we invited the RAF's Typhoon to do exercise with us eh..now i'm very sure the RMAF is going to pick EF..uhh i want rafale..

i see..no ammunition on their pylons when they fly..shooting blanks??

International military spending drops slightly

Written by defenceWeb/SIPRI
Tuesday, 16 April 2013 10:42

World military expenditure totalled US$1,75 trillion in 2012, a fall of half a percent in real terms since 2011, according to figures released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

The fall, the first since 1998, was driven by major spending cuts in the United States and Western and Central Europe, as well as in Australia, Canada and Japan. The reductions were substantially offset by increased spending in Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and Latin America.
China, the second largest spender in 2012, increased its expenditure by 7,8 percent ($11,5 billion). Russia, the third largest spender, increased its expenditure by 16 percent ($12,3 billion).

Despite the drop the global total was still higher in real terms than the peak near the end of the cold war.

“We are seeing what may be the beginning of a shift in the balance of world military spending from rich Western countries to emerging regions, as austerity policies and the drawdown in Afghanistan reduce spending in the former, while economic growth funds continuing increases elsewhere,” said Dr Sam Perlo-Freeman, director of SIPRI’s military expenditure and arms production programme.

“However the US and its allies are still responsible for the great majority of world military spending. NATO members together spent a trillion dollars.”

The US: wars ending, cuts biting

In 2012 the United States’ share of world military spending went below 40 percent for the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union. A declining trend that began in 2011 accelerated in 2012, with a drop in US military spending of six percent in real terms to $682 billion.

The decline is mostly the result of reduced war spending, which fell from $159 billion in the 2011 financial year to $115 billion in 2012 and is set to continue its downward course, with only $87 billion requested for 2013.

US military spending in 2012 was also projected to be $15 billion lower than previously planned as a result of cuts to the Department of Defence linked to the 2011 Budget Control Act. The bulk of cuts under this legislation will begin this year.

A wider slowdown

Austerity policies also caused falls in military spending in most of Europe last year. Since the 2008 global financial crisis, 18 of the 31 countries in the EU or European NATO have cut military spending by more than 10 percent in real terms.

Even in parts of the world where spending has increased, the effects of the economic crisis can still be seen: slowing economic growth in emerging regions has led to slower rates of growth in military spending. Only the Middle East and North Africa increased the rate of military spending between 2003/09 and 2009/12.

The average annual rate of military spending increase in Asia, for instance, has halved from seven percent per year in 2003/09, to 3,4 percent per year in 2009/12. The slow-down was most dramatic in Central and South Asia, where military spending was growing by an average of eight percent per year in 2003/09, but by only 0,7 percent a year since 2009 and actually fell in 2012 by 1,6 percent.

“All indications are that world military spending is likely to keep falling for the next two to three years at least until NATO completes its withdrawal from Afghanistan at the end of 2014. Spending in emerging regions will probably go on rising so the world total will probably bottom out after that,” Perlo-Freeman said.

Regional developments

Military expenditure in Asia and Oceania rose by 3,3 percent in 2012. Large increases were seen in Vietnam, where tensions with China are prompting major naval purchases, and in Indonesia. Military spending in India decreased by 2,8 percent.

Military spending increased sharply across North Africa, by 7,8 percent in real terms, the result of ongoing military modernisation and concern over terrorist groups in the Sahel. Military spending in sub-Saharan Africa fell by 3,2 percent.

Military spending in the Middle East rose by 8,4 percent in 2012. The largest percentage increase worldwide in 2012 was by Oman (a 51 percent rise). Saudi Arabia increased spending by 12 percent. Spending by Iran, Qatar, Syria and the United Arab Emirates is unknown.

In Latin America military spending increased by 4,2 percent in 2012. The largest increases were Paraguay (43 percent) and Venezuela (42 percent). The increasing role of the military in combating drug cartels pushed Mexico’s spending up by 9,7 percent.

Military spending in Eastern Europe increased by 15,3 percent in 2012, the largest regional increase. Besides Russia, Ukraine also increased its spending substantially - by 24 per cent.

Sipri notes all percentage increases and decreases are expressed in real terms at constant 2011 prices.

Displacement -  2,365 tonnes

Dimensions
Length: 105.11 m
Beam: 14.02 m
Maximum Draft: 3.7 m

what happen to the RM27bil that was supposed to fund the last NGPV program? surely all are not wasted on trying to save the late PSC corporation rite..must have some leftover's money..

They are testing their sensor and simulation
unlike Rafale, half of typhoon capability is still myth as it is only on Paper!

what are those myth? 

2013/04/17 19:45 KST

Boeing wins $1.6 bln contract for S. Korean attack helicopter fleet

By Kim Eun-jung

SEOUL, April 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Wednesday selected Boeing's AH-64E Apache Guardian to replace its aging Army helicopters, the Defense Acquisition Procurement Administration (DAPA) said.

   Under the 1.8 trillion won (US$1.6 billion) contract, U.S. firm Boeing will supply 36 Apache Guardians for Army battalions by 2018, along with training and logistical support, DAPA said.

   Boeing's Apache competed with the American firm Bell's AH-1Z Cobra and the Turkish Aerospace Industry's T-129B. The South Korean Army first made the procurement request in 2008.

"The heavily-armed attack helicopters will replace aging helicopters deployed by the Army to counter threats by North Korean military's armored units and deter provocations," Baek Yoon-hyeong, DAPA spokesman, said in a briefing.

   The four-blade, twin-engine attack helicopter, known as the "tank killer", is armed with a 30-millimeter M230 Chain Gun, and can carry a mixture of AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and Hydra 70 rocket pods.

   The announcement came as Seoul awaits Pentagon's approval for an additional attack-reconnaissance squadron as South Korean seeks to improve its combat capability before regaining wartime operational control from Washington in December 2015.

   In June 2012, Gen. James Thurman, the commander of Combined Forces Command, asked the U.S. government to provide more military support to South Korea, including a plan to deploy 24 additional Apache attack helicopters here. During a January visit to Seoul, U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Ray Odierno said his government will make a decision soon.

   On Wednesday, the DAPA also picked Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) as the preferred bidder to build helicopters for the Marine Corps' landing maneuver operations.

  KAI is South Korea's sole aircraft maker which developed the Korean Utility Helicopter (KUH) called Surion.

  Under the deal, KAI will make the Marine Corps model KUH and deliver a total of 40 helicopters to them by 2023, the DAPA said.

  The Marine Corps has long sought to have its own choppers, but the plan has been delayed due to budgetary constraints. The procurement request took on new urgency after North Korea launched two deadly provocations in the tensely guarded western sea in 2010, killing a total of 50 South Koreans.

   The Joint Chiefs of Staff last year approved the Marine's request to buy helicopters for their landing operations in border islands, which face heavily-armed North Korean forces just across the maritime border.

   The Surion utility helicopter made its maiden flight in March 2010, and entered full-scale production in 2012. About 200 Surions have been ordered to replace aging military helicopters in the next few years.

Apache Guardian? newer version than Apache Longbow?

Apache Guardian? newer version than Apache Longbow?

U.S. Army AH-64E Is Now the ‘Guardian’

Less than three months after U.S. Army representatives announced that the former “Apache Block III” attack helicopter would be re-designated as the AH-64 “Echo,” the service has officially tied a nickname to the alpha-numeric designation.

On Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013, representatives from the U.S. Army’s Apache Project Office informed Boeing Company representatives of the new service nickname for the AH-64E will be “Guardian.” The announcement was made during the Team Apache annual government-industry meeting at the Boeing facility in Arlington, Va.

is there any future mbt project for ATM? tbf 48 tank quite small in numbers

PT-91M crews are still considered greenhorns.the training doctrine isn't matured yet so giving them expensive toys would be a waste

asas kukuh dulu baru boleh upgrade

KIta kasi piling foundation baik punya sebelum bina bangunan tinggi menggunung. Kalo takdaq piling senang bangunan tu runtuh.

Try to ID these