well having is better than not having

Pfftt...nonsense....more likely will be used to ferry stuff around the archipelago, seeing how scarce Navy ships actually are in the Pinoy Navy.

Unless they plan to ground these ships on the shoals also, they aren't exactly in any position to strengthen anything in the Spratlys.

quite cute product Dahir Insaat

Airbus restructures A400M programme over production delays

30 January 2015

Airbus Defence and Space has announced plans to restructure the A400M Atlas aircraft programme amid increasing criticism from the European governments over production delays.

The A400M programme covers supply of 174 aircraft to seven Nato member countries, namely Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, and Turkey.

Only 11 aircraft have been delivered to date, including six to France, one to Germany, while the UK and Turkey each received two airlifters, after production delays, cost overruns, and technical faults.

As part of the restructuring, Airbus has transferred A400M industrial activities to its Operations unit, which is led by Pilar Albiac-Murillo.

However, programme-related activities, such as development and customer deliveries, will continue to be overseen by Rafael Tentor-led military aircraft business unit.

The move follows the resignation of Airbus Defence and Space military aircraft division head Domingo Urena-Raso, who led the troubled A400M programme since 2009.

"Airbus will do its utmost to overcome problems with integration of military capabilities so the customers receive the aircraft they need in the shortest time possible."

The resignation comes as German politicians asked Airbus managers to justify the delays to the Parliament, which they argue have damaged the company's reputation, as reported by The New York Times.

In addition, Turkey and France are believed to have expressed concerns on the ongoing problems associated with the project.

Airbus chief executive officer Bernhard Gerwert will serve as interim head of the division until 1 March, when Fernando Alonso, who is currently the head of Airbus flight test operations, would take over the responsibility.

Gerwert said the current aircraft in service are showing good performance and have also been deployed in military operations, but conceded that the company has failed to perform at the expected level in integration of military capabilities and the industrial ramp-up.

Gerwert said: "That is unacceptable and we will fix that. We are fully conscious of how dependent the customer nations are on this new airlifter and therefore take their concerns very seriously.

"We will do our utmost to overcome them so the customers receive the aircraft they need in the shortest time possible.

"I expect that the new team will rapidly address existing shortfalls in the most efficient way."

Airbus said: "The military capabilities consisting of aerial delivery, cargo handling system, defensive aids subsystems (DASS), and air-to-air refuelling with pods will be integrated in the second half of 2015, following certification and qualification for each capability.

"Additional military capabilities will be integrated gradually up until 2018, as contractually agreed.

"We are continuing our intense and constructive discussion with OCCAR and the customer nations regarding the delivery schedule, and will communicate on this once those have been concluded."

US Army negotiating new AH-64 Apache agreement with Boeing

30 January 2015



The US Army is reportedly in talks with Boeing regarding a new multi-year agreement for the acquisition of an additional 240 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters from 2017 to 2021.

US Army Apache programme manager Colonel Jeff Hager was quoted by Reuters as saying that army acquisition chief Heidi Shyu recently signed a document for the two sides to start work on an agreement, with the aim of receiving approval from the defence secretary by March 2016.

Boeing attack helicopters business development head Mark Ballew said it could include options for foreign military sales of 100 Apaches.

The US Government has already approved Apache sales to Qatar and Indonesia, Ballew added, noting that the helicopter has also drawn interest from other countries.

According to Reuters, lawmakers generally ask military services to demonstrate significant savings compared to the cost of negotiating purchases on a year-by-year basis.

Boeing attack helicopter programmes vice-president Kim Smith said: "We at Boeing have been doing our part to leave no stone unturned."

"We at Boeing have been doing our part to leave no stone unturned."

Meanwhile, Pentagon chief arms buyer Frank Kendall reportedly told the House Armed Services Committee that he favoured multi-year agreements because they allow programme managers to focus on performance, rather than annual contract negotiations.

Powered by two GE T700-701D engines, the AH-64 Apache is primarily used for distributed operations and deep precision strikes against relocatable targets. It can also provide armed reconnaissance when required in day, night, obscured battlefield and adverse weather conditions.

It is used by US, Greece, Japan, Israel, the Netherlands and Singapore.

(Credit to nenekgudel)

Indonesian Air Force Paskhas Oerlikon Skyshield.

German CH-148 Cyclone proposal.

This thing super expensive

German CH-148 Cyclone proposal.

If I'm not mistaken there's an older Air defense system called Oerlikon 'Skyguard' right? It has 2x 35mm autocannons, a surveillance/fire control radar & a launcher for 4 Sparrow or Aspide SAM missiles. Looks very good for short/medium range air defense.

Wonder why we never got the system? We're using Oerlikon 35mm just fine.

MANILA, Philippines—Two people were killed after a plane crashed Saturday morning into the sea off Nasugbu town in Batangas, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said.

CAAP said an SF260, an Italian aircraft of the Philippine Airforce (PAF), which was on a training flight, crashed in Batangas past 9 a.m.

The PAF, meanwhile, confirmed that one of its instructor pilots and a student died after its aircraft crashed 300 meters off the shore of Nasugbu.

The PAF said recovered bodies of the pilots would be brought to the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City.

PAF added that it would not disclose the names of the fatalities until their next of kin have been informed.

I thought according to wiki Malaysia already operates 28 Oerlikon Skyguard GDF-003 units.

saw the gun before..
but never seen the radar system for the skyguard like this below

saw the gun before..
but never seen the radar system for the skyguard like this below

Or is it just the guns without the radars?

We do have the skyguard radar system



But the system itself is kinda outdated in present day warfare, only useful for low-level air defence
Any cheap manpads nowadays is more superior than a battery of a skyguard..

nvr seen the radar during exhibition, only the gun 
Plus, i dont think we have the missile version.. nvr see before either

well, i would say the fire control system is outdated 80s system.. i doubt it can defend against fast moving target even with the radar system
But it still useful, the guns can be manually operated   

Put on top, hicom 4x4 truck and shoot around 

or ada budget can modernise it with better fire control system