Indonesia May Order F-16s, Lockheed Martin Says

By Aerospec | November 10, 2015 | Business Jet News

A possible contract from Indonesia may extend F-16 manufacturing into 2018, Lockheed Martin says.

Singapore debuts submarine in biennial naval exercise with Thailand

Ridzwan Rahmat, Singapore - IHS Jane's Navy International
11 November 2015


RSN and RTN assets sailing during the at-sea phase of Exercise 'Singsiam' 2015. Source: Republic of Singapore Navy

Key Points

* Singapore has introduced a submarine to a longstanding naval exercise with Thailand
* The exercise is aimed at improving both interoperability and the anti-submarine warfare capabilities of both navies

A biennial naval exercise between Singapore and Thailand is featuring the inaugural deployment of a Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) submarine, Singapore's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) has announced.

Exercise 'Singsiam' is running from 2-12 November in the Strait of Malacca and the Andaman Sea. A shore planning phase was conducted at Changi Naval Base, Singapore between 2-5 November, a MINDEF public affairs official told IHS Jane's on 11 November. The exercise was first conducted in 1981 and is currently in its 18th iteration.

The RSN has deployed its Archer (Västergötland)-class diesel-electric submarine (SSK) RSS Archer , along with the Formidable (Project Delta)-class frigate RSS Intrepid (69) and the Victory-class missile corvette RSS Vigour (P 92). Intrepid has an S-70B naval helicopter embarked.

The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) is deploying its Naresuan (Type 25T)-class guided-missile frigate HTMS Naresuan (421), the Chao Phraya-class frigate HTMS Saiburi (458), two S-70B naval helicopters, and one Dornier-228 maritime patrol aircraft.

The assets will be conducting anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and gunnery activities, amongst other training. In its statement, MINDEF described the debut of a submarine and the joint deployment of naval helicopters for the first time as testament to the increasing scope and complexity of 'Singsiam'.

"The inaugural participation of these assets, made possible by the conducive conditions and vast expanse of the Andaman Sea, will open up a whole new frontier for mutual learning and co-operation," said Colonel Edwin Leong, commanding officer of the RSN's missile corvette squadron.

'Singsiam' will conclude with a closing ceremony in Phuket, Thailand, on 12 November.

Boeing expects first maritime spy plane sale in next few years

Boeing Co is in "very serious conversations" with five customers about its new Maritime Surveillance Aircraft, a long-range spy plane based on Bombardier's 605 business jet, an executive said on Tuesday.

POSTED: 10 Nov 2015 18:25

DUBAI: Boeing Co is in "very serious conversations" with five customers about its new Maritime Surveillance Aircraft, a long-range spy plane based on Bombardier's 605 business jet, an executive said on Tuesday.

Robert Schoeffling, a senior manager with Boeing's military aircraft division, said it was difficult to predict when the planemaker would receive a first order for the aircraft, but it was likely to happen in the next year or two.

Schoeffling gave no names, but said the five potential customers were in the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East and Europe. He said events including the recent focus on disputed man-made islands in the South China Sea were fueling interest.

Boeing began developing the aircraft in 2011 using five sensors drawn from its larger P-8A spy plane built for the U.S. Navy, India and Australia. It unveiled the plane at the 2014 Farnborough Airshow in Britain.

Schoeffling said Boeing had received U.S. approval to market the jets in 10 to 20 countries. He said the jet was designed with components that were exportable and Boeing did not foresee any issues obtaining export licenses.

Eurofighter Typhoon Lagging Behind Rivals

Source : Defenseworld.net Analysis ~ Dated : Wednesday, November 11, 2015 @ 02:04 PM

The Eurofighter Typhoon may be lagging behind the Dassault Rafale and F-16 in terms of radar and advanced weapons as it pitches for contracts in the Middle East.

When the Eurofighter team provided a briefing at the Dubai Air Show on the fighter's planned upgrade program it was not lost on the media about how behind the European consortium's aircraft was as compared to its main rivals in the Middle East market.

While the Eurofighter is expected to integrate the Captor E-Scan active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar beyond 2017, in what is called the Phase 4 enhancement, the Dassault Rafale installed the Thales RBE2 AESA radar in 2013 along with the new-generation missile launch detector (DDM NG) and new front sector optronics.

Lockheed Martin released the F-16 V upgrade in July this year which comes equipped with a Northrop Grumman APG-83 AESA Scalable Agile Beam Radar and changes to the cockpit display, communications bus and weapons control systems which will enable it to carry some of the latest missiles and bombs in the arsenal of the US Air Force.

“Our Phase 3 Enhancement (P3E) Programme will enable Eurofighter operators to integrate the Brimstone 2 on the aircraft and will also further enhance other existing weapons capabilities – including Storm Shadow, Meteor, Paveway IV and ASRAAM. We aim to deliver P3E to the Customer in 2017,” an Eurofighter official said during the Dubai briefing.

Some or all of these weapons capabilities are already existing in the Dassault Rafale and the F-16 V.

Indonesia mulls SDF’s US-2 aircraft

9:05 pm, November 12, 2015

Jiji Press TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Setya Novanto, visiting speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, indicated Thursday his country’s interest in purchasing the Maritime Self-Defense Force’s US-2 amphibious rescue aircraft.

Meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the prime minister’s office in Tokyo, Setya said Indonesia is interested in and is considering importing the US-2 aircraft.

After the Abe-Setya talks, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said in a press conference that Japan will promote working-level negotiations with Indonesia on a US-2 deal.

Under its new three principles on the transfer of defense equipment, adopted in April 2014, the Japanese government is already in talks with India about possibly exporting the amphibious rescue aircraft.

Thursday, Nov 12, 2015

SAF, RSAF to conduct military and live firing exercises


Photo: The Straits Times

SINGAPORE - The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will be conducting military and live firing exercises around Singapore and its surrounding islands from Nov 16 to 23, from 8am to 8am.

The public is advised not to be alarmed and to keep clear of these areas.

SAF military and live firing exercises

The SAF will conduct military exercises in Seletar, Marsiling, Jalan Bahar, Neo Tiew, Lim Chu Kang, Jalan Kwok Min, Tuas, Upper Jurong, Hong Kah, Ama Keng, Bedok Jetty, Kranji, Lentor, Simpang, Sembawang, Mandai from Nov 16 to 23.

Blanks and thunderflashes will be used.

Live firing exercises will be conducted in Pasir Laba (SAFTI) Live Firing Area from Nov 16 to 23, from 8am to 8am.

Sea vessels and crafts sailing through the Western Johor Straits during this period are to keep within the 75m Navigable Sea Lane and not to stray into the Live Firing Boundary.

Live ammunition and flares will be used.

The islands of Pulau Sudong, Pulau Senang and Pulau Pawai are proclaimed manoeuvring and firing grounds.

The public is advised to keep clear of these islands and to stay clear of the prohibited waters off Changi Naval Base and Tuas Naval Base.

RSAF live firing exercises

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) will be conducting live firing exercises around Pulau Sudong, Pulau Pawai and Pulau Senang from Nov 16 to 20 from 7pm to 10pm, and on Nov 21 from 8am to 1pm.

Flares will be released during the night firing.

The public is advised to keep clear of Pulau Pawai, Pulau Senang and Pulau Sudong which lie within the live firing areas.

Can elaborate?

Re: Syria war - remember months back when Russia claimed to have destroyed >90% of ISIS already?

RMAF Conducting Paradise Exercise 2/2015 From Nov 9-22

LABUAN, Nov 9 (Bernama) -- The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) is conducting the PARADISE Exercise 2/2015 involving paradrop deepstrike insertion extraction today until Nov 22 from its base, here.

A statement from the Public Relations Department of the RMAF headquarters at the Defence Ministry, said the exercise would in Sabah's air space and waters.

Throughout the exercise, the RMAF aircraft will fly low during the day and night over a number of areas in Sabah's air space that have been gazetted as the exercise locations.

The RMAF's aircraft involved in this exercise include the F/A-18D Hornet, Su-30MKM and Hawk 108/208 fighter jets, C130H, KC130 and CN235 transport planes and EC725 and Nuri helicopters.

The public is advised not to panic or be unduly worried if they see the RMAF aircraft flying low during the duration of the exercise.

The exercise is being conducted by the RMAF to ensure its capabilities and preparedness are at the best level, especially in safeguarding the country's air space.

-- BERNAMA

PT PINDAD (Persero) ‏@PT_Pindad Nov 12

Firing Test MBT Tank Leopard RI bersama Bpk Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin & Atase Pertahanan RI,Kamis(12/11) Unterluss,Jerman.



5:58 AM - 12 Nov 2015

German firm eyes $2bn export of tanks to Oman

Published: 15 November 2015 - 5 a.m.
By: John Bambridge

German arms manufacturer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) is pushing for the export of over 70 Leopard tanks to the Sultanate of Oman, Der Spiegel has reported.

Oman has invited KMW and a Turkish competitor to tender for a contract, which could have an order worth more than $2.14bn, analysts disclosed the news outlet.

The Federal Security Council, which monitors the export of military goods from Germany, has given KMW a temporary licence for the export of a single Leopard tank to Oman for the purpose of testing.

Germany recently approved the export of grenade launchers, assault rifles and sub-machine guns worth over $3.23m to Oman, which is viewed as a relatively stable country in the Middle East.

Germany’s arms exports have of late come under scrutiny because of the increasing sums involved and the increasing amounts of arms heading to countries outside the European Union and NATO.

Last year, Minister of Economy Sigmar Gabriel pledged to be much more cautious in licensing arms exports, but in the first half of this year, the government approved significantly more arms exports.

Sikorsky plays up importance of Asia-Pacific

13 NOVEMBER, 2015 BY: GREG WALDRON SINGAPORE

Sikorsky plans to place a greater emphasis on the Asia-Pacific market, where it sees opportunities for both its military and civilian ranges.

“The company recognises the importance of Asia, which is clearly a cornerstone as we rebalance from being a very US-centric company to looking at the international opportunities,” says the company’s regional director for Asia, Christophe Nurit.

“We really want to do more things to step up our presence here in Asia.”

Nurit made the comments at a press briefing in Singapore. The briefing was its first major media engagement in the region following Lockheed Martin’s recent acquisition of the helicopter manufacturer from United Technologies.

Nurit says the UH-60 Black Hawk and variants have proven to be very popular in the region. Nurit adds that the company is still in discussions with Indonesia for a long-mooted Blackhawk buy.

“The Indonesian army is still interested in Black Hawk,” he says. “We've had some good discussions with them and really enjoyed the ability to engage with them. There have been budget challenges in Indonesia, and this perhaps has driven the decision t delay the acquisition. The Black Hawk is the right aircraft for Indonesia. It’s not just the capability, but also the opportunity to train alongside a very large fleet of Black Hawks globally.”

Sikorsky has had “some discussions” with Indonesian Aerospace (PTDI) about the potential for local production work.

Sikorsky is also likely interested in Singapore’s plans to replace its fleet of 32 Airbus Helicopters AS332/532 Super Puma/Cougar rotorcraft, although the company did not mention this requirement during the briefing. At the Sikorsky stand at the Imdex Asia 2015 naval show in Singapore, it displayed a model of its S-92 helicopter equipped for combat search and rescue (CSAR).

Nurit adds that although there has been definite softness in demand for large helicopters serving the oil and gas industry in the region owing to the collapse in energy prices. Sikorsky expects an eventual rebound, although growth rates may not be as healthy as in the past. Nonetheless, this should help demand for the S-92.

The company also sees more potential for its S-76 in the region, particularly in VIP and SAR roles.

Sikorsky will also expand it support footprint, with a new support centre somewhere in Southeast Asia. In March, it appointed Malaysia’s Mycopter Aviation Services to become Southeast Asia’s first authorised service centre for the S-76.

“We're looking at opening additional centres to support our customers,” says Nurit. “We're also looking at putting more parts on consignment into the region, and beefing up the infrastructure we have in Australia.”

16 Nov 2015

Follow up contract

Royal Danish Navy orders Rheinmetall’s Millennium gun

The Danish procurement authorities have contracted with the Düsseldorf-based Rheinmetall Group to supply additional 35mm Oerlikon Millennium guns for ships of the Royal Danish Navy. The order, which also includes spare parts and technical services, is worth around €20 million. The guns will be shipped in 2016.

The Rheinmetall Group won an initial order from Denmark for the Oerlikon Millennium gun back in 2005. Now official, this follow up order is of great importance with regard to international sales, reflecting strong customer satisfaction with existing systems and their performance over the past decade.

Two types of Danish ships will therefore soon be equipped with the Millennium gun, one of the most effective and versatile naval weapon systems anywhere.

Thanks to the flexible ISO Mount installation concept, the guns can be installed on any of the Absalon class or the new Iver Huitfeldt-class frigate. The guns will be managed by SaabTech CEROS fire control systems and Terma command and control technology.

Teamed with Rheinmetall’s high-performance 35mm Ahead airburst ammunition, the Millennium gun gives the Danish Navy a close-range self-defence capability for protecting high-value assets that is second to none. A multipurpose weapon system, it is also capable of neutralizing asymmetric and symmetric threats alike, whether on the surface or in the air.

Besides Denmark, five other NATO nations use Rheinmetall’s programmable 35mm Ahead airburst ammunition which, when combined with the Millennium Revolver Gun 35/1000, results in massive yet flexible firepower that can be scaled to match a wide variety of operational scenarios.