V28?

Almost 20 years late. Long live the thunderbolt!

This post has been edited by Mai189: May 9 2021, 08:53 AM

They R getting 143 charlie mk3s only. Sigh. The british Rmy of the Rhine had 700+ to 800+ mbts then.

Latest UN arms transfer records show the Sg govt having bought 231 Leopard 2 tanks from Germany so far.



This post has been edited by Mai189: May 9 2021, 03:16 PM

Nice pics of F15Sg, F16V(?) and US Marines F35bs training over the South China Sea in Apr 2021:






RSAF combat fleet consists of F15Sg, F16V(arriving this year with F16V local upgrade project completion in 2022) and F35s (<2026 onwards).

Note: Expect more of such trainings as RSAF steps up integration of F35s into its fleet. SG will progressively buy more F35s in the coming years and these will operate with the F16Vs and F15SGs. The F16Vs will then be retired some time around 2030-35.

The F15SGs are expected to undergo a mid-life upgrade after the upgrades to the F16s are done - likely to F15EX standard. This will be a stop-gap until SG buys 6th gen planes.

This post has been edited by Mai189: May 9 2021, 03:12 PM

Leo tank no. 204 was seen last year (so far).



This post has been edited by Mai189: May 9 2021, 03:21 PM

The 141m ST frigate looks like a likely contender for the 6 MRCV frigates. The Vanguard 130 is a frigate between 130m to 140m. Im not sure if this is a slightly stretched version or that ST calls it Vanguard 140. Tonnage is 7000+ ton class i.e. literally a light destroyer.

https://www.stengg.com/en/newsroom/resource...class-frigates/

The first MRCV will be ready by 2027 (launched by 2025) which means Sg is about to start construction soon:

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/adva...s-ready-by-2027

Weapons (from pictures) include 32 to 48 cell vls for Aster 30s and likely new anti missile missile (i have a feeling its camm er because it can be quad packed in slyver vls launchers), 24 5gen SSM Blue Spear aka Sea Serpent aka Gabriel 5 missiles with 200 to 400km range, torpedoes, UUVs, USVs, UAVs and 5 ton helicopter. It will likely (from pictures) carry 4 fixed planar aesa array radar system, possibly the Seafire radar.

The formidable class will undergo a mid life upgrade and incorporates a similar weapons package sans most of the robot unmanned systems due 2 space constraints. It will also carry an enhanced Herakles radar with >300km range - see French Freda anti aircraft frigate.

The 12 MRCV and Formidable frigates will be among the most advanced in asia.

This post has been edited by Mai189: May 10 2021, 11:14 AM

First Sea Fire aka Euro version of spy radar on Aegis system introduced:

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/0...s-new-frigates/

Range is 500km - air. Sea surface range is abt 80 km( this is the same with all radars due to the curvature of the Earth, hence why you need helis, MPAs, fighter aircraft, UAVs or USVs i.e. other sensors to do OTH targetting).

From article:







* Sgs MRCVs are heavy frigates or light destroyers.

This post has been edited by Mai189: May 20 2021, 11:53 AM

SG latest Invincible class submarine on trials:



2018 twit by Sg Menhan:

Meanwhile the cost of Distributed Aperture System (DAS) which provides 360 degrees optical (pilot sees through plane) situational awareness goes down:

https://www.lockheedmartin.com/f35/news-and...e-f35-cost.html

Note: Raytheon now builds DAS. Raytheon's version is more advanced and has higher fidelity as compared to Northropgrummans version.

https://www.aviationtoday.com/2020/01/14/lo...ystem-for-f-35/

The original DAS by Northropgrumman can even track missiles 1000km away:

https://defense-update.com/20101102_das_missile_track.html

This post has been edited by Mai189: May 20 2021, 03:38 PM

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/21509...ally-save-money

Well it is now known that costs will indeed go down further with the new DAS.

This post has been edited by Mai189: May 20 2021, 03:53 PM

Tanking goes automatic

Airbus A330 MRTT auto refuelling system completes development phase




In-flight refuelling operations are among the most demanding missions. Both the tanker and receiver pilots need to operate in close formation, flying aircraft with different flight envelopes and ranging speeds, in day-and-night and all weather conditions, and above the battlefield…. There are many factors that are unpredictable and could put the missions at risk.



The Airbus A330MRTT has a solid track record providing safe operational services to its customer base and other allies like the USAF. The Airbus aircraft gained its reputation as a tanker after seeing action in the Middle East supporting coalition war fighters during Operation Shader and Okra against Daesh, with interoperability, mission success and availability rates as a highlight of its performance.



But for Airbus’ engineers, the road to success does not end here. They envisaged a new chapter where, under the name of SMART MRTT, the multirole tanker gained a new set of game-changing capabilities including enhanced maintenance solutions and the ability to carry out fully automated aerial refuelling operations.



The automatic refuelling system was called A3R and the idea behind it was clear: reduce air refuelling operator (ARO) workload, improve safety and optimise the rate of air-to-air refuelling (AAR) transfer in operational conditions to maximise aerial superiority. Everything at the ‘simple’ push of a botton.



Revealed to the public in 2018, the A3R has met every milestone, including several aeronautic ‘world firsts’ such as the first automated contacts. In a joint operation with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) an Airbus’ A310 company development tanker performed seven automatic contacts with a RAAF KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport. More recently, in 2020, Airbus announced the first ever fully automatic refuelling operation with a boom system. The flight test campaign involved an Airbus A310 tanker testbed aircraft with an F-16 fighter aircraft of the Portuguese Air Force acting as a receiver.



2020 also saw the announcement by Airbus to collaborate with the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) to develop the A330 SMART MRTT programme. Singapore became a key partner for the new automated aerial refuelling capabilities and under the agreement, an RSAF A330 MRTT took part in the development, flight test campaign and final certification programme.

Successful trials in Singapore

Now the A3R has taken another important leap towards certification with the completion of the development phase after a successful flight test campaign.



The trials, performed with the RSAF and Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), took place in Singapore in early 2021. It marked participation of an A3R-equipped RSAF A330 MRTT acting as tanker and several receivers from the RSAF, including another A330 MRTT and fighter aircraft like the F-16 and F-15SG.



During the trial, a total of 88 fully automated dry and wet contacts and transfers of nearly 30 tonnes of fuel were successfully executed, including the first fully automated operations with another A330 MRTT and RSAF F-16D/F-16D+ receivers.



All tests required for A3R Data Gathering with the F-15SG, including operational flights to demonstrate the A3R performances in a mission representative scenario were also completed.



Luis Miguel Hernández, Airbus SMART MRTT Manager, said: ‘We had the opportunity to test our system with different receiver types ensuring the right fit of our systems, while gathering extensive data key to completing the A3R development. The team were able to test the limits of the system successfully, verifying its robustness and ability to automatically track receivers with varying configurations’.



Key to the mission success was the excellent cooperation with the RSAF and DSTA. ‘We have built an extraordinary relationship based on mutual trust. Teams from all sides worked as a single unit during the test campaign and it is always a pleasure to fly with such a professional crew. They are the first partner nation involved in the development of the SMART MRTT, and we are honoured to have them on board’, added Hernandez.

https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/news/en/202...-automatic.html



The MRTTs were recently deployed to Darwin, Australia recently as well:

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




This post has been edited by Mai189: May 22 2021, 12:36 PM

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.

This post has been edited by Mai189: May 22 2021, 01:14 PM

French navy's newest AAW destroyer, the FREMM DA Alsace:



Why is this relevant? RSN's 6 Formidable class frigates will be under-going mid-life upgrades:

Mai's Note: The F16s will be replaced by F35s.



The current Herakles radar on the Formidable will be boosted from the current range of 250km to 300km to more than >300km, similar to the one on the DA Alsace. Together with the Sea-Fire radar on the MRCV heavy frigates, these will result in 300km to 500km huge hemispherical sensor bubbles over the South China Sea and we have not factored in RSAF's AEW or AWACs with sensor range of 450km and other sensors like UAVS and fighter jets, MPAs, etc - Singapore's sensors are netted and so are her shooters or weapons. So she can see first and shoot first and shoot at max ranges accurately.

More info (2015 interview):

https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/f...rench-navy.html

Mai's note: In 2015, the only 2 navies which rely on the Herakles radar are the French and Singaporean navies. Aside, the upgraded Formidable will likely carry up to 24 5gen "Blue Spear" long range anti-ship/land-attack missiles, 24 Aster 30 missiles and 32 quad-packed CAMM-ER missiles amongst other weapons.

This post has been edited by Mai189: May 22 2021, 09:28 PM

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!

This post has been edited by Mai189: May 22 2021, 08:26 PM

Wonder if we will finally see Sg deploy its hybrid flying/underwater UAV/UUV from the MRCVs or the even the above USVs above or Invincible submarines? These small USV/UUV can carry an armed payload as well for nasty "kamikaze" sneak attacks:



https://defense-update.com/20160216_singapo...y-and-dive.html



This post has been edited by Mai189: May 22 2021, 09:17 PM

The spike missiles of which there are several variants are produced locally by Smart Systems Pte Ltd - a joint venture between Rafael and St Engineering. The spikes are produced for Singapore and Asian customers under the terms of the joint venture. That is why Sg has been packing Spikes on everything from foot soldier, Apaches, ships and USVs and IFVs e.g. Hunter NGAFV which carries the Spike LR2.

Spike LR2 (range: 5.5 to 6km - ground launched; 10km - air launched as tested on Apache attack helicopters). The longest ranged Spike is the Spike NLOS (range: 25km to 30km - ground launched; 45km to 50km - air launched as tested on Apache attack helicopters). Shooter can choose either direct or top attack.



https://euro-sd.com/2021/03/articles/exclus...mark-spike-lr2/

https://www.eurospike.com/spike_lr.html

This post has been edited by Mai189: May 23 2021, 01:31 PM

Nothing new. If you use say an american system, theyll know what youll be up 2.

Do you know which countrys intelligence has been most active in SEA? A friend downunder...