Singapore to build ship similar to aircraft carrier.

https://netral.news/en/received-a-marine-ve...ft-carrier.html

Mais note: it is not an aircraft carrier. It will be a LHD and likely with the ability to embark a small number of F35s if needed. RSN has been looking at Italian and Spanish designs apart from ST Marines Endurance 170 (bigger tonnage than Dokdo). Open source indicates yet another larger Endurance class design. It is likely RSAf will eventually operate F35as and bs together with the 40+ f15sgs (midlife upgrade to f15ex) for robustness and redundancy. The 60-70 F16Vs would have been retired by then or form an inner layer of interceptors.

The 2 JMMS vessels will join RSN together with the 6 MRCV heavy frigates and 4 to 6 light frigates (for maritime security) by 2030. RSN will also receive the 4 new Invinvible class type 218sg aip equipped submarines from 2021 onwards and likely buy 2 more to form a 6-ship squadron. The first MRCV heavy frigate will be ready in 2025. Meanwhile the 6 Formidable class frigates will undergo a midife upgrade by 2025 with better sensors and weapons - particularly anti air and anti submarine.

Endurance 170 LHD:

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/26329/Dig...ow#.YKh4fmnmg0E

A screenshot of the Indonesian PT PAL booth at Indonesian Ministry of Defense Exhibition 2020. Its the first time PT PAL is introducing its LPH 244 meter design to the public. Credit to PT PAL.





Roadmap of PT PAL LPH 244 meter based from the Makassar Class LPD.

The Multi Role Support Ship is the one which is offered to RMN MRSS project, isnt it?
It wont be the same as TNI Makassar class.

Videographic on the incoming MRCV heavy frigate - first ship will be ready in 2025:

The MRCV will carry at least 2 of these 17m USVs amongst other UAVs, UUVs and a 16 ton helicopter:



These unmanned systems will further enhance the sensor range of the frigate and link up not only with the MRCV but other sensors and shooters (formidable frigates, mpas, f15sgs, f16vs, etc.). They can also carry weapons like cannons and surface to surface missiles like spike nlos or Spear 3.

The Navy’s Formidable-class Frigates, in operation since 2006, will also undergo a mid-life upgrade. This is to ensure their continued relevance and effectiveness, particularly in anti-submarine and anti-air-defence capabilities
Read more at https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/govt-...next-few-months

Navy Recognition (NR): How did Thales managed to increase the detection range of the Herakles ?
Thales radar expert (TRE): The increased range is obtained by:
• The increase in power (adding additional Tx modules in the transmitter bay)
• The generation of new impulses
• The creation of a new search/watch mode

NR: Will this "boosted" HERAKLES be a limiting factor relative to the capacity of Aster 30 missiles? In other words, in case of interception, will the FREDA + Herakles + Aster 30 combination have the same capabilities as the Horizon + Smart L+ Aster 30 combination ?
TRE: The Horizon frigates are equipped with SMART-L radar and EMPAR. Aster 30 firing tests (with French and foreign navies) showed that Herakles was very effective in its current configurations.

21 MAY 2021

France begins Rafale F4 flight trials

by Gareth Jennings

France has launched flight trials of the latest F4 standard of the Dassault Rafale combat aircraft, the Ministry of the Armed Forces announced on 20 May.


Two F4-1 standard Rafale combat aircraft took part in flight trials in April, flying realistic tactical scenarios alongside other French aircraft types. (Ministry of the Armed Forces)

The tests of an F4-1 configured Rafale took place out of Istres airbase in southern France from 26 to 29 April. They were conducted under the stewardship of the Directorate General of Armament (DGA).

“Eight complex missions representing 50 aircraft sorties were carried out by test crews from the DGA, the French Navy, the French Air and Space Force, and Dassault Aviation,” the ministry said, adding the trials saw two Rafales configured to the F4-1 standard operate as part of a wider aerial component of up to eight aircraft, performing realistic tactical scenarios.

News of the commencement of flight trials came some two-and-a-half years after the Rafale F4 upgrade was formally launched. As noted by Dassault in January 2019, the F4-standard will include enhancements to the Thales RBE2 active electronic scanned array (AESA) radar, the Thales TALIOS long-range airborne targeting pod and the Reco NG reconnaissance pod; upgrades to the aircraft's communications suite; improved pilot helmet-mounted displays; a new engine control unit; and the ability to carry new weaponry such as the Mica Next-Generation (NG) air-to-air missile and 1,000 kg Sagem Armement Air-Sol Modulaire (AASM) modular air-to-ground precision weapon.

Some specs on the USV that will function from the MRCV heavy frigates and Sg island:






There will be a number of variants. In anti-surface mode, it will be equipped with Spike LR2 (range: 6km to 10km) or Spike NLOS Naval (range: 25km to 30km) like so:



Singapore's LMVs will also carry Spike NLOS or LR2 missiles:

*Mike Yeo is a correspondent with Defencenews



Smart way to sink small boats and disable large ones. Send an anti-tank missile over!

INDONESIA TO SIGN AN ORDER FOR 36 RAFALE

Thursday 05/20/2021 at 9:38

The contract with Indonesia for the sale of 36 Rafale to Indonesia is reportedly on track. According to La Tribune, it was signed by the Minister of Defense and is only awaiting a presidential decree.

Home straight for the signing of a new Rafale contract. According to La Tribune, Indonesia would be "very close to boarding" the French fighter plane. According to "corroborating sources", the contract would have been initialed by Prabowo Subianto, Minister of Defense, and only awaits the approval of President Joko Widodo to validate the financing of the contract.

A source even suggests that Prabowo Subianto should meet in "the coming weeks", Florence Parly, Minister of the Armed Forces to formalize the order.

If this signing materializes, it would confirm the optimism of Florence Parly. Last December, on BFM Business, the Minister of the Armed Forces mentioned this contract which would cover 36 aircraft and that it was on track. For his part, Eric Trappier, remained vague on the number of devices by speaking of 24 to 40 devices. The amount of the contract would be around 4 billion euros.

5 submarines and two corvettes

This signature, if validated by a presidential decree, would once again confirm the success of Dassault Aviation's fighter plane. The Rafale posted a score of 144 aircraft sold for export in addition to the 192 aircraft of the French armies.

The last order was signed on April 26 with Egypt and covers 30 devices. Other contracts could be signed this year. Tenders are underway with the United Arab Emirates (36 aircraft), India (110), Croatia (12), Finland (64) and Switzerland (40).

Indonesia is a regular customer of France in terms of armaments. Ranked 12th in terms of exports, the French sold it for $ 1.62 billion between 2010 and 2019. 

At the start of 2021, in addition to the Rafales, discussions began on five Scorpène submarines armed with the Exocet SM39 missile and two Gowind corvettes of 2,500 tonnes.

SG really love Israel weaponry.. With field proven iron dome from Rafael... I guess little dot can sting really hard with their Rafael hardware

The 5th generation SPIKE LR 2 ATGM is designed for use from vehicles and by dismounted forces with a target spectrum including medium and heavily armoured vehicles as well as fortified positions in a range band up to 5,500 metres. The infrared seeker, with CCD camera, transmits the image from the target to the shooter via glasfibre. This allows the missile to be used in both fire-and-forget and fire-and-observe modes. In the latter case, the shooter can change the target or abort the engagement after firing. Additionally, the engagement can be started without the shooter seeing the target when firing. In the final phase, the shooter can choose the angle of attack: direct or top attack.

Australia military to stop using Israel defence system
The Australian government has informed Israel's largest private arms company, Elbit Systems, that its military will stop using its Battle Management System (BMS) from mid-June.

"The news was given to the company with no explanation as to the reasoning behind the decision, with Defence confirming that they have no interim solution to replace the capability," the Australian Defence website reports.

However, according to a report by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), tensions between Elbit and the Australian Department of Defence had been simmering due to the Israeli company imposing "huge premiums" on the BMS because it has a monopoly on the system.

"People are getting fed up with Elbit exploiting their monopoly to impose huge premiums," one unnamed Australian officer told the ABC.

"And there are definite concerns that the Israelis are backdooring the system for information," he added.

Elbit Systems is often the target of campaigns by human rights groups. The Israeli firm produces surveillance technology for the illegal Separation Wall in the occupied West Bank and is said to manufacture the engines for 85 per cent of the country's military drones, among other weapons components.

The Israeli arms manufacturer is said to have supplied 85 per cent of the drones used in the war on Gaza in 2014, when over 2,200 Palestinians – 500 of them children – were killed in only 50 days. The Israeli arms company has ten sites across Britain.

Greater awareness of Elbit's role in human rights violations and alleged war crimes has tarnished the company's image. In February, East Sussex Pension Fund was the latest to divest from Israeli firms months after human rights activists lobbied the fund to bring an end to its ties to companies which violate international law.
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210505-...defence-system/

Indonesia will build defense equipment from abroad

Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto emphasized that the procurement of defense equipment will contain local content and technology transfer

Erric Permana | 21.05.2021


Tiger medium tank, the result of cooperation between Indonesian and Turkish defense companies. (Anton Raharjo - Anadolu Agency)

JAKARTA

The Indonesian government ensures that the procurement of the main weaponry system (alutsista) from abroad will later be built domestically.

Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto said the cooperation in the procurement of defense equipment would later benefit Indonesia by applying terms of cooperation in the form of trade returns, local content and technology transfer.

In the plenary meeting of the Defense Industry Policy Committee (KKIP) which was held on Thursday, Prabowo, who also serves as the Daily Chair of the KKIP, stated that the development of defense equipment in the country and the obligation to contain local content towards Indonesia's defense independence.

"The defense spending paradigm must be turned into a defense investment," Prabowo explained in an official statement from the Ministry of Defense released on Friday.

"This is with a strategy of approximately 40 percent in procurement, which must be spent domestically," he added.

The Minister of Defense also assessed the need for a long-term Strategic Plan (Renstra), so that it could become a reference for building defense industry independence.

Previously, cooperation in procuring defense equipment from abroad which resulted in domestic development, including the manufacture of Tiger Tanks with Turkey and the manufacture of Changbogo-class submarines with South Korea Alugoro-405.

Meanwhile, in the procurement plan for the next few years, Indonesia will buy dozens of planes and submarines.

In the 2021 TNI Leadership Meeting document received by Anadolu Agency, Indonesia plans to buy 36 Rafale aircraft and 8 F-15 EX aircraft.

Probably the best image of Sgs Blue Spear missile thus far:



Sg and Israels IAI have been developing a new 5gen SSM based on the Gabriel 5 called Blue Spear to replace their Harpoon missiles. Sg and Israel set up the 50/50 joint venture company, Proteus Systems, to market the missile to Asian customers.Sg will produce the war-head, rocket engine, parts of the missile body amongst others whilst Israel will produce the guidance systems. Sg and israel will assemble the missile in their respective countries so it is domestically produced.

https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/44158

As can be seen from the photo above, the evolved Gabriel 5 or Blue Spear has more strakes (reminds me of the python missile)and sensors/guidance systems (not just front) on the side of the missile body. This likely confers high maneuverability in tight spaces unseen in an anti-ship missile, and of great benefit in littoral environments e.g. SEA where there are thousands of merchant ships at any point of time.

Gabriel 5 has a range of 200km to 400km.

Compare the baseline Gabriel 5 to the one above:

https://defense-update.com/20180706_ssm2020.html

Missile specs:
Seeker: Active radar seeker with advanced anti-jam features, all-weather capability, wide search range and good discrimination resolution
Warhead: Penetrating warhead
Engine: Jet engine
Navigation: GPS / INS, multiple waypoints
Length: 5.5 m
Weight: 1250 kg
Speed: Subsonic

The missile is much larger and heavier than harpoons - apart from the longer range, it is expected to carry a larger warhead i.e. sink carriers with dual function of land attack.