Close-air-support aircraft to be armed with precision guided munitions

by Editor  8/08/2014 | 5:31 Posted in Nation

Philippine News Agency – In line with its efforts to make its close air support (CAS) aircraft more capable, the Department of National Defense (DND) has said the plane will be armed with precision guided munitions, a kind of weaponry that can be guided by lasers to its targets.

In a supplemental bid bulletin posted on the DND website, it said this capability must be present in the designs which will be submitted by prospective bidders to the P4.9-billion CAS aircraft project.

Bid opening and submission for the CAS project has been reset to Oct. 3 from the original date of Aug. 11.

In connection with this, DND Special Bids and Awards Committee-1 chair Undersecretary Fernando Manalo said that a second pre-bid conference will be held this coming Sept. 15.

This will be held at the DND Bidding and Awards Committee Conference Room, DND Building, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Bid opening and submission will also take place at the same place.

The DND is planning to acquire six CAS aircraft to replace or beef up the Philippine Air Force’s existing Rockwell OV-10 “Bronco” turboprop attack planes.

CAS refers to the capability to provide air support to infantry and naval units in contact with the enemy.

Funding for this weapon system will be sourced from the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program.

Manalo earlier said that the contract includes integrated logistic support system.

Winning bidders must be able to deliver the aircraft within 540 calendar days from contract effectivity.

Participants in the DND’s CAS project must have completed a similar program within the last 10 years.

Manalo added that the CAS aircraft must be used by the countries offering and manufacturing them.

DND to spend P15 B for two ships, P2.5 B for ammunition

By Alexis Romero (The Philippine Star)  | Updated August 10, 2014 - 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines - The defense department will spend P2.5 billion for the ammunition of the two frigates it will acquire for the Philippine Navy.

Defense Assistant Secretary Patrick Velez said security officials have decided to separate the purchase of ammunition from the frigate acquisition project, citing international arms restrictions.

“There will be two (projects). The acquisition of armaments will be treated as a separate project,” Velez told The STAR in a recent interview.

“You cannot combine the offensive portion and the actual building of the ship. The ammunition will require about P2.5 billion,” he added.

Velez said they could not award the project to shipyards that do not manufacture missiles.

Before it was divided into two, the frigate acquisition project had an approved budget of P18 billion. About P2.5 billion of the outlay was allotted for the ships’ armaments.

Now that the project has been divided into two lots, the budget for the two ships stands at P15.5 billion.

Sources told The STAR defense department might consider negotiated procurement for the ammunition to ensure that the armaments are compatible with the ships to be acquired.

Defense officials are about to finish the technical discussions for the project and will hold the bidding for the project within the year.

A total of six companies are qualified to submit bids for the project. They are Navantia Sepi (RTR Ventures) of Spain, South Korean firms STX Offshore & Shipbuilding, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. Ltd. and Hyundai Heavy Industries, Inc.; Indian firm Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. and French company STX France SA.

The frigate acquisition project is among the big-ticket items in the Armed Forces Modernization Program.

The ships can be used to boost the Philippines’ security presence in the West Philippine Sea, repatriate migrant workers and respond to calamities.

The two ships to be acquired for the Navy are expected to complement the BRP Gregorio del Pilar and the BRP Ramon Alcaraz, the two vessels purchased from the United States.

Southeast Asia builds home-grown defense industry

3 Hours AgoReuters

Spurred by tensions with China, Southeast Asian nations are building up their own defense industries, channeling fast-growing military budgets to develop local expertise and lower their dependence on big U.S. and European arms suppliers.

While countries such as Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia won't do away with big-ticket imports from giants like Airbus or Lockheed Martin, they are increasingly encouraging domestic defense firms to manufacture hardware locally. With regional defense spending seen rising to $40 billion in 2016, 10 percent higher than last year, some countries are already developing their own exports.

A domestic defense industry is a long-term economic as well as security goal of varying degree for the 10 countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), spending more on modernizing ageing equipment partly to retain the region's military balance. The goal has been given urgency by China's moves in recent months to press disputed claims in oil- and gas-rich waters of the South China Sea, security analysts say.

ASEAN members have stopped short of explicitly citing Beijing as a reason for beefing up military capability. At a meeting in Myanmar last weekend, ASEAN foreign ministers again appealed for "self-restraint" in the face of heightened tensions, with no mention of China in a formal communique.

"This drive to ensure sovereignty is now at the foremost of all governments' minds in the region," said Jon Grevatt, Asia Pacific defense industry analyst with IHS Jane's. "Obviously the activity of China has raised the issue of protecting, securing territory."

China, whose military spending topped $145 billion last year according to U.S. estimates, claims about nine-tenths of the South China Sea. It has alarmed Southeast Asian diplomats this year with assertive moves like planting a giant, $1 billion oil rig in waters claimed by Vietnam.

A build-up in China's coastguard fleet has also allowed Beijing to beef up its maritime presence without deploying warships. Some in the region have sought to counter that like-for-like: In a package due to take effect this month, Vietnam has set aside 11.5 trillion dong ($543 million) to be used to buy 32 coastguard and surveillance ships.

Southeast Asia's defense spending grew 5 percent to $35.9 billion in 2013, data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) showed, and is expected to rise to $40 billion by 2016. The region's defense spending has more than doubled since 1992, according to SIPRI.

Local obligation

Defense procurement in Southeast Asia is still dominated by government purchases of big-ticket items like jets or submarines from Western defense suppliers such as Lockheed Martin of the United States, France-based Airbus or Germany's ThyssenKrupp AG. The region became the world's second-largest importer of military equipment and technology after India.

Now, though, from Indonesia radar to Singapore submarines, governments are tilting such purchases to help them develop their own defense expertise. While breaking no records in size or scope, recent deals show a growing trend towards embedding local manufacturing in procurement contracts.

In one example, Malaysia's shipbuilding-to-weaponry group Boustead Heavy Industries is working with French state-controlled naval contractor DCNS on a 9 billion ringgit ($2.8 billion) contract for six coastal combat ships for Malaysia's navy - to be built locally.

"We expect to achieve well over 60 percent in terms of local content and value, and see considerable transfer of technology to ourselves as well as local vendors and suppliers who we work with and cultivate," Ahmad Ramli Mohd Nor, executive deputy chairman and managing director of Boustead Heavy, told Reuters.

"Importantly, we will already have IP (intellectual property) rights for the first generation of offshore patrol vessels, and this can provide a platform to tap the international market," he added.

Known as "defense offset" deals, these partnerships can enable countries to carve out domestic defense industries over time. Turkey, for example, has successfully used defense offsets to nurture its domestic industry, whose companies now produce half the country's military equipment.

Indonesia, which has more than doubled its defense spending in the last five years, this year awarded a $164 million air defense system contract to France's Thales SA. A condition of the deal is that Thales must transfer radar manufacturing skills and knowledge to state-owned Indonesian electronics firm PT LEN Industri.

Similarly, Singapore said late last year it would buy two submarines from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems in Germany - making the deal conditional on the involvement of local industry in developing combat systems.

Singapore leads

Singapore has by far the most advanced defense industry in the region, as well as being one of the world's biggest arms importers.

The wealthy island state has sold defense equipment to countries from Nigeria to Brazil since its first overseas arms sales to Malaysia in 1971.

Singapore Technologies Engineering (ST Engineering), the state's main arms maker, generated sales of $1.89 billion in 2012 alone, according to SIPRI.

In a breakthrough, a unit of ST Engineering also won a S$330 million ($256 million) contract in 2008 to supply armored troop carriers to Britain - its first such sale to a major Western arms supplier - showing it could compete in the global defense arena in some product categories.

"Singapore will agree deals with its foreign suppliers that promote the best interests of both parties, and will not be constrained by lots of regulations and unrealistic expectations," said Ron Matthews, professor of defense economics at Britain's Cranfield University.

Still, for now the rise of a Southeast Asia defense industry won't deter big global players, analysts said. The region's rising defense spending makes it attractive for weapons makers at a time of tight military budgets in Europe and North America.

The regional firms' lack of advanced capability also means they are not currently competing head-on with the big players for big-ticket orders.

Instead, they can play a more complimentary role, focusing on areas such as ammunition, small marine vessels and maintenance. But that could change over time - as Turkey's experience shows - if Southeast Asian firms start to compete for orders on the global market.

"This is a near-term opportunity for global defense firms and a longer-term challenge," said John Dowdy, senior partner at McKinsey & Company.

Avibras plant in Brazil showing a variety of Military vehicles including ASTROS II MLRS systems. Is is just me or are they been painted with Malaysian camo pattern? On the other hand,the pic is undated,so it might be an earlier order.

Astross II gandakan kuasa tempur TD

Oleh ZAKI SALLEH

KUALA LUMPUR – Tentera Darat (TD) bakal memiliki satu lagi rejimen sistem pelancar roket berganda (SPRB) jenis Astros II buatan Brazil tidak lama lagi bagi menggandakan kuasa tempur negara.

Sebanyak 18 unit SPRB Astross II akan dibeli bagi melengkapkan kekuatan Briged Artileri Roket yang ketika ini mempunyai dua rejimen roket jenis yang sama dan sebuah rejimen artileri pengesan.

Rejimen baharu SPRB Astross II itu nanti dijangka ditempatkan di Sabah.

Difahamkan, pembelian aset terbaharu itu telah dipersetujui Tentera Darat (TD) menerusi belanjawan pertahanan dalam Rancangan Malaysia Ke-10.

Sumber memberitahu, kontrak perolehan akan dimeterai antara Kementerian Pertahanan dengan pembekalnya pada Pameran Perkhidmatan Pertahanan Asia 2012 di sini pada April ini.

“Pembelian ini adalah sebahagian daripada rancangan jangka panjang TD bagi memperkukuhkan kuasa tempur khasnya, Briged Roket.

“Ia juga merupakan strategi bagi memperkasakan sistem pertahanan darat dengan adanya dua rejimen roket di Semenanjung dan di Sabah atau Sarawak,” ujar sumber tersebut di sini semalam.

source

Indonesians Boost CN235 Sales after Pact with Airbus D&S

by  Alan Warnes
August 14, 2014, 9:18 AM


Indonesian aircraft company PTDI is talking to Asian customers about maritime CN235 versions, after signing a strategic collaboration agreement with Airbus D & S in 2011. (Photo: Alan Warnes)

PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) has stepped up its marketing of maritime versions of the CN235 and is completing assembly of its first C295. The moves result from the strategic collaboration agreement that PTDI signed with Airbus Defense & Space in 2011. That deal also transferred production of the smaller C212 transport to PTDI’s facility in Bandung.

Arie Wibotwo, PTDI’s vice president of marketing, told AIN that PTDI is bidding for several maritime patrol requirements in the region. “We have been selected by the Philippines government to supply two CN235 ASWs. A contract is expected to be signed this summer with delivery taking place 26 months afterwards” he said. Working with PTDI as a mission systems supplier will be Raytheon Systems, the first time a U.S. company has gone into partnership with the Indonesians.

Several other CN 235 MPA/ASW proposals are on the table “but the mission systems will be flexible, completely the choice of the customer,” Arie added. “Malaysia prefers Thales, Vietnam wants the Airbus D&S Fully Integrated Tactical Systems (FITS) or a Swedish SSC system, while Thailand and Brunei seem fairly relaxed over the systems they want.” This means that PTDI could find itself working with several different systems integrators from Europe and the U.S. if these countries opt for the CN235. In the past PTDI has even worked with Israel’s Elta, on the Korean Coast Guard deal for four CN 235-220MPAs in 2011-12.

Having recently delivered a CN235 to Thailand’s parapublic KASET organization, with options on another two, PTDI feels it is well positioned to provide the Royal Thai Navy with a solution for its ASW/MPA requirement for up to four aircraft.

Domestically, PTDI will shortly deliver a second CN235 MPA to the Indonesian Navy as part of MARPAT (MARitime PATrol) 1 program. These aircraft are equipped with the Thales AMASCOS system on board and include the FLIR Systems Star Safire sensor turret. “Another two CN235MPAs are contracted by the Navy as part of MARPAT 2 but the radar system will come from Telephonics,” Wibotwo revealed.

Meanwhile, PTDI is assembling the first of two C295s for the Indonesian air force.

Airbus D&S previously delivered seven from its production line at Seville, Spain. The two being assembled at Bandung complete the order.

Friday, 15 August 2014 16:06

PEROLEHAN ENAM BUAH LITTORAL COMBAT SHIP (LCS)

Seiring dengan Visi TLDM untuk menjadi sebuah Tentera Laut Bertaraf Dunia, Armada TLDM bakal dilengkapkan dengan enam buah LCS kelas Frigat yang mempunyai keupayaan peperangan empat dimensi. 



Kontrak perolehan ini ialah di antara Kerajaan dengan Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS).  Perolehan ini juga adalah kesinambungan daripada perolehan enam buah New Generation Patrol Vessel (NGPV) daripada BNS sebelum ini. LCS akan dilengkapkan dengan peralatan dan sistem untuk peperangan 4 dimensi antaranya sistem Surface to Air Missile (SAM), Surface to Surface Missile (SSM), Medium Caliber Gun (MCG), Small Caliber Gun (SCG), Towed Array Sonar (TAS), Torpedo dan juga Decoy Launching System (DLS) yang canggih. Selain itu, LCS yang diperolehi ini mempunyai reka bentuk stealth yang moden dan bakal memenuhi keupayaan pertahanan abad ke-21. Perolehan ini akan turut mengukuhkan TLDM sebagai sebuah angkatan laut yang kredibel di rantau Asia Tenggara dan antarabangsa.

Indonesia confirms acquisition of four Klewang-class stealth patrol ships

The chief of the Indonesian Navy (Tentera Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Laut, or TNI-AL) has confirmed that the Klewang-class stealth patrol ship programme has resumed and that the service will operate a class of at least four vessels.

Admiral Marsetio, chief of staff of the TNI-AL, confirmed the plans in an interview with IHS Jane's at the Indonesian Armed Forces headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta, on 14 August.

The stealth trimaran programme was suspended after first-of-class KRI Klewang was gutted by fire and damaged beyond repair at a naval port in Banyuwangi, East Java, weeks after its official launch on 31 August 2012. The vessel was still undergoing sea trials. There were no casualties in that incident but Indonesia's defence ministry suspended the programme indefinitely pending further investigations into the cause of the fire.

The Indonesian government has not released the results of the investigation into the fire but IHS Jane's understands that a new hull material, described by Saab as a "nanocomposite compound" that is stronger and stealthier, was chosen partly to mitigate the effects of similar calamities in the future.

Besides the four confirmed boats, Adm Marsetio also indicated that the navy might consider more vessels in the near future if options presented by the shipbuilders are attractive enough. "We could be looking at a class of between 6 to 20 vessels by 2024", he said. "The final number will depend on factors such as acquisition costs and offset conditions presented by shipbuilders, but for now we are looking at a class of four ships."

Peter Carlqvist, head of Saab Indonesia, confirmed to IHS Jane's on 15 August the number of vessels to be built but indicated that a contract has only been established for one ship. "We are hopeful that the contract for the other three ships will materialise very soon", said Carlqvist, who added that Saab is now the prime contractor for the programme and has received full financing from the Swedish government to fulfil the order for the four vessels. However the current vessel being built is produced in collaboration with Indonesian shipbuilder PT Lundin at its facility in Banyuwangi, East Java.

The 63 m Klewang-class features a wave-piercing trimaran design that allows the vessel to cut through waves and incorporates stealth features such as reduced acoustic, infrared, and magnetic signatures. The patrol craft is propelled by four MJP 550 water jets and can reach cruise and sprint speeds of 16 kt and 35 kt respectively.

The boats will be armed with four RBS15 Mk3 surface-to-surface missiles with active radar homing of up to 200 km and feature Saab's new Sea Giraffe 1X 3D compact radar, which will be mounted higher on the vessel's mast to increase coverage. The vessel's weapons and radar will be managed via Saab's 9LV Mk4 series combat management system (CMS), which incorporates the company's CEROS 200 air defence fire-control director.

Carlqvist also provided design updates, which include the integration of a Bofors 40 Mk4 (BAE Systems 40 mm Mk4) naval gun under a stealth cupola and a Saab electronic support measure (ESM) system that can intercept and identify the positions of mobile phone signals and radio calls.

"These will be very useful in counter piracy and illegal fishing missions where phone signals can be used as a target locator", said Carlqvist.

When asked of his opinion on the TNI-AL's consideration of operating up to 20 such vessels, Carlqvist said that the figure seems reasonable given that the Indonesian Navy has plans to increase its fleet by up to 200 ships by 2024. "Some of these might include the Klewang-class given its suitability for the archipelagic nature of Indonesia's maritime territories", he said.

The first Klewang-class vessel is expected to enter service by 2016.

http://www.janes.com/article/42052/indones...th-patrol-ships

Malaysia's Boustead posts Q2 increases

Jon Grevatt, Bangkok - IHS Jane's Defence Industry
13 August 2014
   
Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation (BHIC), one of Malaysia's biggest defence manufacturers, posted an increase in revenues and profit during the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2014, the company announced on 13 August.

In a statement on the Bursa Malaysia stock exchange, it said revenues during the quarter ending 30 June were MYR66.4 million (USD20.8 million), up 7% on the same period in 2013. Net profit increased 8.6% to MYR11.1 million.

Despite the increases, BHIC's managing director Tan Sri Ahmad Ramli Mohd Nor said defence sales were lower than expected and that growth was mainly due to commercial sectors.

However he added that growth is expected to pick up further in the second half of 2014 owing to several defence programmes, particularly the construction of six Second Generation Patrol Vessel/Littoral Combat Ships (SGPV-LCS) for the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), which is being undertaken by BHIC subsidiary Boustead Naval Shipyard (BNS) in collaboration with ship designer DCNS.

Industry sources said Gagah Samudera was now berthed at the RMN Hydrography Centre in Port Klang while Teguh Samudera reportedly remained at NGV Tech yard in Sinjangkang, Banting. Both ships are not expected to be commissioned this year. Gagah Samudera was launched on Dec 14, 2012 by Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor while Teguh Samudera launched by Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali on Feb 27, last year. Both were supposed to be commissioned within six months.

Here We Go Again…

It is not financial problem due to no money but a much more complicated then that
the last time I head that Bousted will took over these 2 ship

Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi roji'un  



2 maut, 4 parah kereta perisai ATM terbalik di Sandakan
 
SANDAKAN: Dua anggota tentera maut manakala empat lagi parah selepas sebuah kereta perisai milik Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) terbalik di Jalan Sungai Tiram, Batu 19, dekat sini, pagi tadi.

Dalam kejadian jam 11.40 pagi itu, dua mangsa meninggal dunia di tempat kejadian, manakala empat yang parah dihantar ke Hospital Duchess of Kent, di sini, untuk rawatan lanjut.

Dua anggota tentera yang maut ialah mohd Hanif Patahur Rahim, 31, dan Ahmad Fikri Mansor, 23.

Mereka bersama anggota yang cedera adalah dari Kem Batu 10 di Kuantan, Pahang yang bertugas di sini mengikut Kawasan Keselamatan Khas Pantai Timur Sabah (ESSCOM) mulai 15 Jun lalu hingga 15 September ini.

Difahamkan, ketika kejadian mereka dalam perjalanan pulang ke Kem Sri Kinabatangan selepas menjalankan rondaan keselamatan di sebuah resort di sini.

http://www.bharian.com.my/node/1448?a

Indonesia increases defence budget 14%

Jon Grevatt, Bangkok and Craig Caffrey, London - IHS Jane's Defence Industry
17 August 2014
   
Outgoing Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has announced a 2015 defence budget of INR95 trillion (USD8.1 billion), a year-on-year increase of 14%.

The proportion of GDP that defence has been allocated in 2015 remains relatively low at about 0.8% and the budget increase mainly reflects Indonesia's continuing economic expansion (estimated at about 5.7% in 2014).

Yudhoyono, who will step down in October to make way for president-elect Joko Widodo, said in his annual budget speech on 15 August that the military expenditure will be directed at continuing the modernisation of the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) and consequently the country's defence industrial base.

SAM dan SSM dah finalized

tak dapek gak Aster 

just rubbish talk,  Formidable Class only 3200 tons.  Gowind already 3000 tons，easy install 32 vls, not only sylver vls, event mk41 vls alos no problem.  VLS no issue install small ship, event 600 tons ship.

usually navy should install all 16/32 Vls launcher first, but missile can buy later , i means can buy few like 8 pcs missile, remaining VLS slot keep empty and easy to install missile went got budget.  i can tell u went RMN already decide 8 vls, for next 20 year will never upgrade anymore. 
just totally sad the weapon configuration.... and Spec, just no future mind set.

Singapore launches new urban live-firing training facility

Kelvin Wong, Singapore - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
18 August 2014


Singapore's newly-launched Murai Urban Live-Firing Facility enables the Singapore Armed Forces to expand the scope of urban operations training for its troops. Source: IHS/Kelvin Wong

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has inaugurated a new training complex which enables the army to simulate mounted assault and close-quarter combat simultaneously in an urban environment using live ammunition.

The new complex, called the Murai Urban Live-Firing Facility (MULFAC), is at Singapore's Lim Chu Kang live firing area on the western edge of the island. It was officially opened by Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen on 14 August.

MULFAC, which was designed by the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) in partnership with the SAF, comprises five single- and double-storey urban operations (UO) training buildings, a hand grenade training room, and an after-action review facility, spread over an area the approximate size of three football fields.

It also incorporates a number of firebases designed to enable motorised platforms - such as the army's 8x8 Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV) - and dismounted troops to provide suppressive fire with live ammunition of up to 7.62 mm in calibre and Matador light support weapon training munitions at the exterior of the buildings. Troops can also fire from building-to-building in support of assaulting forces.

Each UO training building is lined with blocks made from a proprietary material called Ballistic Absorbing Concrete (BAC) on the exterior facades and in each room inside the buildings, which soaks up discharged rounds to prevent backsplash and ricochets. The BAC blocks are designed to be easily replaced and are inspected every two weeks for serviceability.


The new facility also enables SAF troops to hone mounted assault techniques. Replaceable blocks made from ballistic absorbing material line the exterior and interior of the training buildings, allowing troops to fire live rounds with minimal risk to safety. (IHS/Kelvin Wong)

According to the SAF, MULFAC features a comprehensive suite of combat instrumentation which is interfaced to soldier tactical systems such as the Advanced Combat Man System (ACMS) to provide precise command-and-control of the troops within the complex. It is also equipped with up to 30 high-definition video cameras installed across the five UO training buildings, which capture and record each training mission for review after each session. The instrumentation suite also enables instructors to monitor safety during live-fire training missions and enables them to adjust mission parameters to suit conditions in real-time.

A fully-enclosed room that enables troops to employ live fragmentation grenades before forced entry is expected to be completed in December 2014.

Speaking to media during the launch, an SAF spokesperson said MULFAC would increase the training of SAF troops in UO environments by "up to 60%" from its existing curriculum.

"We envisage that the modern battlefield is going to be fought in a dense urban environment, so the army is transforming into an urban capable force," said Brigadier General Chiang Hock Woon, chief infantry officer and commander of the army's 9th division.

"For urban live firing, close co-ordination and precise shooting are critical components for a successful mission," he added. "So MULFAC comes in as a very useful facility to train our soldiers realistically for operations which they will be put into."

Besides MULFAC, the SAF also operates the Murai Urban Training Facility (MUFT) and Multi-Mission Range Centre (MMRC). The MUFT is a purpose-built UO training facility of 200 pre-fabricated buildings, which enables the SAF to conduct large-scale training exercises between multiple infantry units with air support elements from the air force. However, it does not support live firing and employs laser-based battlefield and urban instrumentation systems instead. The MMRC is an indoor live-firing facility with 50 m and 100 m ranges, which also includes a number of reconfigurable rooms for UO training, albeit for only one infantry section of seven troops at a time.