Italian G550 CAEW Airborne early warning and control (AEW & C) aircrafts (or what we like to call AWACS) have been flying sorties from Romania (likely under NATO's ambit) to monitor the skies over Ukraine from long distances.



From wiki^



^Singapore's G550 CAEW AEW & C or "AWACs" . It is believed that Sg has one flying 24/7, usually escorted by F15s or F16s and soon, F35s.



ItalianG550 CAEW AEW & Cs, Air tankers and F35s visited Singapore recently this year. Imagine them with RSAF roundels as SG has the same kind of planes - akan datang from 2026 (first F35s arriving).

This post has been edited by Mai189: Nov 11 2023, 07:53 PM

Also note: Open-source info suggests that the radar range of the G550 CAEW AEW & C aircraft is in fact further than 450km:

648.2 km.

Phalcon AEWR (EL/W-2085 is developed from Phalcon) – Radar
Role: Radar, Air & Surface Search, 3D Long-Range
Max Range: 648.2 km


https://cmano-db.com/pdf/sensor/1675/

This post has been edited by Mai189: Nov 11 2023, 08:06 PM

St Engineering ILIS:



Note: SG's RSN will be integrated with a lot of unmanned systems e.g. UUV, USV and UAS. RSN's latest MRCV destroyer is also an unmanned system carrier below:



The upgraded Formidable class frigates (mid-life update) are expected to carry unmanned systems too:



RSS Supreme firing an Aster 15 missile^




In turn, RSN is highly integrated with RSAF, Singapore Army and Singapore's latest service - Digital and Intelligence Service as part of a joint air-land-sea-cyberspace strike and defence complex.



This post has been edited by Mai189: Nov 11 2023, 08:43 PM

A lot of attention has been focused on RSN's MRCV destroyers (Ranger class (Im guessing )) or soon-to-be mid-life upgraded formidable class multi mission frigates or JMMS lha/lhd light carriers.

RSN is also building a new class of sea-going/littoral offshore patrol vessels - 4 to 6 ships - first of class to be ready in 2026. RSN also has a current need to replace its Bedok class minesweepers - 4 to 6 ships.

RSN has already stated that the minesweeping will be conducted by remote USVs. However, these USVs would still need motherships.

I am thinking that a joint modular multi mission ship design could not just save costs but allow the RSN to switch mission modules to suit the security or combat requirements.

Only one ship comes to mind (partly from the original designers of the Iver Huifelt/Absalon/Type 31 frigates i.e. Odense Maritime Technology ) - OMT MPV-80








The OMT MPV-80 is new modular class of OPVs/light frigates of 80m to 100+m (depending on specifications). RSN could build 8 to 12 of these ships - half for maritime security and patrols or escort. and the other half equipped with mine-sweeping USVs. The modules can be swapped as required so RSN could configure all for patrols or all for minesweeping too.

These ships may or may not be built by ST Engineering. We will see. Akan datang..sooner than MRCV or JMMS perhaps.

This post has been edited by Mai189: Nov 13 2023, 02:46 PM

Better video:











It is fatter than long (imagine it ramming into you) and tonnage can hit as much as 2000 tons depending on the modules and size of ship.

An elevator can be installed viz. the flight deck to bring down or raise USVs from the ship's mission bay or i guess even medium class helicopters.

Speed may be a concern but they can slap on more powerful engines if required by a customer, Im sure.

This post has been edited by Mai189: Nov 13 2023, 02:45 PM

Cooperation between two FPDA partners.

This post has been edited by Mai189: Nov 16 2023, 07:34 PM

RSAF to expand in size from now till 2030 to 2040.

A nugget of important information which was slid under the news on RSAF F16v+ or upgraded F16s.

Sg is pushing back the retirement of the F16s to mid 2030s at the earliest (previously it was announced that the retirement will be around 2030).

This would mean that RSAF will operate its F15SGs (4.5 gen but it will still undergo a mid-life upgrade), F16V+s (4.5 gen)and F35s (5 gen - more f35s will be acquired) at the same time.

This set up is not new. RSAF was previously operating some 49 F5 S/Ts (upgraded to shoot pythons and derby missiles), 70+ F16s and 60 Super Skyhawks (upgraded).

RSAF then started retiring some of the older aircraft from 2000 onwards and some have yet to be replaced ostensibly because of reduced tensions and threat environment. There was no need then.

But look at the world now.

It makes sense for RSAF to continue to use the F16V+ in tandem with the newer F35s and F15sgs.

Numbers also matter.

Post F16v+ retirement, RSAF can decide to buy even more F35s or a few batches of the Tempest or NGAD to replace the F16V+ (more Tempests or NGADs will also replace the F15sgs later) and maintain that larger force of combat jets depending on the threat assessment then.

Alternatively, RSAF can allow its combat jet force to go down in size if the threat environment improves.

Not a bad plan.


https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/r...-attack-3796331



This post has been edited by Mai189: Nov 19 2023, 07:29 PM

ELM-2084 is a mobile S-Band Multi-Mission Radar.

SG bought an undisclosed number of these sensors.



source: SG MOD

Psst:

https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/digital-...elm-2084-radar/

It can track more than 1000 aerial objects and classifies into friendlies or threats per radar. It has more than 470km in range (more than 100km in range when in CRAM mode e.g. track mortar rounds to detect the precise point of origin for immediate retaliation from land, air and sea.).

This post has been edited by Mai189: Nov 19 2023, 09:09 PM

They will go to RSN. It will be interesting to see what the final design will look like e.g. proper hangar as Sg is bound to tweak the design or how large itll get. It is already modular by design it seems.





The Lurssen Opv 85/90 is its contemporary:



Brunei and soon Australia is/will be operating the smaller Lurssen OPV 80 version:



This post has been edited by Mai189: Nov 20 2023, 09:02 PM

Weaponry should consist of both non lethal (laser dazzler, long range acoustic device, etc.)and lethal ones e.g. 76mm Super Rapid, VL Mica Ng and when required by the mission, Blue Spear and Spike surface-to-surface missiles. From the baseline design, she should be carrying USVs as well. I am thinking 4 to 6 more of these vessels in anti mine configuration is possible later too.

This post has been edited by Mai189: Nov 20 2023, 11:07 PM

Haha. Wonder why an older news on a MOU(many MOUs are signed but amounts to nothing eventually) for a possible cooperation on a Vanguard OPV for the Indo navys consideration is surfaced.

This post has been edited by Mai189: Nov 20 2023, 11:23 PM

It is official - statement from Sg MOD:



It looks like they will be built in Germany. Not 2 surprising as St Engineering yards are full

There is a slightly smaller Fassmer 80m OPV (as compared to the above Potsdam design (which is a 86m to 100+m design) operated by Chile:

Sgs RSN development is proceeding well and as planned. How the heck do they keep or adhere to development timelines? Impressive.

So it should not come as a surprise to anyone. RSN is simply refreshing the fleet. Dont worry. RSN can act as a powerful force multiplier to FPDA and regional navies such as Indo navy against external threats.

By 2030 or early 2030s, RSN should be fielding 6 MRCV destroyers, 6 mid-life upgraded Formidable frigates, 4 OPVs, 8 LMVs, 4 to 6 (new class) of minesweeper motherships (i suspect same design.as OPVs and modular so they can do patrols and sea combat), 6 AIP equipped modern submarines (4 Type 218SG + 2 Archer (will be replaced by 2 more Type 218SG), 2 JMMS LHA/LHDs cum light carriers, at least 2 (new class) multi mission support ships (with well docks?),etc.

Ships to be retired are: 6 Victory class corvettes, 4 Sentinel class corvettes, 4 Bedok class minesweepers, 4 Endurance class LPDs, 4 Challenger class submarines and 2 Archer AIP class submarines.

But the most exiting vessels arent the manned ones. RSN is expected to have a swarm of USVs - some as large as 45m.These will work in tandem with manned ships.





This post has been edited by Mai189: Nov 21 2023, 02:21 PM

Friend of mine pointed out to a stealthy (not surprising) and evolved version of the OPV

Beautiful photo of RSNs LMVs.

The 1300 ton to 1600 ton (depends on mission modules) LMVs play a different role to the 2000 ton Potsdam based OPVs which will focus on maritime security first and then play other supporting roles e.g. long range patrols, escort duties, strike missions (it is modular).

The LMVs are also modular and has anti mine, maritime security and anti surface/anti sub modules. In beast mode, the LMVs assume the role of heavy corvettes with weaponry and sensors equal to larger general purpose frigates

I notice that RSN has divested itself of gun boat size vessels - this is quite literally a green water navy and most advanced in South East Asia. It can take the fight together with RSAF to the edges of South East Asia.

Another thing I note is the impressive air defence (or offense?) array RSN has:

MRCV - Aster 30 (latest variant has >150km range) and VL Mica Ng (40km range).

Formidable frigate - Aster 30 and Aster 15 (30km to 60km range - likely replaced by Mica Vl ng)

LMVs - VL Mica (>20km range - likely replaced by VL Mica Ng)

Opvs - VL Mica Ng

Future JMMS and mine sweeper motherships - VL Mica Ng.

The presence of these ships in various parts of South East Asia can make movement of hostile air forces difficult if not deadly.

The array in itself is a deterrence. (Remember: Most if not all of RSN ships are stealthy. The Formidable has the RCS of a sampan. Hostile planes will not see the ships or have difficulty identifying them.).

This post has been edited by Mai189: Nov 23 2023, 02:07 PM

To add - you will see USVs (up to 45m or more) in place of manned gunboats.

These can be operated from shore or navy ship (ala loyal wingmen).

ST Eng large USV:



This post has been edited by Mai189: Nov 23 2023, 03:28 PM

Not drawn to scale but nice graphics nonetheless.

The mid life upgraded Formidables may have up to 48 vls cells (up from 32) e.g. 32 Aster 30 blk 1 nt (150km range) and 16 aster 15 (likely replaced by mica vl ng). 24 Blue Spear X ( Gabriel X) missiles. The current Herakles radar (>300km range) could either be retained (it is still a relatively modern and effective phased array radar (i think it is a pesa) or replaced by Seafire 500 radar (>350km range) which will be installed on the MRCV destroyers.



This post has been edited by Mai189: Nov 25 2023, 03:28 PM

https://kaspex.kz/en/finland-acquires-new-i...ssiles-gabriel/

You cannot possibly expect OEM manufacturers Sg and Israel to be using the same export model of the already modular Blue Spear/ Gabriel 5 do you? Hence the "X".



This post has been edited by Mai189: Nov 25 2023, 04:58 PM