Actually, I have never wrote that the F16Vs (tail serial numbers indicate that they have bought about 90-100 F16s - see my previous post which corresponds with how many
F35s they want i.e. up to 100. Also see tail numbers for F15SGs...now at 70-80 aircrafts) are going to be retired as soon as they are upgraded. I said that they will be withdrawn in the early 2030s (Sg's Menhan actually said 2030). This will be the time when the last of the purchased F35s reach IOC.

It is 2021-22 now. 2030 is some 9 to 10 years down the road. That is why I said that there is something wrong with you.


As for Sg's growth rate, a developed economy should not grow so much - 2% to 3% is fine. But fyi, SG will grow >7% this year and about >5% next year:

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/si...ast-mti-2334551

But what is more important than basic comparison of GDP or GDP per cap is basically money and surpluses. SG simply has the money to sustain and increase its defence budget because it is making money and has tons of it.

SG's 2021 defence budget:

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-det...et%20of%20SGD13.

This post has been edited by Mai189: Dec 18 2021, 05:22 PM

Hmm..not sure this was posted...cant follow much on defence matters everytime i need to focus on my projects but ive got some lul period since it is Dec.



Estonia buys Singapore-Israel Blue Spear 5th gen anti-ship/land attack missile.

Oct 11, 2021,08:00am EDT|27,163 views
Estonia Is About To Aim Missiles At A Key Russian Weakness

The Estonian military is buying a 200-mile-range anti-ship cruise missile.

For almost any other country, the Oct. 6 deal between the Estonian Center for Defense Investment and Proteus Advanced Systems—a joint venture of Israel Aerospace Industries and ST Engineering Land Systems—might not be a big deal.

But the Blue Spear missile that Estonia is buying from Proteus is Estonia’s first anti-ship missile. And anti-ship missile in Estonian hands has unique potential to cause very, very big problems from Russia.

“The chosen weapon system will form the cornerstone of Estonian naval defense for decades to come,” said Jüri Saska, commander of the tiny Estonian navy, which has just 300 sailors and six small, very lightly armed vessels. “Estonian navy will be able to contribute significantly both to national, regional and collective defense effort.”

He’s not kidding.

Blue Spear is the latest version of Israel’s Gabriel missile. The roughly 20-foot-long, truck-launched missile has different flight modes. It can fly low. Or it can fly really low. It packs a warhead weighing several hundred pounds and an active radar seeker for maximum accuracy. Navigation is inertial, meaning it’s impossible to jam.

Some of the farther-flying Gabriels can travel more than 300 miles, presumably while cruising at higher altitude. As a sea-skimmer, Blue Spear is less fuel-efficient. So its range is less than 200 miles (321 km).

But in the crowded waters of the Baltic Sea, 200 miles is a long way. That’s especially true for Estonia. A Blue Spear missile launching from Estonia can range across the entire Gulf of Finland, that branch of the Baltic that connects the Russian port of St. Petersburg to Kaliningrad, Russia’s coastal exclave lying between Poland and Lithuania.

Kaliningrad is a weird holdover from World War II. Once German, it became Russian—and today it’s Moscow’s main Baltic outpost. The 86-square-mile territory, population 400,000, bristles with weaponry.

Kaliningrad gives Russia a toehold in the Baltic from where air, sea and land forces can threaten NATO’s weakest members Lativa, Lithuania and ... Estonia.

But Kaliningrad’s position is a strength and a weakness. Yes, the exclave is a Russian base inside NATO’s borders. But that means that, in times of tension, NATO governments easily could stop trucks, trains and planes from resupplying Kaliningrad.

Indeed, that already happened—a decade ago. In response, Moscow opened a new sea trade route between St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad. It’s a safe bet that, in wartime, the exclave would depend on frequent supply convoys.

NATO already has significant naval forces in the Baltic. But none of them belong to Estonia or, for that matter, any of the alliance’s other Baltic states. Estonia’s single minelayer and three minehunters, none displacing more than 500 tons, are defensive vessels. It’s their job to keep Estonia’s own ports open for trade.

Truck-fired anti-ship missiles certainly possess a defensive capability. Especially if the threat is, say, a Russian amphibious force. But the same missiles are offensive, too. Estonia’s new missiles, ranging across one of the most important maritime chokepoints in Europe, could help to sever the flow of food, fuel and reinforcements from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad.

Now consider this: Blue Spear isn’t just an anti-ship missile. It like many ASMs also has a latent land-attack capability. And St. Petersburg lies just 90 miles from the Estonian border.

It’s unclear how many Blue Spears Estonia is buying. Each missile apparently costs around $5 million.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/...sh=588a67b43dbe

-------------------------------------------



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabriel_(missile)



Specifications from the Finnish Ministry of Defence:

https://www.edrmagazine.eu/finnish-navy-unv...ti-ship-missile

Mai's note: This is likely the biggest/heaviest ant-ship missile employed by Western oriented navies right now and it screams...carrier killer. God help smaller sized ships that becomes its prey.

I note that Blue Spear will also fit into RSN's Invincible class submarine torp tubes. An air launched variant of the missile should be able to reach distances of up to 700-800km (depending on altitude).

This post has been edited by Mai189: Dec 19 2021, 09:17 PM

Bilateral exercises have restarted it seems. And yet another Malay CO from SAF:

This post has been edited by Mai189: Dec 18 2021, 07:15 PM

Up-Close Look at Singapore Kelly Aerospace’s Arrow, a Stealthy Supersonic Combat Drone

BY BILL SMITH OCTOBER 18, 2021





Singapore-based Kelley Aerospace is taking the combat drone industry to the next level with their supersonic Arrow. Featuring a carbon fiber monocoque it’s capable of flying over 2,982-miles with a maximum payload of 37,038-pounds. It’s estimated to cost less than $16 million, and as production ramps, as low as $9-million per unit.

The company reports that they have already received 100 pre-orders for the drone and two prototypes are currently being tested in Sweden as well as the United States. These are not autonomous drones, so the company is recruiting at least 500 pilots to eventually control them after completing training at a general aviation pilot academy.



https://theflighter.com/kelley-aerospace-ar...c-combat-drone/

Good company for RSAF's F35. Competition will come from Kratos Defense and Security’s XQ-58 Valkyrie and Beoing's Loyal Wingman UCAV drones.

Google around...the executives are/were from ST Engineering and Israel defence companies. Possibly another 50/50 joint venture firm like Proteus Advanced Systems—a joint venture of Israel Aerospace Industries and ST Engineering Land Systems.

This post has been edited by Mai189: Dec 19 2021, 09:21 PM

F-35s Could Get New Engines As Soon As 2027



https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/43456...as-soon-as-2027

--------------

Mai's note: The F35 current speed is Mach 1.6 but this is already faster than most legacy 4.5 gen and below jets. Why? Many non-stealthy 4.5 gen and below jets can barely reach Mach 1.2 when loaded with weapons, as there is increased drag. The newer engines will push F35's speed (when in stealth mode) to Mach 1.8 to Mach 2 at least and offers more range.

Lol..nice vid:

Punya suka lah bero.

Singapore Naval Diving Unit restructures and introduces new stealth craft

Fact Sheet: Combatant Craft Large

OTHERS | 09 Dec 2021 18:20 (GMT+8)

Introduction

The Naval Diving Unit (NDU) is currently operationalising the Combatant Craft Large (CCL) as part of its capability development for the conduct of Maritime Security (MARSEC) operations. Designed and built locally, the craft was developed in collaboration with the Defence Science & Technology Agency.

Characteristics

Manoeuvrable with Good Sea-Keeping Capabilities. The CCL is designed to be highly maneuverable and to achieve high speeds, which allows the craft to operate in congested environments and reach the target location quickly.

Advanced sensors and communication system. The CCL is equipped with the latest electro-optics sensors so that it can operate in both day and night. Additionally, a comprehensive communication suite facilitates seamless information exchange and coordination with the Republic of Singapore Navy ships and shore headquarters. This enables a common maritime situational awareness for the delivery of quick and effective responses during operations.

PARAMETERS

1.Length 26m

2.Breadth 5m

3.Speed In excess of 35 knots

4.Range/Endurance In excess of 400nm

5.Complement 4 Crew (Boat Commander, Coxswain, Navigator and Engineer)

6. Hull Material Aluminium

7. Propulsion 2 x MTU Engines 2 x Rolls Royce Kamewa Waterjets

8. Electro Optical (EO) System 3rd Generation EO with Eye-safe laser

9. Navigation Systems Radio Detection and Ranging (Radar), Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS), Maritime Automatic Identification System (MAIS), Gyro Compass

10. Communication Suite Radio Communications, C2 System

11. Weapon 12.7mm OTO Melara Remote Weapon System (Mai's note: It can be armed with 25mm or 30mm cannon and/or spike NLOS or LR2 missiles too from ST Marine's designs. It is possible that these weapons may be retrofitted later or in future batches.)

Source: Sg's Mindef











Mai's note: This craft is meant for silent infiltration and seizing of enemy vessels. It is interesting to note Sg's Menhan said that SG bought a fleet of these crafts - stealth swarm?

This post has been edited by Mai189: Dec 19 2021, 09:59 PM

This is RSN's other stealth combatant craft - smaller one - see below. I think they are used for base and coastal defence. It is armed with a 12.7mm gun and/or Spike LR2 missiles.





Mai's note: Sg licence builds Spike missiles in Sg.

This post has been edited by Mai189: Dec 19 2021, 09:56 PM

https://www.agenzianova.com/a/61c1c2ee61632...m-all-indonesia

This post has been edited by azriel: Dec 22 2021, 08:27 AM

Malaysia rancang peroleh 33 buah F/A-18C/D dari Kuwait

Read more: https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/indo...2021144723.html

^ there is a lot of ignorance as to what indo are allowed to buy. Let alone the fact if they can borrow the monies to do so.

For e.g., various electronic systems onboard the EX model are not available for export to Indo e.g. EPAWSS. Too risky.

Best rmaf buy in a decade if this pulls through. The RMAF will have better capabilities than the indo air force and good deterrent against China. Expend a bit of money on upgrades or wait for free ones from US.

33 is a good number..manyak ong

Can reactivate 17 skuadron and give 18 skuadron full strength

Kuwait 33 F/A-18 C/D + RMAF 8 F/A-18D = 18(Squadron) + 18(Squadron) + 5(spare parts????)
if fully upgrade all , can last 10-15 years?

Dari 33 tu brapa byk kene canibalised nanti!

The Indonesian Air Force is set to receive its first out of 5 new Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules at the end of 2022.



https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/12/23...khir-tahun-2022

This post has been edited by azriel: Dec 24 2021, 09:27 AM

Singapore to develop mobile defence systems with Ghost Robotics
Defence Science and Technology Agency says it has inked a partnership agreement with Philadelphia-based Ghost Robotics to test and develop technologies as well as use cases for legged robots for security, defence, and humanitarian applications.


Singapore's Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) has inked a partnership with Philadelphia-based Ghost Robotics to identify uses cases involving legged robots for security, defence, and humanitarian applications. They will look to test and develop mobile robotic systems, as well as the associated technology enablers, that can be deployed in challenging urban terrain and harsh environments.

The collaboration also would see robots from Ghost Robotics paired with DSTA's robotics command, control, and communications (C3) system, the two partners said in a joint statement released Thursday.

The Singapore government agency said its C3 capabilities were the "nerve centre" of military platforms and command centres, tapping data analytics, artificial intelligence, and computer vision technologies to facilitate "tighter coordination" and effectiveness during military and other contingency operations.

Its robotics C3 system enabled simultaneous control and monitoring of multiple unmanned ground and air systems to deliver a holistic situation outline for coordinated missions, including surveillance in dense urban environments.

With the partnership, DSTA and Ghost Robotics would test and develop "novel technologies and use cases" for quadrupedal unmanned ground vehicles, which would be integrated with multi-axis manipulators. These would enhance how the autonomous vehicles interacted with their environment and objects within it.

Power technologies, such as solid-state batteries or fuel cells, also would be integrated to allow the robotics systems to operate for extended periods of time.

DSTA's deputy chief executive for operations and director of land systems, Roy Chan, said: "In the world of fast-evolving technology, close collaboration between organisations is imperative to co-create use cases and innovative solutions. In partnering Ghost Robotics, DSTA hopes to advance robotic capabilities in defence and shape the battlefield of the future.

"We envision that robots would one day become a defender's best friend and be deployed to undertake more risky and complex operations in tough terrains," Chan said.

DSTA is tasked with tapping science and technology to develop capabilities for the country's Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), including the use of autonomous vehicles. The Ministry of Defence and SAF in June 2021 unveiled a transformation strategy to address evolving security challenges and threats, which encompassed efforts to leverage technological advancements to better tap data and new technologies, such as robotics C3 systems, and integrate these technologies into warfighting concepts to improve operational effectiveness and reduce manpower requirements.

According to Ghost Robotics, its quadrupedal unmanned ground vehicles were built for unstructured terrain, on which a typical wheeled or tracked device could not operate efficiently.


https://www.zdnet.com/article/singapore-to-...ghost-robotics/