8 Things We are NOT Getting in RMK11

Marhalim Abas July 8, 2015

SHAH ALAM: BEFORE we start, let me say that this is not the official RMK11 Dump list. Its just the Malaysian Defence’s Eight Things We Are Not Getting in RMK11.

Why eight? Because eight is supposed to be a lucky number. Further more I am pretty sure the eight items listed here are not in the RMK11 list even though I have not gotten any official confirmation.

Whether or not the items here will remained unfunded in RMK11 depends on other issues of course – mostly monetary and political considerations. As it is the principal author of RMK11 – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has come under tremendous pressure recently.

The pressure had ratcheted up a notch over the weekend following the publication of claims that he pocketed billions of ringgit from 1MDB.

And with the country’s ringgit coming under pressure following the crisis in Europe (apart from the low prices of oil and other commodities) one have to wonder whether there will be enough funds for RMK11 for the things that got approved.

The blame for all of the troubles facing the country is of course according to the critics, lies with the PM. So much so that the word among the political circles are that big changes are scheduled to take place after Hari Raya or perhaps even sooner.

Whether or not this will happened or whether the change will boost the country’s fortunes we will have to wait and see.

BTW, please do not get confused and state that the list below are the things we are getting in RMK11. This is the things we are NOT getting in RMK11.

1) MRCA
It is obvious is’nt? Spending at least RM5 billion for a bunch of fighters is a huge political decision for any country. And the politician making decision must have some solid backing either politically or security wise.

With our Defence Minister stating that the threats we faced currently and in the near future are bunch of guys from Mindanao and the IS, clearly there is no political will to fund the programme.

Despite the political put down, the MRCA remained a priority of the Armed Forces and the Royal Malaysian Air Force specifically. It is because of this there is persistent talk about the possibility of a special allocation to fund the MRCA programme. I have heard about that before and I do not make much about it. If they didn’t think it is important enough for RMK10 or 11, why should they do it outside of it?

For the record, RMAF has shortlisted four aircraft for the MRCA programme, the Boeing Super Hornet, Dassault Radfale, Eurofighter Typhoon and the Saab Gripen. All the candidates are the latest variant, the F Super Hornet, Rafale F35, Tranche 3 Typhoon and the Gripen NG.

It is unclear however whether funds will be available as a stop-gap measure either through leasing or the procurement and upgrade of second hand fighters. As I had mentioned previously, both the Typhoon and Gripen have offered the option as part of a lease and buy programme.

As for the possible procurement and upgrade plan, Kuwait is expected to sign on either the Typhoon or Super Hornet in the near future which will allow it retire around 40 legacy Hornets, single and dual seaters. These Hornets is expected to be available around 2018, however. And due to the current operations in Yemen, their flight hours are much higher than in the past.

Will funds be reinstated if there is a change of leadership. Unlikely.

2) MIG29 Upgrade
With no upgrade funded, RMAF Fulcrum will just fade away. There will not be any celebration or farewell party however. The current political situation dictates it.

When will the aircraft be retired then? As I had reported before (gone now) the RMAF will crossed the bridge once it gets there. The former RMAF chief had stated previously that the Fulcrums will retire by the end of 2015, which his successor declined to confirm nor deny whether they will abide by it.

The Fulcrum upgrade however is the obvious choice for reinstatement in RMK11 if there is a change in the country’s top leadership in the near future (if it happens of course).

It will be very costly to upgrade the Fulcrum if the decision is made to continue flying them is made at the last moment, however.

3) Missile Corvettes

Daewoo Shipbulding & Marine Engineering Ltd (DSME) created a lot of stir in late 2014 when it was reported that the company had got an order for six Missile Corvettes from the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN).

According to the report, three vessels will be built and assembled in South Korea starting from January 2018 while the rest will be block built in South Korea and assembled in Malaysia with DSME’s cooperation.

I subsequently reported that DSME actually signed the deal with the local company, NMEL Sdn Bhd, which look very much like a successor to NGV Tech Sdn Bhd, the failed builder of RMN’s two training ships.

In the same report I also stated that if the funding for the missile corvettes in RMK11 was secured, the deal was a foregone conclusion. I must state now that I was told that there is no funding for missile corvettes in RMK11.

Apparently RMN has to cope with the current situation in South China Sea with its current fleet and the LCS. The only saving grace is that the SLEP for Jebat and Lekiu as well as the Laksamanas have been funded.

Could the missile corvettes be re-instated if there is changes to the RMK11? Perhaps, I am pretty sure RMN will welcome it though.

4) MRSS
The MRSS programme was supposed to be funded back in RMK10. Heck they even started – NGV Tech Sdn Bhd the preferred builder – building a shipyard in Bagan Datuk, Perak for the project. BUt the economic downturn around 2010 (yes we have many of those) put paid to that hopes. It was also the coup the grace for NGV Tech, which went belly up even before finishing up the two training ships for RMN.

The MRSS was put up again for RMK11 considerations again this year, however it failed to be funded. I guess we have to wait for the LCS project to be completed before the MRSS programme will get any funds.

Well what about the China made LPD which Malaysian Defence wrote about in April? As the project comes under a PFI scheme of course there is no need to list it in RMK11.

In fact, I believed the PFI proposal was one of the reason the MRSS programme failed to make the cut for RMK11. Anyhow, it appears that the RMN has little interest in any of the proposals involving China either ship building or systems sourcing.

With the backers of the proposal coming from one side of the political divide, any changes to the leadership will severely dent such hopes. Furthermore with China’s stand on Gugusan Semarang Peninjau, any deal with the republic’s state owned arms manufacturers – cheap or not – will faced strong headwinds.

TO be continued…

Bonefish tested in indonesia

10 June 2015

At Indo Expo, Indonesia's largest exhibition of defence equipment, Saab unveiled a concept for a new unmanned surface vessel equipped with advanced radar, sensors and communications systems.

The vessel, the Bonefish, has been developed by Saab and the Indonesian shipbuilder PT Lundin. PT Lundin is responsible for the platform, while Saab has developed the steering control system and other subsystems associated with its special requirements.

When it comes to operations, the Bonefish will be a true multi-purpose vessel. For example, it can be used for patrol, surveillance, search and rescue and environmental protection work.

“Bonefish will be tested for a year. Then we will evaluate whether to take the next step to launch the product,” says Peter Carlqvist, Head of Saab Indonesia.

'Tun Azizan' Mobile Naval Base Deployed To Sabah - Navy Chief

KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 (Bernama) -- The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has deployed the mobile naval base ship, Tun Azizan, to the Sulu Sea, in the Sabah eastern zone, as a measure to tighten security control of the country's territorial waters.

RMN chief, Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar said the ship could move and be anchored at any convenient location to be used as a forward operating base.

"This is a strategy to combat or overcome any situation that can harm our waters," he told reporters at a breaking-of-fast function held at KD Sri Gombak, Jalan Padang Tembak, here, today.

The Tun Azizan ship project was undertaken by Petronas, along with MISC Bhd and Malaysia Marine Heavy Engineering (MMHE) to change an abandoned cargo ship into a mobile sea base in November 2014.

It is the first such naval base in Malaysia and Southeast Asia which can accommodate 99 passengers, with facilities such as lodging, food storage, laundry room, operations and communications room, power generation, air- conditioning system and clean water supply, in addition to military equipment and infrastructure.

Besides Tun Azizan, the navy also plans to construct the Tun Sharifah Rodziah naval base which will be equipped with interceptor boats, autonomous underwater vehicles, helicopters and Quick Reaction Force troops. It is expected to be commissioned this August.

Abdul Aziz also said that about 5,000 RMN personnel would be on duty during the Aidilfitri festive period this year.

-- BERNAMA

Air Force studies new cargo aircraft

Jakarta | National | Wed, July 08 2015, 10:19 AM

Air Force commander Air Marshal Agus Supriatna says the Air Force has conducted a comprehensive study of the latest types of cargo aircraft to replace the aging Hercules fleet and is now waiting for the government’s decision.

“We have already conducted a study but it will all depend on the government. We’ve honestly asked for the newest and most numerous in number. They are available from France’s Airbus, from the US and from Russia,” he said at the Indonesian Military (TNI) Headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta on Tuesday.

He had submitted the study’s results to the Defense Ministry and the choice would depend on the ministry.

Spokesperson for the Defense Ministry Brig. Gen. Jundan Eko Bintoro said the Hercules aircraft would be replaced by the Airbus A400M wide-body aircraft from France or the Boeing C-17 wide-body aircraft from the US.

“The wide-body aircraft is the latest product and it has been agreed that we will procure the latest. The procurement will likely be conducted from 2016 until 2018,” he said as quoted Antara news agency. (rms)(++++)

Wednesday, 08 July, 2015 | 19:30 WIB

New Military Commander to Reinforce Navy and Air Force

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Newly inaugurated military commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo said that he would reinforce Indonesian Air Force and Navy in a bid to support President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's vision of turning Indonesia into a maritime axis.

According to Gatot, Indonesia has no other alternative except for developing and strengthening its Navy and Air Force to secure its future.

"Therefore, the country would be monitored and secured. We need to act fast," Gatot said at the State Palace on Wednesday, July 08, 2015.

Gatot explained that one way to realize the vision was to improve the primary weaponry defense system (Alutsista) of the Airforce and the Navy.

"For instance, procuring new ships and upgrading radars to improve the defense," Gatot added.

Earlier, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo at the State Palace inaugurated Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo as the new military commander succeeding Gen. Moeldoko. The inauguration was conducted following House of Representatives' approval on July 1, 2015.

REZA ADITYA

New article is up on Malaysian Defence..looks like we are getting MPA, light scout attack heli as well as ASW heli for RMK 11.

Source

(From left) Destini Prima Sdn Bhd CEO Tunku Johan Tunku Mansur, Destini Prima Sdn Bhd Executive Director Kabol Surat (Rtd), Chief of Armed Forces Malaysia General Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin, Regional Director of Southeast Asia / Vice President, International Business Development of Malaysia and Indonesia, Boeing Defense, Space & Security Yeong Tae (YT) Pak in a signing ceremony to explore potential opportunities for Destini Prima to provide services and support for Boeing's AH-6i helicopter. Pic courtesy of Boeing

India Eyes Air-Borne Early Warning And Control System Export To Indonesia

Source : Our Bureau ~ Dated : Monday, July 13, 2015 @ 08:40 AM

India is in talks with Indonesia to export indigenously-made Air Borne Early Warning and Control System (AEWAC).

“The AEWAC exports would be the first major export of defense systems from India under Prime Minister led government and the move fits into the government’s push to reduce import of weapon systems and increase exports,” Dr Christopher Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Director General told NDTV Monday.

“The government has clearly told us that expect technology and system that fall in the strategic we are free to export,” Dr Christopher said.

On being asked how he rated the Indian Private sector and its contribution to defense research and development, Dr Christopher said that for Make in India to be successful in defense systems with the private sector taking the lead “there is need to hand hold” the private companies. Development of defense systems is time consuming and costly. “The government could consider a fund to help out the private sector,” he said.

World | Tue Jul 14, 2015 10:23am BST

Indonesia to retire military aircraft over 30 years old - minister

JAKARTA
Indonesia will decommission all military aircraft more than 30 years old, the defence minister said on Tuesday, as part of a push to modernise is fleet after the crash of an air force plane killed about 140 people last month.

Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu declined to give details about how many aircraft would be retired or how much would be spent procuring new equipment.

"We have equipment that is 30, 40, 50 years old, planes and helicopters ... and we want to replace those with better aircraft," Ryacudu told reporters after meeting the president in the capital, Jakarta.

President Joko Widodo has pledged to nearly double defence spending from 0.8 percent of gross domestic product, which is among the lowest rates of spending in the region, by 2020.

An air force Hercules C-130B transport plane carrying 122 people crashed into in the city of Medan on June 30, killing all on board and some people on the ground.

The U.S.-made aircraft went into service nearly 50 years ago.

the ships 

World | Mon Jul 13, 2015 9:26pm EDT

Exclusive: Philippines reinforcing rusting ship on Spratly reef outpost - sources

MANILA | By Manuel Mogato

The Philippine navy is quietly reinforcing the hull and deck of a rusting ship it ran aground on a disputed South China Sea reef in 1999 to stop it breaking apart, determined to hold the shoal as Beijing creates a string of man-made islands nearby.

Using wooden fishing boats and other small craft, the navy has run the gauntlet of the Chinese coastguard to move cement, steel, cabling and welding equipment to the BRP Sierra Madre since late last year, two navy officers who have been inside the vessel told Reuters in recent interviews.

The 100 meter-long (330-foot) tank landing ship was built for the U.S. Navy during World War Two. It was eventually transferred to the Philippine navy, which deliberately grounded it on Second Thomas Shoal to mark Manila's claim to the reef in the Spratly archipelago of the South China Sea. A small contingent of Philippine soldiers are stationed onboard.

Manila regards Second Thomas Shoal, which lies 105 nautical miles (195 km) southwest of the Philippine region of Palawan, as being within its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone. China, which claims virtually all the South China Sea, says the reef is part of its territory.

"We know China has been waiting for the ship to disintegrate but we are doing everything to hold it together," said one of the officers, adding that while the work was progressing slowly, it should be finished by the year-end.

The other naval officer said welding was being done at night because of the heat. Concrete foundations were being laid inside the ship's hull to try to stabilize it, he added.

Without giving exact dates, both sources said they witnessed the repairs taking place earlier this year. They declined to be identified because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

The soldiers currently stationed on the ship, who are demolition experts, were doing the work, said the second source.

Just to the west of Second Thomas Shoal is Mischief Reef, one of seven coral formations in the Spratlys that China is rapidly turning into islands that Beijing says will have undefined military purposes.

Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also have overlapping claims to the Spratly waterway, which is some 1,100 km (680 miles) from the Chinese mainland.

RUSTING OUTPOST

Asked about the repairs, Philippine Foreign Ministry spokesman Charles Jose declined to comment. But such work would not violate an informal code of conduct signed in 2002 by China and Southeast Asian states that prohibited any change to the status quo in disputed areas, he said.

"In our view, repairs and maintenance of existing facilities are allowed ... especially if such repairs and maintenance work are for the safety of our personnel and safety of navigation," Jose added.

The Philippine Defense Ministry declined to comment.

China's Defense and Foreign Ministries did not respond to a request for comment.

A Philippine general familiar with the repairs told Reuters the ship's hull and deck were being strengthened, and air-conditioning units added.

"We are improving the living quarters inside, to make life for our soldiers more comfortable," he said, declining to give further details about the repairs or be identified.

Pictures taken by a Reuters photographer who sailed to the BRP Sierra Madre with other media in March last year show a pockmarked vessel covered in rust, sitting on the permanently submerged reef but listing slightly to one side. Much of the boat's hull is visible.

BUT STILL ON ACTIVE DUTY

Besides being a military outpost, the BRP Sierra Madre is also a commissioned Philippine navy ship.

That means Manila could request U.S. military assistance under a decades-old security treaty with Washington if the ship was attacked, said senior Philippine military officials.

"Even if it's covered with rust, it will remain an active duty commissioned navy ship. It's a symbol of our sovereignty," said the Philippine general.

Second Thomas Shoal illustrates the mismatch in power between the Philippines and China.

Since the start of 2014, the Philippine navy's regular attempts to re-supply soldiers on the BRP Sierra Madre with food and water have become a cat-and-mouse routine, with large Chinese coastguard vessels on patrol in the area trying to block the path of the smaller Philippine boats, naval officials said.

The Philippine vessels have always gotten through by making a run for the shoal's shallow waters, which aren't deep enough for the Chinese coastguard, naval officials said. The tear-shaped shoal itself is large, some 10-11 nautical miles from top to bottom.

Zhang Baohui, a mainland security expert at Hong Kong's Lingnan University, said Beijing would be angry about the repairs, adding that Chinese ships would probably continue their "menacing" tactics. But they would not do anything that could be considered an act of war, Zhang said.

"The larger geo-strategic context is more important than Second Thomas Shoal," he said.

Philippine News Agency - July 17, 2015

Navy’s armed AW-109Es undergo final procedure prior to commissioning

The Philippine Navy (PN)’s two armed AgustaWestland AW-109Es are now undergoing “technical inspection and assessment.” This includes the airframe and weapon systems. Weapon systems of the AW-109Es consist of rocket and machine gun mounts.

Technical inspection and assessment is the final procedure before the aircraft is accepted and commissioned with the Naval Air Group.

The latter will determine whether there are any defects or deficiencies in the AW-109Es.

The last two AW-109E airframes arrived in the Philippines last December 2014.

This is part of the five-helicopter deal, worth Php1.33-billion, signed by the Philippines with AgustaWestland in early 2013.

Three of the AW-109s were delivered and commissioned in Dec. 22, 2013.

8 Things We are Not Getting for RMK11, Part II

Marhalim Abas
July 20, 2015

SHAH ALAM: This is the second installment of the Things We Are Not Getting for RMK11. If you did not read the first part go Here.

5) Attack Helicopters

Attack helicopters have been in the Army’s procurement sights since the early 90s. Infact back in 1997 we signed on for six Denel Rooivalk attack helicopters. But the deal was scuttled less than a year later due to regional economic crisis.

Since then the AH requirement stayed in the wings even as the Army’s Air Wing, the PUTD, started sending pilots to France for hands-on training on the Airbus Helicopter Tiger. Following the Lahad Datu incursion, the AH requirement were dusted off and it was generally believed it was just a matter of time before the helicopters are procured.

Unfortunately, although it was announced in Parliament that the Army had requested funding for six AH in RMK11, no allocation was approved. Instead a light scout attack helicopter in the class of the Little Birds was approved.

6) AEW

Like many of the items listed, the AEW requirement has been in the books for sometime now. However it had failed to be listed or funded during successive RMKs. For RMK11, I was informed that the AEW programme had not been approved.

It was expected as I had reported industry sources before as saying that the AEW programme will be funded ahead of the MRCA. With the MRCA’s KIVed so did the AEW.

7) SPH

It was supposed to be the high-noon whether wheeled or tracked will prevail in the Army’s long standing requirement for a SPH battalion. In the end neither won as yet again the requirement remained unfunded.

The wheel SPH is of course the Nexter Caesar which is already in service with the Indonesian and Thai armies. The tracked SPH is the Samsung Techwin K9 Thunder.

Both have their merits of course, the wheeled Caesar is more mobile of the two. However, the Thunder is better suited to be part of the Army’s Armour brigade which is probably the reason for the SPH requirement in the first place. Personally I prefer the BAE Systems Archer SPH. I am not sure whether the system was offered for the Army’s requirement though.

8) more Cougars

Since entry into service, RMAF Airbus Helicopters H225M Cougars have seen sterling service from flood relief operations to special forces support. Although more Cougars were expected to be procured in RMK11, it was left of the RMAF wish list.

According to RMAF Jen Tan Sri Roslan Saad that due to the tight budget situation the request for more Cougars had been dropped from its RMK11 list (From Malaysian Defence RMAF 57th anniversary). For RMK11, Cougars based in Labuan will be armed with FN MAG machine guns.

However as reported previously, industry sources told Malaysian Defence that for RMK11 funding for a number of heavy lift helicopters had been approved. According to them it will either be the Sikorsky MH-53E or the Boeing CH-47 Chinook. Both are expected to be second hand birds from the US.

the only thing that interested me right now is the SGPV and av8 related news, like cant wait to see av8 with LCT30 ATGW on the road and SGPV final decision on VLS system(i know Janes.com said we chose vl mica but no confirmation coming out from RMN, Janes also said the samething in regard to exocet block 3 but look at the end we chose nsm)

edit;- just read on malaysian defence there might be a budget approved on heavy lift heli likes the chinook, at least something new to cheer on if it true

LIMA 2015: Malaysia selects NSM, VL Mica for littoral combat ships

Dzirhan Mahadzir, Kuala Lumpur - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
22 March 2015

The Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile (NSM) anti-ship missile and MBDA VL Mica point defence missile system will equip Malaysia's Second Generation Patrol Vessel - Littoral Combat Ship (SGPV-LCS), Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) sources have told IHS Jane's , although the selection of both systems is awaiting final confirmation by the Malaysian government.

The choice of the two systems reflects a compromise between the RMN and the Malaysian government, which had been sparring over the choice of guided weapon systems for the SGPV-LCS programme since 2012.

Following receipt of a letter of award (LoA) in December 2011, Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Malaysia's BHIC group, was in July 2014 awarded a MYR9 billion (USD2.4 billion) contract for the design and construction of the six SGPV-LCS vessels. The contract is to be implemented over three Malaysia Plans: 10, 11 and 12.

The SGPV-LCS is based on the DCNS Gowind 2500 corvette design. However, while source selections have been completed for most combat system equipment, final decisions on the choice of anti-air and anti-ship missiles have been delayed by differences between the navy and the government.

The RMN had originally recommended Raytheon's RIM-162 Evolved Seasparrow Missile (ESSM) for the surface-to-air missile requirement and NSM for the anti-ship missile requirement. These were selected following evaluation against MBDA's VL Mica and MM40 Block 3 Exocet missiles.

However, the Malaysian government directed that VL Mica should be chosen, to simplify integration on the Gowind design (which will use DCNS' Setis combat management system). In the case of the Exocet the RMN already uses the missile, so selection would simplify logistical support.

RMN sources said the navy had argued that ESSM and NSM offered better performance against operational criteria. In the case of the NSM, the RMN argued it did not want to be over-reliant on the Exocet, which has long been in service globally and of which the capabilities are familiar to many navies operating in the region.

Systems already contracted for since the LoA award in 2011 include the DCNS SETIS combat management system, Thales SMART-S Mk 2 3-D multibeam radar, Rheinmetall's TMEO Mk 2 TMX/electro-optical (EO) radar/EO tracking and fire control system, and a Thales CAPTAS-2 variable depth sonar.

Weapons systems include BAE Systems' 57 mm Mk 3 naval gun (housed in a reduced radar cross section cupola), two MSI-Defence Seahawk 30 mm guns, and two J+S triple tube torpedo launcher systems.

The RMN's current planning schedule calls for sea trials in 2018 and entry into service in 2019 for the first SGPV-LCS ship, which has yet to be officially named.

Indonesian defense budget expected to reach US$20.4 billion by 2020, at a CAGR of 16.44%

Press Release  •  Jul 21, 2015 13:49 IST

The Future of the Indonesian Defense Industry - Market Attractiveness, Competitive Landscape and Forecasts to 2020 published by Strategic Defence Intelligence, provides readers with a detailed analysis of both historic and forecast Indonesian defense industry values, factors influencing demand, the challenges faced by industry participants, analysis of industry leading companies, and key news.

Key Findings

- The Indonesian defense market, estimated to value US$9.5 billion in 2015, is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16.44% during the forecast period to value US$20.4 billion in 2020

- The countrys increasing military expenditure is reflected in the ongoing modernization drive to replace its aging military hardware along with building its indigenous defense industrial base

- Continuous territorial disputes and the countrys vulnerability to natural disasters have led to the upgrade of military equipment such as military transport aircraft, rescue helicopters, and naval vessels

- Over the forecast period, the country is expected to invest in infrastructure construction, multi-role aircraft, submarines, cyber security, border security, unmanned aerial vehicles, radar systems and computer network defense capabilities, which will drive the growth in its capital expenditure

- Homeland security is an area that has gained prominence in Indonesia over the last decade, with expenditure expected to increase from US$5.2 billion in 2016 to US$6.3 billion in 2020 at a CAGR of 4.91%

Russian Su-35 Fighter Jet Sees Export Orders Soar

RUSSIA 19:42 26.07.2015 (updated 19:29 26.07.2015)

The Sukhoi Su-35 is set to follow in the wake of the Soviet Union's legendary Su-27 and Su-30 fighter jets in becoming a major military export.

Negotiations for the export of the Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jet are coming to fruition, with orders from buyers in South American and Asian countries expected to be agreed upon in the near future, sources close to talks on the export of the aircraft have told military correspondent Ilya Kramnik.

The Sukhoi Su-35 fighter is a single-seat twin-engine super-maneuverable multirole fighter, built by the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association in Russia's Far East and designed by Sukhoi, which has a contract to deliver 48 of the planes to the Russian Air Force before the end of 2015.

The Su-35 is known as a 4++ generation aircraft, which employs fifth generation technology, rendering it superior to other fourth generation fighters currently under development. The Su-35 is also a more reliable option than other fifth generation planes which are in their development phase, the best known of which are the US F-35, the Chinese J-20, and the Sukhoi PAK-FA [T-50].

The PAK-FA is due to finish testing and enter into production in 2016, after which 55 PAK-FA jets will be delivered to the Russian Air Force.  

The Su-35, currently the Russian Air Force's most advanced fighter, first caught the eye of buyers and the public at the Paris Air Show in June 2013, where pilots displayed the aircraft's impressive acrobatic capabilities, including the Pugachev Cobra maneuver.

Writing in Lenta.ru, Kramnik reports that the sticking point between the Russian and Chinese negotiators over the size of the order is nearing a resolution, and expects a compromise order of 24 fighters for China's Air Force.

According to Kramnik, Russian negotiators, originally seeking to export a larger order of 48 planes, are also negotiating safeguards in the event that China makes a copy of its plane, as was the case with its Su-27 fighter jet, which was copied by the Chinese J-11 jet.

Other potential buyers include Pakistan and Brazil, with Kramnik also referring to figures from manufacturer Polet, which makes parts for the Su-35, showing increased production of its onboard system in order to fulfil orders for a total of 60 aircraft from Vietnam, Venezuela and Indonesia.

The Su-35 is a successor to the Su-30, a two-seater fighter which entered into service in 1996 and has been exported to militaries in South America, Asia and Africa, with the biggest orders coming from China, which operates more than 100 of the jets, and India, where 200 are in service.

The Indian Air Force revealed the enhanced capabilities of the Su-30 in a 2004 training exercise between the US and India; Indian pilots in the Su-30 were able to outmaneuver the US F-15s and win more than 90 percent of the mock air engagements conducted during the exercise.

my statement base on current progress on both ship. on paper pkr sigma comparable to gowind. but in reality pkr sigma could end up like ngpv kedah class. unless u can link me official LOA for their armament.

Egypt Likely to Order Two More Gowind Corvettes‏

Source : Our Bureau ~ Dated : Monday, July 27, 2015 @ 03:13 PMViews : 206 A- A A+

France is initiating negotiations with Egypt on buying two more Gowind Corvettes.

French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian visited Cairo last weekend. A French diplomat said after a meeting between Le Drian and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi “there is a bid for two more corvettes; the discussions are ongoing."

Egypt has already signed a contract with the French company DCNS to receive four Gowind-class corvettes in a USD $1.1-billion deal.

The request for more vessels came days after Cairo took delivery of three of the 24 Rafale fighter jets it bought from Paris for USD $5.9 billion, various media reported Saturday. Egypt has been the first country to buy the warplanes.

France’s increased sale of military equipment to Egypt comes against the backdrop of incessant efforts by Paris to broaden its presence in the Middle East military equations.

The socialist government of President Francois Hollande has already sealed deals with Saudi Arabia for delivering weapons worth more than USD $12 billion.

Egypt said that it wants the jets and warships to improve its military capability in dealing with rising threats from an unstable Libya and also the militancy in its northern Sinai Peninsula.