Thai government approves submarine procurement

Jon Grevatt, Bangkok - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
25 January 2017
 
Thailand's military government has approved funding of THB13.5 billion (USD383 million) to support the Royal Thai Navy's (RTN's) plan to procure the first of three S26T (Thailand) submarines from China, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan confirmed on 24 January.

IHS Jane's understands that the money has been included in Thailand's 2017 Budget Bill, which has been approved by Thailand's National Legislative Assembly. Additional funding is expected to be allocated for two additional submarines. Total funding for the three-boat programme will reach THB36 billion.

Outlining the rationale for the procurement programme, Prawit pointed to the increase in submarine capabilities in Southeast Asia.

Confirmed: Malaysia To Buy Multirole Support Ships

By Aishah Mohmad Afandi

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 31 (Bernama) - Multirole Support Ships will soon be helping to safeguard Malaysian waters, said naval chief Tan Sri Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin.

He confirmed the decision of the government to acquire the MRSS after being informed by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, and referred to his tweet, which read:

"#15to5 on track! #LMS (Littoral Mission Ships) ready to go #MRSS next. Thank you Sir! @HishammuddinH2O."

The Royal Malaysian Navy is reducing its fleet from 15 to five classes of vessels. Old ships which are too expensive to maintain are being retired and sold, with the money used to buy new vessels.

Last Thursday, after the retreat in Subang Jaya to discuss with armed forces brass the future directions of the ministry, Hishammuddin told reporters that new assets must be purchased by 2020.....

No additional FA-50PHs orders for now -- DND

MANILA, Feb. 1 (PNA News Feature) --- Pending the arrival of new security threats, there are no plans so far to acquire additional units of the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI)-made FA-50PH "Fighting Eagle," of which four units are now in service and another eight expected to arrive this year.

This was disclosed by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana Tuesday when asked on whether they have plans to acquire additional units of the Mach 1.5 capable jet fighters for the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

"(There are) no plans to get more that the 12 we ordered. Four are already delivered (as of this posting), the other eight will be delivered this year," he added in a message to the PNA.

During the time of then Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, a study was made on the feasibility to acquire additional six FA-50PHs units to further secure the country's airspace.

With Lorenzana's statement, it seems that the PAF will have to content with the 12 FA-50PHs until Horizon 2 of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program, which is to start this 2018 and end on 2022, before they can acquire more advance and sophisticated jet aircraft.

The FA-50PHs landed recently landed in the headlines after it participated during a surgical air and artillery strike that severely wounded Abu Sayyaf commander Isnilon Hapilon and seven others aside from killing an estimated 15 terrorists during a military offensive in Butig, Lanao Del Sur last Jan. 26.

It was the first combat mission for the above-mentioned aircraft, military leaders said.

The PAF's 12-plane order from KAI is worth PHP18.9 billion.

Myanmar in advanced negotiations to licence-build JF-17 fighter

Anthony Davis, Yangon - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
01 February 2017


A PAF JF-17 Thunder being demonstrated at the 2015 Paris Air Show. Myanmar is in negotiations to licence-build the third-generation fighter. Source: PA

After deciding to purchase 16 JF-17 Thunder multi-role combat aircraft in 2015, Myanmar is now in advanced negotiations with Pakistan to also licence-build the third-generation fighter, defence industry sources in Yangon and sources close to the Myanmar Air Force (MAF) told Jane's in mid-January.

If an agreement is reached, Myanmar's bid to manufacture the single-engine combat aircraft - co-developed by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and China's Chengdu Aerospace Corporation (CAC) - could mark a significant step forward in the country's efforts to expand its local defence industry.

As the MAF phases out its obsolete fleet of F-7M Airguard and A-5C 'Fantan' combat aircraft purchased from China in the 1990s, licensed production of the JF-17 Thunder would also mean that the aircraft will likely become the MAF's workhorse over the coming decades in much the same way as it has moved to prominence within the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).

At least 70 of the fighters are in service with the PAF, with the first ones having entered service in 2009. Expectations are that the PAF will induct up to 150 JF-17 Thunder fighters in the coming years.

The first of 16 imported JF-17s ordered by Myanmar are expected to go into service with the MAF later this year. Speaking on condition of anonymity, sources told Jane's that these aircraft will be of the Block II variant, which was first rolled out from the PAC's Kamra plant in 2015 and which, unlike the Block I variant, features an air-to-air refuelling capability and improved avionics and electronics.

It is unclear whether later deliveries to the MAF will include the far more advanced Block III variant being produced at Kamra since last year. Sources told Jane's that in the context of ongoing negotiations on licensed production, Myanmar is seeking to produce the aircraft's Block III variant.

Navy turns to locally made missile boats

The Jakarta Post 4 Feb 2017 Wahyoe Boediwardhana


Piece by piece: Employees of state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL Indonesia work on the fourth 60-meterlong fast missile boat (FMB), KCR60M, in Surabaya on Thursday. The vessel was ordered by the Indonesian Navy. JP/Wahyoe Boediwardhana

Rear Admiral Leonardi, the Defense Ministry’s chief of the procurement center, firmly pushed the button, turning on the laser cutting machine that immediately started cutting a Krakatau Steel-produced steel sheet with perfect precision.

The act, which took place at the assembly hall of state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL in Surabaya, marked the commencement of the construction of the 60 meter-long Fast Missile Boat (FMB), also known as KCR60M, which was ordered by the Indonesian Navy.

“Since PT PAL has constructed the previous three FMBs, we expect that the flaws found on those boats would be corrected and improved upon on the fourth boat so it would be an improved version,” Leonardi said recently.

He said that the Navy had gained confidence in operating domestically-built warships. The confidence, he added, was reflected in the increasing number of orders placed by the Navy on domestic shipbuilders.

In mid-2017, the Navy plans to commission a batch of three additional 60 meter-long FMBs.

The Navy expected to have seven FMBs in operation by 2017.

Currently, the Navy has three FMBs in operation that began in 2014, another one has just begun construction and an order for the construction of another three would be placed in mid-2017.

The construction cost for the last four FMBs was expected to reach Rp. 2.2 trillion (US$165 million).

Separately, Assistant for Logistics of the Navy Chief Rear Admiral Mulyadi explained that the fourth FMB, which was ordered by the Defense Ministry, and the additional three FMBs, which were ordered directly by the Navy, would feature different characteristics.

PT PAL would build the fourth FMB without any armaments. A weapon control system, guns and missile launchers would be added upon the completion of the FMB.

The additional three FMBs, on the other hand, would be fully installed with armaments during the construction process.

“We tried to have it constructed with full armaments, but due to budget limitations we will build the boat as a platform first and then equip it with the necessary weapons later on,” he said, referring to the fourth FMB.

The cost for constructing the fourth FMB is about Rp. 210 billion, while the cost for constructing the additional three FMBs with full armaments would reach Rp 665 billion each.

“The 60 meter-long FMBs would use European-made combat management systems (CMS) that have excellent reliability, while the 40 meter-long FMBs would use Chinese-made CMS,” he added.

PT PAL CEO M Firmansyah Arifin disclosed that in addition to the three additional, fullyarmed FMBs, the Navy planned to commission a Banjarmasin-class landing platform dock (LPD), an amphibious warship able to transport and land troops as well as equipment.

“We are still in discussion with our Navy counterparts on the detailed specifications,” Firmansyah said.

The company has, in the past, built three LPDs for the Navy. It also won a tender to construct a strategic sealift vessel (SSV) for the Philippines’ Navy and, recently, secured an order from Malaysia’s Navy to construct a Multirole Support Ship (MRSS).

“The contract with Malaysia’s Navy will be inked next August. There is a possibility that they will order more than one MRSS. The platform for MRSSs is similar to the one for the Indonesian Navy’s LPD and the Philippines’ SSV. However, the MRSS will be bigger, 163 meter-long, and fully-armed.”

The orders from foreign navies, he stressed, proved that PT PAL possessed shipbuilding technology on par with that of other countries’ shipbuilders.

This modular upgrade concept appears to be similar to Rheinmetall's MBT Revolution concept. It includes enhanced survivability by using SidePRO-ATR armor and electric drive systems. The tanks internal systems are fully digital and includue a new battlefield management system. The MLU also includes a new commander's sight with integrated thermal imager.

ni kalau dia spam, 2a7 pun tekincit!     

Side armor module of the Leopard 2 Evolution defeating a PG-7VLT with tandem warhead

In case of the Leopard 2 Evolution, the side armor of the tank was capable of resisting the PG-7VLT ammunition with tandem warhead, which can penetrate more than 500 mm of steel armor after defeating explosive reactive armor (ERA). In static tests, a similar thick array of AMAP was also capable of protecting against the PG-7VR round (fitted with the same warhead as used by the RPG-29 ammunition), which is capable of penetrating up to 750 mm steel armor (600 mm after ERA).

The British Challenger 2 Versus The German Leopard 2: UK MOD Turned Down A Fleet of Leopard 2

February 5, 2017

Britain reportedly turned down the opportunity to purchase between 100 and 400 old German Leopard 2 tanks  a even though they would have been able to operate for a decade longer than the upgraded Challenger 2, Forces TV reported. 

“They made that offer to us and we should have taken it but there was an arrogance: we invented the tank, we have to have a British tank. There was a worry about negative press headlines.”

German manufacturer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann reportedly offered to sell between 100 and 400 old Leopard 2 tanks to the Ministry of Defence last year.

The Leopard 2 is able to fire shells up to 5,000 metres (16,400 feet), compared to the Challenger 2’s 3,000m (10,000 ft).

Then there is the issue of interchangeability between the Challenger 1 and Challenger 2. Only 5% of Challenger 2 components are interchangeable with the Challenger 1.  The German tank uses the same standard ammunition as the UK’s European NATO allies. The Challenger 2,  is the only tank to use rounds made by BAE Systems.

GDELS details M3 amphibious bridge order

02nd February 2017 - 10:30 by The Shephard News Team



General Dynamics European Land Systems will deliver the M3 Amphibious Bridge and Ferry System to an unnamed customer in Southeast Asia under a contract announced on 2 February.

The contract is for the latest variant of the system, and the package includes a simulator system, training, special tools and manuals.

The M3 Amphibious Bridge and Ferry System can carry payloads of up to MLC85 tracked vehicles and MLC 132 wheeled vehicles and can build a 100m (330ft) floating bridge in less than 10 minutes. The system can be used for military and civil defence missions.

Thomas Kauffmann, VP international business and services, General Dynamics European Land Systems, said: ‘The award of the contract once again underlines the quality and superior performance of General Dynamics European Land Systems’ mobile bridge systems and the high reputation our company and products have in the defence market as the most modern and most powerful amphibious bridge and ferry system.’

Singapore completes checks on Terrex vehicles previously detained by Hong Kong

Ridzwan Rahmat, Singapore - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
07 February 2017

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has completed a series of checks and maintenance tasks on the nine 8x8 Terrex infantry carrier vehicles (ICVs) previously detained by the Hong Kong authorities, the Singapore Army announced via an official social media channel on 6 February.


A Singapore Armed Forces' 8x8 Terrex infantry carrier vehicle (ICV), similar to the nine detained in Hong Kong in November 2016. (Singapore Armed Forces)

The ICVs, which were detained on 23 November at the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department's River Trade Terminal following inspections, were released in January 2017. The vehicles were originally in transit to Singapore via a commercial freighter after completing an SAF training exercise in Taiwan.

The Hong Kong government has cited possible breaches of its strategic commodities regulations as a reason for the detention.

"The ICVs and equipment will be deployed for training shortly," the Singapore Army said via its social media post, although no further details on this was provided.