Embraer declared as ‘lowest calculated bidder’ for Close Air Support Aircraft project

June 20, 2017 Joel Dizon Nation

The Department of National Defense (DND) confirmed to Update Philippines that Brazilian aerospace conglomerate Embraer was declared as the lowest calculated bidder in the ongoing Close Air Support Aircraft Acquisition Project for the Philippine Air Force.

“Embraer was determined as the lowest calculated bidder for the Close Air Support Project, but they still have to undergo and pass the post-qualification inspection to be awarded the contract,” DND told Update Philippines.

Post-qualification inspection includes the checking of manufacturer’s facilities and the aircraft offered.

The said project will acquire six close air support aircraft to replace/complement the Air Force’s Rockwell OV-10 “Bronco” turboprop attack planes.

Embraer offered the Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano also referred to as A-29.

Singapore Army acquires Rafael Spike SR anti-armour missile system

Kelvin Wong, Singapore - IHS Jane's Missiles & Rockets
21 June 2017


A full-sized training mock-up of the Rafael Spike SR missile system was exhibited by the Singapore Army at its open house event from 27 to 29 May. (IHS Markit/Kelvin Wong)

The Singapore Army has acquired the Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Spike Short Range (SR) manportable missile system as its next generation guided anti-armour weapon for its infantry and guards forces, Jane's has learnt at its Army Open House 2017 event that was held in late May.

Jane's understands that the Spike SR has replaced the Saab Bofors Dynamics 84 mm Carl-Gustaf M2 recoilless rifle in army service.

"Soldiers will be trained in the Spike SR system from June 2017," the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) revealed to Jane's in an emailed statement on 18 June.

The Spike SR is the latest and most compact member of Rafael's Spike fire-and-forget missile family. Specifications released by the army describe the system as a disposable, day and night-capable weapon that is 970 mm long with an overall weight of 9.8 kg inclusive of the missile, control launch unit (CLU), and battery.

Unlike the gimballed seeker installed in the Spike MR/LR/ER (medium-, long-, and extended range) missiles, the Spike SR incorporates an uncooled and fixed day/night-capable electro-optical (EO) seeker and tracker. According to company literature, the SR has a short activation-to-launch cycle of less than 6 seconds.

The baseline Spike SR configuration features a tandem high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead designed to hit static and moving armoured vehicle targets. However, Jane's earlier reported in 2016 that Rafael has introduced a new penetration blast fragmentation (PBF) warhead - employing the warhead technology developed jointly by the Singapore Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) and the company's Dynamit Nobel Defence subsidiary for the 90 mm MATADOR (Man-portable Anti-Tank, Anti-DOoR) light support weapon - to provide troops operating in urban environments with a tactical anti-structure capability.

Paris Air Show 2017: Airbus DS outlines progress on armed C295

Erwan de Cherisey, Paris - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
23 June 2017
 
Airbus Defense and Space (DS) is set to deliver its first armed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) C295 aircraft to an undisclosed customer in September, Pablo Melero, marketing manager for ISR Military Aircraft at Airbus DS, told Jane's.

The modified aircraft features a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) under the nose, a multimode search radar with maritime and ground surveillance modes, a palletised version of Airbus DS' newest Fully Integrated Tactical System (FITS), which features additional screens for improved situation awareness, and a pair of 12.7 mm manually operated heavy machine guns (HMG) firing through the rear parachuting doors. The exact type of HMG was not disclosed by Airbus DS.

Laser strike

A high energy laser mounted on a helicopter shoots a target in groundbreaking test


Raytheon, in partnership with the U.S. Army and U.S. Special Operations Command, mounted a high energy laser on an Apache helicopter similar to those in this image and engaged and fired on a target at White Sands Missile Range.

Now this is what you call a breakthrough.

A high energy laser mounted on an Apache AH-64 attack helicopter acquired and hit an unmanned target. The test was conducted by Raytheon and the U.S. Army Apache Program Management Office in collaboration with U.S. Special Operations Command at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

It was the first time a fully integrated laser system successfully shot a target from a rotary-wing aircraft over a wide variety of flight regimes, altitudes and air speeds, proving the feasibility of laser attack from Apache.

The system tracked and directed energy on a stationary target at a slant range of 1.4 kilometers. (Slant range is the line-of-sight distance between two points at different levels.)

The data collected from the test, including impact of vibration, dust and rotor downwash, will help shape future high-energy laser systems.

"Our goal is to pull the future forward," said Art Morrish, vice president of Advanced Concepts and Technologies for Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems. "This data collection shows we're on the right track."

For the test, Raytheon coupled a variant of the Multi-Spectral Targeting System, an advanced, electro-optical, infrared sensor, with a laser. The MTS provided targeting information, situational awareness and beam control.

Published: 06/22/2017

Last Updated: 06/26/2017

any idea whether for their combat or combat support?

Russia Could Sell Indonesia Su-35 Fighter Jets on Loan


© Sputnik/ Vitaliy Ankov

Military & Intelligence
09:51 05.07.2017 (updated 10:07 05.07.2017)

Russia and Indonesia are in discussions over loans for the delivery of Su-35 Flanker multirole fighters to Jakarta, state arms exporter Rosoboronexport Director General Alexander Mikheev told Sputnik.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — He said the sides have agreed an offset obligation program, outlined the Su-35's concept, as well as arranged delivery times and training programs.

"The theoretical work is completed. We are discussing the possibility of granting a loan," Mikheev said.

The Su-35 fighter is a 4++ generation aircraft employing technologies of the fifth generation, designed by the Sukhoi Aviation Holding Company, which belongs to Russia's United Aircraft Corporation. The first experimental Su-35 was first presented at Russia's MAKS-2007 air show and was later introduced to a foreign audience at the 2013 Paris Air Show.

During operations against terrorists, Su-35S jets, as well as Su-30SM aircraft, provide air cover for Russian bombers.

Indonesia, Turkey to Ramp Up Cooperation in Energy and Aerospace Industries

Jakarta. Indonesian ship and airplane builders finalized business deals totaling $520 million with Turkish companies, paving the way for future investments from Turkey into diverse industries in the Southeast Asian nation.

State-owned ship manufacturer PAL Indonesia signed a $320 million deal with Turkish energy company Karadeniz Holding to build four power ships, according to Thomas Lembong, the chairman of the Investment Coordination Board (BKPM).

Each ship will have the capacity to generate 36-80 megawatts of electrical power to bolster energy needs in some of the country's more remote provinces.

Thomas also said cooperation between PAL and Karadeniz would put Indonesia on the map as an important manufacturing base for power ships in Southeast Asia, where neighboring countries like the Philippines and Myanmar might be potential customers.

In a separate deal, airplane manufacturer Dirgantara Indonesia (DI) and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) agreed to a $200 million cooperation to develop DI's N245 aircraft and to market the N219 aircraft to Turkish airlines. In return, DI will help market and produce TAI's UAV-ANKA military drone.

"BKPM supports the recent investment cooperation between Indonesian and Turkish companies. These deals are expected to increase Turkey's investment into the country, which is currently pretty minimal," Thomas said.

15 to 5 and LMS Updates

Marhalim Abas
July 8, 2017
Malaysia -RMN

SHAH ALAM: LMS and 15 to 5 updates. The RMN 15 to 5 transformation plan is on track and the navy will have a new fleet – if it goes to plan – in 30 years time. The first two ships under the plan are the LCS – two already being built – and the LMS which is to start construction soon.

Three LCS (including the two already built) and three LMS will be build under the current RMK11 plan which ends in 2020. For RMK12 – 2021 to 2025, the navy plans to build three more LCS, eight LMS and one each of the PV (Kedah class) and the MRSS (Damen design?).

Between 2026 to 2030 under the RMK13, it will be five PV, seven LMS and two more MRSS. In RMK 14 (2031=2035) funding will be sought for 5 PV and one submarine; in RMK15 (2036-2040) one each of the PV and submarine and four LCS and RMK16 (2041-45) two LCS as the replacement for a replacement for the Kedah class.

Indonesia selects MARLIN WS 30 mm gun system for PC-40 class

Ridzwan Rahmat, Singapore - IHS Jane's Navy International
10 July 2017

The Indonesian Navy (Tentara Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Laut, or TNI-AL) has selected the MARLIN - WS remote-controlled gun mount system equipped with a 30 mm cannon for its PC-40 class of patrol vessels.

Confirmation from the TNI-AL on this weapon choice came with the commissioning of the sixth vessel in the class, KRI Kurau (856), which was inducted into the service's Western Fleet (KOARMABAR) on 6 July. The first three ships in the class were commissioned in January 2017 without this main weapon but Kurau was seen during its induction ceremony installed with the system.

According to specifications provided by Leonardo, the MARLIN WS, which stands for modular advanced remotely-controlled lightweight naval weapon station, can be fitted with either 25 mm or 30 mm cannons.

Russia’s Uralvagonzavod to supply Vietnam with 64 T-90 main battle tanks

Jul 8, 2017


T-90SK tank

The UralVagonZavod (UVZ) has signed the contract to provide 64 T-90S third-generation main battle tanks for the People’s Army of Vietnam, the corporation said in the 2016 report published on Tuesday.

The report identifies foreign contracts among its priorities, noting, among others “a contract with … Contractor 704 to deliver 64 T-90S/SK tanks.”

Under the Russian state standard of national codes, number 704 is assigned to Vietnam.

Thailand plans purchase of eight more South Korea trainer jets

By Elizabeth Shim Contact the Author  |  July 10, 2017


Thailand is planning the acquisition of eight more T-50 trainer jets. File Photo courtesy of Korea Aerospace Industries

July 10 (UPI) -- Thailand is pursuing plans to acquire eight additional South Korea-made T-50 trainer jets.

The Bangkok Post reported Tuesday, local time, the Thai government is working on plans to purchase the jet trainers, worth a total of $231.5 million.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon will seek cabinet approval for the purchase of the supersonic advanced trainers, according to the report.

The Royal Thai Air Force will finance the purchase over the next three years from its dedicated budget, and the deal may be finalized on July 29 with Korea Aerospace Industries.

The T-50 will replaced the older Czech Republic-made L-39 advanced trainers.

Thailand's air force has plans to build a squadron of 16 jets, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported.

In 2015, Thailand purchased four T-50 advanced trainers for $110 million, with delivery scheduled for early 2018.

The report comes a few months after South Korea demonstrated a T-50 trainer in Southeast Asia.

The T-50B trainer was promoted at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition in an air show.

The T-50 aircraft has also been exported to Indonesia and the Philippines.

KAI and Lockheed Martin jointly developed the T-50. It can be equipped with a 20-millimeter cannon, as well as rockets and missiles.