlefield. GIS is not just a map, but an essential core architecture for the attainment of overall situational awareness and intelligence picture which fuses human, imagery measurement and signature intelligence sources.

by Adam Baddeley rguably, the most efficient way to geo-reference and access data is via an electronic map.

The more people that have access to data the more pervasive GIS becomes. The situation becomes more complex as the number of sensors, collectors and information feeds expand exponentially making the efficient management of GIS data, the fusion of that with multiple sources of information even greater.

Militaries are pursuing a largely common approach to the problem, often adopting

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commercially available solutions although both commercial and proprietary systems all have the same approach to enable the import and export of data using a range of common standards and protocols. The resulting solutions are then issued to all branches of the military, saving time and reducing maintenance, training and integration costs.

CJMTK

Perhaps the best examplar of the desire for implementing commercial technology to

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deliver digital geographic services is the US Commercial Joint Mapping Toolkit (CJMTK) a standardised, commercial, comprehensive GIS toolkit that meets a range of common GIS standards such as those from the Open GIS Consortium (OGC) and Google Earth's KML format as well as the specific DoD requirements for its Common Operating Environment and Network Centric Enterprise Services. The current version of CJMTK is 9.3, released in July 2008 and replaces the legacy Joint Mapping Toolkit (JMTK). CJMTK is written in Microsoft COM, C, C++ and Java with the primary commercial element being ESRI's

One of the early adopters of the CJMTK was the Army’s All Source Analysis Systems – Light, now known as the Joint Intelligence Tool Kit

ArcGIS. In addition to ESRI, solutions are also provided by ERDAS and Analytical Graphics Inc. with the overall work undertaken by Northrop Grumman. The programme is overseen by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and Defense Information Systems Agency.

Other, non-US user can acquire CJMTK under the Foreign Military Sales mechanism. CJMTK has a planned service life of ten to 15 years.

One of the early adopters of the CJMTK was the Army’s All Source Analysis Systems – Light, now known as the Joint Intelligence Tool Kit is the primary military intelligence applications in Afghanistan and Iraq, is integrated with over 2000 implementations world wide and integrated in a range of national intelligence formats. CJMTK has also been adopted by the USAF in its Airborne Web Services programme.

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is investing in a series of programmes designed to both rationalise the provision of GIS and enhance its capabilities at all levels of command. The main one is the MoD’s Common Geospatial Tool Set (CGTS), providing a similar, single common toolset approach to CJMTK. The work is being undertaken by Lockheed Martin UK IS&S and including Actica Consulting, ESRI UK, Helyx SIS and Envitia.

Another UK effort that has been focused on ISR is the Geo Intelligence, Integrated Reference Architecture which is designed to produce a GIS information architecture to distribute imagery ready to be used by CGTS tools.

For NATO, Siemens, working largely with ESRI has developed an enterprise level toolset solution known as the Core GIS programme. This works with Core GIS Data Preparation, a second effort produced by Envitia which designed to make all current maps – paper and electronic into a common format and reference model to be used by the Core GIS programme.

ESRI

ESRI is the largest single supplier of GIS to the defence and intelligence community with its ArcGIS platform which is designed to be used for variety of roles form high level terrain analysis and visualisation down to military engineering and common and control using a single interoperable technology platform. The system is designed to be used at multiple levels of expertise and complexity from the basic GIS which is ’consumer’ accessible over web At sea, GIS solutions must meet civilian and military standards for precise navigation information © DRS

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SECONDHAND ARMS A GREEK DELEGATION, COMPOSED OF SENIOR OFFICERS VISITED THE ‘CEMETERY’ OF ARMOURED VEHICLES IN NEW MEXICO

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he American ‘wedge’ hinders supply of 450 Russian infantry fighting vehicles cost 1.2 billion euros, which has been outlined by the Government of the New Democracy party. Initially, the Government of the PASOK party has unequivocally stated that ‘the State retains continuity’, placating Moscow that a specific programme should continue. However, this past March Athens did a 180 degree turn immediately after the visit of Prime Minister Papandreou in the USA, where he accepted the offer for second-hand American BMP ‘Bradley’… at a symbolic value.

At first glance it was a beneficial proposal which couldn't be ignored by the Greek Prime Minister. And on George Papandreou’s return home the Government office brought forward an appropriate proposal to the Ministry of Defense to examine. Further the Ministry under the cloak of secrecy sends a delegation consisted of the highest ranking officers to New Mexico State to study the US proposal. At the same time first leakages of information in press begin on the closure of the negotiations with the Russians about BMP-3. In the meantime, the Greek delegation returns from the New Mexico armoured vehicles ‘cemetery’ and, according to information received, produces a report on the suitability of ‘Bradley’s! And even, to ‘muddy the waters’, the information began to circulate that the Army Headquarters’ interest is limited to amphibians ‘Bradley’.

CHANGE OF POSITION

Yet the new deal got a certainty in the last week of the last April. For the first time the Chief of the Army Headquarters praises the American BMP’s during an extended meeting held at the Office of the Minister of Defense on the eve of the visit of Mr Venizelos in Moscow.

A countdown has already started to the Russian BMP’s, as Mr V.Venizelos announced a few days later in Moscow with exceptional diplomatic skill. Referring to the economic crisis, he called on the Russians to comprehension, and to get started GreekRussian negotiations on BMP-3 with a ‘zero basis’… The Kremlin has not expressed

Russian infantry fighting vehicle BMP-3 has proved its reliability and efficiency in combat operations

discontent and waits eagerly Venizelos’ new proposal, as he had promised them, that they would have it on hand within fifteen days…

In the meanwhile, days and weeks are flowing, and in Moscow did not arrive a ‘mailman’ with a proposal of Venizelos. He is still being awaited... But a month later, in early May, the Kremlin — knowing clearly about American proposal for ‘Bradley’ — sends a Special Envoy to the American Pentagon, where he runs into the Greek Ambassador, deprived of any grace in his behavior.The Ambassador, Mr Chronopoulos, describes it himself in official memo prepared by him after this meeting with the Kremlin’s Envoy, who with lightning speed crossed the Atlantic. In particular, D. Chronopoulos informs that during his meeting with the Russian official the Ambassador told him among other things: ‘Greece doesn't feel the need to do any further goodwill step towards Russia!’...

NO DATA

In the General Staff of the Greek Armed Forces is now circulating a report on the second-hand AFVs of American production ‘Bradley’. As if by magic, the files do not contain identifiers and historical data on this machine, such as the ‘Bradley’ is constructed

in the 1970s to counterbalance soviets machines of series BMP. This was the first time that the Americans entered the term of a ‘battle machine’. It is believed that the Soviet army entered this term in its doctrine just after the Second World War.

BRADLEY:THE SECOND-HAND MORE EXPENSIVETHAN NEW

Since the 1950s, Americans, to avoid the costs of destruction, search for ‘friendly’ countries to promote their weapons by virtue of their favorite method of free assistance on the principle ‘as it is – where it is’.The difference is that a new Marshall plan will operate on the principles of ‘open market’.

Accordingly a ‘free’ support on the principle of "as it is – where it is" is estimated at $1.5 million per car! If you calculate the cost of repair and refit them electronically, the final price is expected to be twice as high as the original - $3 million. Practically Greece will pay for second-hand American AFVs as for new Russian ones. It should be noted that American AFVs would be denied maintenance after a short time, because the machine is derived from the system of maintenance of the U.S. Army and there are no spare parts left...

MAPPING T E C H N O L O G Y

pages to a desk top based analyst by highly trained personnel.

ESRI released Version 10 of ArcGIS in July. Changes have been made to enable easier access by military GIS consumers. One of these features is in the imagery server providing a ‘mosaic’ functionality. This allows real imagery to be overlaid on an electronic map. Hitherto, the ability to paste picture onto the map has been a complex activity, effectively limited to image analysts. With

Version 10 this can be undertaken by a web based GIS consumer.

In January, Sweden’s Defence Material Administration renewed its contract with ESRI for GIS to equip its C2 software, extending its 15 year presence in the Swedish military by another three years. ESRI’s.

Analysis tools, integrated in the GSI enable enhancements to the presentation of information © BAE Systems

MapObjects GIS and ArcGIS have been used in the GIS for Bowman in the UK. The Royal Engineers are also using ESRI’s products in their Makefast GIS application.

To support their EW product line, principally COMINT systems such as its Automatic COmint System (ACOS), German firm Plath developed a proprietary GIS known as Sitmap (Situation Mapping Application). The software has been designed to provide a smaller workload on the CPU. The first release of the software was in 2009. The software uses a range of inputs including OGC, ESRI’s ArcSDE and Shapefile, Worldfile, PostGIS, MySQL and IBN DB2 relational database models, GeoTIFF, DTED and the National Imagery Transmission Format. The system is designed to export data to CIS systems using standards such as ESRI Shapefile, GeoTIFF, JPEG, JPEG 2000, BMP and PNG.

For NATO, Siemens, working largely with ESRI has developed an enterprise level toolset solution known as the Core GIS programme

Systematic, a major C2 provider has opted for ESRI’s ARC GIS as their standard offering, preferring this route as it eliminates much of the integration associated with bringing in a new or proprietary GIS. The latest version used by the company is version 9.3.

Thales offers both a proprietary and open source solution in their C2 product line. The company BCI or Bibliotheque Cartographic Interactive is used as the basis of the ATLAS artillery C2 systems and CECORE network planning solution. Thales also offers ArcGIS to its customers.

Nexter also provide their own GIS, known as FINDERS GIS with a number of features including TALWEG which determines the best point of observation.

Swedish firm Carmenta works with a number of companies in Asia. It is the main partner with Sapura in its C2 work in Malaysia. It is working on other programmes in Indonesia, China and Singapore.

Militaries increasingly expect GIS to have 3D functionality built into their software © BAE Systems

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GIS solutions that are part of soldier systems must have simple user interfaces © Sagem

It provides a flexible GIS for mission critical missions planning and BMS with products such as Carmenta Engine, Carmenta Server and ResQMap, the last being a multi-user map display.

Envitia’s geospatial services were selected by Northrop Grumman UK to supply their GIS technology on Brunei’s JOCS programme which uses the company’s Integrated- Joint Operations Centre Command and Control programme, notably their Catalogue Service will register all available map services using OGC standard web services, standards allowing them to interoperate with ASEAN and NATO countries.

In 2010 Envitia has been awarded a contract from the UK MOD looking at Information Management in support of Counter Improvised Explosive Device activities in theatre. Envitia launched their next generation of MapLink Pro September 2009 which is designed to improve integration of dis-

MAPPING T E C H N O L O G Y

parate GIS data sources. New features include support for Microsoft Windows 7 and significant enhancements for non-Windows platforms, enhanced 3D functionality and web services compliance.

Belgian GIS firm Luciad’s latest offering is LuciadFusion, designed, as it names suggests fusing multiple data streams into a single COP, managing issues such as data overload through a common GIS picture including radar, satellite and unmanned aerial and has recently been used in Germany contribution to the NATO Coalition Warrior Interoperability Exercise (CWIX) 2010. In June, Luciad were included in a GIS capability demonstration as part of the UK CGTS effort.

OSI Geospatial has provided a number of real-time geospatial situational awareness products to a number of Asian militaries.

Other customers include the US Navy Surface Warfare Center, Royal Danish Navy, Canadian Department of National Defence, Lockheed Martin, L3-Communications Marine Systems, and Terma A/S. There are two major offering in the military and security domain Common Operational Picture Product Line (COP PL)

Web based browsers have become the norm for GIS applications © BAE Systems

which fuses maps, nautical charts, imagery intelligence, and tactical data – into a single information display which integrates live incoming sensor feeds with the tools necessary for analysis. In a recent Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration COP PL was deployed in several military sites across the US supporting multiple scenarios and with information accessed by participants from 26 different countries via web browser.

The company’s second key application is

With the advent of rapid and repeated coverage of an area, overlays allow analysts to compare changes, down to the level of pixels © BAE Systems

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C3Core which give user an a la carte choice of visualisation tools for five main areas Integrated C4I, Netted Fires, Map Server, Situational Awareness and Terrain Server and which can be integrated in a range of C2 applications. The solution is scalable and can be used down to the individual soldier level with the Small Unit Situational Awareness system this has recently been sold to Harris, where it has formed the basis of the firms’ Falcon Fighter software.

C3 Core has been used by the US Marine Corps; Space & Naval Warfare Systems Center, US Army Research, Development & Engineering Command, General Dynamics; and Northrop Grumman.

For naval units, the company has produced ECPINS or Electronic Chart Precise Integrated Navigation System, an electronic naval chart system that is compliant with NATO’s Warship ECDIS Standards and the International Maritime Organization while retaining full military functionality which provides the bridge crew with precise, realtime display of their position, course, and speed, against a background of fixed obstacles and other navigational hazards. Users of the systems includes Royal Australian Navy, Canadian Navy, Royal Navy, Royal New Zealand, Royal Danish Navy and Portuguese Navy.

In the logistic realm, GeoDecisions, has supplied its IRRIS GIS technology to US Transportation Command to visualise the logistics flow of supplies via an an intuitive Web-based interface which integrates information from five different government logistics systems and displays it using 2525c military map symbols and mapping from the National Geospatial Agency.

Georgia Tech Research Institute, commissioned by the Department of Defense in 1990, developed FalconView, a PC based Mapping Application optimized for airborne mission planning being part of the US Air Force’s Portable Flight Planning Software since 1994 and provides for geographically referenced overlays which has also recently been released as a Free and Open Source solution in June 2009. Features of the FalconView include the ability to Generate and overlay contour lines from elevation data and its Skyview mode to allow users to fly through terrain as part of the mission planning process.

AnuncioIngles_213x286mm_ASIAN.pdf 24/08/2010 10:03:00

CBRN PROTECTION

Australian Navy boarding team disembark a rigid-hull inflatable boat and climb aboard mock suspect vessel USNS Walter S. Diehl during an October, 2009 PSI boarding exercise in the South China Sea. Regional PSI member countries as well as Australia include Japan, New Zealand, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea and Singapore Š DoD

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CBRN PROTECTION

Dealing with a military or civilian-based attack using weapons with a CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear) component not only requires the procurement of equipment for protection, detection and decontamination, and the training and exercise programmes on how to use it, but also integration between civilian first responders — police, fire, rescue, ambulance, and health workers, and military civil support teams of all neighbouring countries within a specific region.

by Andy Oppenheimer

Integrated

here is a growing danger that current insurgencies will feature improvised ‘CBR’, and even ‘N’, devices, which will affect both troops and civilians in varying degrees of death, injury, and destruction. Most recently, unidentified chemicals were thrown into several girls’ schools in Afghanistan in a series of unclaimed attacks in May. The most notable regional civilian CBRN attack precedent is still the multiple Sarin attacks on the Tokyo subway in March 1995.

While CBRN events have so far been thankfully rare, their effects may range from the locally disruptive to the nationally catastrophic – necessitating programmes for enhanced protection, counterterrorist intelligence, and transnational and transcontinental cooperation.

Radiological and biological attacks in particular have the potential to spread across borders.

Intelligence and preemption efforts also must involve cooperation between the law enforcement and border security agencies of aligned countries throughout the region, and beyond.

The Asian Network of Major Cities 21 (ANMC21) runs several programmes to enhance integration during a crisis, including the Network for Crisis Management, which is tasked with building a crisis management net-

T CBRN:

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A number of Asian militaries are co-operating with the US in counter-CBRN exercises Š DoD

work to facilitate swift exchange of information between cities and to foster human resources to cope with emergencies. With biological warfare uppermost in the CBRN pantheon of threats in the region, and the SARS epidemic providing a Gold Standard precursor for a rapid, unidentified disease outbreak, the ANMC21 runs the Countermeasures to Combat Infectious Diseases in Asia programme to exchange information and link up administrative, research and medical institutions of participating cities so that their health personnel can communicate securely (a substantial challenge in a region where cyberterrorism is also rife) and act quickly to any outbreak of infectious disease in Asia.

CBRN cooperation: focus on Thailand

Recognition of a growing CBRN threat in the region, in both military and civilian spheres, was reflected in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in July 2009 in Thailand, where more concrete cooperation between nations in the fight against terror and future threats were highlighted. There are signs of growing coordination in Asia to prevent CBRN proliferation, particularly of nuclear (for weapons) and radiological (for dirty bombs) materials. Within the region, North Korea, as an increasingly belligerent, nascent nuclear weapons power also reputed to pos-

Joint U.S.-Australian boarding team conducts a PSI boarding exercise aboard USNS Walter S. Diehl while the ship is under way in the South China Sea in October 2009 Š DoD

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sess large stocks of chemical and biological weapons, presents the main nation-state threat to its neighbours.

The US is heavily involved in the Far East and Southeast Asia in nonproliferation efforts, and has recently focused on Thailand for enhanced counterterror cooperation. The Thais have to date complied with UN resolutions to prevent arms sales with North Korea, and is set to sign the US Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), which was set up by the US in 2003 following the interdiction of a North Korean ship carrying weapons and NBCrelated cargo. Incorporation into PSI will place Thailand as a regional leader in enhancing regional maritime security.

Previous Thai governments have resisted joining PSI due to concern over the insurgency in the southern provinces. Other main Asian PSI participants are Australia, New

CBRN PROTECTION

Boarding exercise of mock suspect ship conducted by U.S. and Australian troops as part of Proliferation Security Initiative exercise Deep Sabre II conducted in 2009 on the South China Sea © DoD

Zealand, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Singapore.

The US has also recently recognized Thailand as a target nation for nuclear trafficking, as evidenced by the invitation by President Obama to Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to the Global Nuclear Summit in Washington DC in April. With some 40 leaders attending to discuss ways to reduce nuclear threats and better control fissile materials, Thailand was earmarked according to the USA’s latest assessment of the country's strategic location and role, which will be affected by the region’s growing use of nuclear energy. Also, Thailand's location linking South and North East Asia has made it a chosen trafficking point for illegal, undetected transport of CBRN components (such as the well-publicised seizure of cesium-137 in Surin in June 2003), as well as

Royal Malaysian sailors stand security watch aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mellon on 23 June 23, 2010, during Southeast Asia Cooperation Against Terrorism (SEACAT) 2010 - a weeklong exercise designed to highlight the value of information sharing and multinational coordination © DoD

being the hub of illegal weapons trade.

One of the main global efforts to prevent movement of such materials through ports, the US-led Megaports Initiative (MI), was set up by the US around the same time as, and a precursor programme to, PSI. MI aims to equip 100 world ports with radiation, detec-

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tion equipment, and training for port personnel – including integrated communications between MI ports. MI ports in Pakistan, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka were joined by additional ports in Asia, including Kaohsiung, Taiwan and Port Klang, Malaysia in 2009.

Australia – Coordinated Response Plan

A prime example of CBRN integration is Australia's National Chemical, Biological and Radiological Capability Improvement Programme, which is part of its National Response Plan overseen by Emergency Management Australia (EMA), the country’s

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federal co-ordinating and advisory board for emergency management. The Programme is intended to improve Australia's national ability to prevent, prepare for, and respond to a CBR incident through enhanced R&D into protection, detection, hazard modelling, critical infrastructure protection, and business continuity following an attack - with the emphasis on improving first-responder capability.

Australia’s Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), part of the Australian Department of Health, is responsible for protecting people and property against radiation and is closely linked to the Asian Nuclear Safety Network (ANSN), to oversee and enhance nuclear installation safety across Asia. The ANSN gathers and shares with its regional allied neighbours with nuclear power programmes, both existing knowledge based on ‘lessons learned’ from previous incidents – including attempts at nuclear terrorism or raids on nuclear power plants – and practical experience of events. With nuclear power a burgeoning form of energy in the region, the agency is tasked with sustaining national and regional nuclear safety infrastructures and incorporating new safety and security measures. ANSN is integrated within the policy framework of the world’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), specifically with IAEA’s Extra Budgetary Programme (EBP) on the Safety of Nuclear Installations.

– suits, boots and respirators); CBRN detection kit, both stand-off and hand-held instruments; and decontamination materials, setup, sampling and diagnostic kits (mainly for biological), and throughputs – numbers of people in a given time who can be safely and effectively freed of CBR contamination.

The Philippines, which is a high-risk area for non-conventional, as well as conventional terrorist attacks, recognizes the value of conducting regular exercises. The Manila International Airport Authority conducts a rescue drill every two years, the latest having been in July 2009 – which focused on CBRN and where at least six civil and military agencies took part in a staged chlorine attack inside a Fokker F-27 aircraft.

In early April it was reported in the South China Morning Post and elsewhere that the Chinese capital, Beijing, had prepared a system scenario to identify where a terrorist might release anthrax spores to cause maximum harm. According to deputy chief of the Atmospheric Sciences Department at Peking University, Liu Shuhua, the authorities had pinned down all possible locations, assuming that trained terrorists would choose a time and a location to release a toxic gas to produce maximum casualties. Liu and his team had estimated that an attacker in one vehicle near the Great Hall of the People could release chemical or biological material and disperse over much of Tiananmen

U.S. sailors don chemical, biological and radiological suits during the base's Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Olympics at Nimitz Park in Sasebo, Japan, in April 2010. The competition familiarizes sailors with imminent attack procedures and mission-oriented protective-posture levels in cases of CBRN or high-yield explosive attacks © DoD

Drills and exercises

Much of the preparedness against a CBR attack (assuming N is several orders of magnitude more difficult, if not mostly impossible, to defend populations and troops against) involves drills and exercises which may extend beyond borders within a region. These include staging a mock attack or multiple attacks, which terrorists greatly favour, to test the first responder services in a specific city or area. Training for CBRN also includes maritime exercises involving the specialised vessels of the fleets of several nations.

These scenarios – which take months of planning, and may involve large numbers of citizens acting as fake ‘victims’ as well as several first-responder service units and military civil support units – are designed to test CBRN defence equipment, chiefly, various levels of personal protective equipment (PPE Hazmat decontamination training in May 2010 at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia © DoD

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Beijing’s anthrax scenario

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CBRN PROTECTION

The Sarin attacks in Tokyo in March 1995 stand as the deadliest civilian CBRN attack in the region, which has produced many lessons to be learned not only on first-responder safety, but in integration of multiagency response © MOFA

Civil Engineers from the Asia-Pacific region participating in a hazardous material demonstration during Pacific Unity, a subject matter expert exchange held in June 2010. The US is heavily involved in all CBRN integration and nonproliferation efforts on the region © DoD

Square, depending on the city’s wind patterns on the day.

While the wide highways to the east and west of Tianenmen Square are regarded as the best routes to escape the area during an emergency, the researchers’ models indicated that winds would blow most of the anthrax spores to the east-side roadway, settling there and posing a threat to all attempting to get away along that escape route. In the event of a CB incident, a government security department would use software and a supercomputer developed by Liu’s team to determine the dispersion pattern of the toxic material.

According to Liu, "They will have the result in less than a minute, together with the safest escape routes. We have most of the city's landmark areas in the database. We have done tests. The results are very good. The government has invested a lot of money in the project. They are very concerned."

In terms of integrating such a response elsewhere, other major Chinese cities, such as Guangzhou, which is hosting the Asian Games later in 2010, are still to take similar measures.

According to an atmospheric modeling expert at Sun Yat-sen University, Lin Wenshi, several locations, including Beijing Road and northern Tianhe, are vulnerable targets for a terrorist chemical attack. "The city government is still relying on conventional measures, such as gas masks and fire trucks, to combat trained terrorists," according to Lin. There is also criticism that the importance of scientific modeling is not being adequately recognised, and while China is not regarded as facing US or UK levels of terrorist threats, much of the vast nation of China is not sufficiently prepared to

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react using analytical methods to an attack.

Learning from Sarin in Tokyo

The main CBRN attack on civilians in Asia was the Sarin nerve agent attacks on thousands of Tokyo commuters in March 1995, which killed 12 and injured 5,600 – some permanently. Apart from mistakes made in protecting first-responders, many of whom were numbered among the injured, fire departments, police, metropolitan governments, and hospitals acted independently without co-ordination, a major hindrance to rescue and remediation which was partly due to the heavily structured nature of Japanese society.

After the attack, the Japanese government developed the Severe Chemical Hazard Response Team, and the Prime Minister's office created a National Security and Crisis Management Office which conducts hazmat drills on a regular basis. Protection and detection systems and training were rapidly upgraded. The first of many exercises was conducted in 2003 in Tokyo to test firstresponder and agency reaction to the dispersal of toxic substances from a fully loaded tanker. It involved all relevant agencies - the Chemical Protection Teams of the Ground Self-Defense Force, the Tokyo Metropolitan

A prime example of CBRN integration is Australia’s National Chemical, Biological and Radiological Capability Improvement Programme

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Police Department, and the Fire Rescue Task Forces in the Third Fire District HQ at Tokyo Fire Department, which were all recorded as having coordinated in the rescue of victims and their primary decontamination.

CBRN – uneven readiness

In terms of CBRN threats, apart from Al Qaeda repeatedly stating its intentions to use weapons of mass destruction, Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) is one of the most active terrorist groups in the region. However, despite trying in 2004 to build a chemical lab, JI was viewed as lacking funding and access to the necessary chemicals, but this situation is changing. The Sarin attackers, Aum Shinrikyo, had more funds than most of the world’s terrorist groups put together, and did not succeed in making weapons-grade Sarin and the host of biological weapons they had attempted. But the intent is there among not just jihadi, but other extremist groups and individuals.

Of concern is that CBRN readiness in the region is patchy. According to the Head of Singapore’s International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR), Dr Rohan Gunaratna, “With the exception of Singapore, Japan and Australia, none of the governments have invested significantly to deal with a CBRN attack. Governments in the region have not invested in this area – in fact, they haven’t thought about a CBRN attack seriously.” While these three countries have developed Gold Standard scenarios and strategies and conducted exercises to deal with a CBRN event, much depends on whether the region’s other allied nations will come up to their level of readiness.

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Exercise Pitch Black is the F-111 fleet’s final exercise before its retirement from the Royal Australian Air Force later this year © AJB

Asia Pacific Procurement Update AUSTRALIA Australian F-111s in final exercise

Australia’s F-111 fleet is taking part in its final exercise before their retirement from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) at the end of 2010.

Four F-111’s, based at the No. 6 Squadron RAAF Amberley in Queensland, are taking part in Exercise Pitch Black, alongside participants from the Australian Army, and Singapore, New Zealand and Thailand Air Force elements.

The exercise, conducted in the Northern Territory, is the RAAF’s largest and most complex air exercise, and involves the tasking, planning and execution of Offensive Counter Air and Offensive Air Support Operation within an international coalition environment.

The F-111s are the longest serving aircraft currently in operation in the RAAF fleet.

They will retire at the end of the year, ending a 37 year service period. The aircraft has been called ‘ahead of its time’, as one of the first twin-engine swing-wing aircraft with enormous flexibility for range and endurance.

The F-111 is capable of night/day strike in all weather conditions, and is renowned for its ability to operate at night thanks to its terrain-following radar.

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ADF MRH90s given all-clear

The Australian Defence Force’s (ADF’s) Multi Role Helicopters MRH90s will recommence flying operations following the grounding of the fleet in April when an MRH90 suffered engine failure in one of its two main engines mid-flight.

The incident was initially believed to have been due to pilot error, but the Defence Material Organisation (DMO) has dismissed this suggestion as incorrect.

Rear Admiral Mark Campbell, of the DMO’s Head Helicopter Systems Division, has commented that improper handling of the aircraft by ADF pilots is not to blame for the incident, rather that the failure resulted from ‘compressor blade fracture due to contact with the engine casing’, following extensive investigations conducted by Rolls Royce Turbomeca and industry partners and support from the Defence Science and Technology Organisation.

Flying operations will now continue pending approval by Defence’s Operational Airworthiness Authority.

A total of 46 aircraft have been ordered for the Australian Army and Navy. Eleven have been delivered and are being used for training and testing as the ADF moves towards full operational capability. As a result of the ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

delay in the MRH90 programme, the first flight at sea for the Navy will now take place in 2011.

Australia orders M777 howitzers

BAE Systems has revealed at Farnborough Air Show in the UK that it has received an additional 93 orders for the M777 howitzer, bringing total orders to date to 955 systems.

Australia is one of the latest orders, with the order of 35 platforms under a Foreign Military Sale (FMS), making Australia the third country to order the system, in addition to the US and Canada.

A Spokesperson for BAE Systems’ European Weapons Business also revealed that the US government is in discussion with India about the proposed sale of 145 units, and a large number of other countries have expressed interest in acquiring the howitzer.

With proven combat effectiveness as an indirect fire asset, the howitzer is currently deployed by Coalition troops in Afghanistan where it’s BAE Systems Jointly developed ‘smart’ Excalibur round can fire on targets accurately enough to target a specific room within a building at a range of up to 40km.

The system is half the weight of conventional 155mm systems, thanks to its use of titanium and aluminium alloys. Due to its

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reduced weight it can be deployed by medium-lift helicopter to isolated areas, bringing vital artillery support to an extended range theatre of operations.

Australia requests MH-60R helicopters

US Congress has been notified of the possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of 24 MH-60R Seahawk helicopters to the Government of Australia, as well as associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress on 7 July that the possible sale, worth an estimated $2.1 billion, will see Australia’s peacekeeping and humanitarian operations in Iraq and Afghanistan sustained, as well as seeing peace and economic stability sustained, and US national security interests protected in the Western Pacific area.

The MRH-90 multi mission helicopters have advanced anti-submarine and surface warfare capabilities, as well as search and rescue and anti-ship surveillance capabilities.

If the sale goes ahead the aircraft will most likely be used in this capacity, along with serving a humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and stability operations within the area.

Along with the aircraft, the Australian Government has requested 60 T-700 GE 401C Engines, and associated communication and support equipment, as well as spare and repair parts, tools and test equipment, technical data and publications, personnel training and training equipment. Also required is the assignment of ten contractor representatives to Australia to support delivery of the aircraft, and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services.

Boeing completes Australian communications upgrade

Boeing Defence Australia has completed the Joint Project 2043 High Frequency Modernisation (HFMod) project for the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

The HFMod programme aimed to provide a secure, cost-effective and strategic high-frequency communications capability through the long-range communications system known as Modernised High Frequency Communications System (MHFCS).

The system enables secure information exchange between fixed and mobile stations using one integrated system, delivering what Boeing calls one of the most advanced high frequency systems in the world, capable of

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data transfer services such as e-mail, facsimiles and web browsing for remote stations where traditional telephone services are limited or unavailable.

The MHFCS was inducted into service with the ADF in October 2009. The first phase of the system was delivered in 2004, providing a single integrated system consisting of four HF radio stations and two purpose-built control centres, one primary and one backup.

The second phase delivered greater levels of automation, performance and capability for ADF users, including two generic mobile upgrade systems, one land-and-sea component and one air platforms component.

Finally the backup control centre was upgraded to the same configuration as the operational main control centre.

Entirely developed, built and delivered by Boeing, the MHFCS is now available on the international market, with a number of potential customers believed to be interested in the system.

Super Hornets arrive in Australia

The Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF’s) second batch of Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets have arrived in the country at RAAF Base Amberly on July 6 ahead of schedule, bringing the total number of aircraft received to eleven.

The ADF ordered 24 of the advanced Block II next generation multi-role combat aircraft in March 2007 to enhance the RAAF’s air superiority, day/night strike with precisionguided weapons, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defences, maritime strike, reconnaissance, forward air control and tanker missions. The first five aircraft arrived in Australia in late March 2010, with delivery scheduled for completion in 2011.

The aircraft features a fully integrated Raytheon-built APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, advanced sensor suite, two-engine design, and a network centric data sharing environment, enabling two crew members to conduct simultaneous air and ground operations and giving superior situational awareness.

The new aircraft are expected to achieve initial operational capability before the end of 2010.

Australia expands UAV capabilities

Simlat has delivered two UAS-SPOT (Screening by Performance-Oriented Testing) systems to the Australian Defence Forces ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

(ADF) as part of a systems upgrade to the ADF’s Skylark Mini-UAV Simulators.

The systems enable the performance assessment of UAS operation candidates automatically, shortening qualification and training times. Simlat developed the system in order to address the shortage in UAS operators and ‘the need to facilitate and improve the screening process.’

ADF is also expected to purchase the RQ7B Shadow 200 UAV and support systems, which will replace the smaller Scan Eagle UAVs currently being used by Australian troops in the Middle East under a lease contract with Boeing.

The Shadow 200 system has been selected as part of a $1.1 billion defence plan announced earlier in the year to boost force protection for troops engaged in Afghanistan.

The Shadow 200, produced by AAITextron, has exceeded 470,000 flight hours, and has been supporting US troops in Afghanistan for a number of years. UAV’s data-link transmits full motion video in all light conditions of targets up to 125 km from its Ground Control Station. The interoperability of networked intelligence-gathering capabilities offered by the Shadow 200 allows warfighters to have a greatly enhanced situational awareness, and provides force protection against asymmetrical threats, including improvised explosive devices.

DMO orders Giraffe AMB radar

The Australian Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) has placed an order with Saab for the supply of the Giraffe AMB radar system and related services to enhance the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) force protection capabilities.

In a deal worth MSEK 190, Saab will provide the off-the-shelf radar system, a series of modular surveillance systems, which provides point protection and area air defence solutions. The system is fully fitted, and gives full capability for simultaneous air defence, air and sea surveillance, as well as air and land integration, military are traffic control and rocket, artillery and mortar alert.

One of the most advanced proven critical target radars on the market, the Giraffe system is in use with the armed forces of Sweden, France, Estonia and the UK, among others.

The RAN already uses the naval surveillance radar Sea Giraffe on its Anzac class frigates and the Sea Giraffe AMB is being acquired for its Canberra class amphibious ships.

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has not been disclosed.

Boeing successfully completed the final design review for the P-81 in July, allowing the design for aircraft, radar, communications, navigation, mission computing, acoustics and sensors, and ground and test support equipment to be ‘locked in’, and enabling the programme to move into assembly stage. The aircraft features both design and subsystems unique to India’s maritime patrol specifications. The empennage section of the first P-81 is expected to be complete before year-end, with the first delivery due in 2011.

INDIA HAL and BAE Systems extend Hawk aircraft partnership

BAE Systems has won a $770 million contract from India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to provide products and services for the production of a further 57 Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) aircraft for the Indian armed forces.

BAE Systems working with HAL were awarded a £500m The aircraft, to be built under contract for a further 57 Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer aircraft for licence in India at HAL’s facilities in the Indian armed forces © BAE Systems Bangalore, will enter service with the Indian Air Force (IAF), which will take delivery of 40 aircraft; and the Indian Navy to get APY-10 Indian Navy (IN), which will take delivery surveillance radar India to upgrade SU-30 MKIs of 17 aircraft.

The Indian Navy’s (IN’s) P-81 aircraft being The Indian Defence Ministry has revealed Under the contract BAE Systems will built by Boeing are to be fitted with an inter- plans to modernise the Indian Air Force’s provide specialist engineering services, the national version of the APY-10 surveillance (IAF’s) Sukhoi SU-30 MKI combat aircraft raw materials and equipment necessary for radar following the signing of a contract fleet with the help of Russia. airframe production and the support pack- between Boeing and Raytheon Company.

The modernisation programme will see age for IN and IAF end-users. The contract Raytheon’s APY-10 radar is a long the upgrade of fifty aircraft with help of origis an important step in BAE’s domestic range, multi-mission, maritime and over- inal equipment manufacturers, brining airbusiness development within India; and land surveillance radar, and the agreement craft capabilities up to modern standards. The builds on the launch of Defence Land with Boeing marks the first time the radar majority of the aircraft, from the first batch of Systems earlier this year with Indian group has been sold to an international customer. Su-30s inducted into the IAF in the late 1990s, Mahindra & Mahindra.

The Raytheon Company is already will be upgraded in-country, while the initial BAE Systems is already engaged in the under to contract to provide prime contrac- five will be sent to Russian facilities. delivery of 66 Hawk aircraft for the IAF tor Boeing with six APY-10 radars for the The programme, expected to be comalongside Roll-Royce. The new contract US Navy’s P-8A programme. The P-81 pleted within four years, will involve the will see the continuation of the partner- being built for the IN is a variant of this air- fitting of modern avionics and ‘various ship for another six years. Rolls-Royce craft, and will provide ‘proven, low risk other capabilities’, including the strengthalso signed a follow-on contract worth technology’ for the IN’s programme, deliv- ening of the airframe to equip them with £310 million for an additional 57 Mk871 ering accurate information in all weather the air-launched version of the 290 km variant Adour engines for the new and light conditions for anti-submarine range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. aircraft. and anti-surface warfare intelligence, surA total of six squadrons of the Su-30s are The Hawk aircraft’s popularity contin- veillance and reconnaissance missions. in service with the IAF. The IAF is in the ues to grow with the world’s air forces, India entered contract with Boeing for midst of a complete upgrade of its air assets, with Australia, Canada, South Africa, the manufacture of eight P-81 aircraft in including the upgrading of its main fighter Bahrain and the UK Royal Air Force 2009, with delivery expected to begin in MiG-29 fleet, and the recent upgrade of its amongst its export customers.

2012. The value of the Raytheon contract Jaguar, MiG-27 and MiG-21 fleets.

MALAYSIA

Second Malaysian submarine arrives home

The second Scorpene submarine built for the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has arrived at the Lumut naval base in Malaysia following a 64 day journey from DCNS facilities in the South of France.

Named KD Tun Razak, the submarine is the second of two Scorpene submarine

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ordered by the Malaysian government in June 2002. The first vessel, KD Tunku Abdul Rahman, arrived in Malaysia in September 2009.

The Scorpene submarines are one of the world’s most sophisticated warships, and also have been ordered by the governments of Chile (two units) and India (six units). Designed by DCNS and jointly developed by DCNS and Spanish

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

naval shipbuilder Navantia, the Scorpene has a displacement of 1,550 tonnes, length of 67.5 metres, and has an endurance of 45 days.

KD Tun Razak will now make the voyage to the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) submarine base Teluk Sepanggar, where she will undergo scheduled maintenance and undertake comprehensive sea trials in the regional tropical waters.

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The system incorporates the US Navy’s most advanced radar system, the SPY-1 radar; and, when paired with the MK 41 Vertical Launching System, is able to deliver missiles for every operation across the naval warfare spectrum.

Thales SATCOM for Korean Navy Submarines

The First of the KSS-2 or Korean-built Type 214, Sohn Won-il class, was commissioned in 2007 and is reportedly proving very successful. Thales are providing the X-band Satcom Terminal for the Korean Navy’s Type 214 submarines as part of the KSS II Batch 2 programme © ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems/HDW

REPUBLIC OF KOREA Republic of Korea successfully tests warship’s combat system

The Republic of Korea’s largest and most advanced warship, the Sejong the Great, has successfully completed a three week sea trial to test the ship’s combat system.

Supported by the US Navy and Lockheed Martin, the KDX-III Aegis Destroyer conducted the Combat System Ship Qualification Trials (CSSQT) at the Pacific Missile Range Facility off the Hawaiian island of Kauai.

Combat readiness trials included comprehensive surface, subsurface and anti-air warfare exercises, as well as thorough testing of the system's tactical data link capabilities.

JAPAN Japan Coast Guard orders six AW139

The Japan Coast Guard has ordered a further six AW130 medium twin helicopters following the signing of a contract between AgustaWestland and Mitsui Bussan Aerospace.

The Japan Coast Guard already has an AW139 fleet of five aircraft, with the latest order bringing number to eleven. The aircraft is also operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police TMP and the Japan National Police.

The Japan Coast Guard is expanding its AM139 fleet as part of a fleet modernisation programme that aims to introduce a total of

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Anti-air warfare exercises included manned aircraft raids, electronic attack scenarios and live Standard Missile-2 and Rolling Airframe Missile air defence engagements.

The vessel, the first of three KDX-III destroyers being built by the Republic of Korea, is said to have performed ‘flawlessly’, with Lockheed Martin spokesperson commenting that the ship will bring ‘manned aircraft raids, electronic attack scenarios and live Standard Missile-2 and Rolling Airframe Missile air defence engagements’.

The KDX-III vessels are the largest surface warships carrying the Aegis Weapon System, one of the most capable systems in the world, deployed on almost one hundred vessels in the Navies of Australia, Japan, Spain and Norway amongst others.

24 new aircraft overall. The aircraft are equipped for all-weather operations in all light conditions including ship-based operations. They are fitted with a highly capable mission package including a rescue hoist, high definition FLIR, and communication and navigation equipment, enabling search and rescue and other maritime operations.

The contract marks the growing popularity of the AW139, with over 450 aircraft ordered in total from AgustaWestland from over fifty countries including Japan, South Korea, the UK, Italy, Spain, Estonia, Cyprus, UAE and Malaysia, where the aircraft is used in search and rescue, emergency medical services, offshore transport, electronic law gathering as well as homeland security and military utility transport missions.

ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

German submarine shipbuilder Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft (HDW) has selected Thales and Samsung Thales to provide the X-band Satcom Terminal for the Korean Navy’s Type 214 submarines.

The contract is part of the KSS II Batch 2 programme, and will see Thales’ most advanced Satcom technology exported to Samsung Thales, who will provide key elements of the outboard unit for installation on the Type 214 Satcom communication mast.

The Thales Satcom terminal, a flexible system adaptable to all submarine types, enables high tracking performance in all environments, and delivers high-level integrated communications, including high performance data rate for voice and data transmission.

The system is available in two versions, with either 40 cm antenna or 75 cm antenna.

Thales DIVESAT technology can deliver communication at frequency bands X, Ku, Ka, or EHF. The flexible nature of the system makes it suitable for application to both new submarines and the retrofit market.

PHILIPPINES Harris Corporation to supply radios to the Philippines

Harris Corporation has been awarded a firm fixed price contract for the supply of radio base stations, vehicle mounts and man pack systems for the government of the Philippines. The contract is worth an estimated $78.5 million.

The contract, awarded last month, will see Harris Corp provide the radio equipment as part of a Foreign Military Sale by the US Government. Harris Corp was the only company to bid for the contract.

Work will be carried out in Rochester, New York, with delivery expected by 1 November 2010.

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