PH military now has dozen 155mm Towed Howitzers from Israel

July 10, 2017 Ace dela Cruz Nation

A dozen of Israeli Elbit-Soltam M-71 155mm/39CAL Towed howitzers are now with the Philippine Army and Philippine Marines, each service having 6, according to MaxDefense Philippines who has sources from the military and defense community.

“Based on information we received, the Philippine Army and Philippine Marine Corps are now in possession of all their ordered M-71 155mm/39 towed howtizers delivered by Soltam through Elbit C4 and Land Systems, as part of the AFP Modernization Program under the old RA 7898 of 1995, not under any of the newer Horizon phase,” MaxDefense Philippines said today in its social networking page.

The Department of National Defense (DND)-Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) initiated the project to acquire twelve 155mm Towed Howitzer with 240 rounds of high explosive ammunition including an integrated logistics support package early 2015 with approved budget of PhP438.6 million.

Elbit won the bidding by submitting a bid of PHP410.84 million.

DND public affairs office chief Arsenio Andolong revealed early last month that three of the 12 Israeli towed howitzers have arrived in April and the other nine were in transit.

Thai Air Force to get South Korean T-50TH fighter training aircraft

politics July 11, 2017 19:35

By WASAMON AUDJARINT ,
THE NATION

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a Bt8.8-billion purchase of eight T-50TH Golden Eagle fighter training aircraft from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) of South Korea, which the military said would not be too much of a burden on the national budget.

The purchase of the aircraft brings the total value of military hardware bought under the ruling junta since the coup of 2014 to a total of Bt 72.7 billion.

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said the new pilot trainers will replace the retiring, out-of-date fleet of L-39ZA/ART jets from Czechoslovakia, which have been in use for more than two decades and have high maintenance costs.

The new aircraft are being bought to keep up with the modern technology of the Saab JAS-39C/D Gripen aircraft that the Air Force currently uses, Prayut said.

“It will only bring more damage if we provide insufficient training [to pilots],” Prayut said. “Also, I assure you that we are not bound by any party when it comes to hardware purchase.”

The Thai Air Force also uses an upgraded version of the F-16 A/B fighting jets from the United States.

Air Force sources said that the South Korean aircraft’s features are similar to the F-16 fighters but they are less expensive.

The purchase would be done in a government-to-government deal, according to Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan. “The deal will be done transparently,” he told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

Documents and details on the Cabinet’s approval were not revealed as they were marked confidential, a usual practice when the government considers procurement of military hardware.

The new procurement constitutes the second batch of T-50THs. The Air Force signed a Bt3.7-billion contract with KAI to buy four T-50THs in September 2015, with delivery due in 2018.

China Makes First Step In Shifting Naval Balance Of Power In Pacific

M113 Arisgator TNI AD: Pertanyaannya bukan Jadi Beli Tetapi Berapa dan Kapan?

Posted on 10/07/2017 by Aryo Nugroho



Jika tahun lalu TNI AD dikabarkan akan membeli M113 Arisgator yakni M113 dengan kemampuan amfibi dan beroperasi dari kapal pendarat, informasi yang diterima Arcinc.id kali ini mengabarkan bahwaTNI AD sudah pasti akan membeli M113 buaya ini. Kabar semacam ini akan membuat sahabat ArcinC yang fanatik atas M113 seperti Weka G. Cha Bi sangat gembira.

Thales proposes Watchkeeper UAS for Indonesian Air Force's ISTAR requirements

Ridzwan Rahmat, Singapore - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
11 July 2017
  
Key Points

• Thales has offered the Watchkeeper UAS for the Indonesian Air Force's requirements
• System is being considered to improve the service's surveillance, reconnaissance, and target acquisition capabilities


The Thales Watchkeeper UAV over ParcAberporth, Wales. (Thales)

Thales UK is positioning the company's WK 450 Watchkeeper unmanned aircraft system (UAS) for the Indonesian Air Force's (Tentara Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Udara: TNI-AU's) intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) requirements.

According to sources from within the service who spoke to Jane's on 11 July, a presentation on the UAS' capabilities was made by officials from Thales UK to the TNI-AU's office for planning a budget in mid-April 2017. The UAS, which has been derived from Elbit Systems' Hermes 450 tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system, was originally developed for the British Army.

another case of friendly fire

2 soldiers dead, 11 injured as air strike misses target in Marawi

Why friendly fire? No communication between both party?

Why friendly fire? No communication between both party?

using unguided bombs in close urban warfare.. they are bound to have some casualties

using unguided bombs in close urban warfare.. they are bound to have some casualties

another case of friendly fire

2 soldiers dead, 11 injured as air strike misses target in Marawi

Perhaps, but both ground and air units should have had some attempt at identifying positions of friendly forces though.

the bomb reportedly missed 250m off their target into friendly area by their fa-50..
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/913385/it-was...military-source

Are they droppping dumb bomb?
If yes, wouldnt it be a very bad idea for using dumb bomb in urban area?