China hosted the US Navy representatives earlier this week, the country's media reported on Wednesday, amid growing concern that territorial disputes in the South China Sea are leading Beijing and Washington toward conflict.

The 27-member delegation boarded the Liaoning, China's largest warship, on Monday to discuss with Chinese officials such topics as personnel training, medical support and strategies in aircraft carrier development, the Chinese navy's official blog reported.

The following day, US officials visited the navy's submarine academy.

Boatmaker CTruk, which builds wind farm service vessels, has launched a prototype craft for the military based on THOR, aka the Twin Hulled Offshore Raider.

THOR can be configured for a range of military and security tasks like assault and force transport. There are also riverine and coastal patrol options as well as a fire support configuration. THOR could also deploy on tasks like mine countermeasures and interdiction.  The key is that one vessel can take on a range of roles by being highly adaptable.

These new vessels can be extended to a length of 72 feet and features a patented flexible pod system. The pod system means it can be re-configured in less than 8 hours.

Passenger or other specialist pods can be fitted. The deckhouse can be moved to free up additional deck space.

THOR has a catamaran hull that will also form the foundation of the new military variant. Made from advanced composite materials, the company uses a resin infusion composite construction process to reduce weight and ensure an enhanced hydrodynamic shape.

For propulsion, the vessel leverages water jets. Alternative propulsion can also be fitted out.

ADEX 2015: Saab unveils new AESA for fighter aircraft

James Hardy, Seoul - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
19 October 2015

  
Saab unveiled a new AESA fighter radar at the 2015 ADEX show in Seoul. Source: IHS/James Hardy

Key Points

* Saab has unveiled a new AESA radar at ADEX 2015 in Seoul in its first foray into the market for such radars for fighter aircraft
* Officials said it had been in the works for some time and denied it was intended to take advantage of the recent announcement that the United States was denying AESA technology to South Korea

Saab unveiled an active electronically scanned array (AESA) fire control radar at the ADEX 2015 show in Seoul: a new product that company officials stressed had nothing to do with the recent confirmation that the United States has barred the export of AESA technology to South Korea for the KFX future fighter programme.

"Fighter radars have been an important area for a long time for Saab and we've developed a few over the years", said Micael Johansson, senior vice president and head of Electronic Defence Systems at Saab.

US officials confirmed in mid-October that they will not export AESA technology, an infrared search and track system, electronic optics targeting pod, or a radio frequency jammer to South Korea for the KFX, citing International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). This is despite transfer of technology being a key element of the KRW7.34 trillion (USD6.41 billion) FX-III deal signed in 2014 under which Seoul acquired 40 Lockheed Martin F-35As for the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF).

"We didn't start this [radar development] having heard about the problems with the four technology areas," Johannson said. "It's a more long term development that we've done."

The radar on show at Seoul does not have a name as yet, but officials described it as a next generation development featuring the back end of the PS-05A mechanically scanned radar that is fitted to the Gripen C/D fighter.

Saab unveiled the latest variant of the PS-05A, designated the Mk4, in April.

The Saudi coalition is stuck in a quagmire in the historical Northwestern Houthi areas and has made little progress on the road to Sana’a. They wre expelled from the Southern province of Bayda and has lost some territory in the Southwestern provinces of the Kingdom in the past week, losing a large number of soldiers and equipment there.

October 15, Yemen’s Houthi alliance fired a Scud missile (bought by Yemen from North Korea in the 90s) at a Saudi air base near the city of Khamees Mushait in the kingdom’s southwest. Saudi Arabia responded hysterically following the missile attacks at the King Khalid airbase in Asir and responded with airstrikes on Sana’a targeting Scud missiles, causing only civilian casualties.

October 16, the Houthi alliance expelled the Saudi coalition from the southern province of Bayda, after nearly two months of heavy clashes when they retook a military base in the town of Mukayris, pushing the enemy back to Abyan province. A total of 300 enemy soldiers were killed in the clashes, 30 of whom were slain in friendly fire airstrikes. Another 40 fighters were wounded in this latest in a series of “friendly fire” incidents. The Houthi alliance launched at least 11 rockets at al-Ash military base in Dhahran, Asir. They also launched a barrage of mortar shells al-Mosfaq military camp in al-Tawal region, wounding a number of Saudi soldiers. The Sahn al-Jin military camp in the province of Ma’rib was also raided, killing scores of Saudi coalition fighters. Hundreds of Sudanese troops arrived in Aden, the first batch of an expected 10,000 reinforcements. Their mission is to secure Aden, which has seen an increase in drive-by shootings of pro-government troop leaders and officials, claimed by ISIS. The latest assassination was of an Emirati officer. Saudi airsrikes also hit Jabal al-Naqam neighborhood, killing five civilians, including two women and a child. Ten Houthi alliance soldiers were killed by a suicide bomber at the entrance of an intelligence building in Hodeidah, before gunmen opened fire on the soldiers guarding the building. The gunmen fled when the remaining soldiers returned fire. Suspects are either Aqap, al-Qaeda in Yemen or a local unit of Daish/ISIL. A suspected Aqap gunmen, also ambushed and killed three and wounded three Yemeni soldiers in the province of Hadramawt province. In a wave of attacks aimed at influential politicians, Saudi coalition airstrikes targeted the house of Yemen’s speaker of parliament, leaving him unscathed but killing his son. The capital Sanaa reported around 60 Saudi coalition airstrikes in the last two days on military bases and houses belonging to politicians including the former President, Saleh.

October 17, the Houthi alliance warned that the Bab al-Mandeb are no longer secure for the invaders after at least two Saudi warships were targeted an one of them completely destroyed. A Saudi coalition killed a family of ten in Moze’e district in Ta’izz p The residence of a cleric in the Jahran district of Dhamar was also hit, killing his two sons and a relative, and wounding a number of people. A market in Haydan district of Sa’ada was also targeted, killing one civilian and injuring 10 others and this death toll is expected to rise. Mukayras district in the province of al-Bayda was also targeted but reports of casualties are not yet available. Two civilians lost their lives and six others wounded when a mosque in the Attyal district of Sana’a Province was hit by airstrikes. The Houth alliance dispatched massive reinforcements to Waziya to block the advance of the Saudi coalition forces. Meanwhile, Saudi airstrikes killed a family of ten in Moze’e district in Ta’izz and launched an attack in the Jawf region, killing at least 13 people. Saudi coalition air strikes killed 9 Houthi alliance fighters in air strikes on Mokha, Taez province in an attempt to cut supply lines to the Houthis besieging Taez city. (Securing Taez would allow the Saudi colaition to push north towards the rebel-held capital, Sanaa). Ground fighting killed 34 fighters from both sides and at least three civilians. Saudi airstrikes killed 12 Houthis in Jawf province in an attempt to pave the way for an advance on neighboring Sadaa province – the Houthi heartland.

October 18, Saudi fighter jets bombing the residential area of Maran in Sa’ada province with cluster bombs and tens of civilians were killed and several houses destroyed. The Houthi alliance security forces HQ in Haraz, Hajjah province and al-Hazm, in al-Jawf province was also targeted, killing civilians. Saudi fighter jets bombed a mosque and a gas station in Hajr, Qabbaytah, in the Lahij province, killing seven civilians and woundingseven others. Another five Yemenis were killed and three were injured in airstrikes on the Saqayn district, Sa’ada. A bank and a residential complex in the Mukha,  Ta’izz province were also targeted, leaving four people dead and dozens more injured. In the Khadir district of Ta’izz, Saudi missiles hit a gas station and killed four Yemenis. Several others were also wounded in the raid.
October 19, Saudi warplanes pounded Dar al-Shoja’, in the Mokha port city; the city of Sirwah; and the international airport in Ta’izz. (Casualties not yet confirmed). At least 10 cluster bombs were dropped on the Haydan district of Sa’ada Province.Earlier, the Houthi alliance repelled a Saudi coalition offensive against the al-Labnat military camp in al-Jawf, killing and injuring a number of Saudi-coalition troops. Nine people were killed and twenty injured when a bomb exploded at a post office in Aden. The Houthi alliance launched a ground offensive in the al-Khobe district, Jizan, killing at least 13 Saudi troops.

October 20, Saudi fighter jets struck a commercial area in al-Rahidah, Ta’izz (no reports of casualties) and also launched two strikes on Selo district of the same province. Scores of civilians were also killed and injured in the bombing of the police department in Ta’izz. Airstrikes against a residential area in Razeh, Sa’ada, left two civilians dead.

October 21, Houthi alliance forces took control over the Shurfa military base, a mountain range that overlooks the city of Najran and the al-Makhrouk military base nearby. Jizan, Al-Amoud, Twaileq, Mashaal, Malhama, MBC, Wadi Jara Hills, al-Fkhaitha sites, the Qawwa military complex and the nearby hills, Gharf Sheikh site, Faridha, and Fardha al-Jaberi military site, in addition to the sites of Qaryat Qamar and Qaryat Zhahira belonging to Jizan’s city of al-Khouba, also fell in their hands during the past 3 days. More than 300 tanks and armored vehicles were destroyed and a number of tanks, vehicles and advanced weapons were captured. Hundreds of officers were either killed or captured and several helicopters and spy drones were shot down. The back lines of Saudi military bases and tens of kilometers in the Saudi depth are now under fire from these positions.

ADEX: GE, Eurojet battle for KFX engine deal

21 OCTOBER, 2015 BY: GREG WALDRON SEOUL

Seoul is likely to make a decision about the powerplant for its planned KFX indigenous fighter aircraft in the first half of 2016.

The two engines in contention for the requirement are the General Electric F414 and the Eurojet EJ200. Both engine makers had a significant presence at this year’s Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition.

Industry observers familiar with KFX say that the engine down select will occur in the first half of next year irrespective of the controversy surrounding Seoul’s failure to obtain US export licences for four technologies deemed “core” to the development of KFX: active electronically scanned array radar, infrared search & track sensors (IRST), electro-optical targeting technology, and jamming technology.

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) issued the request for proposals (RFP) for the engine several weeks ago, and responses are due in November. KAI will examine the proposals, and South Korean officials’ analysis will include site visits the two rivals’ production facilities in Europe and the USA.

The winner stands to sell around 400 engines. Seoul plans to obtain 120 twin-engined KFX fighters, while Indonesia, a 20% partner in the programme, plans to obtain 80. South Korea eventually hopes to export the countries to other countries.

“[I]t doesn’t seem like we’re fighting something big, just some alcoholics and homeless guys,” First Lieutenant Alexey Chaban, of the Ukrainian army’s 17th Tank Brigade, told War Is Boring. “Despite the fact that there are Russian soldiers fighting us, they don’t have experience and make huge mistakes. Dying by the hundreds — they’re not even real fighters.”

Chaban claims that Isa Munayev, a Chechen ex-military commander who went to Ukraine to help fight against the Russians, said that while Russia’s elite troops were effective, the majority were untrained and unprofessional.

“Isa always told me that the Russian fighters were just a bunch of drunks, but that if I ever saw [Chechen president Ramzan] Kadyrov’s men, then you should be very afraid. These are professionals, they’ve been fighting for their whole lives. The same goes for Russian Spetsnaz, GRU. If you see any of them, just leave,” Chaban told War Is Boring.

“The country fell behind in many crucial technological areas, particularly during the 1990s,”Majumdar writes. “For example, the Russians are well behind on key technologies for building precision weapons, targeting pods and active electronically scanned array radars — which are just a few examples.”

Shipbuilding was another area where Russia began to fall behind. “Russia no longer has the capability to build large warships the size of a carrier and it uses antiquated construction techniques,” writes Majumdar.

Russian soldiers are continuing to use Soviet-built hardware. And while Russia is investing in new hardware, overall procurement is likely to be difficult for Moscow because of Russia’s continuing economic difficulties.

This isn’t the only recent instance of Russia having to scale back on its military modernization ambitions. The Kremlin is also having problems financing its hulking third-generation Armata tank. Dmitry Gorenburg of Harvard University estimates that Russia will only be able to field a maximum of 330 Armata tanks by 2020, a fraction of the 2,300 originally planned.

Last summer, the U.S. Army confirmed that soldiers will begin wearing the new Army Combat Uniform (ACU) that bears the Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP) – also known as Scorpion W2.  They are now being issued, and soldiers are expected to retire their prior uniforms by summer 2018.

This means it’s the end of the line for the Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP), which was known for its digital-like appearance. Camouflage has undergone numerous changes in the past decade, and the new OCP is just the latest effort by the U.S. military to develop the “perfect camouflage.”

While not standing out on the battlefield would seem fairly obvious, the use of camouflage by the U.S. military only dates back 60 years. And, the use of camouflage by any army dates back just a couple of centuries.

According to estimates by experts the Kremlin's military operation in Syria is costing Russian taxpayers a minimum USD 2.5 million per day, and could be costing as much USD 4 million.That's according to data collected for English-language daily The Moscow Times by defense think tank Jane's Information group (IHS Jane's).

"Under Darayya, there is another Darayya; under Dzhobar there is another Dzhobar; under Harasta, another Harasta," Syrian army soldiers joke, speaking about the suburbs of Damascus enveloped in street fighting.

From Darayya, this 'underground kingdom' goes on for dozens of kilometers beyond the outskirts of Damascus. In places the tunnel ends, and it is necessary to come up to the surface, but a couple kilometers on it's possible to dive underground once again. Of course, navigating this underground world is possible only with the help of guides or maps.  Still, moving on the surface and underground, one can travel not only to a neighboring city, but even abroad –to Jordan or Israel.

"The best result will be to blow up the corridor behind the militants when they are located behind our lines. Then they will find themselves in an underground trap, cut off from escape routes. They will then either surrender, die from hunger, or perish from our bullets," an officer sapper says.

Russian Air Force Helps the Syrian Army in its Underground War

A short time into our journey, we have already traveled nearly a kilometer out from the positions held by the army. Breathing becomes more difficult; with the entrance farther and farther behind, there is not enough oxygen. The militants are somewhere close by. It is quite possible that above our heads there is a full-scale battle raging, and that Jabhat al-Nusra (al-Qaeda's branch in Syria) does not even suspect what is going on three meters underneath.

The importance of this hidden war has been recognized by the Russian Air Force. The terrorists' underground fortifications and shelters have become one of the targets of Russian attack aircraft in Hama. "In the area near Jubb al-Zarus, a Su-34 bomber conducted an airstrike using guided bombs on underground shelters with a branched network of exits in different parts of the area," Defense Ministry spokesman Major-General Igor Konashenkov said at a recent briefing in Moscow.

In the meantime, the underground war continues.

On its list of the Top 10 worst military organizations are:

1. Costa Rica

2. Iraq

3. North Korea

4. Eritrea

5. Nigeria

6. The Philippines

7. Tajikistan

8. Mongolia

9. Saudi Arabia

10. Afghanistan

Indonesian Navy commissions second French-built oceanographic vessel

Ridzwan Rahmat, Singapore - IHS Jane's Navy International
21 October 2015


The Indonesian Navy's first oceanographic offshore support vessel, KRI Rigel, a sister ship to KRI Spica, which was commissioned on 17 October 2015. Source: Office of Communications, Indonesian Navy

Key Points

• Indonesia has inducted a second offshore support vessel (OSV) with hydrographic survey capabilities
• The ship will help Indonesia improve its understanding of underwater topography, ahead of submarine deliveries

The Indonesian Navy (Tentara Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Laut, or TNI-AL) announced on 20 October that it has inducted the second of two 60 m offshore support vessels (OSVs) ordered from French shipbuilder OCEA SA under a USD100 million contract signed in October 2013.

With TNI-AL chief Admiral Ade Supandi and senior members of the service in attendance, KRI Spica (934) was commissioned in a ceremony at Les Sables d'Olonne, France, on 17 October. Sister ship Rigel (933) was commissioned in March 2015 at the same location.

"This platform's capability is instrumental towards the objective of strengthening our navy in pursuit of the government's vision of becoming a maritime axis," said Adm Supandi during an address at the ceremony. The admiral also urged Spica 's crew to undertake the rest of their training in France seriously and to familiarise themselves with the systems thoroughly, ahead of the journey home.

According to IHS Jane's Fighting Ships , the 500-tonne OSV is 58 m long and has a beam of 9.4 m. Powered by two MTU 8V 400 M53 diesel engines driving two fixed-pitch propellers, the platform has a top speed of 14 kt and a standard range of 4,400 n miles at 12 kt. It can operate up to Sea State Six.

The platform is armed with one Rheinmetall 20 mm multipurpose cannon as a primary weapon and two stern-facing 12.7 mm machine guns for point defence. The vessel also features a stern gantry and stowage for one survey motor boat.

Spica can accommodate a crew of 30 and 16 mission personnel, for up to 20 days.

Further details on the ship's payload provided by the TNI-AL in a statement on 20 October indicate that Spica has been fitted with the same hydrographic and oceanographic survey systems as sister ship Rigel.

According to the officer the main forces of the militants in Syria have lost the fighting capacity, their logistics system has been destroyed.

"As a result of the Russian airstrikes, the main forces of the terrorist groups, comprising the best-trained fighters, have lost their fighting capacity, the armed groups’ system of control and supply has been disrupted. Terrorists are experiencing an acute shortage of ammunition, weapons and fuel," Kartapolov said.

Kartapolov pointed out that militants are fleeing from Syria to Turkey and Jordan.

Read more: https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/...ne-deal-418016/