Basler offers BT-67 gunship to Philippines

Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
13 October 2016


Seen here in a transport configuration for the US State Department, the BT-67 is being offered to the Philippines primarily as a gunship replacement for the OV-10 Bronco. Source: IHS/Patrick Allen

US company Basler Turbo Conversions is offering its BT-64 gunship to the Philippines as that country looks for a replacement for its ageing Rockwell OV-10 Broncos, the company announced on 12 October.

The BT-67 is essentially a twin-turboprop conversion of the Douglas DC-3 Dakota fitted with updated systems such as digital avionics, a night-vision goggle-compatible cockpit, weather radar, and a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor. It is being offered as a multirole platform that not only performs the ground attack role of the OV-10, but can also fulfil transport, surveillance, aero medical evacuation, and maritime patrol requirements of the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

According to the Basler Turbo, the BT-67 offers a flexible configuration depending on the mission, a rough-field short take-off and landing (STOL) capability, a readily accessible pool of parts and spares, and reduced vulnerability to manportable air defence systems (MANPADS) on account of the exhaust vents for the twin Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67R engines being angled over the wings.

The BT-67 is based on arguably the most proven airframe in the history of aviation, with the DC-3 having originally entered service in the mid-1930s. Performance specifications for the turboprop-powered Basler variant give it a more than 4,500 kg payload capacity over 650 n miles (or 1,200 kg over 1, 875 n miles with long-range tanks), and a 35 m 3 cabin volume. The aircraft has a cruising speed of 210 kt and a service ceiling of 13,000 ft.

Already fielded by the air forces of Colombia (gunship), El Salvador (transport), Guatemala (transport), Mali (transport), Mauritania (surveillance), Thailand (scientific research), and by the US State Department (transport and surveillance), deliveries to the Philippines could start a year after a contract signature.

The Philippines is set to re-launch its OV-10 Bronco-replacement programme, with a new request for proposals (RfP) to be issued in the coming months.

Singapore Navy launches Unity, its third Littoral Mission Vessel

Oct 13, 2016, 12:53 pm SGT
Zhaki Abdullah

SINGAPORE - The Republic of Singapore Navy launched its third Littoral Mission Vessel (LMV), called Unity, on Thursday morning (Oct 13) at Singapore Technologies Marine's (ST Marine) Benoi Yard.

Overseeing the launch ceremony was Senior Minister of State for Defence Ong Ye Kung. Also in attendance was Mr Ong's wife, Mrs Diana Ong, who launched the vessel.

The first and second LMVs, Independence and Sovereignty, were launched on July 3 last year (2015) and April 16 this year (2016) respectively. They are currently undergoing sea trials.

The Navy's newest ships, the LMVs will replace the Fearless-class patrol vessels, which were in service for about 20 years.

Faster and more versatile than the current vessels, the LMVs can also be quickly configured with software and equipment to take on a variety of missions, including unmanned systems and helicopter operations.

The 80m-long vessels were designed to be operated and maintained with a lean crew of 23, compared to the Fearless-class ships which require 30.

The navigators, warfighters and engineers all work in a unique integrated command centre, which contains the ship's bridge, combat information centre and machinery control room. In other ships, these functions would be located in separate areas.

The LMVs also feature a "stacked mast", which allows the crew to access more than 90 per cent of the ship's system components. This saves time on maintenance as the ship does not need to be docked to be maintained.

Mr Ong said the ship featured a "Uniquely Singapore" design, bringing together the efforts of the Navy, the Defence Science and Technology Agency, ST Marine and defence technology industry partners.

In his speech, Mr Ong, who is also Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills), noted the significance of the ship's name and said that Singaporeans had to be united in the face of challenges, including increasing terror threats.

"Unity is our strongest defence against any sort of attack," he said.

"We must be united in our goal for a harmonious and peaceful Singapore, and stand together to guard against the growing terror threat."

11 October 2016

The Queen is NOT Dead – Long Live the Queen

Opinions that the main battle tank (MBT) has had its day as the queen of the battlefield have been voiced for decades. Yet the world’s armed forces still bristle with ‘steel beasts,’ albeit perhaps not in the volumes seen at the height of the Cold War. Whilst procurement of new MBTs is slower than in the species’ heyday, upgrade and enhancement programmes abound in every corner of the globe.

Companies like Rheinmetall have poured significant efforts into developing these upgrade offers and are reaping the benefits in the form of contract awards on several continents. Although all three of the elements of the ‘magic triangle’ hierarchy of needs – protection, mobility and firepower – have been taken into consideration, the last of these remains foremost in the minds of many operators. The imperative for increased lethality in the face of ever increasing threats has exercised the best technical and engineering minds at Rheinmetall. And the result has been a series of developments that hold great promise for the continued longevity of the MBT as a powerful, vital and flexible sovereign of the future battlespace.

Programme Manager for all 120mm armament and ammunition programmes at Rheinmetall, Dirk Gerthenrich, told an audience in Berlin on 7 October that crises such as Ukraine and Syria have fuelled a willingness among the company’s customers to re-evaluate the effective4ness of their MBT fleets and to supplement rather than replace MBTs with medium weight weapon systems with similar firepower. “There is also increasing concern about the effectiveness of large calibre ammunition against modern protection such as that on the T-14 Armata introduced in 2015 – and that is prompting consideration of an improved KE round such as the DM73,” he said.

He believes there is strong evidence to support the fact that only two calibres will survive beyond the next few years as far as MBT main armament is concerned: 120mm smoothbore for ‘Western’ designs and 125mm smoothbore as the Russian and former Warsaw Pact nations standard. Despite this, there is still interest in the L51 130mm future main armament Rheinmetall unveiled last year – the advantages of an increased chamber volume and chamber pressures up to 880MPs offer an improvement in performance that is just too good to turn down.

Customers, however, need to become more savvy in order to derive optimal benefit from investment in improving anti-armour performance, according to Gerthenrich. “There are some customers who still demand performance evaluation based on the ability to penetrate RHA (Rolled Homogenous Armour), despite the fact there is not a current generation MBT out there that still depends on an RHA protection solution. Such tests are expensive and time consuming – and are now of very questionable value,” he said.

Rheinmetall’s current 120mm smoothbore range consists of three models: the L/44, the L/47LR (Low Recoil) and the L/55 – which he characterises as “the normal one, the smooth one and the quicker one” respectively. The first and the last of have under feasibility studies examining the development of an ‘A1’ version of each, featuring higher gas pressures capable of getting maximum utility from new performance-enhanced kinetic energy rounds. Further development will have to be customer financed, the company has decided, but Gerthenrich revealed that “the pilot customer for the L55A1 is going to be the German Army.”

In addition to KE munitions, he points to a trend towards ‘multi-purpose’ secondary ammunitions (HE MP) as being a ‘one size fits all’ solution to the increasing range of targets faced by MBTs in the broader range of operational scenarios now common to most armed forces: deployed troops, missile positions, light/medium armoured vehicles, infrastructure, field fortifications – even helicopters.

Rheinmetall’s proposed solutions address the continuing viability of the MBT’s future as a vital component of a wide range of responses to operational requirements. Rumours of the Queen’s death, it would seem, have been grossly exaggerated!

Indonesian Marines begins training on new BTR-4 APCs from Ukraine

Ridzwan Rahmat, Singapore - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
17 October 2016

The Indonesian Marines Corps (KORMAR) has begun training on its newly arrived amphibious BTR-4 8x8 wheeled armoured personnel carriers (APCs), the service announced on 14 October.

The training activities, which are taking place at the KORMAR base in Cilandak, South Jakarta, run from 14 to 24 October, and are being undertaken by personnel from the KORMAR's 2nd Marine Group's cavalry regiment.

The Indonesian Ministry of Defence (MoD) concluded a contract with Ukraine's defence industry holding group Ukroboronprom in February 2014 to supply five BTR-4 APCs. The vehicles, which arrived in Indonesia in September 2016, represent Ukraine's first military export to Indonesia in nearly two decades.

Ex Valiant Mark is an annual bilateral exercise between the SAF and USMC and that provides various opportunities for both militaries to build stronger bonds. This year, about 1,300 personnel from the 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade, and the 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, as well as supporting components from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF)'s Peace Carvin II Detachment and the 1st Marine Division took part in the exercise.

2016-10-18:

Indonesian Sea and Coast Guard Orders Terma SCANTER 6000 Radar Systems for Five Patrol Vessels

Euronaval, Paris – The Indonesian Sea and Coast Guard Kesatuan Penjaga Laut dan Pantai (KPLP) has ordered Terma SCANTER 6000 radars for navigation, surveillance, and helicopter control.

The radars, being installed aboard five KPLP ships of different classes, are being integrated with the Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine Vision Master automatic radar plotting aid (ARPA) display system.

The five patrol vessels include the KN. Trisula (P111); KN. Kalimasadha (P115); KN. Kalawai (P117); KN. Chundamani (P116); and KN. Gandiwa (P118).  The ships are based at various locations around the country and will be upgraded at their respective homeports.

The high-resolution SCANTER 6000 series will enable the Indonesian patrol boats to detect and track small targets – from the horizon up to the ship itself –on the surface and in low-level air space and in all conditions”, explains Jesper Tolstrup, Director, Radar Applications for Terma in Lystrup, Denmark.

“Although these patrol vessels do not have facilities for embarked aircraft, the radar provides the capability for directing helicopters for search and rescue, fisheries patrol, pollution monitoring, or other enforcement missions.  The radar is also optimal for detecting or controlling unmanned aircraft”, Tolstrup said.

Indonesia is a maritime nation that sits astride the busy sea lanes that connect the Indian and Pacific Oceans. With more than 17,000-plus islands, it is the largest archipelago in the world, stretching 2,500 miles, the distance of New York to San Francisco.  Indonesia has several different maritime entities, to include the Navy, Coast Guard (Baklama), and the Sea and Coast Guard (KPLP).

“In our challenging operating environment, we require a radar with very good detection ranges and high resolution target discrimination. When it comes to search and rescue, being able to find a small lifeboat or a man in the water at great distances, in darkness or in bad weather, the radar is a lifesaving tool,” said Commanding Officer KN. Gandiwa (P118), Joseph J.H. Rengga, S.H., M.Mar.  “The SCANTER 6000 does that, with great reliability.”

Indonesia’s waters have a high volume of shipping, with many challenges.  There is piracy, smuggling, and other illegal activities, and many places to hide.  The country’s offshore energy industry is growing, which requires safety, security, and environmental monitoring. Many countries send their fishing vessels to Indonesian waters, and many of them are taking the fish without a license – a multi-billion dollar loss to Indonesia every year.

“Terma responded to our request in a very prompt manner,” Head of Infrastructure of Sea and Coast Guard, M. Dahri, S.H., M.HUM, said.  “We issued an urgent request, and they have made these radars, tested them, and shipped them to the different homeports for simultaneous installation in a very short time.”

Navantia to Modernize Indonesian Navy corvette



LA VOZ Cádiz
18/10/2016 17:57h - Actualizado: 18/10/2016 17:57h.

The consortium formed by Indra and Navantia has been awarded the Combat System upgrade of the KRI-362 Malahayati Indonesian Navy corvette in a locked PT PAL shipyard by 15.7 million euros contract. According to detailed Navantia, this contract will involve some 80,000 hours of work for Navantia Systems in the Bay of Cadiz..

In a note, Navantia explained that both companies are working to offer Indonesian Navy's most advanced electronics of Spanish naval technology.The project is part of the Mid-Life Modernization program (MLM) of this Fatahillah class corvette, which was assigned to the Indonesian military shipyard PT PAL

The Combat System update includes the renovation of sensors and fire control, integrating all through a modern combat management system.

The contract represents fresh deployment of some of the most advanced systems offered by the companies to the naval sector, including Indra’s ESM RIGEL electronic defense and DORNA fire control platforms, as well as Navantia’s combat management system, thus strengthening their standing in the international market.

As highlighted, collaboration with the military shipyard PT PAL Indonesia reference in this program also "opens new perspectives for the future. For them, Indra and Navantia in this project have established a business model in which the two companies join forces in their areas of greater specialization.

Rheinmetall Leopard - Family of vehicles

Published on Oct 19, 2016

Rheinmetall Leopard MBT - The Main Battle Tank MBT LEOPARD 2PL is designed for target engagement from a stationary position and on the move as well as for deployment by day and night. It can make use of its performance potential under the ambient conditions to be expected on the potential battlefield.

The system is based on a maintained and repaired standard Polish MBT Leopard 2 A4, consists with additional integrated upgrades and enhancements.

Anggaran Kemhan Tahun 2017 Rp 108 Triliun, Tertinggi dalam 12 Tahun

Jumat, 21 Oktober 2016 | 06:15 WIB

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (DPR) dan pemerintah telah menyepakati Anggaran Kementerian Pertahanan dan TNI tahun 2017 sebesar Rp 108 triliun.

Wakil Ketua Komisi I DPR Hanafi Rais mengatakan, angka tersebut merupakan yang terbesar untuk bidang pertahanan dalam 12 tahun terakhir.

"Sudah disepakati di Banggar dan di Komisi I. Sudah disetujui dan ini tahun 2017 tertinggi selama 12 tahun terakhir," kata Hanafi, di Kompleks Parlemen, Senayan, Jakarta, Kamis (20/10/2016).

Meski kementerian dan lembaga lain mengalami pemotongan anggaran yang signifikan, Hanafi menilai, kedaulatan dan pertahanan negara merupakan dua hal yang tak bisa dikompromikan.

Oleh karena itu, sangat disayangkan jika totalitasnya berkurang hanya karena anggaran.

"Anggaran Kemhan dan TNI ini akan diamati oleh negara tetangga bahwa di tengah kelesuan ekonomi ternyata kita punya komitmen menjaga kedaulatan NKRI," kata Hanafi.

Hishammuddin: RMAF’s aircraft order will have to depend on state of country’s economy

By Chester Tay / theedgemarkets.com  | October 20, 2016 : 2:28 PM MYT 

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 20): Minister of Defence Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein reiterated that Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF)’s order for new multi role combat aircrafts (MRCAs) will have to depend on the state of the country’s economy.

In a press conference at the Parliament lobby today, Hishammuddin explained that the choice of vendor for this procurement will depend on the affordability of the package offered, and the technical suitability. This purchase is widely seen as a move to replace RMAF's Russian Mikoyan MiG-29 fighters, which have been in service since the 1990s.

“By the year 2020 we have to make a decision on the [purchase of the] MRCAs. It's an open secret that we are looking at either the [Dassault] Rafale, or the [BAE Systems'] Typhoon from the UK, but we don't have to make the decision now. What we need to do is look at the affordability, and that depends on [the state of] our economy,” he said

Therefore, at the moment, there is no particular budget allocated for the new aircraft, he added.

Hishammuddin also said the RMAF itself will also make a decision as to which new aircraft it wants.

“The technical side of it...the compatibility of the Rafale or the Typhoon...let the end-users decide. Let the air force decide which model they want. The affordability issue is for the MoF (Ministry of Finance) to decide, and then [there is the issue of] the offset agreement [by the vendor]. What does the industry get from such a major contract?” he said.

Hishammuddin said that while the MiG-29s are ageing, it is important for RMAF to upgrade and maintain its current fleet in order to remain operational until 2020.

“The MiG-29 is already very old, but that is not my concern right now. The maintenance and repairs of our Sukhoi [Su-30s] are important.

“We can still deal with the Sukhois, and we are upgrading our [BAE Systems] Hawks...that would take us through 2020, because even if we make the decision now, we won't get the Typhoon or the Rafale immediately, it takes years before they come into operation,” he explained.

Aviation International News, an online portal that tracks industry moves, had in 2014 reported that the RMAF MiG-29 fleet was scheduled for retirement by 2015, and in view of the slower economy, contenders for the new MRCA contract had proposed long-term repayments and lease options to Malaysia.

“There are other reasons why we did not look at the [latest] Sukhois, [Boeing F/A-18] Hornets and the Gripen, which is a Swedish plane, but the most important [factor] is that whatever we do, we must be able to explain to the public,” Hishammuddin said.

Defense budget increased to Rp 108 trillion

The Jakarta Post21 Oct 2016

JAKARTA: The House of Representatives and the government have agreed to allocate Rp 108 trillion (US$8.31 billion) for the Defense Ministry’s 2017 budget, an increase from the Rp 104 trillion proposed earlier.

The increase makes the Defense Ministry the state institution/ministry with the largest budget allocation.

“We have agreed on the budget allocation for the Defense Ministry. It is the largest amount in the past 12 years,” said Hanafi Rais, the deputy chairman of House Commission I overseeing defense and foreign affairs.

He said the defense budget would be spent proportionally on routine expenditure and goods. Hanafi, however, refused to give details of the allocation.

Previously, the Defense Ministry proposed Rp 104 trillion for the 2017 budget, which was later rejected by House members who said that amount did not match the government’s commitment to maintaining state defense.

The House Commission I said state defense and sovereignty must not be compromised. – JP

Malaysia to get two used patrol boats from Japan

FMT Reporters | October 21, 2016

Patrol boats with better navigation capability in bad weather to aid coastal nations of the South China Sea to check on China's advancements.

PETALING JAYA: The Japanese government will be providing two large second-hand patrol vessels to Malaysia, The Yomiuri Shimbun reported yesterday.

Quoting sources in its government, the daily said the gift was to help Malaysia enhance maritime security capabilities in the South China Sea.

“With the provision of the two 90-meter-long vessels, the government aims to put a brake on China’s continuing unilateral maritime advances,” the source was quoted as saying.

It was reported previously that the Malaysian naval authorities had asked the Japanese government for the patrol vessels, which are highly capable of navigating in bad weather.

The two vessels were previously used by the Japan Coast Guard, and Tokyo will give them to Malaysia next year after repairs are carried out on them.